A Repeat Meet

Posted on 27 Apr 2023 @ 8:41pm by Petty Officer First Class Rebecca Robinson & Maxwell Tate

Episode: Our Path
Location: Concord Park East Trails, Knoxville TN
Timeline: 08:00

Rebecca had been faithful in her walks through the trails over the past week and liked doing so in the morning breeze with the frost still visibly on the ground. She had made three laps when she looked in the middle of the park. Sitting on a bench was Max, him or someone that looked like him. She ran by the bench and saw it was clearly him.

She stopped “Are you following me Max?”

Max paused at hearing her voice, he startled a bit having been lost in his thoughts and not seeing her. "Uhh.....no, no honest, I was just out."

Rebecca smirked "I will believe you this time. You come to the park often?"

He shrugged, "Occasionally, it's a good place to clear your head."

She frowned "I was only joking Max. Are you ok? You don't seem like yourself."

She wasn't sure what was going on, but she could tell something was not right. He initiated conversation with her last time and was joking. She wasn't sure if she had said the wrong thing at the wrong time, but for some reason she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. She cared about his feelings.

"Just had a long few days. Helping around the house, and it's been nuts at work, Storm front over the Azores might cause something to hit Florida so we got an eye on it." He hated not telling her the truth but he was told not to talk about his work, so he took it to an extreme.

Rebecca nodded she felt there was something she wasn’t being told, but it wasn’t anything to worry about at the minute. “Well, is there anything I can do to help Max? Even if it’s just to talk I’m here for you.”

"I appreciate that." he paused, "Like I said just work stuff. So hows the Navy treating you?"

Rebecca shrugged "It's ok, but I needed a vacation so that's why I came back to Tennessee. Been trying to relax after some personal family issues that arose I decided I needed a break." She stopped for a moment "I never expected to see you, but that's been refreshing as well. You seem quiet though so if you would rather I go for now I can do that."

"Naah." Max paused, "I like hanging out with you."

Rebecca smiled "I am glad to hear that." She paused for a second her mouth getting dry "Would you want to go to dinner?"

"I could eat." he responded, "So I'd love to."

Rebecca nodded "What would you like to grab? If I am talking to much let me know. Your conversation is short so I am just wanting to make sure everything is ok. I have known you for awhile Max and you're being pretty quiet.

"It's all good." He paused, "Right now, let's go get food."

Rebecca sighed quietly, but decided to just keep it quiet for now. She nodded and began walking with Max to her truck.