5306 Lakeside Way. I stared at the address scrawled on crumpled paper for the hundredth time. It had been a whirlwind trip and I was exhausted and after 802.3 miles via my Trans Am, I was quite sure I looked like pure hell. Still something inside fought off the confusion and exhaustion and forced me to just keep going on. There was a sense of tremendous relief as I hit the South Carolina state line, then the Greenville city limits but two obstacles lingered. One... I passed apartments and houses for miles and miles where the normal people lived closer to the small city but the more I drove the farther 5306 Lakeside Way seemed to get. Damn, why couldn't Ronnie be like everyone else? Why the hell did he have to live so far out? I was nervous, dead tired, and literally about to burst with pee! Two...There was the tiny footnote that he had no idea I was coming.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, I turned down the winding, private one lane road. Large trees scarily loomed over it and after what felt like a second forever, I saw the reason for which the road was names. There was a large and beautiful lake, surrounded by even larger and more beautiful trees. In the distance I could see the small cabin like house. I smiled as I pulled up to it. The place was perfect for Ronnie...simple, different, beautiful, one with nature. Feelings of happiness, relief and utter panic raced over me as I saw what I presumed to be his car parked in the driveway. This is it, you idiot, I thought as I opened my car door. It was crunch time...now or never.

My heart pounded as I knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked a little longer and a little harder. Still no answer. Then I was practically banging. Still...nothing. It made me laugh out loud. First a little chuckle to myself then roaring, side splitting laughter. What the hell had I gotten myself into? What was I thinking driving 12 hours and 20 minutes straight? For what? To "figure things out" with Ronnie Bass? Ronnie and I had been "figuring things out" for eight years! I was tired. I was tired and cold and hungry and about to pee on myself. I couldn't have looked like a bigger fool if I had tried.

"Mary-Courtney?"

He appeared from the side of the house, firewood bundled underneath his arm.

"Hi", I said.

It was all that would come out.

"Man, I'd know that laugh anywhere. It reminded me of the night we all went camping after graduation and we ended up forgetting our food, there were no port a potties, and Petey had you scared to sleep thinking bears were gonna eat us. You were so scared and tired and frustrated you just started laughing."

"I remember", I nodded.

"So...um, what brings you by?"

"I have to pee", I blurted out. "Do you mind?"

"No", he replied with a bit of a half bewildered smile. "Bathroom is inside, last door on the right."

"Thanks", I mumbled.

I used the restroom and while washing my hands caught a glimpse of the sight in the mirror. Blonde hair with painfully obvious dark roots limply fell down my shoulders. My skin was rather pale and I could have used a spot of make up and a change of clothes for that matter. What was Ronnie thinking? Sure physically he had seen me during the best of times and during the worst of times but what shock he must have been in when I came waltzing back into his life with only a "hello" and a request to use his bathroom.

"So", he said, awkwardly, handing me a mug of hot cider. "Were you just in the neighborhood or what?"

"No...I read the letter you sent. Charlie read it too. I think it put a whole lot into perspective for everyone. Things haven't been normal or that great for Charlie and me ever since that first night I saw you in that café during the snowstorm. It's been hard on him...on both of us. I don't know. I know it doesn't make sense, but I had to see you, just like you had to see me New Year's", I blurted out apologetically.

"Has anything ever been normal or made sense with us?" he grinned.

It was a real smile, a beautiful one where those blue eyes absolutely sparkled.

"No I guess it hasn't", I agreed.

"Well I just about to start dinner. You can stay if you want...that is if you don't have to get right back to Milwaukee and everything", he teased.

"Oh I think I have a few minutes to spare", I winked.

Ronnie tossed me a cold bottled beer and went about preparing what was to be supper. Almost immediately I felt so happy and comfortable to be in his company. We just fell back into that old zone where everything was okay and it was the most natural thing in the world to kick back, converse, and guzzle a few brews.

"Bon apetit", he said after an hour or so, revealing the meal he had been slaving over.

Pot roast, green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and dinner rolls.

"Wow", I said, utterly astonished.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing...this looks delicious. Wow. Ronnie, I'm impressed. If it tastes as good as it smells and looks..."

"Okay now I'm really offended", he said, throwing up his arms and pretending to be hurt. "Are you insinuating that I'm not a good cook? Did you expect anything less?"

"Yes and yes", I laughed. "Come on, Mr. Bass. Let's see, last time you cooked for me, I was treated to the gourmet platter of canned ravioli, Ramen noodles and Corn Flakes, stale Corn Flakes might I add because someone at this table, who shall remain anonymous, was too lazy to close the cereal box."

"Unbelievable", he shook his head with that sexy grin. "Unbelievable! Damn girl, you have the memory of an elephant. You don't forget anything, do you? For your information, that was a long time ago back in my college freshman days where canned ravioli was like a Porterhouse steak in those days. Anyway, I have come a long way. I thought you might appreciate a down home country cooking Southern meal. Perhaps another time I can wow you with my five star Italian meal or maybe my kick ass West Coast platter."

"Anytime", I laughed as I bit into the tender, sautéed meat. "As long as it tastes this good. Nice work, Bass. I'm proud of you."

"Your approval and gratitude is much appreciated, Davis", he winked. "Now let's toast."

"What should we toast to?" I asked as I raised my bottle.

"Let's see...to old friends, to reunions, to disheveled but beautiful strangers that show up at your front door from three states away."

"I know I must look a fright..."

"I was just kidding", Ronnie said, gently kneading my palm with his fingers. "You look absolutely amazing."

"The cooking has improved, the lying hasn't", I teased.

"I'm being serious", he said in a low voice. "I mean, sure you look great with the make up and the clothes and the hair all done up but this is when I like you best. Right here, right now, just like this. Simple and natural and just gorgeous."

My heart skipped two beats. I loved when he complimented me, when he talked to me in that quiet, sexy voice and when he gave me that serious, thoughtful look. God, I loved everything about Ronnie Bass.

"I'll drink to that", I shrugged. "Can I get another beer?"

"Sure thing", he said, tossing me another. "So...what's the plan, Mary-Courtney? I mean, assuming you have one. Are we gonna hang out for a few days? Do you plan on crashing here? What?"

"I'd like to hang out with you for a few days", I replied truthfully. "There are things I need to figure out, Ronnie...I guess we both do. You know that. Anyway, I don't want to think about that right now. I just want to let loose and have fun and just chill with my old friend. Are you okay with that?"

"I'm great with that, Mary-Courtney."

"Thank you", I smiled, grateful that the mood would stay light for the time being.

"So are you gonna stay here?"

"Do you want me to?"

"If you want."

"That's not what I asked you."

"Yeah...I'd like it very much if you would stay."

I couldn't hide my Cheshire grin. After all that had happened the last few months, there was something rather appealing about spending time with Ronnie in his cozy little remote cabin by the lake. We finished supper and washed the dishes together. Afterwards, Ronnie made a fire while I took a much needed shower. The hot water felt wonderful against my hair, face and body. I finally forced myself to get out. I dried off and changed into a pair of flannel pajamas, where I joined him back in the living room area, hair still damp from its washing.

"Hot cocoa?" he offered.

"Mmmm...marshmallows", I swooned.

"Just like you like them."

"You remembered."

"I remember everything", he said.

Despite the warmth of the room, a chill ran over my entire body. We were sitting just a little too close and the light from the fire cast a dim and almost romantic like glow. Ronnie was casually dressed in sweat pants and a tee shirt that clung to every taunt, tanned muscle.

"So when you're at work tomorrow, shall I do the hunting and the fishing and wash our clothes along the rover bank?" I joked.

"Are you making fun of my humble little abode in the boondocks?"

"No but I am teasing you. Your place is great and it is absolutely breathtaking out here but I figured it to be a little too country for the hippie boy. I thought for sure you'd have a place closer to the beach."

"I don't know, I guess Alexandria changed me. I will forever and always be the hippie boy but I guess I'm a little bit country too now although if you ever repeat that I will have to deny it then kill you. I mean, I still love the beach but this is great. This is me, you know?"

"I know", I said, sipping again from my steaming mug.

"Besides I don't want to be a rude host. I have some vacation days I can cash in so we can hang out during the day and stuff."

"Sounds good."

"It'll be fun. You should get some sleep though. There are some things I want to show you tomorrow. We'll have to get up early."

"Okay."

"Are you sure you don't want to take my bed?"

"Ronnie, this couch is fine. Really."

"You sure? You have enough blankets?"

"I'm good. I'm comfortable. Thanks for asking."

"Alright. Well, I'm right down the hall if you need me. Good night, Mary-Courtney."

I smiled and nestled into the covers on the couch. Worn out from my long journey, sleep came almost immediately. It had been a crazy spur of the moment idea and I'd had doubts here and there but overall my choice seemed like the right one. For once it felt like everything was going to be okay.

"Good night, Ronnie", I whispered to the empty darkness.