Did she remember me, as I so clearly remembered her?
The service took forever to end. The whole time I wondered if she even remembered me. It had been so long ago, but it was hard to deny the recognition that I had seen in her eyes. So, she knew who I was. Was she going to talk to me? Why was I feeling so on edge?
I didn't get up out of the seat for several moments because there was a flood of people that were going to Amber and offering condolences. I wanted to as well, but I didn't want to have the conversation with her, not our first conversation, in front of everybody. I wanted to believe that what we had to say to each other, we would need a little privacy for. That's what I hoped for, anyway. I had all these big thoughts in my head, but I still didn't even know if any of it was possible.
When the crowd started to clear off a little bit, I walked up to her, and she was standing by the door. She was thanking everybody for coming in and even then, her pain that she was in now, she was still just as graceful as ever. I had observed her for the last hour, and I was convinced that the young girl I knew had turned into a just as capable woman. I was nervous to talk to her, but I knew that I was never going to get my answer if I didn't. I had to know if she had thought about me all these years as I had thought about her. I didn't honestly want to think about if she hadn't. I think that it would have made it hard to come to grips with that, after thinking about it for so long.
“Well, it's been a long time, Frank.”
I smiled at her, and I had all the answers that I needed. Of course, she thought about me. Maybe not as much as I had thought about her, but I was definitely on her radar.
“It has been a long time. I must say that I have missed hearing your voice and seeing you. It's been too long.”
Amber grinned spectacularly and waved to somebody that was passing by and politely said something to them about coming and how it would have meant the world to her grandfather. When she turned back toward me, I could see that there was something on her mind.
“I didn't think I would ever see you again. After I came back the next summer and you weren't here, and your parents said that you weren't coming back, I figured that was that. Each year I would come back in the summer, and each year you were away. What have you been doing with yourself, Frank, in all this time?”
“Well, I went into the military.”
“I know. They always liked to talk about that, and I can see that it rubbed off on you. Hoo-rah.”
I couldn’t stop smiling like an idiot. How cute was she? “Hoo-rah.”
“But what have you been doing? I haven't seen you in so long. I don't want to hear the resume. I want to know how you've been.”
Since she seemed so receptive to having the conversation, I asked her if she wanted to go out and have a drink.
“I think it's too early to have drinks. Doesn't it have to be noon or something?”
I agreed that that was usually the rule, but I assured her that I had a fully stocked bar at my place.
“Are you staying here now?”
I agreed that I was, and she seemed to be pleased by that.
“Okay, Frank. For old time’s sake, let's go have a drink. There is supposed to be a reception after this, all the food is paid for and everything, but I don't think I can do this, anymore. It has been a long day and I have had enough sadness. You are always the one who kept me laughing. Do you think you can still be that guy for me, just for tonight?”
I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but I certainly hoped that what was on my mind was on hers. I was missing more than just making her laugh. I was missing everything that we used to do, just talking to her on the roof of her grandad’s house. So many memories and one desire that had been simmering for ten years, never quenched.
Amber was the one woman that got away. I’d always known it to be true, but it had never felt so real as it did now. Seeing Amber again made me realize that I had missed her far more than I’d ever imagined. I also realized that now that she was a woman and I was a man, I wanted her in all ways, even the one way we had avoided before. It was no longer a necessity to wait. Now, I could have her. I just had to make her laugh again and remind her of how good we were together. I know that I still remembered.
4
Amber
I can't believe that I was standing next to Frank. We were walking to his truck, and I was about to go to his house and have a drink. I really needed that drink, but I was so shocked to be with Frank. A lot had changed in the last ten years, and it was going to take a minute for me to adjust.
Not only was he even taller than before, but now he was solid. Before he had been quite small, even if he
