Thank you Vixen Too for editing the story. There's very little sex in this story, so if that's what you're looking for, go read another story. This story is more understandable after you read the first part, Will You Marry Me? I wish that I could tell this story better and I wish that sometimes stories would come true.
Bert looked over at Ruth, snuggling up to him on the bed, her head resting on his shoulder. He held her hand and noticed how peaceful she looked. He thought back over the changes in his life the last few years, and how happy he was that he'd contacted her again.
Bert had been married to Patricia just under twenty-two years. They had a fourteen-year-old son, Matthew. The marriage had its ups and downs, but he was content. A couple of weeks after Patricia's forty-first birthday, she had a brain aneurysm and died the next day. Bert and Matthew were devastated. Bert took off of work to arrange the funeral, grieve, and help Matthew grieve. After a month Bert arranged for someone to look after Matthew, and returned to his work as a computer programmer.
About six months later, a college directory came in the mail. Bert had forgotten he'd ordered the directory, and tossed it on the bookshelf. The house still looked the same as when Patricia died. He didn't have the motivation or desire to make any changes. Work and taking care of Matthew took all of his time and energy.
Bert's numbness started to wear off about a year after Patricia's death. He thought he'd try Internet dating. He met some nice ladies, but they either lived too far away or weren't interested in a serious relationship. After a year he gave up, figuring that he'd try again after Matthew went to college.
One day Bert was cleaning up the living room when he noticed the college alumni directory. He wondered what his classmates were up to. He sat down and thumbed through the pages. He looked up his class, and found that four of his friends were listed. Linda was a pediatric surgeon in Chicago. He smiled; glad that she'd had the career she talked so much about. Mark was a real estate agent in Atlanta. That was a surprise. Mark and Bert had worked together, editor and features editor, on the college newspaper. Bert thought Mark would have gone on to be a journalist. Kevin was a petroleum researcher at Shell in Houston. No surprise there. Bert, Kevin, and Linda had spent many a night together in the science building, cramming for the next math or science test.
Bert was pleasantly surprised to find Ruth listed. She was an elementary school teacher in Irving, just north of Dallas. He chuckled. He closed his eyes and thought about the time he'd spent with her. He had been her boyfriend for three years. He smiled as he remembered the basketball games they saw, the times they ate in the cafeteria, and the nights she visited his dorm room for "study" sessions. Although they didn't take many classes together, they helped each other with their schoolwork.
Bert graduated a year before Ruth. After she graduated, he drove to her parents' house in Dallas to visit and ask her to marry him. She seriously thought about his proposal for a couple of days before she said no. Hurt, Bert left later that morning and moved on with his life.
Bert sat down at the computer and started a summarized version of his life's story. When he finished three days later, the text ran for nearly four pages, single-spaced. He reflected that Matthew would appreciate reading it some day. He wrote four letters, one for each of his friends. He printed the letters and the story, and mailed them. He wondered if any of them would respond, if any of them would remember him from college.
Linda's email came first. It was short, thanking him for thinking of her and sending the letter and life story. A few days later Kevin's email came. It was longer, and Bert was happy reading about all the good things that had happened to him. He had a nice wife, Kathy, and a couple of adult kids, George and Angela. Kevin's life story was shorter than Bert's since he hadn't changed jobs and moved around as much.
A couple weeks passed before Mark's email showed up. It turned out that Mark tried to break into journalism, but a stint at the Mobile (Alabama) Register broke him instead. Mark drifted around for a few years, trying to decide what to do, when he met Sally, and settled down in Atlanta. She was a technical recruiter, and after he'd lived in Atlanta a couple of years, decided to try selling commercial real estate. He found he enjoyed it, and developed a sizable clientele.
A few days later a longer email from Linda arrived. Her life went just as she predicted it would when they sat around the student union talking about their futures. Linda finished medical school and was nearly thirty when she finally started practicing as a pediatric surgeon at Children's Memorial Hospital. By the time she was forty she was one of the most respected surgeons in Illinois. Never married, of course. She and Kevin had dated for a while in college, but the course load they were taking kept them from developing a relationship.
Bert was disappointed that he hadn't heard from Ruth. He corresponded with his college friends and caught up with their lives. Bert smiled whenever he thought about how scared he was to contact them after so many years, and was so glad he made the effort.
One day, a letter arrived in the mail for Bert. It was from Ruth! Nervously, he tore the envelope open and pulled out a handwritten letter. He smiled as he read about her life. She'd never gotten a computer, and didn't like using a computer in school, because she could only type with her right hand. She'd taught third grade at the same elementary school for twenty-five years. And yes, she was glad that he'd written to her, and wanted to correspond.
Bert and Ruth sent letters back and forth. He sent her a current picture and she sent him one. He was surprised to find that she still looked so youthful, while he'd aged and put on 50 pounds. He was nervous the first time he called Ruth. Her voice hadn't changed much over the years, and hearing her brought back memories of the many conversations they'd shared. He knew she didn't drive, but he was surprised to find out that she hadn't been out of Texas since college. He invited her to fly to Baltimore to spend a week, and she agreed, after school let out for the summer.
Bert booked the flight and made the hotel reservations for Ruth. His anticipation grew as the date of her arrival drew nearer. He looked forward to seeing her again after all these years.
Bert and Matthew drove to B.W.I. airport to pick up Ruth. Her flight was an hour late, and they passed the time watching planes take off and land. Finally, her flight arrived and they went over to the baggage carousel to wait. Bert was watching the passengers retrieve their luggage, so he was surprised when Ruth snuck up and gave him a big bear hug.
Bert was amazed at how little Ruth had changed over the years. Sure, the skin on her hands and neck had wrinkled, but she looked as young as he last remembered her. A touch of gray in her shoulder length straight black hair was the only other blemish he noticed. Bert picked up Ruth's luggage and they walked back to the parking garage.
Ruth and Matthew talked on the way to the hotel. She smiled at his precociousness. Bert dropped Ruth off at the hotel and helped her get checked in and settled. Bert and Matthew had a couple of hours to kill before they returned to the hotel for dinner, so they went to the aquarium to see the dolphin show.
Ruth took a shower and got dressed. She was still trembling. She was surprised at how excited she was to see Bert. Sure, she'd been looking forward to this trip for a couple of months, but feelings that she'd thought long suppressed bubbled to the surface again. She smiled as she thought of how much cuddlier Bert looked, now that he had filled out some.
Bert and Matthew met Ruth at the hotel restaurant. They sat down and looked over the menu. Ruth smiled as Matthew discussed his dinner choices with Bert. She could tell that he was accustomed to eating in nice restaurants. Ruth listened to Matthew talking about the dolphin show and the colorful tropical fish over dinner.
Ruth kissed Bert goodbye before he left the hotel with Matthew. Not a peck on the cheek or a friendly kiss, either. The intensity and length of the kiss pleasantly surprised him.
"See you tomorrow," Ruth cooed.
Bert smiled. "I'll be here at eight."
Bert took Matthew home and went to bed. He thought about the hug and the kiss and hoped that this was going to be more than a friendly visit before he fell asleep.
The next morning, Bert picked up Ruth at the hotel. Ruth was quiet, looking out the window as Bert drove to Washington D.C. He parked at Greenbelt and they took the Metro to the mall. Soon after they came out of the station onto the mall, Ruth put her arms around Bert's shoulders, and kissed him.
"Thank you for inviting me on this trip, Bert."
He grinned. "You're welcome, Ruth."
They walked over to the tour mobile stop and bought tickets. They rode around once and saw everything. On the second trip around D.C., they got off the bus and spent some time at the Lincoln Memorial and the Museum of Natural History. Bert enjoyed that Ruth held his arm as they walked through the museum. They ate a late lunch at the museum cafeteria and spent an hour at the Museum of American History next door, when Ruth sat down on one of the benches.
"I'm not used to so much walking, Bert. Can we call it a day?"
