The One That Got Away by G. L. Snodgrass Page B

she was the last glass of water in the desert.
    His thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful natural blond – You can always tell - pushing a stroller into the store while holding a little boy’s hand. She maneuvered the baby over the sill and reached out a hand to possessively brush Eric’s shoulder in thanks.
    Alison’s stomach sank. The woman was obviously his wife. She was so perfect in a white sun dress. With a light tan that can only be gotten on the west coast. Everything about the scene was so sweet. She had that innocent beauty that let you know she’d still be beautiful at eighty.  She looked to be about twenty five. Obviously a caring and giving mother. What was worse was that she was probably an excellent wife. Alison wanted to kill her in her tracks.
    “Thanks Eric,” the woman said as she caught him staring at Alison and Alison staring back. Raising an eyebrow she didn’t say anything but pushed the stroller to the desk.
    “Has our order arrived? Mrs. Maurer,” she said to the clerk. Alison's heart joined her stomach on the floor.
    No you don’t Alison. Be happy for him. At least somebody’s life turned out good.
    The two children were adorable. Both of them tow heads that looked like they could have modeled for Johnson and Johnson. The little boy had his father’s chin and the little girl had his drop dead gorgeous green eyes.
    Suddenly, her hotel room seemed to be the best place to be. Anywhere but here.
    “Hi Alison,” he said. As if they'd last seen each other in the school hall the day before.
    “Hello Eric,” she managed. The one that got away she thought to herself. This could have been her life. Those could have been her children. Different choices. Her insides turned to soup as she thought about it.
    “So you’re here for the reunion I take it?” he said as his wife came back to stand next to him.
    “Yes. Believe me. I’m as surprised as you are.”
    He smiled and relaxed a little. Seeming to remember his manners. He pointed to the woman next to him, “Marla, this is my old friend Alison Hamilton, Alison, this is my...”
    “Jimmy Maurer you bring that back right now,” the woman said chasing after the little boy who had decided that a game of tag in the book store was the greatest idea in the world.
    Eric and Alison laughed as the boy's mother scooped him up and brought him back.
    “That’s the sign that it's way pass their nap time. I better get them back to the hotel.” Marla said with a regretful sigh. “It was nice to meet you Alison, we’ll see you tonight at the party right?”
    “Yes, I’ll be there with bells on.”
    Eric held the door for his wife while she finagled the stroller through then he turned back. “Tonight Alison, save me a dance okay?”
    All she could do was nod her head as she watched probably the most perfect guy in the world step out of her life.
     
    .o0o.
     
    Alison clasped the pearls around her neck and ran her hands over her black cocktail dress. The last time she’d worn this dress had been at a gallery opening in SoHo. It looked better when it was accessorized with a handsome man.
    Who goes to their High School reunion without a date? Do these people have any idea how hard it is going to be to walk into that ball room all alone? Taking a deep breath Alison made her way down stairs to the ballroom. The same ballroom that had hosted their Prom.
    She stepped up to the greeting table outside the main door.
    June Stallworth checked her off her list. Giving her a small smile. Alison wanted to say thank you for not asking if she was accompanied by a significant other.
    Alison decided not to use the paper name tag. It had only been ten years and she’d grown up with these people. Surely she hadn’t changed that much.
    Of course Eric was the first person she saw. He wore an expensive charcoal suite and a black shirt highlighted by a red tie. The man was devastating. The suite looked Italian, making her wonder what he did for a living. A suite