Storm Chaser: Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Later, when Andre had returned to his drawings, Elena sat on Mateo’s couch while he began to unpack the crates.

“It isn’t so bad actually,” Mateo said. “Nate was never really in Therese’s aegis so who he marries is less of a concern for her.” Mateo looked up at Elena, a sarcastic grin on his face. For a second Elena was reminded of old pictures of their grandfather.

‘Except for the eyebrow of course,’ Elena thought. Mateo’s left eyebrow had a scar cutting across it. ‘Without that they could have passed for twins.’

“Of course I was informed I needed to set my sights higher.”

“Uh, huh,” Elena said shaking her head. “Did you tell her you were holding out for a pot head?”

“You could at least pretend not to know my best lines.” Mateo said with a fake pout.

“Sorry, of course,” Elena corrected. “And what was your of so wise and noble comment to this suggestion of our dear cousin Therese?” Elena tried for serious but broke out into a grin midway through. Mateo grabbed a pillow from the chair near him and threw it at her. “I don’t think she has to worry.”

“About me not marrying up?” Mateo asked.

“About you marrying.”
“I could marry,” Mateo said.

“Uh huh.” Mateo had always been known for flitting from woman to woman like a hummingbird in a field of flowers.

“It could happen,” Mateo said. “Eventually.”

“Whatever you say.”

“It isn’t like your are rushing to the alter either,” he said.

“True enough,” Elena replied, thinking over her last few boyfriends. While they had all been fun in their own way none of them had been people she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She shrugged.

“Of course this way we can both end up in the old folks home together and have wheelchair races in the corridors.”

“True,” Elena said. “As long as Therese gets married and ends up in some other nursing home. Otherwise I am allowed to play senile and run over her toes every chance I get.”

“Only the left one. As I am older I have prior claim to the right.”

“You are only older by three days,” Elena said tossing the pillow back at him.

“Still counts.” Mateo extracted a large box from inside the crate and set it carefully aside. A few other boxes had been treated likewise while his tools had received less care in their placement.

“So what exactly is this thing of yours supposed to do?”

“Well,” Mateo said, brightening as he focused on a new invention. “In layman’s terms, since you think technology consists of a big red magic button. You know how when a channel is opened it is almost as if the ship is sliding down? Almost like it was going over a waterfall?”

“I do know that magic red buttons come in a variety of sizes,” Elena told him. “And yeah, it is the point where gravity takes over. But that is only in a sky to land channel. It is different land to sky or sky to sky.”

“Exactly,” Mateo continued, ignoring the red button logic. “Well you mentioned that the one that was drawing you the most in your dreams and on the ship, so I worked on that one first.” Mateo paused. “You did mention that you knew it was sky to land on ship and not just in dreams right?”

“Yes,” Elena said with a nod. “I made notes in my log book but copied them out for you. They are at the store.”

“Good well these will work then. This system is designed to act as a dam against the waterfall effect. It should stop the ship from being pulled into the new channel while we study it. That way you won’t have to divide your energies between guiding the ship and the new channel.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Elena said turning it over in her head. Part of her energy drain had come from her trying to keep the ship on course and open the channel at the same time. Since normally the newly opened channel was the ship’s course it had been difficult. Elena’s cell phone rang, jarring her out of her thoughts.

“Go ahead and answer it,” Mateo told her as he reached for another crate. As the number was from the imports store she clicked the button to receive the call.

“Hello, Elena?” Susan’s voice rolled out at Elena’s greeting.

“Yes, is something wrong Susan?”
“No at least I don’t think so. Your grandfather is here and he has asked to see you and your cousin. I told him you had taken a personal day but he did say he needed to see you.”

“Of course Susan,” Elena said. “Tell him we’ll be right over.” Elena hung up and stood.

“Problems?” Mateo asked.

“Grandfather is in town early and wants to see us now. He also didn’t call me directly on his own cell phone.”

“I’ll get my coat.”