First Love..again

Chapter Seven: Help Is Here

Bright and early the next morning each person's alarm had been set for seven, per the plan of attack that the group had set into play the night before. No sleepy heads on the job. They were not on vacation. They were there on a mission. A relief mission and relief doesn’t sleep in!

Madison, rolled over and looked at her alarm. It was five minutes to 7. She hadn’t gotten a ton of sleep. Old thoughts that she hadn’t thought of forever had found their way into her mind. Now, she really didn't want to get out of her tent, not knowing what she looked like after sleeping outside all night. She pulled out a mirror and smoothed her hair down a little.

“This will have to do,” she thought. “Im not here for a beauty contest.” Just as she unzipped her tent and stepped out..she bumped into none other than...Benjamin, who had been walking by.

"Oh, sorry," she was startled! She grabbed hold of his arm to brace herself for impact. Imagine if she had collided with him.

“He works out still,” the thought quickly passed through her mind.

"It's not a problem," he smiled at her!

Then he took Madison by surprise even further when he reached his hand into her hair.

She could feel his big thick hands putting a slight warmth on her head, blocking the ocean breeze that surrounded them that morning.

Madison jumped a little. The thought of him touching her definitely made her nervous, even if it were innocent. "What are you doing," she asked? It was one thing when she touched him on accident. But he was now touching her..purposefully. I

Benjamin brought his hand up before her and showed her a tree branch that he had taken from her hair. "Just taking out the weeds," he joked! “Unless you are going for the Jane of the Jungle look now!”

"Oh," she smiled at him, feeling silly and appreciating his humor!

"Yeah, I probably look like a wreck," she smiled bashfully!

She didn't know why she should be bashfull. This man was a married man, and so was she. Plus, he had seen her many a times, probably looking way more disheveled than today. Still though, time wasn't on her side, and she had aged a great deal since the last time he had seen her in the early hours of the morning. She began to feel self conscious.

"You look beautiful," he let the words slip from his lips.

He paused for a moment, realizing what he had just said. "I'm sorry," he followed up! "I shouldn't have...!"

"It's okay," she interjected his words, as she smiled back lightly, not really knowing if it were indeed okay.

“Beautiful...he thinks I'm still beautiful, “she began to replay his words over and over again in her head as she awkwardly parted w Amy’s and headed to the water’s edge for a makeshift shower. “What does that mean,” she wondered?

Maybe she was overthinking things. Maybe he was just being kind. Maybe it was habit. He had always spoke highly of her in the past. Maybe, just maybe, it was more..

Ben too made his way to the water, but further down the beach than she, with a towel in one hand. He slipped off his shirt and allowed the ocean to cleanse him. He didn't even notice that most eyes were now on him. Instead, he stared off, admiring the view. You couldn’t beat the view. As he proceeded to get back out of the water now, the light glistened from the water droplets on his chiselled chest. Anyone who wasn’t before couldn’t help but glance his way.

Mia practically ran into a tree stump when she spotted him walking her way from the beach. She brushed her hair behind her ears as he walked by. She couldn’t believe she had stared that long. She knew she must have been blushing.

Madison too, eyed his body from a few yards down the beach, thinking that he was in even better shape now than when they had previously dated.

“He has aged well,” she concluded.

Karla, embarrassed to even look his way for more than a second, for fear of getting caught, peeked from behind a palm tree in his direction. She bit her lip unknowingly. She had liked what she had seen. He was definitely easy on the eyes.

Even old lady Charlotte's mouth was drooling over Benjamin. To which her husband quickly noted and brought to her attention.

"Pick up your jaw, Sweetheart," he toyed with her in a joking manner!

"Why I never," Charlotte denied her oogling!

It didn’t bother him at all. He knew that Ben was eye candy. He also knew that if his wife had really wanted another, she had enough money to pay for the finest lover a woman could buy. Ben was well known though in the community and well respected. He had a pretty hound wife. He knew the years were not on his or Charlotte’s side. So he allowed her to take a peek once in a while.

However it was Victoria who took the opportunity to pounce. "Ben, I have sunscreen here. Let me apply it so you don't burn" she flirted with him and ran towards him with her bottle in tow.

"Thank you, but I'm all set" he stated as he blocked her wandering hands. "This olive skin doesn't burn," he hurriedly rushed away, leaving her and her wandering eyes in his wake.

“Huff!” Victoria pouted.

...............

After breakfast, the group all headed to the boats and broke up in groups of three. Each group grabbing specific set of supplies to deliver to the islanders.

Madison was in a group with Karla and Joshua, while Ben was with Mia and Mr. Todd. Two other groups made up the bunch, and each one headed in different directions to divide and conquer.

The first house that Benjamin's group came to was the one that housed little Kita and her Father. Knocking on the makeshift door, out popped two more children a little older than Kita, and a woman, who must have been their Mother.

Kita ran up to Benjamin, grabbed his hand, and smiled. "Madison," she asked? She was clearly wondering where her new friend had been. The last time she had seen them together.

"She is with another group, little one," he explained, all while getting down to her level.

In that moment, Ben missed his children. Kita had reminded him of the youngest twins, and the innocence that they still possessed. They would be running amuck and keeping their mother on their toes in that moment, no doubt, he sighed.

"Beautiful Madison," Kita repeated again but this time straight into his eyes.

Ben did not know how to respond. Was this child able to sense the bond between the two of them, he wondered? He was also quite impressed how well her broken English had been for such a small child.

"Yes, she is beautiful," old man Todd interjected the conversation between the two, both agreeing with the child and humoring the situation!

Kita, still at the level of a kneeling now stared at Ben again seeking answers. Ben smiled at how sweet she had been.

Kita grabbed hold of his two hands and intertwined them together in a firm hand hold. She then stared at him with seriousness and adament in her eyes. "Madison," she responded again, not with a question though this time, but with a feeling!

Ben, in aww of her intuition couldn't do anything but instead let the child overtake his thoughts! She clearly was wise well beyond her years.

"How cute," Mia chimed in... completey interrupting those thoughts. "She wants you and Mrs. Mortimer to be together!"

“Yes, we have quite the little matchmaker,” Tommy Todd put his hand on Ben’s shoulder.

Ben now stood up. His face was blushing from the encounter that just occurred before him. He quickly tried to change the topic.

"Mr. & Mrs. Thull," he looked at Kita's Parents, "we have brought you and your family disaster relief supplies. Please take these satchels as as a gift from friends," he put his hand toward his heart to show a universal sign of caring.

.............

One by one, each group delivered supplies to families in need throughout the big island, only going back to the boat for more supplies, as needed. By early evening all of the groups had re-conveignned back at the tent sites. They had each walked miles upon miles, aiding all in need and maneuvering through the villages ruins.

Sitting around the fire this time, cooking a meal, there was much more genuine conversations flowing among the group. People were no longer flooded by their own personal inhabitions, but instead were genuinely excited about discussing their interactions with the island natives that day.

"I was given the gift of a beautiful flowers," Mia stated to Karla! She then pointed to the pink flower in her hair.

"The family was the sweetest by far," Victoria explained to Charlotte Stiles!

"You should have seen the housing condition in that one spot," Tommy Todd discussed with Joshua.

Everywhere around the group’s side conversations were flowing organically.

Ben, who had just finished up chatting with Tommy Todd, pulled up a log next to Madison, whose turn it was to cook the meal that evening.

"I saw your friend Kita today," he said to her cooley.

"Oh," she added, with interest? “How was she? I had hoped to see her but my group didn’t pass her place.”

"Yes, she called you, "beautiful Madison,"he smiled at her. "She then intertwined my hands together, and starred me down," he explained.

"Hahahahaha! Silly child," Madison gave a slight chuckle. "Out of the mouth of babes," she added!

"Yeah," they say the darndest things," Ben agreed... letting go of what he had really wanted to say.

He wanted to tell her that this child was smart...that she had intuitions like he hadn't seen before. He wanted to tell her that this child could either see their past, or wanted them to be together in the future...but instead, he changed the topic.

"Want some help with dinner," he asked?

That was a safer topic, he concluded. Maybe the other was for another time.

.............

The next day the group packed up their tents and hopped on board the two boats that they had arrived in. This time the boats would take them to their next island destination. This time, though, it only took them about 15 minutes to arrive. When they arrived at the next location, they were not greeted by any locals. It was if no one had seen or even heard them coming. Nothing like their first visit.

Still, they knew what must be done. They set up base on the beach, again, and prepared themselves for the next day's deliveries. Several hours after arrival, a pair of old woman wandered down to their camp, somewhat surprised to see the group of volunteers that had come to their land.

"I'm Charlotte," Mrs. Stiles introduced herself to the native women. "Tomorrow we plan to bring your people relief supplies," she explained.

"I'm Gala, and this is my sister, Gianna," the older of the ladies spoke.

She appeared to be in her 90's and walked with a stick to support herself.

"Thank you for coming," Gala added.

"You are very welcome," Charlotte gestured to the two, as they turned back round a headed the same way they had arrived.

“WOW! Remarkable how well they still get around,” Madison commented to Charlotte.

“Us ladies are feisty! You can’t keep us down,” she laughed!

............

That evening, Madison made her way down the beach, just barely in sight of the group. She climbed up atop of a few large boulders and watched out over the beautiful waters in front of her. Sunset was just now getting ready to take place. She had never seen a more beautiful place than this, she thought. She wished Avery had been there to join her. It was so very romantic! He would have loved it. It reminded her of their honeymoon in Mykonos watching early morning sunrises together and late evening sunsets. But being alone now only made her feel sadness. Now, her memories shifted gears and a he was brought back to a time where hurt flowed through her heart.

She and Ben were so young when they dated. Although they were middle school friends, their love didn't bloom until they were about 15 years old. Young love! First love! It came in with all its glory and luster, and when it ended, it crashed her world like the natural disasters that hit this island. She was never quite the same after that, either. It took her a very long while to completely heal the internal scars from the wounds that she had obtained.

Sitting there now, she felt very torn with her emotions. Part of her wanted to be friends with Ben...like they once were. The other part of her thought that it would be too painful to do so.

Then there was the aspect of each of their relationships. She couldn’t help but wonder how they would feel. Avery, as confident as he was, had never had to deal with her befriending an ex before. She thought that he would be okay, but she just didn't know for sure. Then there was Heather. How would she feel? Would she object? Would Ben befriend her anyway, and ask for forgiveness later. Madison just didn't know what to do with herself. She didn't know what was appropriate and what wasn't. She didn't know where the line in the sand should fall. It was all so blury to her now!

.............

After a similar night as the day before, the group too got up early again, alarms synchronized for seven o'clock am. The groups broke off in pairs of three, the same teams as the day before, and went off to deliver relief supplies to the second island on their journey.

This island was smaller than the first, but there were more inhabitants than the larger island. So although their distance was less that the group had to travel previously, they ultimately ended up taking the same amount of time. It was an exhausting day but so very rewarding again. The islanders were so grateful for the supplies that they were being awarded. Hugs and handshakes flowed freely.

After deliveries were concluded for the day, the whole relief team decided that they would go to a small waterfall, just a short walk from where they had set up camp. Equipped with their bathing suits, the motley crew of twelve, each with towels in hand, decided to make the best of the beautiful land, while the time warranted.

Upon arrival, you could see the waterful, surrounded by pools of water below, just perfect for swimming. Caves and canyons, each a shade of red, lined the pools. It was obvious to the group that this place was a favorite spot for the Islanders, for there were many natives swimming and diving into the turquoise water below, from atop the highest cave, right next to the waterfall.

One by one each person in the group looked at each other trying to determine who, if any, would have the guts to jump like the native Islanders.

"Since this place has so many caves, and pools, I think it's smart if we all pair up. The buddy system should be in effect at all times," Charlotte Stiles ruled over her team. "I will be with my husband," Charlotte grabbed for his hand. "Can each of you pair up?"

The group looked around and sized each other up a little, trying to determine whom they would best like to spend their time swimming with.

"Benjamin, how about you and I buddy up," Victoria pawed at his arm?

Ben looked at Madison with a pained look on his face. Part of her wanted to let him suffer a little, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I'm sorry Victoria," Madison inserted herself into the conversation. "Ben and I already had planned to team up sometime today to discuss some business that we are working on. I hope you don't mind," Madison asked cooley?

"But...uhh... can't it wait until later," Victoria had gotten very bent out of shape and pouted towards Ben?

"Sorry Victoria, Madison is right. We have business to discuss," he smiled back at her. "However, I'm sure old man Nelson over there would love to have you as a swim partner," Benjamin exclaimed happily as he pointed to Nelson in his baggy blue speedo bottom.

Victoria looked at Nelson. His 70+ year old body, wrinkled and out of shape, was not what she had in mind for a partner. However, he was the last in the group without one now, so she really had no other choice.

Nelson turned around, only to see Victoria staring at him. "It looks like it's you and me, Chickadee," he joked with her!

Victoria cringed and managed to let off a fake grin his way. “Great!”

Ben and Madison immediately began to take off together, towards an open spot on the rocks, where they could lay out their towels.

“Thank you," he said kindly!

"You're very welcome," Madison smiled back sincerely! "But you owe me," she joked with him!

"Deal," Ben stated! "Anything you want... it's worth it to not have to worry about Victoria undressing me with her eyes, or even worse, pawing me with her hands!"

"You are wearing a wedding ring," Madison added, as if she should be shocked at the thought of Victoria's ways.

"For someone like Victoria that is just an obstacle," he rolled his eyes and let out a sigh.

“I see,” Madison shrugged her shoulders. She wouldn’t begin to understand what a crazy woman like Victoria would stoop to.

At the open spot that they chose to set their belongings, Ben and Madison began to strip off their outer clothing, revealing their bathing suits below. Ben was now down to a pair of short swim shorts, that really looked more like boxers. His muscular legs accentuated the material, and showed off his larger than average package.

Madison couldn't help but sneak a quick peek and blush a little. She quickly turned her face, so he wouldn't notice. “Yup. He still works out,” she whispered under her breath.

“Did you say something?”

Shit, s**t, s**t, she began to panic a little.

“Sorry?”

Madison okayed it off Cooley as if he had been hearing things. She wasn’t about to let him know what she had really said.

“Oh, my bad. I thought you had said something!

“Nope,” she smiled and turned back around to continue herself.

Did she say something. I could have sworn she did. But if she had, why wouldn’t she admit it,” he wondered. Maybe she was just..Wowser! Ben became speechless in his own mind.

Madison was now down to her bathing suit, also. Although she chose a black one piece, it was cut quite high on the hips and in the buttock region, accentuating her own curves. The top too had a low cut v that allowed her cleavage to have just enough exposure for a little s*x appeal, but not too much that she would appear trashy. Not that she was hoping to have people oogling over her...but this suit did make her feel more confident in herself!

Brian turned himself around to pick his jaw up from where he had clearly lost it along with his words and thoughts. He smiled to himself before composing his next steps.

"The years have been kind to you," Ben complimented her.

Madison blushed. The thought of him saying as such did feel good for the ego. Not that she had one but it still felt good.

"I could say the same for you," Madison matched the sentiment.

He was so hot. Ugh.

She hated thinking about just how hot he truly still was. Why couldn’t he have gained a dad bod or at least some love handles. He had none. Fit as a fiddle.

"I've had to put in the work for this," he countered. "Five days a week at the gym!"

"Well you've never looked better," Madison let it slip, with a slight smirk!

"Why thank you Miss Mortimer," he noted with a chuckle.

Why did I say that. He must think I’m a fool. We had our time. God, do I sound desperate. I’m not! I couldn’t be farther. I have a husband. A spectacular husband. Why oh why does he do this to me?

Deciding to change the topic, Ben looked around for anything to help the situation. "Want to climb to the top and jump," Ben extended a hand to help her off a rock?

"I'm game if you are," she matched his sentiment! “I’ve got it, though,” she felt confident in herself own ability not to fall.

"Good...Let's go," Ben grabbed released his hand. “You always were stubborn!”

“Don’t you know it,” she chuckled.

I do know it. All too well. Why did she have to be so darn stubborn. They couldn’t both be that way. Someone had to give sometimes. They both struggled with that.

As the two hiked up the rock caves it was Ben who slipped a little. He had been leading Madison to the waterfall and water had managed to pool under a rock, which he had happen to step on.

Madison instinctively braced him and grabbed him by the waist. She didn’t want him to go down or worse, fall over and knock her down.

“Gotcha!” She quickly release him as he steadied his balance.

“Thanks. I probably should have had you guide me,” he laughed.

“Yup. You are probably right,” she took off ahead of him!

At the top, they both stood looking down over the waterfall. It was breathtaking. The water was the rarest color and crystal clear at the same time.

"Change your mind," Madison asked him?

"You wish," he joked back! " I'm not letting you put me to shame!"

"Okay then! On the count of three," she said confidently! "

“One, two.....three!"

Both Madison and Ben took a leap of faith and dove down into the beautiful turquoise water below.

When she came up, Madison pushed her hair out of her face, smoothing it back for a better look around...

Where was Ben, she wondered! Did he chicken out? Did he forget to jump? Did he hit something? Oh s**t, she began to panic!

Just then, Madison was lifted up from below. Two strong arms grabbed her legs and lifted her up ontop of his shoulders, just like when they were teenagers.

"What are you crazy, Ben," Madison asked as she flailed her arms and legs in shock?

"Oh come on...you always liked when I scared you," he noted playfully.

"Well...that was then and this is now," she barked back defensively!

She wasn't amused. She was worried for him and then worried for herself. The shock of it all had hit her.

Ben put her down instantly, feeling bad for his actions. He didn’t mean to upset her or overstep the muddy boundaries. He knew that he had gone too far.

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely! “I Don know what I was thinking. It just brought me back to the old times," he stated!

"It's okay," she said facing him with a soft voice. "I get it. The lines are so blurted now," she said softly in a confused manner as she wiped the water from her eyes.

“Ah, yeah, they are.” he swam away.