FanStory.com - Always the Oneby HarryT

Jeff was the principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He sat at his desk and gazed out into the courtyard, filled with asters and goldenrods.

His secretary, Lauren, had placed letters on his desk, which he flipped through. He stopped as he spotted one that had the return postage address of his old high school, which read Gage Park, Class of ’90 Reunion.

Seeing his old high school’s name stirred a flurry of memories. He had mixed emotions about returning. He had both good and not so good memories of the time spent in those halls and classrooms. But, still he wondered about the friends that he had lost touch over the years. He wondered about Jim and Bill, two of his baseball teammates. The three of them were like triplets as they negotiated their high school years together.

He lost contact with Cathy and Susie, two old girlfriends after going to Iowa State. Cathy was his steady senior year. Jeff wasn’t the type for nostalgia, but something about this reunion felt different. Maybe it was the longing whispers of what could have been, especially with Cathy. The girl he thought might be the one.

It took him almost two hours to drive back to the old neighborhood on Chicago's southwest side. The reunion was held in the high school gymnasium, which the committee had festooned in blue and gold. Upon Jeff's arrival at the gym, he found it filled with chatter and laughter. The printer of the yearbook made picture badges with graduation photos for the occasion. One could see some youthful resemblance. Jeff wandered through the crowd, his heart racing, wondering, scanning for the face that had haunted his dreams so many times.

In a corner of the gym, Cathy stood sipping a white wine. She was speaking with two ladies he recognized as her high school friends, Joan and Toni. Cathy’s infectious smile and unmistakable azure blue eyes pulled Jeff back to their summer after graduation. Gathering his courage, Jeff approached, heart thumping, feeling like the years were melting away with each step. He glanced at her ring finger. No ring.

“Cathy.” Saying her name, he sensed a glow he hadn’t felt in years.

Cathy turned, her smile widening as she recognized him. “Jeff! My gosh, it’s been forever!”

They hugged. The decades seemed to dissolve. They found a quiet corner and reminisced about their youthful exploits, old friends, and life since high school graduation. Cathy had built a successful career in the insurance industry, working her way to vice-president in charge of marketing for the Midwest region. Over the years, both had married but were now divorced with no children.

After the reunion, they walked through the old neighborhood. The neighborhood and the houses seemed much smaller than when they were young. However, the old moon cast the same silver sheen they recalled on the familiar streets, illuminating their path as they strolled down to the park where they once sat and talked about their dreams for the future.

“Do you remember that big, old, oak tree near the bench where we’d watch the starry sky?”

“Of course,” Jeff replied. “Hey, remember, we carved our initials. You think they’re still there?”

They reached the tree. Jeff pulled out his cellphone and flipped on the flashlight. And they were able to discern the faint remnants of their youthful love.

Though Cathy lived in downtown Chicago and Jeff, far out in the suburb of Crystal Lake. They made a point of seeing each other on weekends. Their reconnection deepened. They fell into a comfortable rhythm, sharing dinners, stories, and laughter that echoed the intimacy they once had. One crisp autumn evening, Jeff invited Cathy to his favorite spot—a quaint cafe called Port Edward on the Fox River. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of gold, purple, and pink, casting a romantic glow over everything as they enjoyed their dessert on the veranda. The river’s gentle flow a soothing backdrop. Jeff took a deep breath, the weight of unspoken words pressing on him.

“Cathy, I’ve been thinking… We’ve been seeing each other for several months.”

Cathy’s eyes softened, her smile tinged with a mix of surprise and hope. She took Jeff’s hand and before Jeff continued, she said, “Jeff, I’ve been thinking the same thing. What if we give us another chance? I’ve got plenty of room in my apartment. We can move in together. You can leave your car at the railroad station and take the train to the Crystal Lake station and drive back and forth to your school.”

It was definitely an offer Jeff felt he couldn’t refuse. The days that followed were a whirlwind of rediscovery. They found joy in the simple things—morning coffees, long walks, and the comfort of shared silence.

One evening, as they watched the sunset from Cathy’s balcony, Jeff turned to her and said, “You know, I’ve always wondered what life would’ve been like if we’d stayed together.”

Jeff took her hand; he kissed her knuckles and gazed into those blue eyes, touched her cheek and said, “I think we’re finding out now. And it’s better than anything I ever dreamed. Why in the world did we blow it?”

Cathy said, “We are here now. Let’s enjoy the time we now have.”

“You were always the practical one.” Jeff said with a smile.

Christmas Eve, as they sat by the fire, Jeff pulled out a small gift wrapped box. Cathy’s eyes widened.

“Cathy,” Jeff began, his voice steady and sure. “You’ve always been the one for me. Would you make my life complete and marry me?”

Tears glistened in Cathy’s eyes as she nodded, her smile brighter than the fireplace flames. “Yes, I made the mistake once of letting you go years ago. But this time, yes, yes, yes. Forever and always, yes.”

As they danced their wedding dance, they knew that sometimes, if one is fortunate, life may give one a second chance.