by Amelia Grace
Through new eyes, I could now see the world in a different light. My heart was starting to feel renewed. I felt my energy returning, and I began to smile again.
I happily went to work each day. My interior decorating business kept my mind busy and challenged on its creative side. I also put in a couple of hours each day of the week helping to serve the homeless people. Making money did not make me happy, it was the service I gave to needy people that really rewarded me.
And further down the track, two months later, I bravely made the decision to drive by and stop at the site of Grandy’s house - my house - that had been burnt to the ground. All that remained of Grandy Katie’s house were the crumbled bricks and the fireplaces still standing tall.
I opened “Katie’s Gate” and sat on the seat under its roof. I sat alone contemplating all that had happened here. I felt the sadness of the devastating destruction that had happened to my house, and my life.
But, I had survived. For this I must be forever thankful.
Walking towards the ruins of the house, I kicked a few piles of ashes. I wondered whether anything had survived the intense heat of the fire. After some time of foraging through the ashes, it was evident that nothing had survived, or if it had, looters had probably claimed it.
The backyard was looking unusually green, considering it had not had any care for the last few months. I looked over to where The Magnificent Tree had once been. It was now a void in the garden, not a single particle of it remained. It was as if it never even existed. It was probably good that all traces of it were gone. I would be able to move on more easily without The Magnificent Tree as a constant reminder of Ben and Une Autre Terre.
The peacefulness of the plot of land rested gently on my heart.
Grandy had left this house to me. It belonged to me. Even though the house was gone, the land still belonged to me. I looked around viewing the plot of land from all angles. I was starting to envisage a new house built here. My senses tingled at the idea of designing, creating and decorating a new house – my house.
Tears rolled down my face as I felt the sad emotions of the past occurrences leave my body. I no longer had to feel their heavy burden. I had been freed from the past. I knelt on the ground and let out loud sobs, holding my chest. It hurt to let Ben go, fully. But I must do it. I owed it to Grandy, whom I loved so dearly. I owed it to myself for being a survivor. I was so much stronger now that I was on the other side of the dark tunnel, where the light shone brightly.
Immediately, I left my plot of land, my mind filled with ideas and concepts for the new house that I would build. It certainly was a challenge, but one I welcomed with open arms. I was alive again.
Searching on the internet for house designs that met the vision I saw in my mind was certainly a challenge. Eventually I gave up and drew the plans myself. It was a french style house. I loved everything about french housing and decorating, so it was no wonder that I was drawn to that particular design. It was a majestic storybook castle with a very steep roof pitch.
It boasted a curved window library, generous dining room and a grand room that was two stories high. The grand room shared a see through fireplace with the morning keeping room located next to the kitchen. While on the other side was a generous media room. The master bedroom was located upstairs on the second floor, with two more well sized bedrooms.
The unique design of the house thrilled me, and made my creative juices run overtime with planning interiors. I wasted no time in contacting the architects to meet them on site. I wanted to get moving with my new house, quickly.
Timothy was the project manager that I met on site. Being me, I was very specific about locations and fine details for the building of the house. Timothy was impressed with my degree of knowledge of the house and building methods.
Over the next few months the house building progressed very quickly. It was at lock up stage in no time. But I realized, from experience with my own interior decorating clients, that the progress would dramatically slow down now, as the fine details were put into the interior of the house.
One beautiful clear blue day, I was bombarded with visions of my new home. They kept recurring over and over again. I decided the only way to stop the incessant visions was to go to the house, and put my mind at rest. It was a Saturday, so there would be no workmen there and I could pot around the yard, and look in the windows as often as I liked and day dream.
However, as I arrived at my destination, I was surprised to see that workmen were on site today. Perhaps that is why the house kept calling me.
I parked my car on the side of the road under a very shady mature tree, and walked across the road and entered Katie’s Gate. I sat on the seat that was there, admiring how my house was coming along.
Timothy enthusiastically bounced his way out of the house the moment he saw me.
“You’re in a jovial mood today Tim!” I commented.
“I certainly am. I’m off on holidays early next week. I ordered the men to come and work on your house so that I can go on holidays knowing that all of the major structures and details have been finished, leaving small details such as painting, tiling, carpeting, floor sanding to be continued while I am away,” informed Timothy.
“Wow! This is unexpected Tim, thanks. And aaah…would it be okay if I went inside to have a look at my beautiful house?” I asked, hoping for a positive answer.
“Since you are my favourite client, yes. But let me get someone for you to take you around, okay?”
I could hardly contain myself. I felt my energy levels rising critically. This was unexpected, and very exhilarating.
In no time, Timothy came out with Nic. He had been chosen to show me around.
“Cate, I’m Nic, and I’ll be your tour guide today!” he said jokingly, bowing.
I giggled and curtsied. Nic smiled at my playfulness.
“Come on Madame,” Nic said smiling, and leading the way through the double wooden carved front doors.
Nic led me into each room, and stood back as I inspected the workmanship in everything. I walked lightly and energetically around the house, admiring how the flowing design of the rooms interconnected the house to make it one. It lifted my heart to unknown heights.
“And you are pleased with what you see Madame?” questioned Nic, continuing the façade that we started outside.
“En effet - indeed,” I replied, and curtsied again, smiling widely at him.
Nic’s cell phone rang. He excused himself from me for the moment while he answered it. I continued to look around the Grand Room while Nic talked on his phone.
“Hey Matt,” Nic called out,“ We’re a team member down for tonight!”
Suddenly Matt was standing next to Nic.
“What? That means that we will have to pull out of the competition. We won’t be able to blitz the field again, and hold on to our reigning champion trophy. Who can we ask to help? Think Nic,” encouraged Matt.
Nic simply shrugged and shook his head. “Who would be crazy enough to join our team at the Hey Hey It’s Saturday Tournament?
Matt gestured towards me, and raised his eyebrows at Nic, indicating to him to ask me.
Nic shook his head slightly, furrowing his eyebrows.
“Hey Cate,” Matt said, “We’ve got this really absurd tournament tonight, and we are a team member down. I know we don’t know you and all, but you are about our age – I think! – and we can’t enter the competition without a full team. Would you like to …..help us out, that is, if you are free tonight? I promise it won’t be painful, unless you laugh too much, and ah, there’s food to eat too!”
I looked at Matt, and then my eyes shifted to Nic.
“Please Cate, we really need your help!” pleaded Matt.
“Well, considering you did come to work on my house on Saturday, I will return your good deed by coming along as a team member – I must be crazy !” I conceded.
Matt yelled out YES! while Nic simply smiled at me and then lowered his hea
d.
“Okay, give me details – where, what time, how do I dress for this crazy occasion, do I need a weapon to protect myself?” I asked, looking seriously at the boys.
Nic and Matt looked at each other.
“I’ll pick you up Cate,“ suggested Nic, “7pm, and dress casually you know jeans, that kind of stuff.”
I raised my eyebrows and nodded my head.
Then Nic walked me to the car. He inserted my address and phone number into his cell phone, and promised to pick me up at 7pm sharp!
Driving slowly in the traffic, I recalled the events that led to me promising to become a team member with the boys tonight, and I laughed at myself. Then I vowed to enjoy whatever it was that I was going to.
Chapter 26
Complete Strangers
The doorbell rang at 7pm sharp, as he promised. I quietly opened the door. A tall dark haired guy was standing with his back facing the door. He was looking at the sight of the full moon in the night sky.
“Nic?” I asked, unsure if it was Nic who was standing there.
Nic turned around to face me. He was wearing a light jade collared t-shirt that hugged his physique, emphasizing his well developed arms, shoulders and chest muscles. His blue jeans were torn in places, revealing shapely muscular legs. He looked at me with his deep blue eyes through his fringe of very dark brown hair which was styled as the classic college cut. His face was strong and masculine, yet gentle and peaceful.
“Madame, it is I!” Nic said smiling shyly at me, “Are you ready to go out with a total stranger, who could realistically be leading you to a place of danger….Madame?”
“Monsieur, I am of course. I come prepared with a dagger and, my own cooking – that is enough to kill off anyone!” I replied.
“Then, we must go and see what awaits us Madame.”
Closing the front door behind me, Nic led me to the car, opening my door for me, before racing around to the driver’s side himself.
We arrived at a large community hall, filled with young people everywhere. I was trying to follow Nic, but kept getting separated from him. Nearly every time that he turned around, I was in amongst the crowd searching for him.
And then I nearly bumped into Nic as I fought my way through the crowd.
He looked into my eyes. I saw him catch his breath.
“Hold my hand Cate. That way, we won’t get separated. Besides, I don’t want anyone stealing you away from our team,” he said.
Nic gently reached for my hand and held it in his. He breathed in deeply as our hands touched.
I felt nervous about touching another man again. His hand was strong, yet gentle, and warm, and occasionally, our hands would part a little, connected only by our fingertips. I felt guilty about enjoying the feel of my hand in his.
We arrived at a table that seated eight. We were the last to arrive.
“Team, this is Cate. Matt talked her into helping us out. We only met her on a building site today. Yes, he asked a total stranger to help us out. Cate assures us that she is not dangerous!” Nic said.
The team members let out a cheer and clapped, welcoming me to the team, many commenting on my bravery at coming to the competition, with unknown strangers.
Nic sat at the opposite end of the table to me. He looked relieved to be apart from me. And to be honest it really disappointed me.
I socialized comfortably with the team. I was charming, polite and genuine in my interactions with them. But, Nic sat very quietly at the other end of the table observing me. I didn’t know whether he liked me or not.
7:30pm was kick off time for the Hey Hey It’s Saturday! Tournament. And I was very glad that the night was starting.
The events were many and varied. There were individual duels, team relays, comedy, challenges, trivial pursuit, and Pictionary, just to name a few.
One of the many events that Nic’s mates entered him into, was the Torture Statue Challenge. It required that he stand, in the waltz position with a female person on the team. The last couple standing would win points for their team.
I hoped that I would not be the one chosen for this particular challenge. It was quite obvious that Nic did not like me for some reason.
In the end, us girls worked out who would be his partner by playing paper, scissors, rock.
And then noticeably to Nic’s disapproval, I was the last one left. I saw him close his eyes, and talk himself. I saw his brief but obvious negative reaction to being partnered with me, and I was very apologetic to him as we walked to the stage with about thirty other couples.
“I’m sorry Nic, I shouldn’t have come. You would have been more comfortable if I weren’t here,” I said remorsefully.
Nic turned to face me, his eyes looking into mine.
“It’s not you Cate, it’s me. I feel…” He looked down, “I feel…. We can do this together and win a mass of points for our team. Are you in Madame?” asked Nic trying to sound enthusiastic, and trying to cover his emotions at how I had made him feel.
I smiled at him and nodded, wondering what he was trying to say, trying to figure him out.
“This is called the Waltz Statue Torture Challenge. Aptly named because, once you are in the waltz pose, you must remain as if a statue. Talking to each other is allowed, but our heads, arms and legs must not move. Let’s find a comfortable position before the start of the challenge,” Nic explained.
Nic looked down at my hand and breathed out as he gently took it in his. He placed his other hand gently around my waist and then moved it up to the centre of my back, breathing deeply.
I placed my left hand onto Nic’s shoulder, slowly. I loved the feel of his muscles under his shirt. I felt protected. I looked up into his eyes. They were deep blue, and very beautiful.
“I’m ready. We can do this Nic. Now let’s become statues of rock, and win this challenge!” I said assertively, trying to help Nic feel at ease. I knew that he was struggling with this challenge, but did not know why. Perhaps he had a girlfriend who could not come tonight, and that’s why I was here with him?
Nic dropped his arms and looked around at the competition, whom were also planning their statue pose.
“Cate, we’ve got some tough competition here,” Nic said.
“Don’t worry Nic, I’ve got my dagger, and they have already tried my cooking, they’ll start dropping like flies at any moment now,” I said with a dry sense of humour.
He chuckled to himself, and smiled shyly at me, then the countdown began. Nic and I once again adopted the waltz pose for the statue challenge, feeling a little more comfortable with each other this time.
We stood silently for the first ten minutes or so, but then I spoke to Nic. It was impossible not to talk to him. He intrigued me.
“The girl who couldn’t make it tonight, is she your girlfriend Nic?”
“No, I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment, Cate,” Nic answered.
“How could you not? You would melt any woman’s heart Nic!”
He looked into my eyes.
“I’m very picky with my girlfriends Cate. Not just anyone will do. I am prepared to wait, however long that takes, until she comes into my life,” he explained.
“Ah, then you are a very good catch Monsieur!” I smiled.
“And Nic, how long have you been in the building industry for?” I wanted to fire as many questions as I could at him, to make him feel at ease with me.
“Oh gee, it’s not my real job. I only volunteer my time to help out a friend, and it keeps my feet on the ground. I actually get paid to do the job that I love,” Nic conversed.
“And that would be????”I enquired.
“I’m a professional athlete, if you must know.”
“Mmm, a pro athlete…. darts maybe, no no snooker, I got it…ping pong!” I suggested to amuse him.
Nic smiled at me.
“Yeah! All of those,” he added.
“Seriously Nic, what is your sport?” I asked.
“Guess! It will mak
e the time go quicker. You are doing a good job at distracting me,” insisted Nic.
“Okay, let’s see…..your face is way too pretty to be an ice hockey player or football player, yet, your muscles are well defined. That narrows my choices down to something to do with cycling, running, swimming maybe?” I waffled on.
“Mmm Cate, I’m impressed with your powers of observation and deduction. I am primarily a cyclist, but I also compete in triathlons – the elite sportsman’s choice,” stated Nic.
“An individual sport Nic. You have to be very strong emotionally and physically to compete, you only have yourself to rely on. It takes a huge amount of discipline to succeed in your sport of choice,” I pointed out.
“Yes,” agreed Nic, looking into my eyes. I was highly attracted to him, even though we had just met, and it scared me.
“So, aaah… where’s your beau this evening Cate?” asked Nic.
“We split….about six months ago. I called it. His job required too much of his time, and our relationship wasn’t working because of that,” I explained, my heart aching a little, but it was good to speak openly about Ben, it would help in my healing.
“Six months ago? So why hasn’t somebody else attached themselves to you?” asked Nic seriously.
“I’m picky too. I don’t just go out with anyone. So Monsieur, you are very privileged to have my company tonight,” I joked.
“En effet, Madame!” smiled Nic.
Nic forced his eyes away from me, and looked around the waltz floor, not moving his head of course.
“Cate, how many couples can you see from your direction?”
“Three, no make that two couples Nic, and you?” I asked.
“None, “ replied Nic, “just a little while longer, and then we’ve blown away the competition.”
“Then do I get to dance with you Nic. I would like that,” I commented.
“I will dance with you anytime Cate, “ responded Nic. I felt his heart skip a beat. Had I affected him in a major way?
He looked into my eyes for an immeasurable time, and I looked into his. Nic’s eye colour was deep blue and delicious. He made me feel tingly, or was that just the lack of circulation from standing as still as a statue for so long?