The Story of He and She

It had been years since she'd felt so cared for, so loved.
They sat at the small table located in the corner. He insisted that she sit on the inside facing out so that he could gaze only at her.
She had been alone for a long time, never interested in dating. She spent her evenings either with her girlfriends or at home with her dog. Watching TV and talking about it at work the next day had become a social event in and of itself. She insisted that this was the choice she was making. To be alone. She never thought she'd find someone after all these years.
Her husband died in a traffic accident. He drove long distances for his job and was often away for a few days at a time. One day he left and never came back. She missed him everyday, even now, 10 years after he died.
They had a child, she and her husband. He's 18 now, totally independent and moving off to school in a month. Her son loved his mother. They were inseparable for years but now he was eager to be on his own. She knew this day would come and yet she finds herself unprepared for the silence that will follow his departure. Meeting this new man was helping the transition. She spent many nights on the phone and emailing him. Their conversations were effortless as they moved from how they spent their days to what they dreamt about.
They both had children in the same grade, this is how they met. At the beginning of the school year there was an open house. She noticed him of course, but she didn't think he looked her way. He looked her way. He wondered where her husband was and watched as couples claimed each other as they walked through the halls. She remained alone, hands clasped behind her back as she met her son's teacher. His eyes followed her throughout the night trying to determine her status. Then, she slipped out and was gone.
He caught himself thinking about her a number of times in the weeks that followed the open house. Even went so far as to ask his son if he knew her son.
There was no new information to be had. She slowly became a faint memory. And then, a few weeks ago he found himself back at the school completing some paperwork for the office. He walked quickly through the halls checking his phone for missed calls when he ran right into her. She was in the building for the same reason. It was perfect. He had to introduce himself. He had to invite her to coffee to apologize for making her drop her bag. It was the right thing to do.
She waited outside the office while he gathered what he needed from the school secretary. She wondered why she didn't feel uncomfortable agreeing to coffee with a man she'd just met. Of course she remembered him from all those months ago and she couldn't believe that fate had brought him smack dab into her life.
Their run-in turned into weekly meetings. Every Wednesday morning they'd meet at the coffee shop down the street from the school. And these meetings turned into evening engagements. She found herself canceling events with her girlfriends to be with him.
This was their first weekend away. The drive to Portland was perfect, traffic was light and the sun was shining. They'd planned the whole weekend out with shopping and restaurants and even a show.
They walked into Elephants Delicatessen excited for all the choices, holding hands and taking turns leading each other to one delicious item after the other. They finally agreed on getting the tomato orange soup and the two hearts one salad. Their orders were made and they made their way around to the tables.
She looked into his eyes as she reached across the table and held his hand. He leaned in to kiss her cheek making her feel safe, warm and loved.

Benches

They meet on Wednesday nights while their little girls do gymnastics. Checking off the days, they wait impatiently for the hour to arrive. For the other parents, it is an endless hour, on hard wooden benches that smell of feet, but for them it goes too fast. He sits next to her, wedging his body around hers, giving her his full attention. His eyes looking into hers, their legs barely touching getting as close as they can without drawing attention.

This night she came bearing gifts, a small bag with dinner- turkey sandwiches with avocado slices on whole wheat. She packs a bowl full of sugar snap peas hoping he likes them. His eyes go wide as she takes the lid off revealing the vibrant green.
This is the only way they can eat together. The thrill of being in public without being revealed is pure bliss.
It is not yet time to reveal their love for one another, the girls have already been through too much.
They will wait. There will be more months of gymnastics, further time to talk and listen and grow their relationship.

His hand slowly wraps around her small forearm like ivy up a brick wall. She glances around the gym looking for her daughter. Upon finding her she smiled and waves and returns her gaze towards her new found love. This small touch will hold them both over until next week when they will sit together on the hard benches again.