There, they stared at one another, face to face, for what seemed like a long stretch of time.
Gazing into Harley’s eyes, Diane felt her heart, once again, begin to patter excitedly as the electric current between them sparked and began to flow freely.
There was intensity about Harley that Diane had not forgotten. Even when he was just a teenager when she first noticed it, the passion that sizzled between them was never any puppy-love and now that he was an adult, that passion that she felt only defined and illuminated the person that Diane had loved so long ago and, as she was beginning to realize, the person she had never really stopped loving.
Diane wanted to kiss Harley now, if for nothing else, just to see if what she was feeling was real, or just an inkling of her past desires, now flaring up because of her time of distress.
However, she decided against it. If things were going to happen between her and Harley, they were going to happen by getting to know the Harley of today; not by basing her feelings on the Harley of almost a decade ago.
They had both changed because they had experienced life. Perhaps those experiences would only draw one another closer and they would be better for it, or maybe not.
Diane knew that, although she was opened to loving again, specifically loving Harley, it was too soon for her to jump into anything that could prove potentially hurtful.
Her heart could not bear to break again as violently as it had when she had caught Dan cheating on her. For now, it was fragile and she needed to know, without a shadow of a doubt that Harley understood that and was committed to keeping her emotions sacred.
So, with much effort, Diane pulled back which broke their moment of intensity, only slightly and she said, “Thanks again, Harley. Good night.”
Harley nodded, “Good night, Diane,” and with that, he turned and walked down the porch stairs, towards his old pickup truck that was waiting for him in the dirt road driveway.
Diane smiled as she watched him, but she was unsure of whether this encounter had made her happy or sad. She was, of course, excited to attend the play with him on Friday night, but there was still a large part of her that would have liked to kiss him.
Although, there was still the “woman scorned” that was held up inside of her and would not allow her to make such an emotionally charged mistake.
Just because you didn’t kiss him, does not mean that you lost him. If he doesn’t understand that you are going through a rough time, then he really isn’t worth it anyway. The woman scorned inside Diane’s head and heart thought bitterly.
As much as Diane would have liked to kiss Harley, though, she realized that she did have to agree.
7. A New Beginning
The next two days, however, seemed to drag on like the pace of traffic at the blinking light in the center of Birdwell. Even though Diane had no shortage of things to do, she could not wait to get to Friday night.
Once again, she felt giddy and happy. Yet, the more she thought about it, the happier she was that they had simply said goodnight.
When talking to her mother about it later that night, she had agreed, “You will know when you are ready. Don’t force it. You have all of the time in the world. He’s not going anywhere.”
The two days leading up to the play were fun, however. Diane and her mother had searched the newspapers and the internet to find office space, as well as a house, to rent in the area.
Her mother, who had never had empty nest syndrome, was feeling a little bit claustrophobic with her daughter back in the house and was supportive of her finding her own place. “As much as I enjoy your company,” her mother had said as encouragement when Diane had brought up the idea of moving out, “I do wish you had a home to go to that was other than…well, here.”
Diane had laughed, knowing her mother meant the comment in the best way possible, because she felt the same way.
The best scenario, in Diane’s mind, was to find a house that could appropriately double as a law office, although after seriously inquiring about a few of them, Diane decided that was not necessary.
So, eventually, the women found a beautiful little lake house, right on the outskirts of Birdwell at a place called Carson Lake.
As a little girl, Diane had always admired the little, partially secluded homes that were sprinkled around the perimeter of the lake and always hoped to have the privilege of living in one. It was a far cry from her apartment in New York City, but it was just as beautiful.
Once Diane saw it, she knew it was home.
After finding the lake house, Diane and her mother went back to town and found a small, inviting little commercial property to rent that was homey and yet, professional. This one too, felt just right.
Diane was to move into the office on Monday and the cottage in a week.
Diane, who was trying to stay away from the phrase, meant to be, since her “meant to be” couldn’t have been more wrong, could not ignore the ultimate ease with which her new life was falling into place.
Friday, night, excited to be able to tell Harley the good news, Diane felt extremely nervous.
Her mother assured her that everything would be fine and that she should be excited, but certainly not nervous.
At five o’clock, on the dot, Harley arrived to pick up Diane and just as usual, Diane’s father was sitting in his easy chair with his double barrel shotgun leaned up against the wall next to him; a silent reminder to Harley that even though she was now a woman, she was still his daughter.
Walking in and saying hello to everyone, he noticed the gun and smiled as he thought; No, Diane, I guess things never do change…especially in this town.
The couple went to dinner before the show and talked about everything and anything that had gone on in the past eight years.
Diane told her tragic story of a failed marriage to Harley and Harley shared his story with Diane.
“Carol and I had not been able to have any children though and so, in a way, I think that was a blessing in disguise. The way she left, I wouldn’t want to put a kid through that.”
Diane nodded, understanding Harley completely.
After dinner, they hurried over to the high school and made it just in time for the play which, as Harley had promised, was full of young and blossoming talent.
Then, once the curtain closed, Diane was pleased and somewhat proud to see how many kids stopped to talk to Harley. Apparently that quiet, but powerful charisma had not faded in him with age.
Once again, it was almost like walking the halls with him when they were in high school; him with his varsity jacket and Diane with his school ring dangling from a chain she wore around her neck. She had worn it until they had headed off to college.
Maybe she knew then that it would not work out, but she just was not ready to admit it.
Shrugging off the thoughts from the past, Diane focused on enjoying the moment that was happening right now.
When they arrived back at her parent’s house, Harley lingered at the door, after saying that he had a great night and that they should do something like this again.
Diane had agreed even though he had already promised her that he would help her move, both into her office Monday afternoon and into her new home on Saturday.
However, after another long, intense moment, with both of their emotions running wild; the current coursing through both of them, drawing them together with a force than they both could only barely resist, Harley smiled and said, “Good night, Diane. I will see you on Monday, okay? Four o’clock sharp and don’t you dare move a box until I get there.”
Diane chucked, “I promise.”
This time, it was Harley who had broken the connection and began to make his decent down the porch stairs, in order to ease the tension that seemed to bind them together. Harley figured, if she did not want to kiss him now that was okay.
Even though he felt the intensity, just as strong, if not stronger, for Diane than he had in high school, he was a gentleman and she deserved to be trea
ted like a lady; especially after what she had been through.
Diane, however, was mystified by his reaction and she wondered if they were just going to remain friends. Had I played just a little too hard to get? Diane thought.
However, when Harley stopped at the end of the stairs and turned to her, saying, “I just wanted to make sure you got in alright,” Diane knew that it was time.
Diane needed to kiss him now and if it turned out to be a mistake, well, she had survived a devastating heartbreak once; if Harley was the second, she knew that she would survive another.
Right now, not kissing him and spending a lifetime wondering what would have happened if she had, regardless of whether they ended up together or not, was something that she did not want to live with.
“Harley?” She said, before running down the stairs and throwing her arms around him. As she put her lips to his, she felt an outpour of blissfulness. The feel of his lips, his taste and the way his arms protectively encircled her as they embraced all came back to Diane in one powerful sweep of passion. It was not just as Diane thought it would be, because it was better. Instead the two of them being awkward and unsure, they were now skilled by adulthood and the sweet memories of one another.
The familiarity only deepened their want and their desire to be close to one another.
The couple stayed there, enjoying the feel of one another, pressed closely together, felling as though the reality of their oneness was fulfilling a long ago projected oracle.
Both Diane and Harley felt right being with one another and it was in this moment that they realized that they had only ever had this feeling with one another. Their respective ex-spouses were never able to provide the level of connection and perfection that Diane and Harley felt when they were together.
Diane remembered thinking; This feels like destiny, but she quickly dismissed the thought, even as she was having it. For, even though they kissed, they were far from being together forever.
When the kiss ended, Harley looked down at Diane, who was still in his arms, and he smiled.
Diane beamed back at him and whispered, “Now, it is a good night,” before giving him one final squeeze, a quick peck on the lips and returning back inside.
8. Moving Day
As promised, Harley showed up at four o’clock on the dot to help Diane move into her office and he had even brought her some supplies.
“It isn’t much, but I saw it and thought you might need it, being that you are a lawyer and all…” He said, proudly showing her the brand new, impressive mahogany desk that he had carefully strapped into the back of his pickup truck.
Studying the carefully crafted workmanship, Diane’s jaw dropped. She was unbelievably excited, but in sheer disbelief. She ran her finger down the leg of the desk with awe. “Harley…Thank you…” She said before turning towards him, “It’s perfect.”
Harley seemed pleased with himself.
“However, I cannot take it…Not without paying for it.”
“What?” He said in disbelief, “No! If I was going to help you pick one out, I would have offered to do that. No. This is my good luck gift to you for starting your firm. I know you will do great,” he beamed when he was almost positive she was no longer going to fight him on it, “It’s the least I can do.”
Realizing that he would be insulted if she pressed the matter, she asked, once more, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he answered with a defining, finalized tone.
Diane smiled and her eyes glistened, “Thank you. This is perfect!” Feeling a bout of excitement, Diane shook giddily, “I can’t wait to see what it looks like in my new office!”
Harley laughed, “Well, then let’s get to it, girl! What are you waiting for?”
The rest of the day, the two worked on making the office space feel just right and as Diane had suspected, words could not describe how perfect the desk was, not only for the space of the office, but also for Diane’s law needs.
By the time they left that night, Diane remarked that it was so perfect; she wished she could stay here.
Then, after another long, passionate goodbye kiss, Harley made sure Diane got in her parent’s house alright before getting in his truck and driving away.
Diane watched him leave from the window, feeling an intense and comforting sense of belonging. Even though she hated to fall into the trap of bliss, Diane could feel herself slipping and she knew it would only be a matter of time before she succumbed to thoughts of love and forever.
All that she could hope for is that when the seemingly inevitable happened, this time, she would have made the right choice.
The week leading up to Saturday was filled to the brim with preparations, but that did not make it go by very much quicker. Although she spoke to Harley every evening and texted him often throughout the day, all she really wanted to do was be with him.
However, as responsible adults, they both understood that there were things Diane needed to do and thus, she could not be distracted.
Beginning her own practice, even though she seemed to instantly have interested clients, was no small task.
In fact, her clientele list was growing so rapidly, it was almost like the people in her hometown had waited until she opened her doors in order to deal with their legal issues. Some of them were wills and other personal legal matters, but some of them were serious divorce and domestic cases that had been going on for years. Why now? Diane seemed to wonder, even though she certainly wasn’t complaining.
Throughout Diane’s career, she had prided herself on being fair. If she did not think that she was the right lawyer for the job, she would recommend a colleague, if at all possible, but when she knew she would be her clients best choice, she felt strongly about it and most of the cases that she was getting, from people she knew, Diane truly felt that there would be no one else better to represent them and she was honored that they seemed to feel the same way.
With business instantly booming, in addition to Diane trying to secure her cabin on the lake and continue to move to organize her office in order to suit her needs best, she barely had time to breathe, but she never stopped thinking about Harley.
When Saturday finally came, Harley showed up bright and early. Since moving was a family affair, Diane was happy that her father left the shotgun at home, when he stepped into his truck to go and help unload his daughter’s storage unit, so that they could bring all of her possessions in the house. It really wasn’t very much, but because of the furniture, they were in need of both trucks.
The initial moving in did not take very long at all, but the unpacking seemed to be endless.
Diane’s parents helped for a little while, but as it approached dinner time, they announced that they were going home.
After her parents left, Harley and Diane continued to unpack all of the little trinkets that Diane had collected. As they unpacked, memories swarmed back to her and she was happy that Harley was there beside her, or she feared she may have broken down.
However, since he was there, she found strength and ended up getting rid of a lot of the pointless knick-knacks that, before moving, she thought the memory she had associated to it would never allow her to part with it. Now, she filled trash bags by the hour, effectively de-cluttering her new home, which was far smaller than the apartment she had lived in while in New York. Yet, the cabin had far more of a homey feel to it. It did not feel scrunched, especially after cleansing it of all the past memories which were upsetting to her, rather, it felt cozy.
That coziness extended to the presence of Harley, who stayed with her until late into the night and eventually, they found themselves lying together on Diane’s bed, exhausted from the day’s work.
Feeling the urge to be held, Diane inched over to Harley.
Immediately, Harley put his arms around Diane and pulled her into him. The two stayed like that for a long while, unmoving, until carefully and with reserve, in case Diane did not mean to give him such an impression, he turned to f
ace her and kissed her lips tenderly.
Diane reacted immediately, turning her head and leaning into the kiss.
When they broke away, Harley’s hand came up to slowly trace the outline of her face and Diane smiled, grasping his hand and bringing it down to rest on her chest, before engulfing him in another passionate, intense kiss, through which the two became entangled in one another.
The two laughed as their excitement and foreplay heightened. Feeling the familiarity on their skin was like evoking a dormant dream of beauty and belonging.
Soon, the couple began to undress one another and as their hands explored their naked bodies, it felt right, like nothing else in the world.
The couple forgot about being tired and they forgot about the time. While together, they both forgot entirely that they had been away from one another for the past eight years.
As Harley intimately traced Diane’s body with his fingertips and kissed every inch of her with a passion of a nurtured love and adoration, Diane felt, for the first time, probably since she and Harley were together the last time, a true sense of destiny.
Diane’s excitement heightened and finally, she expressed that her body, which could no longer take the torment of waiting for him, needed to feel the connection that they had so long ago, reunite.
So, with an ecstasy that paralleled Diane’s, Harley entered her and when the two had reached their climax, Diane felt like her head was spinning and her body was shocked, suspended in a pure form of bliss.
Having had the life and love washed out of her within a beautiful moment of pure bliss and enlightenment, all she could manage to do now, was curl up next to Harley, take warmth and comfort in his tender embrace and happily drift away, into a deep and dreamless sleep.
9. A Ghost from the Past
After their first night together, a month of wonderment and excitement filled Diane’s life.
Diane’s firm continued to bring in new clients and with every new case, the judges in the town continued to increase the respect they had for her.
My Sweet, Sweet Valentine: The Greatest Valentine Day Gift of All Page 3