Eternal Love

The quaint sea coast town where I live is a place where children grow up and marry their childhood sweethearts and never move away.

Like all the residents in this remote beautiful town I did the same. I lived in my late grandparent Victorian house located perfectly on the edge of down town. I didn’t marry my childhood sweetheart but I followed the tradition of not leaving. I own the only Bakery in town and I’m very proud of keeping our family legacy alive.

After a routine day of work which I , I stopped at the market to get some grocery for tonight’s dinner.

I was rushing out the entrance not looking where I was going and bumped into someone, so hard that my bag of grocery fell from my arms, scattering everywhere on the floor.

Oh I’m so sorry, the young man who I had bumped into said, as he immediately bent down picking up the fallen items.

Oh it okay, I said as I began to pick up things putting them in the bag again. We both were scrambling on the floor and we both grabbed the same item at the same time. It made us finally look at each other,

His hand was still on mine and a sudden feeling of utter warmth rushed though my body. I looked up into his eyes and felt get entrapped and couldn’t turn away. l

He must have felt the same for it took him a few seconds to collect himself and smile at me. I finally got everything off the floor with the stranger help and we went our separate ways. Only I couldn’t get his face out of my mind.

There was something special about him. I noticed that he had a certain touch of class the way he carried himself. Also he was very good looking with his tanned skin and straight black hair hanging loosely over his dark brown eyes, yet there was something else and she couldn’t put her finger in it.

She knew all of the folks around the town, so he must be a tourist, she thought to herself. It was that time of the year, summer time , when crowds of people came to enjoy the beautiful scenery here. He just looked so familiar-like I had seen him before.

Then I remembered, this morning I had gotten up early which is what I do sometimes and took my sailing boat out to see the sun rise.

I was enjoying watching the sun come up in a blaze over the horizon when I felt I wasn’t alone. I turned to look around and there was another sail boat in the distance. I took my binoculars and I saw him gazing at the sunrise just as I was doing. We were the only sail boats out so early.

As though he felt me looking at him he turned to look in my direction. I quickly put down my binoculars and head back to the shore.

That how I knew him face.

When I walked in my door, my cell phone ringed.

It was my guest for dinner, the town’s only Dr. Walter. He was an old friend of my late grand mother.

He asked if it was okay to bring along his grandson to dinner, who he added was a Dr. also and who had surprised him with a visit.

Sure, I happily replied, I would love to meet him.

He jokingly told me he was looking forward to my apple pie that I always made for him.

I hung up the phone but I still couldn’t get the memory of the stranger out of my mind. His eyes were dark and mysterious and he was tall and he seem to have all the things that she found attractive in someone.

I had just finished setting the table with the added touch of yellow daisies I had picked from my flower garden this morning.

Suddenly a breaking new announcement came on the television saying that there was a tropical storm going to hit our town

I looked out the window and sure enough there were dark clouds gathering in the north.

I got out my emergency basket with flash lights candles etc , just in case the power went off and I placed candles everywhere.

By the time my guest ringed the door bell , I saw though my windows that rain had already began to fall. When I opened the door I could see the wind was blowing strong enough to make the tree in the front yard bend down from it’s gale like force.

Welcome, I said, stepping back so they could enter. I’m so glad you both could make it.

A flash of lightening streaked across the sky making everything bright and visible. I saw the face of the man behind the Doctor.

It was the stranger I bumped into in the grocery store, and therefore the person sailing in the sail boat early this morning at the same time I was. I stood unable to move for a second, starring at him.

I saw from the look in his eyes, he was just as surprised as I was.

Janet, the Dr. said, this is Bill my grand son.

I was still unable to speak as I faintly hear the Dr. say, “Do you two know each other? “

No- I finally managed to say.

Then getting myself composed , I led them into the living room and they sat down on my sofa.

Won’t you have a glass of wine before dinner?

That is a marvelous idea my dear the Dr. said.

. She poured them some wine from the wine bottle into delicate wine glasses on the coffee table.

Thank you for letting my grandson come alone - the Dr. said.

Of course ! I forced a smiled at both of them.

Well I think we should eat - perhaps before the storm really hits.

We are ate,laughing and enjoying ourselves as the Dr. told funny stories about Bill and the many mischief adventures he had when he was a little boy. Then

the lights went out!

It was pitch black and the sound of the wind howled as it went around the corner of the house.

I got up and rushed to light all the candles. I got out my battery radio and turned it full blast.

The weather man announced that the roads were washed out in the area and that the storm wouldn’t pass until morning.

So I insisted for them to stay over until morning.

Bill his grandson offered to stay up and watch for any emergencies such as flooding from the sea since my house was situated so close to it.

I showed the Dr. to the guest bedroom and brought sheets and blankets for the sofa for Bill.

I put on my lilac cotton night gown and got into bed but the noises from the storm kept me awake.

I finally went down stairs. Bill was still sitting in a arm chair by the fireplace with a far away look in his eyes. I turned to go back upstairs so as not to disturb him, when he saw me and said., almost in a whisper, “ Don’t go,

I can use some company.”

I turned and smiled sweetly at him

Okay, I replied, I will fix us some tea.

After pouring the steaming hot tea into my delicate tea cups given to me by my grandmother, we sat silently listening to the rain splashing against the window and pounding on the roof. It somehow was comforting and I felt safe and secure.

I love the rain, I said.

So do I, he said softly.

We don’t get many storms-at least not one like this one, too often, I elaborated.He turned and looked deeply in my eyes leaning forward in his chair toward me.

“I hope you can forgive me for my my boldness but I feel this is something I have to say.

You know nothing is coincidental.

I know you are my destiny- my long awaited destiny!

You have not left my mind since the first time I saw you on that sail boat—-

I turned away - gazing at the fire burning in the fireplace. I could feel the warmth of his presence touching me, with unseen hands.

I got up to get more tea for us when as I was about to pass him he grabbed my arm and he slowly stood up -

I looked up into his eyes and felt myself surrendering to the passion that I saw burning in his eyes. I saw his face coming closer to mine and his lips about to find mine, when kitchen door flew open. Shocked at first then realizing what was happening We both moved quickly and together we forced the door shut, putting a big chair in front of it as security.

We looked at each other in relief.

“Come you need some rest.

You can sleep on the sofa and

I will sleep in the chair. “ he said.

I was really tired so to my surprise I obeyed him. I made myself comfortable in the sofa and pulling the blanket over myself and before i knew it I was fast asleep.

The sun streaming from the window the next morning woke me. I look over and saw Bill still sleeping in the chair.

I got up and went into the kitchen to make breakfast. My noise must have woke Bill for he got up and came into the kitchen and sat down at the table and watched me. I smiled at him and poured him some coffee. He grabbed my hand just for a second- and then kissed it so gently.

I took my hand away smiling at him and went upstairs. After putting on some jeans and a sweater, I went to wake up the Dr.

We all three ate and laughed and enjoyed breakfast. Dr was always in a good mood and brought cheer wherever he went.

Well, I had better get to the office.

Now that the storm is gone, Janet why don’t you show Bill the lighthouse. I can pick him up after work, the Dr suggested.

Why sure, I answered.

So Bill and I went walking. The wind was still strong and tossed my hair back snd forward over my head.

We went inside the lighthouse and climbed up the stairs to the top.

The view was breath taking. We could see the whole island and the dreamy ocean.

Bill put his arms around my

Waist and turned me to face him.

“I decide to move here to look out for my grand father, he doesn’t know yet, but now I know the real reason I had to come here—Bill confessed.

Yes- and I knew you would come , I replied.

My gran mother had told me not to move for whoever was meant to be mine would come to me- find me and I didn’t have to go anywhere. I believed her - now I’m glad I took her advise.

We looked at each other and kissed and afterward held each other tight feeling gratitude for believing in an eternal love and that we had with the help of fate had found each other.

Bill and I got married in that very spot in the light house with his grand father and a few friends overlooking our lovely seaside town.

Also I thought I saw just for a moment my grand mother standing next to the Dr. smiling at us.

We sailed in our newly brought sail boat decorated with wedding flowers out to a small island not far from the town. It was decorated and fixed up by the town folks with a flowered tent and fire pit for us to spend our magical honeymoon.

All the folks of the town that night wave and threw flowers in water for us as we sail away under a beautiful silver moon to our magical island.