Chapter 5
I finally opened up this email that I've only been staring at for 10 minutes. And, once I opened it, I just about fell out of my desk chair when I saw who it was from Noah Mayer! I was quite shocked not to mention surprised to have gotten an email from him after all these years.
As I was reading his email, all of those memories about us started to come back to me both good and bad. He wanted to know how everybody here in Oakdale was doing including my family. He especially wanted to know how Faith and Natalie were doing since he and the girls took such an instant liking towards each other years ago. And lastly, he wanted to know how Reid and I were doing. I guess he finally got over being so pissed off at Reid for supposedly stealing me away from him. Imagine, Noah still being mad about that after all these years.
He commented that he is doing well in Hollywood and has been directing a few movies in Europe with some big name stars too. And, he has done a few low budget movies too but, they are movies nonetheless. As I kept on reading his email, I couldn't help but wonder exactly how long it has been since either one of us had heard from the other. My guess would have been about 10yrs or better and, the last time basically I heard from him, he gave me the brush off what with his busy schedule and all.
Still quite flabbergasted by this email, I was beginning to wonder why now after all these years do I get an email from Noah. I would have thought by now, that he would have had found himself a great partner, rubbing elbows with big name stars, been seen at International film festivals, red carpet premiers and, at the Academy Awards. I need to really think long and hard if I want to correspond with Noah. His rejection, all those years ago still stings.
Checking my watch, I realized that it was after midnight and, I have drained off the last of my 4th non-alcoholic beer and should head to bed. Tomorrow I have various appointments and, lunch with my friend Maddie Colman and, I'm sure that she will want to hear that I got an email from Noah.
The next morning, Maddie called to see if we were still on for lunch and, I said yes, we sure are. I told her that I have a surprise to tell her, and she was quite curious as to what it was. I promised to tell her when we meet for lunch at The Lakeview. Maddie and I met at The Lakeview and, I told her my big surprise that I got an email from Noah. She was quite shocked and surprised by this. She wanted to know what all he had to say and, I told her. Then, she asked if I was going to reply or not, I simply told her that I would have to think about it but that I was hurt by his rejection all those years ago.
Maddie reminded me that we both made mistakes in our relationship and that maybe Noah has changed since that last email and, Perhaps he simply wants to rekindle our friendship and, that I should give him another chance and email him back. After thinking about what she told me, I decided that I would email him back at some point. I looked at my watch, told Maddie that I had go get going. We hugged, said our good byes and went our separate ways.
Finished with my appointed rounds for the day, I went back home and re-read Noah's email. Still thinking about whether or not to email him back, I thought about what Maddie said about giving him another chance and, maybe she is right after all it has been 10yrs since I last heard from him so, why not give it another try I guess it can't hurt. Too much anyways. I tried several times to write Noah back and, for some odd reason, I just couldn't do it I don't know if I wasn't in my right frame of mind or what but, something was gnawing at me but, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. So, I guess I have to give myself more time before I write back.
Feeling hungry, I found myself rummaging around in the kitchen cupboards for something to make for dinner and, nothing really looked good. Went to the basement to see what was in the freezer and there too, nothing looked all that good. I was thinking about what to do for dinner, when the phone rang and it was mom. She called to see how I was doing and, I told her that I'm doing okay for the most part. I asked how she was; she said that she was doing well too. She asked if I had any plans for dinner I said no, I have no plans so; she said to meet at Al's. We met at Al's and talked for hours. I told her that I heard from Noah for the first time in 10yrs and, she was quite surprised by that.
She wanted to know how he was and what was happening with him and, I told her. She then, wanted to know if I had plans on emailing him back I simply told her that I tried several times to write him back this evening and I just couldn't do it. I told her that I didn't seem to know what my problem was with this. She thought that maybe I should give it more time before I write I thought that all might be too but, how much time is the question here. I glanced at my watch and noticed that it was getting late I offered to pay for our dinner but, mom wouldn't have of it. So, I thanked her for dinner, we hugged each other and went on our way.
I didn't really want to go home so, I went for a walk in Old Town and, somehow I found myself at Java. I decided to go in, grab a cup of coffee, sit down and read the newspaper. Within a few moments after I walked in, Casey and Allison showed up. I waved them over to where I was sitting and they joined me. We got talking about things going on here in Oakdale and, then I told them that I got an email from Noah. And, even they were surprised about this. They both wanted to know what all he had to say in his email and, I told them that he is doing well and, that he basically wanted to know how things were here in Oakdale.
I did tell them that I tried several times tonight to email him back but, I for the life of me couldn't figure out why I couldn't do it. But, at the same time, I was wondering what exactly he could have wanted after all these years. It was just then that Allison had a good idea. She wanted to know if I had ever been to a counselor before. Curious as to why she would even ask such a question, Allison thought that maybe I just might have some animosity towards Noah for all of the things he put me though in the past. And, after giving what Allison said some thought, she might have a point about the fact that I might need to see a counselor to deal with all of this. I asked if she knew of somebody since she is, after all a Nurse. She said she would check around and would let me know who would be a good one for me to see.
Allison called me 2 days later and told me that she found a counselor, the counselors' name, Dr. Marlena Evans a very renowned Psychologist from Salem, Ma who just happens to be in Oakdale this week giving a Psychologists' Seminar at the Hospital. I told Allison to ask Dr. Evans if she would see me while she is here in Oakdale.