“Yes, it’s true,” said Cindy quietly.
“Could be Kate’s dad is onto something,” he murmured. “What a relief it would be to believe it’s all written in the stars.”
*
When they returned to the hotel, Mattheus decided to use the computers at the police station to investigate Sean further, and Cindy decided to take a walk alone through the winding trail at the back of the hotel, that led to a natural pond that was hidden out of sight. There were beautiful trees surrounding the pond, and Cindy wanted to spend time there alone, resting.
The heat of the day had intensified along with the humidity and Cindy was eager to be in the shade. She walked slowly, feeling every step, and watching little lizards scurrying around. As she approached the pond, the sound of frogs croaking got louder and she also saw a large shadow lurking beneath a tree. Cindy turned towards the shadow and to her amazement, there was Clay sitting hunched over, staring at his computer, entranced.
Cindy took a step closer carefully. “Clay?” she said softly.
He did not hear her, or respond in anyway, just kept staring at the screen.
“Clay?” Cindy called out louder, trying to break the spell he seemed to be under.
His head shot up quickly, and when he saw Cindy, Clay’s eyes opened wide.
“What are you doing here?” he asked nervously. “Is there more news? Have they found someone? Do they know what happened to Kate?”
Cindy moved closer him to calm him. “May I join you here, Clay?” she asked.
“Of course, sit down,” his eyes were fluttering. “What brings you here? Tell me, what?”
“It’s okay,” said Cindy as she sat down on the grass beside him.
“Why is it okay? What happened?” Clay turned and looked at her through his azure eyes.
“Nothing happened,” Cindy said softly. “I was just taking a walk and I saw you here. I wondered what you were doing?”
“I’m spending time with Kate,” Clay said quietly, “quality time, the two of us alone together. I’m looking over the emails we wrote to each other. Reading them again and again. They were beautiful emails.”
“I’m sure they were,” murmured Cindy.
Clay liked that. “Kate loved me tremendously,” his voice deepened. “It’s all over these emails. Here, take a look.”
Cindy sidled a little closer. “I’d love to see them,” she said.
He turned the computer towards her so she could read.
Clay, I can’t tell you what it means to have found you. Frankly, I have no idea how I’d get through the days without you. You make everything better, I can’t wait to get the next email from you. Thank you for being you and thank you for being there. Kate.
Beneath that email was an answer from Clay.
Kate, the minute I saw your picture, it was all over for me. I knew you, I recognized you, I realized that you and I belonged together. These past weeks of emailing have changed my life for good. I’ll never go back to the way it used to be. I just can’t wait to get up there to Long Island and meet you. And I know you feel the same way, too.
Yes, I do, said Kate, simply.
You do what? Clay wrote back. You can’t wait to see me, or you feel the same way I do? Tell me, I love to hear. You also recognized immediately that I was the One?
I do feel so much better when I hear from you, Clay, Kate replied simply.
I knew it, I knew you felt the same way I did,” Clay wrote back ecstatically. I think about seeing you every day. I’m even beginning to plan the trip to your home.
Wow, Kate answered.
That made me smile, Kate, Clay continued. I love the way you say Wow. I can just picture your pretty face crinkling up in a beautiful smile. I can just imagine how new and surprising this is for you, too. It is surprising, isn’t it Kate?
Very surprising, she wrote.
And I know I’m the first man you’ve ever felt this way about, Clay continued. I can’t imagine you’ve ever experienced anything quite like this. Have you?
Nothing quite like this, Kate answered.
Kate’s comments seemed brief and cryptic to Cindy.
“She doesn’t say much does she?” Cindy remarked.
“What do you mean?” asked Clay, offended. “She answers each email immediately. Do you notice the times between them?”
Cindy hadn’t paid attention to that.
“It’s extremely important to notice the times between emails,” Clay went on emphatically. “Did she make me wait to hear back? Did she dangle me on a string?”
“Did she?” asked Cindy.
“Absolutely not,” said Clay. “If you look at the times of her emails you’ll see that she was kind, thoughtful, empathic. Almost as soon as I sent an email I got a response in return. No time in-between. That speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Obviously, Kate was sitting at her computer waiting for me. She couldn’t wait to hear and answered instantly.”
Cindy hadn’t thought of it that way. “Does she actually say she loves you?” she asked.
Clay’s eyes opened wider and his stare suddenly grew icy.