Chapter 7: The Last Thing I Expected

I was putting in long hours at the Guelph operation, as well as flying to Moncton every two weeks to make sure they were staying on schedule. Liz was doing well and all I could do was say "thanks" as she continued to show she could do the job. I wondered if she wasn't the answer for a manager. She certainly knew what was going on in the Moncton operation. I also sensed that the staff were with her. She was making my job easier because I didn't have to worry about her dropping the ball.

Dave had gone back to Vancouver, while Clary was working with him to get the home office converted to the new system. I talked to Clary quite often on the phone, but fortunately, I didn't need him here to guide me. He could usually talk me through any problems. I really was on my own in Guelph. Luckily, I had a number of people at the horse barn and cottage that I could communicate with, so I wasn't wanting for company.

It was hot that August. The temperature was often in the low nineties, accompanied by high humidity. It was hard enough on people, but harder still on the horses. Malcolm, the stable manager, was regularly hosing the big animals down to keep them cool. He wouldn't let anyone ride them in that kind of weather.

It was a Saturday morning, and once again, the forecast was for a hot, humid day. The cottage was air conditioned, but the barn was not. Malcolm kept the sun-side doors closed during the day, but the shade side open for ventilation. We made sure the water supply in the stalls was kept up. I was walking down to the barn from the cottage, watching a young woman hose down a beautiful chestnut mare that I thought was the nicest looking horse in the stable.

The woman had her back to me, but looked quite attractive from that angle. Her long, blonde hair was in a ponytail, and her pale blue cotton shirt and tight jeans gave me some clue as to just how attractive she might be. As I approached, she turned her horse and was hidden behind it. She was about finished with her task and was walking out from behind the animal. It was then that I got a good look at her.

I felt my intake of breath. I was frozen in place. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Bernie?"

She looked up, the surprise showing immediately as she recognized me, then the smile.

"Ian? Is it really you?"

I was nodding but not saying anything. I walked slowly toward her. She had dropped the halter and let the animal wander a few feet away as we approached each other. I don't know what I might have done, but Bernie took matters into her own hands ... or arms I should say. She wrapped them around me, gave me a big hug ... then kissed me.

It wasn't the greeting I might have expected, but I was happy as hell with it. We held each other without saying anything. I didn't know where to begin, and I suppose she didn't either. It had been over four years since I last saw her, and longer still since we had been close friends.

"What are you doing here?" she asked with a bewildered stare.

"I live here for now," I said, pointing at the cottage. "I'm renting it while I'm working on a project for my boss."

"We've got so much to catch up on, Ian. Have you got some time? I want to know all about you and what you've been doing these past years. I have so many questions," she said excitedly.

"I've got a few myself," I admitted. "Yeah ... I've got some time ... especially for you. I've missed you, Bernie."

"I've missed you too, Ian. You were my best friend. I hope you still are."

"That is never going to change. I'll always be your best friend," I said with a big smile. "Come on, let's go to the cottage and we can talk."

"Let me put Calliope back in her stall." She picked up the halter from the grazing horse and let her back into the barn. A minute later she was by my side.

She took my hand as we walked up to the cottage. We didn't say much because there was too much to say to try and get it all out at one time would be hopeless. I had some ice tea in the refrigerator and poured two glasses. We sat beside each other on the little sofa in the living area. It was like the years had been rolled back and we were together again. Except everything was different. She was older, even more beautiful than I remembered, and from the look of her, prosperous.

After a couple of false starts, I gave her a condensed version of what I had been doing since we had moved from Toronto. I was now a college graduate, working for a man who had given me my first and only summer job. I was really happy with my job and the potential it held. I told her about the project and what we were trying to accomplish.

"I'm happy for you, Ian. You look so handsome. You smile so easily. Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Nope. No time recently. I've had a couple, but nothing that I thought was likely to be permanent. How about you?"

She shook her head sadly. "I was married briefly," she said quietly. "It was a mistake. We were too young and too immature. He was a nice guy, but not very stable. We split up a year ago. No children and nothing to share except some memories. At best I can say I learned something important. When I marry, I'm going to make sure it is for the right reasons."

"I'm sorry to hear that. That must be very hard to live with. I'm sure you'll do better next time."

She looked at me intently before nodding once. I couldn't interpret her expression, but I was sure she would be much more careful choosing her next husband.

"How are your parents?" she asked after a quiet period.

"Fine. They live in a nice house on the side of the mountain in West Vancouver. Dad likes his job. He's joined a golf club, which makes Mom really happy. They've met a lot of new friends there. Mom's got a part time job in an art shop. Kenny has just finished his first year at UBC. He's changing. I didn't think he was college material, but he proved me wrong."

"That's great. My parents are fine, too. Dad's even talking about retiring early. I don't know what he'd do if he did, though. I don't think Mom wants him hanging around the house all day," she grinned.

"What about you?" I asked. "Are you working?"

"Yes. I'm training to be a physiotherapist. I work at the general hospital in Guelph. Right now, I'm helping handicapped kids. I really like the job and they seem to think I'm good at it."

"Well, you'll be the best looking physiotherapist in the country," I assured her. "Are you still living at home?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "It's too far to commute. I share a small apartment with another girl. She's a nurse at the hospital. She has weird hours, so we don't see much of each other. I'd like a place of my own, but it's too expensive right now. I'm just getting started on my career. I'd kill for a nice place like this."

"I was very lucky to find it," I admitted. "The owners were looking for a married couple to keep an eye on the stable and house while they were away on their trips. I seemed to hit it off with Mr. Fleming and he convinced his wife to let me rent it. It's been better than anything I could have hoped for."

"No kidding. Living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. All the basics," she smiled.

"So what brings you out here? Was that your horse?" I asked.

"No ... I wish. One of my girlfriends from college owns the horse I was washing. She lets me ride her if she's not around. I don't think Calliope gets much exercise, so I come out here fairly often. It's too hot today, but she likes me to visit. If I were going to have a horse, I'd have one just like her."

"I'll bet you look great on a horse," I said.

"I think you'd look good too, Ian. I know I can get you a mount when the weather cools down. We should go out together for a ride."

"I'd like that, but I've never ridden before," I admitted.

"Neither had I until my friend gave me a couple of lessons. I'm sure I can show you enough to get started."

"In that case, let's do it. It would be a nice break from mucking stalls or filling water troughs," I laughed.

"I didn't realize you worked here?" she said in surprise.

"I don't. I help Malcolm out just for something to do. Not all the boarders are keen to muck the stalls, so I pull on my rubber boots and go to work."

"Oh, so you're the guy Malcolm talks about," she smiled. "He's a nice man. His wife is handicapped, you know."

"I did know. He mentioned it once. He is a nice man. We get along really well."

"The horses are really pampered with you two looking after them," she smiled again.

"I haven't been here in the winter, but I hear it's more demanding than this time of year."

"Oh yes," she agreed. "We let the horses out to get some exercise. We have some electric water heaters to make sure the troughs don't freeze over. In the spring time with the thaw, it gets pretty muddy, so trying to keep them clean is a real problem."

We were silent for a few moments until I worked up the necessary courage.

"Bernice, would you like to have dinner with me some night?"

"You mean, like a date?" she asked with a soft smile.

"Yeah ... a date," I admitted, holding my breath.

"I'd love to, Ian. How about next weekend?"

"Perfect. You know this area better than I do. Can you suggest somewhere nice we can go?"

"Sure," she said immediately. "There's a little town not far from here called Elora. I know of a very nice restaurant there. Why don't I make a reservation for Saturday at seven o'clock? Would that be okay?"

"That would be great. It's really good to see you again, Bernie ... I mean, Bernice," I stumbled.

"Ian, I've always been Bernie to you and I always will be," she said fondly before leaning over to me and kissing me.

It was a very nice, soft kiss on the lips, but it meant everything to me.

"Finding you again is really something," I said awkwardly. "I didn't expect to ever see you again. Now, here you are."