Part One
"Long time no see," Ginny said as she sat next to Alan. Ginny and Alan had been lovers for more than a year while they were in college but they hadn't seen one another in the forty years since graduation.
"Well, Lo and Behold, the beautiful Virginia Aldopoulos. And, just as beautiful as ever." Alan stood and offered his hand to his former lover.
"None of this hand baloney. Give me a hug and a kiss. It's been a long time." Ginny had attended this class reunion with the intent of meeting and seducing someone, preferably her former lover.
They hugged and kissed politely in front of a hundred or more guests at their graduating class's fortieth anniversary reunion. Almost everyone was hugging and kissing as they reunited with long separated friends.
Alan and Ginny seated themselves at table eleven with eight other guests who had registered to attend the reunion unaccompanied. A perfunctory round of introductions followed and the ten guests at the table started conversing with the persons next to them. The ten guests began talking amongst themselves of their college days and their activities over the forty years since graduation.
Ginny and Alan became a group of two. Ginny started our couple's conversation. "By the way, I use my married name Smith. Smith is much easier to spell than Aldopoulos and the name gave me two wonderful daughters."
For lack of a better question, Alan asked, "Are your daughters here with you?"
"No, one is in California raising four hippies. The other is in Texas counting her husband's money. I took an early retirement ten years ago to take care of my ailing husband. He passed away four years ago and I have lived alone ever since."
"I'm sorry to hear that. My wife passed on three years ago. I'm still adjusting to life without her. I took a 'golden parachute' last spring and now I'm looking for something to do."
"Do you have any children," Ginny asked.
"All three of my children live in Vermont. Depending on which one I want to visit, it takes two and a half to four hours to get to them."
"That's better than having to take an airplane to visit them. I hate flying."
The conversation moved on to reminiscences of college days until finally, student waiters served dinner. Ginny enjoyed a fish dinner and
Alan enjoyed his roast beef. After two delightfully short speeches, waiters served a modest dish of vanilla ice cream with a spoonful of chocolate syrup on top. That marked the end of the evening.
Alan, eager for female companionship, asked Ginny, "Can I drive you home?"
"No, thank you. I have my own car but I would enjoy it if you would visit me. How about coming over Monday. I'll prepare a little lunch for you."