The One That Got Away

by G. L. Snodgrass

  The One That Got Away

  G. L. Snodgrass

  Copyright 2014 Gary Snodgrass

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof in any form. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means. This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Purple Herb Publishing.

  http://glsnodgrass.blogspot.com

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  For Shelley

  Other stories by G. L. Snodgrass

  Certain Rules

  Worth Saving

  Uncertain Rules

  Nothing So Quiet

  A Demon's Nightmare

  Short Stories

  Prom Date

  Dragon's Skin

  The First

  The One That Got Away

  The One That Got Away

  Alison Hamilton sat at the red light lost in thought. Nothing had changed. You’d think after ten years there’d be some kind of recognizable difference. The town looked the same as the day she'd left.

  The special on the Davidson’s grocery store had changed and of course the movies listed above the theater were different, a couple of months out of date, but different. Everything else seemed like it’d been left in a time capsule.

  She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She’d feared coming back, Afraid of what she might find or worse, what she might not be able to find. She didn’t know which. All she knew was that she had to come back to touch base. To ground herself in reality so that she could try and figure out where she had gone wrong and what she could do to fix it.

  A soft tap of a car horn behind her pulled her back into the present. A quick glance confirmed the light had turned green. She raised her hand in apology; you did that kind of thing around here. In New York you raised a single finger.

  Cruising down the main street she peered at every person she passed, wondering if she knew them. It surprised her how many people she recognized. If she didn’t know their names she knew who they were related to.

  Every building she passed brought back memories. There was the firehouse where the town held an annual car wash to raise money for the PTA. The girls used to see who could get away with the skimpiest outfit while the boys accidently on purpose sprayed them with water.

  Across the street was the drug store where she'd gotten her first birth control pills. She remembered the look on Mrs. Simpsons face when she leaned over the counter and whispered. “You be sure to use these girl. Don’t ruin your life at sixteen.”

  Alison smiled to herself. She hadn’t ruined her life at sixteen; she’d waited until she was twenty eight to do that.

  Lowering the rental car's window she breathed in the smells of home. The pine, dust and Everson's bakery mixed to form a soft soothing smell that sent tingles down her spine. She almost cried there and then. It was a smell that was a part of her soul. Why had she ever left?

  Pulling herself together she continued down the main, and only large road. On the corner was Jacobson’s book store. Her heart skipped a beat to see that it was still here. Of all the stores she had been sure that it wouldn’t last. Not in today’s world of multi-media everything. A bitter sweet memory arose as she pulled into a parking spot outside the store.

  Eric Maurer had asked her to the movies in the store and she'd said no. She wondered how her life might have been different if she had said yes. It was one of those memories that surprised her by hanging around a lot longer than it should have. Ten years longer than it should have.

  “You’ve made a lot of mistakes in your life Alison,” she said to herself. “That might have been the biggest.”

  In the back of her mind he would always be the one that got away. The one that she’d let slip through her fingers.

  She’d been into bad boys back then. Hell, let’s be honest Alison, you’ve always been into bad boys and look where that’s got you. To tell the truth, she'd been more worried about what her friends would say. They knew she'd set her sights on Brian Dolby and his big black motorcycle. Eric hadn’t really been part of her social circle. He’d always been a nice guy, sweet really. But always on the outside looking in.

  A brief memory of him joining her at a library table to help with her history term paper in junior year flashed into her mind. She hadn’t thought about that in ages.

  A tall gangly boy. He’d only lived in town a couple of years and had never really ever fit in. The cliques had been formed long ago and they weren’t open to new members.

  A deep regret passed through her. Her heart had wanted to go out with him. Had always liked talking with him, he seemed so knowledgeable about so many things. But the thoughts of what her best friend Mary Ellen Miller would say had held her back.

  It was sort of funny; Mary Ellen’s friendship had been one of the most important things in Alison’s life at the time. Every decision seemed to be made based upon what Mary Ellen would say.

  She hadn’t talked to the woman in ten years. How important could it have been she wondered?

  The tinkling bell above the book store door brought a smile to her face. Thank god some things never change. The store still had that old book smell that went straight to her soul. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The world was on an even keel again.

  Smiling to herself she started to walk through the stacks, running her fingers along the book spines. When she did the same thing in a New York book store it always made her think of home and this store.

  It had been in this very spot where Eric had walked up to her while she glanced through a Laura K. Hamilton novel. He'd hemmed and hawed for a moment, in an adorable sort of way, his face getting redder by the second. Finally he'd blurted it out. Asking her if she would go to the movies with him on Saturday?

  Her first thought had been delightful glee Her second had been concern that somebody might have heard. Now it had become her turn to hem and haw.

  “I’m sorry Eric, I can’t.” she had said. She knew it was the wrong answer as soon as the words left her mouth but still she couldn't save the situation.

  His face had dropped into red embarrassed rejection. It had sent a spear right to her heart. What had she done? “I’m sort of seeing someone,” She added, trying to lessen the blow. The fact that she was between boyfriends right then was not material. She would be seeing someone as soon as Brian got his head out of his ass and asked her out.

  Eric nodded then exited as gracefully as possible considering the situation. Things had never really been the same between them after that. Other than a passing smile in the hall they had never talked again.

  Six months later she'd ridden out of town on the back of Brian’s bike to never look back. They’d made it as far as Baltimore before he dumped her at a Motel Six saying that she was cramping his style and that he had to be free. As if he was a Lynyrd Skynyrd song or something.

  After Beautiful Brian it had been Jobless John. The struggling artists she paid the bills for. When she caught him stealing money from her purse to buy drugs. That was the last straw. Well actually, the third to last straw, she ended up giving him a couple of more chances. Then it became the last straw and she moved out.

  Finally it had been Philandering Phil, the bartender who never saw a pretty skirt he didn’t try to get under. For two years Alison had hoped that he would be the one. That he would settle down. They had started living together and she thought for sure it would work. Until he informed her that he had
found somebody else and in fact they were getting married next month. She was even invited to the wedding.

  That was when she decided to return to town for her ten year high school reunion. Maybe she could figure out why she kept screwing up like this.

  Taking a deep breath she continued on perusing books. Looking for something that could help lift her out of these blue blahs.

  The bell above the door tinkled and she turned to see who it was, wondering if she would know them.

  She would know him anywhere. He'd filled out well and was even a little taller. Eric Maurer had grown into a handsome man. He’d lost the glasses and his hair was recently cut. He'd gotten rid of most of the geeky look but he still had his polo shirt tucked into his pants. She smiled to herself, thank god some things never change.

  She could see that he recognized her as their eyes locked across the room. A momentary shock passed through her when she saw the impact it had on him. He stood there frozen for a moment holding the door open, staring at her like she was the last glass of water in the desert.

  His thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful natural blond – You can always tell - pushing a stroller into the store while holding a little boy’s hand. She maneuvered the baby over the sill and reached out a hand to possessively brush Eric’s shoulder in thanks.

  Alison’s stomach sank. The woman was obviously his wife. She was so perfect in a white sun dress. With a light tan that can only be gotten on the west coast. Everything about the scene was so sweet. She had that innocent beauty that let you know she’d still be beautiful at eighty. She looked to be about twenty five. Obviously a caring and giving mother. What was worse was that she was probably an excellent wife. Alison wanted to kill her in her tracks.

  “Thanks Eric,” the woman said as she caught him staring at Alison and Alison staring back. Raising an eyebrow she didn’t say anything but pushed the stroller to the desk.

  “Has our order arrived? Mrs. Maurer,” she said to the clerk. Alison's heart joined her stomach on the floor.

  No you don’t Alison. Be happy for him. At least somebody’s life turned out good.

  The two children were adorable. Both of them tow heads that looked like they could have modeled for Johnson and Johnson. The little boy had his father’s chin and the little girl had his drop dead gorgeous green eyes.

  Suddenly, her hotel room seemed to be the best place to be. Anywhere but here.

  “Hi Alison,” he said. As if they'd last seen each other in the school hall the day before.

  “Hello Eric,” she managed. The one that got away she thought to herself. This could have been her life. Those could have been her children. Different choices. Her insides turned to soup as she thought about it.

  “So you’re here for the reunion I take it?” he said as his wife came back to stand next to him.

  “Yes. Believe me. I’m as surprised as you are.”

  He smiled and relaxed a little. Seeming to remember his manners. He pointed to the woman next to him, “Marla, this is my old friend Alison Hamilton, Alison, this is my...”

  “Jimmy Maurer you bring that back right now,” the woman said chasing after the little boy who had decided that a game of tag in the book store was the greatest idea in the world.

  Eric and Alison laughed as the boy's mother scooped him up and brought him back.

  “That’s the sign that it's way pass their nap time. I better get them back to the hotel.” Marla said with a regretful sigh. “It was nice to meet you Alison, we’ll see you tonight at the party right?”

  “Yes, I’ll be there with bells on.”

  Eric held the door for his wife while she finagled the stroller through then he turned back. “Tonight Alison, save me a dance okay?”

  All she could do was nod her head as she watched probably the most perfect guy in the world step out of her life.

  .o0o.

  Alison clasped the pearls around her neck and ran her hands over her black cocktail dress. The last time she’d worn this dress had been at a gallery opening in SoHo. It looked better when it was accessorized with a handsome man.

  Who goes to their High School reunion without a date? Do these people have any idea how hard it is going to be to walk into that ball room all alone? Taking a deep breath Alison made her way down stairs to the ballroom. The same ballroom that had hosted their Prom.

  She stepped up to the greeting table outside the main door.

  June Stallworth checked her off her list. Giving her a small smile. Alison wanted to say thank you for not asking if she was accompanied by a significant other.

  Alison decided not to use the paper name tag. It had only been ten years and she’d grown up with these people. Surely she hadn’t changed that much.

  Of course Eric was the first person she saw. He wore an expensive charcoal suite and a black shirt highlighted by a red tie. The man was devastating. The suite looked Italian, making her wonder what he did for a living. A suite like that would have cost her a month’s wages. But then, she didn’t make that much.

  He hadn’t seen her yet so she looked around the room for a quick exit. Eight person round tables framed the dance floor. A band played gentle back ground music while people mingled. Maybe she could get out or find somebody to talk too. Her stomach rolled at the thought of being trapped talking to Eric.

  Get a grip girl, she thought. So what if he’s married. You’ve been around handsome men before. You live in New York for Christ sake.

  Eric saw her and smiled, raising an eyebrow. She looked but didn’t see the perfect Ms. Maurer in the vicinity. He was talking to Steven Banks and Mark Rivers, His two best friends from school. Tall skinny Steven worked at the lumber yard, had done so since he got Tina Woods pregnant two months before graduation. Mark was a junior member at a law firm in Richmond.

  Internally shrugging her shoulder she walked over to them with a smile plastered to her face, all the time wishing she was anywhere but there.

  Eric snatched a champagne fluke from a passing waiter, handing it to her as she stepped up next to them. He smiled back to his companions, “Hey guy’s you remember Alison?”

  “Yeah sure,” Steven said. “Tina told me that you’d moved up to New York, right?”

  So Tina and he were still together, good for them. “Yes, I work in an art gallery.”

  “Didn’t you leave town with Brian Dolby, Did he come with you?” Mark asked. He looked at her like she was a bug in his famous bug collection. In fifth grade he had brought it to show and tell and had been labeled Bug Boy ever since. The beady eyes and short arms only enhanced the image.

  She laughed. “No, Brian won’t be joining us.” The last she’d heard he was doing time for serious insurance fraud.

  An awkward silence enveloped them. Before she could ask Eric about himself a pixie in blue ran across the dance floor and threw herself into Eric’s arms.

  “Thank you, you beautiful, wonderful man,” she said.

  At a size two with short cut blond hair and bairy over five feet, Tina Banks was a bundle of energy. Alison looked over at Steve to see how he was taking the fact that Tina was hugging Eric Maurer as if he was a war hero. She was surprised to see a small smile on his face as he looked lovingly at his wife.

  Eric seemed shocked then resigned to taking the praise from his best friend’s wife. He looked at Alison over the top of Tina’s head and smiled, shrugging his shoulders as if to say “What am I going to do.” Whatever it was that Tina was thanking him for, it was obviously pretty important.

  She looked at Mark, then Steven for some kind of explanation but both of them avoided her eyes as if not wanting to share a secret.

  Eric’s phone started ringing from inside his suite coat. “Excuse me a moment, I’ve got to get this,” he said holding up his phone before stepping away and turning his back on the group. Tina let him go then folded herself into her husband’s embrace and hug. She stared up into his eyes with a look of adoration that only truly lucky women got to use.

&
nbsp; She caught Alison looking at her and let out a little squeal. “Alison Hamilton. Wow, I didn’t expect to see you here.” She said letting go of her husband long enough to reach over and give her a warm hug. “Welcome home.”

  Alison returned the hug, Tina and she had always gotten along. Not the best of friends. But friendly acquaintances.

  The two women quickly fell into old patterns exchanging information about different people they both knew. Who was with whom type of news. Alison kept looking over at Eric who continued to talk on his cell phone. It looked serious as he continued to nod his head at the person on the other end.

  “So, what where you thanking Eric about, it seemed pretty important,” Alison asked.

  Tina continued to bounce on the balls of her feet.

  “Haven’t you heard? Eric just bought the Lumber yard. He’s going to open it again and Steven’s going to be the manager.” Those adoring eyes again found her husbands and smiled up to him while she ran a hand over his upper arm.

  “Wow, Eric’s buying the Lumber Yard. How? I mean how can he do that?” Alison asked her brow narrowed in confusion. How does a twenty nine year old buy a lumber yard?

  “What? Don’t you know about Eric?” Tina said in surprise.

  Alison shook her head. Her heart started to pound.

  “Erik’s company just got bought.”

  “What company?” Alison asked.

  “Jeeez Alison, where have you been? He just sold his software company for three quarters of a billion dollars, that’s a billion with a B. Believe me he can afford a little lumber yard.

  Alison thought she was going to faint, every bit of energy seemed to have left her legs.

  Eric finished his call and joined the group. His eyes were on fire and a giant smile spread across his face. Alison’s heart melted a little, what might have been, she thought. A pang of regret threatening to overwhelm her.