Forever Love

He felt his knees buckle. God, what are you doing to me? She can’t possibly work here! Neighbor, okay, I can deal with that. But here too….? With Pete! Those eyes, the deepest blue he had ever seen, were gleaming at him. Suddenly, years pulled away with the tide and he was eighteen, standing in a secluded area on the shoreline, asking her to wait for him. He promised he would be back after she graduated from high school, and then they would go away to college together. And she said yes with those deep blue eyes sparkling at him. Then, he broke that promise, along with the other more important one. Amanda turned back to the librarian standing beside her. Her fingers wrapped around the handle of the cart. Her voice wavered, “Rose, I’ll bring the cart back in a few minutes.” “Make sure you do, Amanda, I’ll need it if anyone else comes in for books today.” The normally brusque woman suddenly had a catch of concern in her voice. Amanda nodded at her, and without another look at him, she pushed the cart across the library to the far exit. He would let her go for now, but they would talk very soon. Of that he was sure. He glanced back at the circulation desk, but the older woman was no longer standing there. Quickly he looked around the room. Tables were organized in neat rows with textbooks stacked on each one. Rose had moved to the far end of the library and was loading up a cart. He glanced again at the door where Amanda had made her quick exit. She was a teacher? When he had decided to apply for the position at Sunset Point High School, he had never considered the possibility that she would even live in the area, let alone teach at the school. She had always talked about writing and journalism in high school. He wanted to analyze the look on her face when she first saw him: shock, love, fear, or God forbid…hatred. Apparently, she had not recognized his voice last night from the porch, because surely Pete had told her that he was working at the high school. He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to think about Amanda Karmichael. * * * “I don’t believe this!” shouted Amanda, stomping into her classroom. Her trek from the library had been fraught with her mind in a million different directions each involving Zack Carter in some way. Elation hit first. Zack was back in Sunset Point! Her heart soared. It was like they could almost pick up where they… Nausea filled her. Where they left off? What about Mark? And what was it that her sister’s fiancé had told her yesterday? Her mind raced trying to remember what he had told her…Oh, God! Zack had a…had a…daughter! “He’s married!” she cried out, shoving the cart toward the bookcase at the back of the room. No, getting involved with Zack, who left her and never looked back, was not an option. Not now; not ever. Incensed with anger, she realized that she couldn’t even ignore him at school because Zack Carter was going to be her math counterpart: her students in English would have him for math. They would have weekly meetings to discuss their kids’ problems. She lifted the first text and slammed it onto the gray metal shelf. The thunk each one made as it hit the shelf reverberated in the otherwise silent room. Zack Carter! Oh, what am I going to do? God, this isn’t funny, you know. The last book hit with so much force that the shelf bent slightly under the weight of the heavy tomes. Oh what a wonderful turn of events! Here she was struggling in her fourth relationship since Zack dumped her, and she would have to watch him live happily with his wife and daughter. Lord, I can’t do this. Her breathing came in strangled gasps. Please don’t ask this of me, she pleaded in silent prayer. She put her hand on her forehead and took a deep breath. Please, Lord, help me. The classroom door opened, and she let out a startled scream as she jumped back. Don’t be Zack, please don’t be Zack. No such luck! He stepped through the door; the look on his face was one that melted a small part of her anger. He stopped just inside the door, slipping his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. His chiseled face was a mixture of wariness, tenderness, and nervousness. He stood there staring at her for several seconds, obviously uncomfortable. Then, a small grin swept his face as he teased, “I could hear your poor shelf being brutalized down the hall. Is everything okay?” No! She silently screamed. Go home, and take your wife and daughter with you. I don’t want you here! Words wouldn’t come through her lips so she settled for shaking her head. He took a step forward. She took a step backward. He took another step toward her. She reciprocated. “We could keep this dance going until you hit the wall behind you, or you could stand still and talk to me,” he whispered.