Valentine Love Story Writing Contest A PARTY OF TWO

Of the 76 entries submitted for our Eighth Annual Valentine Love Story Writing Contest, here are the judges’ favorite three endings to our fictitious love story, “A Party of Two.”

Each was written in 750 words or less and was received by the Feb. 5 deadline.

These and several other entries the judges liked can be can found be at www.vindy.com/lovestory.

The stories are unedited.

First, here is the beginning of the love story:

Eva Harker braced her body against the chilling wind and biting snow. Her hands shook as she removed them from her puffy winter coat and fumbled with her key ring to find her key for the event hall. The wind and snow whooshed into the hall before she could get her body behind the door to push it closed.

“What a lousy day for a class reunion,” Eva mumbled to herself. Her lonely voice echoed through the small local VFW hall she and her classmates had rented for their festivities.

A blizzard of epic proportions was raging outside, with inches of fluffy snowflakes piling up quickly. Eva only lived about a block away from the hall; the walk over wasn’t pleasant in the snowstorm, but it was mercifully short.

As she warmed up her hands and feet, Eva mused about the adventures of her classmates, many who had moved far away after high school. The unique character of the people of her hometown and her close-knit family had always tethered Eva to the small Ohio town where she grew up. Eva enjoyed plenty of her own adventures though, traveling extensively, but she was always grateful that home was always solid and familiar.

Never one to stay still for long, Eva started to prepare the hall for the party. She set up a soundtrack of music from her high school days on her phone and got to work. She rolled out table- cloths, blew up balloons of silver and blue, and set up trays of food, arranging carrots and cupcakes and cutlery and other party goods. She set up the yearbook from their graduating year and placed a few class photos around the hall.

As she worked, the ring of text messages arriving momentarily lowered the volume of her music, but she was too engrossed in prepping the hall to check them right away.

After setting up the chairs, she finally took a moment to rest. She picked up her phone and found an extensive list of frantic messages from her classmates. One was stuck at the airport, and another slid off the road on the highway. Another was stuck in traffic in an hourlong line of careful drivers on a local road; yet another couldn’t find a hotel room to find respite from the storm for a few hours.

She replied to her long list of messages, telling each friend to be safe and not to rush. Apologies were abundant. With the variety of maladies inflicted upon her classmates, she guessed that she’d be alone for hours.

“I don’t think anyone is coming,” she said aloud, her voice again echoing through the hall. She nabbed a celery stick from a vegetable tray and took a large bite as a sadness began to wash over her.

The reunion had taken a great amount of work and finagling, and Eva had stressed for months about picking the best day to please the greatest number of classmates. But just like that, Mother Nature swooped through and ruined her plans. When would she be able to see her globe-hopping classmates again, if ever?

Suddenly, a knock rang through the hall. Eva had locked the doors earlier, worried they might blow open with the force of the wind. Running to the doors, she unlocked them, and they opened with a woosh. Under dark skies and heavy snow, she could only see a bright smile in the darkness.

“All alone in there, Eva?” the stranger said, and stepped into the light …

FIRST PLACE

Name: Bobbi Fowler

From: Youngstown

Prize: $100 gift card to Bruno’s Restaurant and Catering in Boardman

... only it wasn’t a stranger … it was Rudy Tralfaz.

He’d been walking past the VFW Hall when saw the lights on and remembered the class reunion was tonight.

He was going to keep walking but something pulled him toward the front door only to find it locked. He thought about turning around and continuing his walk; he enjoyed walks in the snow no matter how hard it was blowing.

He knocked on the door.

Rudy! You shouldn’t be out on a night like this! Eva said as she shooed him in and shut the door. Eva brushed snow from his coat as Rudy explained his love of walks in the snow. Eva laughed and said this was no ordinary snow storm.

Before he could respond there was another knock at the door.

Eva had gotten so many texts and emails from classmates saying they were stranded or still hours away that another knock at the door was surprising.

Eva opened the door to find Lily Hempstead standing there holding several bags. Lily’s house was right beside the Hall and she always knew what festivities were being held there.

Eva pulled her in and Rudy took the bags from her and asked ‘What’cha got in here, Lily, some of your famous cookies?’

Yes, and before you ask … there are some frosted sugar cookies in there, Rudy. If I remember correctly, those are your favorite, she said with a smile.

Rudy looked at her standing there smiling with snow glistening on her hair and coat and thought to himself that he had never seen her look more beautiful.

Eva could see the electricity between Lily and Rudy. When had this happened, Eva wondered.

Rudy had been the janitor at the high school and Lily had been the lunch lady. They were always at school functions helping to set up or cleaning up. Neither had ever married and each of them thought of the kids at the school as ‘their kids’. When they retired, they were missed by everyone.

They both missed their days at the school. They still attended school games ... wearing the school colors proudly. When they ran into each other at these functions they would have a friendly chat reminiscing about their days at the school.

Eva could see what these two felt for each other even if they couldn’t.

Well, it looks like there might not be a class reunion tonight, Eva said, but it can be a reunion for the best janitor and lunch lady the school ever had. We’ll celebrate that. You two take a seat at that table over there and I’ll be right back.

Rudy helped Lily out of her coat, held the chair out for her and she sat down with a sigh. The walk over had been cold and it felt good to sit down and warm up.

Meanwhile, Eva was busy raiding the kitchen. She set out platters of sandwiches and vegetables, bowls of salads and a plate of cookies – plenty of frosted sugar cookies ... Rudy’s favorite.

Lily and Rudy were laughing and talking and didn’t notice Eva peeking out the kitchen door. This is going splendidly, Eva thought.

Eva brought the food to their table and they asked Eva to join them but she begged off saying she needed to check on her classmates.

As Eva walked away she heard Rudy tell Lily how lovely she looked. Lily thanked him and told him that he didn’t need to butter her up; he was going to get his cookies

After a while Eva went to tell them nobody was coming ... the roads were impassable. Rudy and Lily expressed their sympathy and offered to help clean up. Lily was disappointed, but the evening wasn’t a total loss. Something beautiful had happened here tonight.

Rudy offered to walk Eva home but she declined saying she could make it safely home on her own. Lily took him up on his offer saying maybe he could come in or a cup of coffee. Rudy offered his arm and they were looking at each other and smiling as they walked out the door.

Cupid was disappointed, his sights were set on Eva tonight, but all was not lost – he took out two arrows and let them fly.

It was a beautiful day in May and Eva was once again busy setting out platters of food. The class reunion might not have gone as planned but getting together with her classmates at the wedding of Lily and Rudy was even better.

SECOND PLACE

Name: Kay Wilson

From: Austintown

Prize: $50 gift card to Rachel’s Restaurant and Catering in Austintown

... For a moment she thought (hoped) it was Craig Mitchell stepping into the light and back into her life. They had dated all through high school, talking for hours about the future but parted ways after graduation. She needed to choose a college close to home and he had headed for military service. His parents moved out west somewhere and Craig had never returned. He was killed overseas. Eva hadn’t been serious about anyone since. She tried not to think about him and just kept busy with her job, with her service organizations, with her reunion plannings. All those important things that make a person feel fulfilled. Lots of messaging and texts and emails that helped avoid face-to-face interaction.

The stranger spoke again, jarring Eva out of her reverie. “You are Eva, aren’t you?

“Uh, yes! Yes I am!” she replied, her mind racing to place the voice, to process the visual. He seemed to be about her age, average height and build. “I am sorry, but, um...have we met?”

“Actually, yes we have,” he smiled slightly as he began taking off his heavy coat and scarf. “Ten years ago, to be exact. I came to the last reunion with Susan Jeffers.”

Eva stopped short. Of course! Susan Jeffers. Susan Blackstone Jeffers. Susan, who died two years ago after a battle with breast cancer. Eva had put together a memorial table for those classmates who had died. From where she was standing, she could see Susan’s photo, along with Bob Bennett’s, who had been killed in a car accident. And of course, Craig’s.

“Oh my,” Eva stammered. “I am so sorry about Susan.”

“Eva,” he stopped her. “My name is Keith. Susan and I weren’t married at the last reunion, so I don’t expect you to remember me. I was just her date in a bad plaid sports coat who couldn’t do the Electric Slide. But we did a quick trip to Vegas chapel shortly afterward. We didn’t have a lot of years together but I am grateful for the time we did have. I wanted to come today to represent her. Her high school days were important to her, as well as all of you. Through her, I came to feel as though I had gone to school with all of you. You especially. Susan and I really appreciated all the letters of encouragement you sent when she was ill. And, after she died, somehow your words helped me with the loss. I needed to tell you in person.”

Eva guided him to one of the tables and pulled out a chair. Keith did the same, and they both sat down. Neither spoke, and for several moments the only sound was the wind outside and the dancing silver and blue balloons next to the heating vents and faint music from a radio in the kitchen.

Slowly he reached over and patted her hand. “It looks like it might just be the two of us here for awhile.”

Eva smiled weakly, “Well, it is Ohio. I know we are nuts to have a reunion this time of year but it’s so close to the holiday, it always worked out before. People come back to town to see their families ...” Her voice trailed off.

She had kept herself so busy, planning this thing. Actually, the weather was the only thing she had no control over, but she knew how many mints were in the little styrofoam bowls on each table. Mints! She had forgotten to set them out! She started to rise up but he stopped her.

“Eva, it’s OK. You don’t have to fret over anything. When the others come, IF they come, they will be so happy to be here it won’t matter if you missed a pistachio nut or something.” He smiled. “And I might add, you are really nice to talk with. I wasn’t sure how this evening was going to turn out.”

For the first time, she looked at him and had to smile back. He had a nice smile. His eyes were brown and there was a touch of concern in them.

Suddenly, the opening notes of the Electric Slide drifted out of the kitchen. Their smiles gently broadened.

Third Place

Name: Alaina D’Altorio

From: Canfield

Prize: A 2-pound box of chololates from Daffin’s Candies of Sharon, Pa., provided by The Vindicator

... Eva would never forget that accent: not too thick, but light and smooth, like a dash of Irish cream in her morning coffee. She stared wide eyed as the visitor stepped further into the hall, brushing snowflakes from his thick, winter coat. “Oh my gosh, Liam!” She hugged him tight, feeling wet droplets of melting snow on her flushed cheeks.

Liam chuckled. “Long time no see, huh?” His Irish accent brought back memories of their high school exchange program, friendship, and the passionate crush she’d held for him all those years ago. It had been far too long.

After graduation, he’d gone back to Dublin, and Eva regretted never truly revealing her feelings. She thought her invite had gone unnoticed, and resolved that seeing Liam again just wasn’t meant to be. And yet, here he was, back in Ohio, hugging her on a snowy, winter evening.

Eva smiled cheerfully. “Here, let me get that for you.” She took his coat, hanging it up next to hers in the coat room, before returning to the hall. She noticed Liam examining the decorations and hurried over to the snacks table, filling up a plate before making her way over to him. “Can I offer you a treat?” she asked, her smile widening as she saw how excited he became.

“Still my favorite,” he said, taking a couple pizzelles. Her grandmother used to supply them with dozens during their long study sessions, and they would devour every single one with glee.

Eva and Liam made their way to a nearby table. Eva reset her phone to play music, lowering the volume so it created a pleasant background noise. They chatted about the years that had separated them. Liam talked about the cities he’d visited, like Madrid and Hong Kong, awing her with exciting details about his adventures. Adventures, she remembered, he’d always wanted to have.

As he talked, Eva watched his eyes glow with happiness. She’d never told Liam how ardently she felt for him. Before graduation, she had tried and tired to gather the courage to express her true feelings, but in the end, she never came clean. His dreams of travel prevented her confession. She’d wanted him to see the world freely, without any reservations. She never wanted to hold him back.

Liam’s voice brought her back to reality. “I really missed it here,” he said, true fondness evident in his voice.

Eva laughed softly. “You missed this small town with these crazy winters?”

“Yes,” Liam responded. “Traveling was amazing, but no place ever allowed me to experience what I felt while I was here.” She watched as he played with the crumbs on his plate. “I missed it.” He looked up, his piercing gaze causing her to gasp. “I missed you.”

Eva wondered if the rhythm of her loud heartbeat was outplaying the music. She debated if now was the time to confess how she felt. The opportunity was perfect, but all of the negative thoughts she had in high school resurfaced. Should she risk it? She bit her lip hard, her hands shaking slightly from the tension.

“I had the biggest crush on you senior year.”

Eva thought for a moment she had accidently blurted out her biggest secret. But it wasn’t her. Liam made the confession. He cleared his throat, continuing. “I wanted to tell you before graduation but I chickened out. I didn’t think I stood a chance back then.” He reached over the table, clasping her jittery hands in his. “What about now?”

Eva couldn’t believe it. A slow ballad began on her phone, creating a soft atmosphere around them. If he was being honest, so could she. Nodding her head, she replied. “I felt the same. I wanted to say something, but you wanted to see the world. You had so much living to do. I didn’t want to tie you down.”

The scraping of Liam’s chair as he scooted closer to Eva reverberated around the hall. His knees brushed hers, his voice a gentle hum as he spoke. “You’d never tie me down. I got to experience amazing things, but something was always missing.” His fingers brushed her cheek. “Being here, with you, feels like I’ve finally come home.”

Years had escaped them, and Eva wouldn’t waste any more time. Leaning forward, she kissed him, feeling her heart staccato in joy. She’d thank Mother Nature later. This moment was for just the two of them.