A Fair Exchange
Part 2 by Pebbles
This is my first ever Fanfic. Be gentle with
me. No apologies for English Idiom – it’s all I know!
Over a simple supper of baked fish and
vegetables from the garden the conversation began to flow. Mikey
was the main facilitator. His constant remarks about everything
and anything kept the atmosphere relaxed and Luka began to
experience a warm glow that was not entirely attributable to the
heat from the Aga cooker or the red wine, which he had drunk.
He began to form a picture of life at ‘Merrifield’.
Melissa took in bed and breakfast guests during the summer and
also let the cottage that Luka was now staying in. The area was
very popular with tourists seeking unspoilt natural beauty. The
coastline was rugged with pretty sandy beaches and they kept a
small boat at Kingsbridge for fishing and picnics. In the autumn
they took a break from the bed and breakfast to harvest the
apples and make pressed apple juice and cider.
Melissa’s voice betrayed her immense
pride in her little son as she recounted tales of fishing trips
shared, Mikey’s help with the apple harvest and countless
other little homely details of their life. He began to dread the
inevitable end of the evening. As Mikey’s bedtime approached
and he was sent upstairs to start getting himself ready for a
bath, Luka clutched at straws to continue the conversation.
“So have you always lived here?”
seamed an innocent enough remark.
“No, just three years. We came down
here from London because my husband was ill and couldn’t
continue in his work. We had always wanted to raise Mikey in the
country. We both grew up around here….” Melissa paused
as if gathering up her strength to continue. “Unfortunately
we didn’t know then that Hugh’s cancer was terminal,
although we had no regrets. We were able to enjoy the last few
months together here building the business, making plans for
converting the barn, spending time with Mikey. But I” she
paused again “ I wish we had done it earlier. We had
so little time in the end.” Her voice had become almost a
whisper. Her eyes shone with unshed tears.
“Would you excuse me a moment? I must
make sure Mikey doesn’t flood the bathroom.”
Melissa got up from the table. Luka rose with her. He was at a
loss for words. As she passed by towards the stairs he touched
her arm briefly. “Thank you for sharing your evening with me…and
everything” he murmured. “Shall I make us some coffee?”
“Oh, If you don’t mind. I think I
should call it a night. But thank you. I hope you will be happy
here.” And she was gone.
As he let himself out, Luka wondered if he
could be. He had come to paradise only to find more sadness and
loss.
Over the next week, Luka barely clapped eyes
on Melissa. Practising as a family doctor in a small rural
community would have been change enough from a big city ER but
there was also the British National Health Service to contend
with. However the staff at the Kingsbridge Health Centre were
very helpful and soon Luka was engrossed in the work of a rural
GP. One evening after surgery towards the end of his first week
he joined the senior doctor of the practice for a beer at the
local pub.
He was not sure that he really liked English
beer – wasn’t it said that the English drank it warm?
But not wanting to cause offence he tried a half-pint and was
pleasantly surprised.
“So Luka how are you settling in?
– I hear you’ve got lodgings with Melissa Stock. Eh?”
Drawled John Wellington as he lowered his considerable bulk onto
a barstool.
“Yes, she has a very comfortable
cottage there and has made me very welcome, thank you”
replied Luka, wondering if the stool would take such a heavy
load.
“She’s a patient of mine you know”
confided the older doctor. “Mind you I haven’t seen her
for going on two years I should think. It was a very sad business
– her losing her husband so suddenly. I was worried about
her for a while then. She barely ate or slept for months. But in
the end she seamed to pull her self together – it was the
child you know – she told me one day that he begged her not
to be so sad. His Daddy was an angel now he said to her and didn’t
want her to be so sad anymore. Isn’t that touching, eh? He’s
a lovely little lad.”
Luka recalled the conversation he’d had
with Mikey in the barn and marvelled at the capacity for children
to accept whatever cruel blows fate threw at them. If only
Melissa and he could do the same.
When he finally got home he made a point of
seeking out Melissa. As usual she was hard at work processing the
apple harvest. She had a fresh load of apples floating in a large
enamel bath whilst she pounded away with an old garden rake to
dislodge the leaves, grass and other debris before milling them.
She was so engrossed in the work, looking out for any badly
bruised or rotten fruit that she didn’t see Luka
approaching. For a moment he waited quietly by the open door
observing her work. The evening was fairly warm for October and
Melissa was dressed in jeans, which hugged her trim figure and a
sleeveless top. Her lean arms gently defined by taut muscles, her
forehead lightly beaded with sweat from her exertions. Luka felt
himself becoming aroused, and slightly embarrassed by this,
started to move away. He bumped straight into Mikey who had come
to ask Melissa to read him a bedtime story.
“Whoa there little fellow.”
Exclaimed Luka. Pleased as least for a diversion. “Your
Mummy’s working hard – would you like me to read your
story? If that’s OK with your Mummy?”
“Oh, you’re sure you wouldn’t
mind?” Melissa smiled and wiped her brow. Luka’s heart
did a somersault. “I’d like to get these finished
before I come in”
“Yes please, Dr Luka – I’ve
got some new books from the library with Dinosaurs in!”
Mikey took Luka’s large hand in his little one and led him
off towards the house.
As she pounded away at the apples she
tried to analyse her feelings about this beautiful man who had
made such an impact on her in what, just over a week? He
was undeniably physically attractive: tall, dark and handsome. A
beautiful smile that lit up his eyes – although there was
just a hint of sadness behind the eyes she thought. But it was
much more than his appearance that attracted her. He was so
gentle and sweet with Mikey. To her he was almost old-fashioned
in his manners: holding open doors, offering to carry things and
listening – really listening – to her. It was as
if he really understood her feelings of loss - or was she just
imagining it. Whatever, she knew she looked forward to seeing him
and wanted to get to know him better.
Later, when the days load of apples were all
clean and prepared for the mill, Melissa shut up the barn and
returned to the house. The house was very quiet. She went
upstairs to Mikey’s room. There were Luka and Mikey both
fast asleep! Luka sprawled on the floor only his head and
shoulders resting on the low divan. Mikey was curled up mostly on
his pillow surrounded by books and his collection of soft toys.
Melissa wondered who had fallen asleep first.
At first she wondered whether she should
leave him to sleep, as he was obviously very tired. But he would
get a terrible crick in his neck. Melissa knelt down beside him
so that she could gently rouse him without disturbing Mikey.
Close to him she was aware of his very male scent. His face,
relaxed in sleep was almost boyish; vulnerable…She felt
tightness in her throat, her chest. She was almost paralysed by
her feelings. Then his eyes fluttered open.
Melissa was mortified. What would he think
she was doing? “I’m sorry I was just going to wake you.”
She blushed from her neck up to her ears and jumped up to her
feet. Luka just smiled up at her his eyes twinkling as if he
could read her thoughts. “Well I thank you, I would have
gotten very stiff if I’d slept down here on the floor much
longer! Would you mind helping me up?” He offered his
hand. Melissa took it in her own. It seamed like an eternity that
they held hands before Luka rose to his feet. Melissa was
reluctant to let it go – to sever the connection – but
at last she slipped it free of his. Silently he followed her back
down the stairs.
“I really should get off to my own bed
I think – I’m dog tired tonight” Luka said
quietly.
“Oh, yes of course” Melissa wished
he would stay. “I was wondering, well the neighbours would
love to meet you and there’s a charity quiz night at the pub
next Saturday – would you like to come? It’s just a
laugh really, no one takes the quiz seriously – well
certainly not our team!” Luka could not miss the eagerness
in her eyes. “Of course, count me in” Luka smiled
“I love going to the pub!”