20 February 2013
"So, I couldn't help noticing the boxes on the landing. You packing up some stuff?" Jim asked as they walked across fields away from the cottage.
Jennifer walked in silence for a moment. He waited for her response.
"Ah, yes. I....might be going....somewhere. I'm just putting things away in case....though I might not go."
"Going? Going where?" This news disturbed Jim unaccountably.
"Just...away. So that's why the boxes are there. Are they in your way?"
"No, no not at all I was just curious, so when are you going, if you are going?"
Again she fell silent as they walked. At last the silence was too heavy and she said, "You can stay for as long as you want Jim. Like I said, I might not be going at all. Don't worry about it. I can move the boxes."
Jim realised he had touched a nerve, but did not know how. For the next few minutes they walked across the boggy sparseness of the fields without talking. Neither of them seemed able to find a conversational path back to solid ground until at last they came to a ditch crossing their path. The obstacle presented a need to communicate again.
Jennifer grinned, "it's a run and a jump I'm afraid." And saying it she walked back a few paces, took a quick run and leapt the five or so feet across the ditch to the other side.
"Come on," she called back, "it's easy."
Jim followed her example, took his run, leapt over and landed on the other side too, crashed into Jennifer, rebounded, started falling back, grabbed hold of her as she also grabbed him and so took them both tumbling back into the ditch locked together in a desperate hug.
Jennifer was already giggling uncontrollably before they landed in a heap in the wet muddy ditch. Jim let out an "uuffl!" sound as her weight on top of him took his breath.
"Are you ok?" She asked
"Yes," he replied feeling more embarrassed than injured, "You?"
"I'm ok," she said, a strange tone entering her voice. Her body was on his, her face inches from his. "You know," she said softly, teasing him, "I have done that hundreds of times, and never, never fallen in before."
"Ok. Sorry about that."
A moment passed. She regarded him, her blue eyes alight.
"Don't you think you should get off me?" He suggested.
She didn't move. He was about to speak, just about to, when Jennifer softly whispered, "Cant help it," and kissed him passionately. Surprise lasted milliseconds then Jim responded. His body shot through with sudden desire, his soul submerged itself in the moment. If sounds could be felt, if music could be touched, kissing her was like that; like being caressed by a song.
And then it ended. She was pulling away and getting up out of the ditch.
"O, no, no, no, sorry. Sorry. Shouldn't have. Sorry." Jennifer repeated as she clambered up and stood on the side.
"No, no," Jim tried to reassure her as he quickly followed, "it is fine. More than fine. I wanted to too...."
As he got up on his feet she took both his hands in both of hers and looked directly at him. Her face was serious, her tone firm.
"No. You don't understand. I know...you are....attracted. But that was wrong...of me. I shouldn't have. Only, it is complicated. I should not have. That will not happen again. You have to forget that. I mean it Jim. Please."
In his confusion her earnestness was the only thing he was certain of, so he nodded.
"Just forget that, ok? Promise?"
Jim did not know how he could forget that kiss, that feeling, that impossible longing, but he said, "alright, if that is what you want."
"It is. Thank you.” Then she changed, her face brightened and she laughed, “Look at the state of us! We are covered in mud!”
Jim looked down at his coat and trousers and shoes, all splattered and smeared, a mirror of the mess of Jennifer’s own clothes. “Should we head back?” he asked.
“No. We are nearly there, come on.”
Now a little road appeared as they stepped up over a ridge and soon they were walking along it. In a few minutes the roadside widened and as they turned a corner Dylan’s came into view. A thatch roof, a long low hunk of a black stone building. “Dylan’s” was inexpertly painted over the heavy wooden door. At one end of the building a large stone chimney surfaced above the thatch pumping smoke into the sky. Jim thought it more foreboding than welcoming.
Jennifer saw his eyes widen and said, “It is better on the inside.”
And it was. The door swung open on a low room with heavy wood beams, the whole space lit by scattered lamps and one enormous log fire. Tables and chairs strung about in loose gatherings around the big space, with an area of armchairs and sofas clustered round the fire. At the opposite side a long bar held pride of place, with a marvellously red haired man behind it. Jim could not decide if the place looked ramshackle or homely. But he liked it.
As soon as they came in a cry went up from a large woman who sat by the fire, “Jenny! Dear! How are you?” She rose and bustled over to them, her arms held out to hug Jennifer, and then, seeing the mud, she pulled back. “What on earth have you been doing?” she asked, and then she took in Jim, “..both of you together it seems…” she turned her full attention on him, “…and who are you? Jenny, introduce us to this man you have been rolling in the mud with. Seamus, come over and meet this muddy man of Jenny’s”
“Behave yourself Pat,” Jennifer said, “we just fell into the ditch.”
“Oh, fell in the ditch did you?” Pat grinned, her face and tone suggesting she knew better, “just got all down and dirty together did you?”
“Pat!” squealed Jennifer.
But Pat had moved passed her and taken Jim by the arm, “Now since Jenny won’t tell me about you, why don’t I take you over here by the fire and you can tell me all about yourself. I’m Pat by the way and if you need to get those messy clothes off, I can help.”
Jim looked back questioningly at Jennifer who was taking off her coat. She simply shrugged and smiled at him as if to say, “you are on your own.”
“Pat, that’s enough, let them be,” said the bar man as he came across, “Don’t mind the wife,” he said motioning to Pat, “She only means to make you feel welcome.”
“As welcome as a handsome young man like you would like to feel,” Pat grinned, she had the friendliest face Jim had ever seen and he could not help laughing.
“Leave him be Pat,” her husband laughed too, “Leave him be. I’m Seamus by the way.”
“Hi, I'm Jim,” he replied and shook the offered hand.
Jennifer came over to join them standing near the fire,
"Hi Seamus, we were hoping to get lunch," she said.
"Oh sure thing Jenny. Come on love," he said to Pat, "lets rustle these two some food. Give them time to get themselves warmed up before you start your inquisition."
“Oh alright then, but Jim,” she said regarding him, “I really think I know your face.”
"Maybe, I'm a writer."
"Of course you are! You are him! Your the one Jenny is always going on about! I recognize your picture. How did you two meet?"
Jim glanced at Jennifer whose cheeks had gone suddenly pink. "The one she always goes on about?" He asked, watching Jennifer deepen from pink to burning red. She looked at him pleadingly, but Pat went on. "O yes, she is a huge fan of yours, aren't you Jenny?" "I...do really like your writing," she murmured. Jim realized she was really pained by this revelation coming this way. "That's very kind," he said, "you should have told me," but his tone was soft and Jennifer responded softly. "It's not kind, it's honest. And Pat, I didn't want Jim to think I was some kind of stalker. He is just visiting the island. I bumped into him is all." At that Jim could not help but laugh, "Yes, bumped into me, robbed me at knife point, and left me alone in the dark." "What?" Exclaimed both Pat and Seamus together, turning to Jennifer. Jennifer raised her hands, motioning for them to wait, "Ok, ok. Get us some lunch and I will tell all, I promise." "O yes you will!" Pat said wide-eyed, "just you both sit down and we'll be back in a second. This I have to hear."
Pat bustled off into the back and Seamus took orders for drinks and went back to the bar. Jennifer sat down in an armchair by the fire and Jim sat across from her on a sofa. "So," he asked, "are you a big fan?" "Yes. I know how this must look. I should have said before. I have read your books. They are really good. Can we please talk about this later?" "You knew who I was last night." "Yes. I did. Please leave this till we can talk alone. I will explain everything," Jennifer said, and just then Seamus came over with their drinks, setting them on the low table between them. "There you go," the big man said, then looking at them he paused, a kind smile flitted across his lips, "well, I'll go give Pat a hand, let you two have a bit of space. You'll get none when Pat comes back," he grinned and left them alone. As soon as he was gone, Jennifer sat back into the seat and took a deep breath. "Ok." she said, and began. "Try to understand how this is for me Jim. I have been planning to go...away. There has been this big decision sitting in front of me for a while now. I was thinking about it last night walking home. And then, right out of the blue, this man, this writer whose books, whose books I adore. Adore. He drives up and winds down the window of his car and asks me directions." Jennifer's blue eyes filled with surprising tears. "It was like...a sign. And I am in the car, listening to you speaking. Rambling on about discovering and adventure. You. Listening to you, to your voice, your words, your thoughts. And I can hear it, you know, that voice. That voice of yours in your books. That voice I....well, that captures me. And you are looking for an adventure. I wanted to be that adventure. I wanted to be...your adventure." Jim could see her red lips tremble. She was perfectly sincere. He could see a woman swamped in emotions, and he did not really understand why. He wanted to understand. "So I did something really stupid." Jennifer went on, "I robbed
The Pretty Thief (part 4) • Opuss № I