Chapter 11: The Conversation... "Deceptions in the Air"

Similar to what newspapers in the 19th Century did the www.warrencountypost.com. will publish a chapter a day from the book Deceptions in the Air. This fictional book is a blend of reality and conspiracy with a mix of Biblical Prophecy. My hope is that you enjoy the story, while it puts a desire in your heart to seek Truth.

Chapter 11: The Conversation

Bri took Alex to her favorite Chinese restaurant, which wasn’t too far from the airport. At first, the conversation was mostly work-related.

“I can’t believe the station gave me the okay for the assignment. It’s probably only because you said you were willing to pay for the hotel accommodations,” Bri laughed.

“I’ll have Marcy get you reservations at the hotel about two blocks from my condo. That way, I can pick you up in the morning and take you to my office before heading over to the lab. And how about we have Marcy set Jack up at the hotel across the street from the lab… that way he can just walk over there,” he laughed half-seriously.

“Yeah, Jack is a character... He was acting a little different today. At first, I thought... it was because he had a crush on you.”

“He’s gay? I thought perhaps the two of you were a couple.”

It took everything that Bri had inside of her to finish swallowing the sip of water she had just taken. “Oh my gosh, no. I mean no... we are not a couple. Well at least not in that way. I have to admit he is my best friend, but like a lover… No.”

“So, are you seeing somebody?”

“No. I’ve never really been very good at relationships. Are you? I mean are you seeing anyone… not are you any good at relationships?”

“No. After my divorce I kind of threw myself into my career,” Alex answered.

For a few minutes, neither said anything. Bri stirred her tea, while Alex nervously played with his chopsticks.

“Alex... what happened between us?”

“I don’t know... I’ve often wondered that myself. I mean just the other day I heard a song that was popular back in our day, and I started thinking about you. I wondered where you were… what you were doing. I remembered that red bikini.”

“It was hot pink,” Bri smiled, hoping Alex would give her eye contact.

“I just remember how pretty you were. How full of life you were.”

Alex laid his chopsticks down as he tried really hard to look at her, but his shyness did not allow him to hold eye contact too long.

“Alex, I remember now. I remember how shy you were. I was taught to be polite and girls weren’t supposed to chase boys... I mean, I really, really liked you. But I wasn’t allowed to tell you that. And if you were this shy, how in the world would either one of us known how the other one felt?” Bri asked.

“You know. I always hoped we would get together, but when I got your letter that you were getting married, I thought you must not have had the same feelings for me that I had for you. My hope left,” he said, softly while looking away.

“I was so stupid,” Bri whispered under her breath looking down at her plate.

“Bri, I never think things are just circumstances. I think everything has a reason why it happens.”

“You mean like maybe God is giving us another chance?” she said looking back up at Alex noticing him looking at her smiling.

“Yes... Maybe we are getting another chance.”

The rest of the evening was spent planning her visit to D.C. in two weeks and catching up with each other’s past. Bri shared how her daughter Rachel was studying international business and her son Sam was going to be senior and wanted to study law. She shared how Jack had become her best friend, and she would have never made it the last few years without him.

Alex explained how his marriage had ended and how he threw his life into the study of hologram creations along with political science and theology.

“Do you know that I still have all the letters you wrote me? I was just never able to throw them away. That probably sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it?” Bri asked.

“No, not at all. I still have your letters.”

Both stopped talking and looked deeply into each others eyes.

“Do you know that before I got married I became really sick? The doctor diagnosed it as Ulcerative Colitis.” Bri said.

Alex couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Ulcerative Colitis? Did I hear you right?”

“Yeah. It’s not like life-threatening or least not for me. I only had that one flareup. It was weird. I didn’t know if God was trying to get my attention to stop the wedding, or if it was Satan trying to get me to stop the marriage. I’ve never had it again though. I remember I just wanted to die. I never felt such pain. I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy,” Bri said.

“You are not going to believe this. I was put in the hospital for about a week with it myself, right before my wedding.”

As the two talked more and described their past 20 years. Bri realized that they had been living parallel lives… but on different planes.

“Alex, where do you stand…” she stopped and took a deep breath… “Where do you stand with God? Are you still a strong believer?”

“Oh yes. I went through a lot of searching, seeking, questioning… probably what you might even call a battle with God. But it was all good though. Through it all I‘ve come to the conclusion that we can’t put God in a box. He is a loving God who loves all of us. As we grow and put our faith in Him, things work out.”

Putting his wine glass down he smiled, looked at Bri and quietly added, “You know Bri, this is why you are so special to me. You took the time to tell me about God. I normally don’t like those little tract things. But I remember getting that one and reading it and saying that prayer on the back. It was really special knowing that you cared about my soul.”

Bri’s eyes began to fill with tears. She realized then how much she really loved him and how much she had always loved him. Why hadn’t she ever told him? And why couldn’t she tell him now.

“Bri, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Alex said, handing her a napkin.

“I’m sorry. I was just wondering why we never told each other how we felt.”

“I’ve often asked myself that question too,” Alex smiled, adding, “Hey in two weeks you’ll be in D.C. We can lose Jack for a couple hours to show you around town and the best part, you can be all mine.”

Their dinner went by quickly. Before they knew it, it was time to get Alex to the airport. Alex tried talking Bri into letting him call a taxi, but Bri talked him into letting her take him.

“We can spend a little more time together this way, and I would just be going home to an empty house anyway. Rachel’s at school and Sam’s at his friends,” she explained.

As they pulled into the airport, Alex again tried talking her into just letting him get out at the drop-off. “You don’t need to be walking in a parking lot late at night,” he scolded her.

“Alex, I do it all the time, and I’ve taken a few self-defense classes. The parking lot is very well lit. I’ll be okay.”

Physically, she knew she was going to be okay. It was her emotions that she was more worried. She knew that once they said goodbye, she would probably start crying, which would then get her contacts fogged up to the point she wouldn’t be able to see... causing her to sit in the parking lot waiting for Jack to bring her a new pair of contacts or her glasses.

Entering the airport, Alex walked over to the check-in desk while Bri stood next to the security area. As he walked back towards her, Bri was having a hard time believing she was actually with Alex again... and having to say goodbye.

“Well, I’m all set to go. It’s kind of weird, no luggage,” he laughed, trying to ease the tension of saying goodbye.

“Yeah, a traveler with no luggage, that is strange,” Bri nervously laughed back.

In all the time that they had known each other and all their goodbyes, they had never kissed. Alex had always been too shy, and Bri had never been the one to make the-first-move.

“I guess I better go,” Alex said as he pointed to the security check-in gates.

“Yeah, you’re right. We can’t have you missing your plane,” Bri giggled nervously as thoughts began running through her mind...

Kiss him you idiot! Why won’t he kiss me? He’s the idiot. No, he’s just shy. You have to help him. I can’t let him leave without a kiss. Cher even sings about ‘It’s in His Kiss.’ Okay, I’ll just kiss him. I can’t just kiss him. Maybe he doesn’t want me to kiss him. Jack is always telling me men find me desirable. So, why wouldn’t he want me to kiss him? What does Jack know? He’s gay!

“Alex!” Bri said before she could stop herself from leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.”

Alex tried to return the kiss, but Bri being so nervous pulled away too fast.

“I’ll call you tomorrow!” Alex said, before walking away with a new special strut to his step into the security clearance area.

Bri watched Alex fade away into the distance. As she stood there, she noticed something a little different. That feeling of emptiness hadn’t overtake her this time when she said goodbye. Instead, she felt happy. Was she finally getting her chance for true love?

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