Amen 10

Swimming Through Life

I received your note and the flowers. Thank you. Let me rest up

and all will be well. It's all resolvable. Love you, A.

So read the text Amelia sent to Owen Friday afternoon when she woke up in an on call room to find a note and gorgeous and fragrant roses beside the bed. When Owen had asked his assistant to send flowers, he assumed she'd send them to Derek and Meredith's house. The idea to place them in the on call room as Amelia slept was superb. Owen thought to himself, My assistant needs a raise. Or flowers of her own. Or something.

While he waited for her to approach him, Owen did his best to avoid Amelia. If they caught sight of one another, he would grin and try to excuse himself as smoothly as possible. When he saw her from afar at the hospital, he would turn into another hallway or jump on an elevator. At home, the challenge continued. Owen would be sitting outside the trailer and Amelia would drive by. He would try not to wave or look.

Sunday was an amazing and rare Indian Summer day with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Owen decided to go down to the water even though the hike was arduous on the way back. Being a thorough and safety-conscious outdoorsman, he sent a text to Meredith letting her know where he would be. Meredith's phone was buried in the bottom of her purse, so she did not see the text until much later in the day.

Unbeknownst to Owen, Amelia had decided earlier in the day to go for a hike down to the water as well. Derek had planned to go with her, but was called in to the hospital shortly before they were planning to leave the house. Amelia decided to go on the hike anyway and spend some time alone.

As Owen rounded the last corner of the hairpin-turn trail, he took in a deep soothing breath as he saw the water. He was hot and sweaty from the hike and assumed he was as alone as a person could be in today's world. Stripping off every last stitch, he jumped into the cool water and let out a yowl. Amelia, just coming through the trees to head back up to the house, recognized the voice and laughed softly.

She walked over to where his clothes were strewn and stood there waiting for him to notice her. Owen was swimming in the cold water like a little kid out at the city pool for the first time in the summer. His face was joyful and relaxed. All he needs is a slide, Amelia thought to herself as she giggled and watched him.

Owen began to swim toward the shore alternating between a nearly perfect front crawl and what Amelia would learn was called the combat side stroke. He paused to catch his breath and noticed her. He was still relatively far away, yet close enough to call out to her and hear her.

Amelia decided to be playful. She held up his pants and said, "Are you looking for these?"

Owen laughed and rubbed the water off his face, then smiled broadly at her, responding, "That all depends."

"On what?" Amelia asked.

"On whether or not you care to join me. It's refreshing, I promise. Fills you with verve," Owen declared.

Amelia roared with laughter, knowing there was no way whatsoever that she was getting in that cold water. She smiled coyly and shared, "I think I'll just stay at the shore and admire the view."

Owen dove back into the water as Amelia admired his naked, muscular body as it swam closer and closer. When he reached the shore, Owen had no shame whatsoever. He walked out on the shallow riverbank naked as a jay bird. "Fancy meeting you here," he joked as he barely began to dry off and threw on his pants. Even though they'd been naked together numerous times, Amelia turned away feeling like she shouldn't be looking.

"I'd really like to kiss you if you wouldn't mind," Owen said from the log where he was sitting.

Amelia smirked and then suggested, "Then why don't you come over here and do that once you're dried off."

Running toward her, still dripping wet, Owen picked Amelia up and rubbed his dripping hair all over her. Amelia laughed and shrieked, begging to be put down.

"Now are you ready for a swim?" Owen taunted.

"Don't. You. Dare." Amelia responded in staccato style. She was helpless, now flung over his broad shoulder. Owen laughed and walked toward the shore. "Owen!" Amelia threatened. "Stop! Stop right now, Owen!"

Owen stopped at the edge of the shore and slid Amelia's body in front of his, still holding her as he kissed her. He turned so his back was to the water and so Amelia was further on land. Letting her feet touch the ground, he bent down to rub noses with her, saying, "Well, that was fun." He turned and went back toward his clothes.

"You apparently received enough verve for the both of us from that swim," she kidded. Owen smiled back as she grinned, "I really thought you were going to throw me in the water. You know that would not have been an advisable boyfriend thing to do, right?"

Owen was back on the log and drying his hair with the towel he'd brought with him from the trailer. From under the towel, Owen's voice sounded, saying, "Of course I know better. Doesn't mean it wasn't fun to tease you." He threw the towel off his head and smiled broadly.

Amelia walked over and sat next to Owen on the log. She looked at him feeling slightly awkward and began, "You know, I'm sorry about not being more direct or forthcoming the other day. I was so incredibly tired that I was afraid my mouth would engage before my brain and spout out something ridiculously unwise or hurtful."

"Well, we're here now. Can we sort it all out?" Owen asked with a deep gaze.

"It all seems so silly now. My reactions toward you the next day were childish, and I think my avoidance made this into something much bigger than the original issue. Anyway…Thanksgiving was," Amelia paused thoughtfully, "difficult."

Owen nodded, not sure if he should just listen or if he should share his impressions. He went with the former.

Amelia continued, "This sounds so insecure, but I have to tell you, Owen, I felt abandoned at Thanksgiving. From the second we arrived, I'm not sure we spent more than a total of 5 minutes interacting. I didn't know anybody. I introduced myself and still felt left out of conversations. I was uncomfortable most of the day and horrified when your mother called me out for using my phone at the table. Anna was my saving grace, but that doesn't erase the whole of my experience."

"You are so right," Owen affirmed. "We didn't spend much time together. Mom...well, I did talk to her after everyone left. I told her I didn't appreciate how she called you out and how she treated you. I'm deeply sorry she felt the need to announce her table rules so boldly. I neglected to introduce you and help you integrate into the drunken frenzy. It had been so long since I'd attended that event that I honestly had forgotten how much drinking defines the day. I, uh, I apologize Mia. I dropped the ball."

Amelia added, "Like I said, my actions the following day were not helpful. We both played a part. Next time we are some place social, maybe we could check in with each other a few times? Somehow be more intentional about being there together?"

Owen nodded and basically repeated himself as a sad expression came over his entire face, "I'd like that. Mia, I truly am sorry. I certainly didn't mean to ignore you, but I can completely see how it could've felt that way. Mom kind of monopolizes me – especially when I bring someone with me. That's part of the reason I seldom spend holidays with her."

"I'm not done," Amelia announced. Owen thought to himself, What more did I do or neglect to do?! Amelia added, "I owe you an apology for how I spoke to you in the OR. I was completely unprofessional. I won't do it again."

"Thanks," Owen said softly as he grasped Amelia's hand. "I could have handled it better, but I truly appreciate the apology. That was not a great interaction. And on the Seattle Pres thing, I'm sorry I just assumed you were going. That was a military mindset creeping in to my now civilian life."

Amelia looked at him and offered, "I hope you aren't offended when I say that I don't regret my response on that in the least."

Laughing softly, Owen shook his head, "No. I get it. I bulldozed in to the room with a plan that I didn't need to be responsible for creating. I did your job for you, which is not my responsibility. I'm sorry."

"Well aren't we just a bundle of apologies," Amelia mused. "You know, I was embarrassed as I remembered that quiz we took and how I didn't fight at all like I said I fight. I'm kind of feeling convicted."

Owen put his arm around Amelia and suggested, "The different fighting styles don't bother me as long as the make up sex is still in the picture."

Amelia laughed and said, "Agreed!"

Owen leaned over to kiss Amelia, holding her chin and cheek in his hand. He leaned back gently after a minute or so and said, "Well, the way I see it, we can either have make up sex down here or we can try it after we trudge up that wicked trail."

Amelia stood up and held out her hand, "Follow me. I know just the place."