Sorry about the long delay, folks – real life has a way of interrupting things...
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Callahan, eyes still puffy from the tearful reunion with her boss, smiled knowingly as Jaime hurried through the outer glass doors. She motioned her friend to go on inside, "He got back about an hour ago."
Barely slowing to acknowledge the secretary's words, Jaime moved toward the massive wooden doors standing slightly ajar. Suddenly unsure, she paused for a moment in the opening. Steve was there, on his way out after picking up his friend. Jaime turned her attention to the older man leaning against the large mahogany desk. He seemed a little tired, but otherwise looked pretty good for someone who had been dead for over a week. How many times in the past had she walked into this office and taken it for granted that he would be there? She vowed to herself never to take him for granted again.
Noticing Jaime in the doorway, Oscar stopped in mid-sentence, acknowledging her presence with a warm smile and his familiar greeting, "Hi babe". Though he had been told that the news of his death had affected her greatly, he was nonetheless surprised to see how pale and thin she looked.
Although she'd had the entire flight to prepare herself, actually seeing him there and hearing his voice broke down any pretense of composure Jaime might have had. Tears streamed down her face as she ran into his arms. Clutching him tightly, she buried her face in his neck, sobbing. He returned her embrace, kissing her hair, gently stroking her back to comfort her. "It's okay, babe..." he whispered, his tone as soft as velvet. "I'm fine; I always have been."
Knowing that he had long ago been replaced by Oscar in Jaime's heart, Steve nodded his goodbye and headed out, closing the door behind him to give his friends their privacy.
As Jaime struggled to compose herself, her senses delighted in the little things about Oscar that she had come to know so well, things that just yesterday she had mourned as gone forever: the scent of his skin, the steadiness of his strong arms around her, the pleasure of being in his embrace. "I thought I had lost you. And I never told you..." She clung to him as the tears began to flow again. "...I never told you how much you meant to me. I never told you... how much I loved you."
Jaime tried to quiet the emotions pouring forth from her soul, to little avail. Through it all, Oscar held her close, trying to deal in his manly way with the feelings her grief elicited in him. "Shhhhh..." he whispered, to Jaime and himself alike.
Noticing a familiar piece of jewelry, he took her left hand gently in his. He was surprised and deeply pleased to see her wearing his gift. "Looks good on you," he said softly, as he fingered the ring they both knew would forever remain on her finger. Their eyes met for a long moment, silently affirming this new direction in their relationship.
Jaime's free hand reached up to caress his cheek, the look on her face echoing the honesty of her words, "I love you so much".
Oscar turned his head slightly to kiss the hand on his cheek and looked back into her eyes, "And I love you." Slowly, almost tentatively, he leaned toward her, kissing her longingly on the lips. As he started to withdraw, Jaime pulled him back to her mouth, reluctant to lose the precious bond so soon. As they surrendered to the moment, they kissed with the passion of two souls grateful to have been given a second chance.
The End