Parts 5 & 6

"How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face..."
-W.B. Yeats

*Part 5

As the days passed, Melissa resigned herself to her normal life.  Always in her mind were the memories of her very brief time with Hayden.  She had written him a short note, simply thanking him again for his kindness, and this time she made sure to include her name and address.  A quick Internet search had provided the address of his agent, so she mailed the note there, leaving the rest up to fate.  At least she was satisfied that she had made an attempt to contact him.

Arriving at search pratice the next week, she was surprised to see Jacob waiting there.  He seemed excited about something but wouldn't tell his little secret until the entire team had arrived.

"Ok," he fidgeted, "Now that you're all here.  I received a call early this morning about the documentary.  It seems that we've been nominated for...oh man, I still don't believe this...well, for an Academy Award!"

The entire team screamed with delight and ran to hug Jacob, all truly happy for him.

"Wait!" he added, "It gets better.  We've all been invited to attend the ceremonies!"

It was surprising that the team got any work done that night, concentrating on the tasks at hand wasn't easy with talk of attending the Oscars fresh in their minds.  Midway through practice, Karen arrived.  While she left the actual searching to Bob and Tawny, she acted as club secretary, answering mail and taking phone calls.

"Melissa?" she said as she entered the practice area.  "You have a letter, it was sent to the clubs post office box."

Karen noted the puzzled look on her face as she handed over the letter, addressed to the club but with "attn: Melissa" at the bottom.

"You might take note of the return address," she almost sang, "It's Canadian."

Melissa couldn't contain her gasp.  Certainly it couldn't be from Hayden that would be asking too much.  With the team all stopped and watching her, she sat down and opened the letter.  The smile on her face told the team it was, indeed, from her one time dance partner.  Her smile only growing larger as she read:

Dear Melissa,
  I think I'll have to write People and thank them for publishing the name of your team, and then give another thank you to whoever thought to put up a web page with your address on it.  I can't believe I never asked your last name.  I'm back in Toronto now, busier than ever, but I really wanted to write and find out if it would be OK if we kept in touch.  I understand from my friends that this can be a bit of a challenge.  We've resorted to email because I can check that from wherever I am, regular Post has a way of getting to the exact place I'm not.
  Hope this letter finds you still smiling.  You can reach me at hchri@themovies.com. 

   Love,
      Hayden

Melissa calmly put the letter back into the envelope and placed it in her back pocket before she began working again.  The eyes of the entire search team were still focused on her and realizing that she was the only one moving, she turned toward the stares of her teammates.

"What?" she shrugged.

"Well?" they all chimed.

"Come on, you can't hold out on us now!" laughed Karen.

"You two looked pretty cozy that night at the party," added Bob.

"It's sweet that he wrote you, men seem to have an aversion to writing," laughed Karen giving Bob a poke in the ribs.

"Ok, look.  For the sake of practice, all it said was that he wants us to keep in touch," she said honestly, "and that he wants to thank whoever put our clubs mailing address on the web site."

"Thank you...thank you..." mocked Garry, the club webmaster, "I happily accept kickbacks."

"You are going to keep in touch with him, aren't you?" questioned Karen, ignoring Garrys theatrics.

"Yeah, he sent his email address"

"Maybe he's going to the Oscars," Karen grinned suggestivly.

"Maybe... Now can we get back to practice?  We can all worry about my non-existant love life later."

The team knew that argueing with her was futile; she was easily the most determined person they had ever met.   Nothing more was said of the letter or the Oscars until after they finished practice but as Melissa climbed into her truck to head home, Karen couldn't help but say something.

"Hope you aren't too tired to ...ahem... check your email," she said with a wink.

"Goodnight Karen!" Melissa replied with a roll of her eyes.  She actually couldn't wait to get home and do just that, but she certainly wasn't going to tell them.  Somethings you just have to get used to first.

*****

Early the next morning, Hayden sat down at his desk ready to plow through more of the ever-growing stack of paper.  Without a full dose of morning caffeine, he was still a bit bleary eyed as he turned on his computer and started his mail program.  Doing a quick scan of the addresses looking for any that might be important, one toward the bottom caught his eye and he clicked to open it.

Hi!
  I got your letter yesterday at search practice - what a nice surprise!  I sent you a letter as well but, as you pointed out, regular post goes to where you aren't.  :)  It's probably buried with the thousands of letters your agent gets on your behalf.
  Email works best for getting in touch with me too (mak@sar.org).  Don't know if you heard, but the documentary got an Oscar nomination.  Between that news and your letter, there were a lot of smiles going around practice last night.  I guess you saw our picture in People.  What a nice reminder of a great evening.
  Looking forward to keeping in touch.  :)

  Still smiling,
   Melissa

Hayden wouldn't need any coffee today.  He was floating pretty high from the simple note from Melissa.  His day was looking up indeed.

*Part 6

Over the following weeks Melissa and Hayden grew into a comfortable pattern.  He would hurry to his computer each morning to check for the letter she had undoubtably sent the night before.  It was a recursive letter, one without topic or end, simply a series of replies with new questions added in.  They talked about everything and they talked about nothing but, for the two of them, each new email was more eagerly anticipated than the last.  

They spoke very little about their chosen paths in life.  While the avoidence of it wasn't intentional, it would soon prove to be a problem for Hayden.  Notified earlier that morning by his agent that she had heard from the Academy of Motion Pictures.  They had requested for him to present an Oscar, with Natalie Portman, at the ceremonies in just a few short weeks.  The news had sent him bouncing around his office.  He couldn't wait to tell Melissa that he would be cashing in his voucher for their previously promised dance.  As sat down at his computer he suddenly was caught with the realization that she had never said she was actually going to the ceremony.  A puzzled look crossed his face as he began to type:

Hey Melissa!
  My agent informed me this morning that I'm going to the Oscars (supposed to be a presenter).  I don't know how these things work, since I've never been before, but I'll find out.  Are you going to be there to support the documentary?  How come we never talked about this? <scratches head> 
  I was thinking that if you were going and I was going, maybe we could meet up and I could cash in on that dance you promised me at the Globes.  If you weren't planning on going, is there a chance I could possibly persuade you?  It would be nice to talk to you in person again. 
  Let me know, I'll be sporting my best 'puppy dog eyes' until I hear from you.  :)

  Cheers!
     Hayden

With a click of the send button, it was done. 

*****

The next morning, Hayden went straight to his computer to check for a reply, but there was none.  In their weeks of talking there had never been a day when he didn't have a note from Melissa.  On the days when she was tired, she would still send a quick note that said she was exhausted and would write more the next day.  Pushing the worry from his mind, he closed his mail program and set about working.

The end of the week found Hayden troubled.  Tove had come into the office and found him sitting at the desk, head in hands, his fingers tossled through his hair.  The lost expression he was wearing told Tove all he needed to know.

"Still no email little bro?" he said sympathetically.

"No," Hayden sighed.  "I don't know what happened.  Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the documentary.  I think it's a sore subject for her, I hope I didn't upset her.  Maybe it was asking her about that dance, maybe she's trying to come up with a nice way to say she never wants to talk me again..."

"You know, for an actor, you can be kind of insecure," Tove gave a little laugh.  "Have you considered that maybe she's working or her computer crashed?  Stuff like that happens you know.  I'd put money on the fact that it has nothing at all to do with your email."

"Then what?  I've looked online and it doesn't seem like anything search related is going on in California, so where is she?  It's been five days...I'm just concerned, that's all."

"I know bro... but I'm sure everything is ok.  Trust me," he said, patting him on the back.

Hayden didn't answer, he merely layed his head upon his desk and wished for the alert that would tell him he had a message waiting for him.  The problem was that his computer was sickingly silent.

*****

After a sleepless night, Hayden sat down once more at his computer.  Again finding no mail from Melissa, he started a new note:

Dear Melissa,
  Is everything all right?  I haven't heard from you in days and I have to admit, I'm worried.  If I offended you in any way by asking about the Oscars, please forgive me.  Having you to talk to has truly been a gift and I would hate to think I messed that up somehow.
  Scratches to Kona - hope you are both ok.

  Love,
    Hayden

A few hours later, Hayden was reclined back in his chair, his feet up on the desk, reading through a script when he heard the chirp that signaled new mail.  Sighing deeply he hit return to pull up the message, glancing over expecting to see a forwarded joke from one of buddies. 

Hayden,
  I am SO sorry that we worried you.  I saw both your notes just this morning, so let me answer out of sequence, if I may...  no, no, yes, yes, yes.  Heehee, you figure out the sequence.  :)  Sorry, bad sense of humor and a lack of sleep... 
  First, I owe you a HUGE apology.  I wasn't here to check email and I'm not used to having anyone that would worry about me if I didn't answer back.  Kona and I were in Oregon helping evacuate homes - there was a forest fire burning there and the whole search team went to assist the forestry department.  Seems there is a lot we never talked about, the Oscars being kind of low on the ladder of importance.  Search and Rescue is oncall 24x7.  There is no 'slow' time of the year, but spring and summer are busy for Kona and I simply because of the types of duties we're trained for (fires, lost hikers, etc), I should have warned you that I disappear at the drop of a hat and I'm sorry. 
  I don't know why I didn't do this before...but I'll put my phone numbers at the end of this email so that if you ever find me not answering again, you can just give me a call...the last thing I want to do is fret a Master Jedi.  :)  Wow, you know you're tired when you laugh outloud at your own jokes.  I need sleep. 
  Did you come up with the questions to match those answers yet?  If not, here ya' go:  No, you didn't offend me in any way whatsoever.  No, I hadn't planned on attending the Oscars.  Yes, we have been invited.  Yes it is highly possible that you can persuade me.  Yes, I would love to cash in on that dance.  :)
  It will be nice to hear your voice again as well...that is, if you can forgive me for making you worry. 

  Pleading forgiveness,
    Melissa & Kona

Hayden glanced down at the end of the email and found the phone numbers just as she had promised, picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

Hayden felt better instantly.  The last remaining ounce of worry that was left vanished with the sound of her voice.

"I think a couple of dances are in order for making me worry - possibly even lunch," he said with a laugh.

"Hayden!"  Melissa's smile was evident in her tone.  "Can I plead forgiveness just one more time?"

"Are you going to the Oscars?"

"Sounds like I have to, it's the first opportunity I'll have to redeem myself."

"Then no more pleading is necessary.  Really, I'm just glad you're ok.  Thanks for sending your numbers and don't think I'm not above using them."

"Obviously," she laughed.

Melissa spent the next hour telling Hayden all about her adventures in Oregon.  He listened intently, drawing on every word, creating the pictures in his mind.  Feeling like acting was insignificant by comparison, he tried to keep her talking, but she finally pestered him into talking about his own life.  He enjoyed that her interest seemed geniune, not just in the people he knew, but what he got out of acting and traveling.  Neither of them could figure out how or why they had kept such important parts of their lives from each other, but they agreed to not let it happen again...and to seal their deal with a dance at the Oscars.