Unforgotten Promises

Carmin returns to Rick, the man she loves once she finishes college.

         The acorn hit him in the temple, it had not been thrown hard, but the aim had been perfect. Rick whirled towards the direction of the throw. A fey child sat ten paces away high on a stone cliff that rose from the forest floor like a natural rampart.

         "Aw Ricky, what's the matter?" the long blond haired girl asked with a wink before she disappeared.

         Warm arms wrapped around his chest from behind, soft lips nuzzled his neck, and the smell of the forest after a spring storm enveloped him. His knees grew weak and a shiver, part pleasure, part fear raced down his spine. "You used to like to play," a sweet as honey voiced dripped into his ear.

         Rick's heart began to pound, his mind tried to rewind time to remember her. He could see her, but the name was not clear, Damn her name, what is it? It's been too long! How could I forget her name? It had only been a few years and they were once in love. He closed his eyes and tried to remember the last time he saw her.

         Ah Hell, he said to himself and slowly turned to face the woman. She stood back from him and let Rick take her appearance in. Her smile was bright and bubbly. She hadn't changed much. She still had her gorgeous hour glass figure. Her hair was longer and a little lighter. She still had that beautiful tan she had when he last saw her.

         "Well?" she finally said, stepping up to him, arms extended for, what he guessed, a hug. As she came to him, Rick looked for a ring on her finger. He didn't know why really. He couldn't even remember her name, so why should it matter if she was married or not. It mattered because he was still in love with her. Seeing her here reminded them of the love they shared before she left and he realized he never stopped loving her. Nope, no ring, he said to himself surprised. He stepped into her arms and held her tight. She definitely smelled good. He took a deep whiff in and held it in his nose.

         "It's been a long time....damn it, what's her name? Karen? No, Casandra? No, Carmin? Carmin! Yes, that's it Carmin." Ricky wondered if she realized he had forgot her name.

         "Yes it has been Rick. Too long. I have missed you so." Carmin buried her face deeper into his neck.Her warm breath on his neck made him a little uncomfortable. Rick hadn't been this close to a woman in a long time. He felt his manhood rising and he quickly backed out of Carmin's arms.

         "Didn't you miss me, Rick?" Carmin asked, disappointed.

         "Um yes, yes I did Carmin, it's been a long time. What five years?" he asked, trying to shake off the warmth seeping through his body. How he wished a cold breeze would circle around him right now. "Can we go somewhere? Maybe get a cup of coffee or something?" He needed to be in a public place right now, somewhere with a lot of distractions to preoccupy his thoughts of wanting her.

         "Sure, I could use a bite to eat," Carmin said, lacing her arm with Ricks, shining him a bright smile. To Rick her smile looked like a child's; innocent, bubbly and full of excitement. He tried to look past her at something, anything less attractive. The bright blue sky even reminded him of her eyes. Pools of clear blue water he would love to dive right into. Rick looked down as they walked. The sidewalk they traveled down was about the best that he could look at and not think of wanting Carmin.

          "So um, what have you been up to all these years?" he asked, kicking a pebble off the path.

         "Are you serious?" Carmin asked with a hint of anger. "You act like I just up and disappeared one day. I went of to college remember? I told you I would come back, guess you didn't believe me. Out of sight, out of mind sort-of thing?" Carmin said, hanging her head in sadness.

         "No, no I mean I knew you were going to school, I just meant what else have you been doing besides school is all." Rick was tying to comfort her.

         When Carmin had left, he never actually thought she would return as she had promised. As beautiful and talented as Carmin was, she didn't deserve to have to come back to this small hick of a town. No one expected her to and people were proud of her getting away. She should have established roots somewhere in a big town far away. Hell her family was gone. They died even before she had left for college. What was here for her to come back to? Rick knew the answer, it was him. Yet when she left, he was so sure she could have and would have found someone better. But here she was, Carmin had kept her promise after all.

         Rick started wondering though. Was she here for good? Could he possibly keep her here? Was someone else waiting for her out there and she was just here to say good-bye? that thought made him jealous. He wanted to look at her at that moment, but he didn't. Rick would wait until answers came from her without having to ask the questions. "So Carmin, how was college?" he asked interestingly.

         "It was a lot of fun most of the time and very educational. I graduated with high honors. I was going to invite you to my graduation ceremony but...," Carmin took a long pause and sighed. "But well I knew you wouldn't be able to make it anyway." Carmin said with sadness that would break even the devil's heart. "It was so lonely not having anyone there that really knew me. You don't know how depressing it was. I had, well have, friends that I made there at college, who supported me and all, but it just wasn't the same ya know? It was at that moment that I missed my parents more than ever." She stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at Rick. "I really missed you too Rick. You have to know that. That's why I'm here now." Carmin looked straight into Rick's eyes. He looked at her. She looked so heart broken. Tears formed in her eyes. Her hair whipped at her face with the warm breeze. Rick wanted to grab her in his arms and never let go, but he didn't. No words of comfort would come to him. Yes, she said she missed him, but she didn't say the words he needed to hear. Proof that she wanted him and would stay this time. But he knew he should say something.

         Rick approached her. Gently he pushed her hair away from her face and looked down into her eyes. "I missed you too Carmin. More than you will ever know. You should have invited me, I would have found a way to come." He took Carmin's hand in his and they walked for awhile in silence, neither of them looking at the other.

         Just before they reached town, Carmin slowed her pace and softly spoke. "Rick, I didn't meet anyone if that's what you are wondering. I told myself when I left here I was going to return to you and nothing nor anyone was going to stop me, including myself."

         Finally the words Rick had longed to hear. They buzzed through his ears and he felt a warm flush in his chest. His heart steadied it's pace.  He looked at Carmin and smiled. "I've been waiting to hear those words since the moment you wrapped your arms around me." Rick then took her in his arms and kissed her like he was never going to let her go, and he vowed to himself then he wouldn't.

(This will more than likely continue through another chapter if it sounds any good to people)