Time Changes

Part Two

Bob was holding court, a story about a cruise he’d been on the previous year. He was a natural story teller, and several people in the fringe of the group had started to listen intently. Peter stood and listened to him talk from a distance; it gave him the benefit of seeing Alexis from closer. She looked amazing; she’d grown into a beautiful woman, a million miles from the girl he knew. Then she laughed that same addictive laugh that he remembered and he immediately saw the innocent and fun loving girl that he knew so well. Stopping a few metres away, he waited patiently for the punch line, but typical of Bob he wasn’t planning to lose his moment in the spotlight any time soon!

"You always did love a crowd!" Peter leaned close to the man and spoke as the group erupted into gratuitous laughter.

The older man spun around, and the look of pleasure at the way his story had everyone in rapture immediately changed to surprise, then affection. With a beaming smile on his face, he reached out to embrace the man he knew well.

Alexis noticed Bob turn to hug someone and she looked up intrigued. It was then she met a pair of dark eyes, watching her over Bob’s shoulders. Eyes that instantly started her heart thudding.

Oh my God, her mind was racing, she felt sick. She was glad she was sitting because she’d never be able to trust her legs.

Peter Marlow.

He hadn’t changed, though he was obviously older. His eyes had always been the most beautiful warm brown, but the one time she’d got close enough, she knew they were flecked with a honey colour in the sun. That was ingrained on her most basic memory. His dark hair was peppered with the slightest hint of grey at his temple, and was much longer than she’d seen it, brushing his collar, but despite this it was impeccable, as was his black tuxedo.

What cruel twist of fate brought the object of her uncontrollable childhood crush back into her new calm and finally more sophisticated life?

By now Bob and Peter had separated and were exchanging pleasantries as the older man introduced the younger to the rest of the group. Most nodded in acknowledgement, if they didn’t know his face they knew his name, and most greeted him very enthusiastically.

                “I taught him everything he knows!” Bob was like a proud father, “me and Oliver,” he smiled at Peter, “talking of Oliver, you must remember Alexis? She’s here as her father is away. He needed someone to collect his award."

“And give his detailed acceptance speech!” Alexis breathed, it was meant to be a snippy defensive comment, but her voice was barely audible to anyone other than the two men. Reluctantly she looked up and smiled, all full of false bravado. For a moment she studied his profile appreciatively, but then his eyes flitted to hers and she was a goner.

He looked at her for a few moments before a smile swept across his face, "little Alexis! Wow how you’ve grown!" Noting her fume for a moment, and wondering why the hell he’d spoken to her so patronisingly, he paused for a second, then took her hand, at the same time stooping down to kiss her cheek.

He turned to the group and asked in humour, "how did that rat Oliver managed to produce such beautiful daughters?"

Alexis saw red, and turned to him, forcing her voice to remain calm when every inch of her wanted to jump and down screaming in rage...and shame. "I think you’re trying to flatter me, but if there is any beauty in my family then you need look no further than my mother who was a model in her youth! But then having practically lived with us in the past you must be fully aware of how enchanting she is?"

Ouch, he thought, I’ve struck a raw nerve. Smiling nevertheless, he dropped her hand and added, "I do remember, and am glad to see you shine in the same manner. Oliver was a jowly old man in his twenties!" He cringed inside at the comment, suddenly realising what a sexist thing it was.