Colorado

You could tell by the blank stare in Amelia’s eyes that she had no clue what Carl was about to say. What he had begun to tell her about had already been so bad she decided she would remain this way while he blurted everything out.

Nothing he said made her feel any better either, “The cake has to be perfect. The waiter has been so nice! If it we’re finished here, I would like to say ‘I love you’ but we’re going to have to see different people.” She stared at him.

“Why?”

“Well,” he started again, “It has come to my attention that you’ve been seeing other people already.”

“You don’t believe it do you?”

“Of course I do.”

“That’s it, then, is it? These years with me have meant nothing to you?”

“I can’t say they’ve been completely terrible. Then you take how it’s been for me and... Let’s not get into the funny little details, okay? Look, have a nice evening, this meal’s on me.”

He left the table, stopping only to drop the money just beyond his plate, but not to say goodbye. For a long time she sat there staring at the seat he had just occupied. Someone coughed, another cleared their throat, a waiter came and offered her a drink, which she refused and apparently took this as her cue to do something else besides being frozen by the shock of having broken up with her boyfriend of just two years.

Walking toward the noisy street where she was bathed in sunlight before being taken by the hustle and stumble of the Friday night crowd along the walkway.

Fairly, she had assumed he had no way of knowing she was even thinking of anyone else but Carl. But what if she would have been happier with Carl? Now she would never know what their children would have looked like or where they would live twenty seven years from now.

But who had told him there were other options she was considering? Did they know that if someone was being fought over like a trophy that it was none of their filthy business? Then Cal up and pulls himself out of contention like that. Essentially forcing her to choose between the men left over or to find someone who could take his place when life is so short as it is.

What was a girl to do?

“Well the first step has got to be getting off of this poor person’s porch.”

She arrived at home very ceremoniously, as if just having returned from a night out at the movies. She hung her coat, switched on the light and walked over to the couch in front of the television. Not caring what was airing, she turned it on, sat down, and then saw it:

A note from someone named Jeff who could not send his message by phone, but had chosen to murder a small bush to tell her he had truly enjoyed running into her on the train yesterday. As she put the memory of him together, she realized he had run into her on the train, in a grocery store, at a gas station near that same grocery store, and at an art gallery where they had met. Neither time had he been so thoughtful as to remind her of the occasion afterward, but it could not have come at a better time. Luckily upon the card was a telephone number.

Amelia turned off the television and reached into her purse. As the phone rang she sat in silence, she had barley enough time to pull out of it-- he had picked up on the second ring.

“Hello,” came a round, thick sounding voice ringing with all the air of inquisition. “Hello?” she responded. “Jeff? It’s Amelia.”

“Oh, I see you got my note-”

“Yes, I did.” She cut him off, she did not want him to weasel out of it if she couldn’t. “Well I-” and it was his turn to do the cutting off. “What do you say we meet each other for coffee, say, on Tuesday? I’d just love a chance to chat and that seems to me like a great idea: just coffee.”

“Um. Okay. I’d like that.”

“Okay then, well if it’s okay then I’ll call you Tuesday to confirm.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Alright, Amelia.”

“Bye Jeff.”

“Bye-Bye.”

Amelia hung up the phone, dropped it onto the couch and looked straight ahead, her tongue stuck to her lower lip. That night she let the television play her to sleep. She lie there pressed into a curl on her sofa until the alarm rang from her bedroom, and in the living room, she arose to get ready for work.

It was Friday, and Fridays at the office meant casual day. So Amelia put on blue jeans and a t-shirt with a pair of shoes made for running and, after a quick breakfast of toast and jam, headed for the car. She arrived at work not knowing what to expect. A part of her was still thinking about Carl leaving her alone at a restaurant. But pushing her thoughts aside she made her way to her desk and picked up where she left off the day before.

Once the clock hit four thirty she paused her work and returned to her car. The day had passed so smoothly she was hardly distracted by anything but her tasks and though, in the back of her mind she was excited about the week ahead, on the surface everything was the same as before Carl had broken up with her.

So when Tuesday showed up and Jeff called, they set up the afternoon to have coffee and chat. At the coffeehouse, the greeted each other warmly. Amelia took a table by the counter and within a few minutes, Jeff had joined her carrying two medium-sized hot beverages and handed her one.

“So what is is that you do for a living, Amelia? Is it interesting to you?” said Jeff.

“No it isn’t, if yo ask me. I mostly organize the files and records for a small real estate company. What about what you do? I daresay, it’s got to be more interesting than constant paperwork.” she laughed very nervously.

“Actually, I’m a photographer. I focus my efforts on freelance gigs and a few papers and magazines that like my work. The interest factor of which varies tremendously based on what the client is looking for.”

“That sounds amazing. I’d love to do something like that instead. To be honest; I’m really looking for a career change and maybe sooner than later. You know, before my eyes dry out or we run out of toner again.”

They both laughed.

Amelia didn’t know why she was poking fun at herself so much. Desperate fort a subject change, she led with “How’s your coffee? Mine’s delicious.”

“Oh, it’s very delicious. I brought you here because it’s my go-to shop. But anyway, to the hard questions. Like: are you seeing anyone currently?”

“Wow, straight-shooter. Um, okay, so don’t judge me or anything, but...” and she told him about Carl and the abrupt ending to the two year relationship. Leaving out her startled exit from the table and how long it took her to leave it.

“I’m sorry that happened to you. You don’t come across as married and you are entitled to option because of it. He seems like the type of guy that doesn’t like competition. It could have gotten uglier; at the very least he left without hurting you... Still it doesn’t seem to fix anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well he pushed himself away from you, now he’s alone and you were kind of left with your mascara running. I’ve taken the picture a million times.”

“So what about you, Jeff? Are you ready for dating right now?”

“Oh, one hundred percent. I’m sick of looking at happy couples living their lives so comfortable in each other’s warmth and knowing I’m capable of the exact same thing, I’d just like to have found the right person to share my warmth with.”

“Wow, I didn’t think of it that way.” Sure enough, Amelia felt selfish. Here was this suffering man ready for love, and here she was crying about what seemed now a trivial problem.

When she and Jeff had finished their coffee and parted ways, it was with mutual reluctance. Outside the coffee shop doors Amelia kissed his cheek and asked him to call her for something else. She had enjoyed their conversation and knew they had only scratched the surface.

“I sure will.” said Jeff

But the days wore on without word from Jeff in any form. Daily Amelia would return home hoping for a card as if she had not been checking her messages all day. Wondering whether or not she should have given him an invitation to her apartment she began to tidy up the place. It happened to be true that she did not know when she was going to have company, but, she thought, if she did, it would he him.

So she straightened up the living room, she cleaned the kitchen, she vacuumed the spare bedroom, she deep cleaned her own. Then she settled down onto the couch and again she watched television. Inside she could only burn with boredom and anticipation. And, as she went to bed without wading through oceans of clothes as usual, she awoke with a start that was even less typical.

She had just rolled over to turn off her alarm, when something sharp had poked her wrist and forearm as she pulled back. Cursing the pain, she coiled her arm in the blankets and raised her head to find about half a dozen fresh roses facing the door of her bedroom.

“Oh my God!” she shrieked. A squeal that echoed through the room and beyond. The note attached confirmed that it had been Jeff who had once again found a way to leave something for her inside her apartment without disturbing her. Sure that it could be no thief that was leaving roses and contact notes, she read this one and called him immediately.

“I assume you’d like to see me again,” said Amelia, smiling heartily into the phone. “It took you long enough.”

“Well I wanted to be sure of things before we met again. What do you feel about a good lunch on Monday?”

“Yes. I would love some Monday lunch with you. And thank you so much for my roses. They smell so wonderful.”

“You are absolutely welcome. I shall see you on Monday and again I’ll call you with details.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Bye Amelia,” he whispered back.

“Bye Jeff.”

Now that a second date was planned, Amelia felt more excited than bored. She thought that he would call but felt like she had had a hand in things by calling after she received her gifts.

So now she was dating. More than that, it was like she were being wooed, persuaded to be with Jeff. She did want to be with him in the way he had described in the coffee shop, and this date she was sure would have more conversation and therefore was looking forward to it ever the more.

But should she be dating so soon? Or is it time to move on? Maybe that’s why Jeff had waited nearly two weeks to see her again. Had he really been waiting for her to decide to either keep going or to take a break from seeing anyone so as to get over Carl?

She rested herself from these notions. She was too excited to see Jeff again to be backing out on account of the man who didn’t get it. Besides, wasn’t it Jeff who called Carl the noncompetitive type? It was time to distract herself again, so she dressed for work and made her way out of the apartment.

On Monday, Jeff called mid-morning to tell Amelia which restaurant they were to meet at. They were to see each other at a place downtown so she left for lunch a bit early.

They talked the entire time they sat there, long after their Philly cheese-steak sandwiches had been devoured. After the usual small talk about work and the questions about health had been used up, they began to reveal how interested they were in each other and...

“Have you been to any mountains?”

“Well that depends, does one mean within the country or does one mean places like Asia?”

“One does mean within the United States, yes.”

“Well I’d like to visit Colorado at some point- it is on my to-do list.”

“Funny that you mention it, I could use a vacation- and so could you- Miss Cubicle Life.”

“Oh, if you go, take me with you!”

“I think this can be arranged. You let me make a few phone calls and I’ll let you know if we have a way. How long would you like to be gone milady?”

“Very long, indeed. Kind, sir!”

“Well then, let’s get back to work. I’ll find a way to send you the plans.”

And that was their Monday lunch. Where together they dreamed a not so impossible dream.

While Jeff worked his magic, Amelia saw it all. The sweeping mountains, the acres of pine trees, the bears and their little bear cubs, the deer crossing in front of the travel car. Who’s car would they take? How far into the mountains were they going? Could they rent a log cabin? How much can a photographer really afford? And where was the trip to end? Would they get lost in the wilderness never to be found again?

She still didn’t know how much time to take off from working. And what does one wear in Colorado? Surely mountains would mean colder temperatures than warm. While the altitude of a mountain should put one close to the sun, it also puts one close to the clouds.

She decided to pack in all her eagerness. It could never be too early to pack for a vacation. What about Jeff? Surely he’ll need a sweater for the cold. She went to Target and bought him a wool sweater she could warm up to. There was no shame in her now. She was going to give him his dream relationship. She should be hearing from him any day now.

Sooner than she was expecting, Jeff called. They were to leave that Saturday. He had bought plane tickets and booked them a week in a mountain hotel after which they were to hike to a popular camping destination near Estes Park. She informed him that she had already packed everything but a pair of hiking boots which wouldn’t be hard to come by.

She stopped at Target again before meeting him at the airport. Together they passed through security, sent their luggage on board before them, and found their seats. When the plane took off they were holding hands and deep in conversation about what to do and to expect.

“It’s camping season. Had we waited a few months it would be ski season. Do you mind? I, of course, brought my camera along to catch glimpses of the wilderness during the second half of our trip.”

“That’s a great idea. Maybe you’ll let me take a few. We can take turns.”

“By all means. My camera is your camera. For all we know you might be better at it than I am.”

“Oh, I doubt that. You have way more experience than I do.”

“Yes, but I am willing to see what you’ll produce under the right circumstances.”

“Oh really? And what circumstances would that be?”

“Come here, let me tell you, it’s a secret...”

She leaned in and all of a sudden they were kissing. He took hold of her face, she took hold of his shirt and they held each other in a french that lasted until they let go of each other. Mutual embarrassment flooding their faces. Only they hadn’t been noticed by anyone else on the plane. It was uncommon knowledge that the two people sitting in Row 29, Seat 3 and Seat 4 where blushing, hot, and very bothered.

There they sat, holding hands throughout the rest of the flight,ungluing as the plane descended to land. They gathered their belongings dutifully as the plane reached it’s gate. Here, Jeff took the lead.

“I’ll call us an Uber to get us to the hotel, we can set our bags down and grab dinner, how’s that sound?”

“Great.” she said as she grasped her suitcase and pulled it along the airport halls. Watching him as he made call after call checking on both hotel and restaurant reservations and finally to Uber. When at last he put his mobile in the pocket of his jeans, she took hold of his hand, said “thank you” and remained silent until they had loaded their bangs in the back of a Jeep Liberty fitted with both Uber and Lyft stickers on the windshield. After climbing in, there was not much to discuss. Jeff was already running his hands through her hair. This was driving her crazy, and as she turned her head to him, he was already there. Their mouths closed upon each other for the second time and there was no mistaking the hunger behind their lips.

Amelia was the bold one. Rubbing her hand along the zip-seam of his jeans she felt him stiffen with every sound their lips made. Finally her hand came to rest and she left it there. Taking his cue, Jeff put his arm around her and the kissing stopped. They sat content like that- waiting to get to the hotel.

There they threw their bags to the side. Jeff threw her on the bed. She was already pulling off her shoes and socks, her pants were next. His were first. They took off each others shirts and when Amelia’s breasts were revealed he grabbed her close to his chest and entered her immediately. Both of them moaned and slowed themselves down to savor the sensation.

He let her fall to the bed and propped himself up to drive the occasion. After a while he fell to her side. She moved her hips against his and he lifted her leg and entered again. When it was all over they cozied up to each other. Amelia clutching Jeff’s arms as they laid there. She started laughing out of nowhere. Jeff could only join in saying, “Hell yeah.” He looked at her and she caressed him, laughing louder. “Hell yeah.” he said again, resting his head upon hers.

“Dinner?” said Jeff.

“I think so. Can we still make the reservation?”

“We’re not late at all, Amelia.”

“Okay, let’s shower and then we can go.”

Dinner was bated in more conversation. They had many things in common. Neither of them found it geeky to like Harry Potter, for instance. Her favorite of the series being Year 3 while his being the finale, Year 7, they talked about spells and Death Eaters and, of course, how to make Butterbeer.

“I think we ought to add scotch, what do you think?”

“Scotch Butterbeer sounds fantastic!”

“I thought you’d say that, but Jeff, seriously, we should take some with us when we go camping next week.”

“That means we ought to procure some materials.”

So the next day, they bought materials for “Scotch Butterbeer.” There was a town just near enough to the hotel to buy most things, though it was a bit difficult at first to track down butterscotch candies.

They were delighted to come across a Walgreen’s where they found not only butterscotches, but toffees, which they ate instead of giving in to the temptation of owning a large bag full of butterscotches. Then it was time to follow the recipe and get to tasting.

In the end they managed to save a few coke bottles full of Grade: A Butterbeer with scotch for the camping trip while getting completely smashed on the first few bottles.

They caught a movie lying in the hotel bed and then spent most of the days talking to each other, making love, and visiting the town. Soon they had everything a couple would need for a trip through the mountains on foot.

So came Monday and they were to reach a mountain peak by nightfall where they would set up camp. It was their first checkpoint and getting there was proving to be a challenge. Their huge backpacks were the kind that supported their spines but were heavy. At least Amelia thought so. She kept stopping them to readjust it, set it down to pick it back up five minutes later.

Jeff seemed to have no trouble with his own backpack and it wasn’t until two thirds of the way up the hill that he noticed she hadn’t fastened her straps at the waist and chest. He then stopped and walked back toward her, fastened her hastily and ruffled her hair when he was done.

She laughed at herself and said “Well that oughtta help! I didn’t know I had them.” After this they stopped much less and were able to reach the checkpoint but well after sunset. Neither of them in a mood to complain about the delay. Happy to rest, they fell asleep as soon as the tent was built and blankets were set out.

In the morning, Jeff started a small fire and sat with tongs holding on to a breakfast sausage the size of a turkey leg in each hand. When Amelia woke up, smelling the fresh air and gravitating toward the fire, he held up a bun to her and said “Hold it open, please.” She did as she was told and they ate breakfast in peace.

After finishing his sausage, Jeff lifted his camera from his bag, stood up and began to take photos of his surroundings. A few shots of trees, large rock formations, a small flock of sparrows, and he turned his camera on Amelia who sprang into life and began to smile and pose in was that highlighted the campsite.

“Perfection.” said Jeff after about the fortieth shot of her. “Let’s get out of here.”

The next checkpoint was a lake situated in a valley over the next hill. Upon which they ran into a family of deer that did not want to stay for a photo-op. Next they found a cluster of trees just on the other side of the hill. They set the blanket out and made love again without caution to the surroundings, the worst consequence being the mosquito that bit Jeff’s arse. Which he ignored at the moment but later down the hill he began to scratch roughly at his hindquarters, much to Amelia’s entertainment.

They made the lake before nightfall. On the opposite end, they set up camp. Amelia asked if she could take pictures of the water from different angles, and while she was off doing so, Jeff made dinner. A couple of jumbo hot dogs and the rest of the Scotch Butterbeer awaited Amelia when she returned. Slowly making her way back to camp.

They sat to drink around a new campfire that blazed and crackled. Heavier they felt all the while, becoming dizzy through alcoholic effect made vibrant by such natural surroundings. And when the sun finally set, they made their way into their tent, a small nest in the forest near a quiet lake. So quiet they stayed for two days, then headed back the way they came, forgetting their destination for the journey had been so lovely.

They found themselves at the airport again for the return trip. While they waited for their trip, they occupied two seats and a third for their new travel packs. Amelia cozied up to Jeff while he slept. Hoping he would wake up to find his dream come true.

fin.