Cal was busy working on his stamp collection, sorting through several old stamps he had recently purchased at an auction, when he heard the chime of his computer signalling an incoming email. He glanced at his watch and was surprised, since most of his emails were news or sports updates, and came at the top of the hour. It was 8:21, which meant it was spam which had slipped by his filter, or a personal email – and he had received very few of those the last year or so.
Running his hand through his thinning gray hair, the 55-year-old widower rose from the desk heading toward his computer cubicle. His regular work on the farm and daily two-mile walks had helped keep his figure fairly slim and athletic, but the graying hair, receding hairline and weathered face testified to his age.
The email was from someone named JeanetteM, a name unfamiliar to him, but he was going to open it anyway just out of curiosity. It addressed him personally:
"Dear Cal,
We have never met, but you know my mother. My name is Jeanette Marsden and my mother's name is Jenny Marsden, you may remember her as Jenny Atkinson. I think my twin brother, John Calvin Marsden is named for you. Last week the three of us were going through our keepsake boxes and I found a folder of emails from you to Mama. I didn't read them, because I think they were private, but I memorized your email address and, when Mama saw what I had found, asked who you were. She said you were a very dear friend from before I was born. Mama and Daddy were divorced seven months ago and she is very lonely. If you still have this email address and are interested in meeting me and my brother, and getting reacquainted with Mama, you could write me back – I think I know how we could all get together, and even surprise Mama. Please write back if you get this email.
Jeanette"
Cal read the email through twice before going to the picture window in the living room and staring out at the surrounding mountains through the lightly drifting snow that had been falling all day. Then he sat down at his computer and began to type.
"Dear Jeanette,
I remember your mother well, though it has been nearly 13 years since I last saw her. I hope you are all well. I would like to meet you and John Calvin, and would very much like to renew acquaintances with your mother.
Cal"
Two hours later he heard the chime again, and walked quickly to the computer.
"Dear Cal,
We are going to take a week's vacation at the beach during spring break. We are going to be staying in the Fort Walton Beach area on the Gulf Coast in an old campground named Pirate's Cove. The dates we will be there are March 8-12. Could you make it to stay a night or two and see us?
Jeanette"
Cal checked his calendar and made a couple of calls, re-arranging a few appointments. He then went online and found the website for Pirate's Cove, reserving a campsite for his small 12-foot camping trailer.
"Dear Jeanette,
I will be there, and am looking forward to visiting with the three of you. I will be staying at campsite #12. Thank you for writing to me and helping me set up this surprise for your mother. I hope it is a pleasant surprise.
Cal"
Five minutes later the chime sounded again as he sat there waiting for a reply.
"Dear Cal,
That sounds great. We will see you then. Mama will definitely be pleasantly surprised, her eyes sparkled when she told us how good friends you two once were. See you then,
Jeanette"
The three weeks went by swiftly, and Cal was soon pulling his old pickup and even older camping trailer into the Pirate's Cove Campground, a quaint little campground with direct access to the white sand beaches of the upper Gulf Coast of Florida. Sites #12, 13 and 14 were the most remote in the campground, all the way out at the end with direct access to a sandy trail crossing over the dunes to a nearly deserted beach.
He had arrived two days early and had time to check out the campground, the beach and places to eat in the area. He was calmly sitting at the small swimming pool when he saw a mini-van pulling a rented 14-foot camping trailer pull into the parking lot. A woman – who he immediately recognized – and two teen-agers exited the van and went into the office area. The teen-aged girl paused just before entering the office to look his way, and Cal raised his right hand slightly in a welcoming wave. He saw a smile quickly spread across the girl's face before she followed her mother and brother into the building.
As the three came out a few minutes later the mother looked toward the pool and turned to her children, gesturing in that direction. Her daughter grabbed her hand and pulled her to the van, flashing a grin toward Cal.
When he finally rose and wandered through the campground he saw that the family had rented Site #14, just 20 yards from his own modest trailer. They were still busy setting up their site so he slipped into his trailer unnoticed and watched them from his window.
Jenny was more lovely than ever, her long hair tied up in a loose ponytail, her well-shaped body modestly covered with a tank top and white shorts. The daughter was a spitting image of her mother, while the twin brother looked nothing like his sister. Cal guessed he looked like the father, whose picture he had never seen.
As soon as the trailer was set, the daughter peeled off her top and shorts revealing a shapely, petite body in a bright red bikini. Her brother was out of his clothes almost as quickly, revealing a body that had little muscle tone, but was neither too thin nor too heavy. Jenny took her time taking off her outer clothes and laying them on the picnic table beside her. Cal saw Jeanette glance toward his trailer a couple of times, but knew she could not tell whether or not he was there. Jenny wore a pale yellow bikini that revealed tan lines from a much more modest one-piece suit.
The three then grabbed their beach towels, joined hands and headed for the beach. Cal gave then 15 minutes before following. After crossing the dunes he saw the three towels stretched out close to the water line. He added his next to the striped towel he had noticed Jenny carrying. Then he followed their footsteps to the east, finally spotting them on the skyline a quarter of a mile away.
As he walked he soon saw the family coming closer, and stooped to look at some shells on the sand as he watched them approach. When they were within about 50 yards he rose, looked their way, and started walking toward them. Jenny saw him rise and said something to her children. They nodded and the three detoured toward the water. Cal detoured as well. The woman finally, to avoid meeting him face to face, walked into the surf, followed by her now-protective son and a smiling daughter.
Cal sat down on the sand, his knees up and his arms draped around his knees, waiting for the three to emerge from the water, which they did after swimming for a few minutes and discussing what to do about the situation. The mother led the way out of the water, watching the waiting man carefully for any overt sign of aggressiveness. Cal just sat and watched his beautiful friend walking resolutely toward him. When she was about 15 feet away she froze, a slight frown on her face. Recognition slowly crept across her face, followed by a faint smile as Cal stood and walked toward her.
Jenny turned and looked at her smiling daughter and confused son before stepping forward to meet Cal, slipping comfortably into his embrace. The kiss was light and quick, but also warm and promising. They stood together, their bodies touching for the first time since they had met 14 years earlier. The two turned to face the teenagers, who had been whispering and grinning throughout the embrace. John looked at his beaming sister in awe and then at the pleased expression on his mother's face as she stood next to this stranger, her arm hugging his waist as he held her close with his own.
"Well, John," Jenny said, smiling, "I think we are in the presence of a couple of conspirators." The boy just kept grinning, enjoying the contented look on his mother's face which he had not seen for a long time. The four walked together back to the towels and sunned and swam for an hour or so.
"I am getting itchy from this sand," Jeanette said, smiling slyly at the two adults. "Can John and I go check out the pool and game room?"
"If you promise to be careful in the pool and behave yourselves," her mother said, her eyes sparkling as playfully as her daughter's. Cal retrieved his wallet from the fanny pack lying under his towel, pulling a $10 bill from it.
"How long will this keep you busy?" he asked, trying to be as serious as possible.
"Until you come to get us," Jeanette said, smiling shyly.
"Thank you two for the best surprise you could have given me," Jenny said, kissing each of her children. John started to protest that he was unaware of the surprise but was caught up by his sister.