Author's Note: All characters in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, past or present, is purely coincidental.
PROLOGUE
I met the girl of my dreams when I was a sophomore in high school. She was beautiful, sweet, kind and smart. She came from a well-respected, well-to-do family. She was a cheerleader, honor roll student, and well-liked by all. I, on the other hand, was a gangly, awkward kid, and from the 'wrong side of town', as the saying goes. Of course, she was the girl of every teenage boy's dreams, and unlike me, there were plenty of guys that had a shot at being her beau. As a junior, she dated the president of the honor society; as a senior, she dated the star wide receiver of our football team. By her senior year, Claire was a walking dream, and was the homecoming queen.
By my senior year, I was no longer gangly, had filled out, got some looks, and made the honor roll, myself. But I was still just one the other kids, one of that group that isn't included in the top tier of high school society. I had lettered in wrestling, and took second in state as a senior, but I still wasn't in her league. I did get to know her over time - we shared some classes together, and for a semester in our last year, we were on the school debate team together. And though she was nice to me, she never looked at me like anything but a classmate. I always hoped she would see me in a different light, see me as a possible suitor. I even worked up the nerve to ask her out one time. I remember it like it was yesterday:
"Hey, Claire, you doing anything this weekend?"
"Oh, hey, Jason, yes, I'm going to the lake with some of the gang. We rented a lake house for the weekend. What are you doing?"
"Oh, um, probably working."
"Well, that's too bad. Okay, see you later."
Yep, that was my feeble attempt, the one and only.
I graduated, went on to college; got my Master's in Architecture, and eventually started my own architectural firm. Along the way, I married Denise, whom I also went to high school with, had a son, and became very successful. Denise was a lovely woman, full of life, pretty, smart, a wonderful wife and a great mother. Not that life or our marriage was always idyllic, but we were happy, and life was pretty good, until two years ago. Denise was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, and it had spread to other organs by the time they discovered it. I lost her four months later, and my world changed dramatically. My son, Tyler, started college that same year, and so, for the first time in 18 years, I was alone in a large house, and had no idea how to deal with my grief, my situation, my loneliness.
I am Jason, 39, 6' tall, 190 pounds, very fit with an average build, if somewhat muscular. I have medium brown hair worn in a standard business cut, and am clean-shaven. I have a reasonably handsome face with medium-brown eyes, and no particularly remarkable features. I'm an avid tennis player, I golf and ski, and I run to keep in shape and destress.
I live in Mount Olympus, Utah, a community on the eastern edge of Salt Lake City. My office is located in nearby Cottonwood. I design homes for clients all over the country. That is heart of my business - custom home design. I love my work and do well financially. What I don't have as this story begins, is much of a personal life.
STORY
I. UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER
It was a Wednesday in mid-March. There was snow on the ground and the local roads were icy as I made my way to the office. However, the freeway was clear, but with heavy traffic. I had a morning meeting with a construction firm that was going to build a house I had designed for a client out of Provo, Utah. I had left early to allow for traffic and road conditions, and arrived almost an hour early, so I stopped at the Starbucks near my office for a latte and to review job details for my upcoming meeting.
As I was perusing my iPad, I realized someone had walked up to my table. I looked up and standing before me was a beautiful, middle-aged woman. She was tall, maybe 5'-8" and slender-looking, though hard to tell much about her shape in her long coat. She had long, dark-blond hair with subtle highlights, blue eyes, and a beautiful, oval face with flawless skin.
"Excuse me. I don't mean to bother you, but you look so familiar and I was wondering if we have met..."
As I looked at the woman, a light went on, "Claire?" I questioned, almost to myself.
"Yes, so you know me, but I'm sorry, I can't place where I know you from."
"It's no wonder. It's been twenty years. I'm Jason, we were in debate class together, among other..."
"Jason! Jason from high school?! Oh my goodness. I can't believe it. Yes, I remember you. This is crazy. Well, how have you been? You look great."
"Likewise. I mean, you look great, too. Um, what are you doing here? Do you live in the area?"
"Oh, no. I live in Virginia. I'm here on business, meeting with an architecture firm."
"Mine, I imagine."
Surprised, she answered, "Your kidding?"
"No. I'm the only architect with offices here. Are you here for the Lasky build?"
"Yes, I'm going to be the construction manager. It's my husband's company and...I can't believe this...Amazing, isn't it?"
"Yes, quite - one coincidence after another!" I remarked.
"Yes, unbelievable. Well I guess we should head to our meeting," she smiled.
"Right, we don't want to be late," I kidded as I stood and gathered my stuff.
After we arrived at my office, my secretary, Miriam, gave me my messages and said she would get the conference room set up.
"Would you like something to drink?" Miriam asked Claire.
"Just a water."
"Bubbles or no bubbles?" I asked.
She chuckled, "No bubbles, will be fine."
"I'll take the same, Miriam, thank you."
We set up in the conference room. I already had a copy of the plans on the table for review.
The house, a split-level, wood-frame structure, would be near Park City and the Deer Valley Ski Resort. It was a five-bedroom, six bath home with all the bells and whistles, though fairly straightforward. The only exceptional amenity was the indoor lap pool - no bowling lanes, no putting greens, no helipad.
This was the first time I had worked with this construction company, so our meeting took quite a while.
"Well, Jason, I love the design, and I like that it's a clean build. Thank you for a thorough presentation, and I must say, I'm still surprised by our meeting like this. I don't know about you, but I'm famished. Do you have time for lunch? We could catch up..."
"Certainly. Miriam, do I have anything pressing, besides my backlog of paperwork?"
"Not today. You just have to be ready for the meeting with the Henleys, tomorrow."
"Okay, I'm good then. Thank you, Miriam."
"So, Claire, what do you feel like? There are a couple good restaurants within walking distance - a Chinese and an Italian. Or we can jump in my car and go to any number of places nearby.
"Chinese sounds good."
We walked the two blocks to the restaurant and grabbed a table. After ordering, I poured our tea and we settled in to catch up.
"So, tell me about yourself, besides the fact that you're a successful architect."
"Sure. After high school, I married Denise Wilkins - you may remember her. You were cheerleaders, together..."
"Oh, yes. I remember Denise. She was a lovely, vibrant, young woman. How is she?"
"She passed away two years ago - cancer."
"Oh, I am so sorry to hear that, Jason. How terrible."
"Thank you. Yes, it was quite a shock. The cancer, pancreatic cancer, was discovered too late. By the time she had any symptoms, it had metastasized to other organs. They didn't suspect it at first because of her relatively young age..."
I paused for a moment to collect myself. Claire put a hand on mine.
I continued, "Anyway, out of high school, we both went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in California for Architecture. After graduation, we moved here to take advantage of dual openings for apprentice architects at a local firm. After four years, we opened our own firm. I have a son that started college recently; and I guess that brings you up to date. How about you? I see you have a wedding ring."
She fiddled with it a moment, "Yes, um, I married Dex right out of high school. You remember Dexter..."
"The football player."
"Yes, him...And we have two children, both in college."
"So how is Dex?"
"Oh, well, he's fine, but, um, actually, he and I are getting a divorce."
"Sorry to hear that, Claire."
In a wistful voice, she replied, "Yeah, after almost fifteen years of what seemed like a good marriage, things changed, and over the last few years...well, sometimes life doesn't turn out the way you plan it, as you well know."
I nodded.
"Anyway, after college, Dex went to work for a large construction firm, and eventually, I joined him there. Eight years ago, we started our own company, and that has gone very well, but the demands of the business did not help our marriage..." She dropped her eyes, then looked up and smiled, "On a brighter note, here's to running into you after all these years," she remarked, toasting with her water glass.
"Yes, to a most pleasant surprise," I replied.
"So," she continued, "do you have anyone in your life now?"
"Recently, I started seeing a woman. We've had a few dates, but it's more of a casual thing."
"Well, since Dex and I separated, about six months ago, I've been seeing someone, but like you, it's more of a casual thing. With his travel and my travel, a relationship is difficult. Though this will be my last project for the company. Then I'm looking to find another job - one where I can settle down, not travel so much."
I nodded, "Yes, my travel doesn't make things easy, either."
We tabled discussion after our food arrived, except for sharing a few experiences from high school.
As we finished eating, Claire asked, "So, Jason, I'm curious about something. I had a pretty good idea that you liked me in high school, but you never asked me out."
I laughed lightly, "Hmm, yes, actually I had a serious crush on you, but you were out of my league...Though I did try to ask you out one time."
"I don't remember that, and I think that I would."
