ALWAYS

Sorcha MacMurrough

This story won second prize in the WCRG writing competition on the theme of a second chance at love.

Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to organize it, and a huge thank you to everyone who cheered me on.

 

 

"Marty Kennedy!"

"Ed Clancy, you sly devil!"

Deb's father Ed bustled across the diningroom of the Colonial Inn in Helena to make the introductions.

"This is my eldest daughter, Deb Sanders, who came to look after me so I wouldn't miss our reunion.  And this must be Mark.  God, boy, I haven't seen you for years, not since you graduated from college!"

Edward shook the men's hands warmly, and then held out a chair for Deb to sit.

"Nice to see you again, sir.  Terrible news about your operation," Mark said.

Edward waved the remark away.  "I'm not the first man in the world to get a pacemaker, and I won't be the last.  I was sorry to hear about your mother.  She was one in a million.  But I'm glad you've come along.  Marty does nothing but boast about you."

Deb could certainly understand why. For there at the table, resplendent in a tuxedo which set off his bronzed skin to perfection, was the most incredible man she had ever seen.

His sleek black hair was greying at the temples, and his face was creased, both with age- and smile-lines.  But these were small imperfections compared to his ample attractions.  His deep blue eyes, and finely chiselled mouth and jaw reminded her of a classical statue.  He was so stunning, he had to be an actor.

"Go on, Deb, have a seat," her father insisted.

"No Dad, really, you'll want to see the stage when they start making the speeches," she protested.

"Nonsense, Marty and I have been coming to these reunions for years. Sit and enjoy."

Short of making a scene, Deb couldn't see how she could avoid the unnervingly handsome son of her father's best friend.

She felt her mouth go dry, and was relieved to sit down before her trembling legs gave way.  She felt a fluttering in her chest, and wondered if she had inherited her father's heart problem.  But no, it was just a silly case of nerves.

She reached for the carafe of water just as Mark did, and their hands touched.

She stammered an apology, and then reached for the menu.  Mark had just done the same, and their hands now met again.   Deb blushed even more profusely.

He stared at her with his midnight blue eyes for several more seconds.  Then he declared, "I've seen you somewhere before."

"I thought you looked familiar too.  Are you an actor?"

Mark laughed then.

Deb wished the ground would open up and swallow her.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"I'm laughing because I've never been mistaken for an actor before. Though I suppose in my line of work people might think I was Harrison Ford. I'm an archaeologist, working down in Mexico on some Mayan ruins.  You're a history lecturer at New York University, aren't you?  I heard your talks on the Spanish in the New World, oh, about ten years ago?"

She stared at him in surprise. "That's right.  Fancy your being there."

Deb began to relax, and  poured a glass of water for them both.

"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer some wine?"

He lifted the bottle from the cooler beside him.  It was her favorite brand of Chardonnay.

She smiled, delighted.   "I will, thank you."

He filled the glasses in front of the four of them, and then signalled to the waiter for another bottle.

"Now, you behave yourself, young man.  No talking about shrunken heads and cannibalism in front of this lovely young thing," Marty warned.

Deb and Mark both laughed.

"Actually," she admitted, "I can't think of anything I'd rather talk about."

Mark grinned happily. "I'll tell you all about my recent excavation, so long as you tell me what you're working on.  But first, let's get the twenty questions out of the way.  I admit I know a bit about you from Dad. You have three children, a boy and two girls, all studying at college, and you lost your husband last year.  That was about the same time my mother became ill."

Deb swallowed past the lump in her throat.  "I wanted to say I was sorry about your loss."

"The stroke was quick.  At least she never suffered," Mark said shortly.

"And you, are you married, with children?"

"I was married, but we never got around to the kids part.  I'm not complaining, really.  We had seventeen good years.  But in the end my wife decided she wanted something different from a life in the jungle.  We divorced three years ago."

"I'm sorry. I've said the wrong thing again."  Deb avoided his piercing blue gaze by fiddling with the menu.

"Not at all.  There were no hard feelings.  I probably never should have married my prize student.  There was a big age difference.  I'll be sixty in May, while she'll just be turning forty."

"I've just turned fifty-three.  I'm sure you could hear the primal scream all the way down in Mexico."

Mark laughed heartily.  "Surely it wasn't that bad."

Deb toyed with the opal and sapphire band her husband had given her just before he'd died.

"They call it an eternity ring.  Well, I didn't get an eternity, did I?  I got twenty-five years. Now I'm alone.  It's like being cast up on the scrap-heap of life. Frank is gone, and the kids don't need me any more. They find me embarrassing. In fact, they actually call me 'the fossil'."

She heaved a ragged sigh, and wondered why she was telling all this to a complete stranger.

He reached out to pat her hand.  "I'm sure it's just a phase they're going through.  No one could ever say you looked like a fossil!   Take the word of an archaeologist!"

It wasn't just his words. Mark openly appraised her lovely face and figure.  The shimmering emerald green gown enhanced her curves, and the color set off her eyes to perfection.  With her auburn hair framing her high cheekbones and fair skin, she was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Like a fairy princess, he thought fancifully, thinking of all the Irish folk tales he had been raised on.  She certain seemed to have some sort of magic spell on him, for he couldn't take his eyes off her.  She had been lovely at the lecture, but they had both been very married then, and her unattainable in her formal business attire.

Deb smiled at his remarks despite herself.  His warm glance made her feel cosy inside. There was something more too. As they sat together side by side, accidentally brushing elbows or knees as they shifted position, she felt a tremor of long-dormant desire shiver inside her.

It's like being a teenager at the prom again, she reflected wistfully.  Then she recalled that it had been at her prom twenty-five years ago that Frank had popped the question.

But it was ridiculous to compare the two nights.   She and Frank had grown up together, built up a solid relationship.   She couldn't be in love with Mark.  Love at first sight didn't happen except in romance novels, and certainly not to women her age.

"You're as young as you feel," Mark declared as he continued chattering away about how she shouldn't feel depressed about her age while she wrestled with her melon boat, trying to eat it daintily.

"Now that you've raised your family, you're free to do all sorts of other things.  You'd just love it down in the Yucatan, with all the fresh air and sunshine, and exotic plants and flowers.  Not to mention the fabulous ruins at Chichen Itza.    It's like paradise."

"Isn't it terribly hot there?" she asked between mouthfuls of fruit.

"It can be, but most of the time it's just a bit humid."

She gave a little shudder. "Aren't there all sorts of terrible creepy crawlies in the jungle?"

"No worse than all the creeps you have to deal with living in New York, I imagine."

Deb laughed then. "It's not that bad!"

"I must admit, I've only been there once, and two nights was more than enough for me. Too many people, I suppose.  The high point of the trip was your lecture."

"You don't have to try so hard to flatter me," Deb said coldly, and turned away from his alluring presence to signal to the waiter to take her order.

After she had requested the poached salmon in dill sauce, she consulted with her father and Marty, still undecided between the beef and lamb as their entrees. For a few moments she managed to ignore the persistent man by her side.

But inwardly she cringed.  She knew all about lonely widow stereotype; her friends had told her some dreadful stories.

She knew it. She should never have come. It was the first time she had been out for a formal occasion since her husband Frank had died.  She would never have even ended up at the annual First Special Service Force Veterans' Dinner had it not been for the fragile state of her father's health.

Of course she didn't want to spoil her Dad's reunion with Marty, but they would have another five days in Montana to talk about old times.

Deb decided that they would eat their meal, and leave early.  She could claim she was worried about her father needing his rest after their afternoon flight from New York, and then she need never see Mark again.

"I'm not trying to flatter you, honestly," Mark insisted.  "I really admire all you've achieved.  You must have had a very understanding husband if he let you get qualifications and teach. I mean, you must have married and had a family very young."

Deb nodded.  "Yes, Frank was good like that.  I was very lucky.  He was my best friend."

"I think my parents have always been my best friends, though Katie was a good pal too when we were married."

"That doesn't sound very romantic," she commented quietly.

He stared into her eyes. "I've never really thought much about romance until now."

Deb ignored the suggestive remark, asking instead, "So what are you working on at the minute?"

Mark spoke of his recent finds enthusiastically. Deb listened to his every word in awe.

Much as she hated to admit it, she had been longing for a change from her ordinary routine.   Frank and she had always said they would travel once he retired, but his cancer had ended those dreams.

"And you, what sort of music do you like, movies, you know?"

"I love the Baroque composers, and I'm mad about old Bogart films, and anything with Bette Davis."

"So am I!  I must admit my house outside Merida isn't very luxurious, but the one thing I do have is a VCR and lots of tapes. What about John Garfield and Susan Hayward?"

"Yes, I loved House of Strangers. And I love my DVD player. You should get a small personal one if you travel a lot...."

The food came, beef for Marty, lamb for Ed, and two poached salmon for Mark and Deb.

Mark winked at her.  "You see, we even like the same kind of food."

Deb tried to concentrate on eating the fish without getting any of the rich sauce on her gown.  But her hands were trembling.  She couldn't help marvelling at the way they did indeed seem to have so much in common.

She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, but her normally hearty appetite had fled.  She managed just enough small talk to avoid any awkward silences.

She nervously gulped down her entire glass of Chardonnay, and hoped Mark hadn't noticed.

He put down his knife and fork and smiled.  He removed her wineglass from her hand gently and requested, "Dance with me."

"But I don't hear any music."

"I do. Dance with me."

Deb blushed to the roots of her hair, but the wine had made her feel reckless.  What did she care what anyone thought?  She was on vacation. She might as well enjoy it.

Mark led her to the dance floor, and put his arm around her waist.  He held her close, not too tightly, and rested his smooth cool cheek against her own blushing one.

They circled around the floor slowly.  Deb could feel the throbbing of his pulse in her hand as they moved in time together to the silent music of their hearts.

Some of the veterans began to sing one of their favorite songs from the war.

"I'll be loving you, always......"

Several of the other couples now began to get up out of their seats to join the handsome couple who seemed to be so much in love.

Ed and Marty both stared at their children for a moment and then laughed.

"Amazing.  They're perfect for each other.  I wonder we never thought of getting them together before," Edward marvelled.

"Mark always had his head stuck in a book, and Deb got married so young.  There was never the chance.   A pity, really.  I would have liked grandchildren."

"Better late than never.  If things work out between them the way I hope, you're more than welcome to share mine."

"Thanks, I might just take you up on that."  They both laughed.

"But seriously, Marty, do you think they have a chance to be happy?  I mean, Mark's always away on a dig..."

Marty shrugged.  "They're old enough to work it out for themselves.  True love always finds a way."

"We'll just have to take things slowly, work out all of the details.  If you feel anything for me the way I do for you, we'll find a way," Mark tried to reassure Deb.

"But this is all so sudden. You cutting off your visit to your dad to come visit me in New York, my taking off the whole month at Easter vacation when I should be preparing my new course on Columbus..."

"I know you're smart enough to teach it off the top of your head if you have to. Just think about it. What could be more perfect than you working at the excavation? You're an historian with fluent Spanish. Your research is meticulous. We even use the same computer programs. Can't you see, all of this is so perfect! We would be fools to let the chance slip away," Mark coaxed.

Deb stepped away from him. "Just what sort of chance do you see this as?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.

Mark reached out to touch her shoulder, but she swung away from him and strode off the dance floor, making a beeline for the ladies' room.

"Deb, please, wait! Maybe I'm not making myself clear--"

She stepped into a small alcove next to the cloakroom, anxious to avoid a scene. She wished he didn't tower over her so, making her feel almost powerless to resist him.

"No, Mark, you've made yourself perfectly clear. You want me to give up everything to come work for you. But didn't you say your first marriage failed because you put your work before love?"

Mark explained patiently, "No, my first marriage failed because Katie and I had a great friendship, but little passion. I want to be romantic, spontaneous, for the first time in my life. I'm tired of bottling up my feelings just because I was taught that that's what men are supposed to do.

"The truth is, from the moment I saw you ten years ago, I was interested in you. I asked around about you, only to discover you were married, as was I. To pursue you would have been unthinkable.

"But here you are now, by some twist of fate, the daughter of my father's best friend. And now both of us are free. Perhaps you aren't ready to hear this so soon after Frank's death. Maybe it seems disloyal somehow.

"But if Frank was anything like you are, I'm certain he would never expect you to make yourself miserable by clinging onto the past. Memories fade for a reason. It's so they can be replaced with other, perhaps even better ones."

Deb shook her head. "This is all too sudden."

Mark cupped her chin with one hand and forced her to look into his eyes. "I'm sorry if I've frightened you. I'm scared too. But not everyone gets a first chance at happiness, let alone a second. You don't have to decide now. Think about it, and give me a call."

Deb's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "I want to believe you, but feelings can lie, can't they?"

Mark paused to consider her words, then shook his head. "I don't think so. I know what I feel is real. I have no reason to deceive myself into believing I care for you. I understand your reservations. But there's only one reason we need to be together. If it's true, who cares about the rest? But being in love has nothing to do with reason. It's completely irrational. I have to say, though, it's a wonderful thing."

He stooped to kiss her gently, as though her lips were a delicate rose.

A wildfire sweetness coursed through her veins. Deb knew the answer to his question in an instant.

At length Mark broke off the kiss. Deb laughed shakily. "Well, that's settled. I'm coming to Mexico with you. It'll take some time to arrange things, but I will..."

Mark grinned down at her. "Just remember those words. You'll need them for our wedding day."

He removed his signet ring and placed it on the thumb of her left hand.

She laughed merrily, hardly able to grasp how her world had suddenly become so transformed.

"It'll have to do for now, until I can get you a proper one."

Deb's face fell. "Oh, no! What about Dad! He's been ill, and..."

"He'll understand. He would never want to hold you back. I'm sure they'll both be delighted. We'd better go tell them now. Then I'll take you back to The Sanders Hotel. You have a lot of things to do."

Arm in arm, they walked back along the corridor and into the diningroom. Both stopped short as the dinner guests all rose and began to clap.

Deb stared and looked up at Mark in confusion. "Have we missed all the speeches already?"

Edward and Marty now came forward to congratulate them, while all eyes were upon them, not the podium, and the whole room began to sing as one.

"I'll be loving you, always..."

"Always, Deb, I swear," Mark vowed as he swept his blushing new fiancee into his arms for another dance.

Deb held him close, her heart surging with joy and new-found hope, and whispered in his ear, "Always, my dearest Mark."

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