Intimate Equations (14 page)

“
I believe you, Sam. It's okay. I love you
too; I really do. I should have told you before how I feel. You are all I
need.”

This was all that Jules could manage to speak. Her
voice wouldn't work, her words would not form sentences. All she could do was
bury her head in his chest and take a deep breath.

She sighed and held him to her taking in the stillness.
She could hear his quiet breath and his heart beating in her ear.

As long as they could get out of this stupid elevator
everything might turn out alright.

Epilogue: Making Plans

Ten months had passed since the electrical storm which
shut down the entire Rutherford Science Building at the College of Technology.
There were a myriad of jokes in the engineering department for weeks about the
power-outage. No other buildings on campus seemed to have been effected, but
the surge had caused major damage to the wiring systems on all floors at
Rutherford.

The elevator hung in suspension for a couple hours
before the maintenance crew was able to free Jules and Sam. The crew had to
manually run the cables to the second floor and there, Jules and Sam could at
last escape their tiny, metal prison.

Other than not having a bathroom it was not a terrible
experience to be trapped two hours between floors. It took some effort and
banging on the elevator walls to get someone's attention, but it was really no
big deal.

By the time the elevator doors were forced open on
floor two the building had long been emptied. No one but a scruffy-haired geezer
professor, who'd spent his life down in the basement laboratory, saw them
emerge. They were no worse for the wear. In fact they both were rosy in the
cheeks, but who cared?

Now it was February. Jules and Sam were planning a
winter getaway to Costa Rica during break. Cora had successfully completed rehab
in Creston and had decided to take a job with the Peace Corps instead of going
back to teach at the private boy's school in Tucson.

Cora had been sent to an assignment in Monteverde,
Costa Rica. Jules and Sam planned to visit Cora there then head south to the
coast. They were looking forward to a warm ocean beach and maybe a little more
sunshine than what they were afforded in Portland this time of the year.

Sam and Jules sat cuddled up on the couch in her living
room. Actually, it was Sam's living room now too since he had moved in with
Jules over the summer.

The arrangement worked well since they were able to
pool their financial resources to make small improvements on the house and
property. Sam was more than a handy man around the place. If he couldn't fix
something he often knew someone who could for a reasonable fee. And Mr. Connor
was thrilled to have Sam living next door.

Even more, Jules wanted to ensure that Sam finished his
degree. He was going to school full-time this winter to make the most of the
job lag in his lawn care business. He had been assigned an advisory counselor
in the department who thought Sam could finish his course work in about four
semesters.

The Tech was going on break in about three weeks. Sam
and Jules had the lap top on the couch, pouring over information about Costa
Rica on the web. Tomorrow they would buy tickets.

“
Well, at least I won't have to learn
Spanish to visit Monteverde. I already have a very efficient translator.” Jules
nudged Sam playfully.

“
Aha, you are mistaken. You are going to at
least learn how to say “¿Dónde está el baño

“
What on earth does that mean?”

“
It means: “Oh my god, don't I have the
hottest traveling companion?” Sam pulled Jules toward him on the couch.

“
You most certainly are but what does it
really mean?” Jules poked him with some force in the ribs.

“
Ouch! It means: “
Where is your bathroom
?”
You might need to know that phrase if I don't happen to be nearby at the
moment.”

“
I will always keep you close by, Sam. I
wouldn't dare let you out of my sight with all those gorgeous, dark-skinned
beauties walking around on the beach wearing practically nada.”

“
Jules, don't you know by now that I happen
to love you just...” Sam kissed her on the forehead, “...the way you are?” He
stroked Jules' wavy, auburn hair.

“
You are all the hot I can handle.” Sam
kissed her, and that was pretty much the end of buying airline tickets for the
evening.