I looked up and down the roads and saw no change from when I was last there. Every thing looked the same as it did when I left ten years before. Restaurant, two convenience stores, that was still the whole town. This little forgotten corner of Florida had been my whole world for most of my life.
I got out of the cab and paid the driver and hobbled to the door of the store. I entered and looked around. Nothing had changed. I looked at the man behind the counter. He was staring at me. I walked over and looked in his eyes and said, "Hi! Timmy, how are ya?"
"Son of a bitch, Billy Thompson! You look like Hell, boy."
"Timmy, you look good! How are things going?"
"Same old, same old. Not much has changed here. You look different, been through the wringer, looks like."
"You have that right, Tim. Still have some patches to be put on yet. Have you seen Mom lately?"
"Yeah, she was in the other day. She doesn't get around as much since your dad passed away. Where is your stuff?"
"In Ocala, I got a Motel there." I can't drive yet so I need to be able to get cabs."
"Damn, Billy, all you had to do was call and I would have picked you up. You are a big Hero here. Our most famous son. Hell, our only famous son."
"Thanks, Tim, that won't buy you a cup of coffee anywhere else. I appreciate the offer though. I think I can make it to Mom's with out any trouble. I really need to practice walking more."
"There is no one to watch the store or I would run you over there."
"I can make it OK, Tim. Thanks for the thought."
I started down the road and after a few hundred yards I was glad it was a cool day. My bad leg was hurting like hell already. I was watching for somewhere I could sit and rest. I heard a vehicle coming up behind me. It squealed to a stop behind me.
"Wait, Billy, Wait." I turned and was almost knocked off my feet by a small female form grabbing me and sobbing my name as she hugged me very tight.
I looked down into blue eyes I knew as well as my own. "Megan! Megan, is it really you?"
"OH! Billy, Billy, Tim called and said you were in town and I rushed over. Can I give you a ride?"
"Megan, I thought you had moved away from here and I heard you were married and had a child shortly after I left."
She looked up at me. "You don't know? I wrote you time after time and got no answers. I never heard a word back. They said you didn't care. I just gave up on you after a couple of years."
"Megan, I wanted to die, I couldn't stand being away from you. You know I was arrested and convicted of statutory rape for making love to you while you were only seventeen. I was given a choice of going in the service or going to jail. I took the service because the judge made a part of the sentence that if I contacted you in any way the jail term would be enforced and doubled. I never heard another word about you from anyone until a few years ago. I ran into George Brumton and he told me you were married and had a kid and had moved away. Let me look at you. You are still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." Tears ran down my cheeks. She was really lovely.
She looked up and I saw tears in her eyes too. She said, "That is all you heard?"
"Yes, that's it. I did try to call you several times but your Mom and Dad always answered the phone. Then the number was changed. I wrote you a letter and gave you my address, but I never got an answer."
"Billy, will you please do me a big favor?"
"Sure, Megan, anything in my power."
"Will you please kiss me."
"I would love that more than anything." I pulled her gently to me and softly pressed my lips to hers. I felt her lips part and mine followed suit. Her tongue brushed mine and it was as if a electric shock went through me. ZAP! I tingled from head to toe. Wow! She pushed me away and stared at me. I shook my head, "Holy Cow, what hit me?"
She grinned, "Me too!"
She stepped back to me and put her arms around me. "Please kiss me again. I need to be sure."
I kissed her again and was astounded by the surge of passion that flowed from that kiss too!
"Billy, Thank you, now I know."
"You know what?"
"I know I still love you, and I am almost positive you feel the same way about me."
"Megan, you are absolutely right. I never want to let you out of my sight again, but I guess your husband wouldn't like that."
"I'm not married. That only lasted about a year. He was a real looser. How about you? You must have married, you are a handsome hunk. You look bigger and stronger."
"Never found anyone to interest me that much. I still dream about you. Made it real hard for anyone else to interest me."
"Oh, Billy, Billy, I have the same problem. I still love you with all my heart."
"No this isn't right, look at me, I am a wreck. You need a real man, not a cripple. I can't do that to you. It just wouldn't be fair to you."
"Billy, I love you. I would rather be with the man I love than with anyone else."
"Well, I guess so. I have to go see my mom. Then we have to sit down and have a long talk and figure out what we want to do."
"I'll go with you to see your mom. She has always been very sweet to me. I love her. She would often whisper to me that you were all right. She seemed to be afraid to say more."
"I guess she was afraid they would send me to jail."