Previously…

“T?  In ten years, wherever we are, lovers” then leaning in to my ear jokingly whispered, “or just friends, if we haven’t yet completed our trip to Cape Cod, we should come back.  If anything, just to remember we were once here and completely in love” she’d suggested.

She obviously wanted confirmation of my outlook regarding our commitment to each other. 

Not rising to the bait rendered by the idea of us not being a couple at the milestone awaiting us, fueled by my solemn belief in the promise of still being together I responded, “It’s a date.”

I’d added quickly in the sexiest voice I could muster, “Definitely as lovers, we’ll be back.  Then again in twenty.”  

I’d been thoroughly kissed in response to my declaration.

Since then, it has served as a warm memory of expectations inspired by the stalwart attraction and undeniably striking affection toward each other, seemingly impregnable even by time.  Seemingly. 

Friends or lovers we’d agreed. Well we weren’t the latter anymore. Could we be just friends?

Indeed, our past deserved acknowledgment and recognition somehow. Despite everything unresolved between us, if she was willing, so was I.  

“Yeah, maybe we will.”  With that, we went our separate ways.

—

The last three weeks flew by in a flurry.  Today was especially hectic and my schedule was brimming with activity.  James had me thrice double-booked as a result. 

As I’m not succumbing to the idea of cloning, I would have to quickly and abruptly disengage myself from some meetings to participate in the successive one that would have, for certain, already started. 

Preparations required for the sculptures of three local artists required meticulous attention to logistics and space planning.

Most were larger pieces but one artist had an especially intriguing collection of smaller sculptures requiring intricate display cases maximizing effect. 

Also, the assortment of material used – marble, acrylic, clay, and bronze highlighting different casting, modeling and carving techniques was proving to be challenging in terms of allocating room and physical execution of delivery and set-up.  A few welded pieces were to be located outside and I’d yet to finalize the related schemes.

The comfort of diversion usually provided by the demands of these details was losing traction as thoughts of my personal life, although improved, were still terribly overbearing.