While they were sharing fruit they started talking. So much time had passed. There were so many things they needed to know about each other. The more they talked the more they learned just how deeply their love ran. Somehow historical events from their past together became the center of their conversation. Years earlier, when they were dating each other in college, their break up caused them to have a lot of unresolved feelings that were buried inside of them. Debra got angry and started to cry when they talked about this.

“Do you remember how you left me?” He replied, “I got mad about a question you asked me in the car so I asked you to pull over so I could get out.”

“What? Is that how you remember it? All I did was ask you about our future since you were graduating and getting a job. Asking that question isn't a crime as far as I know but you made me feel like it was.”

He sat there, stunned and said nothing as she continued.

She glared at him and her face turned a crimson red , “You reached over and abruptly turned off the radio,” she said, “then opened the car door, got out, slammed the door shut and you never spoke with me again. Do you remember now? Do you remember the song that was playing?” she asked him.

Randy was stunned by the heat of her anger.

He silently counted to ten then said in a calm voice “'Against All Odds' by Phil Collins but I only know that because you have told me so many times since we reconnected.”

“I've never forgotten,” she stopped to compose herself and continued, “How you left me there. Alone, stunned, wondering what I had done to deserve that type of punishment from you. I loved you and that was how you treated me? The song 'Against All Odds' by Phil Collins is etched in my mind along with that sequence of events.” He frowned, as he gained this new insight.

Struggling to look her in the eyes he said timidly, “But I did try to makeup. I sent you a letter, telling you how much I missed you and loved you. I thought we could make things work. But that didn’t happen. I behaved badly then and I’m sorry now.”

He leaned over and kissed her and whispered “I loved you then and I love you now.” It was as if she hadn’t heard the words he whispered in her ear. Her eyes widened and she stared at him. Was she hearing right?

“You call that a makeup letter? What were you thinking? There was no mention of love or missing me as I remember.” Her eyes were blazing once again, this time not with passion, but anger.

He lower his head, shoulders slumped as he moved away from her.. “It was a makeup letter.” “Let’s see... What did it say?”

She frowned, her brow wrinkling up. “Oh, yes it said, ‘I still want to see you but only every other weekend.’ Isn't that what it said?” she asked him. “Yes, but…” “Yes, but nothing.” She stopped to take a breath.

He jumped in saying “But you were going to school at Western Michigan University and I was working at least two hours away. I thought it was a good option.” The resentment was growing in her. It was like the room was being sucked out of oxygen, “A good option? To the woman you said you loved? You wanted to see me every other weekend with nothing else? How was that supposed to work?” She was beside herself.

“Well, at least we would have still been together,” he said meekly.

“And...,” she asked abruptly.

His body tensed. A deep irritation was growing was crowding out all his other feelings. If she continue this line of conversation he didn’t know if he would want to be here. He asked himself if it was worth it.

“And what?” he asked? He sat up straight, eyes on hers, “I had just got a new job and you decided to transfer to Western Michigan University on the other side of the state instead of staying at Oakland by me,”

“You could have asked me not to transfer,” she said defensively.  “You said you transferred because an old boyfriend was bothering you here at Oakland. Remember?”

He moved closer, his eyes narrowed. , “I remember that old boyfriend. I remember when he kept knocking on the door while I was in your dorm room. He was a stalker before they called them ‘Stalkers’. Then he transferred to Western after you did, so you had accomplished nothing, and the stalking continued."

Changing tacks she lowered her voice and said, “If you really wanted to see me you would have said every weekend not every other weekend.”

“I had to work weekends then. I couldn’t see you and keep my job. "

“You could have said we would be together once I graduated,” she sniped.

“Well, we could have worked into that, I guess.”

The irritation in her voice was clear, “We could have worked things out where we were together all the time? You told me you loved me and we could have worked into it? But that’s not how it worked out. It became obvious that you never wanted to commit to me. That was the problem.

You never really loved me,” she said. Why matter of fact? Why isn’t she crying here? He thought to himself, why is she doing this? Why is she bringing up all this right now?

He waited again before answering her., “I did love you but I had a new job.” Debra got up and walked to the other side of the room.

“I know you had a new job but the truth was you didn't want to make time for me. Lots of people have a job where they have to travel and they somehow make time for the person they love. She then turned and came back towards him.

“Is that the story you are sticking with?” she asked. “Was having a new job more important than me?”

He could see that no matter what he said he was bound to be on the losing end of this discussion. It was either walk out now or end it and he didn’t want to walk. There was an awkward silence. The room was drowning in silence. He was underwater and swimming with all his strength to the surface.

But when he was about the burst through she hit him with an undercut to the jaw “And after you sent me a letter with that stupid option of every other weekend together I was an idiot to reply, wasn't I?”

“So Randy, What did you do with my letter?” she asked in a tone that meant she wanted to say something drastically different but she was controlling herself.

“I returned it.”

“Yes, yes, that is what you did. You returned it unopened,” She was crying now. He tried to hold her but she twisted out of his embrace.. “You said you loved me. You sent me letter saying we could spend every other weekend together. Then you had the nerve to return the letter I sent you. Do you have any idea how much that hurt me?”

“The letter came back unopened. Who does that? How could you say you loved me and do that to me?”

“Well...” he quietly responded.

“Well, nothing. You don't do that to someone you love and you certainly don't do that to someone you want to spend the rest of your life with,” she was screaming now. “You are right. I never should have mailed the letter back,”. She continued, “You never loved me. Didn't you ever wonder what that letter said?”

“Yes” he said quietly,

“I made myself believe what I thought the letter would say.” “And what did you think it said?” she demanded to know.

“That every other weekend wasn't enough. You wanted more and I wasn't prepared to give you more. I couldn't make the commitment you wanted so I made your letter, the letter that I never read, justify my actions. Ok? Is that what you wanted to hear?” he answered.

“No, what I wanted all those years was for you to have read the letter. For you to have seen how much I loved you. How I wanted to spend my life with you. But no, the arrogant bastard that you are denied me my life with you, I wanted so much at the time,” she said sharply. Softly he said, “Can we just forget this for now?”

“Sure, we have forgotten it for all these years what does a few more years matter at this point,” she said with an agitated voice.

“I'm sorry. I should have read the letter. What more can I say?” he said.

“Don’t say anything now. Because nothing can repair the damage you have done!” she sobbed.

Nothing he could say could salvage this situation so he sat there silently.  He moved closer to her. Put his arms around her. She was emotionally drained from this. There was nothing either one of them could say that would fix the wrong he had done so many years ago. She knew this had not resolved the issues of the past. There was more to talk about. More cob webs to be cleaned but she couldn't stay mad at him. After all, he had flown half way around the world to spend two weeks alone with her in this Phoenix condo. Maybe there was a chance the love she had dreamed about was here. She shook her head at the thought. She had been so disappointed before and wasn't going to get ahead of herself this time. She sighed. She wanted to put those thoughts away. They were not taking her anywhere. Slowly she leaned against him and fell into his arms. Her soul found the heavenly peace and her breathing relaxed. Her mind started working. Dopamine must be rushing through his veins. Could she hear the gurgling flow within that muscular body? She snuggled up as she felt him getting closer and closer. This was what she needed.

“If only we could …,” he dragged, “figure out and bottle up what my body feels right now … Oh my god, we would be fabulously rich.”

“Every woman would buy it for sure.” Her voice was soft and it showed how peaceful her mood was, how very relaxed she was. They enjoyed each other just as they did twenty-six years ago. Time flew by, fueled by their passion and the day passed quickly. She was amazed at the intense love her mind worked up in such a short time they were together. Was he feeling the same passion and love? She hesitated just a moment and then, smirking, and asserted. Yes, he does and his passion was the proof. It was five in the morning, and slivers of sunlight were seeping through the cracks in the curtains.

Next Chapter: Chapter 21 The Wrath of Kahn