BURNING LOVE

 

Emblazoned on my heart

Seared into my soul

The fire of love burns within

Please don’t extinguish

This fire in my soul

Don’t add another scar

To my tortured heart

Scar upon vivid scar

Keep the embers aglow

Let our love forever burn

SEASONED

 

When we were young

We began wandering aimlessly

Through leafy woodland.

We began when there were only

The early buds of spring

Wandering on through

The dappled shade of summer

And its comforting warmth

Onward then to the fall

With its crimson hues

Now we embark beyond

The crunch of autumns leaves

Into the cold metaphor

Of winters landscape

We still have each other

But we also have uncertainty

How much winter will we see?

A SOUND LIKE HEAVEN

 

A sound like heaven

Sits softly on the ear

Every honey coated word

Is a sweet souvenir

The joy of her touch

On my skin still lingers

From her Porcelain hands

And delicate fingers

Delicately scented

Like an exotic Rose

Still vividly resides

In the appreciative nose

And the sight of her

Consummate beauty

Will occupy my dreams

For all eternity

THE TASTE UPON MY LIPS

 

The taste upon my lips

Of My moonlight kiss

And to taste that kiss again

Is my one and only wish

It Was Purely Platonic

 

Nerissa Gamboa was 29 years old and worked behind the delicatessen counter at Morrison’s Supermarket in Chapel Hill.

She was quite a shy girl but was popular with staff and customers alike.

Nerissa was a very slim and attractive girl with beautiful long dark brown hair and dark skin, reflecting her heritage as did her brown eyes.

In her ancestry she had Filipino and Spanish blood but she was born and bred in Britain and had no family ties with either country or even in Britain for that matter.

She was the only child of two only children and both of them were gone now.

So she was now all on her own and she lived alone in a small one bedroom flat about a mile from her work.

So why was a lovely slim girl with a personality that was equally lovely, living alone in a dingy one bedroom flat?

 

Her next door neighbour in flat 2a Gladstone Court was 32 year old Harry Devonshire, he though had the luxury of a large two bedroom flat in which to live alone in, courtesy of a failed relationship some eight years earlier.

Unlike Nerissa his heritage was strictly British and he did have living family, two brothers in fact, unfortunately they were both living in Australia so he hadn’t seen either of them for over 8 years.

Harry also worked at Morrison’s where he was the warehouse manager.

 

Nerissa and Harry were best friends and did everything together, if either of them was invited anywhere the other was always their plus one.

It would be true to say that they loved each other but their relationship was strictly platonic and their friendship had been forever and they were close to the point of symbiosis.

Coworkers at the store used to think their relationship was almost comic, but Harry and Nerissa got each other and their thoughts and desires were quite esoteric.

 

But their all-consuming purpose in life, their primary objective, was finding life partners, in particularly a serious romantic relationship.

But their frantic search for love remained fruitless.

Though not for the want of trying, they tried on line dating, blind dates, clubs, pubs and speed dating, all to no avail and as a result they had both kissed more than their fair share of frogs along the way and neither of them knew why they hadn’t struck gold.

Nerissa couldn’t understand why a good looking man like Harry was unattached and he couldn’t fathom why a gorgeous woman like her was still single, but the search went on.

 

They were walking home from work one particularly cold Friday night in October and Nerissa was unusually quiet as Harry prattled on about the arrival of the Christmas stock into the warehouse.

“I might have to cancel Christmas this year” she said out of the blue

“Why?” Harry asked

“My rents gone up” she said “and I’ve just got my Gas and Electric bills”

“Well look on the bright side” he said “You might have found Mr. Right by Christmas”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to put looking for him on hold” Nerissa said as they arrived at the flats “And I’ll have to break into my savings just to get through the winter”

Harry didn’t know what to say and they walked upstairs in silence when they got to their floor he said

“Right you go and get changed and I’ll get the supper on”

“I think I’m just going to have a bath and get an early night” she replied 

“Are you sure?” Harry asked “We can have a glass of wine and talk it through”

“Yes I’m sure babe” She insisted “I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep”

“Ok Hon” Harry said and kissed her cheek “I’ll see you in the morning”

Nerissa closed the door and once inside she decided to skip the bath and went straight to bed and cried herself to sleep.

And while Nerissa sobbed into her pillow Harry decided to forgo supper and opened a bottle of red wine instead and by the time he drank the last drop he thought he had a solution to her problem.

 

The next morning he was up early and went round to the bakery in Convent Road and picked up fresh croissants. 

As he returned to Gladstone Court he could see the lights were on in her flat so when he reached the door to flat 2b, he rang the bell.

After a minute or two she opened it looking like she hadn’t slept in a week.

“Come on sleepy head, croissants and coffee” Harry said

“Not for me Harry” she said

“No to croissant?” he said and putting his hand to his chest as if he was having a heart attack.

“Not today” she said

“I won’t take no for an answer, so get your dressing gown on” he ordered her 

Reluctantly she did as he instructed and followed him into his flat.

“Do we have to do this this morning?” she asked “I really don’t feel up to it”

“Yes we do need to do it now” Harry said “and when you’ve heard what I have to say you’ll understand why”

“Ok give me some coffee” she said resignedly

After he had poured two mugs of strong black coffee he sat down and began.

“I think I have a solution to your problem”

“Oh yes? And what might that be” she said doubtfully

“I think you should give up your flat and move in here” he said

“What?” Nerissa asked scarcely believing her ears

“Give up your flat and move into my spare room” he elaborated

“But that’s a ridiculous idea” she said

“Is it?” Harry said

“Well isn’t it? Nerissa asked back

“Look we eat together most nights, we watch TV together most nights” he explained

“And you only use your flat as a bedroom and dressing room anyway”

“Yes but” she interrupted

“And my spare room is almost as big as your whole flat” Harry added

“Yes I know, but” she persisted

“I’ll continue to pay the rent and we can split the bill for the utilities” Harry concluded

“Well I…” she began

“And here’s the clincher with the money we both save we might finally get that holiday we’ve always talked about” Harry said

“Greece?” she asked

“Greece” he replied

“Ok” she agreed “now give me a croissant”

 

They had often talked about a foreign holiday, not that they ever thought they’d actually achieve it, it was planned more in a fanciful way.

Neither of them had been abroad or even owned a passport for that matter.

At first they spoke in general terms but over the years they had narrowed their search and had decided on Greece as the object of their dreams, or more precisely a Greek Island.

The particular Greek island was unspecified as of that moment when Harry invited Nerissa to move in, their only stipulation was that it mustn’t have its own airport.

The reasoning for that was that it would limit the number of binge drinking lager louts.

 

Later that day they were sat in his flat looking through old holiday magazines.

“Are you sure?” Nerissa asked

“Sure about what?” he replied

“Me moving in” she said

“Never more so” Harry said

His leant over and kissed her forehead and said

“So have you seen anything you fancy?”

“Andros” she replied instantly and handed him the magazine, and after reading the article in detail he replied

“Andros it is then”

Then Harry got up and switched on his laptop and went online, he typed in the address and navigated around until he found the relevant page

“Here we go” he said and Nerissa moved closer.

“It will be cheaper if we go before the School summer holidays”

“June” Nerissa said “that will give us more time to save, and we’ll get our Easter bank holiday pay in May”

“Ok” he said “two weeks in June”

“Two weeks?” she asked “can we afford two weeks?”

“Oh” she said as he pointed at the figure on the screen “Two weeks then”

He entered his details in the form and picked up his wallet from the table, entered his credit card number and hit the button.

“Booked” he said

“We’re really going aren’t we?” she said and giggled.

“Indeed” Harry concurred “We are taking our search for love and romance on the road, so to speak”

“Hooray” Nerissa yelled and danced around.

“Let’s open a bottle to celebrate” Harry suggested

“Let’s not” she said “Lets save the money and open one in Andros”

“Damn you’re so sensible” he said

 

On Monday morning Nerissa gave notice on her flat and over the following month she completed the move into Harry’s flat.

This involved helping him clear the spare room and redecorating it.

They then had to decide what she would take from the old flat and what would be dumped or sold.

She and Harry then gave her flat a thorough clean and they were rewarded by the return of her deposit in full which meant she could clear her bills and put the remainder straight into the holiday fund.

As of the 30th of November she was properly in and there was no turning back because the day after a new tenant moved in to her old flat.

 

As a result the pair of them had become quite boring and put on hold any expectation of finding Mr/Miss Right as their focus was one hundred percent on the holiday.

The run up to Christmas added to the coffers as they picked up extra shifts as a result of the age old tradition of seasonal panic buying.

They also restricted their spending on entertainment by only attending certain festivities, like staff parties and such like, and by cutting back on buying Christmas gifts.

This was a difficult decision as they were both huge Christmas fans and liked to make the most of the season.

The decorations went up promptly on the first of December and that Christmas they had twice the decorations to put up.

What they didn’t stint on though were the festive services from the first Sunday of advent to Christmas morning.

 

After the morning service on Christmas day they really pushed the boat out, despite having spent a pittance.

They bought the damaged or reduced items wherever possible and used their staff discounts on the rest and as a result they had a sumptuous feast.

“Well that was very indulgent” Harry said as they sat on the sofa after dinner.

“Very” Nerissa said and burped

They both laughed and Harry patted his stomach and said

“I don’t know why I’m laughing this belly is going to look great with my speedos on the beach”

“I hadn’t thought of that” Nerissa said and patted her own tummy and burped again.

When they exchanged presents they both had novelty chocolates and one main present each.

Harry bought Nerissa a small Gold crucifix and she bought him a Gold tie pin engraved with his name.

 

On New Year’s Eve, they normally hit the town, but this year they stayed home and saw the New Year in quietly and then they worked the next day for double time.

 

January was a hard depressing month, the decorations were packed away and the flat looked bare, the weather was bitter cold and snowy and it was a long 5 weeks until payday.

When pay day came they applied for their passports.

February brought more cold, more snow but a much quicker payday but no valentine cards save for the joke ones they gave each other.

March brought an end to the snow and cold and showed the first hint of spring and the passports arrived.

With April came Easter and another chance for extra money which would be in their pockets in time for the holiday.

In May they did their holiday shopping and packed their cases and they were all set.

 

The first week of June and they arrived at the airport an hour earlier than necessary.

Harry had only been to the airport before to either drop someone off or pick someone up.

Nerissa on the other hand had never been to an airport before in her life.

 

When they eventually got on the plane they sat very quietly.

Neither of them had flown before and were both quite scared but didn’t want to mention it to the other.

And as the plane raced down the runway they held hands.

Once in the air they soon relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the flight to Athens and nervousness was replaced by excitement.

However even once they had landed in Athens they were still a long time and a long way from their destination.

First they had to wait half an hour for a coach at the airport then a similar duration coach trip to the docks where they boarded a ferry.

There they had to wait a further 40 minutes before the ferry departed on a journey which took two hours to carry them to Andros Island in the Cyclades.

To the seasoned travelers aboard, the journey would have been very tedious indeed but to Harry and Nerissa being novices at travel, they didn’t mind a bit as they saw everything about the journey as a great adventure and on the journey they were rewarded for their patience by the appearance of a pod of porpoises who escorted them across the azure blue Aegean sea.

This they took as a good omen for the holiday ahead.

When they docked on the island they were met by another bus that took them to the village of Batsi.

 

As they walked into their apartments they had travelled for a total of 12 hours door to door but they thought it would all be worth it when they met the person of their dreams.

 

On the afternoon of their first day they had an orientation meeting with their tour rep who gave them the spiel about the resort and handed out information on places of interest, transport timetables, day trips and local entertainment.    

However the two of them were less interested in the talk than they were in their fellow tourists as they were looking for romance in the sun.

But as they scanned each and every face in the assembly they noticed there appeared to be no singles present.

Although Harry and Nerissa both noticed independently they chose to keep it to themselves.

However over the next 24 hours they both came to the conclusion that they had come to the wrong resort for romance because the visitors were all, without exception, already paired up.

 

Over an Al fresco breakfast next morning on the waterfront, as they sat in the fresh morning air at a quayside café it was Nerissa who broached the subject.

“Have you noticed they’re all couples?” she said

“Yes” he replied

“We’re not going to find them here are we?” she asked

By “Them” she meant their soul mates, their perfect other halves, Mr. or Miss Right.

“I’m afraid not” he agreed

“So what now?” Nerissa asked

“Now we just have fun” Harry said

And so they resigned themselves to the fact that they were not going to find who they were looking for and decided they should just enjoy every minute of their holiday instead.

Their search for love over, they spent a lot of time on the beach or in the water, or on a boat or in bars and Taverna’s.

They filled every possible moment.

Walking the beach together playing in the waves and having fun
before finding a quiet sheltered spot or a shady tree to siesta under.

They took day trips to Tinos and the Church of Panagia Evangelistria and visited the monastery of Agia Zoodochos Pighi and Andros town.

Evening entertainments included cocktails at the Koala bar,
Nightcaps at the Paradise, Greek dancing, Beach BBQ’s and a Greek night of local cuisine and drink.

But most of all they spent their time in or near the water.

One of their favourite spots was a narrow stretch of beach, north of Batsi at Agia Marina
with its own beach side Taverna run by a colourful character called Stavros where they often had lunch.

He was an elderly man with deeply wrinkled skin the colour of tanned leather.

When Harry introduced him to Nerissa he said,

“Oh what a lovely name, that means goddess of the sea you know?”

Harry thought that might make her big headed but Nerissa blushed.

Mind you when Harry watched Nerissa walk out of the water wearing her yellow one piece he could see what Stavros meant.

 

As the holiday drifted amiable into the second week any casual onlookers could have been forgiven for thinking that Harry and Nerissa were a couple, they behaved like a couple and a happily married couple at that.

Every evening the pair dined together happy in each other’s company but unknown to everyone they slept alone.

 

One day the beaches on their side of the island was covered in dead jelly fish, each translucent disk was roughly the size of a dinner plate.

Apparently June was the spawning season for jelly fish and having spawned out at sea, they promptly died and drifted in to shore and then two days later drifted back out to sea on the tide never to be seen again.

One afternoon Harry was lying on his stomach on the beach snoozing off his lunch and Nerissa picked up a dead jelly fish from the lapping waves and from a height of four feet, dropped it squarely in the middle of Harry’s back.

“What the hell” he yelled and looked over his shoulder to see Nerissa wearing a pink bikini, almost wetting herself with laughter.

“Oh” he said “I suppose you think that was funny?”

“Oh yes” she confirmed and laughed even harder

“Right that’s it” Harry said scrambling to his feet

Nerissa, still laughing like a drain turned and ran down the beach with Harry hot on her heals holding a jelly fish freshly plucked from the waves.

Her laughter turned to squeals as he chased her and she ran about a hundred yards before she fell over in the lapping water and as she lay on her back in the wet sand. 

Harry, with great delight, dropped the jelly fish on her exposed belly.

Nerissa screamed in disgust and it was Harrys turn to laugh.

 

Later that evening as the sun was setting, the sultry air was heavy with the scent of oregano as they sat on the terrace of the Medusa Taverna accompanied by the familiar symphony of evening birdsong.

“It’s been another lovely day” Nerissa said

They had ordered their dinner and were just enjoying an aperitif, the cracking of ice cubes was clearly audible in their Gin and tonics.

“It really has” he said and they chinked glasses

 

After dinner and the best part of two bottles of wine and a hilarious reliving of the afternoons jelly fish escapades the subject of the conversation took a familiar turn.

“Of course there is one thing that could have made today even better” Nerissa said

“And what’s that?” Harry asked before draining his glass

“Our perfect partners” she replied

“Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that” he said

“Of course it would help if we could recognize them if we saw them”

“Well yes that would help” Nerissa concurred

Harry thought she looked lovely that night and he was particularly pleased to see she was wearing the gold crucifix Harry had bought her for Christmas.

“Ok then” he said “do you have pen?”

He already knew the answer, Nerissa always had at least one pen in her bag.

She fished in her bag and produced a one.

“So what is your ideal?” he asked

“What do you mean?” she replied with a puzzled expression

“What would you want in a partner?” he elaborated

“Tell me what qualities you are looking for and we’ll make a check list”

“Oh I see, ok” she said “Well the usual I suppose”

“Let’s write them down then” Harry said and using a napkin he headed the list “The perfect other half”

“Someone I can trust” she said

“Dependable” he wrote followed by “trustworthy”

“Someone who shares my values and my faith” she added

Harry wrote “Moral compass”

“Someone who makes me laugh and laughs with me” Nerissa said

“Good sense of humour” he wrote

“Someone who loves me, and will cherish me” she said

He wrote “Romantic”

“Someone who will be there for me” she said “whenever I need them”

“A friend” he put

“Someone who listens to me and understands me” she added

“And who values me”

Harry thought for a moment before writing

“A confidant, Kindred spirit” and for good measure “Open and honest”

“Someone I can grow old with” she said “who will want to grow old with me”

Harry wrote “Soul mate”

Nerissa was silent for a moment as she gave it some more thought and then said

“That will do I think”

Harry took another drink and then read down the list and his brow furrowed.

He read each item and mused over it, added the occasional word to it, and muttered under his breath as he studied it and in the end after what seemed to Nerissa like an age, nodded his assent. 

“Are you ok?” she asked with concern

“I agree with every single one of those” he said

“Good” she replied

“And furthermore I know the person who has all of those qualities and more” he added

“Really?” she said open mouthed

“Who?”

“You Nerissa” Harry said

“What?” she asked

“It’s you” he said “you tick every single box on this list, you are my perfect other half”

“Don’t be daft” she said

He didn’t say anymore but handed her the napkin.

Nerissa took it from him, and started reading down the list of her suggestions and his additions and was very thoughtful for a few moments and then she went down the list in front of her again.

“You’re right” she said finally “you are the perfect other half of me”

Knowing smiles were exchanged and then they sat in silence as a confused turmoil raged inside them and thoughts raced in and out of focus.

“More wine sir?” the waiter asked breaking in on their silent deliberations.

“Absolutely” Nerissa said and returned to her thoughts.

Both of them shared the same thoughts and were afraid, afraid to take a chance, afraid of being wrong, afraid of getting hurt but most of all afraid of losing their best friend.

The wine came and they drank in silence as they continued their internal struggle, until in a moment of perfect clarity Nerissa looked at Harry and smiled as it dawned on her that they had come to Andros looking for love but the romance they had searched for wasn’t on the island at all, they had brought it with them.

And when Harry saw her smiling countenance he was immediately entranced and all his doubts melted away and the deep passion for her that he had always harbored subconsciously, stirred within him and rose to the surface.

Her inner beauty exposed Harry reached his hand across the table and Nerissa took it.

“All this time I was looking for Miss Right and she was there right under my nose”

Harry mused

“Living next door” She added

“Living in my spare room even” Harry corrected her

It was a miracle finding their heart’s desire so close at hand.

“How could we have been so blind?” Nerissa asked as she caressed his hand.

“Love is blind” Harry replied

“Yes” she agreed “yes it is”

Neither of them could comprehend how it was possible they were both so short sighted.

He had always thought she was lovely but now Harry’s feelings for her were of love for his soul mate who lived in his spare room.

 

On the moonlight walk back to the apartment’s they were holding hands and drinking in the heady atmosphere of the night, not wishing to forget a single second of it.

And when they reached her door they kissed for the first time and it was a kiss that made the hairs stand up on the back of their necks and their skin tingle from head to toe.

“That was a first kiss to remember” Nerissa said and giggled

“Let’s try number two” Harry suggested and she obliged

“Wow” Nerissa said after kiss number two

“I think we should sit down for a minute”

“I think so too” Harry said

Nerissa walked a few feet and sat on the wall and Harry sat next her, she immediately leant in to him and rested her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her.

So they sat there quietly in the moonlight, their hearts filled with a new found love and their minds awash with previously undreamt of possibilities.

Nerissa kissed Harry once more and it was the equal of its predecessors.

But as much as they wanted each other in that moment they resisted the desire until their minds were clear and their desires not fueled by cheap wine and Gin and tonics.

So they reluctantly said goodnight and slept alone.

Though neither of them actually slept.

 

Harry and Nerissa were both up and about early next morning and both had made independent decisions on their futures.

The quandary was, had they both made the same one.

There were three possibilities, two of which could cost them their friendship.

Harry was sitting on the terrace drinking his coffee when Nerissa appeared.

Harry smiled and stood up to greet her but remained frozen to the spot.

She returned his smile and said 

“Hello soul mate”

The relief Harry felt in that moment was palpable.

He found he was able to move again and he stepped forward and scooped her up in his arms and said.

“Hello, my perfect other half” 

And then he kissed her as he had the night before and the feeling was just the same.

 

Their complete and utter surrender to each other came that afternoon when they made love for the first time.

When loves consummated passions reached the ecstatic heights of fulfillment.

 

To the untrained eye the remainder of the holiday appeared to go much the same way as the days before their epiphany.

Harry and Nerissa still appeared as if they were a couple as they behaved like a couple, a happily married couple.

Every evening the pair dined together happy in each other’s company but now unknown to everyone they did sleep together.

Harry and Nerissa had gone to the Cyclades in search of love and romance and it turned out they had actually taken it with them.

 

All too soon they were on the ferry heading away from the northern most isle in the Cyclades, and looked back at Andros, bathing in warm sunshine, the hills and valleys, the groves and vines and painting the hillsides in differing hues.

They would miss the place and its warm hearted people, the scent of herbs on the warm night air, the culture, the food, the warm sun, the blue sea and the golden sand and the soft sea breezes.

But most of all they would miss it because it would be forever the place where they fell in love.

Harry and Nerissa stood at the stern of the ferry, for one last look across the Aegean as Andros faded from view.

“Will we come back” Nerissa asked with a tear in her eye

“Oh yes” Harry replied “On our honeymoon”

Nerissa turned and she kissed him.

I’m Not A Nun!

 

It was dark and very cold as I sat on a bench in the hospital garden, and furthermore it was snowing again.

I was sitting there alone as I had just heard the news that my mother was dying and I was still somewhat in shock.

I was on my way home, Mum had been sedated so there was no point in my staying and the end was a little while off yet.

I should have gone straight home but I had no one to go home to and I needed time to think.

I had been sitting there for maybe half an hour and was used to the silence and was totally lost in my own thoughts so much so that I had failed to hear the crunch of approaching footsteps in the snow.

Due to the darkness I was all but invisible and I suddenly saw something moving in my peripheral vision which made me jump and to my perpetual shame caused me to let out an involuntary yelp.

This in turn made the figure in the dark scream.

The source of the scream was a nurse at the convent hospital and who worked on the wing my mother was in, I couldn’t bring her name to mind at the time.

“Oh Shit” she said in very un-convent like language.

“What the fuck are you doing hiding out here in the dark?"

“I’m sorry” I said “I didn’t mean to scare you”

“Oh its Mr. McAteer isn’t it?” she asked "So what brings you out here? Are you ok?”

“Yes” I replied “I just needed some quiet time”

“I heard about your mother, I’m sorry it wasn’t better news” she said

She sat down on the bench beside me and took out a pack of cigarettes from her coat pocket, she took one out and put it to her lips and then offered the pack to me.

I had given up smoking two years earlier but I didn’t hesitate in accepting one.

"Thanks Nurse…” I began

“Fedeli” she replied as she gave me a light “But call me Elena”

“Thanks Elena” I said and inhaled deeply and closed my eyes as I exhaled the smoke and felt the welcoming light headedness as my body greeted the nicotine with open arms.

“It looks like you’re enjoying that Mr. McAteer” she said

“Call me Dave” I said and took another drag “this is the first fag I’ve had for two years”

"I’m sorry I didn’t know” Elena said

“Don’t be sorry, I really missed it” I said honestly

She dragged on her cigarette. The tip glowing brightly, briefly illuminated her face and then faded to a glow.

"I'm sorry I scared you," I said taking a final drag on my cigarette before dropping it on the ground and grinding it under the heel of my shoe.
"That’s ok” she replied and paused briefly before adding

“By the sound of that yelp you made, perhaps I should be apologizing to you”

“Quite” I said sheepishly

“You look like you could use a drink" she said

And she reached into her pocket again and this time pulled out a silver hip flask.

She unscrewed the cap and took a slug and then handed it to me.

“Thanks” I said taking it from her and putting it to my lips.

The whisky tasted so good and I felt it warming me to the very core.

I handed her back the flask and watched her take a good slug before putting the cap back on.
 “What kind of a nun are you?” I asked with a laugh “Swearing, smoking and drinking”

And actually thinking what a really naughty girl she was.

“I’m not a nun!” She shouted, “Why does everyone think I’m a nun?”

“Sorry but you work in a convent hospital and you dress like a nun” I said in my defense.

“I’m a nurse in a hospital, and this is my uniform” she said “No wonder, nobody ever asks me out, I can assure you that I’m not a nun!”

“I’m sorry Elena” I said “If it helps I thought you were a very attractive nun”

She looked at me and laughed.

The snow continued to fall and was settling on her headgear.

As I looked at her I couldn’t understand why she would ever have been short of a date.

She had a beautiful face and her eyes were dazzling.

It was also a kind face with a delicate smile and her coloring clearly betrayed her Mediterranean ancestry.

Being a good catholic boy and having thought until a few minutes earlier that she was a nun, I wasn’t sure if thinking she was sexy was a sin or not.

But I thought she was, even if it was sinful.

I was also grateful for the distraction from thinking about my mum.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked me at of the blue.
"Much better," I replied
"Was it a shock?" she asked,

"Yes." I replied and then corrected myself “No, not really”

She didn’t speak but looked at me and silently invited me to continue

“I was expecting it, but I didn’t want to believe it” I said “I lied to myself”

“That’s quite natural” she said sympathetically “Loved ones have often confided that to me”

“That’s because they think you’re a nun” I said and we both laughed

The snow was falling harder now and it was getting colder.

“Are you off duty?” I asked although I’d already made the assumption she was.

“Yes” she replied “I’m done for the day”

“Well I’m chilled to the bone” I said “do you fancy getting something to eat?”

“Yes, that would be nice” she replied and a broad smile crossed her face “As long as you don’t mind being seen out with a nun”

Hiding In Plain Sight

 

Peter Nesbitt was staying at a pub in Braithwaite for a few days.

It was his brother Johnnies idea, a short break in the Lake District, a change of pace and some R&R.

Unfortunately Johnnie’s idea of rest and relaxation was the consumption of copious quantities of Jennings Ale.

But Peter, now in his early thirties, was looking for something more than drinking games and hangovers so on Monday morning, bright and early Peter grabbed his backpack and set off for a walk on the hill in the early sunshine.

As he got halfway down the lane he happened upon another walker heading for the same stile from the opposite direction.

She wore stout walking shoes, old fashioned brogues, with long argyle socks, a grey tweed skirt and a drab shapeless sweater.

Her hair was tied in a bun beneath a tweed cap that matched the skirt and she looked about forty.

If it hadn’t been for the coloured backpack he would have thought he’d stumbled through a portal into the 1930s.

“After you” he said

“Thank you” she replied in a voice much younger that her appearance which was accompanied by a nervous smile.

Once she was over the stile she set off at an impressive pace and was very sure footed as she strode off ahead of him, he had to admit that although her footwear was old fashioned it was considerably more appropriate for the conditions than what Peter was wearing.

It wasn’t the warmest of days but he’d elected for shorts and in his little back pack he had a waterproof jacket a drink and a sandwich.

 

The weather in the Lake District was always unpredictable, despite the bright start to the day, so it wasn’t really a surprise that by mid-morning the blue sky had been consumed by grey.

Peter was on top of the hill looking out across the valley and the lake.

He had no idea if it was Bassenthwaite Water or Derwent as he’d lost his bearings a bit, after all he wasn’t really familiar enough with Cumbria to find his way around without a map which of course he didn’t have in his pack.

He sat down and opened his pack, ate his sandwich and drank his drink but when he looked at the distant sky he didn’t need a map or anything else to tell him it was coming his way so he decided to make his way off the hill ahead of it as quickly as possible.

He hadn’t even reached halfway before the low cloud settled a thick mist all around him.

Peter had on his light jacket which was getting wet in the mist, he also had good trainers on, but on the damp stone they were not really fit for purpose and he was slipping with every other step.

The fog came down very quickly and was extremely thick in places.

“You should just sit it out” a soft voice said

“I’m sorry?” He said turning around and seeing the frumpy woman sitting on a large flat rock.

“You should sit it out” she said again

“Is that wise?” Peter asked

“Yes this band of cloud is due to blow through in a couple of hours” she said confidently

“Is it? He asked

“Didn’t you check the weather forecast before you set off this morning?” she asked

“No” he admitted and sat down next to her “I’m Peter by the way, Peter Nesbitt” and offered his hand

“Sarah Hallam” she responded

 

Sarah Hallam was 28 years old, single and happy to be so, she had studied law at university but after three years she decided it wasn’t the career for her.

So she followed a different path and had been a proof reader for a legal publisher for the last six years.

It suited her as she could work from home and so didn’t have to interact with people.

It meant that she spent a lot of time on her own, which she didn’t mind as she was happy in her own company.

Although she lived in seclusion in the country she still liked to get away somewhere whenever she could to some place beautiful and the Lake District was certainly that.

 

Although Peter had ridiculed Sarah’s mode of dress, as they sat on a large flat rock in the fog, he would have confessed that she was more appropriately dressed than he was, at which point he shivered.

“Do you have anything useful in your pack?” Sarah asked

“It’s empty now I’m afraid” Peter replied

“You did come well prepared” She said sarcastically

Luckily for Peter, Sarah’s backpack was filled with a wealth of useful stuff, a thermos full of coffee, Sandwiches, Kendal mint cake and a blanket all of which she generously shared with him while they spoke candidly about their past.

Peter was interested to hear about Sarah’s profession as he and his brother Johnnie were also in publishing as they jointly ran a printing company.

 “I don’t mean to pry Sarah” he began “I understand that under our present condition they are indeed practical, but why are you dressed like a….”

“Frump” she suggested

“Yes” he agreed “I’m sorry”

“Its fine” Sarah said “it’s quite simple really”

Peter listened intently

“When I was at university, in my first year, I had my heart broken badly”

She said

“And again in the third year, which nearly cost me my degree”

“I’m so sorry” Peter said sympathetically “But why the tweeds?”

“Well after the second time I resolved to have no more truck with love”

She said without emotion

“I am single and glad to be so”

She paused for a moment and Peter spoke

“So that’s why you dress to make yourself look fifteen years older than you are?”

Sarah nodded   

“I have found that if you are a shapeless old frump, men tend to leave well alone”

“What a waste” he thought to himself

“And what about you?” She asked

“Well I’ve also had my heart broken” he confessed “just the once for me though”

“Once would’ve been enough for me” Sarah mumbled

“I’ve not given up hope completely” Peter continued “But I’ve not met the one yet”

She nodded

“I’ve not found my soul mate yet” was what he meant

“In truth I use work much the same way as you use Tweed” He said

“My brother Johnnie says I work too hard and should get out and have some fun”

“It’s nice that he cares about you” Sarah said

“His idea of fun differs greatly from mine” he said and they both laughed

 

By about three in the afternoon a light breeze got up and started stirring the mist.

“Right on time” Sarah said though she was a little disappointed, as she was rather enjoying herself

“Perhaps we should wait for another half an hour or so” Peter suggested also in no hurry to leave.

“Good idea” Sarah said

 

By 4.15 they couldn’t really delay it any longer as watery sunshine was beginning to penetrate the mist so Peter began handing the remnants of their impromptu picnic to Sarah which she packed neatly away.

“Thank you” Peter said

“For what?” Sarah asked

“Sharing your lunch and your blanket” he said “and for your company”

“Oh there’s no need to thank me” she responded and gave him a smile

“It would have been a very dull afternoon had you not happened along”

Peter thought he detected a slight blush on her cheek.

“She’s a very attractive and confident girl beneath the frump” he thought

 

It was as they walked down the hill in the weak sunshine that he decided

That he would endeavour to get her to re-join the world.

And if not embrace the waves then at least dip her toe in the water.

They were just approaching the stile they had crossed earlier in the day.

“I was wondering” he said “As you were so generous to me today you might allow me to repay the favour”

“There’s no need” Sarah relied cursing herself for her cowardice

“Just dinner at the Pheasant” Peter persisted

“Ok” she relented and to herself added “Good decision”

“But tomorrow would be better for me” she said as Peter helped over the stile

“Great tomorrow it is” he said smiling “I will look forward to it

 

Sarah had taken a bold step for her agreeing to the dinner and opened herself up for disappointment again but she didn’t want to hold back now.

If she was going to make the most of it she had to make the most of herself. 

And as she hadn’t packed anything remotely suitable for dinner she had been in Kendall all day shopping for girl clothes.

 

Peter spent his day fending off questions from his brother Johnnie, about where he was going and who he was meeting.

He loved his brother but his biggest fear was that Johnnie would pitch up at the pub and unintentionally spoil things before they got started.

So he told him he was taking her to a restaurant in Ambleside an hour later than he was actually meeting Sarah in Keswick.

 

Peter was sat in the bar a full half an hour before he was supposed to meet Sarah and he was insanely nervous, he hadn’t felt like that since he was 15 when he was waiting outside the multiplex for Cindy Brownlow.

However he was thinking it was a mistake to arrive early as his stomach was doing somersaults.

 

Sarah was second guessing herself and as she stood in front of the mirror wearing a little black dress,

Her long brunette hair was down and her face was subtly made up.

It had been a while since she had given herself the treatment and the face she was wearing was her third attempt.

The first attempt left her looking like a mortician’s subject and the second like a clown.

The third one would have to do.

Why on earth did she agree to do this, what was she thinking?

“Because you wanted to” she said out loud to the mirror “now suck it up and go and knock him dead”

 

When Peter turned around and saw this brunette in the little black dress coming towards him.

He couldn’t stop himself from saying   

“Wow”

Sarah smiled

“Will I Do?”

“Comme ci comme ça” He said making a gesture with his hand 

“Charming” she said

“I was expecting someone in tweeds” Peter said

She laughed and said

“I decided to make an effort” Sarah said as she sat down

“I thought this might be more appropriate”

The evening passed by so quickly, it was like an information exchange,

And they were so absorbed in each company that they completely lost track of time, to such an extent that they had to be asked to leave.

“Oh dear we seem to have overstayed our welcome and there is so much more to say” Sarah said

“Then we should perhaps consider this an adjournment and pick this up again tomorrow”

She nodded her ascent and he was rather pleased with himself for his legal reference almost as much as the securing of another date.

They agreed to meet again the next morning by the stile where they had first met and she was transformed.

The frump he’d met on the hill the day before was gone forever.

No wonder Peter hadn’t been able to find his soul mate all those years, she was hiding in plain sight.

Sarah Hallam the woman who was a stranger only two days before

Would be at his side every day thereafter.