Willing Suspension Of Disbelief

All persons in this story are over age 18 and were over 18 at the time of any sexual relations.

I hope you enjoy this story about Scott and Candace. Please rate it and comment!

-----[]-----

Life-changing events arrive unexpectedly. They do not appear on calendars. No alarm: "5 minutes to life changing event."

I was in my office drafting a legal document. As was my custom, I was listening to music on my headphones. I told Crystal, my receptionist, to take messages so I could concentrate.

I normally thought through documents such as this for some time before beginning to work. This was no exception. I was making great progress, only stopping a couple of times to consider issues I had not fully anticipated.

As thoughts occurred to me for later in the document, I hit RETURN a few times and made a note, then resumed writing.

I had been working for about 45 minutes. Probably 2/3 of the way through a solid first draft.

My cell phone rang. Or rather, it vibrated. It probably rang as well, but it was in my pocket and with the headphones the vibration was all I noticed.

I looked at the display. Someone unknown to me, calling from somewhere in Ohio. I couldn't think of anyone I knew there, so I let it go to voicemail and resumed work.

My phone vibrated again. A signal for a message. Well, if they were serious enough to leave a message, maybe I should listen to it.

"Scott, my name is Candace. You don't know me, but I know your friend, Abby. This is personal and not business. She insisted I call you. She told me to tell you, 'Remember the lake house.' I have no idea what that means, but she made me get it exactly right, so I hope it means something to you.

"Abby said if we were living in the same place she would have introduced us or set up a blind date. I feel so awkward calling and leaving this message, but she made me promise! I am glad it went to voicemail.

"Call me if you are interested."

"Remember the lake house." I thought about that for a minute.

Oh! Abby! "Remember

The Lake House

." It was one of our favorite movies.

Abby and I had been friends since grade school and all the way through high school. We have managed to keep in touch in the 15 or so years that have followed.

Friends through thick and thin. Through her marriage and her later divorce. Through my marriage and my divorce, after catching my ex fucking my former best friend in our bed one afternoon.

During those difficult stretches we made time for each other. To support each other. Once or twice at such times, one of us was close to where the other lived, so we got together and cried together.

We had never been romantically involved. I'm not entirely sure why, but it did make our friendship work for all these years.

The Lake House

. Abby and I watched it together a few times. Actually, we watched it "together." Not in the same room, but the way Harry and Sally watched

Casablanca

. Both of us on our cell phones as each of us watched it. We had it nearly perfectly synced as we streamed it.

We talked about

The Lake House

a lot over the years. Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, back when he was handsome. Great chemistry between them. Mostly we talked about how two people could communicate two years out of sync with each other.

"It was the mailbox. At the lake house. It was special. The portal through which they communicated."

"Yeah, I get that Abby. But why that mailbox? And how did that work?"

Abby told me her theory. It was the best I heard, but I let it go at that. I still loved the movie.

If nothing else, this mystery motivated me to call Candace.

-----[]-----

"Hello, this is Candy."

"Candace? This is Scott, Abby's friend."

"Oh," she said, laughing. "I am always afraid to tell a stranger my name is Candy. It sounds too much like a porn star's stage name! But what can I do? My parents named me Candace and called me Candy!"

"Candy, that is funny! I had an aunt who was given a hideous first name by my grandparents. She pleaded with my Dad, her older brother, to make this the first legal work he did after passing the bar. To change her name."

"What did she change it to?"

"Bertha."

"Stop it! Please tell me that is not true!"

"It was Anna."

"Nice. Better choice than Bertha."

"Scott, I am sure you are wondering why Abby told me to call you. That's fair, because I am wondering the same thing."

"You don't know why you called?"

"Only that Abby insisted, and that I give you that message. She told me one other thing. She said the first time we talked I should warn you not to call her and ask what the message means. She will not tell you. It is for you to figure out, I guess."

"Candy, have you seen the movie,

The Lake House

?"

"No, I haven't. It sounds like I should watch it."

"Yes, but I think the message is from a conversation Abby and I had about it. We watched it a couple of times together and talked about it a lot over the next couple of years.

"Before saying anything more, I think you should watch it and then let's talk about it."

"Scott, this sounds like a mystery or detective story. I don't mean the film--I just looked it up on imdb, it's a rom-com. I mean the meaning behind Abby's message is a puzzle for us to solve."

"I think so, and I think I know what she is trying to tell me, but it will not make any sense to you until you see the film. Probably not even then. This is going to be fun.

"Candy, you called me on my personal cell phone, the number Abby gave you. Please continue to use that.

"I will put your name in my directory as well: 'Candy -- the porn star.' If anyone happens to see my screen when you call, that will start some delicious gossip!"

"That's hilarious! I already like your humor, Scott. I am going to text you my email as well, and if you don't mind, could you send me yours? Sometimes texts are too constraining for good communication."

"Sounds good, Candy. You know us attorneys. We can't say anything in less than 10 minutes or 10 pages, whichever is longer. It's a skill taught in law school."

"I know! I am also an attorney, and I agree completely! That must be why I wanted to use email!"

"What is your practice area, Candy?"

"International trade agreements, primarily. I also do some domestic work, but that's a more crowded area. What about you?"

"Most of my work is estate planning for large estates. Typically, $50 million and over."

"Wow, that's also rarified air!"

"Did you recently win the lottery, Candy?"

"I wish!"

"Ok, we can rule that out as the reason Abby wanted you to call me.

"Candy, I hate to cut this short, but I am working on a memorandum in support of a motion I need to file tomorrow. This has been a fun break, but play time is sadly over."

"You too? My memorandum is in opposition, but just as tedious. My deadline is early next week, though.

"I am really looking forward to talking again, Scott"

-----[]-----

The next day I received an email from Candy:

Scott:

After your call yesterday I thought about

The Lake House

all afternoon. I got almost nothing done on my memorandum! So last night I watched it!

First (do all of us attorneys enumerate the points we want to make?), Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves! They were so good together. I almost didn't recognize Keanu! I have seen two of his John Wick films.

I know attorneys have a reputation for being unfeeling. I am going to confess something to you. My guilty pleasure. I am a romantic, so I loved the film. That instant when Sandra Bullock's character is looking at the framed drawing of the lake house and in her mind she puts it all together was a marvelous moment by a great actor.

Scott, how did this work? How did two people communicate two years out of sync? Surely you have asked that! Did Abby understand?

"I thought by watching it I would discover the answer to our question!

Your friend,

Candace

-----[]-----

Candace:

I am glad you watched it and enjoyed it! It is one of my favorite rom-coms. We share a guilty pleasure!

I have started to wonder whether there is something in our background or personal circumstances that is the key to Abby's mystery. I thought I would start by telling you about myself. I hope you don't mind.

As you probably know, Abby and I grew up in rural Colorado. Small town. We have known each other since about third grade.

My parents have been married for 35 years. As good a marriage as I have ever seen. I have two sisters and I am the oldest. I am 34.

I attended the University of Colorado (Boulder) and also went there for law school. After law school I did not clerk for a judge but went to Berkeley for an LLM. I considered that mandatory for large estate practice.

At the beginning of my last year at Berkeley, I met Sammi (Samantha), who was a third-year law student. We dated throughout that year and often studied together. She passed the bar that summer and we were married the next fall.

I had secured a position with a great firm here in Denver and began working closely with one of the state's premier EP attorneys, who was planning to retire in about five years (which he did).

Sammi went to work for a boutique firm focused on family law. She handled mostly divorces, something I could never have done!

Three years later, a court hearing was canceled as I was driving to court. My receptionist called me, and since I had nothing else on my calendar, it made no sense to drive back to the office. I just headed home. It was only about 2 pm.

When I arrived at the house, there was a strange car in the driveway. I parked behind it, then went to the front door and quietly opened the door. I stood and listened and heard Sammi cry out, the way she did when I fucked her. Sure enough, she and my best friend--former best friend-- were in our bed. I had my phone out and got a couple of photos of them in action.

She begged me not to tell her firm and promised to divorce on my terms. I think I was fair, given the circumstances. That was four years ago.

In all candor, that experience has soured me on the idea of marriage. I know, not the most inspirational tale, is it?

What is your story? How do you and Abby know each other?

Your friend,

Scott

-----[]-----

Scott:

I am so sorry to hear how your marriage to Sammi ended, but leverage is everything, is it not?

I have not yet married. I have had three men propose to me, but I was not in love with any of them! Talk about not reading the room!

Abby and I both went to the University of Oregon on track scholarships. I'm sure you knew what a great 800 meter runner Abby was, which was why the U of O wanted her.

I grew up in a little town in Oregon, with the romantic name of Drain. That's not a typo! It was named after a man whose last name was Drain and donated land in the late 1800s. His house is still there! Drain only has about 1200 people, but it has a high school, North Douglas. It draws students from a bunch of tiny places.

In high school I ran track, mostly 800 meters and longer. I was not recruited because of the size of my school. Also, my times were not great, but I was confident with good coaching I could do better. I was so confident, I went to the Oregon coach and asked to walk on. The first answer I got was no, but I persisted and got the coach to agree to one trial year (that's all a walk-on really has anyway).

That year my personal best dropped at nearly every meet, until I was challenging many others, although not Abby!

The coaches moved me up to the 5000 meter race. They told me it would take all of the off season to adjust my training and be ready to compete. I worked my butt off that spring and summer! In the fall I ran cross country and did very well. The coaches even awarded me a scholarship. During the indoor season, I placed in the top five in every meet. In the outdoor season, I won two races and placed in the top four in the others.

My junior year I broke the school record, running the 5000 in 15:21.79. Then I injured my ankle and my season ended. I had no way of knowing that was also the end of my competitive career. I needed several surgeries over the next year and finally threw in the towel and graduated.

I went to law school at Stanford, but I had no desire to live in or practice in California. It is a beautiful state, but the state government seems incapable of responsible government.

I did a lot of research and chose the firm I am with, here in Cleveland, because of my intended focus area.

While at the U of O, Abby and I became BFFs. She has been the greatest friend I have had, and still is.

There, you have my history, Scott.

Your friend,

Candy

-----[]-----

Candy:

Wow, what a story! You obviously were an amazing college athlete! Too bad your career was cut short, but often those are blessings in disguise. Your life's work was clearly the law. Postponing it for a career in T&F might have made your subsequent achievements in law less likely.

Obviously, Abby has been a great friend to each of us. I have to believe it is based on how well she knows each of us that she thinks there is a good reason to put us in contact.

You told me you had not married and had been proposed to three times. It sounds like you are open to it, just not the right guy yet. Is that about it? Or is is that you do not believe anyone can love you?

I told you before I was soured on the idea of marriage. There was nothing inaccurate in that statement. However, I may know what Abby was trying to tell me with your message. If I am correct, perhaps I need to cautiously crack that door open a bit.

It may seem odd for me to say that to you. However, I cannot think of any reason, but for romance, that Abby would be so insistent and secretive.

Are you at all open to exploring that with me?

Your interested friend,

Scott

P.S. I enclosed a photo. You can probably google my name and find a couple as well, not that you know which Scott Pearson you are looking for.

-----[]-----

Scott:

Yes, I suppose I am open to marriage at some point. I am single at present, not out of choice, but due to not meeting the right person.

I had not thought about it the way you did, but I guess a part of me doubts I am good marrying material.

Oh, I attached a photo as well. Might as well make sure I pass that hurdle.

That being said, I have sort of erected a wall, if you will, against the notion of a relationship with another attorney. I am just not convinced those work. I have two senior partners who were married to attorneys, and both are divorced. Of course, that may say more about them as people than the career choice of their spouses.

Let's just say I have an established practice of avoiding it.

That may not be what you want to hear. I am just being honest. Maybe you should think of it as a rebuttable presumption that I will not marry another attorney.

Your perhaps equally interested friend,

Candy

-----[]-----

Candy:

I am conflicted over your last letter!

On the one hand, I have not been interested in marriage again.

On the other, you have presented me with a rebuttable presumption, and those call out for a rebuttal. Call it my competitive nature. (How is that for ironic? Me, a marginal athlete on my best of days, wanting to out-compete a track champion!)

There is something else at work here. I think I understand Abby's message, and it is a message she knew I would understand, although you would not. Another irony: if I am correct, the message is also intended for you.

Are you interested enough find out whether there is something worth pursuing? I mean, of course, between us!

Your increasingly intrigued new friend,

Scott

-----[]-----

Scott:

My, my! So you want to compete? My ankle is healthy now and I still run to stay in shape. But I suppose you do not intend on us running around a track.

So what do you intend? And what is the nature of your rebuttal?

Your curious, but also increasingly interested friend,

Candy

-----[]-----

Candy:

Here is my proposal:

1. We both fly to Chicago (or any other venue acceptable to both).

2. We stay in the same hotel (separate rooms of course) to maximize the time we can spend together.

3. We go out, i.e., date each other.

4. The dates will proceed as follows: you will plan the odd numbered days and I the even. As clarification the day of our arrival is day 0. The next day is day 1. And therefore odd-numbered.

5. On day zero, we will meet for dinner at a mutually agreed-upon location and time.

6. No later than noon of day 4, I will present my rebuttal argument orally.

7. By 9 pm of day 4, we will vote on whether to see each other again. Each of us gets one vote and the vote must be unanimously in favor in order to continue.

8. We will fly home the day after Day 4.

I am available for day 1 to be on Thursday the 24th of this month or on the 31st of this month. Please confirm which of those if either, would work for you, by marking the date below and initialing as indicated.

24th: ______

31st: ______ _____ Initial

Your friend (who promises not to act like a lawyer in another communication),

Scott

-----[]-----

Scott:

I laughed for the better part of an hour when I read your previous email! I had to resist my lawyerly response of redline/strikeout suggested changes!

Thank you for this bit of humor. It is refreshing. Thank you also for assuring me this will not be our enduring mode of communication.

I have scanned and forwarded the responsive document as an attachment to this email. You will note I have chosen the 24th.

I have taken the liberty of reserving and paying for two rooms at The Peninsula Chicago. This exclusive property has a deadline of 21 days prior to the arrival date for reservations, so I jumped on it. We are EACH scheduled to arrive on the 23rd and depart on the 28th.

Please note that I will decline to accept reimbursement from you.

I have also scheduled your rebuttal argument for noon on the 27th, such argument to be made orally, as you specified! (Part of me wants you to define 'oral'!)

Would you please select an appropriate restaurant for the evening of the 23rd, and make the reservation for us?

At the risk of speaking out of turn, I find myself really excited about this!

Your excited friend!

Candy

-----[]-----

Candy:

I have to admit I am likewise really looking forward to this. I am even more confident I know Abby's intended message, but I will make that part of my oral effort on the 27th.

The dates and hotel are perfect.

I have reserved a table for 2 at Les Nomades at 7 pm on the 23rd. I suggest we take a cab.

I am not planning to rent a car. However, if you want to plan anything that would require a car, we can make that happen as well. Please note this restaurant has a dress code, so I will be wearing a dinner jacket. (It does not specify whether pants are required.) You may wish to wear something like a little black dress that evening.

By the way, I am 6'3" tall, so your heels will not make you too tall, if that even bothers you.

Your soon to be fellow traveler,

Scott

-----[]-----

During the next four days, Candy texted me at least once daily to let me know she was buried in a big civil trial, but still thinking of me. She didn't want me to think she had lost interest.

I texted her back a few times with texts designed to make her smile in court: