Dancing that night had been more fun then they thought it would. Charles
and Emily were two-step champs. As for Linda and Hartley, he had done this
before and wasn't that bad, Linda tried but she couldn't get it right. They
laughed as they tried again. But when the music slowed down, he held her
close to him. "Now this I can do." She smiled.
Angie was content to sitting down and talking with people, she was not yet
up to dancing but she was having a great time.
They decided it was time to head back to the cabin. Emily went with Angie
into the cabin. Hartley sat with Linda outside and she told him about eh
call from Vince before dinner.
"He's probably realizing what he's missed and given up for all this time,"
he said thinking about it and looking at her "What are you going to do if
he wants to fix things?"
"I can't imagine it," she said honestly, "But I realized that when I talked
to him tonight. I can't go back again. We can't undo the last year or what
happened to Shane. I don't think I can forgive him for what he did or
said."
"What if he comes back to you and tells you how much he loves you and how
wrong he was?" He wanted her to think about that before they made a
mistake. They were both attracted to each other, but they were being very
cautious.
"I don't know Hartley, I'm not sure. I believe it's all over for me, but I
suppose there are no guarantees until I see him again."
"Why are you waiting?" It was a question she was honestly asking herself
too lately.
"I think it's a good idea," he said gently. They had known each other for
five days and it had been an extraordinary experience for both of them, but
it was possible it was all a dream, all illusion or maybe it was real and
something very special. Only time would tell. And as tempting as it was to
fall into bed with each other, she knew they wouldn't, not until everything
was all settled.
"I'm going to go and talk to him as soon as I leave her." She said thinking
out-loud.
There's something special about these mountains that gives me the answers
to many things. I missed coming here after Sharon died." He smiled at her
then and took her hand, "It would be amazing if I found my new life here,
if I came here to find you," and then he looked at her sadly, "But even if
nothing comes from this, if you go back to him, I want you to know how
happy you made m. You've shown me that I'm not as alone as I think I am,
that there is someone out there who can make me fall in love again. You're
a beautiful gift I never expected, you're a vision of what life can be when
two people love each other and are happy," he was exactly the same for her.
He was living proof that there was someone who cared about her, could talk
easily to, someone who loved her. And she wasn't ready to let that go.
He wasn't asking her to either but he wanted to make sure that she knew
what she wanted to do with her husband before moving toward him.
"I don't think seeing him is going to change anything," she said. He was so
dear to her, she had grown so fond of him in such a short period of time
and they felt incredibly protective about each other.
"It was rather strange when he called tonight. I had no clue who it was at
first, and I can't figure out why he even called. It's sad to feel so
distant from someone you once loved."
"You survived one of life's cruelest blows. Its amazing that you made it
this far." He said kindly.
"I guess we weren't." She said.
"I love being with you Linda," he said smiling at her and changing the
subject. He wanted to move ahead with her, to be in New York, to travel in
Europe, to share his friends with her and his life and his career. There
was so much he wanted to do with her, and he was anxious to get started. He
had been alone for two years and he knew he had to wait just a bit longer
while she did what she thought was best. But once she as gone the
possibilities were limitless and he knew that. There was nothing else to
hold them back from each other, although he was still a bit concerned about
her daughter, he wondered if she would blame him for the divorce of her
parents. He had spoken to Linda about it that afternoon and she admitted
that Stephanie was need to be talked to, but she was old enough now to
understand that things played themselves out and it just didn't work. They
sat together for a long time and talked about the past, the present and the
future. And it was all agreed. That she was going to go see Vince right
after she left Wyoming. She didn't think she's be gone long talking with
him.
"Would you come to fisher's island with me when you come back? He asked
cautiously, "I have a old house there and I thought I would spend some time
there in August."
She looked at him and nodded, "I'd love that."
"Good," he said nuzzling her neck. He wanted nothing more than to wake up
next to her, to listen to the ocean and make love to her all afternoon and
all night and talk into the wee hours and share his favorite books with
her. He had already discovered that she was a passionate reader and they
loved almost all the same authors. He had things he wanted to share with
her. He wanted to walk down the beach holding her hand.
Things were already wonderful and it could only get better.
It was late when he pulled himself away from her, and they were both
satisfied with what they had talked about. And as he said good night to her
he asked her one last question.
"And if he wins you back?"
"I don't think he will." She said kissing him.
"He would be a fool not to," Hartley whispered and then kissed her.
And if he did Hartley knew he would have to find a way back without her.
" But what.."
"Stop worrying," she said and they kissed again. But he couldn't help it.
"I love you" she said and she meant it to the depths of her soul. She
barely knew him and she could spend the rest of her life with him and never
regret a moment.
