The Greener Field

The Panacea of Love

        Later that day, back in Torrey Pines, Sarah did make each of her appointments. Though when she returned from the clinic that evening, she did not remember any of them. What she did remember, as she fell onto the bed and held the pillow close to her face, was the smell of Jess's lemon fresh cologne and the perpetual tingling her body had sustained all day from his sexual presence the afternoon and night before. There was no doubt—she had seriously fallen for him.

        As tired as she was, and skipping lunch at work, Sarah still felt no hunger. She seemed to be floating all day on the lightness of memory--Jess' caresses and the forceful movements of his athletic body which had brought her to new highs of sensation. But aside form the physical charms of the man, there was something else in his boyishness, his sense of adventure and protection of her that Sarah found irresistible—and now alarmingly addictive.

         Leaving her cell phone off all day at work, she now checked her calls and messages. There were surprisingly none from him. Only the obligatory calls and texts from her mother, which Sarah declined to open. This absence of Jess' call sent her into the living room to open her laptop. She was relieved to see a message from Jess he had sent during the midday:

Hey busy girl, I'm having a hard time keeping my mind on work today. Any ideas why? Oh. Did I say "work"? By the time you read this, Sarah, I'll be in London. Got a few British bankers to suffer through at a meeting tonight. Always stuffy bastards and the details with them never ends. Guess I'll be laid up over here in Europe for quite a while. I know. Reality bites right? But listen. I don't know about you but I don't think I've ever been so satisfied by a quiet night in the country. OK, maybe it wasn't that quiet. Just know, you've been on my mind all day, Beautiful.

So how's this for an idea. I'll FedEx you some airfare to join me here in London next weekend. Just get a couple of days comp time from work. Then we'll tag it onto the weekend for a whirlwind visit. Five days here will put your tired head on straight, I promise. You must be tired, right? I'm actually warn out. But truly, it's an exciting city, Sarah. We'll have fun. Besides. Know any better tour guides? Or handsome men that admire you more? Just give me the OK for next Friday night's departure. I'll have you back in America's Finest by Wednesday evening. Do I ever tell you lies? 

The ball's in your court, tiger. It's almost 'tea time' here! Join me soon!

Amazing memories. --Jess

        Sarah turned off the laptop and laid her head back on the sofa. What was this torture he was putting her through? Of course she was up for the rendezvous. But London for five nights? All arranged by the most wonderful companion and lover? Sarah got up slowly and moved into the kitchen. Her tired mind attempted to concentrate on the realities, the logistics of such a journey. Perhaps she should tell him no. She mechanically went to the refrigerator and took out a container of vanilla yogurt. Into it she threw a peeled and sliced a kiwi, a handful of green seedless grapes, and crisscrossed the top of it with several swipes of mountain honey.

        She then sat with the concoction on the floor in front of her picture window. The fog had settled back in, and there was no visual indication she was sitting only hundreds of meters from the Pacific Ocean. Slowly she ate nutritious yogurt mix without really tasting any of it. She thought about a shower, but simply did not have the energy to even stand. Yet a hot bath would give her the extra boost she would need in the morning to face another busy day. One more glance out to an invisible ocean got her to finally stand and think. It would be that other ocean—on the opposite of the continent she would be crossing to see Jess this time. 

Sarah had only been to England once before as a child. It was when her parents had been invited as guests of their friends to attend the Ascot horse races one summer in Berkshire. She only remembered the rain of the place, and having to stay inside for hours while her parents were entertained in restaurants every day and evening of the trip. She recalled how happy she was to see the California sun again when they returned to San Diego. This trip would be considerably different, Sarah smiled to herself.

        At that moment her cell phone was ringing in the kitchen. Sarah turned and found the energy to rush in quickly and look at the small screen. It was her friend Carrie from San Francisco. Sarah reluctantly picked up the phone and answered.

        "Hey, Carrie."

        "Well hey back to you busy girl. So what's 'the haps' as they say?"

        "A lot, Carrie. And I'm pretty confused about it."

        "Well, you know me . . . I'm all ears. So did you go back out with him. . .this guy you met in Greece?"

         "Jess. Yes. Twice now."

        "Wow. . .so . . . by now you've probably slept with him, right?"

        "Carrie!  I'm kinda tired and . . . well . . . just don't ask me that stuff. I told you . . . I don't . . ."

        "Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's why you are so tired . . right? Hey, you're talking to a Federal Investigator, sweetie."

        "Yeah I know. But look. It was . . . good, Carrie. OK?  Really good, you might say. Honestly, this guy has got me so hooked. It's pretty serious."

        "Wooo! Damn, baby. Haven't heard you speak like that for a long while."

        "I know. And what can I do, Carrie? I want to be with him always now. He's just so . . ."

        "Tell me tell me tell me!"

        "Carrie! Stop it . . . or I'm just going to bed."

        "But sweetie, it's only ten twenty-five!"

        "Jesus! Really? It feels like two in the morning. I've had a really long day."

        "Forget that. Tell me about the long night."

        "Goodnight Carrie . . . I'll call you later. I really can't even think right now."

        "OK. Just tell me. How serious are we talking about here?"

        "Serious enough to leave my job for a few days . . . and meet him in London."

        "Are you shitting me, Sarah? London?  What's up with this guy? What's he into . . .besides apparently you now?"

        "Funny Carrie . . . I don't even know . . . business something or other. He's done it all on his own, though. And what makes it worse . . . he's a goddamned sweetheart . . . I'm just so confused. I'll let you know by Friday if I actually go. I'm so beat. If it were tonight . . . I swear I would just say no."

        "Well, give it some real thought, little pal. You sound kind vulnerable."

        "I'm way beyond that, Carrie. I'll call you. By the way . . . you OK?"

        "More than OK. I shot a guy yesterday!"

        "What? Carrie, are you serious?"

        "Yeah, baby. Didn't kill him but brought him down and we took him in. Wish I could tell you more about it . . . but . . . you know."

        "Yeah. Bureau business . . . got it. Well just be careful, Cat Woman."

        "Raaaooowwww!"  Always careful, sweets. Go get some sleep.

        "For sure. Bye."

        Sarah carried  the empty yogurt container to the sink and went into the bedroom. As she neared the bed she began removing her clothing. Too tired to put on her pajamas, she slid under the sheets nude and embraced the pillow. It still smelled of Jess' cologne. In all of her exhaustion, in all of her uncertainty, there was a new and pervasive ecstasy which had now swept into Sarah's life--just like the unseen yet treacherous waves outside her apartment in the distance. 

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Text and e-book copyright © 2015 Califia Montalvo

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