Bee Happy (19 page)

  The next morning the phone rang early, and Jim was in the kitchen making breakfast.  Looking at the caller id Jim picked up the phone hoping that this time he would be able to hear the person on the other end.  “Hello.  This is Jim.  Who is this?”  “Jim, can you hear me?”  At last the call had a clear connection, “Yes, I can hear you.  What’s your name?”  “Hey, buddy, don’t you recognize my voice?  It’s you
r
old friend Glen from the institute.  Remember we worked on the grant
together back in the dark ages?
  I’m calling to see if you’re up to another go at it.”  Memories of working in a lab, recording data, measuring frequencies, setting up protocol flooded back along with the unpleasant times of being released from his position and ….  “... Are you still there?  I’m working on a project here in Munich for the government.  They are determined to make contact with life on another planet, they don’t care which planet they just want contact.  And I’m authorized to hire anyone I believe would contribute to making it happen.  And you are the only one I know who can do that.”  
There was a rush of enthusiasm that flowed through his body, from head to toe and back up again.  This surprised him, no it actually shocked him.  He had buried that desire many years ago, and thought it was totally dead, but today he knew that it wasn’t.  The scientist in him wanted to make that connection, wanted to make the people on planet earth understand that they aren’t’ the only ones in the universe. “Talk to me Jim, let me know you’re still breathing!”  Glen always had a sense of humor; he’d give him that for sure.  “I’m here.  You have no idea what a shock this is for me.  I thought my days as a scientist were over long ago.  Can you fax me more information?  I’m intrigued and spinning with excitement.”  They discussed the rest of the details and Jim turned on his fax machine.  Last night he thought he’d had the happiest day of his life, and now this morning he knew it was continuing exponentially.  Just wait until Sally hears about this!  He stopped himself short.  So it’s totally true, he’s in love with Sally.  She was the first person he wanted to tell about this, not Calli.  Oh, boy, this is going to be a three ring circus if we don’t get all of this out on the table soon.  The fax machine started spitting out sheets of paper.  Page after page filled the intake box.  Jim started reading and the more he read, the more excited he became.  The Germans were very precise people and very determined to achieve their goal.  They had an open account, money was not the problem, they needed the right people and Jim knew that he was the right one.  His passion continued to build as he read more and more about the project. 

  He grabbed all the pages and headed to town.  He didn’t care if Sally’s boss was in or not.  He wanted her to be the first to see this proposal and wanted her to be as excited as he was.  Sally was sitting at her desk when Jim opened the door.  She saw the look on his face and the bright red color in his aura.  He definitely is excited about something.  “Hi, can you take a break and look at this with me?  I ‘d like to go someplace private, it’s extremely important.”  “Of, course; let’s go into the conference room down the hall.  What has you so all excited this morning, are you remembering last night?”  She prayed that was the reason,
her hormones were in overdrive seeing him this morning.  “Oh, yes I am.  But there
’s
more, just wait until you see.  I finally got to talk to the guy who’s been calling from Germany.”  They closed the door and since there weren’t any windows and no one could watch them, Jim grabbed her and kissed her.  “Well, I guess you do remember last night.”  Blushing, Sally sat down and pulled him along with her.  “Show me what has you all hot and bothered besides me.”  Jim proceeded to tell her about the project and the offer that he had to work with Glen.  All of his travel expenses would be paid and he’d have free housing plus a generous salary.  As Sally watched him explain everything she knew that he was going to accept this offer and soon.  What about them?  She didn’t want to lose him so quickly.  “…and here’s the best part, I can take my wife with me.”  With that said he looked her in the eyes, “I know this is sudden, but I’ve never been one to wait around when I know something is right.  You and I belong together, and we belong together working on this project.  They believe that it’s all about science, but I know that you have some of the missing elements that will make all of this happen.  Your psychic abilities and your spiritual wisdom are what
are
needed to keep this project headed in the right direction.  And without you, I don’t want to go.  Please be as spontaneous as I believe you are.  Say ‘yes’. And let’s fly to Munich as soon as we can.”  Sally knew what she wanted to say, but also knew that they had to talk to Brent and Calli before they could make plans for themselves.  “Yes, I’ll marry you and fly off to Germany but on one condition.”  His heart fell, what else could she want from him?  “What?
” he held his breath, not wanting to k
now what she was going to ask
him
to do?
  “You have to agree to meet with Calli and Brent tonight and tel
l them everything.  I
won’t go ahead with any of this
until we have talked to our friends.  Are you willing to do that?”  Jim knew she was right; his
too was
concern
ed about
hurting Calli
.  A
nd Brent had become a very good friend
to him
in such a short time.  “Yes, let’s get it over with.  But I’m not sure how to tell them.  That’s what scares me.  I don’t want a
ny hard feelings and I want both of them
to remain our best friends.”  They stayed in the conference room until they had agreed on a plan and the gentlest way to tell them what was happening.  “I’ll call them and make a date to meet at the town square park tonight.  I want this to be on neutral ground, not at anyone’s home.  Oh, Jim, I’ve dreamed of this day, being with you as your wife, but I didn’t know that we’d become international travelers together.  Maybe even galactic travelers if that is possible.”  One last kiss and they parted, Jim to go to the bank and Sally to call their friends. 

  Brent knew that he wasn’t going to be writing his story about Jim.  He felt that fate was on his side, he was ready to propose to Calli and buy the newspaper and live here forever in Evergreen.  He headed to the bank to make sure the money from the sale of his stoc
k had been deposited.  Then he’d
go to the newspaper office and buy the paper. 
Whistling as he approached the bank, he saw Jim’s van parked in front.  That’s strange; he said he was going to work in the orchard today.  He must have changed his mind.  As Brent was about to enter the bank, Jim came out whistling.  “Hey, fancy meeting you here.  What are you doing?  I thought you were going to work in the orchard to
day?”  “Oh, I’m going back soon
.  Are you going to buy the newspaper this morning?” 
Brent grinned,
“As soon as I make sure I have the cash to do it.”  Jim knew that this was the perfect time to talk to his friend.  He didn’t want to wait until tonight.  “…ah, could you meet me at the c
offee shop after you’re through?
  I have something to tell you.  I finally got to talk to the guy from Germany.” 
Brent agreed,
“Sure, this won’t take long.” 

  Jim ordered breakfast; he’d been in such a hurry he’d forgotten to eat.  He was finishing up his stack of pancakes when Brent arrived.  “I’m all set to buy the newspaper.  Will this take long?  I’m anxious and want to make sure no one else beats me to this!”  Jim took a sip of coffee trying to prolong his speech as long as he could.  “I have something to tell you and it’s not the easiest thing I’ve ever had to do.  In fact it’s probably one of the hardest things.  Brent, you’ve become a good friend in such a short time and I want you to know how much I value our friendship.  I would never do anything that would upset you and I hope that what I’m about to tell you won’t.” Brent was puzzled, what in the world could he say tha
t would damage their friendship?
  In the back of his mind, he scrambled to figure out how to tell Jim about Calli and him.  “I know that I told you at the first that Calli was my girl and that you should stay away.”  Oh, no, here it comes he’s going to
tell me to back off, how would he know about us?  Brent started sweating even though the air conditioning was working.  “I like Calli a lot.  She’s a really good friend and we’ve had some great dates.  But here’s what’s happened in the past few weeks, I’ve gotten to know Sally better and better, and well….”  This was going to be the hard part, “I’m in love with Sally and not Calli.”  There he’d said it.  Now it was public knowledge. 
Brent exhaled, he wasn’t even aware that he’d been holding his breath.  “Wow!  That’s awesome man.  I mean ….” Now it was Brent’s turn not to know how to tell Jim.  “I’m happy for you.  And I have something to tell you that’s just as important.  This is going to sound like a repeat.  I know that you were dating Calli and I also know that she liked you a lot.  But here’s what happened, I … we….
u
m…I’m in love with Calli and she’s in love with me.”  The two guys just looked at each other in amazement.  This was the most unusual experience for both of them.  “You mean that you and Calli…..”  Jim was dumbfounded; he had been so focused on Sally that he hadn’t noticed that Calli was into Brent.  Both of them stood up, slapped each other on the back and had a few laughs.  “Sally and I made a plan and figured out a way to tell you two tonight, but that’s not necessary now.”  Brent saw the opportunity to have some fun.  “What if we play along and then string the girls along for awhile, making it uncomfortable for them as it was for us?”  Jim thought about it for all of two seconds, “Naw, I don’t think that’s a good plan.  We might be in deep trouble with our women.  Let’s just tell them and then we all can live happily ever after.” 

  Jim showed Brent the papers from the project in Germany.  They discussed all the possibilities and the opportunity that Jim had.  “What are you going to do with your farm? And the apple orchard?”  Jim scratched his head, “I’m not sure.  Any great ideas?  I’m open.” 
Brent shook his head
.  “I’ll think about it.  Great minds can always come up with a plan.” 

  Brent left the coffee shop feeling like he’d just won the lottery.  He headed for the newspaper office planning to become the editor in chief as soon as possible.  Maybe he could convince the owner to stick around for a few weeks and show him the ropes.  This was a great day to be alive and an even better day to be in Evergreen.  He could hardly wait until tonight when the four of them got together in the park.  It was going to be quite the evening.  He wasn’t going to tell Calli a thing, at least he’d have that much fun and hopefully it wouldn’t get him in too much trouble.

  The
moon made the park seem like daylight.  Calli arrived first and hoped that this evening would end with everyone remaining friends.  She’d fretted about it all day, there wasn’t a weed in her entire garden and her back ached with all the hoeing she
’d
done.  Sally pulled up in her car.  Parked and saw her friend, she prayed that they’d still be friends after tonight.  Getting out of her car, she walked up to Calli and gave her a hug.  “Can we talk before the guys get here?”  Sally wasn’t going to wait any longer she had to get this off her chest.  “Sure. What’s up?”  Taking a deep breath, Sally began, “I know that you and Jim have been dating for awhile and I also know that I told you about my vision of the two of you getting married and being happy. Plus you had that dream of you walking down the aisle with Jim at the front of the church.  I was the one who convinced you to at least attempt to get to know him. And from what I can tell you two like each other a lot.”  Calli was getting very uncomfortable, she didn’t know where this was going and she hoped that her friend would understand.  “….and then Brent appeared with all the reporter stuff and I think Jim got jealous for some reason and began to pay attention to me.  I didn’t plan this and I didn’t even want to see the vision I was getting about my future.  I couldn’t tell you before but I hav
e to tell you now.  My vision has been
showing me and Jim being together and
the two of us are
living the
‘
happy ever after dream
’
.”  At least Calli wasn’t crying or getting ready to hit her or   … wait a minute, she didn’t even look mad, she was actually smiling and almost laughing.  Calli stood
up and
grabbed Sally in a bear hug.  “Oh, my God!  You aren’t going to believe me, but maybe you will with all your psychic abilities.  Brent and I are in love.  We want to get married and live our
very own
‘
happy ever after dream
’
.  And you’re telling me that you and Jim are there too!”  They
laughed and cried and then laughed again.  Each one of them couldn’t believe what was happening.  “So, are we going to tell the guys or let them suffer a little?”  Calli
was being the instigator of this idea
.  “Nope, I’m ready for all of this to be in the open and ready to start planning our wedding.  I haven’t even told you the best news yet.  Jim talked to the guy in Germany and he is being offered a position on a research project to create communication and contact with other worlds.”  

  When the guys arrived they saw their women laughing and hugging and from a distance it seemed that everything was okay.  Jim grabbed Sally and turned to see Brent grab Calli.  The four of them stood and looked at each other, wondering how the universe had arranged this meeting and how lucky they were to have found love and their best friends all in the same package.  There was no need for the ‘plan’ to be carried out, they
all
agreed to go to the Dairy Barn and celebrate with their favorite sundaes.  The girls linked arms and began discussing their weddings.  The guys rolled their eyes and stuck out their tongues.  Ick. That was girl talk.