A Chance to Recreate the Past

A Chance To Recreate The Past
by Kenna Marie

Stepping from her car that early January morn, Kari Kershaw had no idea her life was about to change forever.

It was just another work day, as she headed from the parking lot to the office.

She was about to ascend the front stairs, not giving any attention to the man leaning against the rail.

�Good Morning Kari�

She automatically replied, �Good Morning� as her eyes turned to the man. At first she thought, I don�t know you. Then she recognized something in his smile and those cinnamon colored eyes. She stopped in her tracks. �Jim! Jim Parker?�

�You do remember,� he said with a smile.

Kari�s mind was in a whirl, as she mumbled, �How could I forget.�

Jim had been her first love. She had been sweet sixteen, and he eighteen, when they met. They had dated for four years, even talked of marriage, then he went into the Air Force and they seemed to drift apart.

It had been ten years since she had seen, or heard from him. How did he know where to find her? What was he doing here? She simply couldn�t think straight. What was he saying?

�You look beautiful, as always.�

Not knowing quite how to respond, she simply said, �You�re looking good yourself.�

Suddenly her boss, Mr. Jackson appeared. �Mornin� Kari� He gave a nod to acknowledge the stranger, not knowing if he was an employee or not. Addressing Kari, he said, �Walk with me. I�d like to discuss the Reynolds merger.�

Kari gave Jim an apologetic look. �Gotta run.�

Jim pulled a card from his jacket pocket. �I understand.� He handed her the card. �Call me. We�ll do lunch sometime.�

As Mr. Jackson led her away, she replied, �I�ll do that.�

It was all Kari could do to keep her mind on work that day. It must have shown as a couple of people asked her if she was okay. She lied, saying she just hadn�t slept well.

At lunch she made the excuse she had to run an errand, to the girls she normally had lunch with.

She hopped in her car and drove to a nearby park, finding a secluded spot to park. Then she took the card from her pocket and studied it. It simply stated James P. Parker, security analyst. Giving a phone number, she recognized as a cell phone number; as well as an emergency number.
There was a P.O Box address, right there in Sacramento.

She found it strange that they would both end up in the same place, far from Seattle, where they had met.

The card didn�t furnish much information. Was he married or single? Did he have kids? How did he find her? Was he looking for her? Or had he just accidentally ran across her? She had more questions than answers.

She didn�t think he worked there at the Foundation Building, but there were several offices there; she supposed it was possible.

Her last name had changed since they had last been in contact. She recalled he had only used her first name, so maybe he didn�t know her last name, or that she was a widow.

She pulled her cell phone from her purse and started to dial. Then stopped, getting cold feet. She glanced at the time on her cell phone. It was time to get back to work.

The afternoon dragged by. Kari couldn�t wait for quitting time. Mr. Jackson had stopped by her desk and asked if she wanted to put in some overtime. She told him she had plans for the evening. She was relieved that he didn�t seem upset by her turning him down.

Normally she would have said yes, but today she just couldn�t. Her mind wasn�t on work. She had to decide if she was going to call or not.

Once off work she walked to her car, looking all about her; half disappointed when she didn�t see him.

Once at home, she took the Western Burger, fries and soda, she�d bought at Carl�s Jr�s on the way home and sat down on the sofa. She usually ate at the kitchen table, but didn�t feel like it tonight.

She took the card from her purse and stared at it as she ate. She argued with her self whether or not she should call. Surmising that he couldn�t call her, because he didn�t know her number she decided she would have to call him. She was curious as to what he was doing, and why he�d made it a point to see her.

Finally she could put if off no longer, she picked up the phone and with her heart in her throat, dialed his number.

�Jim Parker, how may I help you?�

Trying to sound calm and pleasant, Kari replied, �Hello Jim, it�s Kari.�

His voice immediately changed from professional to friendly. �Kari. The call I�ve waited for all day.�

Surprised by his words she said, �Really?� she gave a brief pause. �Sorry, I was busy before.�

�I figured.� There was a momentarily lull. �David Kershaw your husband?�

�Yes, my deceased husband.�

�I�m sorry to hear that.�

Kari could tell by the timber of his voice he wasn�t sure what to say. Not wanting to dwell on the tender subject she said, �You married?�

�Divorced; three years ago.�

�That�s too bad.�

�Not really. Came as a shock, but in the long run was for the best.�

They gradually started catching up with the past ten years.

Kim learned Jim had been a decorated pilot in the Air Force, and then when he�d gotten out he�d went back to college for two years, to brush up on his computer skills. After which he had briefly owned a computer store. Strangely, even to him, he had ended up in corporate security. He now owned his own security analyst business. He being the lead analyst, with three others working with him and a number of security personnel.

He had married while in the Air Force, to the daughter of one of his superiors. She had left him for a man that was a Green Beret. They didn�t have any children.

Jim learned that Kari had dropped out of college to marry David, whom she had met at a school football game. David was a sports reporter for a local TV station, before his death. Sadly, he also learned that the automobile accident that took her husband�s life, also took her two year old son, Hunter�s life.

They had talked for over an hour, when Jim asked, �Have you eaten?�

Apologetically Kari replied, �Yes, I have.�

During their conversation Jim had learned that they both lived in the general Folsom area. He suggested they get together for an after dinner drink.

Kari explained that her husband and son had been killed by a drunk driver and she hadn�t touched a drop of liquor since.

�Then how about coffee, at The Bistro, in Folsom?

For the first time since David and Hunter�s death, Kari felt alive. Without giving it a second thought she said, �Your on!� Then couldn�t believe she�d agreed.

�Meet you there in twenty minutes.�

�Sounds good.� She smiled as she hung up the phone, she could tell he was really excited about seeing her.

Realizing she had spontaneously smiled, she wondered to herself how long it had been since she smiled. She couldn�t remember. Until now she had felt like a dead person, residing in a living body.

They sat and talked over cappuccinos for a couple of hours; reminiscing about the past, catching up with each other�s lives, and learning each other�s present likes and dislikes. They found it surprising that though they lived completely different lives, they still had similar interests.

Before calling it a night they made a date for dinner the next night. They parted with a friendly hug.

The next day was a Friday. Kari hadn�t slept well. Her mind had gone in circles most of the night. She was excited about finding Jim again, yet she felt guilty at the same time. Feeling she had been disloyal to David and his memory. Upon rising she couldn�t face the thought of going to work. For the first time in her life she called in sick, when she wasn�t.

Jim found it hard to concentrate on work that day. His thoughts were all about Kari. She was still the beautiful, kind, warm, and loving person he remembered. She had hardly changed at all. He was sure she still wore a size 6. Her strawberry blonde hair was cut a little shorter than when they had been an item, but wasn�t too short, still shoulder length. Her face had matured a bit, but she could still pass for a teenager. Something Jim found remarkable considering she was nearly thirty.
He had thought of her often over the years and usually beat himself up mentally for letting her get away. Still he wondered if they could build a new relationship. Their lives were so different. She was obviously, and understandably, still having emotional issues with the loss of her family. Could he heal those wounds, or not?

Could she accept his life style? He hadn�t fully explained to her that his business was not just local, it was global. He was considered an expert in his field and was in demand from companies all over the world. Many companies world wide relied on him and his company. It was nothing for him to have to drop everything and travel to England, China, Australia, New Zealand, or some other foreign port.

It had been an unexpected and pleasant surprise when he had caught sight of Kari as her and her friends had left for lunch the day before their meeting, again. He had been with a business client and couldn�t get away, to say hello. He had spent a sleepless night hoping he would catch her the next morning as she arrived for work. He wondered if she would remember him, and be pleased to see him. Wondering if she was married or not. He hadn�t noticed a wedding ring; though she did wear a ring on her left hand, ring finger. Jim had learned that ring was a memory ring, which held the birth stones of David, Hunter and herself; given to her by a close girl friend.

Hoping to catch her for lunch, he called her office, only to learn she had called in sick. This set him to wondering why? And if she truly was ill. She had given him her home phone number. So he called. He was happy to learn that she was just playing hooky from work.

Kari spent the day thinking about Jim, fretting about her looks, and deciding what to wear, as well as pushing nagging guilt from her mind.

Jim picked Kari up at her house. He was a bit surprised her house was as big as it was. It was a Victorian, four-bedroom home. Didn�t seem like her style.

The house was quickly forgotten with one look at Kari. She was wearing an emerald green dress, with scoop neckline; the hemline fell just fall enough above the knee that it showed off her gorgeous legs. He couldn�t help but have sensuous thoughts, but he quickly put them aside. He certainly wasn�t gong to rush anything.

Kari couldn�t help thinking how appealing Jim looked. Unconventionally dressed in suede sport jacket, open necked shirt, and blue jeans, it only added to his sex appeal. It was that masculine sex appeal he generated, and his six foot six stature, that had attracted her years ago. His blond hair was a little longer than your normal professional, falling just at the collar of his jacket. The warm chocolate color of the jacket extenuated his cinnamon eyes, that seemed to sparkle this night.

They lingered over dinner, discussing people and places from the past. Plus Kari shared stories of her family, and Jim, told of places around the world he�d been.

They shared a decadent dessert of Fudge Volcano Cake, topped with strawberries and whip cream. The last few bites, they fed each other.

After dinner they took a walk along the river front, adjacent to the restaurant. At one point they were recalling a rafting trip they had taken on the Columbia River; laughing and enjoying the moment, when Kari�s foot slipped on a rock and she nearly fell. Jim caught her in her arms. As their eyes met, they spontaneously kissed.

The next morning Kari woke up in Jim�s bed, full of conflicting thoughts and emotions. The night before had been blissfully, and totally unexpected for both of them. Still she couldn�t help but feel it was too soon after David�s death.

It had only taken that first kiss for the two for the two of them to realize they still had feeling for one another.

Jim had invited her to his place, to just relax and get reacquainted. He truly didn�t have any designs on them ending up in bed.

Kari had wanted to spend time alone with Jim to see if he was still the man she remembered. She quickly realized he was much more of a man than she remembered. He was more mature, more confident, and very much more relaxed than he had been in his more youthful days. He had aged like a fine wine. She felt completely comfortable and relaxed with him, as if they had never been apart. She found that feeling strange, but didn�t fight it.

His home was not what she expected. It was a beautiful log home, on twenty acres, with not only a swimming pool, but a small man made lake. It was tastefully decorated in a combination of Native American and Southwestern. The home felt very comfortable.

Conversation by the fireplace had somehow led to a making out session, followed by Jim carrying her to his bedroom.

Jim had no regrets whatsoever. Kari had no regrets, really; she just felt like she was betraying David�s memory. Yet she told herself that he would want her to go on with her life and share it with someone that would care for her. She just wondered if Jim was that person. They felt so right, but their lives were so different.

Over the next nine months they dated and were nearly inseparable , except for Jim�s trips abroad.

They had both had to make adjustments, but overall they were perfect for each other.

Kari liked Jim�s house better than hers. When her and David had married his parents had bought a new home for them and given David and Kari their old home. It was a generous present, but Kari never felt like it was her home.

Jim and Kari had talked about her selling her home and moving in with him, but so far it hadn�t gone beyond the talking stage.

Then on a hot summer night, as they were having a bite to eat on his deck, overlooking the lake, with a full moon shining down on them, Jim announced he was going to have to go to Scotland for 3 months.

�Three months!� exclaimed Kari, in disbelief.

Jim solemnly nodded. Then went down on one knee before her, and pulled a ring box from his pocket. �I thought it would make the perfect honeymoon. Will you marry me Kari Kershaw?� Kari excitedly said, �Yes!� as she lunged forward to hug and kiss him, not giving any thought to the ring box in his hand.

When he opened the box, to show her the ring, she was shocked to see the very wedding set they had picked out years before.

�How�� She couldn�t find the words for what was going through her mind.

�I bought them just before leaving for boot camp,� Explained Jim. �I could never bring myself to get rid of them. They�ve been in my safe deposit box all these years.�

Her heart over flowing with love and her mind free of guilt she said, �I love you Jim Parker.�

�And I love you � Kari Parker.�

Kari Parker sounded good, but a bit strange to her. She had been Kari Kershaw for eight years. It was time for a change. Time to put David and Hunter to rest and recreate her life with Jim.