Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Seven

'Okay then Ecie,' Carole said looking at her clock. 'We've got about five minutes left. Is there anything else on your mind?'

'No,' Ecie replied. 'I think we covered everything today.'

'So you're fine with everything at home?' Carole asked looking back at her notes. 'But you're still not sure about Landon.'

'Yep, pretty much,' Ecie replied. 'I feel like we could have had this two hour session in twenty seconds.'

Carole laughed. 'If only we could have.'

'Can I ask you something?' Ecie asked. 'Off the record.'

'Sure,' Carole replied closing her notes and looking at Ecie. 'Ask away.'

'Okay,' Ecie nodded shifting in her seat a little. 'What would you do if you were me? And I mean honestly. If you were me, what would you do about everything with Landon?'

'That's a tricky one,' Carole said thinking. 'I mean I know that you like him and that this is more than just a fling. From what we've talked about, I can see that although you may not know it yet, you've got some deep feelings for Landon.'

Ecie looked at Carole.

'I don't know what I'd do if I were you,' Carole replied. 'I think it's never too late to end any relationship, but I think that it may be too late for this one. Emotions have already set themselves in deep and it would be hard to undo.'

Ecie nodded. 'But what about everything that he's doing?'

'Right,' Carole nodded. 'If I were you, I would either try really hard to get into a different class, although it's too far into the semester for that. Or I would work even harder than I am already so that at least I won't have to resort to changing my own grade, Ecie.'

Ecie smiled guiltily. 'But I had to do that. It's so stressing.'

'But I think that for the most part, there is no harm in seeing where this path leads,' Carole finished. 'You're a young woman Ecie, and you've been through more than you should. I think you're mature and well experienced enough to know when it's time to do something. I don't want to dictate the rest of your life to you.'

'Thanks,' Ecie nodded. 'Thank you.'

'No problem,' Carole smiled. 'So I'll see you next week?'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded.

'How was it tonight?' Landon asked driving away from the curb.

'Fine,' Ecie replied looking out of the window. 'It was fine.'

Landon glanced at Ecie.

'So what have you been doing?' she asked looking at Landon as he drove.

'Nothing really,' he replied. 'I met up with some buddies for a drink then I came over here to get you...'

Ecie nodded as she played with a strand of hair and watched Landon. She tilted her head slightly and smiled a little as she imagined herself walking down the aisle with Landon stood at the front of the church. Jonathon held onto her hand as Ecie grinned excitedly about the future.

Ecie blinked and jumped ten years. They were living in Malibu and had three boisterous, creative children. She smiled at them as she made them breakfast and they ate it hungrily every morning. Landon would come down with his satchel and drink his coffee as Ecie talked to him about what she had planned for the day. She would look into Landon's soft eyes, falling in love with him all over again, and feeling secure and safe.