November
The hamlet of Saxvirdan a
mile or so from St Pierre and as it was a hamlet, everyone knew each other’s
business, but that didn’t mean that there weren’t still secrets.
Mark Holdway
was walking along the bridle path in the autumn sunshine, lost in thought and
totally oblivious to the glorious scenery surrounding him in the glorious
woodland.
He wasn’t even
aware how long he’d been walking such was the burden he was carrying.
“Hello Mr
Holdway” a voice said bringing him back to the present and he looked round to
see Charlotte Euringer trotting past and giving him a radiant smile.
“Hello
Charlotte” he said as she trotted off down the path on her horse, her pert
little bottom bouncing on the saddle, rhythmically rising and falling in
synchrony with the beast below her and he instantly felt guilty.
It was the
guilt of a grieving husband, daring to look upon the loveliness of another
woman, and in those moments, he felt really alive.
He had nursed
his dying wife from the moment they found out she was terminally ill right up
till the end, which thankfully had been mercifully quick.
Charlotte
Euringer had been her palliative care nurse, and he really liked her, but there
had been no infidelity, he loved her far too much to betray her in that way, it
would never even have occurred to him to cheat on a dying woman.
In fact not
only that but he kept Charlotte at arm’s length and was cold and aloof and
never let his true disposition show through, but the guilt he had felt since,
took none of that into account.
But that day
was different, he had no cause to feel guilty, because on that morning, six
months after his beloved wife Ellen passed, he received a letter from his
solicitors, Cutts, Miller and Toogood, which he supposed to be some final loose
ends to be tied, which in a way it was.
Because when he
opened it, he discovered another letter, this time from his wife Ellen, which
the solicitor’s letter informed him, was being delivered to him in accordance
with his late wife’s wishes.
He sat down and
his hands were shaking as he opened the envelope which at once exuded the
essence of her favourite fragrance, which he took several minutes to enjoy,
with her scent in his nostrils it was like she was there with him, which he
surmised was probably the point.
He was in tears
when he read the letter, one particular part he read several times and each
time he cried afresh.
“If you are
reading this then it means that six months have passed since I left you, and
that means that, if you haven’t done so as yet, it’s time for you to get on
with your life, you’ve grieved long enough.
I know that you
and Charlotte “connected” while you were both nursing me, although you did your
best to hide that fact from each other, though not from me, and I also know
that you’re far too honourable to have done anything about it, either then or
now, which is why I’ve also written to Charlotte.
So live your
life to the full, our chapter is over now, and it made very good reading, but
it’s time to write the next one with Charlotte”.
She had given
him permission to pursue another woman, but he wasn’t anywhere near as sure as
she was that Charlotte had even the merest interest in him and then he rounded
a bend in the bridal path where he saw Charlotte stood beside her horse, which
was tied to a stile.
“What kept
you?” she called
“Were you
expecting me then?” he asked
“I was told you
were coming” she replied and held up Ellen’s letter as she walked towards him
“No need to
hold back now” she said as she faced him
“No” he agreed
and then he kissed her, guilt free
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