Romance Epilogue

Ok I felt pretty bad with how I "ended" Jeff and Deb's story, so here is an epilogue that might make you feel a little better.

As far as the writing goes, this story is the closest to a true "romance" that I have written. I really wanted to give that feel to the story after the depressing story I posted last night.

On a side note, I've never been so attached to two characters before that I've had to write an epilogue to give them a happy ending, go figure.


Epilogue: Jeff & Deb
Tim Harvey

The applause that the four-piece acoustic band received once they had finished their song was probably well deserved, although Deb wasn't really listening. She sat near the edge of the balcony of the beach-side resort. She took in a deep breath of fresh sea air and watched the sun's slow descent over the clear and calm waves. Deb felt a deep wave of relaxation and she would have leant back in the wooden deck chair if he evening gown would allow it. She looked down at the flowing black satin that clung to her body and gathered at her ankles, and she smiled.
It had been so long since she had felt like this.
Deb looked into the function room of the resort and quietly counted the couples slowly dancing as the band began another tune. The men wore black dinner jackets and bow-ties, the women were all clothed in such amazing and elegant gowns. The evening was such a special night for Deb and she smiled. Her first New Year's Party as a practising lawyer, she shook her head with a smile and wondered how she ever ended up here. But at thirty-three years old, Deb was finally sure of where her life was going, she finally felt as if she could fit in.
A tall gentleman approached Deb and handed her a glass of champagne. She took the glass and smiled up at him. He was lean and she spent just a little more time than she should have admiring how the cut of his suit revealed his athletic build. She didn't blush however as she stood and hugged Eric. Deb rested her hand on his back and he leaned in to kiss her neck. It was only a gentle brush of his lips really but Deb got an incredible feeling of satisfaction from his subtle gesture.
Eric gently turned Deb around and the two stood, arms around each others waists, watching the crowd. “Want to mingle?” He said it with a raised brow and a hint of sarcasm, but Deb knew from his tone that he would be happy to do whatever she wanted.
She looked up at his face and frowned, “I thought you were going to have a shave?” She said it as she lightly brushed the dark stubble on his cheek.
His mouth spread wide, and he rested his hand over hers, “I was, but-”
Eric turned away with a teasing smile and Deb couldn't help but break out into one of her own, “but, I like a bit of stubble? Is that it, Eric?” She said, teasing him back.
He looked down and laughed before locking eyes with her, “I think that's about right.”
Deb gently slapped his shoulder and took a sip of her champagne.
“As to your other question, no, I don't want to mingle,” Deb turned back to the ocean and took another deep breath, her eyes instinctively and gently closing as she did.
Eric watched her closely and smiled, “beautiful.” He let the word out slowly and closed his own eyes.
Without moving or opening her eyes Deb smiled, “me, or this beach?”
“Well,” Eric began and let out another teasing laugh.
Deb mock gasped and turned around gently slapping his shoulder again.
Eric pretended to defend himself, “the beach has nothing on you, Deb,” he chuckled as he said it and Deb smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Eric leant in and kissed her on the lips. His gentle brush against her lips caused her heart to race. Eric pulled back slightly, watching as Deb delicately moved her chin towards him. He leant in for another kiss and this time he pulled her tightly towards him.
When they were done, Deb noticed that Eric was breathing heavily, and she realised that she was too. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart. He brushed a hair from her face and held her close as they looked out into the ocean.
“Thankyou for being here for me.” Deb almost whispered the words into Eric's chest and she felt him pull her tighter.
“You deserve it Deb.” Eric gently stroked her hair and she smiled, she had never felt more alive.

In another part of the hotel, Jeff sat in a large leather lounge, his relaxation disturbed by the loud laughter of his three mates. The boys had wanted to party but Jeff was just hoping for a quiet New Year's. He smiled as his mates cracked jokes. The four of them were all twenty-seven and with the real world finally settling in on the young men, they didn't have much time for each other. Since Jeff had gained his teaching degree only a year ago he was flat out with work.
One of his mates was a contractor, another was still a medical school. The third was working as a journalist. Two of the three were married, one of them was a happy marriage. The contractor had a long term girlfriend. Jeff never felt left out by this, he had been single for a long time but he enjoyed trying to find out who he was.
Jeff nodded his head as his mates left to get more beers, he wasn't drinking because he was the designated driver. Jeff looked around the cocktail lounge and smiled at a girl at the bar. He had been single for so long now, he thought. He promised himself that he wouldn't enter a relationship until he was sure that it was the right time. Jeff frowned as he wondered what he meant when he made that promise years ago. He had a good job and his own house.
Jeff looked down at the brown leather shoes on his feet. They were new and clean. Jeff smiled at the shoes and ran a hand through his blonde hair. He took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. It was a new year, maybe it was time to take a chance.
Jeff stood up and walked over to his mates. He stood slightly apart from the group and made eye contact with the girl standing at the bar. She wore a blue silk cocktail dress, her blonde hair was cut short. Jeff gave a glance at his mates and shrugged at the girl. She let out a silent laugh and looked down at the bar, her mouth spread into a smile.
Jeff made his way over to where she stood. She looked up at him and smiled.
“Hi. I had to get away from those guys, they're my mates, but they can be a handful,” Jeff smiled as he gestured to his mates who were knocking down shots of tequila, “as you can see,” he added.
She smiled and raised an eyebrow, “yep, they sure do look like a handful.” Jeff noticed her perfume, it smelt of citrus.
“Hi, I'm Jeff,” he stuck out his hand and she took it into hers.
“Karen,” she replied as she shook his hand.
“Drinking tonight, Karen?” Jeff asked.
“Nope,” Karen replied with a smile as she raised her glass of water, “designated driver.”
Jeff smiled and held his hand to his chest in a gesture of mock sincerity, “a feeling I know all too well.” Karen chuckled at this and Jeff felt a warmth in her laughter that gave him a boost of confidence.
“What do you do Karen?” Jeff was normally never this direct but he felt at ease around this woman, who was a complete stranger.
“Hmm, long story actually. I can give you the short version if you want,” Karen smiled as she said this, Jeff noticed that she blushed slightly as she tried to think of her answer.
“Let me hear the short version and then I'll tell you if I want the long version,” Jeff smiled teasingly as he said this and was glad when Karen smiled widely at him.
“That's fair enough, I'm a vet actually. What about you Jeff?”
“I'd still like to hear that long version sometime,” Jeff laughed, “Me? Well I'm a teacher.”
“Wow,” Karen said, “enjoy it?” She sipped her water through a straw and looked up at Jeff expectantly.
“I've just started a few months ago but yeah, I'm actually loving it.” Jeff smiled as he said this, it dawned on him that he hadn't had such an easy and open conversation in years.
“Umm Jeff?” Karen said, looking over Jeff's shoulder.
Jeff turned to see one of his mates being escorted out of the lounge by a bouncer.
“I'm so sorry, Karen. I have to go.” Jeff turned to leave but halted as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He turned around to see Karen offering him a bar-mat with a phone number scrawled on it.
The two shared a smile as they locked eyes, and for the first time in a while, Jeff felt alive.