| �Grandma, tell us about you and grandpa.� �Well, Pollyanna, what do you want to know?� I asked. �How did you fall in love?� �Oh, that�s easy Dwayne.� �But we want to know.� I smiled at my grand kids, Pollyanna and Dwayne, loving this moment. I took a deep breath and thought for a moment. �It all began on a cruise but of course you know how me and your granddad met, so I�m going to tell you all about our love�� *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I took a deep breath and stared at the endless ocean. This was the third Lupus Cruise and I saved my money for this trip. Well, my money and I had to take my best friend, Theresa. I let the wind blow through my hair, just getting lost in watching the sunset. I watched the ocean take the sun and eat it, or what I used to think as a kid. I smiled, feeling the days worries and doubts all go away. This was a night to party, to have fun. Like any other night on a cruise. I shivered slightly and tried to fight the chill. I watched as one by one the stars came out. I frowned, hearing soft footsteps approaching. I turned around and saw Theresa there. �Hey Jennifer.� �Hey Theresa,� I said back. �You okay?� �Yeah. Just watching the sun go down. It�s so beautiful. I want my house on a boat.� She only laughed. �You would miss the land at some time. Sides, what are you going to eat, fish all the time?� I laughed and only shrugged. In silence, we watched the once blue water become a deep, dark oblivion. I sighed, lost, once again, in my own thoughts. What seemed like minutes, was an hour. Once again, I heard footsteps approaching as well as two voices I could place. I felt Theresa tense up beside me and I quickly looked over my shoulder. I knew why. There standing in the light of the moon, was Howie and AJ. I turned back around, not invading their privacy. Like us, I knew they needed their time alone. Of course, I had met Howie before, so seeing him wasn�t shocking, the same for Theresa. I heard them laugh and once remember my dream of knowing them all so well. Them all, I met the whole Backstreet Boys. The first Lupus Cruise was just Howie, the second, the same (which I couldn�t go on due to lack of funds), and the third (this one) he got AJ to come along. They talked for a few minutes before they realized they weren�t alone. They walked behind us and yet, we just tuned them out. I felt Howie tap me on my arm and I turned around. I smiled and he smiled back. �We�re sorry. We didn�t mean to intrude,� Howie said. �It�s okay. We�re just watching the sun go down. Nothing to important.� �You look familiar.� I just raised an eyebrow at him and smiled. �You went on a cruise huh?� I just shrugged. �Yeah, the first one. I remember cause I remember Theresa.� I felt her snap her head around and looked at him. �Yeah, she talked about you. Um, Jennifer, right?� I stood there, shocked. How the hell he remembered, I truly don�t know. �Yeah.� �I remember seeing the name on the first cruise. That simple.� �I see.� �AJ, met Theresa and Jennifer. They�re both very nice ladies to know.� I shook AJ�s hand and noticed he lingered on Theresa�s more than necessary. I only rolled my eyes and continued talking with Howie. The hours flew by and I finally noticed Pollyanna had come up. �Guys, mom wants to see you before the game,� she said. �Right. Pollyanna, Jennifer and Theresa.� �I remember you guys. It�s great seeing you again.� �You too,� I said. She excused herself and walked away. �We�ll see you guys at the club, right?� �You know it Howie,� I said, with a huge smile on my face. He only smiled back and they quickly excused themselves. I glanced at Theresa and opened my eyes wide. �Ahh, that was the guys.� �Of course. And we worked that charm.� I only laughed and linked my arm through Theresa�s. We walked back down to our room and just changed. Redid our make up and our hair. I couldn�t help but feel happy. I mean, after all, Howie talked to me. He remembered me. So, he remembered our joke. I cringed and felt my face turn red. �You okay?� I glanced up at Theresa and nodded my head. �Just thinking back on our joke.� She laughed and we left the room, heading out to the club. I felt the floor before I even saw the lights. I felt a joy and just smiled. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ �But Grandma, when did you guys fall in love?� I stroked Pollyanna�s hair and smiled. �Are you going to let me finish the story?� �Yes Grandma,� she said. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Anyways, that night went by so fast, as did the rest of the nights. Me and Howie had started a wonderful friendship. Actually, the four of us were all very close. I remember the last night on their we exchanged phone numbers, addresses and emails. We promised we would keep in touch. That night was the hardest for me. I was scared he wouldn�t call. I know that night, me nor Theresa could sleep. I dressed and with her, we left for the deck. We walked around, remembering everything! And soon we realized we weren�t the only ones who couldn�t sleep. We ran into AJ and Howie. Theresa and AJ left, saying they were going to talk and Howie and I just sat down. We talked forever, about everything. Things we wanted out of life, where our road was going, and so much more. I couldn�t help but wonder what our life would be like. But for now, I was happy being just a friend. We walked some more and he grabbed my hand. He gave it a light peck and with the morning light, said we would stay close. That promise, I knew in my heart, would be forever kept. And it was! Oh, was it. We talked all the time. Online, over the phone, through mail. Whenever we were bored, we�d pick up the phone. I would talk with Howie, or AJ, or even Nick. And of course, Theresa. It was unbelievable the things you could say. And, we never ran out of things. When the following cruise came, Theresa and I were special guests. We had become part of DLF. I opened an office in Louisiana and Theresa opened one in Arizona. From seeing it on that side, was truly great. When the time came to see him, my heart was pounding. Because of time and getting ready, we hadn�t talked in weeks. But the last thing was how we felt. It made me uneasy, to think about how it could have ended our friendship, but it was both mutual that we liked one another. �Jennifer!� I turned around and saw Theresa, arm linked through AJ�s. Behind them was Pollyanna and Howie. I raced over to Theresa and gave her a huge hug. Followed by AJ and Pollyanna. I smiled at Howie and he picked me up. I laughed at him. Such a kid at heart. |
| Soul Mate By: Resa Dorough (for Jennifer Happy Birthday) |
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