THE SOLDIER AND THE NURSE

 

Part 1- THE SOLDIER, THE NURSE, AND THE SKYLINE PIGEON 

November 2011

He had only one eye. And he was my real big crush as a 19-year-old student nurse in a military hospital in the Philippines.

It was our group’s clinical orientation at the Plastic Surgery ward. The patients in that unit usually stayed longer than those in the acute surgical units as they awaited reconstructive surgeries and rehabilitation treatments.

The horrors of war with the insurgents in the Southern Philippines rendered the soldiers with varying degrees of disfigurements, limbs lost, and faces marked with the weapons of war. They had barely survived their physical injuries but their emotional scars ran deeper. Most of the soldiers were mostly the young recruits who had been ill-prepared in battle warfare. Their lives were forever changed.

The clinical instructor warned us that the patients were eagerly anticipating the new batch of student nurses that were assigned to the unit, each one of them ready to move on to their new crushes. In other words, the new group of nurses was “fresh meat” who brought much-needed excitement and distraction to the soldiers from their otherwise boring and mundane existence.

Our tasks included dressing changes and wound and stump care. Our most important mission: is to provide cheer and hope in a unit full of men depressed by inactivity and uncertainty. The student nurses were the “happy pills.” We were the bright points during the patients’ stay in the hospital.

Mr. Bernabe cautioned us against being too friendly with the patients and that we should accept their fawning praises with a grain of salt. Any nurse caught accepting the advances of the soldiers would be suspended. And so, on our first day at the unit, we armed ourselves with our professional smiles and our firm but polite “Sorry, I can’t go out with you. I have a boyfriend already.”

My first assignment in the Treatment Room started auspiciously as the grouchy regular nurse whined about the endless tasks that she had to do. Mr. Bernabe placated Lt. Morales by assuring her that “Miss Cerrudo will take over the dressings today. So don’t worry. I will be supervising her.”

Not surprisingly, my first three patients all tried to pepper me with personal questions about my “boyfriend”. Just as I was ready to call for the next patient, I heard someone ask my instructor who was at the door to get the regular nurse instead. He was a little sullen and did not want a student nurse tending to his eye. I felt my ears getting red as he questioned my instructor about my skills. Bless his heart, Mr. Bernabe vouched for my academic knowledge and technical prowess.

At that moment, our instructor was summoned by another nurse to another treatment area. Despite my earlier resolve, I was fuming mad and intended to give the rude patient a piece of my mind about his pissy attitude. I was tired and did not appreciate how ungrateful that yet-unknown patient was.

I remember feeling a jolt of awareness when the patient came into the treatment room. He appeared awkward and uncomfortable. As I stood there in silence, he softly muttered, “I’m sorry.”

Psychology 101 made me realize that his gruffness was because of his sense of vulnerability. It must have been difficult for the man to be looked at, not with interest but with something akin to pity. Suddenly, I felt ashamed for not understanding so I nodded my acceptance of his apology and gave him a welcoming smile.

“Sammy” was a soldier whose left eye was enucleated from an injury on the battlefield in Cotabato. My assignment was to change the dressings on his empty left eye socket.

As we locked eyes, a shy smile broke into his dark, handsome face. His beautiful brown right eye was fringed with the longest lashes I’ve seen on a man. His strong jaw, aquiline nose, and full lips gave him a rakish but totally masculine look.

He sat dutifully on the chair as I stood over him and gingerly unwrapped the dressing over his left eye. A look of pain and embarrassment crossed Sammy’s face as he sat exposed with his hollow left eye socket.

As I ministered to him, he observed me closely, searching my face for any sign of revulsion. But all I felt was a deep respect for the soldier and the man. Like all the other soldiers in the unit, Sammy had sacrificed his future in service of country.

A warm feeling suffused me as I watched him watching me. My cheeks felt warm and my heart palpitated. I was perplexed that I felt both relief and sadness when I finished the job. Sammy thanked me quietly. We both smiled at each other.

As we settled into the unit's routine, our instructor allowed the nurses to engage the patients in free-wheeling but good-natured group discussions. The unit seemed more alive. Because the patients were forewarned that they would lose privileges if they disrespected the nurses, they were all on their best behavior.

My interactions with Sammy were limited to the dressing changes and the vital signs-taking. We were aware of each other. It was an exhilarating feeling for a 19-year-old girl. Distracted by his proximity, I almost shot the mercury from the sphygmomanometer.

He always managed to stay back in line for the daily dressing changes. As my last patient, he was able to linger a few more minutes in the treatment room and he began to open up about his wait for his prosthetic eye. As with all the other soldiers, he was not bitter about his injuries, and he was still committed to serving in the military. Sammy confided his dream of finishing his engineering studies. He also ensured that I looked at his good side during our conversations.

In one of the treatment sessions, Sammy caught me humming the song “Skyline Pigeon” by Elton John. We shared a laugh as he corrected me when I mistakenly called it “Turn Me Loose.” It was a sweet moment. It was also the first time that I felt sad that our time together would soon end.

On the last day of our month-long clinical rotation, the patients gave us a surprise party. For a month, we distracted them from their mundane worries, made them laugh, and gave them hope. We were appreciated for the excitement we brought to the unit.

Sporting a black patch over his left eye, just like a handsome pirate, Sammy brought out his guitar and sang “our song.”

Turn me loose from your hands
Let me fly to distant lands
Over green fields, trees and mountains
Flowers and forest fountains
Home along the lanes of the skyway


The song is about a man’s yearning for his freedom; of flying toward his dreams. But I was the one flying away. As a young nurse, I was on the verge of a future in the United States. I wanted more, not only for myself but also for my family. Somehow, Sammy understood.

Sammy’s voice soared earnestly. “Skyline Pigeon” is not a love song but it felt like one to me. I felt a lump in my throat. We’ve never talked about our feelings, but the song told me that he was letting me go. Then he winked at me.

Saying goodbye was difficult. Maybe his friends maneuvered it, but we found ourselves alone in the treatment room. He confessed that he was falling for me, but that he did not want to hold me back. I had told him before that I was planning to go to the States. It was not the right time for any romance.





That was more than 25 years ago. And today is Veterans’ Day. Maybe that’s why I remember him now, the soldier who sang an Elton John song to me.

Coincident or not, actor Sam Milby appeared on my TV screen. The aquiline nose, the strong jaw, the full lips, and the incredibly beautiful eyes fascinated me.

The resemblance to Sammy was so uncanny. I hurriedly paused the videotape I was watching. Crouching in front of the TV, I put my hand over Sam’s left eye, and imagined the soldier Sammy with his eye patch and it felt like I was transported back in time to that military hospital.

I wonder where he is now, Sammy, and his Skyline Pigeon.

Part 2- THE SOLDIER, THE NURSE,  "KUMUSTA KA?"

April 2012

"It's more fun in the Philippines," the tourism banner proclaimed. As I walked through the Ninoy Aquino airport, I wondered what my two-week vacation would bring.

I have gone back to the Philippines for short vacations over the years. Of course, vacations always excited me, but this time, I was coming back for several reunions. The grand family reunion, the college and high school reunions. Like going back in time, to recapture old memories with family and friends.

The past was coming back full force with all its memories. We have led separate lives and gone on to different pathways, but we were ready to reminisce our younger years. Frankly, I was apprehensive about who I will be seeing after all these years.

And through my college friend Althea who's now the Chief Nurse in the military hospital where I was once a student, I have also been slated to speak at an Emergency Preparedness symposium. Just a few months ago, I reconnected with Althea through Facebook. The miracle of social media. Reach out and touch someone.

Coming back to the hospital where I first met Sammy, my one-eyed soldier. The one who sang "The Skyline Pigeon" to me when I was a 19-year-old student nurse, twenty-five years ago.

On a cold November day in New York, six months ago, nostalgia crept in as I watched a Sam Milby film on TV. The Filipino actor's uncanny resemblance with Sammy made me catch my breath and I felt my heart flutter, as it did when I took care of Sammy in the Plastic Surgery ward.

Was it because it was Veteran's Day that I started to reminisce about my Sam Milby look-alike soldier?

Sammy's left eye was enucleated from injuries sustained on the battlefield in Southern Philippines. But despite the injury, I felt drawn to this handsome young soldier, his good right eye as beautiful as possible, even made more special because he lost his left eye in service of country.

Although nothing untoward happened during my clinical rotation at the Plastic Surgery unit, there was apparent awareness of each other, an attraction that never had a chance to prosper. I was a nursing student, and he was a patient. Our worlds were not supposed to come together.

Just before my month-long clinical rotation was finished, Sammy confided his feelings for me, but he conceded that I needed to follow my American dream. Much as I was enamored with him, I realized that I had to leave.

Because I wanted to explore the world and because I wanted more for myself and my family, I said goodbye. Just like the skyline pigeon in the song that he sang to me. And so, in a few years’ time after graduation, this skyline pigeon flew away to the distant lands. I have never heard from him again.

And now, I'm back at the same military hospital. It was ironic that Althea worked there now. Two days ago, we sat together at our college reunion and talked about my presentation. I attributed her exuberance to the upcoming event at the hospital that she had organized.

I have been teaching emergency preparedness to my nurses in my hospital in New York. My audience today will be a combined group of nurses and doctors. I will be sharing my knowledge gained from years of disaster management classes and actual experience volunteering as part of the Medical Reserve Corps and a few disaster relief groups in Haiti.

The hospital had a facelift. Now, another impressive building stood on the right side of the big compound. A full-service hospital with 1,000 beds to serve the injured soldiers; it is now a modern, fully-equipped hospital; so different from the quaint hospital I knew 25 years ago.

I smiled at a group of student nurses who passed by me. They looked immaculate in their nurses' uniform and starched apron, white nursing caps, and dazzling white shoes. I heard them chattering about their new assignment and their cute clinical instructor.

I remembered my student days; those carefree days, of new discovery, new experiences, and budding love. With our stiff aprons, blue and white sheer sucker uniforms, and white nurses' caps, we breezed through the years with carefree equanimity and optimism, fully aware that the real life of nursing would be a lot different.

Then, an image of Sammy as he surprised our group with a song at our going-away party brought a sensation of regret for that interrupted romance. He had a beautiful baritone voice, haunting in its earnest sincerity. I guarded the secret of my feelings to this man and only wrote about our story in a blog, many years after the fact.

I met Althea in the hospital lobby. She looked different from the happy-go-lucky student nurse I knew. Tall and slim, she looked authoritative in her military uniform. I forgot she's now a Lieutenant Colonel; all the servicemen bowed in deference as she passed, and they eyed me, a stranger, in my power suit and high heels.

I caught my image in a mirror. Not bad for a 45-year-old, but too old for these servicemen. With my short hair with brown highlights, and my trim body (thanks to the Zumba classes), I looked years younger, modesty aside.

But I didn't come here looking to flirt with anyone; I had been divorced for ten years and the memory of the heartache was enough to turn me wary of romance. My son was still in 2nd year of college, majoring in Biology, my future doctor. He was unable to come for vacation because of school.

Althea and I walked down the long corridor leading to the Administrative Offices when her cell phone rang. She excused herself and moved a few feet away to accept the call. I entertained myself by looking at the massive murals of Philippine landscape that adorned the hospital walls.

"Hi, Jo." I knew the voice, but I didn't turn around right away. I was sure I just imagined it; that I was so caught up in the emotions of my return to the hospital that I would conjure up the voice that had filled my dreams in the past.

He cleared his throat, and I turned around to face Sammy. After all these years.

If this was a movie, this would have been in slow-motion. I looked up to his face as he towered over me. And I whispered his name in recognition, "Sammy."

His expectant face lit up as if he was holding his breath and did not want to assume that I would recognize him. He gave me a most beautiful smile. Breath-taking.

The years had been good to him. He looked as handsome as I remembered him. He still had an eye patch on his left eye, but the same beautiful, long-lashed brown right eye twinkled in amusement at my startled gasp. What was it with that pirate look, I thought. It gave him a dangerous, exciting look.

Sammy stood tall and distinguished-looking in his military uniform. A full-fledged colonel. We both said the words, "Kumusta ka?" And we just stood there looking at each other. All those years apart, all we could say was "Kumusta ka? (How are You)".

We both chuckled, and then he softly hummed the song by Nonoy Zuniga; a whimsical take of that awkward moment when former lovers meet after years apart. and they both become tongue-tied.

Kumusta ka?
Ikaw ay walang pinag-iba,
Ganyan ka rin nang tayo ay huling magkita
Tandang-tanda ko pa habang ako’y papalayo,
Tinitingnan kita hanggang wala ka na
Kumusta ka?





A whirlwind of emotions kept me speechless. My heart was beating fast, and I felt like a nineteen-year-old again.

Althea's sense of timing was perfect and prevented me from embarrassing myself with a senseless remark. She came back from her phone call, and, without any sign that she noticed anything unusual at the sight of us just staring at each other, introduced me to the Chief Medical Officer of the military hospital, Colonel Dr. Samuel....

Sammy nodded to me, shook my hand, and whispered "Later." It sounded like a promise.

I did not know how I managed to go through my one-hour lecture. The auditorium was filled to capacity with nurses from the different units in the hospital, as well as a good number of medical doctors. Teaching came naturally to me, and pretty soon, I engaged my students in my presentation.

I was supposed to spend lunch in a small catered affair at the administrative offices together with the rest of the speakers, but I was ushered by Althea's secretary to a waiting Mercedes outside the lobby. Sammy was in the driver's seat. He had changed to a crisp, nicely-pressed Barong Tagalog in deference to the hot weather.

Inside the air-conditioned car, Sammy's smile made my heart melt as he said, "Welcome back, Jo."

“I asked Althea for the privilege of your company, Jo. “, he explained. “I hope it’s okay with you.”

I nodded my agreement, secretly doing a high-five in my mind. I fumbled with my seat belt and he reached over to attach it. My cheeks felt hot at the closeness, but I maintained a calm facade, despite my turbulent emotions.

Surreptitiously studying his profile, I decided that with his salt-and-pepper hair, his firmer jaw, and his air of confidence, he looked more like George Clooney now. Gone was the self-consciousness of his younger years, when he was still a man coming to terms with his injury.

He looked like a man secure in himself, who had achieved far beyond any other man in his league. He wore success like a second skin.

The years apart fell away as we slipped into the easy conversation that we've always had when I was the student nurse and he was my patient.

Sammy told me that he went right to medical school after being discharged from the hospital. He had been outfitted with an artificial eye but did not feel comfortable with it, and instead opted for an eye patch. He recounted that he had never married; had two long-term relationships but had never married, although he has two grown-up sons who both finished college.

It felt natural to talk to him about my own life, and my failed marriage. He seemed to enjoy my stories about my close relationship with my son. The ride to the restaurant seemed short, and we were both reluctant to leave the car.

I could not remember much about the restaurant, except that it was quiet, with subdued lighting, and that we were seated at a secluded table with a grand piano at the side. It was romantic.

The food was excellent, but we hardly touched it. There was an undercurrent of excitement that brought a flush to my cheeks. Was it because he kept looking at me with such fierce yearning? Or was it me looking at him with hungry eyes?

After the dessert, Sammy pulled out a bouquet of roses from an extra chair. Did he order it in advance? He tentatively reached for my hand. I was surprised, but I did not pull my hand back. I was past the age of innocence, and I welcomed this new beginning.

We were being swept by a force much stronger than ourselves. I felt powerless to resist the pull of his smoldering eye; I just felt that the moment was right and that twenty-five years apart had just vanished, and we were at an important crossroads of our lives.

"I have been waiting for this moment, Jo. I never thought I would ever see you again." Sammy's sad smile brought me back to my clinical rotation in the Plastic Surgery unit when he sang Elton John's song to me.

He continued, "I'm good friends with Althea, but I never knew that you were classmates until she started talking about your college reunion. I discreetly asked her about her classmates, and then saw an old picture of you on her Facebook account."

I couldn't help laughing at that, and we soon were doubled up in laughter as he recounted also joining FB just so he could browse my own account. He had conspired with Althea to invite me to the Emergency Preparedness symposium.

I feigned annoyance, "Hmmph, I should have made my FB setting private."

He snorted at that, "I also found your blog post about me."

I must have looked shocked at his revelations, because he looked alarmed, probably thinking that he had pushed the limits. I was just completely overwhelmed, but I reassured him by squeezing his hands. All those feelings had rushed in, but I was excited at the chance to be with him again.

Sammy stood up and led me to the piano. As we sat together at the bench, he asked, "Remember this?", and proceeded to play "our song."

Elton John's song is not a love song, but at that time, just like it was twenty-five years ago, My Skyline Pigeon felt like an expression of love that could not be denied anymore.

I felt tears falling down my cheeks. Here I was, sitting beside this man, and I did not want to fly away again. After all these years, our shared passion came back unbidden. I had survived being alone for many years; my friends had often complimented me for my strength against adversity. I was at peace and happy being with my son.

I had resigned myself to a lifetime of being alone. But until now, I never realized that I had an empty space in my heart. I thought I would not feel loved again. I had long ago given up hope that I would find the courage to fall in love again.

Here was our second chance at happiness. What was important was that we found each other after twenty-five years. It was destiny.

As he sang to me, Sammy's face looked radiant and full of love. The magic enveloped us, and I did not care that we were a middle-aged couple and that we lived several continents apart.

After the last note, Sammy tenderly dried my tears and held me close. And then, he kissed me. It was meant to be.

I thought, “Oh God, please, do not let this be a dream.”

PART 3- THE SOLDIER, THE NURSE, AND TWO WORDS

We kissed. It was twenty-five years later after we first met, and thankfully, it was not just a dream.

Sammy tenderly held my face as we kissed. I felt like precious china in his embrace. My tears continued to fall as I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this moment that had brought us together. I felt him tremble as he controlled his emotions.

We did not stay long at the restaurant. He brought me back to the hospital and gave me a private tour of the place where we first met. My friend Althea, the Chief Nurse of the hospital who arranged the emergency preparedness symposium, was unreachable (by purpose, I'm sure), so Colonel Dr. Samuel drove around the huge campus to give me a funny and entertaining narrative of the changes in the landscape.

I used to be a student nurse, but I flew away to the United States to fulfill my American dream. He was my one-eyed patient; a victim of the wars in Southern Philippines. We never spoke of our feelings about each other until the last day of my clinical rotation; but there was an undeniable attraction, that just could not be fulfilled at that moment in time.

He went on to become a medical doctor in the army. He continued to serve his country and helped the soldiers that he still is. Sammy recounted that I served as his inspiration to move to the medical field. Despite being devastated by my leaving, he took comfort in the fact that I cared for him, even for just a short time.

We spent the rest of the day together, driving through Makati and Intramuros. I ditched my blazer and bought some cheap sandals from a sidewalk vendor. Sammy changed into a simple t-shirt. Pretty soon, after Sammy had safely parked his Mercedes in a hotel parking lot, we opted out of fancy restaurants.

We were like any other couple strolling hand-in-hand along the boulevard. We sat close on a bench and watched the famous Manila Bay sunset, talked, argued about politics, and laughed at each other's jokes.

Dinner was Chicken Joy, fish balls, and halo-halo. Cheap date, but the best I ever had. Priceless.

I pushed back all the other concerns, and all that mattered was that moment. I went into his warm embrace willingly; basking in the upsurge of emotions. We just held on to each other; fearful of being brought back to the reality that in just three days, I would be going back home to New York.

But reality stinks. I had to go back home to New York, back to my 20-year-old son who still needed my presence. Although he was preparing to go into medical school, I still needed to guide him as he transitioned to his own adult life. Sammy thought I was staying for a month as I had posted on FaceBook, but I explained to him that my plans had changed because my son had to transfer to his new dorm in a week.

He drove me home and met my mother, who eyed him with suspicion.

"He looks like a movie star. Even with just one eye, and his grey hair, he would still get all the girls. Have you not learned from your no-good ex-husband.?", my mother asked right after he left.

In two days, he had totally charmed my mother. Sammy came back the next day and brought all of us in the family to his house in Tagaytay. He was a humble man, despite the opulent surroundings and his well-furnished mansion.

Up there in the mountains, away from the teasing eyes of my family, Sammy spirited me away to another secluded place. We shared sweet kisses and fierce embraces.

He pulled out an old picture; it was a group picture of my classmates and me looking towards the make-shift stage when the patients in Sammy's group gave us a short program. I was at the center of the picture, in profile, my long hair pulled back in a ponytail and my lips curled up in a smile.

"I took this picture, and it has been in my possession for twenty-five years." he sighed. "I knew you had your dreams to follow. That's the only reason I did not pursue you after you left."

He said, "Last November, I woke up from a deep sleep, and as if somebody was calling me and touching my face. For whatever reason, I remembered the picture I have of you."

I gasped. I told him, "It was November of last year on Veteran's Day when I watched a Sam Milby movie. I paused the film, covered Sam's left eye, and thought of you."

Sammy hugged me close, and we both shivered at the strange coincidence. I believe that it was Divine Providence. Running his hands on my hair, Sammy confided that he prayed and asked God to help him find me.

"I found you; I will never let you go again."

And yet, I went back home to New York, back to my son. Sammy could not come to the airport because of a hospital emergency. On the phone, I said goodbye to him, my voice cracking with emotion. He was trying to tell me something but the sounds of the planes flying overhead drowned out any more conversation. I never even got to tell him that I love him.

Today... June 2012

I walk down the aisle with my handsome son escorting me. He tells me that I have never looked better. All around me, my friends and family smile and applaud; all sharing in the joy of this blessed moment.

I am marrying Sammy twenty-six years after I met him.

Unbeknownst to me, Sammy and his two sons followed me to New York after my vacation and met up with my son to ask for my hand in marriage.

My son arranged for me to meet him at the Roosevelt Tram station on Roosevelt Island, only to surprise me when he arrived with Sammy and his two sons. And there we were, just the five of us, up in the air in the tram when Sammy proposed to me.

Just as I have written in another blog post (where Sammy took the idea), the glorious orange, red, and purple colors of the sky over the East River on one side and the Manhattan skyline on the other side provided an awesome backdrop to the proposal.

I jumped in delight and the tram swayed in agreement. The four men all paled and grabbed the side rails inside the tram. Just after I said a resounding "Yes," all four men had tears in their eyes. It was perfect.

And here we are, back in the Philippines for the grand day. The chapel is bedecked with flowers. My friends had gone crazy; they've been waiting for this as a payback for those wacky bridal showers I have thrown before. So, why are they all wiping tears as I march under the outstretched swords of the military guards?

My groom, the colonel, the chief medical officer, and my one-eyed soldier is waiting for me at the front of the chapel. Although we had only been together for a short time, I am certain that he had never looked better. Tall, and fit with salt-pepper hair and his left eye patch. My handsome Sam Milby/ George Clooney soldier. His full-dress white military uniform commands attention; his insignia gleaming on his shoulder board. He is a prince. Mine.

His beautiful smile makes my heart sing. I want to run towards him; he's just a hop-scotch away but decorum insists that I march along with my handsome son. Besides, haven't we waited all these years already, so I can wait for just a few more minutes. We have the rest of our lives to spend with each other, but would one lifetime be enough?

The minister delivers a great sermon. I try to hold back my tears. But then I see the choir members crying.

Now, it's time for the wedding song by the soloist. To my surprise, the minister hands a microphone to Sammy.

My eyes widen in alarm that Sammy will sing "My Skyline Pigeon" here on our wedding day. It is a special song for us, and will always be "our song," but even I feel that it would not be appropriate for a wedding song.

Sammy winks at me, and as he holds my hand, he makes a promise with this song.

"I Do." Two words that seal the deal. And on this hour, I am being wed to my prince charming, who had held me in his heart and in his mind all these years.

I say "I do" for all the right reasons, for all the beautiful things that have happened to me since we've found each other, for these wonderful feelings of being cherished for who I am today.

I do want to spend the rest of forever with my soul mate. To discover more of the man that I love. I do want to make up for the lost time, not really regretting the years in between because I am today for what I've gone through. I do, because he makes me deliriously happy.

And so we will love each other, for all eternity, more than twenty-five years.

THE END

Part 1- Actually happened. I did not have any contact with Sammy at all after we parted ways.
Part 2 & 3- Just a figment of my very bold imagination. What if? LOL.

THE CHANGING SEASONS

AUTUMN 2009

She felt the first cold lick and thought she was dreaming. Bel woke with a start and saw a pair of big, brown eyes looking back at her. Brown fur glistened in the sun as woman and dog studied each other. He looked like a beagle but had that long body and short legs of a dachshund.

"Hey, doggie, where did you come from?"

Bel looked around the lawn cemetery for the dog's owner. There was no other living human in sight. The green lawn was dotted with bronze and granite headstones but there was no other car in the sections around her. Maybe he's the caretaker's dog.

Bel was a regular visitor to the cemetery ever since her husband Mike died after a long, drawn-out battle with bone cancer. Towards the end of his life, Mike tried to prepare Bel by pushing her back to the social scene and getting her to promise that she would go on with her life.

That was 3 years ago, and Bel was still mourning. Her sadness was so profound that she just went with the motions of living to allay her parents' worries; still able to do her job as a nurse in the local hospital, but the joy had disappeared in her life.

On Saturday mornings, she had tried to schedule shopping and other errands but always found herself driving the 15 minutes to the cemetery. She usually spent one hour at Mike's gravesite, with her portable chair and the latest book by her favorite authors. When Mike was still living, they spent Saturday mornings just lounging in the den with their respective books. Mike's grave was lovingly tended with impatiens and chrysanthemums planted on the headstone base.

The dog claimed her attention when he rubbed against her hand. The dog immediately nuzzled against her knee, then offered his belly for the obligatory rub.

Bel studied the dog again. His lips were curved as if in a smile and his eyes appeared to twinkle as if he found her stare amusing.

"What's your name? Who's your owner?" Not really expecting an answer, Bel was surprised when the dog padded over to the next grave and sat in front of the marker of a woman named Barbara. Bel often wondered about Barbara's visitor. They've never met but there were always fresh roses on the grave. Glancing at the marker, Bel realized that Barbara was only thirty years old when she died.

The dog barked softly and started walking away from the graves. Thinking that he was finding his way back to the caretaker's office, Bel waved goodbye to the dog and then turned to say her own goodbye to Mike.

Another bark made her turn around. The dog seemed to be waiting for her. As she walked toward him, the dog started to wag his tail happily. As Bel bent down to scratch the dog's ears, he just leaped into her arms and started licking her face.

It was a gray, dreary, and chilly late October morning when she arrived at 10 o'clock in the morning. In just one hour, it had become much warmer, and the bright sun reigned bright in the cloudless sky. Bel breathed in the crisp air as she stood on an almost postcard-perfect autumn day.

Although the grave markers around her should have created an eerie and incongruous sight against a backdrop of red and gold leaves from the maple and dogwood trees, they had somehow created an ethereal but peaceful display of life's reality. Death surrounded her but the beauty of living still manifested itself in the vibrant colors of the fall foliage. The changing seasons reaffirmed life in sadness; after the fall comes winter, spring, summer, then fall again. Life goes on.

The panorama before her brought a sense of peace and happiness. The beauty of the autumn colors transformed her. Just as these feelings washed over Bel, she felt her depression lifting away as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. The tears were not of sadness but allowed her the catharsis for the grief that had trapped her for three years. As she looked into the dog's eyes, she remembered Mike's insistence for her to find new love. She had nodded her agreement to placate her dying husband, but in her heart, she felt her emotions draining from her heart. She had thought then, "How can I love another man when I have given you all my love?"

The dog snuggled closer to Bel. As she felt the dog's warm fur tickling her nose, Bel started to giggle uncontrollably. The unfamiliar sound of laughter bubbled out of her until she fell back on the green grass. The dog ran around in circles, his tail wagging in sync with Bel's laughter. She had not felt as light-hearted and as carefree for many years now.

Bel crouched in front of Mike's marker. Mike had always been the optimist, and he would not have approved of the cloak of sadness that Bel had wrapped herself after his death. At that moment, she realized that she needed to move on. She had finally freed herself. She realized that there was no guilt in finding joy in unexpected places.

In the caretaker's office, the receptionists did not know to who the dog belonged to. Bel was the first visitor to the cemetery that day, and the residential and business areas were much farther away. When Bel suggested that she wanted to leave the dog in the office just in case the owner came back, both ladies reluctantly refused because they were leaving for a party after their shift.

Bel was forced to keep the dog with her but left a brief note in the caretaker's office. She didn't write a description of the dog, just her office number.

In the car, the dog dutifully sat on the front passenger side. Driving back to her house, Bel kept a running commentary of the stores they passed. The dog did not bark throughout the ride but looked at her with the same strange expression that she could only interpret as a smile.

"Doggie, you need a name. Just can't keep you calling Doggie until your owner shows up. How about... uhmm... Brownie?" Bel chuckled at the unimaginative name. She did not want to emotionally attach herself to the dog and resolved to find its owner as soon as possible.

Brownie showed his approval by barking twice and moving his head up and down.

The days passed without any word from Brownie's owner. Bel had been in telephone contact with the receptionists from the cemetery office. There were no inquiries about a lost dog. Bel even left a note in the local ASPCA.

Brownie settled happily into their routine. During her workdays, Bel dropped the dog at her parents' home for the day. Coming home had become the highlight of her day as Brownie welcomed her with unabashed joy. Ignoring the treats she had given him, Brownie's attention was focused on his "temporary" master regaling Bel with his frantic runs around the house. After drifting aimlessly through life over the past 3 years, Bel finally had someone who needed her. As the bond forged between her and Brownie, she dreaded finding the dog's owner.





WINTER 2009

The new Bel had weaned herself from visiting the cemetery frequently. It was a month later that Bel visited Mike's grave with Brownie. It was only late November but the ground was covered in fresh snow. The bare trees and the snow icicles hanging from the branches created a magical scene straight out of a Currier and Ives winter postcard.



Bel brushed the snow from Mike's marker, and somehow, ended up brushing the snow on the next grave, Barbara's. Her flowers from a month before were buried by 3 inches of snow. After a few minutes, Bel decided to leave but noticed that Brownie was circling around her as if he still wanted to play.

She slipped on the snow and fell on her back facing the bright blue sky. Brownie sat on her chest, with his now-familiar expectant face. His tail thumped heavily on her sides; clearly, he wanted to play. Feeling playful and unusually happy, Bel spread her arms on the fluffy, powdery snow and created her Snow Angel. Brownie jumped around her as Bel abandoned all inhibitions and relived her childhood memories.

Life is beautiful. No worries, no grief. Just happiness at finding hope again.

She imagined that she was in the middle of a winter wonderland; her dog was frolicking on the snow as she continued to play Snow Angel. Bundled up in heavy winter clothes complete with scarf, gloves, and beret, Bel was completely comfortable. The disturbed snow flew around her and she stuck her tongue out to taste the snowflakes. Brownie resumed his position on her chest and watched Bel curiously. Then at the sound of an approaching car Brownie stirred and barked excitedly.

Mortified, Bel sat up suddenly. Her words of caution died on her lips when Brownie bolted straight into the arms of a man.

"Boomer, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you! I miss you."

Bel sat transfixed in her spot. Brownie is really Boomer? And his owner is here to claim my baby? Am I going to lose Brownie?

The man was tall, with a kind and handsome face. He stared curiously at Bel before he came to her and offered his hand.

"My name is Jack. The receptionists in the office told me that you found my dog. I never thought to look for him here because we live one town away." Jack hugged Brownie/Boomer, ruffling the dog's fur with undeniable affection.

When the wind picked up, Bel's beret fell off her head and her hair flew wildly around her face. Not normally self-conscious, Bel felt embarrassed at the picture she presented, with her red cheeks and nose and snow all over her. She tried to get up from her sitting position but kept on slipping down. She finally accepted a helping hand from the amused Jack.

Jack deposited his bouquet of flowers on Barbara's grave. "My wife. Boomer's original owner." Surprised, Bel looked at the dog, but he seemed more interested in chewing the fringes on her beret.

Bel relayed the story of finding "Brownie" and how the dog had changed her life. The question of how the dog ended up miles away from home and at Barbara's grave remained unanswered. Brownie (or Boomer) was happily ensconced in Jack's arms while Bel spoke. Her voice broke a little at the end. The dog moved over to Bel's lap; he must have sensed her growing agitation about their forthcoming separation.

Jack looked at Bel for a minute, then he smiled, "I guess we should discuss joint custody arrangements."

SPRING 2010

"I guess we should discuss joint custody arrangements."

Jack had suggested this to Bel last winter. At the cemetery, Jack was stunned but relieved to be reunited with his dog Max after a month-long search for the mixed-breed beagle-dachshund. How the dog ended at the cemetery where his wife was buried remained a mystery to both Jack and Bel.

Bel's husband Mike had died from bone cancer three years ago, and she was a regular visitor to the cemetery. That was where she found the dog she named Brownie last Fall.

The seasons had changed. Now, Spring had come.

Bel had felt energized with the changing season. Truth be told, she felt buoyant after two seasons spent with Brownie. Last Fall, the dog had saved her from an almost certain descent into a bottomless pit of despair and hopelessness. She had finally let go of the cloud of grief surrounding her with Mike's passing. Then in December, in the cold of winter, Jack came and was reunited with Boomer.

Jack. The man surprised her with his willingness to share his Boomer with a total stranger. Bel did not know why she readily agreed to the arrangement; perhaps it was because she just welcomed anything that would allow Brownie to stay in her life. Besides, Jack looked trustworthy and friendly.

The joint custody meant two weeks of Brownie every month. Jack explained that he occasionally had to travel out of state and the arrangement would mean that he did not have to drop Boomer at the kennel. It also meant that she saw Jack every two weeks when they met at the cemetery to drop/pick up Brownie/Boomer.

Jack and Bel had shared the stories of their respective spouses' passing. Barbara died from a motor vehicular crash two years ago. At 30 years old, she was in the prime of her life. Jack admitted that the experience shook him to deep depths of anguish, but he had held onto his sanity by spending his time with Boomer. Barbara's dog had given Jack a much-needed focus to continue living.

Jack thought he had lost Boomer forever when he got home from work one Fall day and didn't hear the familiar welcoming barks. He related to Bel his frantic search for the dog but that he did not imagine finding him miles and miles away from home.

"I am overjoyed to find Boomer here in the cemetery. " With twinkling eyes, he teased Bel, "Little did I know that I would find him romping around in the snow with the snow angel."

Embarrassed at being caught indulging in a rare display of carefree abandon, Bel stammered an excuse. She did not realize that she presented a pretty picture with her red nose and her hair covered with fluffy snow.

Bel sent the dog home with Jack after they exchanged information. She felt grateful to Jack for his sensitivity but understood that it was Jack's turn to enjoy Boomer's company.

After just three days of quiet at home, Bel became more restless, her heart aching to see Brownie. She found herself at a nearby dog park which she discovered shortly after finding Brownie. It had been a favorite for both of them because dogs were allowed to run around leash-free in the park.

Bel had been sitting on the park bench for a while when from out of nowhere Brownie/Boomer sprinted straight up to her, with his long golden brown floppy ears and wagging tail. Although the dog had responded to both names, in Bel's mind, he would always be Brownie to her. Jack was equally surprised at their chance encounter. He had passed the dog park right after their last visit to the cemetery. Boomer had barked continuously to get his attention until he was forced to stop at the side of the road and then discovered the dog park. They had frequented the dog park ever since.

Bel and Jack watched in silence as Brownie/Boomer interacted with the other dogs. Bel and Jack watched with shared pride as the mixed Beagle-dachshund quickly established himself as a leader among dogs much bigger than him.

That began their weekly meet at the dog park. Over time, the desultory conversations gave way to an easy companionship. The wariness had lifted and in its place came friendship.

One day, Brownie/Max decided for whatever reason to abandon playtime with the other dogs. He stationed himself between his two masters as they sat on the bench. Bel automatically reached over to pet the dog, at exactly the same time Jack did. It was just an innocent contact, but Bel was shocked at the intense emotions that washed over her.

Confused about why she felt like a hormonal schoolgirl, Bel laughed to cover her confusion and to bide time to regain her composure. Brownie/Boomer, oblivious of the undercurrents, demanded attention by running to a corner to relieve himself.

One week later, Jack traveled out of state on business; he worked as a business consultant for a major engineering company. Three days later, Bel received a call from Jack. Her heart did a funny turn when she heard Jack's voice. As always, the talk centered on Max/Boomer's many antics. Then Jack cleared his voice and said, "I miss Boomer." After a short pause, he continued, "I miss you too."

The unexpected declaration flustered Bel; she thought she heard it distinctly but convinced herself that she had just misheard. Not knowing how to respond, she pretended that she did not hear the loaded sentence and quickly changed the subject. They made plans to meet in the cemetery.

Bel felt uncertain about her growing feelings for Jack and thought that her attachment to Brownie opened her vulnerability to the attention of a handsome man. At this point in her life and has just surfaced from the deep sadness brought by Mike's passing, and she did not want any complications. She did not want to explore a future beyond just living for the moment. She acknowledged that her loyalty to Mike's memories had chained her to a solitary life, but did not want to change the status quo. "Not yet. I'm not ready.", she told herself.

Two days later, Bel stood in front of Mike's grave. The Spring air smelled clean with the freshly-mown lawn. Signs of new life brightened the cemetery; new budding leaves reasserted themselves from the trees. Bel bent down to touch the purple crocuses that had sprouted from the ground. There was still left-over snow on that patch of ground but the bulbs that she had planted a month ago rose in defiance and provided a bright contrast against the whiteness of the snow.

Yes, Spring had come... a time of growth, of new beginnings.

Brownie barked behind her. Bel turned and faced a smiling Jack. Man and woman against the backdrop of their respective spouses' graves. The sun shone brightly and somewhere a robin chirped. The scene evoked a sense of rightness; as if the changing season brought blessings of renewal and regrowth. The snow had melted. One look at Jack and the promise in his eyes melted the frost in Bel's heart.

"Bel, I meant what I said on the phone. I missed you."

Jack reached out and held Bel's hands. Brownie rushed Bel from behind and made her fall forward, straight into Jack's arms. Where it was warm and safe. Where there was the promise of love.

SUMMER 2010

Bel and Jack stood in front of their former spouses' graves. The couple paid their respects the day after their wedding. They were headed to the mountains of North Carolina in a cabin in the woods to celebrate their new lease on life. With their best man, the dog.

Life had grown full circle; the seasons had changed. From profound sadness to the grateful appreciation of love's healing touch.



The summer breeze brought the fulfillment of the promise made in spring. A riot of honeysuckles, lupins, dahlias, and asters competed for attention under the aspen tree in a picture-perfect summer scene. The sun dazzled as it bathed the cemetery in its warm embrace. Even the lowly dandelions flourished and stood tall while butterflies flitted happily around the grave markers; unlikely and incongruous at best, but somehow, the blissful view reaffirmed the hope for second chances.

Love found its way, in an unexpected place, surprising the reluctant lovers brought together by a dog. That same dog strutted around the grave in his customized tuxedo from yesterday's wedding ceremony. Bel decided to end the confusion and started to call the dog Boomer after all. He had eluded the newlyweds' attempt to divest him of his favorite suit. The dog had looked mighty impressive for a canine with his newly-groomed and silky brown fur. And now, it looked as if he was enjoying his upgraded status to Best Dog. He was basking in the sense of self-importance.

Somehow sensing the solemnity of the moment, the dog stopped pacing and faced the couple who had bowed their heads in silent commune with their departed loved ones. Their love is in full bloom, and they want to share their happiness with Mike and Barbara. Bel and Jack held hands, each one promising each other's departed to nurture the love that was cut short by tragedy. There was no sadness because there was the joyous realization that their union was blessed.

In true fashion, Boomer broke the reverie and claimed his masters' attention by licking the couples' joined hands. His eyes were bright, his tail thumped happily, and then he smiled.

THE END





"How did you know
I needed someone like you in my life
That there's an empty space in my heart
You came at the right time in my life"

PS. Our own Brownie had been a delight and a treasure since he came into our lives, but now, we mourn his passing. We miss him so much. 9/8/2012

Our family opened our hearts to another dog we named Boomer.

STARTING OVER

 

"Go for it, Andy."

"Uncle Frank, mom thinks I should reconsider. I will be the only divorcee in the family."

"Life is too precious to waste on a scumbag. Take a chance again. Start over."

Andrea "Andy" Guzman remembered this conversation from a year ago. Her uncle provided unwavering support when she divorced her philandering husband against the wishes of her ultra-religious family. Her mom's quiet recriminations hurt more than the breakdown of her marriage.

And now, three months after succumbing to a massive heart attack, Uncle Frank is still protecting his niece. He bequeathed his 3-bedroom Victorian house in North Carolina to Andy. He gave her a chance to start over.

A new home, a new life. The house is her safe haven from the bitter memories in New York. And as a nurse practitioner, she landed a job at the local hospital where her uncle used to be the supervising doctor. Tomorrow, the local contractor that her real estate agent had contacted is coming to talk about renovations for the house.

Andy groaned at all the unpacking facing her. The bedroom’s walk-in closet needed more shelves on the back wall. As she bent to retrieve her bag from the floor, her head hit the wall, and the wall gave way.

A door to another walk-in closet? A secret room? Andy groped for a wall switch. The room illuminated; it was as if she stepped onto a woman's boudoir. On one side of the wall was a rack of stylish women's suits and signature bags. A full mirror reflected her confused look.

"Uncle Frank had a mistress?”. Not surprising since he was proud of his gigolo reputation. Judging by the quality of the clothes, his mistress led a busy social life, a 'fashionista'".

On a small desk near the door lay a keepsake box with a rich wood finish with her uncle's name engraved on the top. The box contained letters and poems in her uncle's and another person's handwriting.

Some letters were written by someone named Alex. "Probably, short for Alexandra.".

Andy skimmed through Alex's letters that spoke of stolen times and the writer's longing to "stop the pretense." Reading the emotional upheaval that the woman was going through, Andy wondered about the obstacles she was writing about. The letters spoke of forbidden love and the cherished memories shared with her 'soul mate'.

Alex wrote, "My son even noticed that I look happier when you are around. He understands what we are going through." It finally dawned on Andy that her uncle was carrying an affair with a married woman.

One note hinted at the couple’s matchmaking plans, "Your niece Andy has your kind eyes . I wish my son Jordan could meet her".

Just as suddenly, Alex's letters stopped. Then Uncle Frank started writing short poems. The family used to make fun of his writing skills describing his journalistic writings as methodical with military precision, therefore devoid of emotions. He had always scoffed at maudlin sentiments.

Uncle Frank wrote, "Last night, I dreamed of you. I reached back... retraced the path to our yesteryears. And I closed my eyes, just long enough to remember, just long enough to cry. I embraced the pillow and pretended it was you. And now, it is too late."

Andy's heart skipped in fear of what was to come next.

A folded newspaper clipping revealed an obituary for a middle-aged man. It read of the passing of Alex Smith, a respected newspaper columnist and a divorced father of three from a car crash a year ago. The picture was taken at a happier time. Alex had an engaging smile that reached up to his light-colored eyes.

Andy remembered her uncle’s distracted air as they strolled in Central Park a year ago. He advised, "Start over. And when you build your new life, make sure you leave room for love. When you finally find the love of your life, you have to fight for him."

Wrapped in her own misery, Andy had dismissed her uncle's agonized look like a reflection of her feelings. She did not know that his profound sadness was because of the loss of the love of his life.

Shocked by the revelation of her uncle's sexuality, Andy bemoaned his uncle's tortured existence. She cried herself to sleep. In her dream, her uncle's tentative expression changed to a grateful smile when she hugged him in total acceptance.

The next day, the contractor arrived to discuss the renovation project. He looked familiar. His blue eyes mesmerized Andy as he introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Jordan Smith."

You remind me I live in a shell
Safe from the past and doin' okay but not very well
No jolts, no surprises, no crisis arises
My life goes along as it should
It's all very nice, not very good

And I'm ready to take a chance again
Ready to put my love on the line with you
Been livin' with nothing for show for it
You get what you get when you go for it
And I'm ready to take a chance again with you

TWWW...TWESPASSING

 Another Brownie story... dedicated in memory of a special and beloved dog. 

LIAM…

Liam woke up to the sound of the outer kitchen door banging. It took him a minute to orient himself to his surroundings. His mother had sweet-talked him into home-sitting their old 2-story house in Queens to tend to the plants, the cats, and the parakeets.

So, for the whole month that she vacations in Florida, her son was ordered to abandon his swank condo in Manhattan and commute from his job as a successful surgeon in the city. He decided to take a much-needed staycation to take a breather from his hectic life as Chief of Orthopedic Surgery in his hospital.

If only his surgical residents could see him now. His reputation as a tough task-master would definitely suffer. His gruff talk usually caused his junior residents to buckle and fumble, and he took great delight in it. But he could not say "No" to his dear old Irish Mum or she would beat his arse, as she threatened with that impish twinkle in her eyes.

As luck would have it, the blizzard came and blanketed the city in 3 feet of snow. His body ached from shoveling the snow on his mom’s front yard, as well as the adjoining neighbor’s house, as per her mom’s latest phone text. He had expected his neighbor’s thank you but had not seen anybody in their house as yet.

And to top it all off, he almost hit a lady jogger just a block from his mom’s house. He saw her slip on the ice almost past the crosswalk. His Expedition braked just in time, its tires squealed in protest. 

He had the right of way, so of course, he yelled at the woman in anger. When he looked at her face, he could not help but smile.

The woman promptly gave her a middle finger. She also cursed her out in whatever language it was.

Liam found her attractive enough despite her belligerent attitude. Her lovely almond eyes flashed in anger, and her brown, smooth skin glistened from the sweat. Her beautiful face captivated him, with a pert nose and full pink lips. A spunky, feisty woman. 

His physical reaction to the woman surprised Liam. He wanted to reach out to her and to know her more, but she was fuming mad. Just before she walked off, she threw a snowball towards his SUV, directly splattering his license plate. Liam shrugged it off; he really didn't care about the customized licensed plate that his teenage nephew had ordered online for him.

Over the years, Liam had to fend off advances from subservient, fawning females; this woman was so different from them, seemingly immune to his charms. That woman was inexcusably rude. Her dislike was almost irrational, but surprisingly, challenging.

Liam continued on to his errands to the grocery store. He needed to buy more winter salts; he meant to shovel his mom's and the unknown neighbor's sidewalks. 

A muffled sound from the back of the house brought him to the present. Liam went into full survival mode and ran to the kitchen door. Through the kitchen window, Liam saw tiny footprints on the almost virgin snow, leading away from the house.

Armed with a bat, Liam gingerly followed the footprints to the side of the house. The culprit was a medium-sized dog frolicking in the snow while a little boy put a carrot nose on a small snowman.

“Stop! What are you doing here?”, Liam shouted, startling the little boy.

Both boy and dog froze in their tracks. Liam's hulking presence was intimidating. The boy's brown eyes were wide with fear. When Liam approached, the boy grabbed a slat from the wooden fence that separated the neighbor’s property. It looked like that was to be his escape hatch.

Liam was out in the yard when the dog growled at him, in full protection mode for his owner. The dog’s brown fur gleamed in the sunlight, but he didn’t look cuddly at all as he glared at Liam, his tail raised and his teeth bared in a warning. He looked like a beagle mix but sounded like a ferocious Rotweiller.

The boy was already halfway through the fence opening and turned around to call his dog, “Hurry Brownie.”

Seeing his master almost safely out through the escape hatch, the dog snorted at Liam and paused to ensure that Liam looked, then boldly pooped on the snow.

The boy started to chuckle at his dog’s audacity to despoil the virgin snow but stopped when he saw Liam’s astounded face.

“Mister, so sorry. Brownie never pooped in here before!”, the boy’s voice cracked.

Liam cocked an eyebrow. “Never? Before?”

The boy bravely said, “Grandma Mary always let me come to this yard to play. Our yard is smaller because my mom has her garden.” He patted his dog’s brown fur. “And Brownie only poops in our yard.”

“Grandma Mary is my mother.”, Liam tried to sound stern, but there was something about the boy and his dog that made him smile. The boy looked appropriately dressed in a thick winter coat and gloves. His red sweater matched the dog’s body sweater. They looked cute together. Except for the poop.

The boy visibly relaxed when he saw that Liam was trying to hide a smile. He must have decided that Liam is trustworthy because he eased himself back to Liam’s yard and seemed ready to engage his new friend in a conversation.

“Oh, you’re watching the house for Grandma Mary? My name is Jordy.”

Jordy turned out to be a chatterbox. His animated face and gestures amused Liam. The boy’s features hinted of a mixed parentage; maybe of Asian and white heritage, but his beautiful brown eyes looked familiar. He lives with his mother Kim and grandmother Delia who actually went with Grandma Mary to Florida. He was only six years old, and he was excited to go back to school next September.

“You know, I’m very smart. Just like my mom. She’s a nurse. She takes care of people with sick hearts and broken arms.” Jordy added as he proudly declared. “My mom is an ER nurse.”

“Really, that’s interesting, Jordy. I’m a doctor, too. I operate on people.”

“O-op-rate? My mom told me that some doctors are not nice. Especially those who o-op-rate”.

Liam smiled. “I think I am an exception.” He thought that if the mom is most ER nurses, she’s probably one of those feisty nurses who give his surgery residents a hard time.

“My dad left us so it’s just me, Mom, and grandma. Brownie’s smart too. Just like me.” The boy’s words rolled over as if he was in a hurry to impress his new friend.

“He’s so smart that this Brownie chose to poop here instead of in your yard?”

Brownie barked when he heard his name. When Liam pointed to his poop, the dog averted his brown eyes and walked slowly back to the fence opening. The dog’s down-trodden face looked so comical that Liam couldn’t help but laugh out heartily.

The dog sensed that Liam would not be wielding the bat, so he sidled over Liam’s side and nuzzled him with his cold nose as if apologizing for the offending poop. Brownie's face shone in the sunlight and his mouth was open in a wide grin.

From inside the other house, they heard a woman calling for Jordy.

“Mister Liam, please don’t tell my mom that I.. twespassed.”

Both boy and dog went through the opening, as they must have done countless times before. Jordy put back the wood in place, almost hitting Liam on his face.

Through a little hole in the fence, Liam saw the mother step out into the yard. She had lovely almond-shaped eyes, a cute, pert nose, and brown smooth skin.

She was lovely. She was the one who flipped him the middle finger.



KIM...

It was so uncharacteristic of her to be so juvenile and so rude. Her mom would cut her finger if she just knew what she did to that man yesterday. Her own son Jordy would be so shocked too at her childish gesture.

Yesterday afternoon, Brownie was pulling on his leash as soon as they reached the street where her son Jordy was on a playdate with his friend. On the crosswalk, Brownie got excited as they reached the corner and ran across the street. That darn dog safely crossed over, but Kim slipped on ice and was narrowly missed by a passing car.

The monstrous Expedition screeched to a stop. The driver yelled at her. Kim was ready to apologize but stopped when she beheld the most gorgeous man that she had ever seen. Brown hair, green eyes, and the perfect 5'oclock shadow. The man raised one thick eyebrow and looked at her with what she could only surmise as amusement at her acrobatic fall on her butt. What arrogance.

Then she saw the customized license plate on his Expedition: “SRGN 1”.  That’s when her antipathy toward all surgeons came to the fore and made her flip her middle finger at the driver. Another surgeon, just like her ex. 

The man just laughed. For a minute, he looked like her ex-husband, Jordy's irresponsible father. Paul divorced Kim as soon as he finished his surgical residency, much to her mother-in-law's happiness to find a better-suited trophy wife for her son.

Kim cursed at the man in Tagalog, then threw a snowball at the man's car. The immediate gratification from that inappropriate behavior served as a great excuse. "That arrogant man deserves it," Kim justified. 

That was yesterday afternoon. Brownie looked guilty when Kim finally caught up to him at her friend's gate. She picked up her son Jordy from his playdate, fed him and the dog then tucked the boy in for an early bedtime. By 8 pm, Kim laid down on the sofa for a quick nap, fully intending to wake up in two hours to start the grueling task of shoveling the sidewalk.

She woke up the next morning to find her son and the dog missing. Frantic, she ran to the front door. It was still locked. She looked outside the window and saw her front steps and her sidewalk had been shoveled.

Kim whooped with joy. Mrs. O’Donnell must have volunteered her son’s shoveling services. Ever since they had moved to the house she inherited from her departed aunt, the O'Donnells had welcomed Kim's family with open arms. She had met all the sons except for the one who lives in the city. She thought of bringing her neighbor’s son her famous cassava cake as a thank you.

Kim heard Brownie bark in the backyard. Heaving a sigh of relief, she started to go towards the kitchen door. Kim went out to the backyard and saw her son and Brownie go through the hole in the fence.

Jordy had a guilty look on his face. "Sorry, mom, Brownie and I twww... twespassed." Brownie looked away, with the same guilty look as his master.

Kim started to caution her son against going off on his own, then she heard somebody chuckle from behind the fence.

Jordy pulled the man into her backyard, the same man with the “SRGN 1” license plate. The gorgeous man with the green smoldering eyes.

“You!”. Kim muttered with all the disgust that she could muster.

 

 

LIAM AND KIM

The tension in the air was tight as Kim and Liam eyed each other. Liam’s expression was curious, as he took in the strong resemblance between mother and child. But he was secretly amused at Kim’s hostile look. 

Liam turned to Jordy and patted the dog’s head to cover the awkward moment. The boy was oblivious to the tension and chattered about how nice Grandma Mary’s son is despite Brownie pooping in their backyard.

The mention of poop pulled Kim to the present and broke through her muddled thoughts, and she swiveled her head to look at her son and her dog.

“Brownie!” The dog in question slinked away and walked over to the kitchen door. Brownie plopped himself on the rug, yawned, and proceeded to sleep, seemingly bored by the commotion.

Remembering her clean sidewalks, Kim stammered her apology. “I’m sorry about the mess. I’ll clean it up. And… thank you for shoveling all that snow.”

And because she's an adult, Kim added, "I am sorry for what happened yesterday, too. That was my just evil twin."

Liam smiled, “I think we’re even now. Don’t worry about the poop. I will clean it up. That’s how much I can do for almost hitting you.”

Willing to drop the subject before Jordy start asking questions, Kim nodded reluctantly.

“I’m Liam. My mum wanted me to keep an eye on her house, as well as what she told me as the nice lady next door."

“I’m Kim.” To fill the silence that followed the introductions, and since she did not want to respond to the little dig, Kim told him to wait for a second. She returned with the Filipino cassava cake that she baked yesterday.

For now, the cassava cake sealed the truce. Liam left after and went back the way he came in.

The morning after…

Kim was just coming out of the shower when she heard the doorbell ring. With just a towel wrapped around her, she was turning to rush to her bedroom to change when she heard Jordy calling out.

“Okay, I’m opening the door.”

Horrified that her son would disobey her previous warnings about not opening the door to strangers, Kim ran down the stairs hoping to stop her son. “No, Jordy.”

But it was too late. Kim was midway through the stairs when she saw Liam was standing inside the living room looking at her in her too-brief towel. He looked dashing in a suit, and she looked…

A strange expression crossed Liam’s face and he muttered something beneath his breath. Kim thought she heard “Wow.”

Kim was transfixed. Her pink towel reached up to the middle of her thighs, her hands clutching the front to provide more cover to her cleavage (or lack of it).

Her hair was still wet and covered her right eye when she came down. Conscious of how wanton she must look, Kim tried to ignore that Liam was looking her over and seemed to be entertained by her discomfort.

“I’m just returning the plate. The cassava cake was delicious. I called Jordy to open the front door for me rather than go through the backyard.” The explanation did not mollify Kim, and she glared at her son for putting her in this predicament.

Kim did not answer but started to turn around to walk up the stairs. She was embarrassed, but she also felt her heart beating fast when she saw Liam’s eyes light up in appreciation.

She muttered, “Men, maniacs.” Trying to preserve her dignity, she walked up the stairs rather than running in shame.

Brownie came from nowhere and tugged at her towel. Kim grabbed at the towel but lost her footing. She started to fall back and felt her left foot twist as she tried to correct her steps. Before landing painfully on her buttocks, a strong pair of arms caught her from behind as she tumbled to the bottom of the stairs.

It was all in slow motion. Jordy cried in alarm, and Brownie darted out of the way.  Kim’s death grip on her towel was not unnoticed, and Liam raised an eyebrow.

“I’m a surgeon.” As if that was supposed to lessen her embarrassment. He walked with Kim in his arms and deposited her on the sofa. In his defense, Liam did not ogle Kim and averted his eyes, although Kim suspected, in her paranoia, that his lips twitched.

Kim grabbed at some throw pillows for more coverage as she instructed her son to fetch her bathrobe behind the upstairs bathroom door, but Jordy remained rooted to her side, his eyes worried upon seeing his mom in pain.

All her emotions were in turmoil at the moment when another man’s arms were around her that she forgot that her ankle had twisted and was now throbbing and swollen. Kim was sure that she was blushing all over.

Liam grabbed an afghan blanket from the other chair and bundled Kim in it. Jordy guffawed, “Hahaha, Mom, you’re like a mummy! Like a burrito.” Even Brownie was grinning.

Liam sat on the ottoman and put her left ankle on his lap. Kim tried to pull her leg off but winced in pain. He was in full doctor’s mode as he examined her foot. Kim watched as his capable hands touched her left ankle, his brows furrowed in thought.

He smelled nice, he looked great, especially with his stubble, and his biceps flexed impressively. But he’s a surgeon. Obviously not her type.

She smelled nice and clean, Liam thought. She probably flavored the Chinese sandalwood soap that his mum was raving about, a gift from Kim’s mom who she was vacationing with in Florida. But she’s too prickly. Obviously not his type.

“Hmmm, your ankle is not broken. Just a sprain. Just need ice and some rest.” He put her foot down on the ottoman, presumably to look for ice.

Jordy was teary-eyed next to her, alarmed that his mother had hurt herself. Brownie was on Kim’s left side, whimpering as if he could sense her pain.

“Bad dog.” Kim wagged at Brownie and felt guilty right away when the dog licked her ankle as if trying to ease her pain.

Liam came back with a bag of frozen peas. “No ice, but this would do.”

Jordy gasped in amazement that the frozen peas could serve another purpose. He listened in rapt attention as Liam explained the rationale as he arranged the bag on his mom’s ankle.

Liam put on his serious face as Jordy listened raptly, “So for a sprained ankle, Jordy, I prescribe RICE. Rest, Ice, Compression, that’s with an ace bandage, and then Elevate to reduce the swelling.”

“Wow, how did you know all these?”, Jordy was regarding Liam with an awed expression.

Liam responded, “I’m an orthopedist, a bone doctor”. He turned to Kim, “This would do for now. You need an ace wrap to immobilize it. Do you have one?”

“I have one in my bathroom. But don’t worry, I will put it on myself.” With her left hand in a death grip on the afghan blanket, Kim started to get up, and she tried to hop on her right foot towards the stairs.

Before she could resist, Liam carried Kim up the stairs effortlessly with her posse of son and dog trailing behind. In her bedroom, Liam sat her up on the edge of her bed and soon left to rummage at her medicine cabinet.

Kim instructed her son to fetch her bathrobe behind the door. The voluminous bathrobe reached up to her legs and provided extra coverage than the blanket.

Liam’s brows shot up but he didn’t say anything as he expertly applied the ace bandage. Although she was better covered, it seemed more intimate because they were in her bedroom. She was grateful that her son hovered over as if to protect her, but she soon realized that Jordy was enjoying his new friend’s attention.

Liam then gave her Motrin for the pain and issued instructions as if he was her personal doctor. “Rest, rest, rest, okay? Elevate your leg, and Jordy here will change your bag of peas with the bag of frozen carrots.”

Jordy beamed with pride as he was placed in charge. Liam was his hero and he would do everything he ordered.

With a suspicious twitch on his lips, Liam patted Kim’s cheek. Kim flinched, not because the touch was repulsive but because she felt herself drowning in the unwelcome emotions. 

Liam shrugged and because she did not thank him yet, with a mocking grin said, “You’re welcome.”

At the bedroom door, Liam patted Brownie’s head and whispered, “Good dog.”

 

JORDY

Jordy was having the time of his life. He had a new friend and a new superhero. Liam could do no wrong and he was funny too.

Liam took care of mom’s sprained ankle, even though she was pouting and glaring all the while. Especially since he insisted to carry Jordy’s mom down the stairs again after she changed into her normal clothes of a T-shirt and jogging pants. He suggested that Kim stay downstairs on the first floor to avoid the stairs while her ankle healed.

Then Jordy’s stomach gurgled. He looked at his mom and tried to remember the new word that Mom taught him. Recently, Jordy loved to experiment with big words. He told his mom that he wanted to be a writer “because a doctor is too busy for his kids.”

“Mommy, I have bor-bor.. What do you call it again, Mom?”

“Borborygmi, Jordy. That’s your stomach growling.”

“Yup, I had borborygmi in church, hahaha!”.

Liam interjected, “Now, I’m hungry too. I just came from an early meeting in Manhattan. Let’s get food. Any preference?”

Jordy’s eyes rounded in delight. “Let’s get Jollibee!”

Liam looked confused so Kim interjected, “It’s a popular fast-food chain in the Philippines. Jordy’s favorite restaurant. There’s one in Queens”.

Lunch and dinner were every Filipino kid’s dreams. For lunch, Jollibee chicken, Yumburger, spaghetti, peach mango pie, and the delicious halo-halo. Dinner was Filipino barbecue, egg roll, and more halo-halo.

Jordy sat up tall in the rear passenger seat of Liam’s monstrous car, an Expedition with a fancy license plate.  Liam even allowed Brownie to ride along, not minding dog fur in his car.

That afternoon, Liam played the Clue Junior board game with him, a whodunnit (another of his newly-discovered words) mystery. Jordy had tired of the childish games that his other friends preferred.

Jordy thought, Yes, his new friend is a hero. Cool.

 

KIM

It has been three days of pure torture for Kim. She had to hobble around the house on crutches, so it was a good idea to sleep in her mother's bedroom on the house's first floor. To keep Jordy and Brownie out of her way, Liam offered to entertain the both of them in his mother's house. Mrs. O'Donnell and Kim's mother will be returning home from their Florida vacation in a few days.

Since she was just a per diem nurse in an ER, she was able to stay home while her ankle healed. It turned out that Liam also had a one-week vacation from work; he had canceled a trip out-of-state and decided to do some minor repairs in the house as a surprise to his Mum.

That Saturday morning, Kim heard the muted sounds of the morning cartoons in the basement den. She padded softly downstairs to call everybody for lunch.

Liam was back from his morning jog, his muscular body stretched out on the sofa but his eyes were closed. Jordy was sprawled sleeping with his head on Liam’s lap. Brownie's snores filled the air as he lay spread-eagled on his back on the floor.

Kim felt a prickle of tears threatening to flood her eyes. She knew that Jordy was getting attached to Liam, which was worrisome. The separation from his father, Paul, was difficult for Jordy. He was just four years old when Paul left. He was an absentee father even before, as he was busy with his surgical residency, but was even more neglectful after becoming a full-fledged cardiac surgeon.

Suddenly, Paul wanted a trophy wife, someone from a wealthy family who could ease his way to the top of the world. Kim did not have time to grieve for the failed relationship. She was too busy to put her life together again. Thankfully, she inherited her aunt's house and managed to get substantial alimony from Paul. Her mother traveled from the Philippines to help care for Jordy.

Jordy missed having a father that was active in his life, and Liam would not be able to take his father's place. Liam will then return to his life as a top surgeon, as a bachelor, with his choice of women falling all over him.

Kim’s initial dislike dissolved in a mere few days after seeing Liam’s down-to-earth personality and his unexpected bonding with Jordy. Even Brownie, that disloyal dog, preferred Liam’s attention.

Last night, after two hours of Disney movies, Jordy finally ceded the remote control to the adults. To their surprise, both Liam and Kim agreed on an Avengers movie together. They laughed together and screamed during the fight scenes. At a particularly sad moment, Liam offered his T-shirt to wipe Kim’s eyes, which of course, horrified her until she saw Liam surreptitiously also wipe his own tears.

Kim burst out laughing. Their eyes held and her heart fluttered.

And now, in the basement den, this would probably be the last time they will all be together. The vacationers will be back and Liam will be going back to his prestigious work in Manhattan.

She cannot allow Jordy to be heartbroken again. Truth be told, she was also worried about herself. Lost in her sadness that there will be no future with the man she learned to love, against all odds. She could not get her heart torn to pieces again.

 

LIAM

Liam had his eyes closed in contentment. Jordy was asleep at his side, the dog was snoring, and Kim was cooking lunch, with a mouth-watering aroma of whatever she was cooking wafting down to the basement den.

He never thought this moment will be a blissful experience. He was supposed to be a confirmed bachelor, but he enjoyed this whole week away from the hospital. Away from the politics, away from his immature residents’ whining about everything. Away from all those females flirting with him.

He enjoyed being with Jordy and Brownie. And with Kim.

His life was changed by that woman with those almond eyes and feisty personality. It was like a bulldozer that slammed him flat. How could just one week of their company shatter his prior resolve to avoid emotional entanglement?

He is in love. Utterly, irrevocably, unexpectedly in love.

Liam heard a sniffle behind him. He gently repositioned Jordy on the sofa and rose to face Kim.

Fat tears flowed down Kim’s cheeks. She was leaning against the wall, eyes closed, with misery written all over her face. 

Liam’s heart broke to see Kim crying. His arms reached out to envelop Kim in a tight hug. Startled, Kim opened her eyes, then continued sobbing.

Liam pulled Kim down on an armchair to sit on his lap, his arms around her, and murmured soothing but unintelligible sounds near Kim’s ears.

“Acushla, why are you crying?”, Liam’s left arm caressed Kim’s back as he kissed her on the forehead.

Kim sat up straight, but remained on Liam’s lap, reluctant to leave the comfort of his arms, her face flushed and her back tingling from the warm caress. His arms felt right.

“Nothing, I just finished chopping onions.”, Kim stammered. To divert Liam’s attention, she asked, “What did you say earlier? What is Acushla?”

Liam’s green eyes softened, and his smile radiant, he softly said, “Sweetheart. It’s Irish for sweetheart. I have fallen in love with you, Kim. Head over heels in love.”

Stunned, Kim searched Liam’s face, as if she could not believe what she just heard. Then she smiled, “Me, too.”

“Tá mé i ngrá leat. That’s Irish for ‘I love you’, so me too.”.

BROWNIE

A bark interrupted a kiss. Brownie was grinning as he sat on the floor, his tail thumping wildly. 

He nudged Jordy awake. When the boy saw Kim and Liam in an embrace, he smiled.

THE END