On the drive over, I only hoped the day would be something special. So much time had passed. I mean, I hoped we would have fun. Kris and I have it hit it off well ever since the first night we met. But there was a lot more baggage for both of us to carry now.
That first weekend had been glorious, but I never thought it would be anything more than a single weekend. She went back to her world at U.N.I. and I stayed in mine. Without a car, the hour drive might as well have been ten. I thought about her, especially since Jason would not let it rest. But I let my own insecurities talk me into believing that it had been nothing more than an extended one night stand. I mean, she was really out of my league. I'm all right looking, but Kris is gorgeous. Once she got back to Waterloo, the guys would be all over her and I would become a footnote.
So the first letter was a surprise. I practically ran back to my room to read it, forgetting to act cool and unconcerned. I read it three times in an hour, wrote back to her that same day, and that started things on a new level. I wanted to visit her as soon as I could arrange the transportation and time. I knew she would welcome the visit, but things kept getting in the way. Between baseball season and finals, I never managed to get out to see her. Still, we talked and I made plans to stay in Iowa over the summer instead of going home.
Then the unimaginable happened. The Texas Rangers drafted me in the 19th round. I signed, of course. How could I give up that dream? I was sent to the short-season Spokane Indians in Washington and that was the end of my summer plans. Kris was disappointed, but she understood. By the time the season was over, it was back to school. I was a couple weeks late, but Coach Rima pulled some strings and the school was proud of my success, so I was OK. But my first few weekends were spent catching up. This meant I couldn't go see Kris.
Kris understood everything, but when we talked she also had that tone. A tone I interpreted as saying chances were slim for us to make up the lost time. Still, the chemistry between us was such that I had to try. Plus, you could never tell with her. She is so sarcastic, and without seeing her eyes I couldn't tell what was serious and what was a joke. It would have been easier if I could catch a teasing twinkle or that mischievous little smile
As I pulled up in front of her dorms the radio started playing Aerosmith's new song, the one that starts with, "There goes my old girlfriendβ¦" I prayed it was not being prophetic.
I knocked on the door and Debbie answered. She gave a little screech and hugged me tight, and suddenly I felt better about my chances. But Kris was not there. Just a note and some directions to a spot down by the river. A little side road off of the 218. I knew it meant she was up to something, but Debbie was not giving up any hints. I headed back to the car, a mixture of fear and anticipation doing a cha-cha in my skull and my heart providing a strong dance beat from my chest. Kris wanted us to have complete privacy, without any chance of interruption. This was either going to turn out very good, or very bad.
I parked the car on the edge of the dirt road and headed through the trees like the note said. I knew she would have heard the car. She knew I was coming.
"Kris?"
"Here Will, right over here."
I turned to my left as I emerged from the tree cover and saw her for the first time in six months. My heart caught as I realized that no picture could capture her. An organ slightly further south gave it's own opinion of how I really felt about her looks. She had the classic 'farmer's daughter' style going; cut off shorts and a shirt tied up to bare her navel. I had forgotten how she affected meβ¦
"I've been waiting, Will. Six fucking months I've been waiting. And even for this you're late!" She spun around and showed me her back.
Uh oh
, I thought.
This is not starting well.
"Kris, come on! You leave me a note and directions to someplace I've never been, in a city I've never visited? I was on time to the dorms! How was I supposed to know we were coming out here?" I reached up to put my hand on her shoulder as I pleaded that last, hoping I could calm her down. It played right into her hands.
I had forgotten her black belt in judo.
It took me a moment to realize what was happening as I tumbled forward onto the grass. Then she was on top of me, laughing. I had fallen for it. She wasn't angry. Her lips sought mine and proved it. Suddenly I was kissing her once again and I knew that I had been wrong. The magic of that first night was still there.