** Author's note: but what if they DID have that conversation?**
S2 E1 – story #2 - Raking Up Old Memories
When she woke up this morning, she felt pretty optimistic. The day had dawned cool but promised to heat up in a hurry… and so… after several moments of dithering, she put on the shorts. She's never worn them to work before but today felt right somehow… because she is sure she turned a corner with him there on his beach.
When he'd come out to her in his shirt sleeves she'd almost toppled off her chair! Whatever had prompted him to such a brazen act, she definitely wanted to encourage it so she hadn't batted an eye. She watched him relax and go with it. What did he think would happen? The world would come to an end? She would jump him?
Well… if she HAD jumped him the world MIGHT have come to an end so thank goodness for shock. It was all that saved them both from a potentially explosive moment.
But let's see how he reacts to the shorts…
Nothing! Damn! He's either got the control of a ninja-master or the emotional maturity of a 5-year-old. She wonders which? Well, it feels wonderful to be cool so, Mr. 'Can't See The Forest For The Trees', the shorts stay!
The day went downhill rapidly after that. The plantation. That WOMAN! Her hackles went up right there on the walkway when Dr. Johnston gave them the run-down of players. 'His young lady' indeed! When she saw Miss Kim up close, she just knew. Knew that type. How she HATES that type!
And THEN! Oh, and then, Miss Kim holds out her hand without even looking at him and he hands over his handkerchief without missing a beat! So! He CAN be trained! Oh, please don't let it be Megan Talbot all over again!
But despite his subtle signals to her that she is too aggressive in her questioning, and his lulling the prime suspect with 'it's just routine', she is very relieved to see that he isn't attracted to Miss Kim at all. At least, he doesn't appear to be. With him… who knows? Maybe he's learned his lesson and has gone all covert with women?
It is the second interview with Miss Kim that brings it all to a boil. Miss Kim scoffs at the photos, makes a smug comment about men coming up to her in the street… and HE laughs it off! How DARE he?! The look she shoots him would blister paint off an ordinary man but he just shrugs and carries on. She can't listen to any more of it and storms off, her mind in a whirl of anger and repressed feelings.
When he catches her up at the truck, she realizes he might be questioning her objectivity and so she tells him about her father. Just the barest hint of all the pain and fear and blame she's suffered because of a woman just like THAT. He seems to understand more than she thought he would. His quiet 'Sorry' holds a world of meaning… or so it seems. He's still much of a closed book to her too.
On the drive back to the Station, his silence seems to be asking questions and so she starts talking, "The little girl I keep seeing, the one with the red hair ribbons, she reminds me of myself at that age. I was about the same age when my Dad left. It's the last time I remember being happy as a kid. He was there one day… gone the next. I spent every day watching the lane, waiting for him to come back. I lay in bed every night listening for his door slam. I prayed every Sunday in church, promised to be a good girl forever, if only Papa would come back. But he never did. Not a call, not a single birthday card, nothing. He disappeared as if he'd never existed. It was years before I found out he'd left us for nothing! For NOTHING! Our lives, our home, our happiness and safety… he threw it all away for a woman just like Miss Kim. I still wonder if he felt anything for us at all. Ever."
A beat of silence then a gentle hand on her shoulder as she stares resolutely out the windshield at the road, "Camille, I had no idea. I'm so sorry. I can't imagine you as a scared little girl missing a father."
She almost shouts at him, "Why do men DO that? Why do they make promises that they never mean to keep? Is it too much to ask for someone to keep their word?"
He is very quiet, removes his hand carefully, "Not all men do it. You must know that."
Her anguish gets the better of her, "Would YOU do it? Leave me?" She hears herself a split-second too late and groans. The silence from his side of the truck is deafening. She can't look at him. Nothing to do but leap in with both feet and a quick Hail Mary, "I mean… if we ever… if you…" She winds down. There's just no way to finish that sentence without embarrassing herself more than she already has. She gives a sigh of defeat, "Please forget I said that."
He clears his throat... a tiny sound of resolution, "I always keep my word, Camille. It's why I guard myself so carefully. There's no woman in my life because I've never found one I could trust my life to. Women do it too, you know, make promises they won't… or can't keep."
She takes a deep breath, "I hope you know I'm not like that. I've been through it. I know what it's like, how awful it can be. I vowed as a child to never lie to a loved one and I always keep my word." She braves a quick glance to him. He is watching her very intently and doesn't drop his gaze when their eyes meet. "I guess I've been guarding myself carefully too. How alike we are."
"Yes," he murmurs, "how very alike." They pull up to the station and it is time to be professional again. They meet at the front of the truck and there is a thoughtful moment when they stand side by side looking up at their workplace.
Very quietly, she asks, "You promise to keep your promise? If or when the time comes?"
Just as quietly, he replies, "Yes… WHEN the time comes, absolutely. And you?"
She smiles then, suddenly feeling a future right in front of her, "Oh, yes. Maybe sooner if Erzuli has anything to do with it."
She hears his huff of amusement as they walk to the steps, "Oh, well… Erzuli protect me from Erzuli."
A single frangipani flower drifts down between them but they don't notice. It is gone when they come out hot on the trail of the next clue.
END