Here JC sat, four years later, in the same place where it had all began. A few weeks ago he had received a call from Karis. Not the first one over four years, but the first one he had actually picked up. He still didn't know what made him pick up the phone and answer her call. She had sounded almost desperate when she asked him if he could come up to Boston to see her. JC agreed, surprising himself, but he knew there was only one reason why he had: he loved her.
Four years was a long time, but the feelings were still there in full force. His broken heart had never mended, and he had never stopped loving Karis. He hated her for it, too. Every relationship he had attempted to have hadn't worked out because no one seemed to measure up to her. He hadn't been truly happy in four years, and it was all thanks to her.
He watched storm clouds roll in over the water and stood up, knowing it was time to go. Walking back to the rental car, he climbed in and prepared himself for the drive to Boston.
When the car rolled into the Boston city limits three hours later, JC's palms started to sweat. "Why am I so damn nervous?" he mumbled, looking at the paper that had his directions on it. He pulled the car up to the small cafe Karis had asked him to meet her at. He slowly walked up and looked into the window; there she was. JC stared at her, taking her in as though it was his first time seeing her. Her brown hair was shorter and lightened. Her face was dark, from a tanning bed, JC assumed. Her legs were still as long and slender as ever and looked great under the blue business suit she had on. JC took a deep breath and finally made his way to the door and opened it.
Karis looked up as the bell jingled and saw him walk in. She took a sharp breath as she looked at him. He was even more handsome than she remembered. His face now had a thin layer of stubble, and his hair was cut a little shorter. She could still see the outline of his amazing body through the grey shirt he was wearing. Karis stood up and let a slow smile spread across her face and released the breath she had been holding in.
"Hello, JC," she said quietly.
"Hey, Karis. You look great," JC said as his eyes scanned over her body again.
"Thanks, you look amazing yourself. Please sit down," she gestured toward the chair across from her. JC nodded and sat down.
"Wow, it's been a long time . . . too long," she whispered.
"Sure has," JC nodded, looking at her.
"How have you been?" she asked, grasping for any kind of conversation she could have.
"Pretty good. Work's good. You?" he questioned.
"Can't complain. Have a job; it pays the bills," she said.
"How's what's his name, Jack?" JC asked.
Karis heard the coldness in his voice and cringed. "I can't really tell you. We got divorced two years ago, and last thing I heard he was in the Caribbean with his new girlfriend," she said.
"Oh, I'm sorry," JC said solemnly.
"I'm not. I was happy to sign those papers. That wasn't a marriage; it was a deal. I never once loved him, and the whole two years we were married I slept in a separate room," Karis said, sipping the glass of water she had in front of her. JC nodded in response, not knowing what to say.
Karis cleared her throat nervously. "So, I'm sure you wondering why I called you here after all these years. I want you to know, JC, there hasn't been one day that has gone by when I didn't think of you or stopped feeling my love for you, because I do love you more now than ever. And I hate myself everyday for what I did to you, to us. But I would never, ever take back that summer, because it was the best summer of my life and I fell in love, real true love, for the first time. That's not the reason I called you here, though. I wanted you to know that you have a daughter, JC. We do." Karis paused before continuing on quickly. "I'm not saying I want anything from you, 'cause we're doing fine on our own. I just think you have a right to know. I've tried to tell you a couple of times, but you were never home or just didn't answer. I know you're busy. After I left Milford I saw your face on a magazine with your group. I went and bought your CDs right away. Ellie and I have listened to them since she's been a baby. In fact, you guys are her favorite group. I never told her that you were her father, though, because I didn't think it was fair to her or you."
"I have a daughter," JC whispered quietly in shock. Karis nodded, trying to read him for some sign of what he was feeling. "Can I see her?"
"I don't know, JC. If you do, we can't tell her who you are. It's not fair to her because you'll have to leave and she doesn't deserve that," Karis said.
"I understand. I just want to see her. I mean, I have a right, too," JC said.
"I know. I'm going to pick her up from daycare in a half-hour. You're welcome to come with me, and then come back to the house," Karis offered.
"I'd like that," JC smiled. Karis sighed and smiled, hoping she was doing the right thing.