Chapter one (3 page)

Tessa disengaged from his arms and started running. “Catch me if you can.” She shouted to him. At that moment James thought he saw a silhouette of man but paid no attention to that. He ran after her with barely concealed glee knowing full well she would pay for this game of chase. She shrieked with laughter as he tumbled into her and they fell into the sand with James lying on top of her. Like children they were oblivious to all eyes that were upon them. Had they not being so besotted with each other, they would have realized someone had been watching them for a very long time. But alas what more can a man do when caught in the snare of love but surrender to it.

***

The old man stood afar and watched them. He knew they would have a happy life together. He smiled, for this was a rare moment he always wanted to watch. Humans were so frail and yet always a wonder to behold. He put on his hat and began to walk away as he whistled a tune he only knew to himself. He had another mission to attend to. His presence was being sought elsewhere. As always he was at the beckon of the humans as he had being doing for eons. Like a father to a son he could never abandon them to their fate.

If the two love birds, James and Tessa had seen him they would have realized the old man’s feet never truly touched the ground when he walked. He disappeared and just like that the sun dipped over the horizon leaving two bodies frolicking on the sea shore.

***