You wanted love
Sweet thing
A holiday romance
Not a brief fling
You wanted love
Romance and kisses
Holding hands
And making wishes
You sought a lover
In a romantic way
You should have known
At the end of the day
He sought a “gagging for it”
Nice easy lay
That was his idea
Of a romantic holiday
Perfect love can be illusive
For perfect love is unique
Perfect sex is not exclusive
For perfect sex is just technique
51-year-old
Paul Hartley found himself stranded in a strange town with less than a week to
go before Christmas.
Although
to be fair an unfamiliar town would have been a more accurate description, but
nonetheless he was stranded almost a hundred miles from home in Abbeyvale, with
a seriously sick car in the garage and a distinct lack of will to contemplate
traveling home to the north by train.
In
truth he was in no hurry to return home to the empty soulless house that he was
once happy to call home, which now held no comfort for him.
Paul’s
wife of twenty-five years, Elaine, had died earlier that year, finally losing
her battle with cancer.
Their
three children were all grown up now with homes and families of their own so
there was only him in a house full of reminders.
The
house would be full at Christmas, full of noise and hustle and bustle, and the
usual mix of love, laughter and tears, but for now it was cold and empty.
So
he booked himself into the Abbeyvale Court Hotel
for the weekend and he would drive home on Monday once the car had been
resurrected.
Finding
himself in a strange (unfamiliar) town just a handful of days before Christmas
and with more than a little time to kill he decided he could fill part of his
day by doing some last-minute Christmas shopping.
So
after breakfast on Saturday morning he left the Hotel and as Paul stepped
outside he shivered, the day was cold, grey and damp and clouds scudded across
the December sky, it was the kind of day that chilled you to the bone.
He
made his way towards the high street, which was only a five-minute walk, the
receptionist had assured him with a smile, as she jotted down some brief
directions.
In
an effort to warm himself up he walked briskly following her directions down
the narrow almost Dickensian lanes and alleyways, passing picturesque Victorian
and Tudor buildings, well mock Tudor at least, as he went.
It
was indeed five minutes when he emerged onto the busy cobbled pedestrianized
high street which was a curious mixture of the ancient and the modern.
At
one end of the street a Norman Church was visible and at the other was what
appeared to be a municipal building with rather pretentious Georgian columns.
There
was still evidence of a row of Edwardian shop fronts but much of the street was
modern with a little too much sixties influence to be easy on the eye in Paul’s
opinion.
The
street was crisscrossed along its full length with festive lights and
decorations which did their best to brighten the scene.
Paul
decided to familiarize himself with what the town had to offer in the way of
shops, so he turned left and joined the throng of shoppers, with gloomy faces
to match the weather, and headed towards the Georgian pillared building which
turned out to be the public library.
As
he dodged between the Christmas Lemmings Paul made a mental note of the shops
that interested him, which he would return to.
His
progress was hampered by erratic shoppers who appeared to move independently to
any logic.
Some
seemed to zigzag everywhere and very few possessed the ability to walk in a
straight line for more than a few paces and others would take a few steps and
then stop for no apparent reason, then after a few moments pause carry on,
normally in the same direction.
The
sound of cheery Christmas songs and carols could be heard from every shop he
passed though the cheeriness of the music was clearly not reflected on the
faces of the shoppers going in and out of them.
As
he passed one shop Noddy Holder screamed “it’s Christmas” to the outside world,
just in case any of the reluctant shoppers were in any doubt.
When
Paul reached the other end of the high street where the Norman Church stood
there was a little square, which he wasn’t able to see before, in the center of
which was the war memorial, and to its left was a magnificent Christmas tree,
festooned with a myriad of assorted baubles, ornaments, tinsel, lights and
surmounted by a beautiful angel.
Assembled
around the tree was the Salvation Army band and Paul took a few moments to
admire the tree and listen to the band and while he listened he was taken back
to a distant time and place where he and the love of his life had held hands as
they sang along.
The
clock chimed, and he was brought back to the present and he took a few more
moments while he decided on his first port of call, not realizing at the time
just how important a decision it would prove to be.
Paul
decided on Woolworths, always a favorite of his at Christmas, but on this
occasion, it also happened to be the closest, so he walked briskly towards the
store and pushed open the door.
As
he prepared to enter he paused to hold the door open for a woman coming the
other way and he waited patiently as she put her purse away into a huge handbag
and he wondered what response he would get for his trouble.
Paul
had found that the older he got the less women appreciated courtesy, the simple
act of holding open a door could provoke a wide range of responses, a smile, a
thank you, a nod, a sneer, a tut, an accusation of male chauvinism or a
colorful mouth full of abuse, and he couldn’t always tell who was going to do
what.
When
the woman had finished fiddling and securing her bag she moved to step through
the open door and as she passed Paul she looked up and said
“Thank
you” followed by a broad smile, and then she stopped in her tracks as Paul
returned her smile and then he too just stood there.
Both
of them stood motionless on the threshold as slowly the recognition set in and
they were both dumbstruck, not believing their eyes.
Neither
of them were sure how long they stood looking at one another for, but long
enough for a queue to form behind each of them.
When
they realized what they had done they both blushed and excused themselves and stepped
out onto the street away from the door apologizing profusely.
When
they were clear of the crowd neither of them knew what to say, and still couldn’t
believe their eyes, but Paul knew in his heart without a doubt that he was
looking at Linda Parsons, who he had last seen 30 years before being driven off
in a taxi, disappearing off through the snow, with her palm pressed against the
glass as she craned her neck to keep sight of him through the snow spattered
window until the very last moment, until the cab had gone from his sight.
But
here she stood before him as beautiful as ever she was in his eyes, the soft
curls of her light brown hair, which hung beneath her hat, still danced about
her shoulders, it just had fine strands of silver threaded through it.
Her
smile was still able to melt his heart, even after all those years and her
smiling eyes still had the same sparkle and he thought the years had been kind
to her and less so to him.
As
he studied her he was fumbling for the right words to express his joy at seeing
her when she reached up and hugged his neck, kissing his cheek at the same
time, and spoke softly in his ear.
“Paul,
is it really you?”
He
simply said “yes” and they stood in a long comfortable embrace, and he didn’t
know how long they stood there, not wanting to let go before she relaxed her
grip and he kissed her forehead
“It’s
so good to see you” he said feebly, and she put her head on his chest, squeezed
him and sighed.
Linda
released her grip and pulled away slightly and put her hand up to his cheek and
caressed his grey beard.
“Do
you have time for coffee?” She asked almost pleadingly
“Of
course,” Paul said, and she put her arm through his and led him across the high
street, asking quick fire questions as they went.
Paul
explained about his car breaking down and that he was staying at the Abbeyvale
Court Hotel as he was in no rush to return home
She
responded with “oh really” and “oh dear” internally delighting in his
misfortune as they walked into the nearest coffee shop, Café Société, and sat
on a large comfortable sofa and over coffee they told the tales of their lives
spent apart.
And
throughout Paul looked at her with adoring eyes, periodically pinching himself,
expecting to awake from a dream, as he had done so very many times before.
He
told her about his wife and children and she told him of her marriage to Daniel
and the subsequent divorce.
The
good man that Paul gave Linda up for turned out to have feet of clay and
degenerated into a violent drunk, they had no children, which although unsaid
was clearly a regret for her.
With
the aid of several cups of coffee they managed to talk away the entire morning
and Paul suggested they might spend the rest of the day together and have
dinner together at the hotel.
Linda
readily accepted the invitation to dinner with a delightful smile but then she
looked at her watch and suddenly jumped up in alarm
“Look
at the time, I have to go” she flustered then she said she had a prior
commitment
“Lunch
with mum” she added rather unconvincingly, saying it was something she couldn’t
get out of as he helped her back into her coat, the smell of her hair evoking
memories of their past embraces.
She
fished out her mobile phone as they left the coffee shop, from her huge handbag
and they exchanged phone numbers, and firmed up the details for the evening,
then with a hug and a kiss she was off.
Paul
stood and watched her walk away, her coat tails swishing behind her, she
stopped briefly and turned to give him a smile and a wave, then with the phone
to her ear she hurried off again talking animatedly and he stood watching until
she disappeared from sight before he went back to his Christmas shopping and
treated himself to a new shirt for the evening.
Paul
bought all the gifts he was looking for, plus paper, tags, cards etc. and with
all his shopping complete he returned to the hotel for a late lunch.
After
that the rest of the day seemed intolerably long, and in an effort to kill some
time he went for a swim, used the gym, and then went for a walk.
He
got a haircut, even though he didn’t need one, he even wrapped the Christmas
presents he had bought that morning, but the time passed so interminably
slowly.
Paul
walked into the hotel bar at 7 o’clock, an hour early, partly for some Dutch
courage and in part because he had run out of things to do so he ordered a
drink and then sat at the bar.
Even
though he wasn’t expecting her until eight, every time the door opened he
turned to look for her and when it wasn’t her his self-doubt crept in, and with
every false alarm the doubts got worse, what if she doesn’t come? What if she
changed her mind? What if she never intended to come? What if? What if? What
if?
Then
at a quarter to the hour the door opened and there she was, the love of his
life, and every bit as beautiful to him as ever, in spite of the passing years.
Linda
was wearing a simple black knee length dress, black tights or stockings and
four-inch stiletto shoes, and he thought her legs were as shapely as he
remembered them.
In
fact he thought that everything about her was as wonderful as he remembered,
even though she was thirty years older.
She
held a black leather clutch bag in her hand and her face looked a little
anxious until Paul stood up and then it lit up with the most radiant smile.
Relieved
to find him there, she walked towards him almost tottering on her heels and
that made her laugh.
“Hello”
She said, and he responded “Hi” and took her hand as she climbed onto a stool.
Paul
kissed her cheek and the fragrance of her perfume was quite intoxicating, going
straight to his head like a strong spirit and the combination of her scent and
his desire for her almost made him swoon.
He
ordered her a drink and they nervously made small talk, like two strangers on a
blind date, until the waitress led them through to the restaurant.
“How
did your lunch with your mum go?” Paul asked once they were seated at their
table and she blushed the deepest red in response
“The
lunch date was a little white lie” she admitted
“Oh?”
“Because
I needed the afternoon to get ready” she said, “for this”
“And
the animated phone call you were having when you left?”
“Was
to my sister, to rally the troops and get me presentable” she confided and they
both laughed and any awkwardness between them was gone.
“Well,
all I can say is that it was time well spent” he said, and she blushed again at
the compliment.
Over
dinner they talked with such an easy familiarity as if her departing taxi had
only been a week earlier rather than 30 years.
By
the time they had finished their coffee the restaurant was empty except for
Paul and Linda and a very weary waitress waiting to clear their table.
The
evening seemed to have passed by in the blink of an eye and had all too soon
come to an end.
They
got up and made their apologies and Linda went through the door to the ladies
while Paul signed the bill.
“Good
night” he said, “and I must apologize again for keeping you so late”
After
leaving a large tip on the table he went in search of Linda through the same
door she had used, and he found her standing by the Christmas tree.
She
had retrieved her coat and scarf from the cloakroom, which were draped over one
arm, and her bag was in her hand.
Linda
stood with her back to him gazing out of the window, but she could see his
reflection in the glass and smiled at him and he gasped at the beauty of her
and pinched himself again.
He
wanted to kiss her so much, but he was afraid, afraid to break the magic of
that special kiss, that perfect moment when they kissed in the snow all those
years earlier when he let her slip from his grasp.
For
30 years he had revered that moment, reliving it whenever on a winter’s night
he heard the Salvation Army play, or when the snow fell during Christmas time,
or when he felt a snowflake on his skin, or stood in a taxi queue on a winter’s
night.
For
30 years he had wanted to be back there in that moment holding her in the snow,
and there she stood a few steps away from him, yet he was hesitant.
But
as if sensing his turmoil, she turned away from the window and he took those
few steps to face her.
They
stood beside the Christmas tree for a few moments just looking at each other,
then she smiled her most heart melting smile as she caressed his cheek before
she pulled him to her and kissed him gently on the lips, a warm sensitive and
tender kiss.
When
their lips touched electricity ran down his spine and it was as if they were
young again.
When
their lips parted she smiled at him coyly and flushed a deep shade of pink and
a second later they met again, and her kiss became more intense, more
passionate.
Her
coat, scarf and bag fell to the floor as their arms enveloped each other and
they stood locked in passionate embrace as the tree lights twinkled beside them.
Linda
pulled away for a moment before burying her face in his neck and then softly
spoke in his ear.
“You
see, that was as good as the first time”
“How
could I have doubted it would be perfect?” he responded and cupping her flushed
cheek in his palm before he slid his fingers beneath her soft brown curls and
caressed the soft downy hair on her nape as he pulled her head toward him, so
he could kiss her sweet lips again.
The
next time they paused she put her head on his chest, still holding on to him so
tightly as Paul kissed the top of her head and smelled her hair.
He
held her and didn’t want to let her go, and then he said
“Please
stay, I can’t watch you disappear from my life again in another taxi”
In
response she lifted her head from his chest and looked at him and said
“I’m
not letting you go again, not now, not ever”
Then
she smiled at him coyly and blushed like a virgin before she buried her face in
his chest again.
A
moment later she scooped up her coat, scarf and bag from the floor and took his
hand and they walked in silence to his room.
Outside
in the corridor she looked deeply into his eyes and kissed his mouth before
Paul opened the door and let her walk inside.
She
immediately dropped her coat and bag onto a chair and turned to face him as he
followed her and she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and
whispered in his ear
“I
never stopped loving you”
Paul’s
arms enveloped her and pulled her close to him and then they kissed, at first
soft and tender but then more urgently and he began to un-wrap his most special
Christmas gift, wrapped in lace and silk instead of paper and ribbon.
Caressing
her body from neck to lacy stocking top and their love was at last made
absolute.
When
their act of love was complete, and their dreams realized they lay holding each
other in the afterglow, silently content until they drifted off to sleep.
Paul
awoke to find Linda stood silhouetted against the window, gazing out into the
night, wearing his shirt to cover her nakedness and she turned her head to look
at him and said
“It’s
snowing”
Paul
slipped out of bed and joined her at the window, and standing behind her
encompassing her in his arms they watched as the snow settled on the courtyard
and she hugged his arms and said
“How
perfect is that?”
They
stood for a few minutes taking in the snowy scene, both thinking back to the
last time they enjoyed the snowfall together then she inclined her head, so he
could kiss her and when his hands moved from her soft belly and cupped her
breasts she led him back to the bed and they made love again.
He
woke early the next morning and lay in the half light and held Linda’s sleeping
form in his arms and as he lay there he thought how good the fates had been to
them that weekend.
If
his car hadn’t broken down, and had he not rejected the idea of taking the
train, he would not have been shopping on that cold grey morning.
He
thought about the moments he spent admiring that tree in the square and
listening to the Salvation Army band, and what thought processes made him do
what he did.
Was
it destiny that he chose to start his shopping at Woolworths, and at the very
that moment Linda was preparing to leave, or just blind luck?
They
could have chosen any one of the five doors along Woolworths frontage but they
both chose the same one, surely that had to be fate.
Although
it didn’t really matter to him, all he knew for sure was that 24 hours before
that day his life had been so sad and empty and now it was full to overflowing
and he was finally with his soul mate.
Linda
was in Paul’s life at last and he wanted her never to leave it again, but if
fate decreed that the special embrace on one special night of that special
weekend was all they could have then he would have been content, but he didn’t
have to.
Paramour in the wings
Mistress in waiting
The smitten kitten
With the concubine heart
I have a picture of you,
In my wallet,
It’s a little the worse for wear
But I treasure it
I’m sure you’ll remember it
It was on the sea front
That last day I spent with you
I thought it was a happy day
You seemed happy too
I often study that little snap
Looking for any tell tale signs
But if they exist, they evade me
It doesn’t show in your eyes
There’s no hint in your smile
But still you left me
She leaned her face towards me
Slowly, yet purposefully
And touched my lips gently
with hers
For just the merest moment
A single spinetingling moment
Then she stopped
And pulled her head away
Looking deep into my eyes
With a commanding gaze
Which demanded loudly
That I should reciprocate
I wrapped my arms around her
waist
Pulling her close to me.
When our lips met this time
They parted on contact
And our tongues flicked
Vigorously exploring each
other’s mouths
It was my first real kiss
And what a kiss it was
A toe curling
Nerve tingling
Sweet moment of bliss
Outside
in the winter night, snow spattered, unseen, against the other side of the steamy
glass, glass which reflected back images like mirrors against the dark beyond.
It
was a fairly crowded Friday evening train, but not full, there were still a
number of empty seats, one of which was next to 21-year-old Paul Hartley.
The
carriage was occupied by a mixture of weary shoppers, shopping bags bursting at
the seams and commuting workers content that the weeks work was done, all journeying
homeward at the dark days end.
A
cheerful crowd though, Paul thought, pleased with themselves for a variety of
reasons, bright faced and hearty and full of seasonal cheer and anticipating
the Christmas holiday and seemingly oblivious to the drafty carriage, and the
winter weather beyond it.
Paul
sat alone as the train rattled out of Nettlefield Station and felt lifted by
the quiet jolliness as he contemplated the collective countenance of his self-satisfied
travelling companions and then she appeared, and Paul was all at once lifted
higher.
Because
there she was, larger than life, vivacious and self-assured, covered with snowflakes
and laughing to herself.
It
was his snow angel, Linda Parsons, with snow covering her like sugar on a
doughnut, a delicious confection he would have gladly consumed.
Linda
was wrapped up against the cold in a red woolen hat and coat and a long-knitted
scarf draped about her neck.
Still
laughing, she shook her head and the light brown hair that hung beneath her
hat, danced about her shoulders and the snowflakes settled on them melted away
from her soft curls.
There
was a rosy redness on her cheeks, almost matching the hue of her coat, either
from the cold winter evening or a liberal taste of Christmas spirit, a little
of both Paul assumed.
Linda
made her way unsteadily down the train between the seats leaving wet snowflakes
in her wake with her full-length coat swishing from side to side.
She
moved almost gracelessly, which Paul thought suited her well, as she tottered a
little in her high heeled boots, perhaps due to the lurching motion of the
train or the Christmas punch and eggnog at the office party.
As
Paul studied her she was still laughing softly to herself, which he thought also
suited so well, and then she saw him, and her eyes lit up like beacons, and he
sighed as he looked into those wonderful, sparking, laughing eyes as she
stopped and stood momentarily open mouthed, and then her smile illuminated the
carriage and his heart soared at the sight of her and as Paul returned her
smile she flushed a little deeper red.
It
had been almost a year since he had last seen her, and she was his lovely lost love,
Linda, and it had been a hard year for him, in which he had locked all his
feelings for her away, but the instant he saw her they were back with a vengeance.
It
was like a door had opened in his heart and they all rushed out, he had missed
her so much in that time, but he didn’t know just how much until that moment.
They
were never lovers, only ever friends, but very special friends, very close
friends, though nothing more.
They
liked each other’s company, they would have lunch together, journey to and from
work on the same bus, shared a cab when the need arose and laughed a lot
together, shared confidences, and talked incessantly, because they were best
friends but that was as far as it ever went, though he wanted more, he wanted so
much more but Paul didn’t want to lose what they had together, so he said
nothing.
He
loved her so much that it hurt, but she was not free for him to love and Linda
was not free to love him even if she had wanted to, so Paul contented himself
with their special friendship and his unrequited love remained just that.
If
that was all he could have then better that than nothing, so he was happy to
love her unconditionally.
They
had plenty of opportunities to see each other as they both lived in the same
road in Millmoor, he with his cousin and she with her parents, and they both
worked at St Augusta’s Hospital in Nettlefield, where Linda was a clerical
assistant and Paul was a porter.
And
that unrequited love affair could have gone on indefinitely had circumstances not
changed for him when his father died.
As
a result, he had to move away to look after his mother and he didn’t see Linda
again, not until that moment.
When
she was standing in front of him, his angel, larger than life, smiling,
blushing, laughing and oh so lovely.
Paul
stood up and smiled at her again and she threw herself at him and Linda hugged him
so tightly and as she did so, he smelled her hair as he held onto her and was
intoxicated by her scent and all the old feelings flooded back, over whelming him.
Paul
had often dreamt of being reunited with her, but never in his wildest dreams
had he expected such a reaction from her.
“Could
it be my love is not unrequited?” he wondered
They
sat down heavily on the lumpy seats in the rattling carriage and to all intents
and purposes were completely alone.
They
sat looking at each other in silence not wanting to lose sight of one another
just in case the spell was broken.
Linda
removed a glove and put her hand on his as if testing it was not a dream and he
was really there, in substance.
“It
really is you” she said and then she slipped her hand into his, her delicate
fingers lacing between his, her hand so small in his grasp.
For
the remainder of the journey they reveled in each other’s company as they caught
up with the lost months, filling in the gaps of their time apart, and as they
did so they remained oblivious to their traveling companions, it was as if they
had never been apart.
But
apart they most certainly had been, she still worked at the hospital in
Nettlefield and lived at home in Millmoor while he now lived in Nettlefield and
worked for Stephenson’s Supermarket’s as a Warehouse manager.
Linda
playfully chastised him for disappearing so completely from her life.
“I
thought it was the only way” he said, intimating the disposition of his
feelings to her for the first time.
“I’ve
missed you so much” she said and squeezed his hand and then the train shook to
a halt as all too soon they had arrived at Millmoor Station and their fellow
travelers all rushed off into the winter air heading towards their Christmases.
Reluctantly
Paul and Linda left their seats and disembarked from the carriage arm in arm, then
hand in hand as they walked slowly along the platform, still talking and
laughing, until they handed over their tickets and then stepped out of the
Station and onto the street, where the shops were now closing and the town had
settled down to a relative quiet, although from one pub Noddy Holder screamed
“it’s Christmas” to the outside world and only the pubs and restaurants seemed
to hold any attraction to the remaining Millmoorian’s.
Paul
and Linda however were not interested in noisy hostelries, so they joined a
small group gathered round the Salvation Army band and joined in with the carol
singing in the town square before reluctantly strolling towards the taxi rank as
the snow again fell onto Linda’s soft curls.
They
were both bound for different parts of town, Linda, had to get home to babysit
her sister and Paul was bound for The Downshire Grey where he was meeting up
for a Christmas drink with friends.
They
took their place in the queue of travelers eager to be home, Paul was eager to
be nowhere else but with Linda and he shuffled along for the last few steps
like a sulky schoolboy.
Linda
was smiling as she turned to face him and kissed him gently on the lips, such a
warm sensitive and tender kiss, their first ever kiss, and when their lips
parted she smiled at him coyly and flushed a deep shade of pink.
“I’ve
wanted to do that for so long” she said, and Paul kissed a snowflake off her
nose and cupping her flushed cheek in his palm he slid his fingers beneath her soft
brown curls and caressed the soft downy hair on her nape as he pulled her sweet
lips to his and returned her kiss.
Linda’s
arms enveloped him, holding him so close, and so tightly, not wanting to let
go, not wanting to lose what they had found and not wanting to lose him again.
They
stood locked in their first passionate embrace as the snow fell softly on the
scene until Linda pulled away for a moment before burying her face in his neck
and saying softly.
“I’ve
missed you so much, I’ve missed your love for me”
Paul
had waited so long for that moment, waited so long to hear those words, to hear
his love returned and then they kissed again.
Taxi’s
arrived and departed through the slush and the queue around them just kept
moving as if unaware of the depth of their love.
After
an indeterminate period, they moved from the queue and found a bench in the town
square, in a quiet spot with a view of the Christmas Tree and talked.
The
substance of that talk was of love, a shared love, an unquenchable love.
Not
an unrequited one as Paul had supposed because Linda had the same profound
feelings for him, she had always done so she said, but she had not been free to
pursue her love for Paul a year earlier and she was still not free.
So,
Linda was torn between the two loves in her life, torn between the comfortable familiarities
for a good man, a loyal and dependable man, for safety if you like, and the
passion she felt for a soul mate.
Paul
was similarly conflicted, Linda was the love of his life and he would never,
could never love another in the same way, but it wasn’t fair on Daniel, her
other love, her childhood sweetheart, he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Paul
had been on the receiving end of that kind of pain and he found himself unable
to inflict it onto another, even if he were a rival, so the conclusion to their
converse as they cuddled on the quiet bench was that their love was a forbidden
one, and had to be set aside.
They
could be best friends no more, not now the genie was out of the bottle, though
they both wanted more, so much more.
Paul
could not content himself with the special friendship that they had once
treasured, not now that he knew his love was not unrequited.
There
was no going back, now Pandora’s Box had been opened, but at least now he knew
she loved him with the same depth of feeling as he loved her.
After
they had reached the conclusion of their frank exchange they slowly walked hand
in hand back to the taxi rank and kissed again in the falling snow.
They
joined the queue and all too soon it was her turn and after a final kiss she
got into a taxi and through the winter wonderland Linda departed taking Paul’s
love with her.
As
the Taxi drove away with Linda in the back, with her palm pressed against the
glass, she craned her neck to keep sight of him through the snow spattered
window until the very last moment, until the cab had gone from his sight.
Linda
was gone from his arms, gone from his view, gone from his life but a Christmas
happening had changed his life forever, after a brief encounter, fleeting, here
and then gone.
Her
scent was still in his nostrils, the taste of joy on his lips, and his soulmate
was gone forever, yet she remained forever in his memory, forever in his heart.
He
resolved that he would never see her again and moved away in the New Year to
avoid another chance encounter and make a life elsewhere, but Paul never forgot
Linda.
And
when on a winter’s night he heard the Salvation Army play, or when the snow
falls during Christmas time, or when he felt a snowflake on his skin, he feels her
small hand in his and all at once she is in his arms once again, and he can
smell her soft brown hair and the taste of her is on his lips and he hears her
say “I love you” and Linda is his forever.
