Consequences(204)

His blue eyes looked startled and then softened. “No, Claire, I just want to talk to you. It must be difficult not knowing who you can trust.”

She breathed easier. “It is. I’ve made a few mistakes I don’t plan to repeat.”

“It’s a mistake I made that I want to talk to you about, too.”

She looked at him. He hadn’t changed since their freshman year of college, but alas he had—he was older—more mature—and more confident. His blond hair still needed trimming and his gleaming eyes were still as bright. She couldn’t forget the passion she’d witnessed in those eyes.

“I’ve seen your picture so many places recently. I felt that I needed to talk to you at least once and explain what happened during the summer of ’03.”

They met at Valparaiso their freshman year. Simon’s major was computer programming while Claire’s was meteorology. Living in the same dorm, they ran into one another often. Their mutual attraction blossomed into young infatuation and rapidly into romance. They were each other’s first love. The new, unfamiliar emotions overwhelmed them both. Simon proposed to Claire daily. She had other plans for her life, plans of a career and national success which didn’t include marriage. During the summer they visited each other’s hometowns, met the families, and did all the things young lovers do. Claire’s mother commented how plans can always be modified. She liked Simon. Their sophomore year was to include Greek life, parties, studying, and time together, but somewhere between meeting the family and classes resuming, Simon disappeared. He called a few times, wrote a few letters, and vanished. Claire knew college had been a financial strain on his family. That was why when out of the blue, during the summer, Simon had received an offer for a dream internship and he had, had to accept. An opportunity like that was unheard of for a sophomore. His computer talents exceeded many of the older students. The internship was in California, and he couldn’t miss the opportunity. It was supposed to be just one semester. She waited for him to return, he didn’t. Their correspondences became less frequent and then nonexistent.

She moved on. Forgetting him wasn’t possible, but successfully compartmentalizing him was. Over the years life’s challenges and routines filled her consciousness, only sometimes in unconsciousness did he return.

“That isn’t necessary. We have both moved on with our lives.” Claire began to rise. “It was nice to see you.”

He touched her hand gently. “Please, Claire, I need to tell you”—she sat timidly—“Do you remember that I went to California?”—she nodded—“At first, it was an internship, but then they offered me a job. I’m not sure you remember, but college was difficult for my parents to afford, and the offer was too good to pass. I wanted to go back and finish my degree, but there I was, twenty years old, being offered my dream job.”

Claire remembered the letter she received saying he wouldn’t be returning from California. It broke her heart. She wanted to join him, but he didn’t ask. “I’m glad it worked for you. Are you still living in California?”

“Yes, I am, and the company I went to work for interestingly is a subsidiary of Rawlings Industries.”

Claire’s heart started to race. If Tony knew—Simon would lose his job. She saw the darkness, she wanted to protect him. “Are you still there?”

“No”—she sighed with relief—“I was with them for over five years, but I left long before you met your husband. I read the article in Vanity Fair”—she smiled—“I have my own company now.”