THE PASSION DIARY - A STORY OF LOVE
by Carol and Lia
.scripted by Mika.
An adaptation from "The Notebook"
|story visited times|
Chapter
|01| |02| |03|
|04| |05| |06|
|07| |08| |09|
|10| |11| |12|
|13| |14| |15|
|16| |17| |18|
|19| |20| |21|
|22|
Summer of 1943
A great time for some, a bad time for others. But if that night you could have seen some friends walking out of the movies, you’d have noticed that sometimes even a war can’t make people not to have fun.
"Didnīt like that movie... Scary!"
"Cīmon, ... You are such a sissy sometimes..." said joking
"Besides you came with us, strong men, the monster from the film would never harm you..."
"Would you stop that, !" said to her cousin "I mean, it is summer, what did you have in mind when you asked me to come to the movies?!"
"Don’t you like movies?"
"I love, but not in the summer and not horror movies!"
"We should be at the beach watching the sunset!"
"We can do it tomorrow if you want..."
They were five friends born in rich families. They weren’t cocky or something. They were pretty nice, but, of course a bit immature. They didn’t know things about life and how the life of poor and working people was. They came to Sligo to spend the summer with their parents. They studied together in Dublin, apart from .
"Sunset?! Aw... That would be lovely if we had someone interesting to go with..."
"Are you saying Iīm not a good company, ?!" asked her, she blushed.
was really into since the day theyīve met. He was īs brother what makes him īs cousin. And both knew it was a complicated romance, because of the distance, and, mainly, because none of them even tried to talk about it to each other. They never had a conversation about their feelings.
It was not late that night when they left the movie theatre and went walking to get their car, laughing and enjoying the youngness.
was in a pub with his dad. He was having a beer just before going home after a hard day work, when he saw her. Wearing a light blue dress, shoes with no heels and no hat he saw her walking with her friends, her , and hair in an elegant ponytail, and some curls fell in such an innocent way in her face. It just looked like an angel, she walked like if the floor was made of clouds and that sight made his world stop for a while.
"Who is she, son?!"
"Huh?!"
"That girl in the blue dress... Who is she?!" His dad said smiling.
"Did you see her too?!"
"Well, I hadnīt seen her until I had to call you for the third time to play snooker… Then I noticed the reason why you were deaf, it is your turn!"
"Oh... Em..."
"Sorry..." He said blushing and taking a sip of his pint "Itīs just that I..."
"Nevermind, son... It is still your turn!"
They played their last snooker set and headed back home.
Next morning
woke up and went to work with his dad. They were joiners. Actually his dad had his own joiner trade and work and he worked with him.
They were not poor either rich; but extremely hard working.
went to the beach with her friend as they didnīt have much to do at that time in the morning.
"I donīt know why you and ... You know!?"
"Me and ?! Ohhhhhh... Cut the crap, will ya?!"
"Why is this crap?! I mean, itīs so obvious he is all over you... "
"Of course he is not! And even if he was... He lives here, and I live in Dublin..."
"And..."
"And it means that I would only see him on the summer!"
"Well... It could be a problem... But his dad could send him to Dublin to study..."
"Are you trying to get me married?" said laughing.
"No... Not at all... Itīs because we know each other for so long and since then you like ... I just tought that you could be together..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... I like him... But you know?! Let things the way they are..." was thinking "And lady... What about you?!"
"What about me?"
"You never told me you fancied anyone..."
"Itīs because I donīt..."
"Maybe it was about time..."
"Do you think we know when we find the one?!"
"Iīm sure we do..."
"Why are you so sure? I mean… how do you know a person and then discover that you are in love and that you want to spend the rest of your life with that person?"
"When you find the guy, , you’ll know… You’ll feel deep inside, in your heart, in every part of your body that being with that person is was you need for living, for being complete." They stood silent a bit. "Gosh… Look what is doing to me...I am romantic… that’s disgusting!" laughed loudly and they changed the subject.
They stood at the beach for a while and then came back home.
When the night came they decided to go to the park along with the boys.
came to pick the girls up and they went to the park.
was talking to some girls when he saw her again and guess what... He knew , they played together in a local band on their spare time. It was just too good to be true but he decided to take a chance.
"Hey, mate!" said smiling to him.
"Hey, ..." He came close and felt weak on her knees “What a handsome guy” she thought "And what about those eyes?"
"Girls, let me introduce you to ... He plays with me on the band... , this is and "
"Hello, ladies..." He said to them and smiled, his eyes met īs and they held it for few seconds until she looked to the other side. She felt different, she blushed and she started thinking about what to do and what to say… He seemed so… perfect, perhaps.
"Hello, ..." said "You can call me , is just too long..." she said smiling, and gave a light pinch.
"Oh... Hi, ..." She said still blushing ang shacking his hand "Nice to meet you" He held his eyes on her once again, and didnīt let go of her hand, silence.
"!!! !!!! Itīs our turn!" called her from the ferris wheel line.
"Oh, I should get going then..." She said blushing.
"So Iīd better let go off your hand..." He said smiling. He wished he didn’t have to let go her hand, he wished he could keep her there for a while and talk to her. Maybe pay her a candy or an ice cream.
"Bye then..."
Taking his bonnet off, he watched her leave. He passed his hand through his hair and still watching her he went to the Ferris wheel, it had already started. He jumped on īs cabinet.
"Ahhhhhhh!!" She screamed.
"Well... Hi!" He said smiling to her "Did I scare you?!"
"Sure you did! Are you nuts?! I mean, you are hanging down here..."
"It is like, I didnīt know which side were you going out when you leave there, so I decided I wonīt let you out of my sight..."
"Oh my God... Even if it costs your life!?"
"Well... Iīm strong... I wonīt fell... Although if you say you want me to go I could take the risk and jump!" She looked at who was finding everything really funny. It was always like that, she laughing and with that “Oh – my – God – what – do – I – do now?” face.
"No, of course not! I mean..." She was really embarassed.
"So, can we go out for a walk when this adventure ends?"
"What!?"
"Go out for a walk!"
"Of course she can!" said.
"Can I?! I mean, how you would know that!?"
"Because he is worth it!"
"Yeah, I am... Thanks! I knew you had such a good taste! Great girl!" laughed and passed his arm around her shoulder, a bit jealous about the compliment. Such a nonsense, because after that, it was obvious he was into ! "Cīmon..." He said looking at her with such deep eyes, she just didnīt think twice and gave up to that strangerīs charm.
"Ok, just a little walk while everybody is still at the park..."
"Deal!" He smiled, she did the same, looked from one side to another and then to him.
"Are you sure you can stand until we get down?!"
"Are you worried?"
"I donīt want to be blamed for your death..." He laughed.
"Sure I can stand... We are almost there..."
She couldnīt look at his face, and he was right in front of her. So damn handsome! Well, kinda rude, with no manners, dressing light brown trousers with suspensories, white shirt and a bonnet, so simple and so charming. Different from all the boys she had always seen. But that was what made him so interesting. Everything about him was really male.
It didnīt take long until they were on the ground again.
"Thanks, Daniel!" He said to the guy who worked with the ferris wheel machine, and gave her his hand, so she could jump off her cabinet, she thanked him and jumped off right after her, the boys were on the next cabinet.
" ... you're nuts!" said to him "I’d have laughed a lot if you had fallen over!"
"I wouldn’t fall over!"
"Oh my, so almighty!" said and together.
"Well, let me get around with the lady here and go get around with your girl ok?"
"Yeah… I guess you’re allowed to…"
"Thanks...you’re so nice, daddy!" joked and laughed.
"Oh, don’t fuck with me! Go away!" pretended to be angry.
"But that’s true." Said when they were alone "You are nuts!"
"No, Iīm not, I was just trying to take you out for a walk... Would you let me!?"
They were walking in a beautiful square near the park.
"So... Where do you want to go?!"
"Well... The thing is... Not where I want to go... But what do you want to see?! Have you ever been to Sligo before?!"
"No... Not actually... My first time here. You?!"
"Well... Born and raised here, ma’am... "
"Yeah... Sure, I mean, you even know the ferris wheel guy..."
"We study together. He is a good mate..."
"I see you do loads of things, study, have a band..."
"And I work with my dad."
"Really?! What do you do?!"
"Iīm a joiner."
"Work with woods and stuff?"
"Exactly! And you? What do you do?"
"Well, Iīm attending at the nursery school in Dublin."
"So you want to be a nurse?!"
"Well, that’s one of the few things girls can study..." He laughed, she did the same.
They were now walking on the streets of Sligo, full of people and cosy pubs.
"Yeah... Girls canīt do many things, can they?!"
"Not many... Specially when you come from a family like mine."
"I take your point... Rich people. Hey... Thatīs my dad over there..." He waved to his dad.
"Your dad? Where!?"
"Inside the pub. Hey... Have you ever drunk a beer?!"
"A beer!? Of course not!" She said looking insulted.
"Would you mind if I get me one!? What would you like to drink?!" He said going towards the pubīs door.
"A coke." She said and got in after him, he greeted everyone, he was the popular kind, everybody there was like him, she liked the sound of the music and when he got back from the bar she was kinda moving her head and feet with the music, he handed her the coke.
"This way..." He said leading her to the door and after saying bye to his dad.
"You are the popular kind... Arenīt you?" he smiled.
"Iīd say... My dad is popular, Iīm just his son..."
"It was a nice place... I mean, that pub..."
"Did you like it? I mean, we could go there sometime if you want to..."
"Sure, I would have a lovely time."
They were still walking around Sligoīs center. And getting along really well...
"Look! The signal is red lighted..."
"I can see that! So what?!" She said laughing not getting a thing.
"Have you ever done someting crazy in your life!?"
"Crazy in my life!? Like what?!"
"Like laying under the light sign and watch the stars..."
"Pardon!?"
"Havenīt you ever done that?! You should try..." He said laying himself on the street.
"... Get out of there!" She said from the sidewalk laughing.
"No way! You should come here with me and look at the sky... The stars look brighter from here!" She looked at him puzzled.
"You’ll see lots of stars when cars run over you! Get out of there!" he laughed.
"You have such a sense of humor, do you know that? Come here, lay down here, to see the sky!"
"I can look at the sky from here... What about the cars?!"
"Itīs not the same view..." He sat and handed his hand to her, calling her "It wonīt take long, just one minute..."
"It better be really good then..." She said approaching him and seating on the cold asphalt "Itīs really, erm... HARD!" Both laughed.
"You get used to that..." He said placing his hands over his tummy, he could have offered his arm so she could rest her head on it, but he didnīt want to be invasive or something, they were like that for few minutes, there remained no cars on the streets at that time. "Are you listening a song!?" he said and looked at her.
"A song?!" There were a really light sound of a new romantic song on the air.
"Yeah... Can you hear it?!" She stopped for a while.
"I guess so... Isnīt it..."
"Wanna dance?" She looked at him puzzled again.
"Huh?!"
"I asked... Do you want to dance?"
"You mean... NOW!?" She was not getting a thing.
"Yeah... Here... Now... Do you want?!" She smiled, and liked his idea, and nooded.
"Iīd love to..." He stood up and gave her his hand to help her.
"So... May I?!" He asked her placing his hand on her waist.
They started to dance and he started to sing the song in a low voice... His hands were not hands of boys she used to dance with. They were hands of a man, and the same about his smell. She was taken by the moment and rested her head between his chest and face. She felt free and comfortable to do so. For that moment she forgot who she was and just lived that moment. Which changed her life forever...
Like a good dream, the song ended.
"Hey! Who stopped it? I want a longer song!" said .
"Well… I guess I gotta go home. I’ll meet and the guys…"
"Oh no… I take you home… so we can stay a little longer together. I mean, if you want to, sure. I guess I was annoying enough for tonight."
"Oh, of course not. You’re lovely!" Silence. "I mean… Let’s go home then."
And they went to her house, walking and talking. They found out they had so much in common, and they really had a nice time. They stopped in front of her house and he said:
"Why the time passes so fast when I’m with you…?"
"I don’t know… But I was thinking about that too." Silence. came closer and touched her face. Scared about her own feelings, she entered in her house. She was in the middle of the garden when he screamed:
"Can I see you tomorrow?"
"I don’t know…"
"What time can I pick you up?"
"Erm… At noon."
"Great… I’m gonna take you to a really nice place." she nodded and when she was entering the house she screamed louder. "I’ll be waiting for you, anxiously!" and she closed the door. She felt like Cinderella when she looked to the clock and saw that was already midnight. But something about her story was different. Her prince would come to see her again. And thinking about that she opened a huge smile. It was when she heard:
"I called and s house. Your aunt told me he was already there. Why did you take longer?" said her mom, rudely.
"I made a friend today." her mom made her feel embarrassed about everything, even when it wasn’t wrong.
"And why weren’t you with your friend and your cousins?" she felt like a naughty child.
" and had to be left alone and I met this friend. wanted to go home and my new friend came with me."
"Who is he? He didn’t seem as good as us."
"It depends on what you consider good."
"I’m warning you. No romances with those working class’ guys."
", please… Leave the girl alone. She is responsible and he is just her friend." said her father who came from the kitchen to the huge living room. Her house was enormous and really beautiful, in a Victorian style.
"I know that. But these poor guys do everything to know what to be rich is like."
" is not like that, mom."
"Ok… And I am Santa Claus!" Nervous, ran straight to her room and slept, thinking about the fantastic moments she had lived that night.
Next morning
and met each other to have breakfast in a place near s house.
"Hey… how are ya?" said .
"Pretty fine…"
"You look… dreamer this morning, my friend. Could you tell me what’s going on?"
"Well… It’s funny how things happen, "
"Is it?" joked .
"You idiot! I am serious!"
"Wow… something happened in here… I mean… Of course it couldn’t be related to a gorgeous friend of my fave man, no for a reason of this smile, right?"
"You are the worst and I hate you!"
"I am the best and you love me… But tell me… what happened? And why are things funny?"
"Well, last afternoon we were talking about love and finding someone… And I met last night… It’s strange, but I just can’t get him out of my head."
"I guess you’re falling for him, "
"That’s a problem…"
"Oh, cut the crap here, ok? Don’t tell me you are afraid of being hurt and…"
"No… Of course not! But… my mom saw him taking me home last night. And said a lot of crap about “he doesn’t seem as good as us”."
"Shit!"
"And, besides, why the hell didn’t you keep and with you just half an hour more? You are such a useless!" And they laughed.
"I guess I am… But… what now ?"
"What now what?"
"What now… Will you see him again?"
"He said he’d pick me up at home at noon."
"It’s just me or you are really anxious for this meeting?"
"I guess I am…" and she put her hands in front of her face and said: "What am I doing? Why am I feeling like this?"
", c’mon… don’t worry… He is s friend, he cant be a bad person. And, besides, if he dares to make you cry, Im gonna kick his butt!"
""And… Let me say… WHAT A BUUUUTT!"
"You pervert! Just because it’s huge you can’t take your eyes off it!"
"So, you never looked to s butt?"
"Of course not! I am pure! I am an angel!"
"Oh sure… And Santa Claus is coming from the corner wearing green and orange panties."
"Gosh… that’s horrible… But don’t run away from the main subject…"
"You are so mean… Let me try to forget about him a while…"
"You are so stubborn… didn’t you notice that you’re not going to forget him so soon? Go with the flow and, whatever happens I’m here to laugh and say to you “You’re so fucked!” and to say “Put your head down on my shoulder." Silence.
"My god, s is turning you into a romantic person, thats awful!"
"I know… And, as soon as you imagine, you’ll see yourself like this, with . At least I hope so…"
As he promised, he went to pick her up at noon. She was still with , doing some gardening. She had lost track of time.
"Look who is on your front door..."
"OMG! Itīs him..." said taking off her gloves "And Iīm dirty!"
"Iīm sure he wonīt mind at all... Look at his smile!"
walked to meet him like if there was no-one there. “She isnīt even listening to me” Her friend was thinking.
"Hey ..." She said stotping in front of him and smiling "Iīm sorry for meeting you like this but I was at the garden and lost track of time and look at me!"
"Hello ..." He was helding his bonnet in his hands "Iīm looking at you and I really donīt see anything wrong..."
"Oh..." She blushed, silence.
"Well... Can we go out for our walk?!"
"Actually yeah... But Iīm afraid we should take with us..." He looked a little disappointed "Iīm sure it will be great!"
"Yeah, yeah... She is great fun... Would you like to come in and drink an iced tea while I clean myself up?!"
"Well... Iīll wait for you here at the garden if you donīt mind..." Now she looked disappointed, but understood that he might not feel comfortable in her huge house.
"Em... Ok then... I wonīt take long, alright?!"
"Take your time..." He smiled.
She left and got inside the house with .
"WHAT? Am I going with you?"
"Pleeeeeease..." She asked her with a puppy face.
"I mean, of course I could go out with you but I mean... What am I going to do there!?"
"Well, at least my mum wonīt bother me because Iīm going out alone with him..."
"Ok... Ok... So are you ready?!"
"How do I look?!"
"Pretty! Shall we?!"
They left and met again at the garden. He was checking their bench.
"We are ready! What are you doing there?!" He smiled.
"Well... I should fix this bench for you... Itīs like..."
"Itīs old!" said "This garden needs a new one!" she said while they were walking out from īs garden.
"Yeah... It is really old... My grandfather did it to the old owner of this place..."
"Really?! Your grandfather?!" asked and he nodded.
"My dadīs business is a family business... I work there since I was a little kid..." He said and showed them his strong hands.
"Strong hands. Beautiful strong hands..." thought.
"Strong?! No... It is hardened by the work... But you know?! Iīm not ashamed..."
"You should not be!"
They were talking happily on their way to the ice-cream shop when they met .
"I thought we had a rehearsal today, Mr. ..."
"Oh yeah... I forgot that..." said "Itīs because I have the afternoon off today..." He explained looking at .
"With such a company... I would have forgotten myself!!!" laughed "Can I join you?"
"Sure..." said "We were going to the ice cream shop..."
And then they went to the ice cream shop. They were all talking and laughing. was walking beside , and every now and then they looked at each other. At the ice cream shop they sat in front of each other, and did the same.
The chat was really flowing, as they got along really well and was really enchanted by that stranger. He was something else for her. Their eyes met all the time.
"So what are your plans for tonight?" asked them.
"I havenīt thought about anything... Fancy a movie or something?" said looking at
"Movie?! No... Not again... "
"So where do you want to go?!"
"Aw.... She would like to see the sunset..."
"Really?! I was about to invite you to do that... I know the perfect place we can do it!"
"I would love to go to the movies, ..." said suddenly
"So we should go... Because the movie starts in about... Twenty minutes..."
"So... To the sunset then?!" said standing up and looking at , she gave him her hand and the four of them walked out the ice cream shop.
and went to the movies and went with to see the sunset in Strandhill.
It was a windy afternoon, and the beach was amazing. You could see few clouds on the sky and the orange touch from the sunset was everywhere you could look.
"So are you ready to the best sunset of your life?" He asked her.
"Is Strandhillīs sunset so special? I have seen many before..." She said playing with her own hair.
"Iīm sure you have seen... But..."
"But not with such a good company..." She realised what she said and bit her lips.
"I didnīt know I was that interesting..." He said smiling and taking off his checkered shirt, she looked at him shocked.
"Why are you taking your shirt off?! I mean, did you bring me here to try to..."
"Shhhh..." He said smiling "How many questions... Iīm taking off my shirt so you can sit on it, and I didnīt bring you here to do anything else, but to see the sunset."
"Oh..." She blushed.
"So..." He said putting his shirt on the sand and looked at her asking for her to take a seat, she did so "It is not as comfortable as a chair but..."
"Itīs great, I mean... Just great..."
She couldnīt ask for anything else, there she was with the perfect guy watching the perfect sunset. She always wanted to do it with someone who was not her best friend. But she hadnīt found anyone to make it more special until that day.
They were talking and talking until the night fell. He hardly touched her.
"Iīd better take you home, miss..."
"Oh... Yeah..." She said coming back to the real world "I should be back at home... Really." Now she didnīt look happy.
"Why you donīt look happy?! I mean, itīs getting cold and..."
"I can always come back to my warm and rich house... Wasnīt what you were about to say!?"
"Well... Something like that... Whatīs wrong there!?"
"Itīs that sometimes it feels that is always missing a piece, you know?!"
"A piece in you?" She nodded "Anyway... We should really get going or you parents are going to get me arrested..." She looked at him and smiled.
"Thatīs the point... I canīt live like I want..."
"And what do you want?!" They were talking and walking to her place when she saw an old house.
"I want to go inside that place."
"Pardon?!"
"Oh cīmon... Arenīt you the tough one?! What are you afraid of!?" She said smiling at him.
"Are you crazy? I mean, you should go home."
"Havenīt you ever done something crazy?!"
"Well... Loads of times, but let me take you home?!" She was walking to the place and he was screaming after her.
" and are still at the movies... We can go there and be at home about the same time..."
"What do you want to do there?"
"See if it is haunted..." She said running to the house, he had nothing to do but run after her.
"Haunted?!" He said trying to catch his breath when they got to the houseīs terrace "Are you nuts?" She laughed.
"Open the door Mr... Where are your manners?!" She said playfully, he smiled.
"Well... Iīm sorry to tell you that... But this house it not haunted..." He said opening the door for her.
"No?! How would you know?"
"Well... I live here... And I used to come here when I was younger." He said entering the place.
"It must have been a beautiful house..."
"Yeah, my dad used to say that... But the owner lost everything he had and couldnīt keep this place, so a rich guy bought it to help the old man, but didnīt move in, so..."
"Can I go check upstairs?"
"No... This is an old wooden stair... You could get hurt. You know!? This place here" He said showing the old wooden stair "was where the old owner asked his future wife to marry him..."
"Ok, ok... How would you know that?!" He just smiled while she was walking inside the huge old house "What?! They have a piano here!!!!" She said taking off the old sheet covering the piano.
"Yeah... Do you like piano?!"
"I love it!!! I play the piano since I was 5 years old!"
"Really?! Would you play a piece for me?!"
"What do you want to listen... Sir?!" She said playfully placing her purse over the piano and taking a seat.
"Could be... When I Fall In Love."
"Nice choice... I mean, it is a beautiful song... "
And she started playing the song, he was there, stared, looking at her, he didnīt say a word when she finished.
"You are a nice pianist... Do you do it for fun?!" He said from her back
"Yeah... Itīs one of my activities... I paint as well."
"Do you? So we have an artist here?"
"Guess so..." She said thinking "Well... I guess we should go, right?" It was around 9 pm or something
"Yeah... Sure..." He said not moving an inch, she stood up, they were really close, they stood like that for a moment
"So... What are you waiting for?" He didnīt say a work, he just placed his lips on hers and they kissed, a soft kiss, she was only 17 and had never kissed anyone, he held her close to him and wanted it to never end.
From this day on the became unseparable, we have to say that their romance was really “in front” of their time. She would never thought she could meet someone like him. They spent the afternoons riding bikes with and , or swiming on the lake... She did things she had never tought she could, he was the company that she had been waiting for all her life.
There was one night they were snogging inside his car and when they were getting in a non return point she said breathless.
"Babe... I really have to go..."
"No, you donīt..." He said hopeless "Please donīt?!"
She just kissed him and ran back home, she went running through the garden until she reached the door.
"DAD!" She yelled
"Hello ... You and this boy are really close huh?!" She blushed
"Yeah dad..." She smiled "We are dating, he is..."
"Iīd like to meet him... Why donīt you ask him to join us for lunch on Sunday?" Her face lighted up with a huge smile
"You want me to bring him here?!"
"Sure... If you are getting along that well... I guess we should get to know him better... Right?!"
"Daaaaaaaad!!!!" She jumped on her dadīs lap and kissed his cheek "Iīm so gonna do it!!!!" And left to her room
Sunday came really quick and was having lunch with her family and their friends. was there too.
He was really different from all that people, but he was doing his best to seem comfortable. They were talking relaxed and the lunch was fine. Except from some hostile looks from her cousin, a rich guy from London who obviously thought really funny the fact that worked with wood for a living and that he made 0,40 cents an hour at work. He almost asked how he expected to give the life she had earning 0,40 cents an hour.
After lunch and went to see the sunset and for a little walk. They were so much in love that ther didnīt even care about the peoples look, or talks. Her parents were looking at them when he mum was shocked because just took his shir off and jumped from the boat into the river and jumped right after him. It was really outrageous a girl jump in a river with her boyfriend, specially because he was shirtless...
"Youīd better keep you eyes open!"
"What for?! They are just in love..."
"They are young and donīt know how life is! She will end up pregnant!" Her mum said
"You are over reacting! We will be back home in two weeks and this will be over! Let them have fun!!!!"
"Have fun... Have fun... You are SO like her!" Her mum said pissed to her dad and left.
Everybody in town knew they were together and his dad was completely enchanted. One night she had scaped to his house and he was so crazy about her that he just put her against the wall and kissed her passionetely, when they heard his dad “Is it there?”
He had his hands on her hips when breathing hard he asked.
"Wanna go somewhere else?" She nodded, she wanted to be alone with him also, he just caught his jacket and his old car keys and took her to that old house they had gone before.
She watched the moon, it was a wonderful night with no clouds on the sky. After checking the house he went close to her, hugged her from behind and kissed her neck.
"Will you play the piano for me tonight?!" She looked at him, his eyes were sparkling and brightened by the moonlight.
"Sure... I can teach you if you want..." He took her by the hand and they entered the place.
The house was lightened by some old candles he managed to find, and the old piano was being lightened only by the moon. She entered that familiar room and he took a deep breath.
"You know... Iīll buy this house someday... And refurbish it entirely! It needs a new ceiling, floor..."
"And furnitures... Can I help with that?!"
"Do you want to?!" She hugged him tenderly.
"Iīll follow you, and want to take part of each and every little thing on your life..."
"So what do you want here?!"
"Awwwwww... I want a huge balcony aaaaaaallllll over the house so we can seat and watch the sunset everyday..."
"What else do you want lady?!" He said with a grin and kissing her forehead.
"I want a room, with a view to the sea... So I can paint..."
"Babe... Iīll work hard so I can do it for you... And youīll have your dream house..."
"With my dream husband..."
"But you have to promise me one thing..."
"Anything."
"Youīll play the piano for me every night." He smiled, he just loved that sight of her playing the piano, she kissed him in agreement.
"I can do it now if you want..." He smiled and let her go.
She walked to the piano and took a seat. She started to finger Smile on the piano under īs attentive look. The music was filling the place when he rested his hands on the piano and started kissing her neck.
"Mr. ... How do you want me to play you some music kissing me like that..." She said surrending to his kisses, he kept kissing her neck, bitting her ear; she turned to him and they started kissing. When... "... Make love to me." She said out of breath, he stoped everything and looked into her eyes.
"Are you sure, baby?!" Of course he was dying for that as they got almost there for so many times but seeing her asking him to do so was something he really didnīt expect.
"Yes, I am. I want you to do it... Please?!" She said among kisses and standing up.
Now their bodies were so close that could be one. He gently took her clothes off, piece by piece. Like for an instinct she did the same, and moments later they were naked, laid on the floor, she was talking non-stop as she was really nervous.
"... Can you just wait a minute?"
"What, my love... Did I hurt you?!"
"Babe... What... What are you thinking now?"
"Huh?!" He looked at her puzzled "What am I thinking?!"
"Yeah, yeah... I mean... You must be thinking about something..."
"Iīm thinking how much Iīm happy now, for having you in my arms and..."
"Just that?! I mean..."
He gave up, took a deep breath, laid beside her and pulled her close. Kissing the top of her head he said:
"Weīd better leave it to another day..."
"Iīm sorry... I screwed up everything... Didnīt I?!"
"No... You never do..."
"I love you."
Suddenly, Keary entered running the house with Mae right after him.
"Keary! Get out! Canīt you see we are here?!" was hidden on his back.
"Oh God!" Keary said closing his eyes not to see them naked "īs parents are really worried, they even called the police! And they are looking for her everywhere!"
"Youīd better run..." Mae said from Kearyīs back, with her eyes closed too as she didnīt want to see a man naked.
They left the old house running, got inside īs old pickup and went to īs house. They got inside to find her parents at the lobby.
"Mum, did you call the police!?" She was tense.
"Sure I did, young lady... Itīs already 2 am and we had no sign of you!"
"Itīs my fault, I lost track of time, I should have brought her home earlier and..."
", we would like to talk in private if you donīt mind..." Her dad said politely "Can you wait here?" He nooded ", letīs go to my office." She gave him a look and left to her dadīs office while he took a seat on the couch.
had an horrible fight with her parents inside her fatherīs office. Her mum didnīt want her to keep on that relationship, and her dad was trying to explain her that she needed to get back to Dublin one day and it would never work. She was trying to explane to them that he brought her to life, that he was everything she wanted, but then again her mum told her that she was way too young and didnīt know what life was. got fed up of that conversation.
"Mum!!! What do you know about love?! Tell me?! What do you know about love?! I donīt see any glimpse on your eyes when you look at my dad. What are you talking about? You are not close to us to know what our eyes say, I love him, mum! I love and Iīll be with him!"
Said that she just ran out her fatherīs office to find no one where was supposed to stay. Of course he heard it all and left the place. She went out of the house running and found him walking to his car.
"! !! Where are you going?" She reached him
He looked at her, dried her face and kissed her forehead.
"Baby... They are right... It would never work out..." He was heartbroken, but he needed to let her go.
"What?! What are you saying?"
"Iīm saying that the summer is on its end and you are coming back and..."
"Are you breaking up with me?"
He couldnīt look at her, he just turned his head and nodded. She cried.
"Thatīs the right thing..."
"Right thing? What are you afraid of? My parents? I donīt care, , I donīt! I mean..." He hugged her.
"Shhhh... Youīll be back to Dublin and everything will be ok... Youīll find a nice guy, and get married to him and he will give you a life and..."
"I DONīT WANT A LIFE, I WANT YOU!"
"Donīt make it any harder, ... Itīs over."
She got furious.
"OVER?! OVER?!"
"It will be better for all of us..." She took a deep breath.
"You know what? You are a coward! What are you afraid? Huh?!" She was facing him, he just turned around and got inside his car.
just stood there, in front of her house. Watching the love of her life leave. She could not believe it, he was gone. She just turned and entered her house crying. Didnīt pay attention to her mum, who was at the main entrance. She just got in and went to her bedroom crying.
She couldnīt sleep that night, just cried.
When the sun rose up, she went downstairs still wearing her blue pijamas, to find her mum having breakfast.
"Seat, ... You should eat."
"Iīm not hungry, mother... I just came here to ask if daddy is home."
"No, he is not home, he went to the city to buy some stuff for our journey back home."
didnīt get it at first, and looked twice to her mother.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that we are leaving to Dublin, just after you have your breakfast."
"Mum... I thought weīd be going within a week!"
"Well, dear... Change of plans. We are leaving this morning."
Her mother was not joking, she really meant they were leaving that morning. felt her eyes flood with tears. But she had no argument to her mother, she never had. So she just ran upstairs, still listening to her mum yelling her name around the house, she got changed the fastest she could and asked the driver to drive her to the place worked.
Poor Joshua... He was afraid of īs mum but he knew how important it was to meet again, so he just took her there.
Few minutes later, they reached the place, left the car and went to the place and she only saw Keary working. No sign of him.
"Keary..." She said a little out of breath, as she was really anxious. "Good morning... em... Whereīs ?"
"... Hey, hey... Breath!" He said trying to calm her down
"Where is he?" She said with tears in her eyes.
"He is not here, ... He went to Donegal to deliver some stuff to his dad and..."
He stopped what he was going to say when he saw she was really crying.
"Hey..." He said taking her hair from her face "Whatīs wrong?"
"Iīm leaving, Keary... Iīm coming back to Dublin."
"When? I mean, the summer vacations are not over... Are they?!"
"Iīm leaving now, Keary..." She sobbed.
"Now? But I mean... You had a fight last night and now you are leaving?" She nodded.
"A stupid fight, and I came here to say to him that I love him and that fight was stupid and..." She cried "When is he coming back?"
"By the end of the afternoon..." He said feeling really sorry for both of them as he had spent all night with and he had never seen his friend so low.
They heard her driver horning, that was time to leave. She looked at him and with her face wet from her tears she told him to tell that it was not over, that she would be waiting for his letters and that she loved him so much. Keary nodded and took a deep breath while watching her entering the car, he knew that would freak out when he knew that she was leaving, as he was planning to see her late thet afternoon when he got back from Donegal, so they could talk and set things up. Keary knew that he decided he would fight for their love and now she was leaving.
When got home her bags were all packed. She just entered her dadīs car and without saying a word they left. While making their way out of Sligo, all could do was crying, she was being teared apart from the love of her life and crying was all she could do. He mum was still saying things like “You are only seventeen, you will fall in love with someone who deserves this love...” In fact, didnīt care, she wanted him, no other man.
That afternoon, when got back from Donegal, he saw Keary still waiting for him at the joiner, and it was about time for him to be home. So he knew something had happened. When Keary told him that had left, he just entered his old truck again and drove to her house to find just a closed gate. He felt weak. He stood looking to that closed gate for what seemed years, he just couldnīt believe that she was not there anymore. How could he say to her how sorry he was? How could he make it up to her? He just sat on the sidewalk and with his head between his hands he cried.
He spent one week without knowing what to do, the only thing he did was work and drink, when he met at the pub.
"... Hello there!" looked to from his seat and gave him a weak smile "Are you ok!? I mean, can we talk?"
"Sure, ... Take a seat."
"Sorry, my friend, but you look miserable... What happened?"
" left."
"What?!"
had been travelling with and her parents. They left to the Italian coast few days after they “assumed” their romance.
"She left, a week ago."
"So I can assume you are madly in love with her, canīt I!?"
"I am, , but the problem is, we broke up, and she left the next morning... For her, we are over, you know?!"
"You can tell her you are not over..."
"How, ? How? Her mum took her away from me, she doesnīt want us to meet!"
"You can write her."
"I donīt have her address..."
"Iīm her cousin, my friend... I have her address and her phone number!" saw īs eyes open wide.
"And will you give it to me?"
"Her addreess? Sure I will. I just donīt have it here now but tomorrow morning Iīll meet you at your work and give you."
finally managed to smile, he would have her address and her phone number. At least he could write her telling how much he loved her and that their relationship was not over.
The next morning, as he had promised, stepped at īs work and gave him her address and phone number. That same night he wrote her the first letter and the other day he tried to call her... But it was useless because never picked up the phone, it was always her mum or the maid, and she was never home, they'd tell him that asperly.
had told that would write to her, so everyday when she came home from her classes, she checked the mailbox, but no letter never arrived.
In Sligo, , kept writting , even though he hadnīt got any answer from her. Every time the postman went there, he ran to the door to see if he had got something, but he never had. had left to Dublin to study and to be close to , so had no one to ask about , and as I said before, trying to call her was useless. After a few time, he decided to stop the letters, he would get no answer anyway.
1944 – Second World War
had alisted, he would win a great money going to the war. So he could keep his promise and buy the house. He knew she was coming back one day, and he wanted to show her he had kept his word.
So the day had come and he went to Germany. He lost Keary there and hurt he came home.
Meanwhile, who was attending to the nursery school, also alisted, so she could help the injured soldiers who were sent back to Ireland. Every man she saw, had a piece of , it was so painful, she could not forget him even after all this time. She looked for him in every man her eyes laid down. Not succesfull as she couldnīt find his qualities in any of them.
But one day she was helping a young soldier... He was really injured and all his body was imobilized.
"Mr. OīConnor... How are you feeling today?!" She smiled while looking at her patient.
"Oh... Iīm feeling really better, but a little lonely, you know!?" He said flirty./p>
"Oh yeah I understand... And sorry, I canīt keep you company as I have all this nursery to take care of..." She smiled at him, he had beautiful green eyes "Let me help you to seat..."
"Will you marry me, young nurse?" She smiled.
"Oh... When you get out of here we can talk about this marriage proposal... Now, here we go... Your pills..."
She was always avoiding other men. They were so not like , she would never fall in love again. Her heart belong to and no one else.
It was summer of 1944 when got back home, as I said before he was a little injured so he was sent back to Sligo. When he finally got home, he saw her dad sat on the terrace, the very same way he did. Mr. īs eyes brightened when he saw his son, safe back home. He just pulled him into a embrace.
"How I missed you, son!!!!"
"Dad... I missed you too..."
"Hey letīs get inside, I have something for you..."
"A nice meal?! Because thatīs all I want now!"
"Also a nice meal... You look a skull!" They both laughed and got into the house knew and missed so much.
While he was unpacking his dad came with a check on his hands.
"Take it, son... This is for you."
"What is it, dad? This is loads of money!"
"I sold the house."
"What for, dad!? I mean, this is the only thing we have got!" He said concerned.
"Now that you are back from the war, you can buy that old house by the sea..." īs eyes filled with tears.
"Dad... I canīt believe you!" They hugged each other.
"And itīs better we do it soon, because youīll need someone to help you to refurbish all that place, and I donīt think youīll have money enough to hire any workers huh?!"
Back to Dublin
was leaving her school along with her friends when she saw a handsome man resting on a beautiful convertible, he was looking at her as well. The girls were all giggling when they heard...
"Nurse! Nurse!!!"
"... That guy is talking to you!"
"Oh no, he is not..." She said blushing "We are all nurses here..."
"But no one alisted... And he is a soldier!"
"Ms. ... Itīs with you Iīm talking!" She turned to him, he was already walking towards her.
The girls kept going while stopped and waited for that stranger man get close.
"Hello there..." He said while placing a kiss on her hand, he was charming.
"Hello..." She said smiling, but not sure if she knew that man or not.
"You donīt remember me, do you?"
"Iīm not sure, itīs just that I..." She said a little insecure.
"Did you receive so many marriage proposals?!" She laughed
"Mr. OīConnor!"
"In flesh, and bones..." He said and gave her a smile.
"Hopefully fully recovered huh?!" She replied the joke.
Mr. OīConnorīs name was Jake, and he was everything īs mum wanted to her. He was rich and well born. decided she would give it a shot, after having everlasting talks with her friends, specially , who was heartbroken because of all that thing she knew would never get over the fact he didnīt write her not even a note.
"Cīmon, ... You know you are not going back to Sligo... Your mum would never let it! Itīs been such a long time... And Jake is not that bad, is he?"
"No, he is not... He is even charming but..."
"He hasnīt īs eyes... I know, I know... Iīve heard it for so many times that I canīt even count! But itīs like, the only contact we had in Sligo was , and he is not there anymore... Move on, my friend."
"But I donīt love him..."
"Maybe youīll learn how to do it, right?!"
"God help me then..."
Jake easily felt onto her parents grace. He was a young business man, just like her father. They had so much to talk about during those no ending brandy sections after the dinner. thought it really boring but she got used to Jake. He was charming indeed and eventhough he hadnīt all īs masculinity, she let herself like him.
In Sligo/Dublin
Finally had sold the house and now he had to go to Dublin to borrow some money in order to refurbish his “new” house. He was inside the bus when he saw happily walking on the sidewalk.
Like a mad man, he made the bus driver stop the bus so he could follow her. He saw her getting into a restaurant and kept observing her from the outside, when he saw Jake hugging the girl that he was supposed to be hugging. He kissed her gently on the lips and that made him break inside. He was the tough kind of guy, but she was his weak point, someway, somehow he believed she would come back to him, and at that time, he saw all his dreams falling appart. “She has a boyfriend, a fiancée... Or he could be her husband already” He stared at her for a couple of minutes, and had no guts to talk to her. “She got over me... But you know what?! Maybe this guy is better for her after all...” He loved her, and he wanted her to be happy, even if it was not with him. He sighed. And made his way to the bank, trying to convince himself that she was going to be better with that guy, whoever he was.
From that day on, decided that he would build his house and forget about , so he got the money from the bank and got back to Sligo, to his work, to his life.
In Dublin - 1950
was really trying to forget as she was dating Jake, and it was serious. He had proposed her one night on a party at her house. At her birthday party. So he proposed and they decided the wedding date. They were going to get married the next summer. She was happy, and tried to avoid īs thought from her mind and heart. She decided letting him go, he was not worth it, as he had never dropped her a line.
Meanwhile was working hard on his house, it was becoming beautiful. He was really enjoying doing that. Unfortunatelly, he had lost his dad when the house was almost done, so after getting over his fatherīs loss, he kept his work at the house. Months later it was done, and as it was a huge and wonderful property, done by himself in a small city, he became the “news of the week” like the young joiner who made a dream house. And he was not alone, as he was really good looking, he had a different woman per night. He looked for in all of them, couldnīt find, but having them helped him to keep her face away from his mind. He had no feelings for any of those, and unfortunatelly, none of those relationships gone any further.
The day of the wedding was coming and was already trying her wedding dress. Her mum was really happy with all that big party they were going to have for the wedding. All īs friends were at her house while she was trying her dress when her aunt came into the room with a newspaper on her hands, reading something and saying:
"Oh... And above all he is good looking!!!!"
"Who is good looking?"
"This young man here from Sligo, he built a big house with his own hands... Look!"
felt her heart skip a bit, she took the paper from her auntīs hand. She felt like she had lost her legs, felt weak on her knees when she saw on the newspaper. It was a medium black and white picture of him and the house. And guess what; the house was exactly the way she wanted.
"Em..." said trying to disguise "I guess, I guess..." noticed something was wrong and said:
"Girls, I guess that this is just too hot in here, might be the heat and all... Why donīt we all go down to have an iced tea while gets out of this dress!?"
breathed again, sheīd have the chance to be alone with her thoughts, at least until her mum asked what was going on... Fortunately, her mum went down with the girls, to organize the tea, biscuits and stuff.
After 5 minutes or so, found a way to go to īs room, to find her pale still holding the paper in her hands, fighting against her tears.
"What is in this paper, for Christ sake?!" just handed her the paper.
"Look! He made it! What for? I mean, that is MY dream house... Not his! If he wanted to do it without me, why did he ask?!" was just as pale as was.
"I donīt know what to say, my friend..." said seating next to .
"There is nothing to say... He didnīt write me, so it means that he doesnīt care... Right?" looked at hopeless.
"You still love him, donīt you?!"
"I donīt know... It caught me by surprise and Jake is so kind and..."
"My dear... You canīt marry Jake in doubt... Why donīt you go to Sligo and try to find ?!"
"Go to Sligo?!" looked shocked.
"Yeah... You can get a train from the main station, it might not be that difficult, might have at least three trains leaving to Sligo per day!" took a deep breath and sighed, continued "Or you can lose the love of you life once again..." And left the room.
After changing her clothes, went down to have some tea with her friends, and tried to avoid that newspaper subject. Her mum was after her, but she didnīt give her the chance to ask what had on that paper, she knew that it might be something to do with , for sure.
Jake didnīt appear that night, and went to bed early. She decided she was going to Sligo on the next day.
In Sligo
was holding Lilly, a young widow, she had lost her husband at the war and was trying to fight against her own ghosts, just like . So they could at least make each other company.
"Why donīt we go to the beach tomorrow?" She said rolling to him on the bed and placing a soft kiss on his naked chest.
"I have to work..." He answered in a dry way, she kept looking at him.
"..." She softly called him "Where are you now?" He smiled weakly and kissed her forehead.
"You know Iīm not in love with you..."
"Yeah...." She said letting go from his arms "I should have known that no one could love me like Kevin did..." She got up from bed and was putting her clothes on.
"Iīm sorry..." tried to apologize, and was getting up to go after her "Itīs just that I..." She didnīt let him finish.
"Itīs just that you are still waiting for that girl from Dublin... Canīt you realize that you have to move on?! Jesus Christ, ! Live the present! Give yourself a chance!" She had her eyes filled with tears, he said nothing, just took a deep sigh "I see you around!" She said banging the door after her.
He went back to bed, and fighting with her words inside his head... But damn it! She was right... He could not leave in his past, but what if he didnīt want to build a family with no other woman?!
Next morning came and jumped out of bed as soon as the sun rose up. She wanted to avoid her mum, so she put few dresses inside a little suitcase and asked the driver to take her to Jakeīs house. She had to talk to him.
He was having breakfast when she got there.
"My love... Did you come here to have breakfast with your fiancée?" He said standing up from his seat and hugging her, he was handsome, there was no doubt of that, but had to be sure of her feelings so...
"No, sweetheart... Actually I came here to tell you that Iīll be out of town for a few days." He looked at her puzzled.
"Out of town?! What for?"
"Oh... Itīs like, I guess that this wedding thing is leaving me stressed... Iīll go to the seaside to paint."
"Paint?! I didnīt know you painted..." She looked at him.
"There are so many things about me that you donīt know..." She gave him a weak smile.
"But thatīs because Iīm so busy with all this company thing and..."
"Itīs ok... So see you in a week at the most, ok?!" She kissed him lightly.
"A week? Will I survive?" She smiled.
"Sure you will... You have so many things to do... Iīll call you when I get there, ok?!"
"Iīll be waiting... Are you sure you donīt want some breakfast?!"
"Yeah... Iīm sure..." She kissed him once again "Talk to you at night..."
She left to the train station, she was now on her own and on her way to face the truth. She had to do it.
After four hours, she got in Sligoīs train station. She had cold, shacking hands. But she was there, she had to be strong. She went to the rentalīs car office at the station and hired a car, it was a small town, so she probably would not get lost. She drove to the city center, and found a hotel. Just took a quick shower and got ready to look for .
It was years since she was there, but she knew exactly where she had to go. Twenty minutes later or so, she was in front of the house. She got into the property and parked the car, no sign of . She took a deep breath and got outside the car and made her way to the small joiner near the house, if he was not at there, probably someone could tell her where was.
"Hello... Anybody there?!" She said from outside the little joiner, was inside, and heard that familiar voice, but he could not believe it, so thinking that now he was hearing voices, he walked out, blinded for the sun light he could not see who was the person, but it was a woman for sure. "?!" asked and coming closer, she almost gasped when she saw him, he was handsome as never.
"Yeah..." He said still not sure about who was that woman, it couldnīt be , just too good to be truth, but then she got close to him, and there was no doubts, the woman was , he gasped.
"Hi..." She said smiling at him, he just smiled at her "Hey, arenīt you saying anything? Itīs years since we donīt see each other!"
"Oh... Hi! Itīs because I, I, I... I was caught by surprise... I was not expecting you here. Hello..." He said smiling and cleaning his hands on his white shirt, suddenly she felt so familiar to him, to that smile, he looked the same 17 boy for her at that time "What brings you here?!"
"Well... I had some time off, and after seeing you on the paper, I decided to come over to check this out!"
"Oh... The paper... So you saw it?!" They did not know exactly what to say to each other at that moment.
"Yes, I did, and what a beautiful house you have over here huh?!" She smiled.
"Did you like it? I mean, want to come in!?"
"Sure..." She was still looking at him, enchanted.
"This way... Please." He said closing the joinerīs door after him.
She followed him through the garden, until the house, they got inside. It was just the way she told him.
"Take a seat, please..." He said showing her the couch at the living room "Want something to drink?!"
"Sure... Something cold, please."
"The summer arrived earlier this year huh?!" She smiled.
"Kind of..." She said taking a seat and watching him come from the kitchen.
He took a seat in front of her, the conversation was tense. But it was almost luch time, so he invited her to lunch, she accepted. They were seated in front of each other on the table, and after a few beers she was feeling more relaxed, but not him.
"You rebuilt it huh?"
"Yeah I did..."
"Itīs beautiful... So different!"
"Now itīs new..." He said and smiled.
"Ohhhh!!! You still smile..."
"Not often really..."
"Can I ask you something?!"
"Sure..."
"Was it here where we..." He took a sip from his beer and showed a place near the fireplace<./p>
"No... It was right there." He looked at her, and they kept silent for a while "So, are you getting married?"
"Yes, yes..." She said like coming back from her own thoughts "This summer."
"Do your parents like him?!"
"Yes, they do..."
"I hope he can make you happy, not only your parents."
"What about you?! Didnīt get married?"
"No... I went to war and you know?! Never felt like getting married..."
"Did you go to war?" She said interested.
They kept talking about everything until the nightfall. Finally she had to leave. When she was at the door, to say goodbye to him, he placed a shy kiss on her cheek, really holding himself not to hug that woman he loved so much. Deep inside she wanted him to do it. She wanted him to take her the way he did...
She got at the hotel and there were loads of phone calls from Jake and from her mum, she called him the moment she entered her room.
"I was worried about you, my love..." She smiled tense.
"How did you find my number here?!"
"Well, there arenīt so many hotels in Sligo... Did you know that?!" He laughed relaxed "So where have you been?" She took a little to answer.
"Paiting! Yeah... At the beach, painting!"
"Really? All day? It means that youīll get bored from this paiting thing and will come back to me in a glimpse, right?"
"Ohhhhh..." She tried to smile, she was so confuse "Probably huh?"
"So... Talk to you tomorrow ok? You sound really tired."
"Ok, ok, Jake... So sleep tight..."
"Love you, donīt forget that!"
"Me too... Good night."
She hung up the phone and called her mother, who was dry as a leaf on the winter. She knew what was up to.
After that, took a shower and went to bed. She dreamt about her old days with all night long, and she decided she would see him again on the next day.
So she woke up, and went to do her hair, nails and everything. She felt like being beautiful to see , for some reason, it didnīt seem wrong to her, she had lunch in town and after that, she put a beautiful dress and went down the road to meet again.
was getting home from work, when he heard the noise of a car. He would never expect it to be again, he thought it was another buyer for his house, but then he saw her familiar car. He smiled to himself, and turned around to wait for her. She saw him from the car and smiled. He was looking so handsome, white shirt and beige pants, messed hair. Surely he was working.
"I didnīt expect to see you again!" He said smiling.
"Well... There is not much to do in this town, you know?!"
"So what are you here for?"
"Paint." They both laughed, she was going up the few steps he had in front of the house.
"So have you been paiting a lot?! It looks like youīve been to the hairdresser instead..."
"Oh..." She blushed "Did you notice it?!"
"Sure I did, if you allow me, I would like to say that you look adorable." He had his eyes on hers, and she was still blushed.
"... Thank you." She smiled, silence.
"Well... I donīt really have time to go to hairdresser but..." He thought for a while, she was looking at him waiting for what he was about to say "I want to take you somewhere."
"Me?!" She looked puzzled.
"Yeah... You! After you left yesterday, I kept thinking that I should have taken you there, and now you are here..."
"Well... So letīs go, or are you going to leave me here at your doorstep!?"
"Oh... Sorry about my manners... You can leave your purse inside the house." He said opening the front door for her.
She left her purse at the entrance hall and followed him to the beach.
"You can take your shoes off..." He said to her while he took his old boots off, she did the same.
"Ohh... It feels awesome!"
"What!?" He smiled, at some point she reminded him the younger .
"Feel the sand among my toes." She blushed "Itīs years since Iīve been to the beach..."
"Oh really!? Busy schedule, so no time off?"
"You should have let me known... Iīd have brought my bathing suit!"
"Well... You just showed up, how was I supposed to let you know we were going to a ride at the beach?" Both laughed.
At that moment, they were relaxed with each other. They hardly touched, they were only chatting and walking along the shore, feeling at ease with each other, all the pain and problems were gone, at that time there were only them, walking at the beach. They reached the place he wanted. It was the place they used to go at that summer vacations. The birds were everywhere, and she remembered their old days and looked at him.
"It is still beautiful..."
"Yeah, it is..." He said looking at the birds "I often come here when I feel lonely, you know?! There are so many of them, they are so noisy, makes me feel Iīm still alive." He said sounding like he was daydreaming.
"Well, sailor... I guess weīd better run..."
"Huh!?"
"The rain is coming over there... See?!" She said pointing to the grey sky.
"Yeah, yeah... Weīd better get going... Itīs takes a while until we get home."
They started the way back, when the rain drops started falling from the sky.
"Oh no... My hair!" She said concerned.
He took his shirt to give her to protect her hair, useless, after 10 seconds his shirt was soaking wet, she felt like giving up about being jailed by those standart she had to follow, she just put his shirt on her shoulders and embraced the rain, like nothing else was important anymore, he stopped and kept observing her.
"Say Iīm a bird!" She told him, the same way she did on that summer.
"You are a bird... Free like a bird..." He said smiling at the sight of her walking, jumping and dancing under the rain.
It lasted for 30 seconds, but he was happy that even if she left, he could keep that image in his mind. Than she stopped, and said no word anymore. He respected her silence, maybe she had regreted the moment of freedom she had given herself a little earlier and walked beside her until they get home. The rain was pouring and both of them was completely wet. They were in front of the house again. Still under the rain.
"So here we are..." He said looking for his keyes in his pockets, and out of the sky she just said:
"Why havenīt you written me?! Why?!" He realized she was crying.
"What!?"
"Why didnīt you write to me?! You promised you would!"
"I wrote you, one letter a day, during 365 days! You never answered!"
"You are saying that now because it is over! You never did!"
"It was never over, never over..." He stopped and looked at her "And it is still not over!"
He held and took her into his arms, she kissed him. Passionetely, just as she did years ago. He lifted her and for instinct she embraced his waist with her legs. Among kisses he took her into his house, and as they were really into that moment, they bumped at the entrance hall wall, he closed the main door with his feet. And while pinning her arms to the wall he kept kissing her, she did not fight against her feelings, she just felt what she used to feel years ago, and let him do whatever he wanted to.
Easily he was undoing her dress buttons, still kissing her all over, finally he had undone all the buttons, slid her dress through her shoulders and gasped at the sight of her body. Of course he rememebered every inch of her, but now she became a woman. She took the hint, turned him and put him against the wall. She started kissing his neck, and with her shacking hands she was taking off his pants. She did not know what she was doing, but it didnīt feel wrong. He liked every single touch of her.
"Weīd better end this up somewhere else..." He said to her out of breath, she smiled and looking at those sparkling eyes she nodded.
Taking her in his arms, he led her to his bedroom. Gently he put her on the bed and wearing nothing but boxers, he put himself above her.
She looked deep into his eyes, and saw that he was asking her that if she was sure... At that moment they shared the same complicity of years ago, she just cupped his face between her hands and approach his mouth to hers.
"Never been so sure of anything else before..." She told him before they could kiss.
He made love to her. Exhausted he laid beside her, she just made herself comfortable in his strong arms and looking at his face, she felt complete. No words were said, nothing was done. They just closed their eyes and enjoyed that moment hoping it would last forever.
They finally felt asleep.
woke up in the middle of the night and kept looking to her loveīs face lightened up by the moonlight. She didnīt remember feeling so much love in all her life, not even when they were together for the first time. And now, she was his. Her body and soul was his now. She started placing light kisses on his chest and he ended up waking up. When she realized he had woken up, she climbed onto his laid body and kissed him.
"Oooohhhhh..." He moaned "Are you trying to get me killed?"
"Getting you killed?" She laughed still kissing him "I didnīt wait 6 years only for that!!!!" Now he laughed.
"Did you expect more?" He tried to look shocked "Thatīs all I can give you, babe..." He said clearly teasing her.
"It canīt be only that... Cīmon... Show me the pot of gold!"
"Mmmmm..." He was looking to her face while caressing her back "I need some food to recover my strenght... You left me starving!"
"Ok Mr. ... Iīll get you something... What do you want to eat?!" She said while making her way out of the bed, he turned himself to look at her naked body.
"And do you know how to cook?!"
"Sure I do! Hey, what are you looking at?"
"At you, my love..." She was wrapping her body on some sheet that had fallen on the floor and she didnīt felt like walking around naked.
"Silly you... Iīll be back in a glimpse." She left the room.
She cooked him some pancakes, got some Coke from the fridge and took it to his bedroom, they ate and after a few time, they made love once again. She could not believe that it was happening to her. After that they kept talking, or looking at each other until feel asleep again.
Next morning came and woke up to find and empty space beside her on the bed. She saw a red rose, and a note.
My everlasting love,
I had to go working, didnīt want to wake you up. But I really want you not to get bored without me, so follow the petals. I really hope I have done a good job.
I love you.
Yours,
She sat on the bed and saw a path made or red petals. She wrapped herself on the duvet and followed the petals. When it ended, she could not believe her eyes. It was her paiting room, with a view to the sea. It was all set, tripod, brushes, paints... He had done everything, so perfect. She was walking around the room, appreciating it and decided she would start painting at that moment. She took her seat, and started missing the paints, she felt so inspired at that point. But she heard someone knocking at the door. Thinking it was another surprise, she just went down the stair wearing only the duvet. Surely it was a surprise, but not a good one. It was her mum at the door.
"Mum?!" She was shocked.
"!? I so knew you were here!" blushed, not knowing exactly what to say, her mum continued "Donīt you think you need to get dressed, young lady? I guess I havenīt taught you anything at all!"
"Mum... Iīm..."
"Iīm sorry. Iīll be ready in a minute." said feeling really sorry, she could see in her mumīs eyes how hurt she was.
got ready and 20 minutes later she was inside her mumīs car, who was really telling loads. Suddenly they stopped at a quarry, her mum started looking at an specific guy, and told that the guy over there was the love of her life when she was younger, and that she was same aged as when she met that guy, they hoped they could have lived happily ever after, that they even tried to run away but certainly they didnīt make it because her father had put all the police in town after them.
"... Itīs not that I donīt love your father... I do! He is such a great man and makes me really happy..." She sobbed "I canīt forbid you for loving ... But I want you to have a great life, my dear. Thatīs all."
They stood in silence for a moment, and her mum started the car and made the way back to īs place. She stopped the car in front of the house.
"I hope you know whatīs right for you..."
walked out of the car, feeling a little bit dizzy with all that conversation and when she was about to enter the house her mum called, she turned to see her mum with a bunch of letters on her hands.
"I guess it belongs to you..." She handed the bunch of letters, without saying a word got the letters and recognized the writting, it was īs.
, feelling really disappointed now, with her mum, got the letters and entered the house, to find seated at the balcony drinking a beer.
"I see you finally got the letters..." He said dry, said nothing "So... Nice walk?"
"Donīt talk to me like that, this is not my fault!"
"Your fiancée was here." She gasped.
"Did you talk to him?"
"Are you worried about it?"
"Itīs not that Iīm worried, but what we have done was not right!"
"No? So now get back to that life you are used to live, the life you think is right..." He was fighting against his tears.
"Itīs not the life I think is right... Thatīs not itīs about..." She sighed "But there is no point in explaining it to you..."
They were really stubborn and proud. was hurt, Jake went there and told him loads, what made him feel small and not worth of īs love; was confused, she had a marriage knocking on her door, and on the other hand the love of her life... How would she explain to the society what she had done? If she gave up on everything to be with , her true love? – Confused, still holding the letters, she got inside the house to get her purse, didnīt follow her. When he saw her walking to the car, he didnīt think, he just walked into her direction and closed her carīs door before she could get in.
"What are you doing, ?" She said in tears, he took a breath.
"I have to tell you something..." She looked at him without saying nothing, and he continued "I want all of you, forever and ever; you and me everyday... Would you answer something for me?" She nodded "What do you want?"
"Pardon me?"
"Yeah... Iīm asking you, what do you want?"
"I have to go." Her duty was stronger than her love at that moment.
He just sighed and let her get inside the car. Holding back the tears, he watched her leave again.
was crying hard while driving through that road that was taking her to a place that was not familiar to her anymore... Jakeīs arms. That hurt her. She stopped the car and decided to read one of īs letters. She reads almost all of them among tears. She could not fight against that anymore. Even if didnīt accept her back, she could not live a lie, she didnīt love Jake, never did. And at that moment she decided she would come back to the hotel and talk to him, and say that it was all over. She didnīt care about her duty with the society anymore, her only commitment was with herself, be true to her heart.
It was a tense talk, Jake told her to think straight, that could not give her what he could and all that stuff... She didnīt hate him for that, but saying that, he showed that he was just like her mum, it was all about living a good and rich life, she didnīt want that.
After that conversation, she just packed her bags.
was laid on his bed, where hours before she was there with him. He was there, the time was running slowly and he was thinking how he was going to support the pain of losing her again when he heard a sound of a car coming. He stood up from the bed and went to the balcony to see who was coming.
He saw leaving the car... Dressing the same dress she was wearing when she left, with a puzzled face he saw her taking two suitcases from the back seat. She looked up, it was like if she felt he was going to be there. She stood there looking at him, life if was asking for his approval. He just ran down the stairs to meet her at the front door. She let her suitcases fall onto the floor and ran to him. He embraced her on a warm welcome hug. Finally the pain was over, she was back, and now, that was their home, their life... Just as they dreamed on that summer back in 1943.
The End