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Summer In Maine: Part 4

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Summer In Maine: Part 4
Face To Face

A 7-part series by Member389. Listen to the ► Podcast

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My heart was pounding in my chest. She had sounded

conflicted, like she wanted to see me, but had reservations. I forced myself to
take slow deep breaths before I ducked into my room and got my jacket. I tried
to calm down, and keep from speeding there but I also knew I'd need to find the
place. I followed the directions and found it easily. I was about twenty
minutes early. I asked for a booth in a quiet area, and let the hostess know a
friend was meeting me.

The waitress asked what I was having, and since it was my

birthday I decided to have a drink. Hopefully I wasn't going to need it. She
carded me and wished me a happy birthday. She returned with my drink and set it
down with a smile.

"This one's on me."

I smiled back thanking her. I started twirling the cold

glass in my hands looking into the amber liquid. I was lost in thought until I
heard a familiar voice say thank you. I looked up to see Summer walking towards
me. I slid out of the booth and she kept walking, a smile spreading across her
face as she got closer. She didn't stop, hitting me in the chest full force as
she wrapped her arms around my neck pulling me into a fierce hug. My arms
resumed their position as if she'd always been there.

"I almost didn't believe it when I saw the note. It was

a bit of a shock after all this time." She said softly into my ear.

"I don't know why I didn't come right away."

She didn't let go of me, and I didn't let go of her either.

She just smiled as she looked at my face. I noticed her hair was darker than I
remembered, summer had long since passed. Her eyes were bright, even in the dim
light of the room. She flicked her eyes over my shoulder.

"Sorry." She blushed.

"Oh don't be." The waitress said with a sly grin.

"Let me know when you're ready and I'll grab your drink order."

"What are you having?" Summer asked me.

"In honor of our last day together I got a cider."

She smiled and told the waitress she'd have what I was

having. We finally separated and sat down.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, more curious

than concerned.

I gave her a smirk and shrug. "I've missed you."

"That's sweet, but why now? I honestly thought if you

were going to chase me down you would have done it right away."

The waitress set down her drink, and asked if we wanted to

order any food. Summer ordered us a couple appetizers.

"The truth is I've missed you ever since the day you

left. I knew it wouldn't do me any good to chase after you. The last thing you
needed was a puppy following you home. So I moved on, or so I convinced myself.
I went to see Davy, and he'd already given my summer job to somebody else. You
saved me from a summer of boredom pumping fuel, and hauling ice."

"What did you do?"

"I caught a break, and went to school on the city's

dime." I lifted my jacket from beside me showing the logo I'm sure she
would recognize. Rockland FD,

"You're a fireman?" She asked, her eyes widened.

"That explains that."

"Explains what?" I asked.

She just grinned. "Have you looked in a mirror

lately?"

I rubbed my chin. "I did shave before coming, so

yea."

Summer rolled her eyes. "You can't tell me that you

haven't noticed that you've filled out a little. You still look like a young
'un. You must have to beat the girls off with a stick."

"What girls?" I asked.

She looked at me for a moment, a look of shock crept across

her face. "Pete, don't tell me you haven't moved on. Tell me you've been
out with girls your own age since I left." She said the last part softly,
but insistently.

"I've been on dates since you left." I said chuckling.

"I missed you, and I sought solace in the arms of other women. I'm such a
cad."

She let out a sigh of relief. "So why here? Why now?

It's not that I'm not happy to see you, honestly it isn't, but I'm getting the
feeling there's something more going on here."

"I've been out with a few girls, but I've only ever

been in love with one." I looked her in the eyes. I didn't need to tell
her who I meant. It was plain on her face that she realized it as soon as I
said it.

She looked at me her head tilting slightly, and reached over

and took my hands in hers. She took a deep breath.

"What we shared was amazing, but you need to move on

and live your life. You can't be in love with me. You're not even old
enough..."

I looked at her for a moment, and purposely raised an

eyebrow and lifted my glass and took a long pull off my cider.

"Okay, you're old enough to drink, but you're still so

young. What do you want with an old lady like me?"

"Whoa, hang on a minute. You're old? I wish you'd told

me when we were rolling around in the sheets like a couple of horny
teenagers."

"You WERE a horny teenager!" She growled at me.

"That hasn't been the case now for two years, to the

day." I replied. "I'd like to think I've had time to work it out,
think on it, and grow up a little."

She looked at me for a moment. "To the day? Your

birthday is today?"

I nodded.

"What about you? Have you been dating, are you in a

relationship?" I asked. I felt my heart sink as I waited for the blow.

"Happy Birthday." She said and lifted herself up leaned

across the table and kissed me.

The shock lasted a split second, her lips lingered in front

of mine. I didn't hesitate and leaned in and I closed the gap, this time
unhurried. Her kiss was soft and warm as her tongue brushed my lip tentatively
asking for permission to enter.

There was a soft shuffling noise and the close clink of a

plate. I was loath to part from her. Summer's eyes popped open looking into
mine shocked as she pulled back and sat down, her cheeks bright pink. I just
grinned. She peeked up at the waitress, who had a huge grin on her face as she
set the plates down on the edge of the table, rather than between us.

"You two lovebirds want another round?"

"Not just yet." I replied looking at our half-filled

glasses. As soon as the waitress walked away Summer started giggling, and I
quickly joined her.

"Oh those smell so good." She reached for a plate

and scooped a couple little dumplings onto it. She broke one in half and steam
rose out of it, after dousing it with mustard she blew on half of it, then
rather than eat it, she leaned over the table and offered it to me.

"Careful it's hot." She said stabbing the other

and popping into her mouth, chewing carefully.

It was hot, I gasped some air trying to cool it off as I bit

down. "What is this?" I asked tasting onion and bacon.

"Deep fried pierogis. They're so bad for you, but they

taste so good." Her eyes rolled up as chewed.

I hadn't let the fact that she didn't respond to my question

slip past.

"They are good," and I paused a moment to see if

she'd respond.

She let out a small sigh. "After a while... one of my

friends kept prodding me to get out of my funk. Trust me when I say, I was in a
bad way when I got home. I cried my eyes out for a week. There was a new doctor
that worked on C South. She kept pushing me at him, I guess because he'd been
asking about me. He asked me out, and after a couple invitations I finally
accepted."

She shrugged and made a grimace.

"So..."

"So? So what you want to know is whether or not I'm

still seeing him, or if things got more serious. Is that right?" She said,
a little smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

I just raised my eyebrows, in imitation of her expression,

which made her chuckle.

"If I were, would I be here feeding you, and swapping'

spit?" She said with a sharp twang.

I nearly choked on the bite she'd just fed me.

"Well I know you as the type who would let someone down

easily. You don't like to hurt people, least of all those you care about."
I said.

She nodded slowly. "How long did it take you to figure

out Emily hadn't broken her arm?"

I just grinned at her attempt to change the subject.

"So what happened with doctor wonderful?" At this point it wasn't
just an assumption that the doctor was history, it was more a matter of how.
She poked at the last bit on her plate with a fork before answering.

"It didn't work out. Once we'd done the deed, he seemed

to lose interest. Come to find out, he's got a reputation of burning through
coworkers. The reason he was new here was because he was asked to leave his old
hospital because of a harassment lawsuit brought by several women that he
worked with."

"So you dumped him?"

"Like a hot potato." She grinned. "Besides

Emmy hated him from day one. I should have taken her appraisal to heart."

The grip in my chest relaxed. "Was he..."

She raised her eyebrows at me this time, causing us to both

laugh at the mirrored expression.

"What? Was he the only one? Yes. I haven't been playing

bedroom bingo since I got home Pete. There, are you happy?"

I just smiled at her.

"You smug little shit." She said laughing.

"You are happy aren't you?"

I just nodded.

"You think I'm just going to fall into your bed like

nothing has changed? Is that it?" She said, still smiling.

I stopped smiling and shook my head gently. "No, and

technically, it was never my bed we fell into."

She got a shrewd look. "What then?"

I wasn't prepared for her to ask outright what it was that I

expected, but I didn't hesitate with my response.

"I'm in love with you, and I have been for over a year,

and I want to know how you feel about me."

She sat there wide eyed for a moment, her mouth hanging

open.

"Are you trying to catch flies?" I asked with a

smirk.

"You're serious?" She said softly.

I just nodded. "I'd move here, find a place, get a job

and hopefully start my training to become a paramedic. I can get into the
university as a resident, cheaper tuition, but mostly I just want to be with
you."

"You're crazy." She said softly.

"I've heard love does that to people."

"Hon, there's so much more to consider than just that."

She said, reaching across the table laying her hand on mine.

"I know, that's why I'm here now." I waited,

looked away from her for a moment and took a deep breath. "If it was
just... a summer fling. I'm okay with that, really I am. That doesn't mean I don't
want us to be friends."

Her hand gripped mine. "It wasn't like that at all. You

have to understand what was going on in my life at the time. You showed up at a
time when my self-esteem was crushed. I needed to feel loved, even wanted
again. You did that in a single afternoon. Sure at first I was upset with you
for being a peeping tom, but then I kind of liked the idea of a young guy
getting excited seeing me in all my glory. I felt desired. When you brought my
sorry, broken ass inside and made me lunch, got me the lotion for my sunburn,
and ice for my ankle. You cared about me, and you didn't even know me. I didn't
prompt you, you did it out of compassion, and that's something I needed right
then."

"And now?" I interjected.

She tightened her jaw as she thought about her response.

"It's different now. I'm different now. I came home and began rebuilding.
I like being self-sufficient for the first time in my life, I like knowing that
I can stand on my own two feet. I can be a good mother, make sure that dinner
gets on the table and the bills get paid. It's empowering." She looked
into my eyes. "I have you to thank for that."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You picked me up and dusted me off,

figuratively and literally." She said, a tear slipped down her face.

I reached up and brushed it away, and she grinned.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about. You care about me, and it
scared the hell out of me when I realized I felt the same way about you. That
last night you nearly crushed my rib cage while we talked, but I didn't want to
say anything because I was more afraid you'd let go, and I didn't want you to
ever let go."

"I was scared. Here I am a grown woman and I fell for a

teenager because he was infatuated with me after I took his virginity."
She said softly. "You were 19 for crying out loud, I should never have let
it happen."

I forced myself not to smile at that last statement.

"Do you think that if I can carry you across a lawn and through a house,
that I couldn't have stopped you? We didn't do anything that I didn't want to
do. We were both consenting adults, you didn't take advantage of me."

Summer just blinked her eyes and gave her head a little

shake. "I just want to make sure I'm understanding all of this. You want
to know if there's a chance for you and I to have a relationship, and you're
willing to uproot and move here. You want to know if I'm okay with that, is
that what you're really asking?"

"In short, yes." I said.

It took her a while to respond. "What if I said

no?"

"I could hope we'd remain friends. Maybe with a little

communication once in a while. Who knows, you might even want to come back to
Maine and visit, bring Emmy. There's a big summer camp just north of Camden.
Just as friends." I said, waving off the shrewd look that she gave me, as
if I were saying that we'd hustle Emmy off and get back to old times.

"What would happen if I said yes, and after you get

settled in, you get tired of hanging out with an old lady? Where does that
leave us then?" She countered. "You're a thousand miles from friends
and family, resenting my very existence."

I just smiled. "If I were worried about that, I

wouldn't be here right now."

I had the feeling her resolve was weakening when the corner

of her mouth turned upward. "You know, the real test isn't me, it's Emmy.
She knew Phil, the doctor I told you about, was a loser almost immediately. If
you don't make the cut with her..." She just shook her head.

"So I must win over the princess to have the hand of

the queen. It's a little backwards, but I like it. When can I set up my
interview?" I said laughing.

A sly smile crept across her face. "How long are you

here for?"

"Forever, starting after Christmas. I have to work a

full year at RFD or I'll have to pay back the tuition for school. I can be back
just after the holidays." I said. "I'm on two weeks’ vacation
so I don't really need to head back until the end of next week."

"I think I have just the thing then. Emily and I often

go down to the firehouse on Fridays where they have a fish fry. You can meet my
uncle while you're there, he's a fireman too."

"That would be fine. What about us?"

"What about us?" She mimicked, not understanding

my question.

"Would you do me the honor of going out on a date with

me?" I asked formally.

Her face lit up. "I'd love that. I'll find someone to watch

Emmy on Saturday. If Saturday is okay with you."

"Saturday will be fine." I said. The grin on my

face mirrored hers. Just then I realized that this meeting couldn't have gone
any better if I'd planned it this way.

Summer looked at her phone to check the time and said she

had to go pick up Emily at her mom's and get her home to bed. She insisted on
picking up the tab because it was my birthday.

"We'll make Saturday your real birthday dinner."

She winked as she set down the pen.

"C'mon walk me to my car." She said.

"Still have the Jeep?"

"Yup, not many warm days now, so I can't run around

topless." She said.

I chuckled, and got a punch in the arm before she joined in.

She tossed her handbag across to the passenger seat, as I watched her jeans
hugging that beautiful backside. I wanted to take things slow, but the
overwhelming sensation of everything going so well came over me. When she
turned back to face me I took her in my arms and kissed her like I hadn't in
years. Our lips met, her arms slipped around my neck pulling me deeper into her
as our tongues danced a familiar dance. My hands crept up the back of her
pullover, pulling us tighter together.

"I've been wanting to do that since you walked in the

door." I gasped.

"Pete?" She asked softly.

"Yea?" I tilted my head, wondering at her

questioning tone.

"Is this..." She stuttered. "I don't..."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She slipped a hand off my shoulder
and reached down between us grabbing the front of my jeans in a soft grip.

"Is this why your here?" She asked, her eyes

bright in the dim light of the street lamp. The look on her face told me that
this was a very important question, and nothing short of the truth would be
accepted.

I reached down between us taking her hand in mine and

brought it up and laid it on my chest. "This is why I'm here. It's been
empty for over a year, and I want to fill it again."

Without moving her hand she leaned in and kissed me again.

"Right answer." She whispered.

"I'll call you tomorrow. Happy birthday." She leaned

out and we kissed again.

She gave me a little wave as she drove off. I returned it. I

just looked down the road for a minute before I drove back to my motel.

I woke the next morning squeezing the pillow against my

chest tightly. I immediately sat up knowing there was a reason I woke this
fast, and the ringer went off again. I dove for my phone to answer it.

"Good morning sleepy head." Came the soft sweet

voice.

"Good morning sweets." I replied.

"I'm sorry, I know it's early and you're on vacation,

but I wanted to know what you had planned today."

I yawned. "Well I was going to go to the city and pick

up an a

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