I remember our first meeting; it was very uneventful, just like any other business meeting when you meet people for the first time. I was head of the Marketing/Sales team and June was the newly hired head of our Audio/Visual Group. The two groups work together preparing presentations for prospective clients. While the meeting was uneventful, my new colleague impressed me.
The day after that meeting I decided to stop by her office and personally introduce myself since we were definitely going to be partnered up on several of my upcoming presentations. June's office was no different than mine, her personal office was about 15' x 15' with an adjoining space for her direct staff. Entering through the staff door I was welcomed by all those I have been working with for years, always a fun situation for me.
After our very cordial greetings I asked if June was available; before anyone could answer I looked up and saw June standing in the doorway from her private office with a pleasant smile. I was right to have been impressed at our first meeting, but how could I have ever missed how incredibly beautiful she was.
I started the conversation out. "Hi again! We met yesterday at the ..."
June Interrupted. "No need to reintroduce yourself Mr. Stevens."
"I'm much more comfortable with Dave." I responded with a pleasant smile.
With that she politely gestured for me to follow her to her office. I sat down after she seated herself and our conversation picked up right where we finished yesterday. I was amazed at how easy it was for the two of us to speak with each other. We could have finished each other's sentences had we chosen to do so. Not only did I feel totally comfortable with our ability to put together award-winning presentations, but also I felt like I just met my new best friend.
June had done her homework well, she was aware of the first two Clients we were going to go after. She already had ideas put together from the Visual/Audio perspective and I was prepared to send over the outline of my objectives. Needless so say we were off and running with a great working relationship.
With everything going so smoothly, I thought for a brief moment that my past few years were behind me. I was just 29 years old and successful in my career, but personally I was still struggling with the tragic loss of my wife Becky. I had been on a business trip and came home to find Becky curled up on the sofa in great pain. Her shoulder was throbbing and the aspirin was doing no good at all. I dropped my bags, lifted her from the sofa and drove to the nearest Emergency Room.
We were told the shoulder seemed to be fine, but they needed to look deeper into some of the blood numbers they were seeing. It was a Wednesday and they thought she would be checked into the Hospital until Friday. Not being ready for this I was given a list of personal items to bring back to the Hospital the following evening. Top on Becky's list was fresh panties and a few bras!
That next morning was a bad day for me to decide the speed limits signs did not apply to me. After being pulled over I had to open the glove box and yes you guessed it, out popped several ladies panties and a few bras. No amount of blush will ever be able to describe the ensuing conversation with the Police Officer who was just doing his job. I was lucky that morning, I think he decided I already had too much to deal with and gave me a warning rather than a ticket.
Upon arriving at the Hospital that evening I was thoroughly exposed to even more embarrassment as Becky had shared my misfortune with the entire nursing staff! That was the last time I smiled and laughed with joy. When Friday arrived, the Doctor's came in to tell us a swollen Kidney, had caused a chain reaction resulting in a pinched nerve in Becky's shoulder.
By then we both were confused and dazed, but as they say, that was the good news. The rest of the conversation paralyzed both of us; Becky had Leukemia. No amount of tears and anguish can come close to describing what we felt. I spend the entire night in the room with Becky, the staff just left us alone except for a few nurses just doing their job.
For the last months of Becky's life her Mother had flown in from Indiana to be close. Each night either her Mother or I would stay in the room keeping her company and supplying comfort. It was my night when things went down hill for the last time. I had pulled my chair as close to her bed as I could and held her hand. The Nurses kept coming in as quietly as they could to make sure she was at ease, I finally nodded off while holding her hand.
The startling sound of one of the machines buzzing loudly rudely woke me, nurses came flying in, the machine went silent, my eyes still blurry could only make out flat lines on all the machines. One Nurse gently pulled my hand from Becky's and calmly, very gently explained to me the battle was over.
Everyone grieves in his or her own way. I choose to dive into my work and tried to ignore the pain; I became quite good at that. After a year or so the numbness started to fade and honestly when that happened my nights became a struggle. Another year past and things started to move forward. This whole time I never stopped wearing my Wedding ring.
That was about the time I was introduced to June. With our working relationship inspiring both of us we became a great team. We ended up making Wednesday our Lunch date at the Executive Cafeteria. We became much more comfortable on a personal basis than before.
I heard about George, her Husband. George was your basic Trust Fund baby who has never worked a day in his life. Early on while in College she became intrigued by the life style and driving around in fancy sports cars, eating out at nice Restaurants, going on incredible vacations at a moments notice. While June worked and thrived at her job, George was home or at the Country Club.
As time passed, one day out of the blue June decided during our Wednesday lunch date she would ask me about the ring I was still wearing; evidently her staff had told her about Becky when she first started. I explained to her I felt no lady would ever want to be wife number two, so it was just easier to keep the ring on.
Then one day we both were called into the highest of the Ivory Towers for a meeting. We were both a little nervous when I stopped by June's office to pick her up for the meeting. In the elevator June gently wrapped her fingers around my hand as we ascended. Once stopped, she politely let go as the doors opened.
Turned out our apprehensions were totally off base! We both had been promoted to Vice Presidents! Upon returning to our respective offices cheers went up, congratulations abounded, our work had been rewarded more than either of us ever expected. Needless to say a grand party was set for that coming Saturday night to celebrate in style!
When Saturday arrived I was excited, it had been years since I had done anything in public, let alone enjoy a social life with people I was close to. I arrived 10 minutes early as per my normal parentally ingrained tradition. Next to arrive just a moment after me was June. I tried my best to hide what my eyes were seeing, but my expression gave me away as it always does.
June came straight over, laughing in her beautiful way, and asked if I ever had seen a proper lady dressed to kill before! I honestly answered "no" to her query. Then I asked when would George be arriving? June smiled pleasantly and let me now that George was going out with his Golf buddies that night.
The evening was perfect, dinner was incredible, the company was such a pleasure to be around, and of course June and I could not stop being close to each other. We sat together at dinner and enjoyed the conversation with the entire group. After dessert, the curtains were parted and the dance band started to play a few rousing dance tunes.
I watched as most of the couples hit the dance floor and joy could be felt throughout the entire venue. When the first slow music was being introduced, June's eyes met mine at the same time; together we rose without a word being spoken. That walk to the dance floor made my heart pump, as it had not pulsed in years.
Once on the dance floor we turned to each other without hesitation. I moved my right hand around her tiny waist and gently placed it on the small of her back. June smiled in a way I have never seen before as she placed her left hand on my right shoulder. I raised and opened my left hand as June brought her delicate fingers of her right hand to my hand.
We never took that first uncomfortable step; our bodies instinctively knew what to do. June let me lead, and she followed every move perfectly. The world around us disappeared; we felt all alone as our bodies swayed in perfect rhythm, our eyes stayed fixed on each other and not a word was spoken. Soon June drew her head into my shoulder, bringing me comfort I had long ago forgotten. I felt her body gently mold to mine as we danced, out hands caressing each other's as the music continued.
When the song was over we held each other close for a moment longer than we should have. I doubt we would have ever let go at all if not for the next energized song taking over the dance floor. We could not resist this temptation to just let go and enjoy the moment. WOW what a dancer is all I could feel when I watched June start up. Inspired I joined in and together we made the same kind of magic we do when we are working together.
I think we put the others to shame in just two dances. What a wonder to feel so much pleasure after hiding in my own sorrow for so long. The next slow dance came and again we took to the dance floor. As we again held each other close June pulled her lips to my ear and whispered. "Is this really happening David? Is what I am feeling true? Something exists between us that is deeper than I have ever felt."
"Don't be afraid June, it is real. We need time to think everything through." Was all I could say at that moment. More importantly I was holding June in my arms, our bodies were again swaying perfectly to the beat of the music, our feet glided across the dance floor. The evening was perfect.
When I got home that night I set out to get ready for bed. After I had brushed my teeth and finished in the bathroom; I returned to my bed and on the nightstand I saw my phone lite up. I lifted the phone and read the text message.
