It had been a week since the accident and Thorne had been moved from the hospital to the Forrester mansion. Stephanie didn’t want him at the hospital with all the nosy tabloids hanging around and curious people wanting to see how the paralyzed Forrester was doing. She had decided to take care of Thorne herself with the help of a few hired nurses for 24 hour care. Thorne still hadn’t regained any feeling in his body and this worried the entire family, even though they didn’t show Thorne any of that concern. Thorne himself saw right through them. He knew full well his condition could stay that way forever. He was very frustrated over his body, not being able to control it. All he could do was sleep and drink his food with a straw. He appreciated all support his family showed him, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing could be enough until he regained control over his body again.
”Hi Thorne”, Stephanie said as she walked into the downstairs study which was again functioning as a bedroom. Thorne followed his mother with his eyes to let her know he knew she was there. That was the only thing he could do. Stephanie sat down beside him and they looked at each other. For the first time since the accident, she was alone with him.
”Thorne, I know you can hear me and you understand what I am saying, aren´t you?”, she asked. Thorne blinked twice for yes. Stephanie smiled lightly.
”I asked the nurse to give us some privacy, cause there is something I really need to tell you. I know how frustrating it is. I know. It wasn´t very long ago when I was in your position. I know how much you want to get better. I also know how scared you are. I was too. I never told anyone just how scared I really was that I would remain in that wheelchair for the rest of my life. But I am telling you know, because you need to hear it. And I think it will do you good to have someone who knows what you´re going through”, Stephanie said as she caressed Thorne´s cheek with her hand very gently. She didn´t fight to hold tears back as she usually would have done. This was no time to pretend.
”This is probably the darkest days of your life and you wish you could do that day all over again. I wish that too, because I know I am to blame for this. That´s how it feels. Maybe you too feel that way…”, Stephanie said, but was reassured when Thorne blinked one for no.
”When I was in your place, I thought that my life wouldn´t be worth living if I couldn´t walk again. I refused to give up, mostly thanks to your father. I couldn´t let him down by giving up. So I stayed focused. I had a reason to keep fighting. But if I should be honest with you, I might have given up if I hadn´t made any progress. I was lucky to have gotten that progress when I did because otherwise I´m not sure I would sit here today. Now, you´re facing an even bigger challenge. No doubt the biggest in your life. I´m here to tell you about why you should keep focused on fighting. I know about the baby, Thorne. I know Darla is carrying your child. I also know that´s why you and Macy are no longer married. You may see the downsides of this. The loss of your marriage that you wanted so much. But forget about that for now. Concentrate on that baby. He or she will need you, but not to be able to walk or play with it. But to love and guide him or her. To be a role model. That you can be in any shape. And that´s all that baby needs from you. But you should also fight to be able to do a lot more than that. Your physical therapist told you not to overdo your training. And he´s right. But keep in mind all you have to fight for. Mostly, do it for yourself. Because you will never be happy with yourself if you give up and that will effect everyone around you in the end. Picture yourself being able to move your arms and talk. Make that your first goal. Don´t think about being able to run or surf just yet. If you accept that it will take time and you´re ready to offer that time… Just don´t picture yourself surfing just yet. Because the reality is that you won´t be able to do that for a long time. Set minor goals and accomplish them step by step. Before you know it, you will be at your final goal”, Stephanie said as though she was a professor in that subject. But she could tell Thorne was listening.
”Thorne, I love you. I don´t want to see this bringing you down. Your life is still worth living even if you never walk again. But that´s not going to happen, because you´re a fighter. We Forresters are fighters and we never give up. God knows we have faced enough challenges. But we have dealt with them and gotten even stronger. You will too, you have your entire family backing you up. And we will not let you give up”, she continued. She leaned over to kiss his forehead. A tear ran down Thorne´s eye and she wiped it off, smiling at him. “I´ll let you rest now”. Stephanie left.
Thorne had really listened and gotten new inspiration. He pictures himself in the bed, freely lifting his arms and being able to talk. As he held that image in his mind, he visually moved his arms up and down and up and down. As he closed his eyes, he felt like he actually was moving his arms. He could feel the muscles working in his mind, even if he couldn´t feel it in his arms. As he did a virtual reality work-out he also pictured himself breathing with his mouth. It felt good.

Eric Forrester was back at the office. He had a lot of work to catch up with, a lot of dresses to design. He hated working under pressure, but he had no choice. He picked up the design he had been working on before the accident. It was not even half done and he wasn´t very happy with it now. Could he make something of it? Eric decided to throw it away and start on a new one. As he sat in his chair trying to come up with something sensational, he was interrupted by a knock at the door. A beautiful woman with long and straight light brown hair, dressed in an elegant and sexy white dress, peaked inside.
”Mr Forrester?”, she asked.
”Yes?”
”I´m Lucinda Freeman, your new designer”, she said as she made her way inside.
”That´s right”, Eric said as he remembered how Brooke said she had found a replacement for Amber. He dropped his pen and greeted the woman.
”I just wanted to drop by and say hello”, Lucinda said as she gave a confidant smile.
”Is this your first day?”, Eric asked politely.
”Yes, I just found my way to your door. It´s a little hard finding everyone´s office, but I´m getting there”.
”Why don´t I give you a tour through the building?”
”If it´s not too much trouble, I´d love to”.
”No problem at all. Shall we?”, Eric said and led the way out of his office.

Brooke had no meetings that morning, so she decided to do something she should have done a few days ago. Go make peace with Nick. She drove her car down to the marina where she guessed he would be. She found his boat and saw Nick working on something greasy. Brooke smiled to herself as she decided to surprise him. She sneaked up behind him without being noticed to scare him a little. She threw her arms around him and Nick practically flew up in the air and started choking. Brooke realized it hadn´t been such a good idea. Nick coughed as he had swallowed food in the wrong pipe. Brooke looked a little worried until Nick finally stopped choking.
”What are you doing? Trying to kill me?!”, he yelled out.
”No… Were you eating?”
”I swallowed my gum”, he said annoyed.
”I´m sorry. But you should have seen yourself”, Brooke said and laughed a little. Nick didn´t look awfully amused. “Oh, come on. Have a little humor!”.
”What are you doing here anyway?”
”I came to apologize for what happened last time”.
”There´s nothing to apologize for. We have different opinions, there´s nothing we can do about that.”
”No, there´s not. But must we argue because of it?”
”If you want Ridge, then you go after him. But I want you to be honest with me.”
”The truth is that I don´t know what I want. I admit that. If it´s Ridge, you or someone else, I just don´t know. This has all happened so fast. Last year, Ridge was married and I didn´t even know you. I need time.”
”I can understand that, but it just make no sense to me why you would even consider Ridge. Yes, you have this magical past that is very complicated. But that´s the past. Ridge chose to stay with his wife. You weren´t who he wanted, and now that she´s dead, your willing to go back to him?”
”I would think it´d be insane too, but Ridge and I… I just can´t explain it.”
”You know what? Straighten your feeling up for him. If it doesn´t work out, then you know where to find me. But don´t expect me to be available forever.”
”Nick…”
”No, I don´t see this happening in another way. I won´t sit here and wait for you. I´m not saying that it won´t happen, because I want it to. But not when you are still confused about Ridge.”
”You know what, you´re right!”, Brooke said. She pondered on her remark and left.

Darla was sitting by Thorne´s bedside. She knew he was aware. He looked at her and followed her with his eyes. Darla didn´t know what to say. She was silent for a few minutes. ”I´m so glad you survived. I don´t know what I would have done without you. I still need your support with our child. He´s growing inside of me. It´s a he… I was at the doctor yesterday and I found out we´re having a son”, Darla explained and she was relieved when Thorne seemed happy. “He´ll be born in December. So you have 4,5 months on to prepare yourself”. Darla was silent some more. “I don´t know what to say to you. It´s hard seeing you like this”. Darla was silent again. She looked away from Thorne and stared to the wall. Suddenly, she felt something touching her. She looked down on her hand. Thorne´s hand was resting on top of it. Darla quickly turned to Thorne. He was staring at her.
”You moved your hand!”, she said stunned. Darla got up from the bed and opened the door to the living room where she spotted the nurse.
”Thorne just moved his hand”, she called out. The nurse was soon inside to check up on Thorne.
”Are you sure?”
“Yes, his hand was on mine”.
”Thorne, did you move your hand?”, the nurse asked him. Thorne blinked twice for yes.
”Congratulations, Thorne. This was a big step in the right direction”.

Stephanie knocked on Eric´s office door. No one answered so she looked inside. It was empty. Megan walked up behind her.
”Mr Forrester is showing Ms Freeman around the building”, Megan informed her.
”Ms Freeman?”, Stephanie asked.
”The new designer, Lucinda Freeman. She will take over after Amber”.
”Oh, okay. Thank you, Megan”.
Eric and Lucinda returned from their tour round the building.
”And we´re back to my office. Megan, I´ll need the report for the fall line of Ambrosia”.
”Yes, Mr Forrester”, Megan said and left her desk.
“We have our board meetings in my office. Come inside”, Eric said and opened the door for Lucinda. They walked inside. Eric and Lucinda faced the big table in the office.
”We have board meetings every month, but more often if we need to discuss something urgent. We have a memo of the meeting distributed to all office staff after each meeting.”
”So you have no secrets from us office people?”, Lucinda joked.
”We try not to. But you never know…”, Eric smiled back. They were interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
”Stephanie, what are you doing here?”, Eric asked.
”I´m sorry to interrupt”, she sarcastically said.
”This is Lucinda Freeman, our new designer. Lucinda, this is Stephanie Forrester”.
”His wife”, Stephanie filled in, looking annoyed at Eric.
”It´s nice to meet you, Mrs Forrester”, Lucinda greeted friendly.
”I´m sure it is”, Stephanie replied less friendlier.
”Eric, thank you for the tour. I should go back to my office”, Lucinda smiled and left.
”Stephanie, don´t say anything”, Eric warned.
”I wasn´t going to”.
”Oh, sure you were”.
”It just surprises me. I though you and Ms Payne were getting closer, now I see you with another woman. One isn´t enough?”
”Don´t be ridiculous”.
”I´m just wondering where you and Ms Payne stands. I do have interests in it…”
”I am not sure where I stand with Jackie”.
”Where would you like to stand with her?”
”I don´t think we should be having this conversation.”
”Well, I do. I am still your wife, like it or not. I want some answers. If you plan to pursue a relationship with Ms Payne or any other woman, I am entitled to know. And I would appreciate it if you didn´t start dating around while we are still married.”
”You want a divorce?”
”No. I am just wondering why you haven´t filed for divorce yet when you are obviously ready to move on”.
”I haven´t had the time to think that far”.
”I think you have. And I think that you are not sure yourself. You probably want the sure thing before you make that decision. You want to be sure you can have a relationship with Ms Payne before you divorce me. And if nothing happens between you two, you can just come back to me. Isn´t that it? You´re stringing me along so you won´t have to be alone.”
”No, that´s ridiculous”.
”Is it? Come on, Eric. You´re living with Ms Payne and you are getting close. But yet, you haven´t filed for divorce. Have you even contacted Jonathan?”, Stephanie asked. Eric didn´t answer, so she took that as a no. “And if it doesn´t work out for you two, you are still married to me and can come back, saying I´m sorry and everything will be okay because I always take you back. And in case I don´t do that very easily, you can always start flirting with that new designer. You always want options, don´t you. And in that regard, you and Ridge are two of a kind.”
”Stop it, Stephanie. I am not stringing anyone along.”
”Then why can´t you just tell me it´s over for good, divorce me and then move on?”
”It isn´t that easy. I do love you”.
”But not enough to forgive me. Don´t you realize how disrespectful you are being. Not only to me, but to Ms Payne too. What is she supposed to think when you are courting her, but you still haven´t started the divorce process? Look, all I want to know is; are you planning on pursuing a relationship with Ms Payne or can you honestly tell me nothing is going on between the two of you?”
”I can´t tell you either. I don´t know where this is going, but I like Jackie. I will continue to live there.”
”You do that. Just remember that I might be gone if you ever decide to crawl back to me!”, Stephanie said and walked out, slamming the door behind her. Eric banged his fist on to his desk.
”Mr Forrester? I have the reports you wanted”, Megan said uncomfortably as she laid the folder on his desk and quickly stepped outside.

Brooke returned to the office to get some work done. She instantly remembered the order Thorne had given her the week before to approve and then have sent. Brooke started looking in her pile of papers for it and soon she held it in her hand.
”Oh, Thorne… I am so sorry for what you are going through right now. You have to get better, we need you here”, she said to the paper as she had her eyes directed to his signature. She put the paper to the desk and signed it. The phone rang and Brooke picked it up.
”Brooke Logan”, she answered.
”Logan, it´s me”.
”Ridge”, Brooke smiled.
”I´m just calling to let you know I won´t be back any time soon. This will take longer than I expected.”
”How long?”
”I won´t be home until next week at the earliest. Mr Mekibi insisted that I´d stay. He thinks that it´s necessary.”
”Fine, you know what you have to do”.
”How´s Thorne doing?”
”He´s at your mother´s house recovering. I don´t think there´s been any progress yet, but I have a feeling he will come out of this just fine.”
”I hope you´re right”.
”I was thinking about going over there to see him. I´m just afraid of what I will see. I know it sounds selfish, but I´m a little scared to see him”.
”It doesn´t sound selfish to me. When Taylor was on her deathbed, I was scared to go in to her too. It was awful to see her like that, in so much pain. But I did it, and you will too. And when you´re in, you will forget all about it. There really isn´t anything to be scared of. I only wish I could be there.”
”I wish so too, Ridge.”
”Hey, I will be back as soon as I can. I can´t very well leave my kids with Catherine and Kristen forever”.
”They miss you very much”.
”How about you? Do you miss me too?”, Ridge asked with a smile, Brooke chuckled.
”Yes, Ridge. I miss you too”.
”Then I will definitely hurry back home. Bye Logan”.
”Good-bye Ridge”.

”Hey, son”, Eric said as he walked into Thorne´s room at the Forrester mansion. “It´s your dad”, he said as he sat down at Thorne´s bed beside him. Thorne looked up at him and Eric smiled back. “I hear you have been making some progress. The nurse is very positive about that. Can you hear me?”, Eric asked and waited for Thorne´s answer. He blinked twice for yes. “Good. Oh, Thorne. What have we done to you? You listen to me now, we all love you and we support you. You will fight this and you´ll be yourself again in no time. Your mother did, you saw that. I´m sure you can do the same”, Eric said and took Thorne´s hand. “I love you, son”. Thorne closed his eyes for 3 seconds as to tell his father that he knew. “Listen, I have to get going now before your mother returns. I just wanted to come by to see you. I´ll be back tomorrow. Get some rest now”, Eric said and took a last long look at his son. On his way out, he ran into Brooke, who Helen had let inside.
”Brooke. Are you here to see Thorne?”
”Yes, is he awake?”
”Yes, I was just in there with him”.
”How is he?”
”The same. But he did move his hand earlier today when Darla was in there with him.”
”Darla? You mean Sally´s Darla? What was she doing here?”
”You haven´t heard, have you? Darla is carrying Thorne´s child.”
”What?”
”Apparently, they spent a night together when Thorne thought his relationship with Macy was over.”
”That´s why Macy annulled the marriage?”
”Yes. I have to get going now.”
”Okay, see you tomorrow”, Brooke said and continued walking into Thorne´s room. She hesitated for a short while before opening the door. “Thorne? It´s me, Brooke”, she said and walked inside. “I came by to see how you are doing. Are you okay?” she asked and became worried when Thorne blinked once for no. “Are you in pain?”. Thorne blinked once for no.
“You´re not okay because you can´t move or talk?”, Brooke said, almost guessing the clear answer was yes, and right she was when Thorne confirmed it. “I am wishing with all my heart that you will be okay again. I brought you a little gift”, she said and reached down in her purse. She picked up a CD from her purse. “Remember this?”, she asked him as she held it up to his face. Thorne looked at the CD and blinked twice. Brooke smiled and looked around for a CD player. She found one in a bookcase and put the CD on. It was Beach boys album, that Brooke and Thorne had often played while spending time at Thorne´s beach house, laying outside. This was while they were starting to developing feelings for each other. “I thought it might help you remember some good times. I know how you love surfing”. Brooke stayed behind for a few minutes, just listening to the album together with Thorne. “I want you to promise me that you won´t give up fighting. Can you do that?”, she asked and was happy as Thorne blinked twice. “Then I can rest easy. I have to get home to Hope now. It´s dinnertime. I´ll come by later this week”, Brooke said and got up from the chair next to the bed. “And I talked to Ridge. He is thinking about you. Unfortunately, he won´t be able to get home from Tokyo until next week at the very earliest. But he wishes he could be here for you. I´ll see you later, Thorne”, Brooke finally said and waved good-bye before she left the mansion.

”Stephanie…”, Jackie was very surprised to see Stephanie at her door.
”Can I come in?”
”Sure”, Jackie said after a small hesitation.
”I want to apologize for the last time we met.”
”Apology accepted”, Jackie gracefully said.
”Thank you. And I hope we can be friends.”
”Friends? Pardon me, but where are you trying to get? Your husband is living with me and you want us to be friends?”
”Yes. I just had a talk with Eric that made me realize something. I will no longer fight for him. But I do have to be honest with you. If you and Eric get together, I will not support you. But I will not do anything to sabotage it either. If Eric wants you, then fine. I will no longer wait for him to come back.”
”That´s very big of you to say to me. I respect that. And I would like it if we could get past the hostility between us. But friends?”
”Maybe not good friends. I realize that would be pushing it too far. But let´s be civil and try getting along?”
”I´d love that”.
”Good, Jackie”, Stephanie started calling Ms Payne.
”Would you like some coffee. I just made some”.
”Sure”, Stephanie said a little unconvincing.
”Or is this too soon?”
”There´s no time like the presence”.
”Okay, I´ll be right back”, Jackie said and went to the kitchen. Just then, Eric walked thought the door.
”Stephanie, for heaven´s sake. What are you doing here?”
”I am visiting your room mate”.
”Have you been arguing with Jackie?”
”Not at all, I am trying to make up with her. Become friends”.
”Give it up, Stephanie. Being nice to Jackie won´t make me come back”.
”That´s not what I´m trying to do. Honestly.”
”I´m sorry but I have a hard time believing that”.
”Well, it´s true. We were just going to have some coffee together.”
”Will you just give it up. I don´t want you using Jackie for your manipulations. I want you out of here.”
”I´m not going anywhere because you told me to. I really am here to make things up with Jackie. True, I may never like her. But I am willing to pt my anger aside.”
”I don´t like this”.
”Eric, you´re back”, Jackie said as she returned to the living room with a trey of coffee and two cups.
”Yes, Stephanie was just leaving”.
”You are?”, Jackie asked a little disappointed.
”No, I´m not. Eric just doesn´t appreciate my attempt to make things right between the two of us.”
”No, I do not. I want you to leave us alone now.”
”Fine, I´ll leave”, Stephanie said and headed for the door. Eric followed her outside.
”I hope that was your final trick. If you ever come by to harass Jackie again, you can be sure to find divorce papers in the mail”. Stephanie shook her head.
”You really think so little of me these days, don’t you? Well, you shall be happy to hear I am moving on with my life. I will not wait for you anymore and I will not degrade myself by chasing after you like I have all these years. That´s something that has finally occurred to me.”, Stephanie said and left Eric standing on the porch. He returned inside where Jackie didn´t seem so pleased with Eric.
“Why did you have to throw her out?”, she asked him.
”Don´t tell me you believed her!”, Eric said.
”I´m not sure, but you didn´t give me a chance to find out.”
”There was nothing to find out that I don´t already know. She is desperate. This is how she operates. Don´t fall for it. It´s just an act to get closer to me.”
”Whatever it was, I think I am able to handle it myself. She doesn´t scare me. But I do have to wonder one thing.”
”What´s that?”
”You have stated that your marriage is over for good. You are living with me and we are getting close. So why is it that you are still married? You say it´s over, but still you haven´t even started the divorce process. I am not trying to hurry you on, I´m just wondering about it.”
”I´m not sure I can give you an answer. Sometimes, I think a future for me and Stephanie is out of the question. She lied to me, Jackie. I don´t know for how long. She deceived me, made me look like a fool. I can never forgive that.”
”But?”
”I don´t know. Maybe it´s an old habit, being together with her. We have children together, we´re been together for so long. We know each other, or so I thought.”
”And that´s why you are hesitating about divorcing her?”
”I don´t know. I do love her, that will probably never change. We have shared so much together and overcome so much. But I think this is an obstacle I cannot overcome. You have no idea how much it hurt to find out the woman who has been by your side for so long and been the only one I could count on for all these years have been lying to you. My trust in her is gone. I can´t trust a word she says anymore. Just looking at her makes me angry. And how can you live with someone that makes you feel that way? You can´t. I know she´s done some horrible things in the past, but I never thought she would do something like this to me.”
”And you can´t forget that. I understand. But still, you haven´t thought about divorce yet.”
”I´ve thought about it. But somehow, I can´t bring myself to do it. I don´t know why”.
”I think you do. And I think that you have to start making decisions. It´s not fair to any of you to keep stalling without taking any action. Have you even discussed this rationally with her? Because I do think she has the right to hear what you are feeling.”
”Maybe I will. I´ll talk to her tomorrow.”

Brooke was driving home when she noticed she was almost out of gas. She pulled into a nearby petrol station to fill up. As she finished, another car pulled in beside her and out jumped a familiar face. Brooke was stunned to see him again.
”Eddie?”, she asked out to the man. He turned around.
”Yes?”, he asked, obviously not recognizing her.
”Edmund Kelly?”
”Do I know you?”
”I´m Brooke Logan. We had chemistry and French together in junior high.”
”Brooke Logan? The Brooke Logan I remember was tall and skinny with a nasty haircut.”
”Guilty as charged”.
”Wow, you’ve certainly improved.”
”Thank you”, Brooke smiled. “Although it wasn´t that hard…”.
”So, what are you up to these days?”
”I am CEO at Forrester Creations?”
”Forrester? That´s a fashion house, right?”
”Yes. How about you?”
”I´m a chemist at a laboratory.”
”Sounds interesting. I was a chemist myself at Forrester before I took over as CEO. You may have heard of Belief.”
”Can´t say I have. I work with deceases. Finding cures.”
”Found any cures so far?”
”No, but I am optimistic.”
”Like any good chemist should be”.
”Want to have a cup of coffee?”
”Sounds good, thanks”.
Edmund and Brooke parked their cars and headed inside the cafeteria for a quick coffee and a chat. Brooke noticed he wasn´t married. As they talked, she found out he had two kids with his ex-wife and was now single and looking for a new love.
”What ever happened to that friend of yours you always hung out with?”
”Denise? She moved away after junior high. Haven´t seen her since.”
”Didn´t she have a crush on me?”
”I have a confession to make. It wasn´t she with the crush, it was me. I was so in love with you during those two years we were in the same classes. You were my first real crush.”
”Really?”, Edmund asked surprised.
”Yeah. I never let you know, did I?”
”Why was that?”
”I was too shy back then. My face used to get all red whenever you walked inside the classroom”.
”I always thought you had some rash”, he chuckled. Brooke laughed as she remembered how embarrassing she used to be back then.
”All I wanted was for you to notice me. But I was too scared to make the first move. I never thought you would even consider going out with me.”
”Why?”
”You always had a few girls interested in you. I never thought I had a chance”.
”Are you talking about all those overly made-up bimbos? Trust me, you would have had a slight chance.”
”If only I had known that then…”
”What made you get over the crush? I assume you did…”
”I did, in time. You weren´t easy to get over. But I met a new man. Dave.”
”What about now?”
”Now? Well, I´m single. I´ve been married a few times. A few times more than I had wanted… And I have 3 children. 2 are grown now and Hope is just a toddler. I was on my way home to her.”
”Well, don´t let me keep you. It was nice to meet you again, Brooke. I hope we can do it again.”
”I hope so too.”
”Here´s my number. If you ever feel like it, call me”, he said and quickly wrote down his number on a napkin and handed it to her.
”I might just do that”, she said and took the number.
”I hope you will”, he said and they left the cafeteria. When Brooke got back to her car, she smiled for herself. She remembered how much in love she had felt whenever she saw him or thought about him. He was still very handsome. Much more now than then. Brooke couldn´t help it, but those feelings from years before resurfaced. He had been her first love.

Stephanie walked out to the pool with her second martini for the evening. She soon noticed that she wasn´t alone. The pool guy was out there.
”I´m sorry Mrs Forrester for being so late. I had a busy day and I couldn´t come until now”.
”That´s okay”, Stephanie answered as she sat down in one of the pool chairs.
”You look very depressed. Has something happened?”, the pool guy asked.
”Yes. But I´d rather not get into it”.
”I understand. Although sometimes it helps to tell a stranger”. Stephanie smiled at him.
”I don´t even know your name”.
”Tim. My name is Tim”, the blonde man said. He was in his early 30´s and in excellent shape, Stephanie noticed.
”You work as a pool boy full time?”, Stephanie asked.
”No, I´m a halftime lifeguard”.
”I can only guess which job you prefer”, Stephanie chuckled.
”Cleaning pools isn´t half bad actually”, he said as he walked up to her, sitting next to her.
”You don´t seem to suffer”.
”Far from it. I get to meet some very fascinating people.”
”Like?”
”Like yourself for instance.”
”Ever thought about running for office? I´m sure you could charm many people to vote for you”.
”I´m not into politics, but thank you for the compliment. Now that you know my name, would you like to tell me what is bothering you so much?”
”I think I’ve just forgotten everything that was bothering me.”
”Good. A beautiful woman like yourself shouldn’t have to be depressed over some man, I assume that´s what this is about”.
”You catch on quickly”.
”I think you should just forget about that fool. You shouldn’t take crap from anyone”.
”Thank you, Tim.”
”I´m serious”, he said and gazed into her eyes. Stephanie was caught off guard, but she didn´t look away. “Promise me you won´t take any more crap from that man”, he said.
”I won´t”, she said.
”He´s a fool not to appreciate what’s he’s got”.
The young man flattered Stephanie. He seemed so compassionate and intriguing. She couldn´t look away and kept eye contact. She knew she would probably regret this later, but right now, it didn´t matter. Stephanie kissed him lightly on his cheek. To her surprise, he didn´t seem chocked or bothered. What has she just done? Tim leaned towards her and kissed her on the lips. Again, to her surprise, she didn´t back away as her head told her to. Stephanie ended the kiss and looked into his eyes. His eyes smiled at her. She couldn´t resist him for some strange reason. They kissed again and fell back on the pool chair.