Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that
You're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way
Or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast.
-- TLC, 1995
Awakening, Kim opened her eyes, looked around and then remembered where she was, at first almost thinking that it was a dream. She couldn't believe she was finally here, in Maui for the first time. Of course, she couldn't help but think of Craig, especially since this was supposed to have been their honeymoon -- that is if he hadn't screwed things up so badly. Finding him in bed with that 18-year old girl up the hallway was a shocker and an eye-opener. And all of his pleadings, saying that it was a one-time thing, that it wouldn't happen again, that she was the most important woman in the world to him, asking her to forgive him, and on and on and on, didn't make a dent in the fact that she felt totally betrayed. And so they had broken up and she had moved out of his apartment. Luckily, she had kept her own apartment near Central Park, so she moved back there and tried to move on with her life. Craig had kept trying, though, sending her roses with notes saying how much he still loved her; leaving her notes at her apartment, asking her to meet him for dinner; even showing up at her office a few times wanting to take her out to lunch. But she had resisted it all, being much too hurt to even think of forgiving him.
And now, she was in Maui by herself. Naturally, though, Craig hadn't made that easy either, showing up at the airport just before here flight, asking once again for her forgiveness and telling her just how much he missed her and still loved her, but she told once again that it was too late. Looking dejected, he had almost begged her, and for a moment she not only felt sorry for him but also felt a pang of emotion course through her heart and mind. She had asked herself if perhaps she could forgive him, that maybe he really was capable of change. But then the scene of finding him screwing that young girl from up the hall burst into her brain again and she knew she just couldn't. And so she told him yet again that he needed to forget her and move on like she was trying to do herself.
Looking very sad, Craig had said he understood and apologized again for messing things up so badly between them. He told Kim that he would always love her and be concerned about her, and then he proceeded to tell her about a man in his office. Saying that he thought this man was out to hurt her, Craig said that this man named Sam hated him because of a work rivalry. Craig continued by saying that some friends of his at the office had seen Sam go into his office and rifle through his papers, and that they saw him look at the itinerary for Kim's trip to Maui. And since Sam had suddenly taken a week off of work right at the time when Kim was leaving for Maui, Craig was convinced that Sam was going to Maui to try to do something to Kim. Listening to Craig's crazy story made Kim feel a little uneasy, but she tried not to show it, telling Craig that he must be mistaken, that she didn't believe that anyone was going to try to hurt her. But of course, the story was still fresh in Kim's mind and she couldn't help but be a little concerned.
Laying there thinking about all that for a few minutes, Kim decided to brush it all out of her mind. After all, she was very excited to get this new adventure started, so she hurriedly got out of bed, brushed her teeth, took a shower, and got dressed. She decided to go straight to the pool bar, have some breakfast, and sit there for a while, admiring the scenery and watching the ocean. Of course, she also wanted to do some people-watching, one of her favorite activities.
When Kim arrived at the pool bar, she looked at the menu and quickly decided to have two eggs over easy with wheat toast and bacon -- and a Cosmo with Grey Goose. After all, she was on vacation in Maui for the first time, and she deserved a little extravagance. And though it was only 9:00 am in Maui, she rationalized, it was 5:00 pm in New York. Happy hour!! Deciding to adopt that attitude while in Maui, she decided that it would be "Happy Hour 24/7." Of course, the bartender made her Cosmo right away, and it arrived first. And before she knew it, her Cosmo was gone and she was ordering and drinking another one, even before her breakfast had arrived.
As Kim was drifting into a Cosmo-induced haze, she heard a voice and looked over to find a very nice-looking man standing next to her. Saying "good morning" in a deep, sexy voice, he introduced himself as Steve, and then asked if he could sit down beside her. Saying yes, that was fine, Kim looked at him again and realized that she had seen him at the airport and then in First Class on the plane. A little startled, Kim was surprised to now see him here at her hotel, and then asked herself if he could really be the Sam who Craig had warned her about. "After all," Kim thought, "if he saw the Maui itinerary like Craig said, then he would know the hotel where I'm staying." But then she realized that he had said his name was Steve, not Sam as Craig had said. But she started to relax, another thought popped into her head, telling her, "Of course, anyone can say their name is anything, can't they?"
Deciding to see how he would react, Kim finally introduced herself and said that she thought she had seen him at JFK Airport and in First Class on the plane from New York. Smiling, Steve said that yes, he was at JFK and was on the plane from New York -- and that he remembered seeing her as well. "It's hard not to remember such a beautiful woman," Steve said, obviously flirting with her.
Kim blushed a little, and said, "Oh, thank you -- that's very nice of you to say."
Looking pleased that she had responded in that manner, Steve then added that he was very pleased when he saw her this morning, especially since she was sitting alone at the bar -- that he had noticed her last night walking on the beach, was pleased that they were staying at the same hotel, and had hoped she wasn't meeting a boyfriend or husband later.
"Oh my," Kim said, "I didn't realize I was being watched like that."
Steve looked a little concerned, and then said, "I'm sorry -- I didn't mean to startle you or offend you," with a sincere tone in his voice.
"Oh, don't worry -- no offense taken," Kim replied, actually a little flattered by the attention. And then she said, "And to answer your other question, I'm here alone -- no boyfriend, no husband."
Smiling, Steve said, "Well, I can't say I'm sorry you're here alone and that you're unattached," and then added, "You're a beautiful woman and seem so nice and pleasant. I'm very happy that we've run into each other, and I would love to get to know you."
Kim smiled and then said, "Thank you -- you're full of compliments, aren't you?"
Steve laughed lightly and then said, "I'm just telling you the truth, Kim."