X Marks the Spot -- Lynette

[ethan]

Ethan was nervous. He was incredibly nervous at the moment. The last time he'd done anything of this nature had been when he and his ex wife were only still dating and he couldn't ever remember feeling as if he had known her as well as he knew Lynette by now. It had broken his heart when he'd seen her at the hospital the other day. She hadn't even known that he had been her attending doctor at the time. That he'd had to read her file based on the fact that he had to care for her. She was likely going to be in for one hell of a surprise. But knowing how sick she was... He wanted the chance to do this for her sooner rather than later. It had killed him knowing that she was ill and he wanted nothing more than to be able to fix that for her... Where was that damned superpower of his when he needed it.

He'd told her that he'd have an orchid bud in hand waiting for her... And he hadn't lied... but he'd decided that he'd spice things up another step. He'd left her one final letter on her car informing her that he was still going to have the orchid bud in hand, but that there would be another one waiting for her on the railing of the boardwalk right outside the flower shop situated there. With it, was a letter that he'd penned:

Changed my mind... You're going to have to follow the clues to find me now... Check the flower store...

Ethan had been out there all morning and had enlisted the help of a couple of shop owners in the area that knew him well enough. If she were to go into the flower shop, the clerk at the front counter would offer her a small envelope that just held a ticket stub for one of the local shows for The Nameless. He'd gone to the show as per her recommendation and he'd saved the stub. With it in the envelope was a copy of the first letter she had started answering questions from him in. Marked inside the envelope it simply said, "And now the book store down the street..." Inside the book store, the clerk would give her a book on the Aurora Chalet. Inside the cover was a note printed along with a copy of the second letter she had answered questions in. "And the cafe down the street..." Just outside the cafe, a man with a dog stopped her and handed her off another envelope with a copy of the third and fourth letter and instructions to go to the library. The librarian inside offered her a copy of Winston Churchill's The River War. One of Ethan's favorite books. And inside was a copy of the fifth letter with a note telling her to go to one of the street artists on the boardwalk who offered her a painting of a phoenix with a note tucked into the corner of the little frame. The sixth letter and a leading to little Italian Restaurant and Cafe right on the water.

Inside, Ethan was seated at a table, trying to calm and ease his nerves as he watched the orchid bud in front of him with a small smile on his face. It was a lot of effort to go to to meet someone... but he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Lynette would be well worth it once she got there.

WEARING THIS

[lynette ashford]

Lynette was nervous, not because she was worried about meeting the man she'd been getting to know or because she worried about shallow things like whether or not he was good looking. She didn't really care about looks and she knew already she liked him from what she'd learned in their letters. What was making her nervous was the one secret she'd kept that she should have offered as free information. Being sick like she was wouldn't be something that only effected her if they were to start developing a relationship further than letters. She knew from talking with families of those who were sick, being there when her own grandmother was sick, and just common sense that it was hard on those who cared for or loved the sick person as well.

She was currently on a treatment that could possibly help without her having to do surgery, radiation or chemo but it wasn't guaranteed to work and had been making her feel tired and sick lately, recently sending her to the hospital when she couldn't keep anything in her stomach for over 24 hours. She'd prayed no one she knew would be working but that was nearly impossible when you knew a good portion of the medical staff and were a med student getting your time in there. So mostly her nerves were that he would possibly decide he didn't want to date someone who was her kind of sick or that he would and she'd feel bad putting him in that position when a man like him deserved a chance at happiness and a good life without the stress of her "baggage".

She owed it to both of them to go tonight though, to meet him and see if their written connection carried off the page. So getting dressed she was careful in her selections, she wanted nice but not trying too hard, and left her hair down to fall over her shoulders in waves. One last look into the mirror then she was headed out to where they'd agreed to meet and looking to the railing for the promised flower. Finding it she smiled as she read the note with it willing to accept his clues that would lead to the man himself.

She would admit to being impressed at how he'd set it up getting local people to help in his clue giving. It was another creative way of interacting with him as she followed his steps through the path he'd laid out for her. She was touched by the thoughtfulness of what his clues led to and how they connected to the letters she'd written in response to his questions. As she accepted the final offering and note from the friendly artist she felt ready to finally meet the man behind the romantic gestures and made her way toward the restaurant and cafe feeling excited and nervous.

Stepping inside she paused a moment to locate the flower and man with it surprised who she found waiting for her. Moving toward him she smiled as she approached, "Hello Doctor Parker." she greeted him, knowing now that they'd already been introduced quite recently. He'd been her doctor when she'd gone into the hospital sick, which meant he knew already and had still chosen too meet up with her in person and do all of this. "It's nice to meet you when I'm not a patient and I know you're the one who wrote to me." she said honestly pleased to see him and have the chance to speak in person. Yes they'd spoken when she came in as a patient but that had been different, patient to doctor not Lynette to "Secret Sir" as she'd called him in each letter.

OUTFIT :: MEL/ETHAN :: DONE

[ethan]

Ethan looked up from his spot at the table just as Lynette walked in and he couldn't help the guilty little smile that he gave to her. He could tell that she was surprised in finding him there. No doubt she realized that Ethan had a firm understanding of just how sick she was and he'd still gone through with everything and went on to meet her. He understood what was going on with her better than most did, really, but he was still there for her and he had still taken the effort to go to the lengths that he did to make this day special for her. Ethan wasn't put off by the fact that she was sick. Especially not when the woman was so incredibly beautiful, sweet and just... utterly fantastic. Everything he had learned about her he loved. She was genuine and down to earth and he truly appreciated that.

"Lynette." He smiled at her when she said hello to him. He risked a little when he moved over towards her a little and leaned in, planting a kiss on her cheek. "I'm glad you found your way easily enough." He smiled, knowing that he had turned it into a game, but at the same time, he had made the path clear and easy enough for her to follow. He had to wonder for a moment if she appreciated it or if she had grown bored of following the clues quickly enough. He sincerely hoped that she hadn't grown bored of it...

He stepped back a little bit and gave her a sheepish smile when she said it was nice to see him when she wasn't a patient and when she knew who it was that had been writing her. He was glad he had been writing her all this time. He was saddened by the fact that such an incredible woman was as sick as she was and yet, at the same time, he was so thankful for the chance to have been able to meet her at all. Women as exceptional as this one were extremely rare to come by and Ethan knew it. He'd thought he'd found one such woman years ago, but in the end, he knew damned well that that woman had been nothing compared to this one. That woman had had a case of hero worship and nothing more. She had made herself appealing to him because she had wanted to be appealing to him. But he knew Lynette was different. She was incredibly different.

'I was actually quite surprised to walk into the room and find you sitting there, truth be told." But he wasn't here to talk about her illness. He wasn't here to do anything of the sort but focus on the present and what would hopefully be a fantastic day spent with a beautiful woman. He pulled her seat out for her and waited for her to take it before he headed around to his side of the table and sat down again. "Have you had the chance to eat yet? I figured maybe we could catch an early lunch before we walked the boardwalk." He offered with a small smile. He had other ideas in store, but she wouldn't find out about those until a little later. "One other thing... When I'm alone with you, I'm not Doctor Parker. It's Ethan. Just Ethan."

[lynette ashford]

Lynette saw the smile he gave and caught a hint of guilt in it and wondered why he’d feel at all guilty for setting up this wonderful clue game with their letters. Thinking a moment she realized it might have nothing to do with that though but instead to do with knowing everything about her medically now since she’d been his patient. She hadn’t mentioned being sick and she knew for all her noble reasons when you broke it down she hadn’t said anything out of fear. She didn’t want to lose the letters or the man writing to her by chasing him off with the “I’m sick” card that she’d seen chase off others in the past or heard what she considered to be horror stories about it. He knew though and he’d still set this up, continued with his interest instead of cutting all ties before they could be formed further. He’d already been an amazing man in her eyes just from the letters, now he was as rare as the phoenix she had mentioned in a letter.

Smiling as she approached him and blushing faintly at the cheek kiss deciding to be daring and turning her head to return the gesture before he could move away. ”It was a fun discovery learning what you’d arranged for me to get the letters that led me here. Between the idea of letter writing and this I will admit to being very impressed with how creative and thoughtful you can be.” she said honestly. She couldn’t think of another man who’d put so much effort or thought into things as he’d done. The memories of this would be cherished to her no matter what the outcome would be though she was hoping for a good outcome from getting to know him and finally getting to meet who the secret sir was.

Seeing the sheepish smile he gave her smile lit up again to show she didn’t actually mind that he’d been her doctor while she was wondering who the mystery writer was. She could understand not wanting to meet that way, it wouldn’t have been a bad thing but it wouldn’t be as special as this had been and in a medical setting it may have been a little awkward. She was glad he hadn’t said then who he was, while she’d have been surprised and happy to meet him she preferred this setting where it was just them not a medical situation. The chance to get to know him further was something she looked forward too and this was a better way to go about it. He was an amazing man from what she’d learned of him, the kind of man she could respect and that she’d already come to care for and the kind she wanted to know as well as she could. She would let him see her as she was since he already knew the only part she would have held back.

She gave a light laugh at his words and nodded, ”I’m sure you were since I didn’t actually mention that in the letters…but I’m gonna assume you understand why I hadn’t mentioned it so we don’t have to have that talk? If I’m wrong feel free to correct me if not...then we can both just leave that talk for another time.” she said not wanting to spend this time when they met talking about that, she was here to meet the man she’d been writing to and get to know him in person rather than talk about her medical problems. Charmed when he pulled out the seat for her she sat down smiling up at him and muttering a thank you before setting her purse at her feet out of the way as he sat down across from her. Looking at him she shook her head a little to the question and considered the idea, ”Well I was a little too nervous to eat to be honest, but I am hungry so that sounds like an excellent plan to me.” she said honestly hoping her stomach wouldn’t act up today. The meds were screwing with her but she didn’t feel sick right now so she was hoping she’d be able to enjoy a meal with him and not regret it. ”Alright Ethan, I think I can remember that. Can I ask what gave you the clues idea? I just really enjoyed that it was unique how you set it up to connect with things in the letters…” she asked honestly curious where he'd gotten the idea.

OUTFIT :: MEL/ETHAN :: DONE