It started a year ago on a forum devoted to prehistoric sites in Europe. Two users named artwelivein and mathgirl06 had a lively discussion in the section devoted to Newgrange in Ireland which lead to private messages. Which eventually lead to emails and nearly nightly chat sessions using a messaging program.
Eventually the two had exchanged their real names and over the course of their conversations had determined that they lived in different cities. Cassandra Cillian, mathgirl06, lived in Chicago. And Jacob Stone, artwelivein, was based out of Dallas but traveled quite a bit for his job. But beyond that, the two didn't talk about their jobs and they'd made an unspoken agreement not to seek out any communication beyond their emails and chats.
Both had been tempted to google the other, but never did. They'd built up a special relationship that seemed to be on another plane entirely. It was, as Jacob told her one night in chat, the best relationship he'd ever been in.
It's weird to have such strong feelings for someone whose face I've never seen and whose voice I've never heard.
Well, we could Skype I guess . . .
I know but somehow . . .I guess it's the romantic in me. I like what we have.
Sitting on her laptop at home, Cassandra lovingly caressed the screen, lost in thought.
Cassandra? Did I say something?
No, I just, I do kinda want to know what you look like. What color your eyes are, that kinda thing.
I guess maybe sending a photo wouldn't hurt. I'd have to go search, mine are all on my phone.
Well, I got some here, hang on.
There was a pause on both ends while they hunted for photos. Cassandra opened a folder that had some recent photos of herself and her friend Eve at a party. Eve was her usual stunning tall super model gorgeous self, but Cassandra felt like she at least had made a decent showing, even though she was so shy and nothing compared to Eve.
She returned to chat and typed Here we are:
Then attached the photo.
And stared in horror as the photo loaded and she realized she'd clicked on the photo next to the one of her. One of Eve.
Okay, well that was embarrassing. She'd just have to apologize . . . .
My God, you're gorgeous.
And then Jacob launched into nearly a paragraph of poetic praises of her beauty while Cassandra stared mouth open at the laptop. No, no, no, what had she done? Now she couldn't tell him that she'd made a mistake could she? Well, it wasn't as if they were ever going to meet. They'd discussed it a few times but their schedules made it impossible and Cassandra had long since given up. Maybe it was time to take Eve's advice and start looking for a man in town and start breaking away from this online lover. Even though she would never find a man like him, ever, anywhere. There was only one Jacob Stone and she was in love with him, sight unseen. What had she done? Now he believed that she looked like Eve. His artistic soul would be disappointed in her. She was pretty enough, but quirky and frilly, everything willowy Eve was not.
She realized that Jacob had excused him from the chat for a minute. That was good, it would let her have time to compose herself further.
Meanwhile in a hotel room across the country, Jacob Stone was panicking. He never expected his Cassandra to look like that. He imagined her to be small and bookish, she seemed so shy and quiet. A lot like him.
And she was so damn tall! He'd always been told he was decent enough looking but he was not tall, not by a long shot. And Cassandra . . . looked like a super model. All this time, he'd been falling in love with a girl that wasn't even remotely in his league.
He sighed looking at his phone and the photo of his co-worker Flynn Carsen. Flynn was at least tall . . . .
Jacob took a deep breath. They were never going to meet anyway, so what was the harm. One little white lie.
And he posted the photo.
The photo was and wasn't what Cassandra was expecting. He was tall, but that was alright. A little bit more suave than she'd pictured Jacob being. Was that a pocket handkerchief? He'd once told her he was a country boy and that image didn't mesh with the man in the photo. But she'd always gathered that he'd had dreams far beyond that farm, so maybe he'd adopted a more urbane look to fit in with his academic pursuits. It totally made sense.
And he was certainly handsome enough. Though not quite what Cassandra had pictured. But then again, he thought she looked like Eve, so what could she say?
She told him he looked quite handsome. And they changed the subject to discuss other topics.
Normally Cassandra would be filled with holiday cheer. Christmas was her favorite season of the year. But something had happened with Jacob in the last couple of weeks. They talked just as much as ever, but it just seemed like he was pulling away from her. She couldn't put her finger on what exactly it was. And yesterday she'd sent him an e-card for Thanksgiving and he'd only replied with a thank you. But, she supposed maybe he was with his family and just didn't have time to respond.
And maybe he'd been busy with work. Lots of places were and she knew he traveled quite a bit for work, though she didn't know what he did. It made for interesting conversations because he would tell her about the places he was currently visiting, sometimes sending her a photo of an interesting building or park.
Speaking of busy, Cassandra looked at her watch, five minutes until opening. It would be busy today at the museum, probably not until afternoon, but after the Black Friday shopping many families liked to come out taking advantage of the day off of school and work. Today was also the first day of the museum's popular "Holidays Around the World" exhibit.
This exhibit was her baby and she worked hard for half the year on it. Always researching for something new to share with the thousands who'd made it their own Christmas tradition to come out and see the gaily dressed trees and learn about other cultures and places. She made a final tweak to the tree she was standing in front of and looked around satisfied.
She heard the clicking of heels on the old wood floor and turned to see her friend Eve Baird. Eve was the PR director for the museum and always looked confident and polished. Even today which should have been her day off. Today she was wearing jeans and a casual plaid top, but they still managed to look ready for business on her.
"I didn't think you were coming in today," Cassandra said with a smile.
"I thought about it, but eh, I really didn't want to throw elbows at the mall with my mother and Aunt Hilda again this year. Besides," Eve held up her folder. "About ready to seriously kick off the pr for the Treasures of Mesopotamia exhibit. They'll be here next week to start setting up."
Cassandra's face lit up. "Oooh yes, I've been looking forward to that."
Eve laughed. "Oh, of course, you'd know when they're setting up."
"Yep, they made me the liaison on this. Though honestly I probably won't have to do much. From what I hear the crew that they send does an amazing job. Very professional and easy to work with."
"That's been my experience dealing with their press department. And we should have a rotating historian in residence too, so we don't have to take Jenkins off his duties to handle it, unlike the last one."
Cassandra giggled and then glanced down at her watch. "Well we're about to open. Lunch? I brought leftovers."
Eve smiled. "Me too, I didn't want to deal with the cafe or trying to go out today. It was bad enough the traffic getting here. My office at noon? It'll be quiet."
"See you then."
"So you wanna tell me what is up with you?" Eve asked over lunch. "You're normally the most Christmas-y person I know. And yet, you seem like it's all surface. Did something happen with your online buddy?"
"Jacob is not just an online buddy!"
"Sweetie, you've never met the man. He could be a creeper still living in his mother's basement. Or 70 years old."
"He's not! " Cassandra objected, grabbing her phone. "He sent me a photo. See?"
Eve's eyes widened. "Wow, not bad. Not bad at all actually."
"I know," Cassandra sighed. "It's just I think I screwed up."
"How?"
"Well, the day he sent me that, I meant to send him one from the benefit party."
"Oh, the green dress, you looked amazing."
"Yeah, only I accidentally clicked on the wrong one and sent one of you."
"What? Okay, well that's awkward. I'm sure you laughed about it."
"Except he thought it was a picture of me and started waxing poetic about my statuesque beauty." Cassandra covered her face with her hands. "I couldn't bring myself to correct him."
She peeked through her fingers, expecting her friend to be angry about the deception. Only Eve burst into laughter.
"Well, that's different. You're catfishing a guy."
"I didn't mean to! And I feel terrible. But I'm starting to think that it's the beginning of the end anyway."
"How so?"
"He's been so distant since that day. He barely acknowledged the card I sent him yesterday. And the topics we discuss are all so superficial now. I think he's pulling away. I keep telling myself it's just the holidays and we're all so busy right now. But . . . ."
Eve's face softened. "I know you care about him. But maybe it is a sign that it's just not meant to be. You've both tried so often to meet and it never worked out. Maybe you should move on."
Cassandra nodded. "I think you're right. It's just so. . .I thought he was the one. But fate I think had different plans. After the holidays, I think I'll start figuring out how to tell him goodbye. "
Eve nodded. "But try to enjoy the holidays anyway, I hate seeing you so sad. This is your season, enjoy it. And after New Year's, maybe I'll set you up with that second cousin of mine I keep talking about. I think you'd be perfect together."
Cassandra quirked a smile but shrugged. "Maybe."
Cassandra was a little sad as she went back to work. But then she saw a little girl staring in awe at one of the Christmas trees and she smiled. It was Christmas, it was a time for wonder and miracles. And with or without Jacob, she was going to enjoy this holiday.
