As often happens, life interferes with love, and it does so when you would least desire for it to interfere. I had met and loved Kristen, and we had loved together, and so many things had been said and promised and alluded to. Then, business called me away for several months of travel. Up and down the east coast. Through the southern states. There lived a conspiracy against my ever returning to the Pacific Northwest. Until one day, early in summer, business would again send me to southern Oregon.
I was concerned about seeing her. We had stayed in touch, but our businesses, too, conspired together to keep us apart. Because of the pressures, I had not called, and now several weeks had passed with no contact. I was not looking forward to our initial conversation.
"This is Kristen," said the voice on the cell phone. "Hello?"
"Hi, Kristen, this is Stan."
"Hi, Stan, where are you? And what are you doing, and who are you doing it with?" She spoke clearly into the phone with her business tone and a smile in her voice.
"Actually, I just landed at the airport, care to have lunch?" I replied.
"Love to, if I can have an hour to get some things off my desk." Her answer relieved me. I was afraid that she would have other things to do after my extended absence from her life.
"Where would you like to meet?" I asked.
"I'll pick you up at the airport."
"Great, I will make some calls and be waiting out front." And I closed the phone.
Just over an hour later, her white SUV pulled up and I slid into the passenger seat after depositing my bag in the back seat. "Where are you staying?" she asked as I leaned across the seat for a quick kiss.
"I haven't decided yet," I said "Probably the Windmill or one of those places near here."
"Okay, then, where to for lunch?" she asked.
"I am at your mercy, M'lady, you pick."
"Not wanting to make decisions, are we?" She smiled.
"Nope, just want to look at you while you drive." I smiled back and settled in to admire her curves. She was wearing a lightweight summer dress in a pretty yellow color that contrasted wonderfully with her tan legs because the skirt had ridden up as she drove. A pair of delicate white sandals and matching purse did much to add to the very alluring picture I was being presented with.
As she negotiated traffic in the small town, she cast me an occasional sidelong glance and finally asked. "So, where have you been? And why have I heard so little from you since your last visit?"
"So much going on, and as time passed… I wanted to call, and I kept putting it off. Then I didn't want to deal with possible anger and hurt feelings.
"Time continued to slip away, and finally, when the time came to come here, so much time had passed that I felt, well, I am kind of rambling, aren't I?"
"Squirming is more like it." She laughed. "I like that in a man. Especially when he is dead wrong and knows it."
"I truly apologize, there is no excuse and I should have called more often," I said with a heavy sigh.
"You are forgiven, this time. But," she looked at me a long time this time. "I want you to know that I am not your occasional blow-into-town fuck, and I will not be treated like it." Her tone and the steely look in her eyes signaled that she meant business, and all I could do was sit and accept the chastisement. No matter the truth of my feelings for her, I had not treated her properly. She had every right to be downright angry enough not to see me again. I was certainly pleased that she seemed willing to let the matter drop after that.
Lunch was at a sidewalk café and the time we spent was lighthearted and pleasant. As the after-dinner coffee was being served, I asked her what her plans were for the balance of the day.
"Nothing, really, I thought we might take a drive. There is a house I would love to show you, just because I built it, not because I want you to buy it." With that, she grabbed the check and would not let me pay.
The house she had built was truly special, custom in every way. As we strolled through it, my mind naturally envisioned the last-- or should I say, the first-- house we looked at together. The memory elicited a response from my libido that was both instant and apparent. Kristen looked at me, puzzled, and then smiled and said, "Where did you go?"
"Back a few months," I said, smiling sheepishly.
"Hmmm," she said. "Come here, I want to show you my favorite place."
She led the way out through the slider into the backyard. I was truly impressed: in-ground pool, deck, and against the house, a grape arbor with table and chairs affording a cool, shady place to dine or just relax. With an adjoining hot tub that was completely secluded from any prying eyes inside or outside the house.
We stood, overlooking the backyard, me slightly behind her with the afternoon breeze sending her perfume into my head and drawing me to her. I stepped up behind her, putting my hands on her shoulders and pulling her back against me. She didn't resist as I buried my face in her hair and kissed her just behind the ear.