She was nervous. She put her hand to her short hair, knowing that it looked fine, but still she straightened the errant curls. Her hands smoothed down the front of her blue sweater, the one that matched her eyes so perfectly. She took a deep breath and blew it out of her mouth slowly.
She stood at the gate, watching for him to come through. She hadn't seen him in years. It felt like forever since they had whispered goodbye on that dark night so long ago. They had been children then. Now she was grown, and he was grown. They both had made mistakes in love, and they both knew that in love, in life, it took hard work to make it last. Being in love wasn't enough.
She saw him then. As tall as he always was, but older, more world weary. The eyes were wiser, held some of the pain that came from living. She smiled, knowing he was thinking similar things. He saw her smile, and his heart seemed to jump in his chest. She took his breath away. She had been able to do that since the first time he had seen her almost twenty years ago.
She met him, taking halting steps toward him, halfway. She went directly to his arms and held him close to her. He dropped his carry-on and hugged her back. Breathing in the spicy scent of her shampoo. She tilted her head back, her blue eyes sparkling, and smiled at him. "HI" she said, her voice still the same velvety, sultry sound. "Hi back" he said. He leaned down and laid a kiss on her forehead. She moved out of his arms, took his hand and said, "C'mon. Lets get your bags and blow this joint." He laughed, remembering the words, an echo of a past life.
She pulled him along, toward the baggage claim. He grabbed his two black cases, and she took his carry-on and his lap top case. She walked toward a low red car, and popped the trunk with the press of a button on a small remote. He stowed his bags in the surprisingly large trunk, and then wondered how he was going to fold himself into the small space that comprised the passenger seat. She laughed as she saw his quandary. "Its bigger than it looks." Then she made her thinking face, her eyes squinted slightly, and her lips pursed just enough to make you think of kissing her. "Its still the same town, you wanna drive?" He grinned and nodded, she tossed him the keys and came around to the passenger side. She waggled her eyebrows at him, and said, "Home James." He didn't know where home was yet, but he was sure she would get him there.
The ride was a journey into childhood adventures and teenage mischief. She pointed out some of the newer additions, the new mall, the larger high school, and the bigger better hospital. The small town and boomed into something of a small city. She instructed him to turn onto the street she had lived as a child. Then to the house she had grown up in. "Mom and Dad moved to Florida. I bought the house for a very low price." She shrugged her shoulders with her palms up, the 'What could I do?' shrug.
The house was much the same, the paint job was newer, and the door that was white was now a vivid shade of red, a touch of her. She unlocked the door, and stepped back for him to enter with his luggage. She directed him up the stairs to the room that used to be hers. It was now not a girl's room, but a nice guest room. Gone were the pink curtains, and the flowered wallpaper. The room was painted a mild yellow, with white trim. The Queen size bed covered with a green and yellow plaid quilt. The dresser and wardrobe were antique and made the room look homey. She pointed out the bathroom she had added.
