Karma
Most characters are borrowed from the Television series Nashville.
Chapter 3
"Please Avery. Please don't be angry. I've already thought about this. Please can we just talk? We really need to talk. Please don't react like this I know your feelings but I can't help mine. Please talk to me. I'm not asking you to love me. I know you can't." Tears were on her cheeks. She obviously did not expect this reaction from him when she opened her heart.
Seeing her tears he softened, he could at least allow her to speak. "I need another drink," he said, "would you like one as well?" She nodded.
"Would you prefer to talk here or back in the room?"
"Here is fine, we almost have the place to ourselves in any case."
"OK Kristen. You understand my feelings and you want to talk, well, I am listening."
"Ok now Avery," she said. "I'm afraid I don't understand your reaction. Me being in love with you is not a problem for you, it's a problem for me. I feel this way about you and I know you don't reciprocate. I have to handle that. I didn't ask you to love me. Just so we're clear, as far as you and I go, up to this point, the friendship we already have is most important to me. You loving me is not an issue. But I cannot help my feelings, I love you and that's the truth. However I want what is between us to be honest and for us both to understand."
"How could you fall in love with me? I never did anything to encourage that."
"Yes you did Avery. Just by being you," Kristen said. "You don't see yourself as everyone at Highway 65 sees you. Anyone there would walk through fire for you. Rayna says she owes you a debt she can never repay, Mick thinks you are a financial guru, the engineers, the other artists know what you have done for the company and for them. You are admired by everyone there. You think I can resist you? I know you better than anyone, I see the kindness in your heart, I see the type of person you are, and I see your compassion and empathy. Rayna said you were one of God's gifts and she was right. I see you with my daughter, what you have done for your own child and your respect and consideration of me and you think I should not love you? You have me helpless. I could do nothing but fall in love with you."
"But I know what you feel," she continued. "I know you cannot love me. I know you still have demons haunting you. I see you fighting and agonizing still and it pains me greatly. I want to share that pain with you. What I am asking you …I suppose the best way to describe it… is for your permission to love you. I'm asking for you to keep our friendship but this new proposal would be platonic no matter the situation, even if we were forced to share a bed. Rayna told me you really have no-one close that supports you. I'm asking if I can be that someone? Just be able to demonstrate my feelings in some simple way. If I see you in pain, as you were with that newspaper, that you were with Juliette today, maybe I can hold you or hold your hand or touch your arm or shoulder? Just to let you know I feel with you, feel close to you and be there for you. Now that should not be any reason to terminate our friendship."
He listened to her idea and thought about the pain that had not been erased over Juliette. His preoccupation with his new job, when she first left him was all that saved his sanity in those early days. Without that job he hesitated to think what would have become of him. However since Juliette abandoned him he'd deliberately kept himself isolated, deliberately avoiding any possibility of another relationship. Perhaps there was a measure of sense in what Kristen was saying. Maybe if he allowed a closer contact with someone else it would take his mind off the hurt and help him get over Juliette.
"I see what you mean but this is a new idea. However what I am certain of is, after the events of today, I really need to get past Juliette. This may help. I'm sorry I was angry before but my first reaction was that you were asking for something I could not give. I think this will be alright. We'll see how it goes at any rate. Now Ms Redmond would you like to join me for a meal in the restaurant." He stood and took her hand. "Is this the idea?" He asked indicating their hands.
In the restaurant they both ordered a fish meal and a white wine. Once he had a little time to adjust to this arrangement between them he decided it was very workable. In fact the idea of some closer contact with Kristen appealed to him. It would be interesting to see where it led. Her hand was resting on the table top next to her wine glass. He reached across and placed his hand over hers. She smiled and intertwined her fingers with his.
"I suppose I'll have to do some shopping tomorrow. I'll need to get a baby basket and some sort of travel crib for the car. After that we can go see a few sights around Washington. How does that sound to you?"
"That's fine I can do that. Ask a woman shopping. Are you kidding?"
"I've got all the other gear sorted out for the baby," he said. "This Daddy business will be a bit of a project but I'm looking forward to it. Handy to know I have you there as well." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Now look at that, this contact idea we have started, it's infectious. Without even thinking, it's easy to go just a little further. Like when I squeezed your hand. Without being aware it just happens."
"I know exactly what you mean," she said looking directly into his eyes. "I have this overwhelming desire to kiss you."
"Hold on there. Is that in the deal? That might be too big a jump," he said smiling at her. He didn't seem totally opposed.
She sensed she might be able to convince him. "I think its ok. Remember this is platonic, which comes from Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher. He made the rules. He said pure love was chaste, non sexual. Kissing is definitely chaste. So it should fit with me expressing my feelings."
"Maybe but it may lead to something decidedly unchaste."
"That will happen only if we want it to." She leant across the table and kissed him. Immediately he sensed the emotions in the kiss, her feelings of love and tenderness they were passed to him in that suspended moment. They broke apart, looked into each other's eyes, smiled and repeated a shorter kiss, then a third. Avery had never been kissed like that before. Words could not describe the sensitivity they shared. He literally had to take pause.
Looking into her eyes he smiled, "That was very, very good. In fact that was better than good; that was an experience. I can see you could be dangerous. But I think I could learn to like it." He responded with a final brief kiss on her lips.
"Avery, that really was an experience. In fact I need to take a moment to recover. There might be more between us than we realize. Perhaps we should just let this run its own course."
"Yes, just see where it goes because there could be new opportunities opening up here and they might be appealing," Avery said and smiled at her.
He suddenly had a new mental focus. That kiss, in the brief time it took confirmed his earlier idea. Perhaps the reason he had difficulty getting past Juliette was because he had not allowed himself to get past her. He had been fixed in this idea he had to close himself down, have no involvements. Maybe that was the problem. Perhaps he had this backwards. Maybe what he needed was to open himself to the possibility of a new involvement because right at this moment, for the first time in six months his head was not fogged with Juliette Barnes. It was looking at and considering the possibility of Kristen Redmond and he saw this with crystal clarity.
"That means it's all starting to work," she smiled.
"What's that?"
"The magic spell I put on you. Didn't I tell you I have special abilities? I only have to say the magic words, 'hocus pocus' and you're cured." She gestured magically with her fingers and screwed her face up.
He laughed, "You're nuts."
"Oh am I?" She said. "I've only just got started. We'll see how you hold up when I move into high gear."
"High gear eh? Got more planned have you?"
"You have absolutely no idea. You are history my friend." She poked him in the chest.
"Well I guess I'll just have to wait and see what you have in store. But right now it's been a really long day and I think I might just go upstairs and turn in."
"That sounds like a great idea. I might join you," she said.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at her inquisitively. "I hope you don't mean that literally. We have probably revealed enough for one night."
"Well, I am in high gear but whatever suits you my friend. Besides tomorrow is a new day. Who knows what might get revealed then."
"Why do I have the distinct feeling I'm a fish making friends with a crocodile?"
"I told you before, you have absolutely no idea."
They got back to the room. "I think I'll take a shower," she said. "Hey, this shower is huge. It would easily fit two people. Very clever architect whoever designed this hotel."
"Huge is it? Well don't get lonely."
"Perhaps if I left the door open you might be tempted," she joked.
"Maybe that is a very good reason to close it. You are starting to severely bend the rules."
"Well as long as I don't break them."
"I think they were probably broken a while ago. Now have your shower and go to bed like a good girl."
"Alright, for tonight, but don't expect me to be good all the time."
He showered after her and for the first time in a long time he slept soundly not haunted by images of Juliette.
He woke the next morning and Kristen was in bed with him pressed into his side with her arm across his chest. "You're in my bed. What's going on?"
"Well I did say Platonic even if we were sharing the same bed. I got lonely in that other room and I came in here to talk to you but you were asleep. So I thought I would test the bed theory. I must say it definitely worked. We were both very well behaved."
He laughed at her, "I can see I'm going to have to watch you very closely."
"Anytime you like sir." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and moved to get out of the bed.
"Just hold on there a second," he said and returned the kiss. "I can see this is going to get out of control fast without some steady concentration."
"Hmm, won't that be fun," she said and got out of the bed.
They brought the items they would need for the baby and just wandered around Washington, after all they had a day to themselves. Kristen held his hand the entire time and her demand for kisses was very frequent. "We're behaving like a couple of lovesick teenagers," he remarked at one point.
"That's alright," she said. "I told you I was in love with you and I'm becoming even more so. I also said you don't have to love me. That was the deal. But nothing was said about me, trying to get you, to fall in love with me. Because I am going to do my absolute best to make that happen and that will be good thing for both of us. Besides once you do fall in love with me you will wonder how you lived your life without me. In case you haven't worked it out yet, I'm very special."
"It didn't take me long to figure out you were special. I'd come to that conclusion very early in our acquaintance. I also wouldn't rule a line through that remark about me falling in love with you. I've decided I am no longer going to fight that idea. That magic of yours might be working."
"Oh boy!" she said. "Hearing that I wish we weren't in a public street. I would really go to work on you…and would you love it. I want to go back to the hotel room right now."
"You'll just have to cool down. That kind of activity is breaking all the rules."
"Well, that's too bad for you because I am really in the mood right now and you don't know what you're missing."
He laughed. "Well I have a few secret magic tricks of my own and I can assure you…you have not even close to an idea, of what being in the mood really can be like."
"So, you think you're pretty good do you? What gives you that idea?"
"I dare say you will find out in due course, but just let me say there is something about me that no one in Nashville knows. However I reckon you just might find out in the not too distant future. Then we'll see who doesn't know which about what."
"Come on," she said. "I don't really know anything about you outside Highway65 I need to know. If we are starting to get closer then you should tell me these things. What's this big secret no one in Nashville knows about? You have to tell me now."
"OK. Let's sit in this park and I'll tell you. This is curious, me revealing secrets, very out of character. Maybe I'm starting to like you, or you're easy to talk to. I didn't even tell Juliette, but she has experienced the benefits."
"I was raised in Natchez," he started. "My father owned a number of businesses there. That's how come I got my business degree. My father insisted I get it. His idea was I would run his businesses, which I did for a while but I wanted to play music. Even today there is conflict between my father and me because of that."
"I've always been pretty small," he continued. "When I was at school I was one of the smallest in my class. Because I liked music I used to get bullied a fair bit. There was this one big kid who was worse than the others. One day he beat me up pretty bad.
This upset my father who thought I should be able to stand up to anyone even though I was only a little runt. Now it just so happened, dad owned an oriental restaurant in Natchez and it was very popular. The cook in this restaurant came from Okinawa and he was a karate grandmaster. I didn't know about him but my father did. Dad watched him practice and over the years Sensei Soken told Dad about his background. I found out by accident that he had similar problems to me. He had to leave Okinawa and came here because of a woman. He'd been working for my father for years, in fact he still is. Dad asked him to help me defend myself from these bullies.
Sensei didn't do this black belt sport karate you see today, this guy did the real ancient form hundreds of years old. It is a style which was from a time when karate was really life and death. It can be very vicious but there is a code that goes with it which is ingrained from the very first session that fighting is the last alternative in a conflict and should only be used in self defense. So Sensei Soken took me on as his Senpai or student. It only took me two weeks to learn enough to keep the bullies away. He was one mean slave driver. That's the thing with true karate. It is really a complete personal development and philosophy. The training covers all aspects of life. There was just so much. But I do owe him a great debt. He molded me into the person I have become. He expected I devote all my free time to karate but I fitted it around my music. That frustrated him. As part of the training I learnt terminology, acupressure points, acupuncture points, joints, body strengths and weaknesses the whole thing is a lifetime study. I was with him up until I left Natchez, for sixteen years. He still works me whenever I go home. Tough old nut he is, but amazing. He also taught me oriental massage, which is really useful and has lots of applications. Did you know there are points on the human body which if manipulated a certain way can kill a person, points that can give indescribable pain, there are other points that can be used for healing and there are other points that can give ecstatic pleasure?"
Her eyes opened wide. "Are you telling me you are a walking lethal weapon?"
"Of course I'm not. I just told you the code forbids that. It is only for self defense when there is no other option. Actually, running away is preferable to fighting. But can I handle myself? Yes. Am I afraid of anybody or any situation? No I'm not."
"This oriental massage with the ecstatic pleasure points…you know that?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Oh boy, are you going to be busy. No sleep for you tonight. I have some very big plans."
"Well, we are going to have to talk about that because now you have smashed the deal to smithereens. We are supposed to be platonic and if we start on that, it is impossible for us remain platonic. Arousal by this means is to a very high level and it is not good for you to be left at that point. I'm sure you realize what that would mean."
"I'm sure I understand. God but I love you so much. You never cease to amaze me. Maybe it's time we were completely honest with each other. I don't think the platonic thing is really going to work between us for very much longer."
"It looks like the rules are fast disappearing out the gate. My whole outlook has changed in just twenty four hours. I think now might be the time to wave the white flag and declare the platonic stage over. To be honest Kristen, the idea of you appeals to me very much. Do you think that love complaint might be contagious?"
"Well, how about that for a piece of good timing. It's right on lunch time. Let's head back to the hotel for a bite of lunch and a nice wine," Avery said.
"Lunch?" she said. "You have to be kidding. No time for lunch, we're going to do the massage thing."
"OK. We will do that after lunch," he said. "We will relax and have some lunch. We don't want you being impatient like Juliette used to be. You miss all the best stuff that way.
"Lucky for you I'm in charge," he continued. "I suppose though, seeing as this is your first time I should explain what will happen. Most importantly you will need to be relaxed otherwise your responses will be too fast to appreciate the true sensations. So, the first phase is a full body massage for an hour or so to relax you. You will find this very pleasant. The second stage is the arousal phase. There are pleasure centers all over the body and these will be stimulated in various ways until you reach your highest state of arousal and erotic tension. The duration of the phase will be determined by your responses but the sensations are very intense. You may have several lesser climaxes during this phase. Then we transition to the final stage where we will make love and this will continue until your complete release. That will also probably involve several climaxes but of a very intense nature."
"Please Avery, you have to stop this. Do you have any idea what that description just did to me?"
"Now you understand why we must make sure the stages are done correctly. At this point you are responding much too quickly. That is why we are having lunch. Hopefully this will relax you a little."
"Avery." She asked sheepishly.
"Yes Kristen."
"I'm going to be even more in love with you after this. Aren't I?"
"I'm afraid you won't be the only one with that affliction. This is as intimate as two people can get. Not only will they become physically attached they will become spiritually attached as well."
There are some ritual traditions that are part of the procedure. We will include them in what we do but I will explain as we go what they mean and how to participate correctly. Now I think we should go to the room because we will probably be in there all afternoon.
Avery spread a sheet on the floor. It was the only area in the suite that was suitable, the bed was too restrictive. Kristen was an almost perfect subject. She followed the rituals and understood the objectives. She was completely relaxed from her body massage almost trance like, in a state of bliss. She was so responsive to the second stage. Initially she asked how he could cause such responses but she soon just focused on the sensations and talking became pointless. Her responses became more and more intense and she abandoned herself to them until she became completely lost to the pleasure. Her clavicle, navel, armpit, her neck, and the fold of her elbow, even her feet, places she was barely aware of seemed alive for stimulation. Her breasts, her ears, they were so sensitive the slightest touch raised her off the floor. How she achieved orgasm from his caress and kissing of each of these two areas. Almost every part of her was awakened and alive. Occasionally reacting uncontrollably when he barely touched her, the simplest caresses bought violent responses. He then began the most exquisite torture. Repeatedly she would rise to the threshold of her peak but he would not allow her release. Each time he lowered her only to lift her to an even higher peak before being denied her release again. Her arousal under this technique became borderline unbearable reaching higher and higher levels until she was writhing on the sheet, thrusting her hips, trying in vain for some elusive connection, clutching for Avery to release her but he still continued his ministrations until she was crying and begging him for mercy. She reached a point where she actually had difficulty breathing. Then Avery released her. Four intense climaxes consumed her whole body, violent spasms pleasure almost beyond tolerance. The experience was just as intense for Avery as well. The nature of her releases caused him to climax twice. Afterwards she was exhausted. She could not speak, she could not stand. Her legs would not respond. She just lay on that sheet looking at Avery. She knew now what was meant when books talked of the depths of spiritual love. He spoke the truth; they were joined physically and spiritually. She had never felt such a measure of personal peace. If there was a god, surely he was with them now.
Avery rolled over next to her and propped himself up on his elbow. Leaning over he tenderly kissed her. "Well?"
"I don't believe that. I had never even dreamed that was possible but what I am feeling right at this moment is what truly amazes me."
"It doesn't amaze me. I'm sure I feel exactly the same way as well."
"That would mean you have a level of love for me that is almost beyond description because that is what I feel for you. You have me for life and beyond. You know what is truly amazing is that the whole experience was so profound the sensations I was feeling at some point ceased to be physical. They became such an overwhelming feeling of love. That through your caresses and kisses, love and patience became transferred as the essence and centre of me. I was completely surrendered to you."
"Well, it is dinner time. Would you like to get a few drinks at the bar?"
"That is impossible. I don't think I can walk, certainly not without some difficulty. I think we should call room service, get some wine and figure out food later. Right now you will need to help me take a shower."
"Lucky the architect designed them big enough for two."
"You know," Avery said. "There is nothing more relaxing than to be in a bathrobe, with a good wine and having the woman I love snuggling into me."
"This is going to change things now," he said. "A whole new situation exists between us. We both love each other…very much. Things will need to be discussed. However the first requirement I think is that you will never sleep in another bed unless I am in it with you. I guess it is also safe to say the platonic idea is definitely dead." He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head.
"Alright, let's talk about these changes. You know most of them will need to be done as they arise. But what do you reckon?"
"I don't know. I mean six hours ago I thought I was obsessed with another woman. She clouded my mind. Now I have never been clearer about anything in my life. She is behind me, my obsession is now you and that will be the case for a very long time. I thought I was in love before. I even thought I had my life's love. Now I have, you have overwhelmed me in the same way that you say I have overwhelmed to you. Right now I am still coming down. I'm not capable of planning anything at this point. We'll work it out though. We'll have something to talk about during the drive home."
She laughed at him, "I told you it worked."
"What worked?"
"The magic, you were history."
"Yep, your magic and my magic. Shall we call it a draw?"
"Hey, I just thought of something, you are going to need a name for your new child tomorrow. Got anything picked out?"
"Well if it's a boy that's easy. Deacon George Barkley"
"That sounds good. OK Deacon is your friend. What about George?"
"That's my father. We might have our differences but he was a good father and I do owe him. Maybe this way I can show him what he really means to me deep down."
"What about a girl?"
"Well that is a little trickier. I wanted a musical name for a girl or something close to it. I thought of Melody, but somehow it's not grabbing me. I don't mind Harmony, but I'm not sure it's a good Christian name. I did think of trying to find a musical term that would suit, but I can't find one that works, music is mostly written in Italian."
"I didn't know that."
"Well the Italians were the ones who developed the music notation system. So you get terms like moderato, lento, presto, allegretto, allegro see none of them work. Wait a minute, Allegro, means lively, happy. What about Allegra, that's pretty close and that's a girl's name. Allegra Harmony Barkley, what do you reckon? In fact, what about Allegra Harmony Elaine Barkley? What do you think?"
"Obviously Elaine is your mother. I like it. It's got a nice flow to it. She'll get 'Ali' for short and that's cute."
They arrived at the hospital, the next day, just a few minutes before Juliette was due to enter surgery. They were holding hands when Juliette saw them. "I told you she loved you," she said to Avery.
Juliette then addressed Kristen, "You've got to know I had him first and I used him. You're getting second hand goods you know." She had a self satisfied smug look she directed at Kristen. Avery was about to say something but Kristen just patted his arm and walked over to Juliette's bed.
She bent down beside Juliette's ear and said softly, "Yes Juliette I realize you are laughing at me but I would like you to know that I am still having trouble walking after what Avery did to me yesterday afternoon…all afternoon. So I want to thank you for passing him over because I'm the one who is laughing now." Kristen went back to Avery, took his hand and held it up against her breast where Juliette could see it. She raised her eyebrows at Juliette and gave her a cheeky smile.
Color was rising in Juliette's face. It took a few seconds for Kristen's remarks to register. "You bitch," she screamed, "I'm Juliette Barnes. No-body laughs at me, no-body. You hear me? Who do you think you are? I won't be talked to like that. You will apologize for that. You hear me? You don't laugh at me. You bitch…" Juliette was still ranting as the orderly pushed her bed down the corridor.
Avery gave Kristen's hand a squeeze. "Good one," he said. "What did you tell her?"
"The truth."
About thirty minutes later a doctor came into the waiting area, "Mr. Barkley?"
"Congratulations you have a baby girl."
Avery looked at his daughter, "She's beautiful," he said to Kristen.
"You have the details of the court order?" he asked the doctor.
"Yes we do. The baby will be discharged into your custody. We do have some procedures we need to carry out. You should be able to pick her up this time tomorrow."
"Thank you Doctor."
"Well, looks like we have 24 hours to kill," Avery asked Kristen. "What would you like to do?"
"I wonder," she pressed his arm into her breast.
"Again?" he asked.
"Yes please, again."
"Are you up for it? Are you sure?"
"I don't care if I can only crawl back to Nashville. You are going to be busy this afternoon."
"What about these things we need to discuss. When do you want to do that?
"Over lunch and driving home. You are booked up with other activities this afternoon. Well we can at least get the lunch discussion out of the way. What do you think should change?"
"Well, we have known each other for over six months so it's not as if we will find out anything new. We can make some informed decisions. What is new of course is this change in our relationship. I suppose what we need to decide is how that is going to effect us."
"That's the first thing," she said. "Given a choice I don't want to be apart from you. You're an essential part of my life. I would like you in it as much as possible."
"So are you suggesting we spend more time together or do you have something more than that in mind? Like maybe co-habitation."
"That's exactly what I have in mind. We have had an association for six months. I have no doubts whatsoever of our compatibility. Live together, yes. How do you feel about that idea?
"I agree. No problem, I can handle that."
"I don't think marriage should be ruled out in the future either when we think its right."
"I agree and it's better for the kids if the parents are married. I also think seeing as I only have an apartment and you have a house it would be better if I moved in with you. Should be better financially as well."
"Alright Mr. Barkley. Lunch is over. We can continue this discussion at a later point. Right now you and I are going to be seriously engaged in our suite and make sure we have a 'do not disturb' sign out."
The next day Kristen had a complaint. "Avery, my legs are still not working properly. Did you do anything different yesterday?"
"Did it feel like it?"
"I have no idea. Thinking in that state is impossible and I give up trying. I get lost because the feelings are so intense."
"I don't think anything was different but I don't have a set routine. I do what suits your responses. Maybe at this point, perhaps everyday is too much. Maybe you need a time to recover."
"Forget I said anything. If you think I'm going to miss that even for a day you're crazy. I'll live with walking in flat shoes. I've been a widow for a year. I have a lot of repressed feelings to release. You're the only man I've had since my husband died. The truth is I have only had two men in my life including you and that will be enough for me."
"I'm just going in to discharge the baby," he said when they arrived at the hospital. "I might see Juliette as well. I still reckon that Wentworth is up to something. I want to try and warn her. Are you OK with me doing that?"
"If you think she might be in trouble you should try and warn her. At least she will know where she can come for help and your conscious will be clear if she doesn't."
"Juliette?"
She had her back to him. She turned over and looked at him "What are you doing here?" She snapped.
"I know I have been upset with you the last few times we have met. Your behavior suddenly became so different. You are so aggressive now. I keep thinking maybe this Wentworth isn't the best influence for you. However I want you to know that despite what I have said, if you ever need me I will help you if I can. I really think you are going to need some help in the future. I don't trust Wentworth. I think he is up to something."
"You're just jealous of him and trying to upset me."
"Juliette, I don't think he even cares for you. He wants something you have."
"He does care for me," she spat. "What would you know?"
"Really? Has he been to visit since you were admitted in here?"
"He's been very busy." She suddenly sounded sheepish
"Busy is it? Well there you go. You hate my guts but I have been here twice. Think about what I said. See you later."
He had some paperwork to complete. He even registered the birth. Allegra Harmony Elaine Barkley. He was so proud writing that name for the first time.
He discharged his daughter.
Kristen was standing by the car, "Meet the family Ali. We have so much in front of us."
"Kristen?"
"Yes Avery."
"I'm going to ring my parents and tell them the news. Would you and Tiffany like a trip to Natchez as soon as we can? I want to introduce you, Tiffany and Allegra to them. How would you feel about that?"
"I'd like that but what about your karate instructor?"
"Sensei? He will love to see me. He'll make sure my entire stay there is as miserable as possible."