by J.R. Bowles
CHAPTER 18
Michael O'Malley felt different walking through the streets; different than yesterday, when he had been living on the street. He thought, it is strange the way memory works: You can't remember who you are and then it all suddenly floods in on you, even the things you wanted to forget.
After a very long walk north he located them. He paused in front of Mama Leone's. He could tell that he was there with one of the centers. A center which had yet to open.
He told the hostess his party was already here, and smiled charmingly at her. She asked him if he wanted them paged, or did he just want to look around; he told her he would find them. They were above him. He could tell. He made his way to the second floor. There, across the room, he spotted John and a young woman sitting near the window. He could tell the girl was one of the centers. She was pointing at a large red and yellow floor vase and must have been commenting on its design.
Michael walked over to them and cleared his throat.
“Hello, John.” Michael said unemotionally.
John and Morgan both looked up at the same time. Slowly John recognized Michael. He stood up enthusiastically, grabbed Michael's hand, and then pulled him toward him and gave him a bear hug.
“I can't believe it. I thought you were dead! What happened to you? My God, they said you died in a plane crash. I even went to your memorial service.”
“I'm afraid the rumors of my demise were somewhat exaggerated.” Michael smiled. “But please don't let me interrupt your lunch. I spotted you and had to come over and say hello. Perhaps we can get together later?”
“No! Please join us,” John insisted, and then turned to Morgan. “You don't mind, do you―Michael's and old friend.”
“Not at all.” Morgan smiled at Michael, noting his rugged handsomeness.
“No, I couldn't,” Michael politely protested.
“Please join us,” Morgan said sweetly. “I'm anxious to meet any friend of John's.”
“Thank you.” Michael pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Morgan, this is Michael O'Malley. We went to Radford University together.”
“Radcliff?” Morgan feigned in ignorance; she knew just about everything about John.
“No, Radford. It's a small college in the western part of Virginia, near Blacksburg, that's where VPI, is. You know, Virginia Tech.” Michael clarified.
“Michael, this is Morgan Cross, a very special friend of mine.”
“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Cross,” Michael said, gently taking Morgan's offered hand. He looked into her big green eyes, made a quick glance at her braless chest. As he touched her, he knew for sure she was to be the second center.
“Please call me Morgan,” she answered, feeling her nipples harden as he held her hand.
“John and I were roommates at Radford, many years ago,” Michael explained.
“What happened to you, Michael?” John interrupted. “We thought you were dead.”
“After the plane went down, I wandered off with amnesia. I couldn't remember a thing until recently,”
Michael answered, thinking, very recently―only this morning, when the first center opened. He inhaled at the thought of the first opening. It was supposed to have been him, but for some reason the forces at work had made a substitution as if he really had been dead. Michael wondered who the first center was―he remembered hearing the name ‘Billy' when the opening happened. He felt a tinge of jealousy at the thought of being substituted.
“I always thought it was strange, since they couldn't find your body. They never were able to legally declare you dead,” John said.
“What are you doing now, John?” Michael asked with true curiosity.
“I have a little software business in Florida. I'm here on business. But enough about me―it's good to see you alive, I still can't believe it! At least, since you weren't pronounced legally dead, I would think your estate wasn't divided up. Was it?”
“No problems.” Michael said, and realized he should call his lawyers and let them know he was alive. He hadn't made a will, and even if they had declared him legally dead, which he doubted after only two years, his estate would still be tied up in probate.
“Are you working or anything?” John asked, and then turned to Morgan. “Michael's modest, but he inherited close to a billion from his grandfather's estate back when he was still in college. You know, Michael, I was always surprised that you even finished college, with all that money.”
“I don't spend very much, and still find myself putting away money.” Michael smiled at the truth of his statement and then said, “John that's enough about us. Let's not neglect this lovely young lady. How did you two meet?”
“I just met John yesterday. I'm a flight attendant, and John swept me off my feet.” She smiled coyly.
“That's not the John I know.” Michael said, and watched John almost blush. “Well, you two need to get to know each other, and here I am, intruding. So if you both would pardon me.” Michael said, as he stood to leave.
“No, please don't go,” Morgan and John chimed in simultaneously and then laughed.
“I really must be going. I just stopped in for a quick drink,” He lied. “It certainly was good to have run into you John, and a pleasure to have met you, Morgan.”
“My pleasure,” she offered out her hand.
John stood and again clasped his friend’s hand. “Where are you staying?”
“I’m staying at the Castleton Hotel, near Macy’s.”
“So am I,” Morgan said, surprised at the coincidence.
“Well, that’s great,” John said. “Michael, maybe we can get together and talk old times.”
“Sounds great. I’ll see you later then. When you get some free time just call the hotel. I’ll be there for a while.”
“Okay,” John nodded. “Why didn’t you stay at your house–I thought you had one uptown or something?”
“I still do. There wasn’t any time to have it opened. This trip was spontaneous,” Michael said, and waved slightly as he walked away.
