Standard Disclaimers: Every character in my story is fictional. If they remind you of someone you know, it's purely a coincidence. If any of my fictional characters participate in sexual stuff, they are over 18.
I'm Glenn Collins, nearing my 38th birthday, and a fairly successful architect at my own company. I have twin girls, just turning 12 years of age, and entering middle school.
I have been raising them by myself ever since my wife of just over 11 years died from a congenital heart condition, nearly three years ago.
We met our first year of college at Seattle Pacific University. Angela Barlow, from Seattle, was the most gorgeous girl I'd ever met. Also, the most unlikely person to become my wife. Let me explain.
I was born and raised in the town of Davenport, Washington, about 35 miles west of Spokane, and not much more than a wide spot in the road. Well, wide enough for just about 1,500 people.
Always one of the smallest kids in school, I was never mistaken for a jock. Until I learned I was one of the best distance runners in all of Lincoln County. In middle school, I never lost a race of 1,500 meters or longer, even against older kids. When I got to high school, I won four state cross country titles, as well as both the 1,500 and 5,000 meter races, all four years.
You have to realize this was the smallest school classification, but my times were comparable to some of the larger schools, too. Standing barely 5'10" and maybe 140, ringing wet, big schools weren't flocking to my door, with scholarship offers.
Enter the track coach from Seattle Pacific University. Not only was he impressed with my running, he absolutely loved my 4.0 grade average. With my parents not exactly rolling in money, the full ride was greatly appreciated.
The first few days of my freshman year, I just went to my classes, ate, studied, slept, and repeated it, over and over. If you hadn't guessed, I was on the shy side.
I kept running into this gorgeous girl, in one of my classes, and in the Student Union building, where we both ate lunch. I was too shy to do anything but nod, and try to smile. It must have been the third week of school, when at lunch, she sat right across from me, introducing herself.
"Hey, I'm Angela Barlow."
"Glenn Collins, glad to meet you."
"Tell me something about Glenn Collins I don't know," she said with a smile.
"Well, I'm still trying to get used to the surroundings, here, as its all a bit overwhelming," I said, returning her smile with one of my own.
"I take it you aren't from Seattle."
"Nope, the little town of Davenport, west of Spokane."
"You're from a piece of furniture?" She said this with the brightest smile I'd ever seen.
As we both laughed, I realized this was the longest conversation I'd had with a girl not related to me in my lifetime.
"Is there anything I should know about Angela Barlow? Aside from the fact I've never talked this much with a girl, before."
"Well, my family and I have lived in Seattle for nearly 100 years, I have two older brothers, and my parents are both school teachers."
"One thing I guess you might be interested in, is I'm here on an Athletic/Academic scholarship. I run long distances, fairly well."
With that, I noticed Angela's smile disappear.
"Did I say something wrong?" I asked.
Looking down at the table, she softly told me, she couldn't even walk any distance, due to her congenital heart condition. "Don't worry, Glenn," she said, "I'm not going to up and keel over, any time, soon."
It lightened the mood, but I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her, and her condition.
It didn't stop us from having lunch together, and studying our math lessons, too. Since math came easily to me, and she struggled a bit, I offered to help her study.
Soon, we just seemed to click, even when we weren't studying. Nothing serious, but good friends.
It must have been starting our third month when she asked me a question that truly shocked me.
"Glenn, can I ask if you're gay?"
"No, why would you ask that?" I stammered.
"Well, you've never tried to kiss me, for one."
Blushing about five shades of red, I moved closer to her, took her face in my hands and very gently kissed her on the lips. Oh, my God, did that feel good. So good, in fact, I did it again, hugging her gently.
"See, I didn't break in two, or drop to the ground, clutching my heart," she smiled.
Leaning in again, we kissed a few more times, before we decided to sit on one of the park benches we were standing near.
With her head on my shoulder, and my arm around hers, we just sat, silently.
"Isn't there anything medical science can do for your heart?" I asked.
"Just keeping a close eye on me, and for me to watch my diet, and waiting for a transplant."
"I'm no Doctor, but I'll keep both my eyes on you," my grin a mile wide.
Over the Christmas break, I went home, to visit my family. When I told them about Angela, my parents and my older sister were thrilled. They also liked that both her parents were school teachers.
The day after Christmas, I got a call from Angela asking if I could return and go to a New Year's Eve party with her. Since I had nothing on my busy social calendar, I told her I'd be there. She told me it was nothing fancy, which put my mind at ease.
Getting back onto my dorm room, I had to think about this party. It will be our first official date. Since I didn't have a car, Angela let me drive her car.
There were probably 15 to 20 couples there, some who went to college with us, and some of her high school friends. They all seemed to accept me, as Angela's date.
