Wednesday, 11 September 2024

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (122) Mending Bridges

 


It was a damp drizzly Sunday morning and Lily Nunthorpe and Barney were not disappointed when the walk was over.

Lily owned a vintage clothes shop, “Then for Now” and specialised in repairing and rejuvenating old garments, as well as stocking a large quantity of Vintage wear.

When they arrived at the back door, she opened it and the dog beat her through it.

It wasn’t the rain that got her down so much, it was the fact that her usual companion, David Lee, and her had had a falling out, because she had told him she had feelings for him, that she loved him. 

She towelled Barney dry before kicking off her boots and hanging up her coat and afterwards she went in search of the kettle.

When she reached the kitchen her niece Poppy was sitting at the table pouring a cup of tea from a large tea pot.

“Is there another one in there Poppy?” she asked

“Yes Aunty, get yourself a mug”

After Poppy had done the honour’s Lily took a tentative sip.

“Oooh that’s nice” she said 

“Did you enjoy your walk Aunty?”

“No not much it’s a bit miserable out there today” she replied

“Have you been out walking with the David lately?” Poppy asked

David Lee was the owner of the Forum Cinema, and Lily had been friends with him and his wife Brenda for many years.

“No, why?”

“It’s just that I thought you two had become inseparable”

“That was just a coincidence”

“Oh that’s a shame” Poppy said

“Why?”

“Well you’ve had a bit of a spring in your step for the past few weeks” she replied

“And you didn’t let a bit of rain dampen your enthusiasm, you’d have been out there for hours on a day like this”

“Oh I don’t know about that” Lily protested

“And you looked good together” She added

“Now you’re just being silly”

“And I’ll tell you something else Auntie, I think Brenda would have been pleased”

“Would she?” Lily asked with surprise

“Yes, she was very fond of you”

Lily was thoughtful for a few moments as she finished her tea, then she stood up and walked around and kissed the top of Poppy’s head

“You have wisdom beyond your year’s sweetie”

“It’s a gift” she replied

“Come on then dog, it’s time to get wet again”

 

David had had a very troubled night’s sleep and was still wearing his dressing gown while he was sitting in his study drinking black coffee.

 

The reason for his lack of sleep was due to a recurring series of dreams about his last exchange with Lily, interspaced with images of his deceased wife Brenda.

 

Lily and Barney walked past his house five times before she plucked up enough courage to go and knock on the door.

The drizzle of earlier had turned into proper rain and there were rivulets running down her face and large droplets on the end of her nose as she knocked.

But when there was no answer, she suddenly felt very foolish, he clearly didn’t want to see her, and he couldn’t have made it plainer.

She imagined him to be looking out the window and wishing she would go away.

 

But unknown to Lily the reason David didn’t answer the door was that he was upstairs getting dressed.

After musing over his nocturnal trials he shook off his earlier torpor and galvanized into action and he was going to call on Lily.

But he had to make himself presentable, he was nearly finished, with only his trousers to go when he heard a knock at the door.

He did indeed look out of the window but his thought process when he saw who it was not to hide and hope she went away.

But it did throw him into a blind panic about how he could get his trousers on and get downstairs before she did go away.

After several false starts, firstly putting them on back to front and secondly trying to get both legs down one leg hole, he made it downstairs and opened the door just as Lily had reached the front gate.

“Lily!!” he called, and she turned around

“Come on in Lily, you look soaked to the skin”

Still thinking herself foolish she thought about ignoring him and just going home, but she didn’t.

Once through the door David closed it behind her and he handed her a towel to dry her face

“Thanks David”

He then used a second one to dry Barneys coat.

“There you go” he said when he was finished

He then helped Lily out of her coat and asked

“So what brings you out on a filthy day like this?”

“That’s a good question” she replied enigmatically

“Well come into the kitchen and you can tell me over a hot drink”

He suggested.

When they were seated at the table with a steaming beverage in front of them, he repeated his question

“So what does bring you out on a filthy day like this?”

She had been desperately trying to work out what to say but it was all such a jumble in her head and all she could think to say was

“I’ve been thinking”

“Oh”

“Yes”

“What about” he asked

“About the other day”

“Oh I see” he said and bowed his head

Lily then took a deep breath and said

“I don’t regret it”

“You don’t?” he asked as he looked up

“No I don’t” she said proudly “In fact I’m glad I did it”

“Oh” was all he could manage

“And I don’t think that Brenda would mind”

“No nor do I” he agreed and reached across the table and held her hand

“So that’s what I’ve been thinking” she concluded, and she squeezed his hand

“Well that is a lot of thinking” he said

“And have you done any thinking?” she asked coyly

“Yes, I have” he replied but didn’t elaborate

After a minute had elapsed, she could wait no longer and snapped

“Well?”

“Well I was thinking I should take you out tomorrow for your birthday and we can take it from there” he said and leant across the table and kissed her.

“Good thinking” she responded and then she returned his kiss with interest.

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