The Fish Within

Ten

They were quiet while breaking up their make shift day camp shoving all of it into the back of the beat up truck.  Kevin stored the leftover fish from their fish fry in the cab behind the seat.

He smiled, the sun glinting on his hair.  "The compass was a gift from the girl I was supposed to marry.  She'd come up here with me to fish.  This was our special spot.  She used to tell me she could see the fish within me, I was a born fisherman."

"Yeah?  I can see that."  Rachel stood still.  She didn't move.

He sighed.  "We were high school sweethearts.  There was an accident.  Hit and Run.  Near Beckley.  There was nothing they could do.  At least she didn't feel any pain.  It was a long time ago.  I've never brought anyone else to this spot, our fishing spot, ever.  And I haven't felt right trying to find anyone else, until--."

Rachel dropped her bag in the back of the truck and stood almost across from him.  He leaned on the metal truck bed.  She mimicked him, leaning on it too.  They stood on opposite sides with no sounds except the occasional Warbler whistling a sad or happy tune, depending on how you listened to it.

She held her hands out and shrugged her shoulders.  "We've all been there, at least I have been, I'm the case of one sad love story after the other, whether on screen or off.  I thought I'd found the love of my life, we were together five, maybe six years, then he found someone more exciting.  I look back on it now and realize we had too much in common, so no there was no excitement."

Kevin nodded.  He bit his lower lip.  "Yet, you find fly fishing exciting?"

She grinned.  "Yep."  She moved to the back of the truck and around it until she was beside him.

They stood side by side absorbing the fading sunlight, the bird songs, the gurgling of the water in the distance.  He reached over and put his arm around her.  She buried his head in his shoulders.

"I guess you're going back home soon?  Your work here is almost done?"

She turned to him and held his face in her hands.  "I have a few more days work.  Have to wrap the movie.  Fly out for some PR junkets here or there."  She sighed.  "But I thought I'd stay here for awhile, is that's okay with you?"

He grabbed her hands and held them tight.  "My home it isn't much, but my home is your home.  I have a spare room.  We have to take it slow."

She smiled.  "You are such a sweet gentlemen."

"Some say old fashioned."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"Won't you miss the limelight, the spotlight, the whatever they call it?"

She giggled.  "No movie theaters.  No cable TV.  No satellite.  No gossip rags.  No, I won't miss that.  I do want to get to know you better."

"Same here."

They hugged, holding each other close, pressing against one another as if they never wanted to let go. 

She sighed that sigh of content as he held her.  And he found himself doing the same thing.  He broke their hug, taking the compass out again and holding it high in the air.  He reared back and flung it into the trees. 

"I'm finally ready to let go," he whispered.

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek and then on the mouth.  She whispered back, "I'm so glad I pulled that tab off your flier.  Who knew I have fish within me too?"

He smiled and helped her into the truck, moving swiftly back to the driver's side.  He hopped in drumming his fingers on truck.  Glancing up at the sky, he said "The sun's gonna be dipping beyond the mountains soon and it'll be dark.  We should head back."

She leaned against him.  "I'm ready for you to take me home."