The door was open and she saw Cherine and Robert were not alone. Cherine ran to her and hugged her by the legs. She picked her up and looked at her and then looked at Robert who had a little girl sleeping in his arms. “What’s going on?”
“What are you talking about!” Alki led them outside and explained.
“What nonsense! My daughter is a normal child. What are you trying to do?”
“Mum.” Cherine tugged until she looked at her. “Daddy told me I was freak. It’s not a bad kind of freak, I helped Robert find his healer.”
“You have a very special daughter Marian, we’ve spent the whole day in awe of her. Robert needs half an hour and then we’ll all go for some food and we’ll explain in more detail.”
They went out, ate, and it became obvious to all that Dominique intended staying the night, so her parents left. Dominique took Cherine to stand away from everyone. “Would you mind if I stay with Robert tonight?”
She saw the instant jealousy in her eyes. Cherine looked at the ground so that Dominique would not see the tears. “I should be with both of you.”
Surprised, Dominique realised Cherine was right, that it felt right. When she heard herself speaking she was shocked, “I promise we won’t make love, we’ll wait for you to join us in the morning.” The instant joy, excitement and fear in Cherine’s eyes stunned her. Then Cherine laughed.
“Wendy is going to sleep in his arms - she won’t let him go, you’ll see.” She looked at Robert who was still holding Wendy. When he’d tried to pass her back to her mother she moaned until he took her back.
Dominique laughed. “I guess you’re right. What about her mother?”
“We have a spare bedroom, she can sleep upstairs with us.”
“I meant, will she let Wendy stay with us?”
Cherine glanced at Sylvia and her eyes saddened. “She’s given up Dominique. She’s still sick inside - I mean where she feels things.”
All the adults were shocked when Marian invited Sylvia to stay with them and she meekly went along, leaving her daughter with Robert and Dominique. Marian hesitated, not knowing what to do, but then she looked at Dominique and relaxed, holding Cherine’s hand in hers as they went upstairs.
Robert was trembling inside when he saw Dominique come with him to his apartment. He sat with Wendy against him and looked at her with a confused look. “I’ve been dreaming of holding you in my arms, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get the chance.”
She sat next to him and put her arms around him and Wendy, resting her head on his shoulder. “We have to wait for Cherine Roberto.”
“What do you mean! She’s just a child.”
“No, we’re the children, not her. Tonight we’ll sleep with Wendy between us so that she feels loved.”
“What makes you think I’ll sleep with you in my bed?”
She laughed, softly. “The healings have exhausted you, you’ll sleep.” To his chagrin he felt himself drifting off as soon as his head was on the pillow, somehow comforted by the feeling of Wendy and Dominique lying by him.
She laughed as she caressed her hair. “Not that I had much choice, he fell asleep the instant he was in bed. Should I feel insulted?”
Earnestly she explained, “The healer took all his energy. How is Wendy?”
“Well…she didn’t make you any promises.”
“What do you mean?”
Dominique frowned. “The instant she woke up this morning she tried to get Roberto to make love to her.” She giggled. “You should have seen how shocked he looked.” She glanced back at Robert who was sitting with Wendy on his lap and turned serious. “She seems to think Robert is her father. I don’t think she knows she’s been healed.”
Cherine bit her lip. “I can’t feel her.” She pulled out of Dominique’s arms and going to Robert softly touched Wendy. She solemnly looked at Cherine and then surprised her with a tentative smile. Cherine laughed with delight. “We’re sisters! All three of us, we’re sisters.” Dominique’s face melted with love and she joined them.
“Are you trying to confuse me? Cherine, not even a good morning?”
She gave Dominique a wise look. “He’s grouchy because he hasn’t had a coffee.”
Dominique had a giggling fit. “She’s already talking like a wife.”
“Dominique!”
“We are you know, all three of us. Cherine, where is her mother?”
“Alki arranged with my mum’s boss for her to take the day off. She’s taken Sylvia to her hotel to get her things in Alki’s car.”
Dominique dramatically moaned. “That means they’ll be back here soon. We’re going to have to wait.”
Cherine gave a startled grin and rushed to the phone. “Alki, it’s Cherine, good morning. Can you keep Sylvia and my mum busy today, we need time alone with Wendy.” She ended off by thanking him while Robert and Dominique stared at her in shock. She looked back at them with a grin. “What?”
“You’re the monster, not me.”
“Then you must be the freak.” She burst out giggling and Dominique joined her.
“Dammit, I need a coffee!”
“Bring Wendy to our bed, you can have a coffee afterwards.” Both the girls were enjoying his obvious shock, but he was like putty and let them lead him back to bed. He placed Wendy on the bed and Cherine undressed her. She pulled at her hand until she got to her feet and led her to a mirror.
“See? You are fixed. You’re beautiful again. Robert, she’s too skinny, why didn’t your healer fix that?”
“We’ll feed her until she’s fat Cherine, now bring her back to us, we have a man to undress.”
Cherine shook her head. “No, first me.” She quickly took off her clothes and pulling at Wendy they both climbed back onto the bed. She tried to give Wendy a hug, but she turned to Robert. Robert turned to protest to Dominique, but saw she was also taking off her clothes.
“They both need to be loved Roberto - by both of us.”
“God, this is crazy!” He did not fight them when they undid his clothes and pulled them off.
“Cherine first.”
“No, Wendy.”
“No, this time belongs to you. Roberto, look at her, I’ve never seen such a big bump!”
Robert moaned and as he lay down Cherine climbed onto him, the feeling of warm skin sliding against warm skin delighting them both. She held his cheeks with both hands. “I love you Robert.” She brought her lips to his and kissed him and pulled back. “It will not be my first time Robert, I’ve felt people making love all my life. Don’t be afraid.” She waited until she felt him accept it and she gave a cheeky smile. “First I want to see all of you and then I want to see Dominique.” Dominique blushed.
Cherine had spent years wondering about the feelings she sensed from all around her, curiosity about the physical side of it far stronger than it usually is in a child of her age. The first thing she learnt was that she liked the feel of his skin and the male scent she had become more aware of now that they were naked. She explored him with fingers and lips, using her tongue to taste him. She could sense that Robert was uncomfortable and tense, part of him not enjoying it and even afraid - detracting from her own pleasure. She paused and wondered what she should do. She saw that Wendy was lying in Dominique’s arms but was staring at Robert. She looked back at Robert and saw he’d understood why she’d stopped.
“You don’t want to make love to me, do you? Would you prefer Dominique?”
He pulled upwards so that he was half sitting. “The truth is I feel uncomfortable with the idea of making love to you, I’ve always felt contempt for men who molest children. I’m also afraid of hurting you.”
“Why? You have a healer.”
“Roberto, I was not expecting you to take her virginity today, but loving her so that she has an orgasm or two would rid her of the way she thinks of sex. After seeing what happened to the little one she must think it is something ugly.”
Robert took her chin in his hand. “Would you be satisfied with that?”
Cherine pulled back, her eyes blazing. “I don’t want to stay here, I’m going upstairs.” She made to leave and Robert grabbed her.
“Don’t get angry love, nothing is being said that is not because we love you. If you really don’t want to continue, let’s go for some pastries.” He glanced over at Wendy. “Tell you what, the clothes she arrived in are ugly, I’d love to buy her something nice to wear. Would you like to choose something for her?”
Dominique smiled, secretly relieved, “I think we should buy some nice clothes for both of them and go for pastries - we have to fatten this little kitten up. Come on Cherine, my treat.”
Sorry Arthur, you’ll have to wait
“She doesn’t, not really. She just thinks he is a daddy and so she must. His refusing her is terrifying her, she must think he’ll want to hurt her.”
“Do you think Roberto should?”
“No, it would be horrible for him and for me.”
“What about Wendy?”
“I think we first have to teach her what love is.”
The person causing pain to all the viewers and worrying everyone within the ‘life drama’, was Sylvia. At this stage, Robert and Cherine have not grown in their gifts and cannot help her. At first Marian tried to jolly her into bringing some spirit back to her, but then she realised she was bullying the poor woman. She did not feel close to Claire, their cultures were too different and there was too big an age gap, so she asked Alki. He decided he’d have to ask Themi. They all went to the house of Alki with the excuse of having supper, for Themi to examine her without her knowing at this stage.
“There has to be the possibility of a relationship developing between my patient and me. She would find it difficult to open to me as I am too foreign to her. What disturbs me is her lack of interest in her child. It is obvious it is because she feels guilty that she allowed her husband to molest and torture her. If you really want to help her, you should send her back to England for treatment.”
“Excuse me, I’ll come back to you on that.” Alki went looking for Cherine. “Koukla mou, do you feel that Wendy belongs with you, Roberto and Dominique?”
“Not yet but she will. Why?”
“I was just wondering whether we should send her with her mother back to England for treatment. I’d make certain they get the best.”
He noticed her hands curl into fists as she replied, “She mustn’t leave,” so he asked her about Themi, whether he could confide in him about her gift. He painstakingly explained that they are friends and that he trusts him. Alki was not surprised when Robert left those he was talking to and came to them, still carrying Wendy.
“What’s wrong?” Alki was amazed at how close the two of them have grown. He explained and Robert looked unhappy. “The more who know, the less of a secret it becomes. Alki, have you thought of what the governments would do to Cherine if they learn about her gift? I don’t know what to say, we do need help for Wendy.”
Cherine took hold of Alki’s hand with both of hers. “If he is a friend and you trust him, tell him. Wendy comes first. Can you ask him to also try to help Sylvia?”
“He says he can’t. I do trust him Cherine, but the two of you are at risk, the decision must be yours.”
“Robert, please say yes.”
“What of his interest in parapsychology? Is he going to concentrate on Wendy or us?”
“You’ll have to demonstrate your healing gift Roberto. It might be a good idea he does study the two of you, he might have suggestions to strengthen both of you.”
She put her fingers to his face. “Robert.”
He showed his delight, “Yes my love, Robert.”
“Daddy?”
“A good daddy, not like your bad daddy.”
“Daddy coming?”
“No! We’ll never let him come near you again.”
Alki cleared his throat. “Roberto, I’ve had a detective agency in London check. Her father is dead.”
“You hear that baby? He’s dead, gone forever. Do you want me to be your daddy now?” She nodded, her eyes brighter for a moment, the refulgence showing she was aware. She buried her face in his shirt.
Robert said to Alki in Greek, “That is the first time she’s ever talked to us!” He quickly shut up as he felt vibrations against his chest. Alki waved for silence and they heard her humming. She became aware of the silence and stopped. Robert bent down, put her on her feet and knelt before her. “Will you sing for me? You have a lovely voice and I want to hear you sing.”
Cherine softly touched her hand. “Please?”
Shyly she hummed a bit. She closed her eyes and the humming grew louder and as she lost herself in her song they began to sense what the song was about. Tears filled their eyes, the women openly sobbing as the pain became unbearable. Just when they thought they could not stand to hear one more note, it dulled until it was lifeless. It sounded as if it would continue forever, cold, empty and aching but then suddenly the notes soared and it was as if a sun had filled the room, warming their hearts and bringing to them a sense of security, comfort and love. The song died and she opened her eyes and those who could see held their breaths with the wonder of the change. They had become dark blue.
They all went a little bit crazy, even Sylvia coming to her daughter with tears in her eyes. Cherine asked her, “The end, it was Robert?” Shyly she nodded and then looked to see if she had upset him. Well, after that, there was no point in Robert refusing to confide in Themi. They all sat together while Alki told him of what had happened since he’d tested Robert. His excitement was almost palpable.
“Does anybody have a wound - a scar they’d like to lose?” With a slight reddening of his cheeks, Themi opened his shirt and bared a shoulder. Robert hardly glanced at it and pulled up Wendy’s face. “Have you got any scars you want me to get rid of?” She frowned but didn’t answer him. “So Themi, when are you going to show us a scar?” He looked and exclaimed and then rushed to a mirror.
“I’ve had it for over twenty years!”
“Do you want it back?”
“You can do that!”
He laughed and everyone was amused by his theatrics, “Sorry.”
“You are certain your healing power comes from Cherine?”
“Yes. I think that by trying to help me sense emotions she opened doors in my mind.”
“Has it affected you in any way? Anything new?” She shook her head. “I think you’ll find new powers coming to you also. If I’m right, both of you are going to grow. Perhaps the changes will come by themselves or at moments of crisis. Don’t fight them, there is no reason for you to fear them.”
“She is an enchanting creature.”
“I think she sees you as a father figure. She misses her father.”
“I think Robert is more like a father figure. I’ve grown fond of him so I’d better be a grandfather figure. Marian, please be careful not to harm her spirit. I feel she will change and you might find that difficult to adjust to.”
He saw the strain on her face and wondered. Marian was fighting her good conscience. “That first time you took us out for a meal, I acted foolishly. I’m sorry, you did not deserve that, you deserve to be loved.”
He smiled. “I’m too old for any woman to see me that way. I hope you find someone to love, you are young enough to make a new life for yourself.” He smiled again, but his eyes were broody. “Perhaps you’ll also have more children. If they are anything like Cherine…”
“I can’t love. I loved my husband and when he left us, it hurt too much.”
“You are in Greece and too beautiful for the Greek men not to court you. Some lucky man will seduce your heart. Goodnight Marian.”
“Is there any purpose in letting it continue? I think they can grow closer with our help, the important developments have taken place.”
“I don’t agree, Wendy is still too fragile. She needs more time to grow to love them. If we change the world she’s in, she’ll withdraw again.”
All the adults had been ‘in love’ with Cherine until Wendy sang. She had brought out the protector instincts in all of them and it was rarely that a day passed without one of them or more just ‘happening’ to pass by and they’d cheerfully suggest taking them out to a café - and then they’d buy toys, games or clothes for both little girls. The experiences and secret they shared drew the adults closer and they included Marian and Sylvia.
Robert took to visiting places of interest in and around Athens, even if only to sit in the sun or go for a walk along the beach so as to have time to themselves. Dominique suggested to Cherine that she take Wendy to play or talk on their own as she was convinced that Wendy would find it easier to talk to her. Since Cherine was emoting love it did not take long for a special closeness to grow between them. Wendy was crouching over some glistening pebbles, as if interested in them, when she asked Cherine her first question. “Why doesn’t Robert love me?
“He does love you! Sometimes it makes me a little bit jealous because I think he loves you more than he loves me. I’m not really jealous because I also love you so much.”
“I mean, why doesn’t he do like my daddy did?”
“Because he loves you.” She crouched next to her and whispered, “I also want him to love me that way but he is afraid of hurting us.”
“But daddy hurt me because he loved me.”
“No! He did not love you or your mummy. He was a nasty man.”
Wendy thought about it for a moment. “You also want him to put it in you?”
“And Dominique?”
“Yes, and her. Hey, you know what, she’s big enough, maybe we can get him to put his thing in her, it won’t hurt her. I think she wants him to very much.” Wendy thought to herself, ‘but it hurt mummy’, but she kept quiet.
Dommi demanded we end it here, she did not want Dominique being the first. It was decided they should first be given an explanation. Alki ‘suggested’ to Alki that he calls them all for supper at his house. We let them enjoy their meal and chats and then Dommi joined them, emoting her mother love for all she was worth while Noelle and Irene sent calming emoting.
“I’m the Dominique from your dreams. Dominique, I am not from your future, I am an alternate” She explained and they were fascinated. “The way things were going in your reality, there was a danger that Robert and Cherine would never meet and love each other. With your prior agreement we put all of you to sleep and suggested a background that explained you living in the same block of flats. From there onwards all the decisions and emotions were yours, we did not try to influence you at all. However, it is now time you all return to your Athens as this one was specially created for you. How would you like me to end this? I could speak a sentence that would bring back all the memories we blocked or else, my family, your alternates, could join us for a visit first. It would help all of you if they come.”
Cherine had not really heard most of what was said, she was enthralled by what she sensed from Dommi. “My Dominique will be like you?”
“Maybe even nicer - she has been up to now. Actually, all of you have been nicer than we were and that is why we had to stop you.” She smiled at Robert. “You are wrong, I did say we ‘were’ not that we are worse than you. No Robert who has a Cherine could be evil.”
They were divided in their wishes so we took the initiative and Wendy jumped to them. From the moment she arrived, Wendy began her song. She sang her own song of pain but built on it so that they flowed from tears into an ecstasy of love. Our Wendy is not as skinny and perfect health has given her a lucent glow the other does not have yet, but they were both the same age in appearance. She hugged Wendy. “Can you feel that I am the same as you, that I have known your pain but have changed? My love, I changed because of Robert, Cherine and Dominique, just as is happening to you. Sylvia, my mother died, but Robert brought her back for me, she is eager to meet you. Now, ready or not, here are our own Robert and Cherine.”
Cherine: Why have you done this to me?
We helped open doors in their Cherine and then left it to her to open the doors in Robert and the others. As has been said, she already had the memories of our Cherine to the point before she met Robert. Our Cherine shared much more, but they were not imprinted, just shared, so that she is aware of them as not being hers, just a guide to see her through the early years. As for Robert, his compulsions are not as ‘desperate’ as those of our Robbie and many other Roberts, but his Cherine and Dominique are happy with him as he is. The one thing we did teach them is how to help Wendy - which meant Robert had to learn how to enter her mind and play puppy. She has blossomed and is adored by all. Sylvia we helped, our Sylvia helping mostly by sharing and opening her heart. It did mean she first had to remember to believe in herself.
We are returning to Jina’s reality, at the time of Jina. The new Teller family will not be introduced or seen until we have reached their time, but they will watch from Freddie.
Jina was right. Jetrol is no longer the way she described him. His hate and fear of us has brought out all the qualities of leadership she saw in him. He no longer is the typical dowdy politician and has built up quite a following throughout the world. She was also right about his wife, she is a nice woman. She recognised that his obsessive hate of us was a problem of his and not based on fact. They have divorced and that has made him even more vitriolic in his attacks. As long as he does not team up with the equivalent of a local Campbell, I guess we can live with the controversy he stirs up.
He was sitting on a barstool on the verandah drinking with two men dressed as white hunters. She walked up to him and tapped his arm. He looked down at her and rather abruptly asked what she wanted.
“Do you know how to take instructions?”
He didn’t believe he’d heard correctly. “What? Speak up girl.”
“You’ve put on a lot of weight, is that from living the good life?” The other men laughed, annoying Jan.
“Who are your parents, they certainly haven’t taught you any manners!”
“That is exactly what I thought the first time I met you. Jan, follow me.” She walked into the lobby and sat at a table with four seats. She knew he could see her from his stool and she stared at him. It was obvious the other men were making fun of him and he was becoming angrier. He slammed his drink on the bar and came to her with a fierce scowl that was meant to frighten her. She laughed and pointed at a chair. “Go on, sit down, I won’t bite you.” She tipped her head. “You certainly aren’t observant.”
He looked around. “Who sent you?”
“Jina.”
“God!” He was on his feet and backing away from her before he even realised what he was doing.
“Your friends are going to think you are afraid of me - how are you going to live down the humiliation?”
He stepped closer and stared at her. “You’re Jina? Jesus, this is fucking crazy!”
“The men at the Robyn pipe are stealing all the biggest stones. Is this how you protect our business?”
He shivered and sat down again, his face hard. “How do you know?”
“I see what I want to see Jan. I’m not here for that reason, I just thought I’d pay you a visit.”
They talked for half an hour and his body language made it obvious to all that he was being defensive and arguing heatedly. She sat back with a smile. “Since we’ve dealt with the business problems, let’s deal with the farms over a meal - I’ve been looking forward to a Norfolk curry.”
They ordered and when the side plates with the shredded coconut, diced tomato, banana slices and so on arrived, she helped herself. “I want a study of what it will cost to rehabilitate the farms. I want all farming to stop, we must remove the machinery and raze the buildings. Provide an area for the local workers to farm for themselves, close to their village. The rest must revert to the way it was before the land was cleared for farming. Find an expert to plan it Jan.”
“You’re throwing away millions!”
She shrugged. “With food machines the farms are not needed anymore. What the rehabilitation costs is an obligation.” She stared at him deep in thought and he tensed up. “Would you like to visit Freddie?”
When she returned she was kidded, accused of making Jan look as if he was involved with a child. Robbie waited until we’d moved on to other subjects. “Gina, I did not sense you checking the mines - how do you know they are stealing?”
“Would you like to take over the examining of the ADFI accounts I have to spend days poring over?”
She grinned at him. “Not really.”
“I thought you love me!” She laughed at his flagrant emotional blackmail and clambered onto his lap. He was soon happily rubbing his hands up and down her little thighs. We all dread the day, should it come, that he loses his fascination with our childish bodies and prefers us as women, it just won’t be the same. Thank goodness my future self provided us with some comfort in that direction.
Normally we would have visited just at intervals for checking all is well until we got to the target date, but we could not do so for Gina wanted to keep a check on her businesses. She decides whether we should jump a month or more and then we jump. She stayed on Earth a few times because she felt she was missing too much of the early years of little Samantha. I doubt she could have loved that little girl more if she truly were her daughter. It is just as well she spent most of her times with Samantha apart from us, or else she might have been drawn in to our family circle. Since my Gina loves her so much, I cannot help thinking of her as my granddaughter and I spend time with her also. She has a sweet disposition so it is easy to love her.
The Tsar sent a message through his cousin, asking for Jina. At least they did not specify flights and so on, just giving a time and date to be present in his palace. Gina asked me to go with. She went as Jina, an adult, and I went at my customary age, twelve. As soon as we arrived, he took her fingers in his hand and kissed the back of her hand without his lips actually touching her skin. He kept his eyes on me as he did, so I took my turn and then we were seated and tea served.
“I trust this meeting has nothing to do with our business arrangement, as my brother Edti and his son Pol handle it now.”
He smiled. “But you remain the power behind the throne?”
I laughed. “If you enjoy playing with words you should have asked for Robert.”
“It would be a pleasure to meet him again. Jina, I asked to meet you for two reasons. First of all, a cousin of mine needs your help, both his children are very ill. Unfortunately it is hereditary, can you help?”
“Of course. How urgent is it - should we see to them first?” He didn’t know that this was a test; even if their lives were not in danger, but they were suffering, and he said they could wait, we would not be feeling quite as friendly. The way he replied did not prove his attitude one way or the other.
“I have brought them here. I am very fond of them so it would ease my mind if you did not mind healing them first.” He insisted we finish the tea (that we did not want) and took us to their room. The father and mother of the children were cousins and since the genetic problem was present in both, the children paid for it. Delicate without being really pretty, the girl was about seven and the boy nine. We sent our healers to them and sat to talk to them. The kids could only talk Russian and French, so we used French. The boy surprised us by pleading for a visit to Freddie. The parents were afraid, but after seeing their children healed they did not feel they could refuse when we offered. We arranged to collect them the next day within that same room and left with the Tsar.
“You have another problem?”
“Not a problem, just a question. It is obvious you have changed our world and there are further changes coming in the near future. We need to know, what is the attitude of your people to the monarchy?”
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