Fate and Karma burst out laughing.
Mother Nature frowned. “What are you… Never mind. I’m not an idiot. I do have faults. I don’t like to admit it, since I’m clearly awesome. But you’re right, there are things I could do to improve myself. Such as my approach to problems. But you understand how frustrating my problems are, don’t you? I’m trying to save this planet while people are determined to destroy it! How would you deal with that? What if all your soul mates just refused to recognize their hunger for each other and went on a rampage against love?”
“Idoknow what that’s like, Sister. It’s very upsetting. There are those who think romance indicates weakness. They couldn’t be more wrong. It takes real strength to put yourself out there and allow someone to know every part of you. The good, the bad, the ugly… Love usually brings out the beautiful and best in people. How crazy is it that some people just turn their backs on it because of their flawed thinking?”
Gaia nodded. “I guess you do understand in a way. Butyoudon’t have a partner. How do you cope without a companion or partner to share your frustrations with? How do you deal with the exact same thing you’re handling for others every day?”
“Who says I am dealing with this alone?” Fate winked.
“Oh? You’ve been holding out on me?”
Fate smiled and shrugged. “There are a few little things you don’t know about me.”
“Apparently so!” Karma said. “I didn’t even know about this.”
“Fate, I really don’t think I can handle this whole process,” Gaia said.
“Are you saying that humans and paranormals, the very beings you looked down upon, are able to do something you can’t?”
Mother Nature clenched her fists, trying to hold in her frustration. She tried and tried until it exploded. “Gaaah!” A huge wind blew up and swirled around the mountain. A glider almost got caught in it and headed for the ground immediately, choosing a safe landing while the pilot still could.
Fate crossed her arms. “I’ll leave you to contemplate your possible faults. And I hope you will learn there are some things about the lives of humans and paranormals that require a great deal of bravery. Sometimes, making oneself vulnerable is the hardest thing to do.”
Gaia sank down onto her rock and waved her sisters off. “Go now. I need to think.”
Chapter 9
While Ruth was in her room, packing for her trip to Puerto Rico, Aaron paced across his own bedroom, ignoring the empty suitcase on his bed. Should he go too? Was he apt to run into a certain overly helpful deity there? Of course he should. His daughter needed him. Or did she? Her sister was also a doctor, and they were best friends.
His mind wandered. He couldn’t forget the natural beauty and vulnerability of the goddess, nay,womanhe now knew was Gaia herself. It was amazing that he’d even met her. The powerful goddess was intimidating without realizing it. He understood why so many were afraid of her and why she was lonely.
He had to admit, he was lonely too.
Since he couldn’t stop thinking about her, he had to question whether or not he might need that little heart-shaped plant’s cure too.No.He was not brokenhearted. And even if he was, he’d never try an untested new medicine.Not until it’s analyzed, compared to similar chemical formulas, and deemed safe.If the process lasted as long as he figured it would,timewould take care of the sadness and loss.
Ruth had been hinting she’d like to move to Puerto Rico permanently, to be near Kizzy. She had come right out and asked Aaron, if she did, would he consider moving too?
He was tempted. There wasn’t much to hold him to Massachusetts if his dear daughters were both in Puerto Rico. Also, there was the matter of the plants. Regulations wouldn’t allow him to take them off the island. That meant if he wanted to continue his work on the discovery of the century, he’d have to do it there.
But with so many scientific requirements, could it be done? Was there a compounding pharmacy down there? Many businesses had been destroyed in the hurricane; he couldn’t be sure what was still up and running.
“You haven’t started packing yet?”
He jumped. He’d been so preoccupied, he hadn’t heard Ruth come in.
“I—I don’t know how to pack for a month. I’m not sure I have enough clothing.”
Ruth burst out laughing. “There’s such a thing as doing laundry—even if we have to find a river and beat it on a rock.” She chuckled and shook her head. “You really are hopeless, Dad.”
Odd that she used that word.He felt hopeless sometimes…but never more than now.
* * *
“Is it safe to talk with you?” Fate’s voice asked.
“No. That’s it! I’m done with internet dating,” Gaia announced to the ether.
Fate popped in and patted Mother Nature on the shoulder. “There, there. I’m so sorry it didn’t work out with the basketball player. Let’s try something a little different.”
