The Keys to my Diary ~ Fern

Friday, January 22

Wowie, wow, wow! What a fantastic evening! I am so excited about what happened! My pen is shaking so much that I can barely write.

I worked today, and then came home and heated up a frozen dinner in the microwave. I was already in my pajamas, scrolling through the TV channels and thinking about going to bed when I heard a knock at my door. I went over and flung open the door without bothering to look through the peephole.

There was an older, attractive, but disheveled man standing on the other side of my door. I chastised myself, thinking that I should probably start screening my visitors a little before just opening my door to whoever is on the other side. As soon as he spoke, I knew it was going to be okay, though. Actually, it's going to be better than 'okay,' and probably more like 'freakin' fantastic.'

He looked so hopeful as he stood there introducing himself as Thomas Peterson and asking if I was the young woman who had contacted him about Marsha. I had never heard Glinda's real name, but could only assume we were talking about the same woman.

I told him that I had almost given up on hearing back from him. He responded that he rarely gets on his computer, but that he hopped in his car and drove down here as soon as he got my message. How romantic is that??

I had given him all of my contact information on the email in hopes that he would respond. I had never dreamed that he would drive all the way down here. Now that he was here, I was a little nervous about how Glinda would react to seeing him again.

I suggested as gently as I could that maybe he should use my shower before going to see her. While he was in there, I called Marina. She was beyond thrilled and helped ease my apprehension. She agreed to go get Glinda and meet us at Sunsets.

When Tom emerged from my bathroom, he looked dapper and handsome. He smelled of Old Spice, which reminded me of Kent and made me smile. "Can I see her now?" He asked me the question with his eyes filled with hope and anticipation.

As we drove to Sunsets, Tom filled me in on the quick recap of his life. He had been lost after the accident and Marsha's disappearance. He had eventually married and has two children and three grandchildren. He whipped out pictures of the little ones and I cooed over them appropriately.

I wondered what he was doing here if he was happily married. Then he revealed that his wife had passed away of breast cancer over a year ago. "I loved my wife dearly. She was a good woman," he told me sincerely before adding, "but not a day goes by that I don't think about my sweet Marsha."

I nodded, gulping and trying to keep the tears in as I parked my car at Sunsets. Marina and Glinda were standing near the water watching the sunset (at Sunsets, teehee). Tom and I walked towards them. Once he got close enough for recognition to begin to set in, Tom stopped, staring at her.

Marina seemed to sense our presence. She left Glinda at the shore and walked over to where we were standing. She smiled warmly at Tom, but he only had eyes for Glinda. Marina and I stayed at a polite distance while he walked over to greet his long-lost lover.

At first, I wasn't sure how Glinda was going to react. She turned away from him, crying, but he embraced her from behind talking quietly in her ear. They stayed like that for a long while. Eventually, she turned to face him, and he engulfed her in his big, strong embrace. He gently kissed the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. Marina and I took that as our cue to leave.

I drove home on cloud nine. I have never felt so good about anything I have ever done. I hope with all my heart that Tom and Glinda are able to find healing and happiness with each other. They deserve it.

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