Continuing from Part Two that appeared last month…
Second Chances, Part Three
By Jeanette A. Fratto, Orange County Branch
Their conversations continued, from two or three times a week to daily. Sometimes he wrote first, other times, she did. She eagerly looked forward to hearing from him. He had taken up golf. Did she play? No, she didn’t but thought it might be nice to learn. So, it went for months. Barbara was becoming so fond of him it frightened her. What if they finally met and he was not at all what he seemed in their daily chats? Maybe she didn’t have to worry about that, because it didn’t look as though he was ever going to mention meeting. If that’s the way it is, so be it, she thought, and reconciled herself to this anonymous and pleasant relationship.
One day Barbara opened her computer to the chat screen and saw a message waiting from John. It was entitled, “Let’s Meet.” Now that the subject was broached, she was afraid to open the message itself. Well, wasn’t that what she was waiting for? If they meet and the bubble bursts, she could still remember the nice time they had in the months before, when only their imaginations about each other were in play.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for some time,” John began, “but was afraid to test in person this nice relationship we’ve developed online. I’m willing to take the chance if you are. I really think it’s time.”
Barbara had goosebumps all over. It was time, and she agreed. How and where to meet was the next hurdle. They learned early on that they lived in the same county. Barbara purposely only conversed with men who lived nearby, just in case. John suggested lunch at an outdoor restaurant they both knew. After setting the day and time, the biggest question was how they’d know each other.
“I have short brown hair with some blonde streaks,” Barbara began, glad her daughter had talked her into getting a more flattering hairstyle. “I’ll wear a red sweater with a navy blue and red print scarf.”
John responded that he’d wear a tan sport coat and black slacks.
When the day arrived, Barbara felt like a teenager on her first date, all tingly and anxious. She parked in the restaurant parking lot and saw she had a few minutes to spare. If I arrive before him, I’ll look too eager, she worried. But if I’m late, I’ll look like I’m not really interested. She waited a couple more minutes and headed in, deciding early seemed better than late.
Suddenly she froze. Exiting a car nearby she saw her former husband, Paul.
He was in his shirt sleeves, reaching in the back seat for something. As he grabbed his jacket and turned around, their eyes met.
“Barbara, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?”
How do you say I’m here to meet a man to replace you? She stood silently as sweat formed on her brow, then started to feel dizzy as she watched him slip on his tan sport coat over his black slacks. His face paled as he took in her red sweater and navy print scarf.
“Lois?” he gasped.
“John?” she stuttered.
Their faces flushed at the impossibility of it. “Aren’t you busy traveling and having a great time?” Barbara asked, wondering why their children had painted such a rosy picture of their lives.
“I guess I could ask the same of you. Looks like our kids weren’t very honest with us. But what do they know? I found you again and this time you won’t get away.”
If total happiness could make a person burst, Barbara would have been in pieces. “Don’t worry, I’m not running anywhere,” she answered, as they embraced, and then walked hand in hand to have the lunch they planned only days before.