Chapter Twelve

“Tony!” Lori cried, throwing herself at him.

They fell backward onto the cereal boxes, breaking one and sending a wave of Cheerios over the floor.

“Tony, is it really you?!”

Howie could think of nothing but the woman in his arms. He was so stunned that all he could stutter was, “Y-yeah, it’s me, Tony.”

Of course, the moment he said it, he wanted to smack himself upside the head. Lori squealed and pulled him to a sitting position.

“Omigod, just look at you! I’ve missed you so much, you can’t believe how much. What are you doing up here?”

Slowly, with her and Buzz’s help, he got to his feet, brushing cereal from his shorts.

“My sister has a cabin up here, I’m borrowing it for the weekend,” he explained. “My God, it’s really you? Lori Haberlan?”

She smiled and did a little twirl. “It sure is!”

Howie suddenly remembered the mess he’d made and blushed. He turned to Buzz and began to apologize, offering to clean it up and pay for the damaged goods.

“It’s no problem, son. You just get on with your happy little reunion here. And be good to her, she’s a special little girl.”

Lori was nearly beside herself with happiness at finally finding the man who had haunted her dreams for the past eight years. He looked even more handsome than when she first met him and her heart raced just looking at him. Her eyes quickly darted downward to his left hand.

No ring, not even a tan line.

She forced herself to push her hopeful thoughts aside for the moment.

“So, um, did you come up here alone?”

Ahhhh! Why did I ask him that? her mind screamed.

Howie picked up his fallen basket and removed a Cheerio from his hair.

“All by myself. Like you, I’m single.”

She nodded casually, even though she was thrilled to death.

“Did you just get here?” he asked her.

“Oh no, I arrived last night, but there’s no food at my place, so I came to get some.” She nervously twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “Did you just get here?”

“Yeah, and you’re the last person I expected to meet up with.”

“Same here. So, um... are you busy tonight?”

“No, not really. Are you?”

She shook her head. “Would you care to join me for dinner?” she asked shyly.

“Are you kidding? Of course I would! Lori, we have so much to talk about. Where you’ve been, when did you get back, all that!”

She sighed with relief. “Oh good. I was afraid that once I found you, you wouldn’t remember me or wouldn’t want to see me again.”

“What?!”

“That was just a crazy notion, eh?”

“I’ll say.”

“Well then, let’s pick out something for dinner and get this show on the road!”

Together, they chose dinner items, Lori getting a few things to take home with her, and said good bye to Buzz. Howie placed the grocery bags in his car, still not believing that they’d found each other.

“Your place or mine?” he asked, facing her.

“Yours. I’ll follow you, okay?”

“Sure. I’ll drive slow so you won’t lose me.”