Where did your heart go? (The Heart Trilogy Book 1) (20 page)

Monday 8
th
August, 1988

It was our last day together and I woke with a heavy heart at the thought of saying goodbye later in the day. However we had the whole day ahead of us so we decided to drive into Hereford so I could show James the studio where I worked in the Hospital and he could meet some of my work colleagues as I had done at the pool. After parking near the town centre we walked down to the Hospital and after signing James in at Reception we wandered down the now familiar corridors to the Radio station room.

Jack was doing his afternoon show so in between songs I introduced him to James and they were soon laughing away as if they were old friends. Then we headed back into town and after some lunch we wandered around the shops. In the Butter market we found an excellent record store and James bought me a 12” copy of ‘900 number’ and also ‘Hold me in your arms’ by Rick Astley which was lovely.

Then we decided to visit the Cathedral as despite always living in the county I had never been there before so we took the time and climbed to the top.

The views were spectacular and as it was fairly quiet James took the opportunity to pull me into his arms and kissed me and I felt my legs start to shake with the passion coursing through me.

“I have to say we have kissed in some different places”

“Yes, but my favourite is still our first in the swimming pool, it is engraved upon my heart” I said, smiling again before his lips reached mine again and we were soaring away lost in the moment. A sudden noise interrupted us as we looked up and watched as a hot air balloon took off from the side of the river bank and steadily rose up and above us.

“I would love to do that” I breathed, as we waved at the people in the basket.

“Yes, me too, there are so many things I’d like to do with my life”

“Yes, me too, I hope we get to do some of them together” I whispered, but he didn’t hear me.

Once we were back in Ross, James started to pack his bag ready for the drive home. I lay back on my bed as the sound of George Michael’s voice drifted around the room. It was the backdrop of all my happy memories as well as the comfort when I was alone again. To break the sombre mood James lifted the needle and popped ‘900 number’ on the turntable.

“Come on, lets have a dance” he said, holding his hand out to me, as the beat filled the room and we made some slight alterations to the routine that involved a bit more physical contact
until we fell back on my bed for one final time.

We lingered on the driveway for one last moment. The feelings of emptiness filled my whole body as he held me close for one last time before he jumped into his car.

“I’m off to write that letter now” I said, leaning in through the window for another kiss.

“I’m already waiting for it” he said, smiling and reaching up to wipe the solitary tear that was snaking it’s way down my cheek.

Then he was gone, his tail lights disappeared into the darkness and I looked up at the sta
rs as more tears started to spill out. This was only ever going to get worse the more time we spent together and the deeper I fell in love with James.

I shook myself from my reverie and closed the diary and placed it back on my daughter’s dressing table; that was enough emotion for the day I needed to get on with my life as it was now and not keep dwelling on what it could have been if things had continued with James. I remembered all the plans I had made in my mind before that day in November. How I was going to move up to Warwickshire once I had finished my course and get a job there on a local radio station or in a club, we would buy a house together and then get married and live happily ever after. I never knew then that fairytales rarely came true and mine certainly didn’t it turned into a nightmare, one I never really woke up from.

Chapter 24

I could tell that
Charlotte was both excited and nervous as I made her breakfast on Saturday. Between checking her watch and her phone she barely ate any of her cereal and I kept re-heating her coffee in the microwave as it continued to go cold.

“What time did he say he would get here?” I asked her, watching with amusement her flushed face and bright eyes
.

“He said he would leave at 8.30 and it would take him about an hour or so depending on the traffic” she replied, as she noticed that her watch had just turned 9.30.

“What if he’s had an accident” she said, worry tinged her voice.

“I’m sure he will be fine, remember he has never been here before and the one way system round Ross can
baffle anyone, even with a Sat-Nav” I reassured.

“Where was the place you went in the Forest with the bike hire when you were with James” she suddenly asked.

“I’ll find the details for you, if you like” I replied, as I picked up our tablet pc and tapped in Speech House.

“I’m just going to brush my teeth “Charlie said, jumping up and racing for the stairs, knowing that she would check her make-up and hair at the same time. God she was so nervous, even more than the last time they met. She guessed it was because he was going to be staying over and having read her Mum’s diaries she wasn’t sure she would get away with sneaking out of her room.

I was just jotting the details down on a piece of paper when I heard an engine
roar up the drive as a motorbike pulled in.

“He’s here” I shouted up the stairs, as I walked over to the front door and then nearly got knocked over as the whirlwind that was my daughter rushed past me and pulled the front door open. I watched as she walked over to him and as he removed his helmet she smiled so broadly I thought her face would break. Turning away I headed back to the kitchen to put the kettle on and give them a bit of privacy.

Charlotte
almost jumped into his arms as he held them open for her, once he had placed his helmet on the seat of the bike.

“You’re here” she said, as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“Ummm and so are you” he said, moving his head so that her next kiss met his lips. When he finally put her down, she was flushed from head to foot as she steadied herself before she fell over with the excitement and desire she felt.

“Come on in, Mum’s making coffee in the kitchen” she said, as she took his one hand, whilst he carried his large bag and helmet.

“Hi Mitchell” I said “Coffee ok?”

“Hi Mrs….”

“Oh just call me Stephanie, Mrs Eden makes me sound ancient and I hope I’m not there yet” I laughed, instantly liking this nice young man even more than before.

“Oh, no you could almost pass as Charlie’s older sister” he said, with a grin on his face. Charlie looked over and grinned at me, before her gaze headed back to Mitchell. She was besotted already, I could see the signs.

“Go on” I responded, as they sat down and tucked into the biscuits with their coffee, my daughter’s appetite had returned.

“I’ve got that information for you” I said to Charlie “Are you thinking of going there today?” I asked, as I pushed the tablet pc across the table and the piece of paper with the address and postcode on it.

“Mitch, I thought we could go for a bike ride in t
he forest as Mum went there when she was younger” Charlie said.

I watched as he leaned over and looked at the
pictures “Yes it looks great, my Dad said the scenery around here was fantastic”

“Oh, has he been here then
?” I asked, my curiosity piqued by this comment.

“Yes, when he was younger and at school, I think he wanted to drive me down just for the trip along memory lane but he’s at work today” Mitch replied.

“I’ll drive you both there if you want?” I said

“Oh, I wanted to go on the motorbike”
Charlotte said “Please let me Mum, Please”

I looked at both of them, staring with eagerness at my answer and I remembered how my Mum had been when I was younger and also how James’ Mum Pam had been much more lenient and trusting and that was how I wanted to be.

“I can take you for a spin up the road first Mrs E
den….I mean Stephanie so you can check I’m a careful biker” Mitch said.

“Thanks but I’ll pass and yes you can go with Mitch on the bike, I assume you have a spare helmet she can borrow?”

“Yes, I had to go and buy one yesterday” he responded, as he leaned down to his bag and pulled out another black and red helmet that matched his but was smaller. He handed it to Charlotte, who grinned and tried it on for size. She pulled the visor up and said

“Hey, I look like the Stig off Top Gear”

“You look much better than him” Mitch replied, as I watched his eyes roam over my daughter from head to foot, clearly appreciating what he saw.

Once they had finished their coffee and I had made them a quick couple of sandwiches and a piece of cake to take with them for lunch.

“You’re the best Mum “Charlie said, as she pulled her trainers on with her jacket.

“Please don’t worry I’ll take care on the road” Mitch said, as they headed for the door.

“In fact we’ll have a quick spin up and down the road first as a practice” he said, taking Charlie’s hand in his.

Standing on the doorstep I watched as he made sure her helmet was secure and then she swung her leg over the bike and held onto his waist tightly. I guessed that she was a bit scared but didn’t want to show it in case I changed my mind and got the car out. Then with a roar the engine burst into life and he carefully pulled out of the driveway and headed slowly up the road, turned and then returned to the end of the drive. He pulled up his visor “Everything ok with you” he asked me.

“Yes” I replied as Charlie put her thumbs up

“See you both later, we’ll order take away for tea” I finished. They both nodded and then before I could say another word they had made it down to the end of the road and were gone.

I walked into the house and it suddenly felt empty without their joy and laughter to fill it, in the end I gave Sarah a call and she popped over for lunch.

As she held onto Mitch’s waist and zipped along the road Charlie felt free as she imagined herself learning to ride a bike instead of driving lessons; that would be so cool. They soon reached the site of the bike hire company but sadly it had gone out of business recently so they climbed off the bike for a quick break and discussion.

“We could still go to the lakes and walk round them instead” Mitch suggested.

“Ok” Charlie responded, hoping that when she was with Mitch holding hands her legs would not turn to jelly from all the sensations that were swirling around inside of her at this moment.

After
a few minutes on the bike they came into a parking area and parked up between some other cars that were dotted about.

“So why here?” Mitch finally asked her as they locked up the bike and their helmets and headed towards the pathway that meandered around the lake side.

“My Mum came here on a date when she was my age, well, except they did hire bikes and rode round and it sounded really romantic so that’s why I wanted to come”

“You mean your Mum has never bought you here?”

“No, not that I can remember, unless I was very small at the time”

“So I’m guessing
that this date was not with the guy who became your Dad then?”

“No, I’ll tell you about it all as we walk if you like”

Then with her hand firmly in his they set off towards the bridge over the weir on the far side of the water.

As they walked she told him about breaking up with Craig and how her Mum had given her the diaries from 1988 to read about the story of her first love James. When she had eventually finished telling Mitch they had reached the bridge.

“Sorry, I should just shut up for a while” Charlie said.

“No, that was an amazing story what happened to them?”

“I don’t know yet I haven’t got that far but I guess it finished badly. Although my Dad has been mentioned in the diaries so I guess she falls for him at some point” Charlie finished, as she turned to face Mitchell.

“Do you believe in true love?” she asked

“Yes, I do” Mitch replied “I know for a fact that my Mum and Dad were definitely not in love and I occasionally catch him with a wistful look on his face. He told me he had only been in love once and it had all gone wrong, I pushed him for more details but he just clammed up and said it had been his fault” he said, as he reached for Charlie’s other hand and pulled her close.

“Well, enough about our parents I think its time we concentrated on us”

“Us” Charlie squeaked

“Well, yes that’s if you want there to be?” he replied, gazing deeply into her eyes with a longing she had never seen before.

“Yes” she finally managed as she watched his lips come down to graze hers; gently at first but then they opened and the passion took over as she leant back against the railings on the bridge.

When they finally broke apart Charlie couldn’t stop smiling, she had got herself an amazing boyfriend and she couldn’t wait for the future times they would spend together.

“Let’s play Pooh sticks” she exclaimed, as she spotted some sticks nearby.

“I don’t think I know what that is” Mitch said, looking puzzled.

“My Mum described this in her diary, apparently you throw the sticks in at the same time and then watch to see whose stick reached the bottom of the weir first it’s from the books about Winnie the Pooh” Charlie replied as she handed him one of the sticks.

“And the winner gets what?” he asked.

“A kiss from the loser”

“Ok, I’m in” he finished as they
let the sticks fall.

In the end Charlie’s stick won so Mitch grabbed her and picking her up kissed her a million times all over her face and neck. It was heaven she thought as they continued to walk along the path back to the picnic benches.

“So what’s your favourite dance film?” Mitch asked, between bites of lunch
.

“Dirty Dancing, I know it’s old but it’s still a classic” Charlie replied
.

“Mine too, even though as a guy I shouldn’t like girly
dance films but it was what made me decide to learn to dance and then ultimately my training now as a dance instructor”

“Yes, it was so sad when Patrick Swayze died but I loved last year’s Strictly Come Dancing show when they recreated the lift”

“Hey we should try it” Mitch said.

“What the lift?”

“Yes, why not, there’s no one around at the moment”

“Well, we could I suppose” Charlie responded, as he suddenly stood up and extended his arm in the style of Swayze
and moved his finger to coax her to him.

Charlie needed no further prompt as she stood up and he pulled her into his arms. She could almost hear the music in her head, just louder than the beating of her heart as they moved together in perfect synchronicity.

“Perhaps we’ll change it a bit for our first attempt”
Mitch said, as he lifted her up and placed her on the picnic table.

“You can jump from here and I promise I will catch you and lift you”

Charlie smiled at him “I trust you” she said as she leapt into his arms and then they stood with her in the lifted position.

She gazed out over the lake and trees for what seemed like minutes, her arms outstretched and feeling so secure in his strong grasp. Then as she slid down his body they heard clapping and cheering as they realised that a small audience had gathered and witnessed much of their routine while they had been in their own private dance world. Taking a bow together they looked around at all the smiling faces that had stopped to watch them.

“Wow” she breathed, when he pulled her back into his arms.

“We make a great team” Mitchell murmured “But I think that’s enough of impromptu public dance demonstrations for one day”

“Me too, shall we head home?” Charlie responded, in her head she was still dancing on the wave of applause and the natural high it produced.

“Sounds like a plan” Mitch responded as they gathered their half eaten food up and headed for the bike and the ride home.

On the way home Mitch felt more confident and opened up the throttle as the landscape sped past them and Charlie held on tighter, liking the way their bodies fitted together perfectly.

When they reached home and climbed off Charlie was still buzzing from the
high of the day’s revelations, dancing and of course the bike ride.

“Hi Mum, we’re back” she shouted, as I poked my head out from the lounge.