Judson Cross returned to the Vast Explorer with a bag full of mail that had collected at the post office while the team had been on their latest job in Peru. He allowed his mind to wander while he sorted the overwhelming stack of mail into four piles onto the table, one for each of the crew and one for the trash, the last pile growing faster than all of the others combined. 


Gabe had traveled to Vermont, telling the others only that he had some sort of family obligation. Considering the young man's family, Judson could easily understand why he'd been unwilling to offer any further explanation. He wondered what kind of welcome his friend would receive upon arriving a day later than promised. 


Mackenzie had offered absolutely no clue to her destination, which in itself wasn't at all unusual. She would often disappear for days at a time, only to return with bullet holes in her belongings and looking exhausted but extremely pleased with herself. He often wondered if the young woman had truly left the CIA. The thing that surprised Judson this time was the way Mac had been acting as he drove her to the airport. If he didn't know her better - and believe she would kill him for saying so - he would almost describe her attitude as...giddy. 


While he appreciated his friends and the time they were able to spend together when not on a job, Judson looked forward to a few days alone. This would be his opportunity to relax. Maybe if he felt up to it, he could get a few of the little things done that he'd been postponing... 


Judson's train of thought was promptly derailed when he came upon a large yellow envelope in the stack of mail. He studied it for a moment. The name on the address was written in a childish scrawl which, if he squinted his eyes, tilted his head slightly to the left, and applied a little imagination, could possibly be identified as the words 'Uncle Judson'. The rest of the address was written in a clear and decidedly feminine script. There was no return address, but he knew the person that had sent it. 


Smiling to himself, Judson turned the envelope over and carefully removed the brightly colored, smiling flower sticker that held the flap shut. Inside, he found a small card. Upon opening the card, a piece of paper fell out and fluttered down onto the pile of unsorted mail. Abandoning it for the time being, Judson turned his attention to the card. It was an invitation, announcing that his adopted nephew, Devon, would be celebrating his fifth birthday with a party. It continued on to provide the details of when and where the party was to be held. 


Judson set the card aside and retrieved the errant piece of paper. The paper, a hand-written letter from Devon's mother, Michelle, caused his smile to broaden. 


*** 


Hey Judson! 


Can you believe it? Devon is almost five years old - going on fifteen! I may seriously regret agreeing to this party. I'm already so overwhelmed that I've pulled half of my hair out and the party isn't even here yet! What's it going to be like when I have a house full of screaming five-year-olds? But they're only young once, right? 


Devon is really hoping you can make it, but he understands that you're pretty busy and might not be able to come. Last I heard you were headed to Peru. I told him that you might not even be back yet. 


If you're able to come, that'll be great! If you're able to stay for a few days, that'll be even better. I might even be able to arrange for some 'adult time' so you, Tony, and I can get caught up on things. Let me know. 


Love, 


Michelle 


*** 


Michelle and her husband, Tony, were a perfect match. They complemented each other's strengths and compensated for each other's weaknesses. They would each go to great lengths to support and protect the other. But most importantly, their marriage had produced Devon; a wonderful, loving child who would see to it that a little piece of each of them lived on. Judson felt a pang of jealousy. 


Judson hoped that one day he would be able to say the same about a child of his own. He thought back on his life. Like anyone, he'd had a number of relationships in the past with varying levels of seriousness, but he'd never found 'the one'. Yes, he'd come close a number of times, Victoria was proof positive of that, but he'd never found that one woman that he'd be willing to do anything for, including giving up his life as a professional explorer. 


No, that's not entirely true, Judson mentally corrected himself. He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his billfold before wearily sitting down onto a nearby chair. Opening the folded leather instantly revealed a group of photos, each encased in small plastic pockets that protected them and held them together. Without the need for conscious thought, Judson flipped to the center picture. Her picture. Michelle. 


The slightly worn photo depicted a laughing young woman with long, golden-brown hair and bottomless chocolate-colored eyes. Judson had caught her off guard one day as she'd been working in the garden. Her hair was flying in all directions, blown by the wind, her clothes and face were smudged with dirt, and the layer of perspiration on her face reflected the light of the beautiful summer morning. Though Michelle had always argued that she was a mess in the picture, Judson thought she looked beautiful in it. It was natural, the way he hoped to always remember her. 


Judson had met Michelle shortly after college, when his life of adventure was nothing more than a dream, a goal he hoped to one day meet. After a whirlwind romance, Judson had proposed and the young couple had soon found themselves eagerly making plans for the future - a future together. Once the newness of their relationship had worn off, they'd soon realized how different their goals had been. Michelle's budding career as a Pediatrician was hardly compatible with Judson's dream of exploring the world. A decision had to be made. 


Judson had been truly in love, so without batting an eye, he'd given up on his life-long dream and accepted a job in middle management with a local corporation. The job had been boring, to say the least, but in his opinion, returning home his beautiful fiancé was worth it. 


Michelle, however, hadn't fooled. She had easily seen the spark in his eyes dim as the monotony of a daily 9 - 5 job wore him down. It'd been obvious to her that Judson had longed for something more, something she couldn't give him. It was time for another decision. The two had argued and soul-searched and cried, but in the end they had come to an agreement. They had finally decided that they needed to follow their own paths in life. Judson's path had led him to Mac and Gabe and a life filled with adventure and discovery, and Michelle's had led her to a successful medical career, Tony, and Devon. 


With a quick shake of his head Judson pulled himself from his musings and closed his billfold, once again hiding Michelle's smiling face. Dwelling on the past was meaningless. Even if he were somehow given the opportunity, he wouldn't change a thing. He would never relinquish a single moment spent with Michelle but he also understood that their decision to part had been for the best. He could only accept the past, live in the present and anticipate the future. And right now 'the present' included an invitation to visit a cherished friend. 


Coming to a decision, Judson checked the date on the invitation and compared it to the calendar. The party was scheduled for the next day and it was only a three-hour drive to Michelle's house. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. He picked up the phone, dialed the number he knew by heart, and waited patiently until he heard the familiar voice answer at the other end. 


"Michelle? Hi, it's Judson. Yeah, I got the invitation." 


The End