Page 55 of Keeping Kama

See that wasn’t so hard.

Not hard at all. Oh … whoops I just remembered I said I’d run a marathon in eight weeks.

That you did. Call me tonight. I want to talk.

I will. Bye.

With a wistful sigh, Derek slid his phone back into his pocket.

Steven gave him a sideways glance. “Was that your significant other? I’ve been around too long to know that wasn’t a business message.”

“It’s someone I’m hopeful about,” replied Derek. Then as a second thought, he continued, “But she lives in Hawaii.”

“And you live in Los Angeles,” added Steven. Derek gave a quick nod but didn’t say anything else. After a few seconds, Steven added, “and your job requires you to travel a lot.”

The traffic eased as they drove further from Boston toward the Cape. Derek’s shoulders loosened a tad. “I know. It’s not exactly a big selling feature when it comes to trying to convince a woman to be in a relationship with me,” replied Derek.

“I see …” Steven changed lanes then put the car on cruise control. “I don’t know much about love. I was married once. It didn’t stick. But if I found someone who I clicked with again, I’d do things differently. I’d find a way to make it work.”

Staring out the passenger window, Derek watched as they buzzed past beautiful foliage. Trees painted with the brightest colors of fall; orange, red and yellow, lined both sides of the interstate.

“Ok,” said Derek.

Derek had zero interest in getting personal with a guy he barely met. So, Derek changed the subject back to business, asking additional questions about the processing part of the cranberries. The subject of him and his relationship troubles was dropped.

Later in the evening, after the tour of the cranberry bogs and farm, Derek returned to his hotel room exhausted and depleted. Loneliness enveloped him, as he set down his take-out meal on the small desk. With the time difference, Derek knew Leia was at her teaching job. He couldn’t call her for at least a few more hours.

Instead, he decided to call Tyson to go over his assessment of the cranberry business.

Tyson picked up on the third ring. “Hey, Derek.” He didn’t pause but hurried forward. “I’m looking at the assessment you emailed over. This is looking good and pointing toward a sound investment for the company.”

Putting his phone in the crook of his neck, Derek pulled out his to-go pasta from the bag. “I think this is a straightforward investment, and we should be able to see a quick return. I believe you’ll find the same thing after going over the numbers I sent you.” Derek sat down at the desk in his hotel room.

“I agree, and I’m glad we’re on the same page. You shouldn’t have to stay much longer. I bet you could finish up the loose ends tomorrow. I’ll have the contract drafted up and sent over to you tonight,” said Tyson.

“Excellent.” Derek rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want to stay in Boston any longer than I need to.”

“So, about what we discussed earlier about your traveling—” said Tyson.

“I want to relocate to Hawaii,” Derek sputtered out. “There’s nothing holding me in Los Angeles anymore. I need a change.”

“But you have a home in Los Angeles. You only bought it a few years ago,” replied Tyson.

“I know, and I’m not going to sell it right now. I think I’ll rent it out, and I’ll find a furnished apartment to rent in Hawaii. Maybe something that is a short-term lease,” said Derek.

As the words spilled out of him, Derek’s back straightened. He had a plan. One which got him closer to Leia, without completely throwing away everything he’d built. If things didn’t work out with Leia, he could always return to Los Angeles in a few months, and he’d still have his home waiting for him.

“That’s a huge move. Are you sure you’ve thought this thing through? Last I knew, Leia wasn’t even talking to you.” asked Tyson.

“She just asked me today to run the Honolulu marathon with her. So, no I don’t think this is one sided,” said Derek.

“But a marathon where you go visit for the weekend is very different from you rewriting your entire life to move there,” said Tyson.

“I know, but Tyson you have a family. You have a wife and kids. We live twenty minutes away from each other, and we used to work together in person all the time, now we never see each other. I’m grateful for the upgrades in technology that allow us to meet over video conferencing, and it’s time I took more advantage of it. This is my chance to possibly be in a relationship, so I must try. If I don’t, I believe it will be the biggest regret of my life,” said Derek.

“If this is your chance, then you’ve got to take it. You’ve my support,” said Tyson. He cleared his throat. “I mean don’t get me wrong, I think you’ve completely lost it. But I understand why you want to take a risk. The heart wants what it wants. I know that was how it was with me and my wife.”

“Thanks, Tyson,” said Derek.

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