It was at the biannual
St Peters Church getaway when it all began.
St Peters was an
evangelical church and the getaway was organized for the members of the congregation
to examine and develop their faith.
Each such event
normally had a theme, this one was no exception and was named
"Footsteps" as in walking in the footsteps of Christ and it was all
about the individual and collective spiritual journey.
It was a week-long
residential event which provided seminars, workshops, meditation, prayer and
worship.
In addition to the
spiritual itinerary there was also a host of fun activities, with something for
everyone.
It was at the Millmoor
Hotel and conference centre, which comprised the old country manor, which
housed meeting rooms and the more select accommodations, fine dining and bars
and a newly built modern styled facility housing family friendly rooms, dining
and various entertainments.
Russell Day checked
into the hotel late on Friday afternoon and was met with embraces from all and
sundry.
He was rather
overwhelmed in truth, he had lost his wife Glenda since the last getaway and as
a result he hadn’t participated much in church life over the previous year.
In fact that week away
was his attempt to reconnect with God after his bereavement.
He found the first
evening rather exhausting, with all the hand shaking and hugging and Saturday
morning was almost as bad.
So after lunch when he
had a period of free time he knew just what he wanted to do with it.
He was on his way to
the plush residents lounge in the old manor house where he thought he would use
his two hours of free time to enjoy a pint or two of Guinness in the residents
bar while he read a few chapters of his book.
As he walked down the
gloomy mahogany panelled corridors he passed numerous likewise panelled doors
to modern furnished meeting rooms, leather chaired reading rooms and
comfortable bars.
Some room doors were
unmarked and were of a more mysterious use, also his route took him through the
occasional intersection where another corridor running from the front steps to
the rear terrace crossed his path.
It was along one of
these intersecting corridors that he heard the sound of a sobbing girl.
His first instinct, he
would have been ashamed to admit, was to ignore it and hurry on to the bar and
a welcoming pint of the black stuff.
He even got a yard
beyond the intersection, but he stopped and turned back because in the end he
could not ignore her.
He took a deep breath
and walked along the corridor to investigate the source of the sobs.
When he’d tracked down
the precise area the sobbing emanated from he discovered a girl pressed into
the corner of a recessed doorway.
He didn’t recognise
her, he just saw a small wailing creature with her shoulders shaking in unison
with the noise.
He placed a hand on
one of her shaking shoulders and said
“What on earth is the
matter?”
Her immediate response
was for her to turn around abruptly which was when he first realised who it
was, and her utter embarrassment was apparent.
When the crying girl
turned he was surprised to see it was Cathy Granger, a particularly close
friend of his deceased wife.
She was a friend
though had not been such a close friend of his as much as his wife because she
was 9 years his junior.
He had known her for
quite a few years however as she had sat on numerous committees with his wife
Glenda.
He had got to know her
better during his wife’s illness, and to his mind she had been an absolute
godsend when Glenda passed and was an absolute rock in the months that followed
the funeral.
As he had not
participated much in church life over the last year he subsequently had not
seen much of her.
He had always really
liked her, she was funny and quirky;
She always had a smile
on her face and she was always full of beans.
Which is why it was
such a surprise to find her crying.
He had never once seen
her down in all the years’ he’d known her and she was universally loved.
It had always amazed
him how she had remained single, She was so attractive with a nice figure and a
bubbly personality.
But he had never once
seen her with a man.
He had supposed at one
time that she might be gay as she shared a flat with a large mono browed woman
called Deidre.
But then he heard that
Deidre was engaged to a man from a neighbouring church.
Her second response to
his discovering her was to apologize
“I’m sorry” she sobbed
and tried to push passed him “I’m so sorry”
“Don’t be silly”
Russell said and blocked her exit “Tell me what’s wrong”
Cathy looked up at him
through tear filled eyes and then buried her face in his chest and sobbed her
heart out for a full five minutes.
He just held her and
made all the appropriate noises.
His head was filled
with scenarios that may have brought her current state about, had she been
attacked? Had there been an accident? Had someone died? His imagination ran
wild.
When she had calmed
down a little she lifted her head up from his chest and said through the
sobs
“I’ve got…. Your
shirt….wet”
“That’s ok” he assured
her
“And snotty” Cathy
added
“That’s ok too” he
said with a chuckle and fished a hanky from his pocket so she could dry her
eyes and blow her nose.
Further along that
corridor there was a small lounge filled with an assortment of leather chairs
and comfy sofas, at the back of the building that looked onto, but could not be
accessed from, the terrace.
Which meant it was
more private so there was less chance someone would be witness should she break
down again.
“Let’s go in there” he
said “and you can tell me what’s wrong”
“It’s ok” she said
wiping her eyes “I’ll be fine now”
“Nonsense” he said in
his best avuncular tone “you’re far from ok”
“Really” she insisted
but she could not disguise the catch in her throat,
He just gave her a
knowing look and she conceded.
They sat on a big
leather sofa in silence for about 5 minutes while she composed herself before
Cathy took a deep breath and began
“I’m fine when there’s
lots going on and it’s all busy, busy, busy” she said
“But “free time” when
everyone goes off with their families or partners, well that’s when it hits me”
“What does?” he asked
“Loneliness” she
replied and her eyes filled with tears again.
“I’m just so lonely”
“I didn’t know” he
admitted, he was no stranger to loneliness himself in the 18 months since his
wife died, but he had come to terms with it.
He was surprised that
Cathy hadn’t.
She was such a great
organizer, a natural organiser, which is why the Church events were always such
a success.
But ironically it
seemed as if she organised everything so well that she had forgot to organise
herself a life.
“But you have so many
friends, and everyone loves you” he said “You must know that?”
She nodded
“I know and I could
easily tag along and not one of them would mind” she said “and quite often I
do”
She paused and then
added
“But that’s not the
same as having someone”
“So is it always like
this for you?” he asked
“Yes” she admitted “but
I normally do it in my room”
“But this time you
didn’t make it” Russell said
“My room is so bloody
far away” she said
“I’d blame the
organiser” he said and she laughed
“But I thought I was
sufficiently hidden away” she concluded
“Well this won’t do” he
said “this won’t do at all”
“What do you mean?”
she asked
“This is only the
first “free time” of the week, I’m not having you running off to your room for
a cry two or three times a day while everyone else is having fun”
“But” she interrupted
“You and I are going
to sign up for every event we can cram in so you won’t have time to be lonely
and you’ll be too exhausted to cry”
“You don’t have to do
that” she said
“Nonsense” he said
“you will be helping me out”
“How”? She asked
“Well I’m a lonely
widower after all”
“But”
“But nothing” Russell
said and brooked no protest
“Ok, ok” she submitted
“Right then, how about
a walk” said the avuncular
“Fine” she said
without enthusiasm
So that was how they
began the quest with the kind and helpful avuncular helping the reluctant young
woman to leave her no time for loneliness and no time for tears.
Every free session or
lull in activities, he took control and filled every moment with every activity
imaginable you name it they did it.
The first afternoon
most of the group activities had already started so they just walked around the
grounds in an uncomfortable silence, Cathy just wanted to go to her room but
Russell knew she would just break down again.
So they carried on
walking, with her tolerating his well-meaning interference and he tolerated the
angry silence until they reached the climbing wall.
“Do you fancy a
climb?” Russell asked “or the tree walk”
“What I fancy is going
back to my room” she replied angrily
Russell thought for a
moment and then suggested a contest
“Ok I’ll make a deal
with you” he said
“What deal?” Cathy
replied suspiciously
“If you can beat me to
the top” he said “I’ll leave you alone”
“As simple as that?”
she said
“As simple as that”
Russell confirmed
“You’re on” Cathy
agreed
What he failed to tell
her was that he was no stranger to a climbing wall but even taking that into
consideration he didn’t beat her by much having not taken into account her
hitherto unappreciated competitive streak.
After beating her by a
whisker she seemed to have burnt off some of her hostility as she suggested
they do the tree walk.
Despite harbouring the
suspicion that she only suggested it so she could shove him off, he agreed and
she was in a much brighter frame of mind.
That evening there was
a busy schedule of events however he was concerned she might regress the next
day.
Sunday had more free
time than any other day so he thought he might use her competitive nature to
his advantage, so when they got back to the Hotel he said
“Tennis or Golf
tomorrow?”
“Oh I think I can
manage from now on, thank you Russell” she replied
“Oh ok” he said “I
understand”
“You understand what?”
Cathy asked suspiciously
“Well having lost to
the old man on the climbing wall” he said “I can understand why you don’t want
to lose to me at anything else”
“What utter conceit”
she exclaimed
“I’m sorry if I’ve got
the wrong end of the stick” Russell said innocently
“Well “old man”” Cathy
said defiantly “let’s make it Tennis and Golf tomorrow”
Before Russell could
respond Cathy had gone through the door to the lobby so he walked slowly
towards his own room with a wry smile on his face.
Well come the next day
he had to go and find her and thought she may have had a change of heart but
she was already waiting for him at the pro shop.
“Good afternoon Cathy”
he said
She was standing
scorecards in hand, with a determined look on her face.
“Hello” she replied in
a tone suggesting they get straight on with it and the wry smile returned to
his face when he saw how fired up she was.
He had sowed the wind,
he was now about to reap the whirlwind.
Because she had
elected to play Golf and Tennis on the same day they only had time for nine holes.
After three holes the
wry smile had gone and he was wondering if he had bitten off more than he could
chew as she was destroying him.
At the end of the nine
holes her victory was comprehensive.
“Now we’re even” she
said
“Well played Cathy”
Russ said “let’s have a drink”
“Oh no” She answered
“Tennis now”
“Oh shit” he thought
“she’s got her dander up now”
“Ok” he said out loud
“Tennis first”
He could tell by the
look on her face that she would do to him on the Tennis court what she’d done
on the links.
As luck would have it
there was only one court left and the Vicar, Donald Cox and his wife Hannah,
had been waiting to play all afternoon.
So Cathy reluctantly
agreed to play mixed doubles instead in a less adversarial match.
After dinner Cathy had
threatened to take the contest to the games room, but when he suggested an
early night he was pleased to see a look of relief cross her face.
As he slipped beneath
the covers he reflected on what he had set out to achieve and he could
certainly vouch for the fact there was no time to be lonely and by the end of
that day he was certainly too exhausted to, he hoped the same for Cathy.
The next day Cathy’s
competitive edge had returned though her aggressive edge had been somewhat
tempered however she completely dominated him on the Croquet lawn.
After which she showed
her more compassionate side when she allowed him to level the contest playing
Crazy Golf.
On Monday evening,
having had a less gruelling day, they did manage a couple of games of Pool and
a couple of drinks before fatigue set in, Cathy was now 3-2 up.
“I’ll give you a
chance with something less energetic tomorrow”
Cathy said
“What do you suggest?”
Russell asked
“Archery and Shooting”
she replied
“Oh taking pity on me”
he asked
“Something like that”
she replied and kissed his cheek “Goodnight”
On Tuesday morning
Cathy was hovering outside the restaurant as Russell arrived.
“Hello Russ” she said
“Hi Cathy” he replied
“Have you eaten already?”
“No, no” she replied
“I just got here”
“Well perhaps we could
eat together” Russell suggested
“If you like” she
replied indifferently so they went into breakfast together.
Unusually after
breakfast they remained together for the worship and both discussion sessions
normally she would go and sit with friends.
Before lunch they went
off to their respective rooms to change, but agreed to meet at the top of the
stairs for lunch.
Cathy was waiting for
him again when Russell started up the stairs.
He looked up and he
could see here pacing back and forth.
Russell was late and
it looked like she was angry so when he got there he said
“I’m sorry Cathy, I
couldn’t decide what to wear for today, tweeds or Lincoln Green”
“That’s ok” she said
with a laugh “Although I’d like to see you in tights”
“Really?” Russell said
and Cathy blushed and walked briskly into the restaurant.
Cathy was very chatty
and animated throughout lunch as they both ate Mushroom Stroganoff.
“So are you going to
be gentle with me today?” he asked as they finished their desert.
“I’m always gentle”
she replied and blushed again then added quickly
“You should do ok
today”
As predicted Russell
beat her at both the target disciplines so he now held the advantage but he
suspected she wasn’t really trying.
So he suggested they
fit in a round of Forest Laser quest.
Cathy was reluctant
but she was easily persuaded and then Russell let her win to square the contest.
As they walked back to
the Hotel Cathy said
“I think we should
call it quits now”
“What no more
activities?” Russell asked
“Oh no” she said with
alarm “I didn’t mean that”
“What then?” he said
“No more contest” she
replied
“Ok” Russell said “I
agree”
On Wednesday the
weather took a turn for the worst, so they amused themselves inside firstly in
the Gym and then swimming in the pool.
But the rain did clear
away by the evening so they went for a walk around the grounds again and
discussed their plan for Thursday.
Thursday was a
glorious day so they spent the afternoon on the river punting which led to them
both falling in on separate occasions and they laughed as they squelched all
the back way to the Hotel.
As he relaxed in the
bath before dinner he thought a lot about the week in which he’d begun the
quest in the spirit of the avuncular.
There was a positive
side effect for him, spending the week as he did and that was that he had no
time to miss his wife, however the down side was that he’d fallen in love with
Cathy and he had no idea what to do about it.
On Friday morning,
which was the start of the final day they had breakfast together again.
Things would conclude
by midday and they would be checking out after lunch.
“Well did I succeed?”
he asked
“With what?” she
replied
“Banishing the
loneliness” he said
“In a way” she
answered enigmatically
“Oh?”
She sighed and in a
rather gruff response she said
“You have filled every
spare moment with companionable fun and I’ve really enjoyed it”
“But?” he asked
sensing there was one
“But we go home today”
“And you think that
you’ll have too much time on your hands once you leave here. Is that it?”
“No” she shouted “that
isn’t it”
She got up from the
table and added
“You haven’t got a
clue”
“Oh shit” he thought
to himself as she blundered out of the dining room
He quickly got up to
follow her, a table of 12 stood up to leave just as he was approaching so that
by the time he got outside she was already at the bottom of the stairs.
“I have got a clue” he
shouted from the balcony and everyone stopped and turned to look.
“Really? Because you
think I will go to pieces if you’re not there to hold my hand” she barked
“No” he replied as he
descended the stairs
“Because I’ll go to
pieces without you to hold mine”
“What?” she asked
“I wasn’t lying when I
said “everybody” loved you” he said
“Huh?” she uttered as
he reached the bottom of the stairs
“I love you” he
continued “and I need you in my life”
There were tears
welling up in her eyes as he said it and then she ran to him and hugged him and
then they kissed totally oblivious to the spontaneous applause and cheers.
