From Second Base to Forever

Cassie sat on the edge of her bed contemplating what to do for the day, a rare day off. Her life was not how she expected it to be at 34. Where was the husband, the home? It wasn't that she had a bad life, quite the opposite, but it was a long way from what she had envisioned only a few months ago.

She did love Mike, and in some ways, always would but she had also known they were growing apart. He was content with his predictable life, day in day out, while she yearned for new adventures and was full of ambition. When she applied for the promotion, it was with Mike's consent. If she got the job she would take an apartment in Wellington and make the 3 hour commute home to be with Mike every weekend. It worked for the first year.

Cassie had arrived home one Friday night but Mike wasn't there. After a while she began to worry and started calling friends, no one seemed to know where he was, which was very strange. He did not come home that night and when he eventually showed up, he said he had had too much to drink and slept on a friends couch. Cassie knew he was lying and it wasn't long before she uncovered the painful truth. In some ways it had been a relief, she had been thinking their relationship was no longer working and this had saved her the anguish of having to make the call, but the betrayal still hurt.

That was 2 months ago and she was determined to enjoy life a little now. She was unattached in a vibrant city, with new workmates who liked nothing better than kicking their heals up after work. She was having fun and was in no hurry to replace Mike. Besides, she had a great career, a good income and a tidy sum coming from the sale of the home she had shared with Mike for 9 years. "The world is my oyster." she thought to herself while sitting on the edge of her bed. The phone interrupted her thoughts.

"Hello."

"Hey Cassie." her cousin Tim sounded chirpy on the other end of the phone. Tim and his wife Angie were the only people she knew in Wellington when she got the job, and she had stayed with them for her first few weeks while she looked for an apartment. "What are you doing today?"

"You must be psychic," Cassie replied, "I was just contemplating that and the jury is still out. Have something in mind?"

"In that case, you are playing softball" Tim said, almost pleadingly. "I play in a mixed social team and we are one lady short, you up for that? If we don't have 4 ladies in the team we have to forfeit."

'What? You're kidding. I haven't played softball since I was a kid." was Cassie's reply, yet there she was, 4 hours later, standing on second base wondering how she got into this. Her one consolation was a rather gorgeous center fielder who was wandering closer and striking up conversation with her every time there was a break in play. She was pleasantly surprised when he sat down next to her in the club rooms after the game. It seemed that every other lady on the team was flirting unashamedly with her new friend Kane, but he seemed to be oblivious to it and was giving her all his attention.

When it was time to leave, Kane insisted on walking her to her car. They stopped and sat on the bleachers for a while and he was certainly a charmer. By he time she got to her car she had committed to going out with him the following Saturday. This was not what Cassie expected, or wanted, but this handsome, charming stranger intrigued her and she genuinely liked him.

During the week Kane called her and made arrangements to pick her up at 9am Saturday morning. When she asked why so early, he just laughed and said "You'll see. Dress casually." Cassie's mind raced in anticipation all week. They both liked sport so maybe they were going to a game, but she could not think of any big games happening in the city that day. A festival? Honestly, she had no clue!

True to his word, Kane pulled up right on time and Cassie met him at the door wearing cropped leggings and a light summer shirt. She had taken extra care drying her hair so it fell just right, and studied herself in the mirror at length until she was satisfied she was the best she could be.

"Wow, you look fantastic!" was Kane's response when she opened the door.

Cassie was pleased. "Not under-dressed?"

"No, just perfect!"

The car ride did not take long and Cassie realized they were pulling into a small airfield on the outskirts of the city. They stopped beside a hanger and Kane informed her he would be right back before he disappeared around the corner. Within minutes he was back with a stranger and helped her from the car.

"Cassie, this is Brad Simmons. I work with Brad." Cassie shook Brads hand.

"It's nice to meet you Cassie, Kane's been talking about you all week!"

Kane flushed a little. "Brad wanted to take his plane for a flight today and offered to take us for a ride. Want to see the Marlborough Sounds from the air?"

Cassie was delighted. "That would be incredible, thank you Brad."

In a very short time they were taxiing for take off and smoothly ascended into the incredibly clear, blue sky with Cassie in the front of the 4 seater next to Brad and Kane in the back. They turned and flew out over Cook Strait with Wellington disappearing behind them and breathtaking views of the Sounds ahead. Over the headset Cassie had been given, Brad pointed out various sights below and they chatted as though they had all been friends for years. Eventually Brad told them that they would be landing at the airfield in Picton shortly. Cassie was surprised and excited by this as it was a very long time since she had been to Picton and she was delighted to have the chance to visit again.

The landing was smooth and once on the ground Kane took a basket from the back of the plane and Brad escorted them to a small truck, telling them to "Jump in." Cassie gave Kane an inquiring look. Kane just smiled knowingly.

Cassie and Kane enjoyed the scenery as they made their way into Picton where they pulled up at the marina. Brad led them to a boat. "This one's mine." he said proudly. "Let's take her out for a spin." Cassie nodded eagerly and gave a wide smile of approval to Kane. It was becoming apparent that Kane had carefully planned this day.

Racing across the Sounds gave Cassie such a rush. She felt the stress and heartache draining away and couldn't believe that she was actually on a boat, in Marlborough Sounds. The boat began to slow and gradually inched it's way up to a large rock sitting in the water at the edge of a small beach surrounded by bush. Kane grabbed the basket and helped Cassie up and out of the boat.

Before she could ask questions, Brad restarted the boat, gave a smile, waved and called "I'll be back for you at 3!" Then he was gone, disappearing off into the Sounds and around the next point.

Cassie looked around. The setting was idyllic. A small private beach which, it appeared, could only accessed by boat, no one in sight, and the Sounds before them was still and clear, and magnificent! "Oh Kane, this is incredible. Thank you for planning this, I will never forget today."

"Don't thank me, thank Brad for giving us this chance." was Kane's modest reply. "I told him about our first date today and he mention that he wanted to take his plane over to Picton this weekend to catch up with his flying buddies here. He asked if we wanted to join him for a fun first date. I thought that you and I could go for a picnic while he met his friends and he suggested bringing us out to this beach. He leaves his boat here year round and flies over regularly to go fishing. He came across this beach a few years ago while boating and comes here to hang out for the day sometimes. I guess I just got lucky." He started to unpack the basket. "You hungry?" he asked removing several containers of food, 2 glasses and a bottle of wine. "I have 2 just in case." he said with a wink and a smile.

"You really have thought of everything." Cassie exclaimed, noting the containers were from a popular catering company in the city. She picked up the bottle. "Merlot, my favorite."

"I know, you were drinking Merlot at the club house." Kane smiled as he poured 2 glasses and handed one to Cassie.

The day flew by. They talked, waded, walked, splashed, ate, drank wine and laughed. Sitting propped up against a rock, while waiting for Brad to pick them up, Cassie wished the day would never end. As she sipped the last of the Merlot, she rested her head on Kane's shoulder. 'Thank you Kane. The day was perfect." Kane gently turned Cassie's head until their eyes met and he kissed her with a kiss that said a thousand words.

"I suspect," Kane said softly, "that this will be the first date of the rest of our lives. I knew, while I was admiring the view on second base from the outfield, I knew you were the one for me." Cassie's heart skipped a beat, she suspected he may be right. "But don't expect every date to be this elaborate." he added with a grin.