by S Lee

Disclaimers: See Part 1.

Your feedback is very welcome and appreciated. You can contact me at: s.lee@e-scribblers.com

Copyright © 2004 by S Lee. All Rights Reserved.

---

She was right of course. I went off to school and got my Bachelor's, Master's, and my Ph.D. During my freshman year, I did an internship with the Oceanological Institute. I just stayed and worked and went on expeditions when I wasn't in class. I saw her for the first couple of years when I came home and it was as sweet as always. But I began to come home less and less and spent more and more time out in the field. It seems like some new expedition would come up every time I planned to go home. I've become very well known in the field of marine biology. There were other women over the years, but she was and is still there in every touch, every sound, every breath.

So, there I was ten years later, on my summer vacation, hiding in the lobby of the Hilton, trying to work up the nerve to walk into my high school reunion. I hadn't seen her in eight years. I wondered if she was in there. I was terrified, either way. I kept asking myself; is she there? Does she think of me? Is she with someone? Does she still love me? Does she miss me? I finally worked up the courage to go in. I checked in at the door and hugged some of my old friends. I scanned around the room and I spotted her and she spotted me. Our eyes met and it seemed like everyone else disappears. We both smiled and walked towards one another.

"Carol, its good to see you." I pulled her towards me in a hug. She felt like home. A flood of memories came back to me.

She held me tightly. She pulled back slightly to look at me. She smiled and brushed the hair behind my ears. "God, I've missed you Quinn."

"I've missed you too. You look beautiful."

She slight blush tinged her face. "I'm getting old. My hair is turning silver. Look at you though, you're all grown up."

I ran my hand through her hair. My heart was pounding in my ears. I couldn't keep the grin from consuming my face. "I love the way your hair looks. How have you been?"

"I've been good. How are you?"

"I'm good."

I motioned for us to sit down. She smiled that same soft smile."You're doing quite well. I've seen your documentaries. You're so fearless."

I chuckled at her remark. "Fearless in the water only. Those are a pain in the ass. It's bizarre trying to do my work when there is a camera in my face. Although, they are very useful when it comes to documenting my research. Plus, my family freaks out at some of the things they see me do."

We both started laughing."Your girlfriend must go nuts worrying about you."

Was she fishing? "Actually, I haven't had a girlfriend in a while. It's hard to maintain a relationship when I am out on a boat for weeks at a time. I've spent the majority of my life on a boat or in classrooms for the last ten years. So tell me about you. What have you been up to? Do you have a partner? Why aren't you in Corpus?" I figured I could do a little fishing myself.

"I'm still coaching and teaching. I don't have a partner either, so it's just me and my cat. I've been in Corpus most of the summer. I came back this week. I was hoping to see you."

I was thrilled to hear the words. Our eyes met. I decided to confess my own feelings. "The only reason I came back was because I was hoping to see you. I was on the coast of Baja studying whale sharks and I needed a vacation, and I really wanted to see you. Actually, I needed to see you."

She placed her hand on mine and squeezed lightly. The look in her eyes burned right through me. People kept coming up to one or both of us, talking to us, or hugging us. It was hard to really talk with so many interruptions and the music from the band.

"Would you like to go talk somewhere? I'd rather have this discussion in private."

I smiled in response. "So would I." I would go anywhere she wanted.

"We can go have coffee at my place," she offered.

"That works for me."

We sat on her couch, drinking coffee, she laid her hand on my arm as we talked. "So tell me Quinn, you're so successful with your work, but have you had love in your life as well?"

I smiled. "Yes. I have loved and been loved. Unfortunately, my career has always come first. It's hard to be there when someone needs you when you are out looking after some wounded dolphin or trying to rescue stranded whales. When I get a call to go somewhere, its hard for me to say no. But I have had some incredible adventures. "

She squeezed my arm."I bet you have. Where are you working now?"

"I'm still at the Oceanological Institute. I spend my time in the lab or field doing research, presenting papers, or giving lectures at different universities. The documentaries are the Institute's idea. It helps us get grants. So tell me about you. How is the swim team this year? Are you happy? Why is a gorgeous woman like you still single? What have you been doing?"

She laughed."Your life sounds so exciting. I knew you would do wonderful things. The swim team is strong. I think they can win state. My classes are good. The politics is lousy. I am happy though. With all it's ups and downs, I love what I do. I love to see these girls compete and the looks on their faces when they come out of the water, knowing they won their heat. I love helping them grow from innocent, shy girls to strong competent women. As far as being single is concerned, I don't know. I lived with a woman for three years, but in the end, it just fizzled out. I've been traveling quite a bit. There's a group of four of us who go together. I got my Master's a few years ago."

I entwined my fingers with hers. I looked in her eyes and stroked her hair with my hand. We had been talking for hours.

"I've thought about you many times. I wondered how you were and what you were doing. I can't hear Joni Mitchell without remembering that first night together. You were right you know. We did the right thing. I wasn't ready for a permanent commitment like that. But I've missed you."

She smiled softly."I've thought about you too, nearly every day. Being in Corpus reminds me of you. I'm very proud of you. Stay here, I want to show you something."

She stood up and walked into the other room. She returned with a photo book and videotapes.

"Look at these Quinn. These are pictures of you and me from that summer, newspaper clippings, articles you've written. These videotapes are all of you. Last summer when the sharks in Florida were so concentrated, you were all over CNN. I taped some of those and your documentaries. You've grown into quite a woman."

I stared at everything she had shown me. I was surprised, yet thrilled that I still meant something to her. "I can't believe you've kept all of this. I am touched beyond words."

We sat silently, looking into one another's eyes. She pulled me in her arms and held me. I melted into her. She lifted my face to hers. Our lips came together gently. I pulled on her lower lip. It felt so good, right, just like always. Our kisses grew in intensity and I felt my control leaving me. I removed my lips from hers. I kissed her face, her eyes, and ran my lips to her ears. I was no longer the inexperienced teenager I once was.

I whispered, "I want you Carol." I could hear her quiet moans and her quick breath.

"Yes Quinn, I'm yours."

I slipped off her blouse and pulled her against me, placing kisses on her neck as she opened herself to me. Her skin was like satin. She smelled like Jasmine. I slowly removed her slacks and panties. The quiet house became filled with the sounds of our lovemaking. I held her tightly as we rocked against one another. She was as beautiful as ever. It was amazing, even better than it was before. When we woke the next morning, I was in my usual sleeping position, with my head resting on her chest and one arm wrapped around her. She was looking down at me, grinning. I could hear the birds chirping outside.

I looked up at her through sleepy eyes. "Just what are you looking at?"

She kissed the top of my head. "At you. You are absolutely adorable. I was just thinking about all the mornings we woke up like this. I can't believe you're really here. I keep thinking it's a dream."

I smiled at the thought and snuggled in closer."Those were the best. This is very real. I don't know how many times I would be lying on my bunk on a boat, or my bed in my apartment and think about you, wishing you were with me. More than once I dreamed of you and when I woke, I was reaching out for you."

She ran her hands up and down my back."I thought of you too baby. I have pictures in my office of all my teams. I look at your face all the time and remember how you light up with joy when you're excited. I remember holding you close, feeling you breathe beside me. How long are you going to be here?"

"I'm going to be here for a week, then I have to go back to Baja. I'll be there for a couple of weeks, and then we're going to Costa Rica for a month to study the feeding patterns of Orcas. I want to get some on film." Her smile dropped.

"I wish you were going to be here longer. That sounds interesting though."

Suddenly, the most brilliant idea had come to me. "Come with me Carol." I looked up at her, hoping her answer would be the right one.

"What? You want me to just pick up and go with you?"

I began to get excited. "Yes. You can be back before the school year starts. Get someone to watch the cat, get your passport in order and come with me. Please. I want more time with you. I haven't seen you in eight years. I've missed you. I know you want time with me. I can see it in your eyes. It'll be great. "

She brushed the hair off of my face and kissed me gently. "Alright. I'll come with you."

I sat up, ready to bust. "You will?"

She giggled with delight."Yes I will go with you. With that adorable look on your face, how can I tell you no."

I covered her lips with my own. I pinned her arms above her head, assaulting her with kisses.

We spent the next week getting to know one another. I even took her to dinner with my parents. Surprisingly, they were pleased to see her again and to see us together. We were also both falling again. I couldn't wait to show her my work and my life. I wanted to make her a part of it.

We met the boat on the dock and unloaded our stuff onto the deck. I previously warned my research crew to behave. They're a great group; brilliant, but they can be a little rough around the edges. To tell the truth, when it came to spending weeks out in the ocean, I could get a little rough myself. They welcomed her warmly. I led her to my cabin.

"So what do you think?"

She looked around the small space and smiled."Well, its cozy. I like it."

I laughed."Cozy's a good word. I'm glad you like it."

I pulled her to me and reached up to kiss her. "Come with me, I'll show you around."

The next couple of weeks, we spent trying to find whale sharks we had previously tagged in the area to see if they were still here. I even persuaded her to dive with me. It was exciting to see her reaction to the mammoth animal. When we came back onto the boat, she wrapped her arms around me.

"Oh My God, Quinn! That was the most exhilarating thing I've ever experienced. WOW."

She held me tightly and kissed me, hard, and right in front of my crew. I had to endure their catcalls. I pretended to shoot them a dirty look. In reality, I didn't care.

"Alright, alright, you Neanderthals, knock it off."

They laughed and went back to business of tracking.

She quickly became part of the group. As much as they teased me, they liked having her around. When you're out like that, you spend a lot of time just sitting around and waiting. She and I got to know one another again. We were able to really connect. It was a wonderful time.

We moved on to Costa Rica to observe the feeding habits of the Orcas. I was in paradise. I had my two loves with me in one place. However, the end was coming as always. I wasn't going to let the same result happen.

We were standing on the deck one night, looking at the stars. The waves were lapping gently against the boat. She was standing behind me with her long arms wrapped around me. I ran my hands along her warm skin.

"I'm so glad you came with me. Have you enjoyed yourself?"

She nuzzled against my neck."Yes. I have had such a wonderful time, sweetheart. Swimming with those whale sharks was such an amazing experience. I still can't believe I did that. I can see why this has such a pull on you. It's been so much fun to see how and where you work. I feel like I understand you better. "

I turned around and wrapped my arms around her waist. "Good. I want you to understand me. Carol, I've never stopped loving you all these years. Everywhere I've been, you've been with me. You've always been with me. I love you and I don't want this to end. I want us to be a regular couple."

She leaned in to kiss me lightly. She held my chin in her hand. "Oh Quinn, I love you too. I always have. But how can we have a real relationship if you're never around? I can't leave my career and I can't ask you to give this up. I can see how much you love it. "

I could feel my eyes beginning to burn with tears. I was hurt and getting angry. I stepped away from her. "God, I swear you are always the voice of reason aren't you? You're always so damned practical. How can you stand here with me, feeling the way I know you do and come up with these reasons for us not to be together? Damnit Carol. When I am with you, I feel whole. Do you feel differently?"

She shook her head. I moved my face close to hers and looked in her eyes and continued. "Honey, you once told me that if we loved one another, that it was all that mattered. Why is this different? Why can't you even give it a chance before you write us off? I want you and I know you want me. Let's give it a shot. I'll be back in the states in a month. I'll be there for the next several months unless something comes up. I'm working on a major paper that I'm going to present in Paris in the Spring. We can see each other once a month. I don't want to lose this. We deserve the chance."

She looked at me, wiping the tears from her eyes. She lightly brushed her fingers on my cheek."What can I say? This time, you're right. I don't know how we're going to make this work. The phone bill is going to be huge. But we need to at least try. I love you too much not to try."

I thought I was going to burst. "Really? You mean it?"

Grinning, she nodded. We both laughed and held one another tightly. I kissed her and things became more serious as we began to explore one another with a new level of intensity, knowing that this was just the beginning, not the end.

Our time together was way too short. We were in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks and then she had to leave. We spent a few days alone before I took her to the airport. I loved showing her some of the sights of San Jose. My heart felt as if it were breaking as we said goodbye at the airport. She had her arms around my neck. She was fingering the shark necklace that she had given me so long before. She tried to smile. I could see the tears threatening to fall.

"I hate saying goodbye to you Quinn."

I put my arms around her waist."I know honey. I do too. But, I'll see you in a month. Let me know when you get in please. I'm going to be worried about you."

She pulled me tightly against her. I could hear her sniffling. That was all it took to get me started. We were both crying.

"I love you Quinn. I'll see you soon. Please be careful. Email me daily to let me know you're ok. Call me when you can. I'll miss you."

I reached up and caressed her face."I will. I'll talk to you soon. Thank you for coming with me. This has been a dream come true."

She smiled and nodded."For me too. Be safe."

"I love you too. I will."

She leaned down to kiss me softly and then walked off to her plane. My heart fell as I watched her go. I stayed there with my hand pressed against the glass, crying until I watched her plane in the air.

Continued in Part 3

Feed the Scribbler: s.lee@e-scribblers.com.