My Long Distance Love

My Long Distance Love: Part 2

"James... someone called for you." Maddie said when my partner for a project left.

"Who?" I felt uneasy. Who would be calling me out of the blue?

"Sounded like a girl." Maddie looked uncomfortable. "She said to not tell you she called, then she hung up on me."

"Oh." I didn't really know what to say. "That's odd."

"Yeah. The caller I.D. said it was someone named Addison." Maddie said uncertainly.

"Addie? Addie called?" I was on my feet in a flash.

"Do you know her?"

"She... Addie... She's my ex-girlfriend." I gently took my cellphone from Maddie. I tried to call Addie back, but no one picked up.

"James... it's late at night. You should go to bed." Maddie looked worried.

"Maddie." I turned and wrapped my arms around her. "Don't worry. This is just a loose end that I never tied off. I made some mistakes... and never managed to apologize for them. I want to repair the damage... before it's too late."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 I had finally returned to the United States. I was living in Deerfield, Illinois. I was living a quiet life, working at Deerfield Highschool as an English teacher and I would write novels in my free time. Studying in Japan had really only been an escape. I had come back and studied intensively to become an English teacher. Now, I was just wasting each day, trying to move on with my life.

One day, I was leaving school when one of my students called out to me. "Ms. Jackson!"

"Yes? Do you have a question, Greg?" I smiled at him.

"How far were we supposed to read in our books tonight?" He asked uncertaintly.

"Just until page 202."

"Oh. Are you Addison Jackson?" The driver, who was picking up Greg, asked.

"Yes." The driver looked vaguely familiar to me.

"You probably don't remember me. I'm Mark Levitt. We had a few classes together. We were in the same graduating class." He smiled at me.

"Oh!" I remembered him. "Mark! I remember you."

"Really?" He laughed. "Well, I'll have to come by sometime."

"That would be nice." I wouldn't mind reconnecting with someone from high school. I had enjoyed my high school experience.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So, you're working part time until you find a more stable job?" I asked politely.

"Yeah. I was offered a spot in the NBA... so I think I'll take it. I always enjoyed basketball." Mark and I had met for lunch several Sundays in a row.

"That's impressive. I remember seeing you play once or twice. You were always good." I smiled.

"I always played my hardest when you would come." He said suddenly.

"Wha-?"

He looked nervous. "Addison, I liked you a lot. I really wanted you to notice me. But I knew you were dating that guy, so I never said anything. When you broke up with him, I thought I should give you time... and then I never managed to get up the courage to tell you." He looked into my eyes. "I still care about you, a lot. When I realized you were back from college... I wanted to see you. I'm so glad you were willing to see me."

My heart pounded. "Mark.... I wish I had known." My mouth felt dry. The feeling that had been growing in me the last few weeks was filling me up. "I think... I've come to care for you, too. Very deeply." I searched his eyes. "If... you'd like... we could try dating. Getting to know each other better."

"I would like that." He said softly. Then he gently leaned across the table to kiss me. I didn't resist, and it was just a soft brush of the lips. But it sent tingles across my lips and all through my body. "I'll see you soon?" He said hopefully.

"Really soon." I answered, feeling like he had just taken my breath away.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 I was standing there in front of the apartment room door, I wasn't sure if I should knock or not. I had finally found Addie after all of these years... she lived here. Maddie and I were very happy together and we were getting married soon, but I needed to say one last goodbye to Addie.

"Are you looking for Ms. Jackson?" An elderly woman eyed me uncertaintly.

"Yes. Do you know if she is home?"

The old woman shook her head. "Not right now. She's probably at the coffee shop... down the street. She spends most of her freetime there." Then, the old woman just walked away.

"Thank you." I called after her. Then, I went to the coffee shop. But nothing could prepare me for what I saw.

 Addie was sitting at a table on a computer, she was intensely focused. I ordered a coffee and sat down where I could observe her before I approached her. She was sipping coffee and typing quickly. 

"Hey, Babe." A guy I didn't recognize walked in and went over to her.

She looked up and then was in his arms. "Mark! I missed you! Did you find out about the draft yet?"

They were kissing and then he said, "Yeah. I'm going to be playing for the Bulls. We can stay here in Deerfield... I know you like working at DHS and I don't want to make you have to uproot your whole life. I'm so glad things worked out like this."

"I would go anywhere with you." She smiled up at him. Then, they were kissing again.

I got up to leave. She was happy. Addie was in love and happy. That was enough for me.

He suddenly pulled back. "Oh. I just remembered." He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box. "Addison Jackson, will you marry me?"

As the coffee shop door was closing behind me, I heard her say, "Yes!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Mommy! Mommy! Tell me how you met Daddy! It was love at first sight, right Mommy?!" Nikki Levitt clung to her mother, hoping for one more bedtime story. Her mind was still wide awake. At only 5 years old she was a sweet little girl.

7-year-old, Josh rolled over in his bed. "Yeah... how did you meet Dad, Mom?"

Mrs. Levitt smiled thoughtfully. "Your father and I met when we were in highschool. But we didn't fall in love until we were much, much older. But I knew as soon as I started to really get to know him, that I was going to fall hard and there was no escaping it."

"How much do you love Daddy?" Robin, the 2-year-old, asked. His eyes were full of a childish curiousity.

"I love your Daddy a lot." Mrs. Levitt smiled and then pulled him into a hug. "And I love you lots and lots, too."

"I love you too, Mommy." Robin yawned.

Josh suddenly spoke up. "I wanna marry someone just like you, Mom."

Mr. Levitt was standing the doorway and said, "Just as long you don't try to steal your Mom from me, I'm cool with that plan."

THE END