Crissa's Mate

Chapter Sixty-Three

There was a little girl inside her that wanted to come clean now with her mother. To tearfully tell her all she had been through since Germany. To share with her and receive her mother's advice about what to do. Even to admit she was now deeply in love.

"Yes. Mom . . . Everything is  fine . . . relatively speaking."

"Well, you don't sound so fine, darling. Is there something you need to tell me?"

Crissa paused. It took all her strength, all her new found confidence which had been put through every cruel test to decline her mother's maternal offer.

"No Mom.  I'm just really tied. Got a huge day tomorrow . . . and actually all  this weekend. Don't think you'll see me . . . until it's over."

"Until what's over, sweetie?

"The weekend, Mom. I'm OK, alright?"

"Well . . . tomorrow's Friday. You can certainly come home to study. You haven't spent much time with us or in that redecorated bedroom of yours."

Crissa was on the verge of tears. She knew she had to get off the phone before her mother's power finally broke her emotions down. She gathered her last bit of strength to do so.

"Thanks, Mom . . . I appreciate all you and dad are doing for me. It's just about growing up, OK? I'll be alright. Tell dad I'm really sorry to hear about the cabin. There's a lot of crime around . . . even near the campus these days."

"Ok then, darling. You get your rest. I'll tell your father you know nothing about the cabin."

"Good, Mom. Thanks."

"Goodnight, darling."

"Night, Mom."

Crissa could see there was immediately another call coming into her phone. To her surprise and tearful relief, it was David.

"David?"

"Yeah, it's me. Sorry about the blackout. Had me pretty worried when the captain told us we might stay longer out here."

"God, David!"

But we're on our way in now. Weather looks bad so we're playing it safe."

"Will you . . . be back by . . ."

"Should be in port sometime tomorrow afternoon. Friday. I know the moon is pretty full right now, Crissa. Believe me, I see it every night.  Not much else to look at on the sea."

"David . . . you're down to just two nights! Tomorrow's . . . and next evening!  I'm so worried for you, my love."

"That makes two of us, Angel. Would have been in last night, but the captain wanted to empty a couple more crab traps before the storm hits."

"Just get into port safe tomorrow, David. Please!"

"Believe me, that's the plan, sweet one."

"Will you call me when you're close to docking?"

"Yeah. Just have a few tacos or hamburgers ready for me. And maybe a cold beer or two."

"Food is the last thing on my mind, David. Just getting you back safe and out of sight by tomorrow night is all I can think of. But don't worry, I'll put together a tasty Care package for you."

"I hope a few sexy kisses are first on the menu. I've really missed you . . ."

Crissa could feel the tears starting to flow again.

"I missed you too. Just get into port . . . and call me, my love."

"Alright, Captain, Crissa. We're on our way."

* * *

Somehow, Crissa managed to get several erratic hours of sleep before her alarm coaxed her to consciousness, and all that awaited her that day. Quickly showering and dressing, she heard Trisha's voice as she passed by her bed.

"Crissa, when you get in today, can you bring me some food?  I just don't think I can face classes today. I'm so depressed. I don't even want to get out of bed."

Crissa stood in the doorway with her book bag over her shoulder and a thousand seemingly unsolvable issues plaguing her mind. She was boiling at the thought that Trisha actually believed she  had real problems. To keep the peace and their cordial relationship, however, she felt the best policy with her was to just comply, and show what ever empathy she could.

"Sure, Trish," Crissa repied mechanically. "But it won't be until this afternoon. I'm off to a really full and hectic day."

"And something sweet, OK? . . . Maybe some cake! I'm totally trashing my diet because if this."

"Right, Trish. Maybe some cake, too."

As Crissa headed out to class she literally ran into one of the girls on the walkway whom she had met in the wolf conservation group.

"Hey, Crissa . . . Will we see you later today?" the older, blonder girl asked.

"Yeah . . . Hi . . . Biology building. At noon, right?"

"That's it. See you there. We have to kick these hunters' asses!"

"I totally agree," Crissa replied, breaking into a run for the humanities building.

* * *