The Parting: Reunion

In the coming days, Bob and Charlotte spent time together.  It was an odd feeling to Bob that he didn’t feel the same way about her as he had in the past. Nonetheless, the relationship was beneficial to both.  Charlotte learned she was still getting over Jack and she was like a soothing balm on Bob’s wounded heart. 

Bob had purposely avoided singing at church while he was in a sexual relationship with Samantha.  After a short amount of time spent with Charlotte, he resumed singing and being more involved in church.  Charlotte was counting down the days until her classes would start.  She planned to take two classes.  She felt that should be enough and not too much of a load.  She still needed to work full time in order to make ends meet.  Bob offered to help her study whenever she needed assistance. 

Nancy’s class reunion was a success and she thoroughly enjoyed visiting with old friends.  There was something special about being with people from her younger days.  There was camaraderie, a bond between them.  They were from the same place, endured the same things, and knew everyone held similar values. 

Both Tim and Nancy had small nerves about seeing each other after so many years.  Tim knew he wanted to hug her again.  She was a wonderful hugger.  She hugged like she was expressing her emotions through touch.  Since Tim helped set up, he was there when Nancy arrived.  He smiled when he saw her.  She was scanning the room but hadn’t seen him.  He walked toward her as she signed in and got her name tag. 

When he was almost to her side, he considered saying something corny like, “Where have you been all my life?” but decided against it.  Instead, when he got close to her he simply said, “Hello, Nancy.”  She turned to see who it was but the memory of his voice was fresh from their phone calls.  She reached out her arms and the two embraced. 

Nancy and Tim sat together the whole night except when one or the other danced or visited with another classmate.  She found it comfortable to be with Tim even though a few people made it a point to stop by and remark about old flames being rekindled.  Tim was a gentleman.  He seated her, got drinks for her, and even brought a corsage for her. 

After the reunion was over, Nancy and some of her closest friends went to Beth Barnett’s house.  Beth was Nancy’s next door neighbor when she was growing up.  Driving back to Beth’s house, Nancy wished she hadn’t been away for so long.  While she realized she was right to move away right after graduation, her home town offered many wonderful memories.  The movie theater, canoeing on the lake, Friday night football games, and the pizza place were all things she treasured in her heart.  The group sipped wine or decaf coffee and laughed as they reminisced.  Finally, around 5:30 AM, the last friends went home. 

As she got ready to get into bed at 6:00, Nancy realized she had turned her cell phone off before the reunion and forgot to turn it back on.  She watched it power on as she savored the glow of the evening.  Then the ring tone for a missed call sounded.  Then it rang again follow by the tone for a voice mail.  In all she had 8 missed calls, 4 voice mails, and 10 text messages.  All but 2 text messages were from her son, John. 

Each text message and voice mail from John increased in concern.  John was upset and a little angry that his mother hadn’t called to let him know she was home safely.  He wanted to know why she was “ignoring him” and thought it was “immature not to stay in touch with him while he sat home worrying about her.  The least she could do is text and say ‘I’m ok.’”  He was starting to wonder if she was “lying in a ditch somewhere.”  She “needed to stop hanging around these friends.  They were a bad influence.” 

Nancy started laughing.  She continued laughing.  She was consumed with giggles for a few minutes when Beth knocked on the door.  Nancy showed her the text messages and then played the voice mails for her and her husband.  All of them chuckled heartily.  Finally, she sent a text to John that read, “Am fine.  Hope to get home in a couple hours.”  They all laughed some more. 

Right when Nancy closed her weary eyes to finally go to sleep, her phone chimed.  It was a text message from Tim.  He hoped he could see her again before she left for home.  Nancy quickly replied she would like to meet him again but was going to sleep.  “Rest well,” was the reply.