“Oh, I don’t know. That’s kind of silly, isn’t it?”
“No, I don’t think it’s silly. Let’s go. I’d like to see where you used to meet Paul.”
Josephine sighed. Paul was always right at the edge of her thoughts these days. It would be nice to see the tree again. So many memories. “I think that might be a nice idea. If you park by the old sawmill, we could walk from there. It’s not far.”
Gil had a self-satisfied grin on his face that she couldn’t figure out. He probably thought it would cheer her up to go see the tree again. And maybe it just might.
They pulled into the sawmill parking lot, such that it was, mainly just a wide dirt spot beside the old mill. The mill hadn’t been in operation for years. It used to be a loud place with the sawing of big old pine trees and trucks pulling in and out of the lot. Now it was hauntingly quiet.
Gil helped her out of the truck and they walked across the parking lot and into the woods behind the mill. A lane wandered through the trees that she remembered so well. She rested her hand on Gil’s arm as they strolled down the narrow road. Sunbeams cut through the branches of the trees throwing spotlights of sun on the shadowed lane. So many memories came crashing back, she could almost feel herself slip back in time. Sneaking off to meet Paul. Making sure no one saw her.
“It’s just right ahead. There’s a clearing with an old live oak.”
They headed into the clearing and crossed over to the tree. Sunlight bathed the clearing in a warm yellow light, while the live oak held a spot of shade. One of its lower branches reached out almost on the ground. The branch where she and Paul used to sit.
She sat down on the branch now, quiet, lost in her thoughts. In her imagination she could see Paul coming off the lane and heading into the clearing to meet her.
She sucked in a breath of air, holding it, unable to believe what she thought she was seeing. Right there at the edge of the clearing stood Paul. She would know him anywhere, even though he’d aged in the years they’d been apart.
“Paul,” she whispered, her hand at her throat. “Oh.”
She watched as he quickly crossed the clearing. Her mind registered that Madeline was following along behind him, but she only had eyes for Paul.
“My Jo.” Paul came up to her and reached out his hand. A hand wrinkled with age but strong as ever.
“Paul.” She reached out and he grasped her hand, pulling her to her feet. She stretched out her other hand and gently touched his face. “It is you. You’re really here.”
“I’m here, Jo.”
“You found me again.”
“I did. With the help of Madeline, here.”
Paul then took her in his arms in a warm, all encompassing embrace. She’d dreamed about this for so many years, to be back in his arms, never thinking it would ever happen.
She could feel a single tear run down her cheek. “I never got your letter, Paul. I would have met you. I would have come with you.”
“I know, my dear. I regret that I didn’t come looking for you after Catherine said you weren’t coming. I blame myself.”
“No, Paul, it wasn’t your fault. I still don’t understand why she did that.”
“Well, it’s water under the bridge, my Jo. I have found you now.”
Gil cleared his throat. “I think Madeline and I will walk back to the sawmill and give you two time to catch up. We’ll meet you back there a bit later, okay?”
“That’s fine, Gilbert. But I want to thank you two. For finding the letter and finding Paul.”
Madeline smiled at her. “I’m glad we could locate him and you two could see each other again.”
Josephine watched as Gil and Madeline walked back across the clearing and disappeared down the lane. She turned to Paul and saw the love in his eyes that she’d seen so many years ago. He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, wanting to lose herself in this man that she’d loved for oh so many years.
~ * ~
“Maddy, we have to talk.” Gil looked over at Maddy as they walked down the lane. He realized she was crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just so happy for Josephine and Paul.”
Women were a strange breed. They cried when they were sad, they cried when they were happy. He’d never figure ‘em out.
“Oh. Okay. As long as it’s happy tears.” Gil tried again. “Maddy, I want to apologize to you. I was a fool.”
Maddy remained quiet as they walked along the lane. He stopped and turned her to face him. “I thought you had gotten back with your ex-boyfriend. I saw you two outside the inn. He kissed you.”