An Old Flame Reignited

In the spirit of Mark Twain, the reader shall not read anything into this story, nor interpret any part of it to suggest that anyone under 18 herein ever had sex.

To our first loves and the circle of life!

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I was tired of the single life. I got married to get out of it.

Trouble was, I married Heather, a certifiable wackadoodle. She decided she didn't want to be married, so she filed for divorce. Never even asked for custody. What kind of mother does that?

Bottom line: I'm single again, only now it's hard to meet women.

I dated a couple of women recently, but I don't plan to ever see either of them again.

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I woke up one morning thinking about my first love. Not the grade school variety, but genuine love. We started dating when I was a sophomore and she was a junior. We dated until the end of the summer after she graduated. She was the first girl I kissed, but we never had sex.

Judy left for college that August. "I'll write every week."

That lasted a month. I knew then she had met someone, and figured the next letter would be her telling me she was getting married. I called it, but I cried anyway.

I never forgot Judy, which is probably why she was on my mind that morning. I heard recently she was single again, but I wasn't sure why.

I called someone who might know. I was wrong, but it took twenty minutes to get off the phone anyway. However, I came away with a possible cell number!

I remembered her married name: Meyerson.

One evening, I searched online. The only Judy Meyerson in the state was two hours away. I knew it had to be her though, because it listed Tom Meyerson as someone related to her. I wrote down the address.

I did nothing about it, at least until the next morning.

------[]---[]------

"Hi, Judy, it's Dan. Dan Martin."

"Dan! I'm so happy to hear your voice! How are you?"

"Fine! ... You know what? That's a lie. My ex-wife turned out to be crazy. She divorced me and didn't want custody of our children. Even our kids say she's crazy.

"Judy, I heard you were single again. Also a divorce?"

"No. A car accident. Three years ago."

"I'm so sorry! That's so sad. How are you doing?"

"It's up and down. Good days and bad days. I still sometimes expect Tom to walk through the door."

"If I thought Heather was going to walk through the door, I'd probably run out the back! Have you been dating?"

"No, I've had a couple of men ask me out, but I had no interest in them. How about you?

"I've tried to look, but it's so much more difficult than in college. Now, if a man tries to ask out a woman at the workplace, there's an even money chance he ends up taking a mandatory online course on sexual harassment! That's a mood killer!"

Judy was laughing. "That would be so awful!"

"That's why I called ... although I have no idea why this is so hard! ... We went together for two years. I thought I would have an easier time talking to you."

"Those were really good times. I've often wondered how my life would have been different..."

"We can still find out, Judy."

"Are you asking me out?"

"Yes, I am, 19 years later. I know we're two hours apart, but I'd be happy to drive there and take you to dinner."

"I'd love that, but it's a long way to drive. Are you sure you want to do that?"

"I'm sure. How about this Friday?"

"Friday works well. Do you need suggestions for dining here? How about if I text you ideas?"

"That would be great! Would you like me to pick you up?"

"No, once you pick a place, I'll meet you there."

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She sent me a few restaurant suggestions and I made reservations at one. Her rejection of me picking her up puzzled me. It couldn't be a trust issue. It seemed odd until I looked closer at her address: 4439 SW Hamilton St, TRLR 52. A mobile home. I wondered whether she was embarrassed.

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I had chosen a casual restaurant, a locally owned steak house. Judy said it was one of her favorites.

We had a lot of fun, laughing, talking about old times, catching up on our families, our children.

"Judy, there's one thing I want to ask. Please understand, I don't want to embarrass you. I just want to understand. I was surprised that you insisted on meeting me here."

She opened her mouth to say something, but I held up my hand ... "Wait just a sec, Judy. Is it because you live in a mobile home?"

She looked down at the table and started to cry. Big tears.

"We're old friends. Please tell me the story, and why it embarrasses you."

There was a long silence as she wiped away tears.

"Tom was a wonderful husband and father, but he was never a good provider. He moved from job to job. I had to work to make ends meet. We managed to save enough money for a down payment on a home about 10 years ago. When he died, there was no savings and no life insurance."

She was crying again.

"Do you mind me asking how he died?"

"He died in a car accident. It was his fault. He must have fallen asleep, because he veered into oncoming traffic and hit a truck head on. He died at the scene."

"I'm so sorry, Judy! He was what? Thirty-four years old?"

"Thirty-five."

"So did you lose the home?"

"No, but I knew I wouldn't be able to make the payments. I sold and ended up with just enough to buy a used double-wide in a mobile home park. I had to have a home for my children, but I knew I didn't want a mortgage. I pay about $80 a month in association dues."

"I'm impressed! I think you made a really smart decision. Why are you so embarrassed?"

"I loved our home. I loved our garden and taking care of the flowers in the yard. I'm not so much embarrassed, just missing our old home. This feels like so much less.

"When you're young, you don't think you could possibly die. I kept asking Paul to buy life insurance to protect me and the kids, but he never did. I resent that now!"

More tears. We were sitting across the table from each other, but I moved to a chair on the side of the table and put my arm around her. She put her head on my shoulder, then her arm reached around and held me close as she cried.

"Thank you for telling me. You and I once had an agreement that we would not have secrets. That was hard to do at our age then. Maybe it's harder now, I don't know. This is our first date in 19 years, but surely we can be friends again, can't we?"

"I'd like that, Dan. I haven't had anyone I could talk to. I should tell you the main reason for me not allowing you to pick me up. I worry about bringing men home to meet my kids. They may not understand a later breakup. You know, they might think they were the problem or feel rejected as well. I think my children are not a first date thing. I hope you understand."

"I do. It's another wise decision you've made."

"Can I ask a question now, Dan?"

"Of course!"

"You asked how I am doing. Now it's your turn. Be as honest as I was."

"Hmmm. I've told you about my marriage. It was not a great marriage. I really think she didn't like being a mother.

"I hate to tell you about the rest. I've been fortunate beyond anything I could have expected. Got in on the ground floor of a software company that in 10 years produced a string of legendary games and went public. I made a lot of money, only to learn money is different from happiness.

"Don't get me wrong, I love my children. I leave work at work. I love coming home and helping them with homework, doing fun things together. I'm fully invested in them, but I'm increasingly aware my life isn't complete. Maybe it never was, with Heather, but that part of my life is surely empty now."

I was staring at the table, my eyes swimming with tears. It was Judy's turn to put her arm around me.

"Is that why you called me, Dan?"

"I suppose. I've been trying to date. What a discouraging thing at this point in my life! The more I thought about you, the more I realized I had never loved anyone as much as I loved you. Heather included.

"Judy, we didn't stop loving each other back then. At most, we put our love on pause. I'm wondering what would happen if we pressed 'play.'"

She was silent as she thought.

"I like how you said that. I remember how much I loved you. I thought about you often over those 19 years, so I'm glad you called.

"Look, Dan, I can't make any promises, but I do want to see you again. Maybe we still have a future, and we owe it to each other to find out."

Driving home that night, I felt hope for the first time in a long time.

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Judy and I spent the following two Saturdays together. Judy brought a cooler both times with food and drinks. We spent hours walking, hand in hand, sitting and talking. Eating lunch together. A lot of laughing and a little crying. The things old friends do after years apart.

I remembered more reasons I had loved her then. More reasons to love her now.

On that second Saturday, she surprised me.

"Dan, before you go home, do you have time to come and meet my kids?"

"Of course! Are you sure you're ready for that introduction?"

"I asked, didn't I?"

I looked into her eyes. For the first time in more than 19 years, we kissed.

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I followed her to her home. It was obviously well cared for. The lot was immaculate with a carefully trimmed patch of lawn and borders of flower beds. No weeds in sight.

"Judy, this is beautiful! How do you keep everything looking so nice?"

"It's my children. They want it to look nice."

Inside, it was a true home. Pictures of the kids on the fridge. Family portraits on the walls. Flowers in a vase, probably from the yard. It looked lived in, not sterile, but it was clean and tidy.

"Does your home always look this neat?"

"No," she whispered, "I may have told the kids you would be coming over. They did this. I think they're cheering for you."

She called for the kids, who were in a back room, streaming something.

It was fun meeting them, trying to overcome my usual inability to remember names.

"This is Amber, my youngest and only daughter. She is 10. And this is Colin. He's 13 and my newest teenager. Finally, this is Dan (she looked at me for a reaction), my oldest at 15."

I could see a little of Judy in each of them. Not just looks, but mannerisms and their smiles. I was surprised by her oldest child's first name.

"I'm so happy to meet you. Your mother and I dated for two years in high school. My first real love. She sure loves the three of you.

"Maybe sometime we can arrange for you to meet my two children, Beth and Ron. Colin, Beth is also 13, and Ron is less than a year older than you, Amber."

"Dan ... maybe I need to call my Dan by his full name! ... I have an idea. What do you think of you bringing your kids next Saturday and all of us spending a day together?"

Later, I expressed a concern. "We need to think of some activities at the park so they will get to know each other. Not just sit there bored. You know?"

"Way ahead of you, Dan!"

That next Saturday, Judy gathered us all at a picnic table. "My son, Daniel and I put our heads together to come up with some fun things to do today to get to know each other."

Daniel uncovered a big--I mean BIG--plastic container of Legos.

Daniel explained. "We will do this twice. The first team is Beth and Amber, at this table, versus Colin and Ron, at that table over there. Girls against the boys. Each team has 30 minutes to build a small church.

"Then we'll swap teams and have a new assignment for the second round. I'm the judge. There are snacks and sodas on that picnic table over there, and some here on this table as well. I'll put the bucket on the ground between the two tables.

"Thirty minutes, starting now!"

Judy, Daniel and I wandered between the two tables, laughing and giving encouragement. It was fun to see the teammates begin to joke and laugh as they worked.

Colin and Ron won the first round. Daniel switched the teams for the second round. Colin and Beth against Amber and Ron. Older against younger. Their assignment: a boat. Amber and Ron won that one, making Ron the double winner. Judy had a small trophy for him.

Other games followed, including guessing the identity of one of our children from clues. Judy and I had thought up some oddball clues, so there was a lot of laughter.

It was a successful day!

That evening, Judy and I went to dinner together. We were both ecstatic about how things had gone at the park. This time we sat at adjacent sides of the table, and we were holding hands.

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That next Saturday, Judy and her kids drove over to our house. We spent a few hours at a local park, went out for pizza, and had a movie afternoon together.

Our plan the next weekend was more adventurous. We planned to go camping, so Judy drove again Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, there was a big storm moving in. She and I talked it over and decided to make it a campout indoors.

Everyone got their sleeping bags, and we moved all the furniture out of our family room, or over against a wall. Then we camped out, sleeping in our sleeping bags.

Since the storm hadn't hit yet, we built a fire in our fire pit and made S'mores. The kids were having a great time. The next day we took them bowling, went out for pizza, and ended with a movie night. That's when I noticed my daughter, Beth, quite cozy next to Colin, who had his arm around her.

I asked Judy to help me with drinks in the kitchen.

"I just noticed Colin and Beth."

"They've been an item since our first picnic. I thought you knew. They talk almost every night on the phone."

"How did you know?"

"Colin came and talked to me. He wanted to know if it would cause trouble between you and me.."

"And you said ..."

"I told him to be careful and to realize if you and I marry, he and Beth can't end up hating each other."

"I guess I need to have that talk with Beth!"

That night, all the kids finally fell asleep. Judy and I had our sleeping bags next to each other. We whispered.

"I love you, Dan."

"Well, it should come as no surprise to you, but I love you, too."

The next day, Judy and I went for a walk. The rain had cleared, so the kids decided to swim in our pool.

As we walked, we held hands. "Judy, is it possible for you get away for a weekend?"

"I suppose. Dan ... Daniel, is old enough and babysits a lot for me, especially when the kids come home and I'm still at work. What did you have in mind?"

"I'd like to treat you to a wonderful weekend get-away. We could leave Friday afternoon--if you can get away a little early--and drive to--well, to a place that shall remain anonymous. What do you think?"

"I'd love to spend a weekend with you. Will you tell me what to pack?"

"Let's see. Casual clothes. Layering for cool evenings. Good shoes for walking. Oh! I hope this is ok with you--I rented a room with two queen beds. I can get us two rooms if you prefer."

"I think one sounds perfect. Anything else?"

"Well, now that you ask, if you feel ready, you might want to pack lingerie."

She kissed me on the cheek. "I am

so

ready," she whispered.

When we got to my front door, we stopped on the porch. I noticed the curtain on one of the windows moving. Some or all of the children were watching. Good. I took Judy in my arms and kissed her. It was a long kiss, with tongues. Judy moaned.

"Damn! Your kisses have always been fire!"

I heard giggling from inside.

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I picked Judy up at 3 pm. We had not driven too far out of the city before Judy suspected the destination.

"Are you taking me to that resort on the river?"

I smiled. "I cannot confirm or deny that."

Judy was smiling and insisted on holding my hand.

We checked into the resort and were soon in our room.

"Which bed do you want, Judy?"

"Can I have the one closer to the bathroom?"

We unpacked and went to dinner.

"Judy, can we talk about the elephant in the room?"

"You mean, about sex?"

"Well, ... I mean ... that is, ..."

Judy was laughing. She reached out and put her arm around my neck and kissed me on the cheek.

"Dan, you and I never had sex. Two years of dating, and I think both of us were too nervous about it. It sounds as though you still are!"

"I think you didn't want to be accused of robbing the cradle back then."

She was laughing. "Things are different now. We've both been married. I imagine we both enjoy sex now. I think we should find out how we are in bed."

"I knew it! You can't resist this body!"

"There's some truth to that." She blushed.

"There's something else, Dan. After Ron was born, I didn't want more children. We could barely make ends meet as it was. Without telling Tom, I got a prescription for birth control pills. I'm still using them."

"I should probably tell you something as well. I've never had a vasectomy. Just in case you were wondering."

"TMI, for now, Dan."

"What are you telling me? Is this about tonight? Are you saying you want to only use one bed."

"Only one bed, but I want to

really

use it."

I should have only ordered a salad!

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Later, we stood in our room, kissing.

"Baby, I'm nervous. I've had three children. I have stretch marks and my hips are a little wider. Just remember, I'm not 18. On the plus side, my breasts don't sag and I'm a cup size larger than in high school."

"Well, the most I ever saw of your body back then was when you wore your bikini--that bright red one. I'm older too. We're both older, but this isn't about that. This is because we love each other."

She kissed me. "And that's why I love you! I'm going to be in the bathroom for a while. Do you need it first?"

A few minutes later, there she was! A girl I had dreamed about since I was 16.

A white teddy. Lace, yet her nipples were dark and obvious.

She ran to the bed and got under the covers.

"Are you shy?"

"I don't want to disappoint you, Dan."

I kissed her. It was a good one! "There's not a chance you will disappoint me, my love."

We undressed each other. I saw her breasts for the first time. Well, I more than saw them. I played with them, felt them, kissed them. Sucked on her nipples. All the things I had only imagined all those years before!

She was stroking me. "You would be shocked how many times I thought about doing this! And this."

She slid down and took me in her mouth. Once I was hard, she climbed up and took me, cowgirl style. It was wonderful! Watching her breasts move, the concentration on her face. Most of all how she was fucking me!

She reached a climax and fell forward, her chest on mine. I reached under her arms and up to her shoulders and pulled her onto my upward thrusts. She whimpered on each thrust. I came inside her.

I held her, but noticed she was crying.

"What's wrong babe?"

"I'm so happy! Dan, I've wanted that moment for so many years. There's something I need to tell you. I promised you I would write every week, but I quit after about four or five weeks. I figured you were hurt, maybe even mad.

"When Tom died, I thought of you a lot. I wanted to call, but I was afraid. I didn't want to face rejection, so I didn't try to find you. Dan, that's why I was so happy when you called. I thought maybe there was hope. Maybe my dream of being with you again wasn't a lost cause."

"I was never mad at you! Sure, I was disappointed, but never mad. How could you ever think I would be mad at you? You didn't fall in love with Tom to hurt me!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Dan. I don't know why I misjudged you. Just like I don't know why I didn't remain with you back then."