Summary Kim and Ron break up after dating for four years. Ron moves away to California to intern at the Bueno Nacho Corporation. After seven years, he has become a great success. But is he happy?
"Hey Buddy," said Jonathan Smith as he knocked on Ron's door. "Time for lunch, we're going downstairs to the sandwich place, ya coming?"
"Sure," answered Ron. "Just tell McDowell I screwed up the Bueno Nacho merger for a chicken sandwich."
Jonathan chuckled "you know what they say Stoppable, all work and no play."
"Makes a man retire before forty five" Ron replied.
"You know buddy once in awhile you need to stop and smell the roses."
"Right, tomorrow I'll smell two, next week I'll be up to 10, and I'll aim for 100 by the end of the month.".
"Alright catch you later man", Jonathan called out as he walked out of Ron's office.
Ron grinned to himself as he clicked 'ok' to print out his report. As he reached up to grab the pages of the report, he realized that only two sheets of paper had come out of the printer instead of the expected five.
"Damn this printer, this is third time this week"
Ron reached into his desk and pulled out his stress ball, he gave it three good squeezes, and then threw it back into the drawer.
"Donna" he said into his intercom "can you please call Fred up and tell him to come take a look at my printer."
"I'm sorry but Fred's called in sick today."
"Okay send up Jake."
"Jake's on vacation sir."
"Vacation, it's the third week of September. Fine what about Jill she's handy around hardware."
"She's on maternity leave."
"Oh for the love of-, is there anyone who can fix a damn printer in this damn company!"
Taking in a deep breath, Ron sighed to himself "I'm sorry Donna, just do what you can. Oh and give yourself a raise" he said as he clicked off the intercom.
He removed a small mirror and a bottle of scotch from his desk drawer and looked over his face. He cringed as he saw the bags under his eyes; it had been awhile since he had a good night's sleep. Nevertheless, some sacrifices were worth it when you were on your to the top. He poured a gulp worth of scotch into the glass on his desk and scarfed it down.
"God its only noon, I'm becoming an alcoholic" he sighed as he put the bottle away. "This is not a good omen."
Although the drink did calm him down, he took two more deep breaths and stared at his report "remember in business, three things are necessary: knowledge, temper, and time."
He glanced at his desk clock; if he was going to make the company more money, he had to get the report done by three "ok two out of three isn't bad."
As he positioned his fingers over the keyboard, Donna interrupted on the intercom.
"Sir"
"Donna you don't have to call me sir. Feel free to call me Ronald."
"Well Ronald Sir, there is a Ms. Olsen on line two."
"Why now?" He thought with an involuntarily shudder. "Alright put her through."
He picked up the phone and prepared himself for the heap of bull dung that he was about to spew.
"Hey hunny, this is a pleasant surprise. What do you want?"
"Ronald darling are you working hard baby, I just wanted to say I missed you."
"What do you want"? He growled
"Why is that every time I call, you think I want something?"
"Ok fine, I'm sorry, go ahead" Ron responded as he continued to type up his report.
"Yeah so I was with Candy downtown, you know gossiping, shopping, girl stuff."
"I thought you stopped talking to Candy?"
"No, I stopped talking to Candy with a K not Candy with a C. You see this is what I was talking about, you never listen to me, and we don't communicate that's why we're going to couple's therapy."
Ron did his best to restrain himself from screaming, "we went to couple's therapy because you slept with the pool boy."
"Oh my god; how long are you going hold that over my head. I told you I was sorry, besides it was partly your fault anyway you didn't give me enough attention when I was starving for it."
He removed his ear from the receiver. "I swear if she was here, I would stab her in the neck with this pen."
For one brief moment, he wondered why he even put up with it. Yeah the sex was wild; Shelia could do some things most people couldn't even imagine.
"Ronald, Ronald! Are you listening to me?"
"I'm here Shelia."
"Don't act so high and mighty with me Ronald, I remember you spending at least ten minutes, talking to that red headed waitress at that restaurant."
"I already explained that to you, she reminded me of someone I used know."
"Oh that's the oldest excuse ever, if I had a nickel every time I've heard th--"
"Ok I'm sorry, just finish your story. I've got serious work to do."
"Ok so there I was walking with Candy."
"Candy with a C right?"
"Yeah so there we were yadda yadda yadda."
Ron's mind focused solely on his report. He was used to tuning her out. He set his mind up like an answering machine, giving basic responses he knew she wanted to hear.
"Uh, yeah, is that so, I can't believe it, really, I guess you were right, I told you that girl was crazy."
"Ron why didn't you tell me you put a limit on my credit card."
"What?"
"I was so embarrassed I was shopping at Tammy's with Candy, and suddenly the cashier came over and tells me I'm over the limit, I could have just died right there."
"Shelia I put a five thousand dollar limit on that card."
"Ron have you ever been to Tammy's, those clothes are expensive."
Ron caught himself pouring another shot of scotch; it seems as if he had instinctively reached for the bottle.
"Shelia I have to get back to work."
"What about the money Ron?" She whined.
"Fine, go home; check at my desk, you'll fine my emergency card."
"Ooh Ron I love you so much."
"Uh huh" he replied before he hung up.
Suddenly the janitor walked into the room, and just stood there staring at him.
"What do you want?" Ron asked.
"Uh someone sent me up to fix a printer"
"God, they send me the janitor. Well its right there, see what you can do, it's been on the fritz on and off this whole week."
The janitor looked it over once then twice, finally he tapped the printer on the side twice, and magically the remaining three pages came out.
"What the hell was that?" Ron cried.
"I fixed it."
"You didn't do anything."
"I did"
Ron glared at him "get the hell out of my office."
As the janitor walked, away Ron had a change of heart "wait I'm sorry uh, what is your name?"
"Jimmy."
"Ok Jimmy I've hard a rough day so I'm sorry, tell Donna to add a little something to your paycheck."
As the janitor walked out, two men entered Ron's office. Unlike the janitor, these men had a relative amount of status in the company, so it was to Ron's best interest that he stand and greet them. One of the men was Mr. McDowell who as of now was the only man with higher status then Ron in the company."
"Ronald my boy how's it going, you still making us bundles of money."
"Yes sir I'm doing the best that I can."
"Good boy, Ronald. I'd like you to meet Mark Sismore."
"Hello Mark."
"Now Mark, I want you to see Ronald as a role model. At the young age of twenty eight he's increased this company's profit margin by fifty six percent," said McDowell.
"Why Sir you flatter me."
"Nonsense my boy, it's all true. This is the mind behind last years Bueno Nacho, and Grande Taco merger, Made us billions. Moreover, he came up with most of the items on the menus and themes featured in our restaurants nationwide.
"Didn't that merger lead to massive layoffs for Grande Taco employees?" Mark asked
"Well you can't make an omelet with out breaking a few eggs," laughed McDowell.
Mark laughed along with him; Ron forced himself to chuckle lightly.
"Well anyway, Ron I'm going to need an analysis on the overseas statistics by the end of the afternoon."
"What, but the ...I've got the merger with Alabaster Castle to work on."
"Oh don't worry, we don't need that until tomorrows morning, now follow me Mark there's this fabulous place downtime that has the best calzones."
Ron gawked at them as they walked out, his lower lip quivering as he walked back to his seat.
"Ok Ron, just relax. Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."
He grabbed his stress ball from his desk again and began to squeeze it viciously, "maybe some lite music we'll help me"
He pulled a remote from his desk, turned on his stereo, and tuned it to his favorite lite music radio station. The song on the radio was La isla Bonita, a favorite of his. He closed his eyes and let the music wash over him.
I want to be where the sun warms the sky
when it's time for siesta you can watch them go by
Beautiful faces, no cares in this world
where a girl loves a boy, and a boy loves a girl
He felt the stress flow from his body, the song always reminded him of that sunny day, he had found himself stranded on an island in the Caribbean during a mission. He remembered exactly how he felt when he saw Kim climb out of the clear blue water. The fact that her shirt was clinging to her body didn't even get his attention. It was the way she seemed to glow in the moonlight that blew his mind. Man she was beautiful.
"Whoa!" Ron thought to himself "where did that come from?"
His phone sprung to life he grabbed it on the first ring "hello"
"Ronald it's me Shelia" she said with an erratic tone in her voice.
"Shelia are you okay, where are you?"
"I'm at work."
"What's wrong?"
"Its, this bitch Jennifer, Ron she's trying to ruin my career."
Ron became enraged "ruin your career, you're a waitress!"
"You don't have to scream at me you know, you always do this."
Ron hung up quickly "Ok maybe some food will help me"; he grabbed a small bag of fortune cookies from his pocket, and began munching on them. Meanwhile his phone began ringing again.
"I'm not picking that up" he thought to himself as he crunched on the cookies and tossed the fortune papers away.
When the phone stop ringing, He closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. Opening his eyes, he ate another cookie but this time for some reason he glanced at the fortune cookie's saying.
"Answer what your heart prompts you"
"What the hell, that's just another way to say, follow your heart…. Oh dear god no, I've received lame fortune cookies before; but this takes the cake. I mean, I've only heard this from almost every person and almost every movie. Pfft follow your heart; it's a little too late for that."
"Ronald Sir I have an important message, for you" announced Donna from the intercom.
"Yes go ahead Donna".
"Mr. McDowell has just called in saying if you have any problems with the statistics report, you can call his cell at 555-5555".
"Thank you Donna" he said, as he absent absentmindedly wrote the number on the fortune cookie paper.
"Oh and he's also said that he needs the merger report at the end of the day too."
For some reason Ron felt that the room was getting smaller. He found that he couldn't breathe. The room had gotten so hot; it was burning like fire, hell fire. He jumped out of seat as the telephone began to ring again, it sounded like a jackhammer in his brain. Abruptly there was another noise, a sound straight from the pits of hell. He turned towards the sound to find the fax machine, pumping out paper. Page after page of words he couldn't understand. Without realizing it, Ron ran out his office, passing his secretary Donna.
"Sir you've gotten a package" she called out.
"Shove it Donna," he screamed as he ran towards the stairs.
A few minutes later, Ron found himself sitting on the curb in front of the office building, taking a drag of his cigarette.
"Jeez now I'm an alcoholic and a chronic smoker. Man, if Kim ever saw me smoking she would be pissed. She always hated these things," he thought to himself.
"Hold on, what the hell am I thinking, why would she care? Man I'm cracking up."
Pushing those thoughts from his mind, he focused on the more serious matter at hand. He may have just cost himself a job with his antics. Someone at the office was probably calling up McDowell right now. He knew there were plenty of people after his job, the same people who smiled at him every day. But would it really be that bad if he was fired, obviously the job was getting to him. Maybe he'd be happier.
Nah, he was enjoying his life. The mansion he owned, the Olympic sized pool, the indoor gym, the yacht, the money, the beautiful and insatiable yet stupidly shallow idiot girlfriend, he didn't love. He wouldn't give up that lifestyle for anything in the world.
"I've got to call McDowell before those vultures get to him."
As he dug the fortune cookie paper out of his pocket, it was suddenly blown away by the wind.
"Crap" he cried as he chased the paper down the street, until he ran head first into someone.
"Ouch, watch were, you're going you jerk!"
"Sorry it was just an accident--, no way" he exclaimed.
"Ron is that you?"
He stood mouth agape, as he stared at the red head in front of him.
"Kim wow I can't believe it"
"Oh my god Ron I can't believe it's you," she said as she hugged him.
Hugging her back, he felt as if he just returned home after a long journey.
"Ron how long has it been?"
It had be a long time since someone had called him Ron, for the past couple years it was Ronald this and Ronald that, he had gotten used to it.
"Years, oh years well it's been like seven years, since we last talked face to face."
"Seven years, wow it's been that long huh."
"Yeah, well time flies you know."
"Yeah it does", she looked him over "well looks like you've become a success."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well the suit, tie, expensive sunglasses and Rolex, kind of give it away," she told him.
"Oh these, there nothing really, the real story here is what you're doing in California."
Well, I just moved here with my son."
"Son?"
"Yeah, I um I needed a change in my life, so I decided to move out here."
"Huh" said Ron trying his hardest not to show how stunned he was "so where you headed now?"
"I have some a meeting at Wellington daycare, I'm headed there right now, and well I would be heading there if I knew where to find it."
" Wellington, I know where that is, and the walk there is actually really lovely. Right across the boardwalk, I'll take you there if you want."
"Really, are you sure you're not to busy?"
"There's nothing that would make me happier."
They walked along in an awkward silence for a few minutes until they reached boardwalk that was located besides the public beach. Ron was still reeling from the shock of hearing that she had a son.
"Wow can you imagine anything more beautiful?" She asked watching the crystal blue sea roll towards the beach.
"Not really" he replied as he watched the wind blowing through her hair.
He stopped himself from staring, "what are you doing Ron, don't even think about it. She's obviously moved on."
"I'm starving I haven't had a thing to eat since last night."
"You're just in luck there's a nice little sea side cafe, nearby. We can stop by, my treat."
"I've got spare time. And that sounds pretty good it's about time you've paid me back for all those times I've treated you at Bueno Nacho."
A few minutes later they found themselves seated at the cafe, as the head waitress handed them their menus.
"Will it by the usual Mr. Stoppable."
"Actually today I'd like to try something good" Ron grinned.
"Stop it" she said as she playfully hit with the menu "and the lady."
"I'll just have a salad thank you," she said.
"Whoa Kim, slow down I'm not made of money. Give her the house special Louise."
"Right away Mr. Stoppable."
"So how's life been treating you Mr. Business man," she teased.
"It's been alright."
"Oh please stop trying to down play it Mr. GQ. It's been fancy cars, women and caviar, hasn't it?"
"Actually you forgot about the yacht parties," Ron said as he removes his sunglasses.
"Oh my fault, how could I forget about the yacht parties?"
"My life is not as glamorous as you might think it is," he said bitterly.
"What's wrong Ron?"
"What nothing, I'm fine."
"I know it's been seven years but I know you Ron, something's wrong."
"Nobody knows me better than me. And believe me, I'm fine."
"Oh, is that why your leg hasn't stopped shaking?"
"Hey I can't control it, it's a muscle spasm, and quite frankly I'm a little sensitive about it."
She just glared at him.
"Alright you want to know honestly? He asked.
"Yes."
"I'm still wondering how you could drop a huge bomb like you having a son without warning me first."
"Surprised huh?"
"Stunned, shocked, in need of oxygen."
"I guess it was quite a bomb?"
"Yes, a real weapon of mass destruction. After all we've been through why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to; you know intrude on your life out here".
"Oh yeah like I wouldn't want to know that the girl I loved for years was having a kid."
He caught himself from saying anymore leading to some more awkward silence, as they avoided each other's eyes.
"Well" Kim said after awhile "I don't remember you reaching out to me, anyway."
"What are you talking about I wrote."
"When?"
"That one time you know, that day, I think it was Christmas or was it New Years. Hey I wrote."
"After three years without a word, you begin to think people have forgotten about you."
Ron ruffled his hair "you know you're right, I haven't talked to my family much either, I've pretty much left my life behind."
"Honestly Ron, I thought long and hard for months, on whether or not I should invite you to my wedding. Eventually I decided against it."
"That was for the best, I probably wouldn't have shown up anyway"
"Why?"
"Weddings just aren't my scene."
"Is that so?" she replied as she studied his face.
"Here's your meal," said Louise as she delivered the food.
"Thank you it looks lovely" said Kim excitedly as her hunger took over.
"What happened to spanking?"
"I kind of outgrew that word Ron; it's been like eight years since I've said that."
Ron lay back in his seat, letting the warm sun bask over his face. It had been awhile since he had relaxed. Even when he relaxed at home, it somehow felt a little phony, like something was missing. Although he probably would have better off not knowing that Kim now had a son. Then a thought popped into his head giving him a sliver of hope.
"Um, didn't you say you moved here with your son, what happened to your hubby?"
"Former hubby" she said nonchalantly.
"Really, what happened?" He said trying to suppress a smile.
"What's with you Ron?"
"Huh oh nothing, so go on."
"Alright" she said smiling "Well, the first two years with Ryan where great."
"Pf ft Ryan, what an ass" He thought, until he remembered that he had never met the man before.
"Then around the third year of our marriage, I got a job working as an assistant to the D.A in Middleton. There were a lot of cases that year you know so I couldn't be home much."
"I can see where this is headed," he uttered.
"Well to bad I didn't, until I became pregnant with Adrian, I was home a lot more, and things became a little bit more obvious."
" Adrian. Adrian Possible, it's got a nice ring to it," remarked Ron.
"Doesn't it. Anyway I wasn't going to deal with a cheater, as they say the first cut's the deepest."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, you look more like you're relieved."
"Relieved no, in fact I sort of know how you're feeling."
"You mean feeling like you're galatically stupid"
No, no, no, not stupid, blind, we are all blinded by love. Especially that one great love that changes us forever".
"Nice one Ron, that's really sweet."
"Yeah, every once in awhile; I do come up with the right thing to say."
"My life is at a low point right now, so what about you"? She asked.
"There's not much to tell."
"Oh come on, lets talk about you're job then"
"My job is to make my boss more money."
She began to laugh, reminding Ron how much he had loved hearing her laugh. "Is that all you do?"
"Yes that's it; I make my boss richer, and get a little taste for myself."
"Ok what about your social life?" She said while she tore into her food.
"No, I don't want to talk about."
"What, why?"
"I'm a little ashamed of it"
"Oh please I told you my sob story, besides why do care what I think now?"
Ron wanted to say because he just spent the last five minutes coming to terms with the fact that he was still in love with her. "I'm not the same Ron you knew in Middleton."
"How so?"
Ron sighed "I've becoming shallow, arrogant, chauvinistic an all around jerk really."
"Please, you just let success go to your head sometimes. Like the time you got the haircut."
"I believe the whole haircut thing was you're idea. But this time it's been different I didn't have you to bring me back down to earth."
"It's been that bad huh?"
"Kim do you really want to know; because the last thing I want, is for you to leave here with negative thoughts about me."
"Ron I'm the last person in the world who is going to judge you"
"Ok, ever since I became a Junior CEO, the dough's been rolling in. I thought man this is exactly what I wanted out of life. I've already known money changes people, but I couldn't help it, living life on the cutting edge, taking a stab at everything. I was never spoiled when I was young, so I really, really, really, spoil myself these days. It makes you wonder why everything bad for you feels so good".
"Well that was a great intro," she said
"Kim" Ron began as removed his tie "I've slept with girls without knowing there names, basically kicking them out of my house the next morning. I've learned how to pick up girls without even telling them my real name, there were times when I saw a different face every night, only to forget it the next day. And it was always the same type of girl, all body and no brains. I remember once this one girl tried to talk to me at this party, thinking about it now she wasn't really that bad looking but I totally ignored her. It even gets worse; my friend Bill asks me if the problem was that, she wasn't "virtuous" enough for me. And brace yourself these are my exact words."
"I do not know if she was virtuous, but she was ugly, and with a woman that is half the battle."
"That's awful Ron"
"The girl was still in the room, she ran out crying."
"Ron you've turned into Bonnie."
"Yes, I have" he exclaimed as he removed his watch "I'm evil, I've fired an old man two weeks before he could qualify for his pension, to save the company some money. Some of my ideas have caused massive layoffs, ruining lives, I've ran red lights because I could pay the ticket from my pocket money."
"Ron calm down" she yelled at him.
Ron looked around; he was causing a scene. Unknowingly he had raised his voice, past an acceptable level. "I'm sorry," he said to the cafe's other customers "I'm a little stressed, sorry."
"That was some story," she said to him as she continued to eat.
"So you think I'm a jerk right?"
"Well that depends" she said as she looked up at him" do you feel bad about the stuff you've done?"
He looked into her eyes, stared at his reflection, searching for the answers to her question.
"I, actually... yes I do. I've lost my, my."
"Your, Ronness."
"Exactly my Ronness!"
"As long as you feel bad about it, you can always change."
"I guess you're right."
"So player, have you ever had a steady relationship, since….."
"Since, you?"
"Yeah"
"Actually as of right now I'm sort of engaged," he said gauging her reaction. He hoped to find a sign of disappointment in her face.
"Really" she said with her best phony smile "congratulat---"
Ron raised his hand and interrupted her before she could finish "no need, it's not going to happen, I'm definitely breaking it off".
"Why?"
"Why, she's just after the money; granted the sex is insane."
She raised her eyebrow, "that was more then I needed to know"
"Yeah, that's why I threw it out there. Anyway, beside the fact that she is a money grubbing whore, we just don't communicate well. I mean I avoid asking her about her day on purpose. Because I know, it will be a forty-minute conversation about the same crap. I once told her to get kidnapped so she can have something new to tell me."
Kim began to laugh aloud again.
"Hey it's not that funny KP."
She stopped laughing for a moment and began to blush.
"What's with you?"
"You just called me KP, it's been so long. I guess it brought back some memories."
"I did say it didn't I," he said as he unbuttoned his collar. "I don't know what's weirder the fact that I haven't said it in seven years, or that you're a twenty eight year old woman who still blushes like she was thirteen." He said as he laughed.
"Hey it's not my fault I'm still young at heart."
"This from the girl who was constantly telling me to grow up"
They both broke out into laughter; it was a full minute before they calmed down.
"Seriously though Ron, do you ever think about the old days?"
"Before today I would have said no."
"What happened today?"
"Out of the blue I thought about the day we were first stranded on San Medro, after that whole Professor Demeantor fiasco."
"Oh San Medro that island was so beautiful, you know being stranded there for a week wasn't so bad. Wow that was ten years ago"
"Yeah ten years, that first night was the first time, that we you know."
Kim started to blush again, this time her face turned bright red.
"Oh my god you're blushing again, what is wrong with you?" He teased.
"Unlike some people I haven't lost my innocence."
"Ok whatever; there was something I always wanted to ask. Um how was I the first time."
"The first time was ok," she said quickly
"Ouch, my pride" Ron moaned as he clutched his heart.
"Whatever, I didn't say it was bad."
"Thank you KP, for destroying my manhood and shattering my confidence."
"Oh please, if it makes you feel better, it got better after a few more times, much, much better."
"What will make me feel better is the use of words such as earth shattering, mind blowing, knee buckling."
"Typical man, the first time was ok, but it's the one I'll probably never forget. The cool tropical breeze the sound of the ocean, the stars above us, it was truly magical experience. Remember that Ron...Ron hello?
Ron snapped back to reality, he had become lost in the memory of the night. He cursed himself for forgetting such an intense moment.
"Sorry, I just got lost in the um moment. Kim you have always been a descriptive story teller" He told her as he released his breath. "Let me ask you something why'd we break up again"?
The minute he finished the sentence, he was sorry he asked.
"I guess we just grew apart, you know how that is."
Grew apart, Ron reflected on those words for a moment. He remembered a period of time he didn't know where he was going in life. It was a conflicted time for him; he wasn't sure what he wanted out of life, life could do that to a person. He remembered how he moped around the dorm, taking everything around him for granted, even his girlfriend. There were very painful moments in those memories; that he no longer wished to resurface.
"Yeah it was my fault," he thought to himself.
"It wasn't your fault," she said calmly.
"What?"
"It's not your fault. We both had issues then".
"You can read minds now?"
"No but I can read panicked faces. Trust me it wasn't your fault."
Ron sighed, he sincerely wanted to believe her, but he knew she was just letting him off the hook. Mistakes always seem stupider over time.
"Let's lighten things up around here, Louise can you come over here please."
"Yes Mr. Stoppable."
"Louise can you play music in here?"
"That's a good idea; I'll see what I can do."
"Oh and Louise you can call me Ron."
"While were waiting, let me show you a picture of Adrian", she reached into her purse and dug around furiously, turning her purse upside down and inside out.
"Here it is," she said finally then handed him the picture.
Ron accepted it even though it was the last thing he wanted to see now.
"He's only two, but he's doesn't look a day over nine months" she said proudly.
"Cute kid, he looks just like your father."
"Doesn't he, and he's so smart too"
"Well he does have good genes" Ron replied as he found himself on the verge of tears while he berated himself "those could have been your genes you idiot."
He handed the picture back as the music began to waft into the cafe.
"Yeah a couple of songs will help calm me down", he thought.
Dreams last for so long. Even after you're gone. I know you love me. Soon you will see. You were meant for me. And I was meant for you.
"Louise" Ron sprang up "can you tune into something else please"?
"What's wrong Ron this song is beautiful."
"Trust me KP; this is for my own good".
I could be with another girl, And I can take a trip all around the world, But why would I go anywhere when I've got you. I could spend my money on fancy clothes. Meet a thousand women doing videos and shows. But baby I'm so glad that I got you.
"This can't be happening, Louise one more time" Ron called out.
And I guess that's why they call it the blues
Time on my hands could be time spent with you
Laughing like children, living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
"This is just fantastic, God must have a sense of humor," Ron laughed. "The fortune cookie, the meeting, the songs, it's just too much."
"What's so funny?"
"I've just realized what was missing in my life."
"What is it--, oh my god I forget about my meeting. I was supposed to hand in Adrian's application to the Wellington day care today."
She scrambled out of her seat frantically "I've only got ten minutes until it starts."
"Well let's go catch a cab."
He said as he quickly wrote up a check and left it on the table, then they ran out of the cafe.
"What was your life missing?" She asked him as they ran across the boardwalk
Ron reflected on his answer for a moment, he battled himself with the pros and cons
"Don't be an idiot, she's obviously moved on, she's got a kid and she's going through a divorce. But I love her; yeah you thought you loved her back then too. Do you really want to hurt her again? Does she even want you back, you could be imagining all those signs you think you saw."
"What my life is missing, I lost a long time ago" he replied finally.
"Oh" was all she managed to reply.
"Damn I forgot my watch," he said stopping in his track, "go on ahead of me."
She hesitated "but what if I find a cab."
"Where are you staying at?"
"The Milton hotel."
"Good, don't worry about it, if I don't catch up, I'll call you at the hotel," he said as he ran back to the cafe.
A few moments later, he arrived at the cafe's entrance.
"Ron" Louise called out "I bet you've come back for your watch, I put it in my safe. In case you didn't come back."
"Oh thank you Louise, you're a life saver."
"I like your girlfriend Ron, she's much nicer then the others you've brought in here."
"She's not my girlfriend Louise; she's just an old acquaintance."
"Come now, don't give me that. I see the way you look at her; it's a different look than the one you give the others."
"Look, Louise I've made some mistakes in the past. But at the least, I'd like to be her friend again. I don't want to make unnecessary moves to jeopardize that."
"Ok Ron, oh and before I forget she dropped this too", she handed him a folded piece of paper.
"It must have fallen out of her purse", he said.
He opened the paper, and discovered that it was a letter from the Wellington day care service.
"Ms. Possible, Wellington is happy to interview you on behalf of your son Adrian Ronald Possible to--".
He re-read the name aloud to verify what he was seeing. "Adrian Ronald Possible."
Ron looked down as he saw a small paper blow past his foot; he stared at the piece of paper realizing that it was the same piece of paper from the fortune cookie, with McDowell's number on the back.
"Ok" he said as he looked into the sky, "I get it".
Louise returned from the back of the cafe with Ron's watch "Ron here's your watch", she looked around the cafe "where he'd go?"
Kim hailed the cab, as it came to a stop in front of her, she wondered if she should wait for Ron. But glancing at her watch she decided against it.
"Later Ron" she whispered to herself.
As the cab began to move, someone began to beat viciously against the door.
"Driver will you please stop the cab."
Ron opened the door and plopped himself in the backseat, clearly out of breath "Kim you forgot this" he said as he handed her the paper in the same condition he found it.
"Thanks, uh are you ok?"
"Hold on", he said catching his breath "I've gasp got something to say. Crap I really need to stop smoking."
"Ok"
"Alright here's the deal, we can go back to be friends that's fine. I've got no problem with that."
"Right."
"But just answer this" he said looking into her eyes "honestly, are there any fireworks left?"
She reached over, grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a kiss.
"Hey none of that crap in my cab driver yelled out.
Seconds later they broke the embrace "there might be some sparks left", she said to him smiling
"That's good as a Pixie scout I learned how to use sparks to make fire," he said with a grin.
"So are you coming along?"
"I've got some unfinished business, to take care of first," he said as he stepped out of the cab. "But don't worry I'll find you again."
He signaled for the cab to leave, and as it drove off his cell phone began to ring. Ron picked it up nothing could bring him down from this high.
"Stoppable, where the hell are you, get your ass back to this office or you're fired."
"Ah McDowell that won't be necessary, because I quit, find someone else to make your millions for you. I'll be over to clean out my office soon."
He hung the phone up before McDowell could reply. And he dialed up another number; there was only one more thing to do.
"Hello Shelia, yeah it's Ron. Uh huh yeah I don't care. Look I've met someone else, yeah that's right. The engagement is over; get your crap out of my house by the end of the day, yeah uh huh. Oh every time I said you looked good in some dress, I lied. And I hate your mother."
He quickly hung up again, before she could reply. As he put his cell phone away, he removed the rest of his suit. He stood in the middle of the street in just an undershirt. Suddenly he felt a deep urge to say something, something he hadn't said in a long time.
"Boo ya!"