by Carol Holden
“You have got granddad, love. He is as good as a dad to you. “
Simon continues to sing and Sarah sighs with relief.
The little market town is buzzing. Buses stop at the side of the market and the people from surrounding areas get out of the various buses and the town is full of shoppers. The stalls are overflowing with fresh vegetables and home made delicacies. The smell of freshly cut flowers and fruit is all around. They sit at a table overlooking the square and have their lunch. An ice cream is in order for Simon and they all have a happy time.
Simon is sleepy and he nods off on their way back home.
They have spent a pleasant day and when Simon is in bed Sarah tells her mother about the visit she has had from David, a friend she met at college. Mary remembers Sarah telling her about the friends she made at college and how she had met up with them at Ann’s wedding.
“That’s lovely,” Mary says, with a twinkle in her eye.
“Did he meet Simon?”
“Oh yes” Sarah answers; “They got on really well. “He now lives at Rivington and he has invited us to go there and meet his dad “
“What do you think, Mum?”
“I think it’s a good idea, it’ll do you good to see your friends again, and as he is now living on our doorstep, he will be good for Simon, as he has been saying only today that he wants a daddy.” Mary replies with a twinkle in her kind eyes.
“Mother, stop that.” Sarah admonishes.
”I will ask Simon if he wants to go and then I may give David a call.”
“Do that love, I’m sure you will enjoy it.” Says Mary.
Sarah arranges to go to David’s on the following Saturday and Simon is pleased as he remembers the fun he had, when David called the previous week.
There is a warm welcome for them when they arrive at the waterside house. Sarah remembers that particular house because it is situated right on the edge of the water and she used to wish that she could live there. There are many improvements and extensions since she last saw it.
Charlie comes out to meet them with David, as they arrive and his face lights up at the sight of Simon, who is beaming with happiness as he runs to meet David.
David picks him up and swings him in the air to great gulps of laughter from Simon.
Charlie takes Sarah’s hand and leads her into the house. The entrance hall is beautifully finished in cream and dark red walls and floor, Sarah can’t believe that two men can keep their home so clean and snug. There is a male feel about the room they enter with its leather suite, red carpet and the great number of books, kept in a bookcase along the far wall. The daily newspapers are spread out on a lovely walnut coffee table, the only disturbance to be seen in the room.
“This is Sarah, dad and this is Simon”. David introduces them. “And this is Charlie, my dad.”
“Hello” answers Sarah. You have a lovely home here, I love the view through the picture window.”
“David tells me that you have known this house a long time because of your hikes around the reservoir.” Charlie says.
“Yes that’s true. I used to pretend I lived here, when I came with my parents and we used to walk around the area. It has changed considerably since then, for the better I must say.”
Charlie takes an instant liking to Sarah and he can see that her love for her son has a calming effect on the little boy, as Simon settles down after the initial enthusiastic greeting of David. He is a quiet and shy little boy. He has the characteristics of his Asian father, Charlie supposes.
Charlie is proud of the work that he and David have done to the house so he insists on Sarah looking around and he is pleased as she enthuses about the different features they have created. The ensuite bathrooms, the double garage and the different spaces they have created for themselves. They share the kitchen but they have different entrances to their part of the house. The garden seems to be Charlie’s domain, David helping with the heavy work such as digging, fencing and planting large trees. David likes to do a bit of strenuous work sometimes to counteract his academic work at the university. Charlie was a fireman so he is used to manual work. He tells Sarah that the garden keeps him fit
Leaving the house they go into the garden where there is tea served on a table overlooking the water. David has been busy whilst Sarah has been with Charlie in the house. Simon is following David in and out of the kitchen as he brings sandwiches, fruit and cakes to the table.
“Your house is lovely’” Sarah tells David. “I’m really impressed with the work you have done together.”
After their meal Simon crawls on David’s knee, as he moves over to the hammock swing, where he gently rocks him. Charlie joins them and Sarah moves to the end of the garden to watch the bird life on the water. There is a family of grebes, the mother in front, whilst the father grebe dives to catch small fish for his brood.
There is a heron on the far bank, its long legs just standing on the edge of the lake and its large beak dipping into the water, searching for fish.
Sarah takes Simon to the edge of the garden and shows him the different birds, by and on, the lake. She points out the grebes, and he is excited by the sight of two small ones being carried on the back of the mother grebe, followed by two other fledglings and the male bird bringing up the rear. The male grebe suddenly dives under the water and Simon looks confused.
“They are water birds.” Charlie tells him. “They have to be able to dive for fish as they live on the water. I’ll show you their nest if you like, it’s just a little way from here. Do you want to look?”
“Oh yes, can we all go mummy”. Cries Simon excited by the prospect.
“When I have helped to clear up here” his mother replies.
David clears the table with the help from Sarah, whist Charlie entertains Simon
as they look for different types of wild life, on the water. There are ducks, two of them white with black patches on their wing feathers, Canada geese; larger birds with textured shades of feathers and dark coloured heads.
Simon is fascinated; he has seen pictures of various kinds of ducks and birds in his books at home, and he has looked at a bird book when his granddad has been trying to identify a strange bird that has flown into his garden. He has also seen ducks when they have been picnicking at Downham.
David fills the dishwasher whilst Sarah tidies the kitchen.
“We make a great team.” David says as he gives Sarah a friendly hug.
Sarah smiles at him and feels safe here with these two lovely men.
Simon is ready for off and holding Charlie’s hand as they go to find the grebes’ nesting place.
“We will have to be quiet, so as not to frighten them, if they are back there.” Whispers David. “I can’t see them on the water so I suppose that they are back on the nest.”
“We can’t go too near but we can see the nest from the top path of the woodland.” Charlie tells them.
The day is warm and the blue sky reflects on the water making it a deeper blue. The woodland is fresh and green and the sunshine feels warm on the summer breeze. Simon is now holding David’s hand as he climbs up an incline before entering the wood. They stop suddenly and David kneels to show Simon the grebes’ home. The air is so quiet, Sarah can hear Simon’s intake of breath, as he spots the nest with the female and baby grebes snuggled together, resting, after their exercise on the water, where their fish meal was caught by the male grebe.
It’s difficult to tear Simon away from the place where he can watch the grebe family, but Charlie manages it by promising him to find other wildlife on their walk around the reservoir.
There is an unusual looking white duck with black markings, different to all the other ducks and bigger. It suddenly flies onto the pathway before them and waddles quickly along, wagging its tail from side to side. They all stop and stare and laugh at its funny walk.
Simon ‘s little legs are tiring so David lifts him on to his shoulders, where he cries out in glee, because now he can see
much more of his surroundings. He chatters to David who patiently answers all his questions.
Charlie has a date later; he is taking one of his volunteer colleagues out for dinner and on to the theatre. As time is getting on he needs to return home to shower and dress for the occasion. He apologises at having to leave them when they arrive back at the house and David takes Sarah and Simon to his part of the house. It is furnished in a similar way to his father’s but the suite is light cream leather and his interesting pictures depicting mountain scenery in muted colours.
It’s Simon’s bedtime and he is rubbing eyes and yawning.
“We’ll have to go.” Sarah says feeling reluctant to leave this friendly environment.
“I hope that you will come to us next time, and bring Charlie as Simon has taken a shine to both of you.”
“Can I see you tomorrow for a grownup date” asks David. “Will it be possible for you to get a babysitter?” He asks with a smile. “It would be nice if we could go out to dinner and, perhaps, see a film. What do you say?”
Sarah carries Simon and fastens him into his car seat. He is a very happy and tired little boy. She smiles at David and promises to ask one of her family if they will look after Simon.
Charlie comes to see them off; he is very handsome in his smart suit ready for his night out.
“Thanks for a lovely day, Simon has never chatted so much before, I hope we see you both soon.” Calls Sarah from the car as she drives off.
She smiles to herself as she sees Simon nodding off in his car seat through her rear mirror.
Chapter 18
Mary is happy to baby-sit, and Sarah rings David to tell him and they arrange their dinner date for the following evening. Sarah has not been out without Simon since Ann’s wedding and is looking forward to a grown-up date. David is a friend and a caring one at that.
Mary came early so that she can bath Simon, read him a bedtime story, and spend some snugly time with him. He is clean and glowing, dressed in his night attire, when David arrives.
Simon’s eyes light up when he sees David and he lifts his arms for a hug.
“Hello little fellow.” David smiles as he lifts Simon up and gives him his hug.
Mary is astonished at this and she takes to David immediately.
“I’m Sarah’s mother.” Mary introduces herself.
“Lovely to meet you.” David replies as he hands back the little boy to his grandma.
Sarah comes into the room ready for the outing. She is wearing the outfit she wore for the wedding and looks lovely with a light in her eye her mother has not seen, for a long time.
“I see that you two have met.” She says.” We won’t be late mum, see you later.”
“Don’t hurry home love, you know how I enjoy any time with Simon.” Mary calls after them.
David smiles as he opens the door of his car for her. He has booked a table at a restaurant a few miles away that has a reputation for good food and wine. They are shown to their table and the waiter draws out a chair for Sarah.
At the next table one of David’s friends from work touches his arm to greet him.
“Hi David, how’s things?” “You’re looking smart tonight. Are you going to introduce me to your lovely friend?”
“This is Sarah, someone I met at college years ago.”
“This is my wife, Joyce,” his friend, whose name is Brian says, as he introduces his wife to them. “Well enjoy your meal, we are just going, lovely to see you both.”
They wave as they leave the restaurant.
“Brian is a colleague at work, he teaches in my department, he is very
genuine, and easy to get along with.” David says. “Now let’s order.”
The meal is wonderful. They are too full to have a sweet but they take their coffee in the lounge overlooking the garden.
They reminisce about the time they were friends at college and laugh at some of their memories. David fills in his time since then, and the time before, when he worked as a civil engineer and travelled the world. He has stories of the people he met and the places where he worked.
Sarah talks again about her time in Nepal and the feelings she had for the ordinary villagers and their daily hardships. The care they showed for each other and the lovely children she taught.
When David looks at his watch, it’s too late to take in a film so they walk by the river and Sarah holds his arm and it feels like they are a couple.
“Thank you for a lovely evening, David.” She says. He turns towards her and takes her in his arms and gently kisses her lips. Sarah thinks,
I feel a stirring of my feelings and I see Taj as David bends his head. I feel guilt as though I am betraying my love for Taj.
“I must be going, it’s getting late.” Sarah says. David gently takes her hand and guides her to his car. Sarah wonders and thinks,
I feel some awkwardness I have never felt with David before, I know that I am not ready for an intimate relationship, but I don’t want to lose David’s friendship.
They travel home in silence. When he drops Sarah off, she leans over and plants a kiss on his cheek, and thanks him once again for a lovely time.
Chapter 19
I snuggle down in bed after seeing my mother off and peeping in to see Simon. David is foremost on my mind. I did feel a stirring attraction for him and my body was aroused when he kissed me. It’s been over four years since I lost Taj, and I’m still young enough to start again. But I feel guilty of the yearnings of my body, and my lovely memories of the lovemaking I had with Taj. But David is such a lovely character, and he is so good with Simon, I don’t want to loose his friendship.
I’m so confused that I can’t sleep. I creep downstairs quietly and make myself a cup of tea.
I try to sort out my feelings for David and I know that I love and respect him because he is such a lovely man. I remember having these feeling for him when we were at college. I knew he would be the best of us in his future career and the caring ways he showed to us, helping with our difficult studies and the way he took to teaching, caring for his students. I just hope that I have not hurt his feelings by almost rejecting him. I decide I will ring him in the morning and try to repair any damage I may have done.
The following day is lovely. Simon is lively and I have no time to worry about anything. My mother turns up as we are having breakfast and suggests that we all have a day out somewhere special. Dad is having some holiday days off work, and she has packed a picnic for all of us. Dad is taking us on a mystery trip, but by the direction he is taking us, I’m thinking it may be the Lake District.
It’s only just over an hour’s drive from home and it is the favourite place of all the family.
My father opens the roof and windows when we leave the motorway and the summer breeze feels lovely on our faces. We park at Tarn Haws and Dad carries the picnic basket to the side of the tarn. We all carry a chair each, a small one for Simon, and settle down to watch the swimmers in the water. The sun is really hot and we spread sun cream first, over Simon, and then ourselves. Simon loves his sun hat and we have a hearty lunch from the basket. I know my dad loves to swim and in no time at all, he is under his towel, struggling into his swimming trunks.
I have brought Simon’s little trunks and he wants to follow dad into the water. I persuade him to wait until dad has had a swim, and take him in myself for a paddle. He shrieks with laughter as he splashes me and I splash him back. He loves the water. I sometimes take him to the swimming baths and he has a good idea what to do in his armbands. There is an island in the middle of the tarn and my father always swims there and back. He is a strong swimmer and I remember when I was a little girl, crying because I thought he could not get back. He is now returned to the shore and he is ready to play with Simon. I leave them together and return to where my mother is sitting watching us.