RED MIST FALLING

by Richard T Green

  It felt like I'd stepped into another, more elegant and bygone era.

  Zana was off again, running through the door next to the bed into the en-suite. I heard her call out a few seconds later. ‘You have got to see this!’

  Knowing exactly what she meant, I followed her into the bathroom which was almost as big as the bedroom. She was already sitting inside it grinning away, a dark-blue free-standing double-ended cast-iron bath, its semi-circular ends raised higher than the sides.

  ‘Come on in, the water's lovely!’ she said.

  ‘You're an idiot,’ I laughed, doing as she asked and climbing in behind her as she edged forward and leant the back of her head against my chest.

  ‘A perfect fit,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Maybe we should try it with water next time?’

  ‘Oh is that what you do?’ she giggled. ‘And look, a shower too.’

  In one corner, a modern shower enclosure almost spoilt the time-capsule. Easily big enough for two, its curved doors shrouded a power-shower panel with two heads set at different heights, and six water-jets pointing horizontally.

  Zana tipped her head back so she could look into my eyes. ‘I want to stay here forever,’ she said, a tinge of sadness in her voice.

  We heard the door knock, a man's muffled voice. ‘It's the porter madam, with your food.’

  Hastily we scrambled out of the bath, straightened our clothes and opened the door for the man, who walked in and placed a huge silver tray on the coffee table.

  ‘Did you say sandwiches, friend?’ Zana looked at me with a cheeky grin.

  The kindly-faced porter smiled back. ‘We don't do things by halves here, madam. I hope you will enjoy.’

  ‘Oh I think we will!’

  I tipped the porter as he left. Zana was already sitting in one of the chairs, looking like she hadn't eaten for a week. ‘Just look at this, Madeline,’ she said with big eyes.

  The round tray was almost as big as the coffee table. There were sandwiches; delicate triangles with various fillings encased by rings of shredded salad leaves in a multitude of colours. Small bowls of crisps and savoury biscuits were dotted around, and other bowls containing olives, sun-dried tomatoes and white silverskin onions somehow found a space between everything else.

  I sat down opposite her, caught her gazing at me, and knew exactly what she was about to say.

  ‘Food to share, Madeline.’

  Chapter 36

  We sat together, sharing the exquisite meal. I’d turned the centre light down to minimum, a little night music played through the TV that doubled as a radio.

  We talked of everything not the least bit important, but to both of us every word was magic. The drapes had been left open, outside it was still snowing heavily, and every minute Zana would look at the flakes hitting the window and smile beautifully.

  Harsh reality was, for now at least, somewhere on another planet.

  Finally she leaned back and blew out her cheeks. ‘I'm stuffed,’ she announced.

  ‘Not surprised. At least you left a few crumbs for me.’

  ‘Don't give me that, deWinter; you ate… almost half of it!’ She stood up. ‘Need to move around a bit though. We should unpack a few things, it's getting late.’

  I glanced at the Rolex, she wasn't kidding. It was almost one in the morning. If I’d had to guess, I would have said it hadn’t yet passed midnight. I joined Zana, put a few things in drawers. I felt arms slip around my waist, two whispered words in my ear.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘For what?’

  She waved her hand around. ‘All this. Maybe I should let you take control more often.’

  ‘Suppose it's my father you should thank really. If he hadn't dragged me kicking and screaming to Norfolk the first time, I wouldn't have even thought of coming here.’

  ‘Then I salute your father because his taste is just as good as his daughter's.’

  I felt her yawn from behind me. ‘You tired?’

  ‘Exhausted. I think I need to sleep. Is that ok?’

  ‘As long as I can spoon you.’

  I turned to face her; she pressed her body up against mine, gave me another cheeky grin. ‘If you don't you can go sleep in that bath.’

  I watched as she undressed, the perfect symmetry of her body taking my breath away yet again. Every elegant movement filled me with pleasure, her grace and beauty intoxicating. She caught me looking.

  ‘You watching me, deWinter?’

  ‘Every second.’

  She slipped naked into the bed. ‘So quit watching and start touching.’

  I didn't need a second invitation, pulled back the thick satin-covered duvet and lay down beside her. She turned a little, laid her head on my chest as I gently stroked her hair. Words weren't needed anymore. We lay in silence for a few minutes, and then she turned away. I pulled her into me, she lifted my hand to her face and softly kissed my fingers.

  The touch of her lips sent tantalizing shivers through my body, but I knew there was no desire in either of us for anything more. That would spoil the tranquillity of the moment.

  I closed my eyes, lost in the feel of the amazing woman who lay tight against me like we were two spoons welded together. She was asleep already, her gentle warm breath drifting across my hand, still close to her face with her hand wrapped around it.

  I was back in my childhood Norfolk, except this time the peace and happiness in my heart was far different. And far stronger than anything I had ever felt before.

  Chapter 37

  ‘Madeline, come and see this!’

  Less than half awake, I reached out for Zana and realised she wasn't in the bed. I forced reluctant eyes to focus, saw she was standing naked at the window with the drapes wide open. As I stood behind her and felt her lean back into me, I said with a smile, ‘Yeah… exactly as ordered.’

  A crisp white light forced my eyes to narrow as I drank in the beauty. The morning sun was just clearing the tops of the trees growing around the shore of the broad, dispelling the last of a slight mist still giving the scene a surreal kind of magic. A good three inches of snow covered everything.

  It couldn't have been better.

  ‘You're such a bull-shitting hussy, deWinter,’ Zana said as she tore herself away from the view and turned to face me. ‘Did you sleep ok?’

  ‘Don't remember much about lying awake.’

  ‘Nor me; think I was asleep as soon as I'd kissed your hand.’ She pressed her lips against mine. ‘But there's plenty of time to do things we will remember!’

  She laughed, pushed me away, ran to the dressing table and opened the hotel brochure. ‘What time's breakfast?’

  I gasped. ‘You ate enough for a horse a few hours ago!’

  She pierced a stare into me. ‘You want me all skinny and emaciated?

  ‘Not much chance of that!’ I retorted, ducking as she threw a mock-punch at me.

  She laughed. ‘And anyway, I like getting value for money.’

  ‘That would work if you were actually paying!’

  We found a table by a tall Georgian window in the small elegant dining room that was almost ours alone. Just one other couple sat in the far corner. I studied the breakfast menu and then raised my eyebrows at Zana, making sure she noticed.

  ‘You want to say something, Madeline?’ she grinned.

  It was hard, but I put on a serious face. ‘Just a bit worried. I'll be having the full English breakfast which means there'll be mushrooms. You won't, um…’

  She leaned closer to me, opened her lips a little revealing the tip of her tongue. Then she shook her head and laughed. ‘I'll be good this time, I promise.’

  I breathed an over-exaggerated sigh of relief as the waiter came to take our order, saw Zana pucker her lips at me out of the corner of my eye.

  ‘You know what I want to do after breakfast, don't you?’ she said with a glint in her eye.

  ‘Not a clue, my little snow-queen.’

  ‘Bet I win.’

/>   ‘Noo - you're a rookie when it comes to snow… although snowball fighting isn't really my sport.’

  ‘What is your sport?’

  ‘Soccer… lifelong Liverpool supporter me.’

  She raised her eyebrows. ‘And you an East-end girl?’

  ‘Just like the way they play. And they wear red of course!’ I grinned.

  ‘That's my favourite colour,’ she said, unnecessarily.

  ‘Would never have guessed.’

  As we ate, and watching Zana constantly glancing out of the window like an excited little girl, I realised we were likely going to spend a fair part of the day enjoying the white stuff in one form or another. And judging by the size of the weekend case she'd brought, Zana had no suitable clothes for winter sports.

  I remembered when I was a girl, the village had big store. Roy's of Wroxham was an institution back then, and I doubted it would be anything other today. I told Zana she wasn't allowed to play in the snow until we'd been shopping for coats, gloves and hats. She pulled a face and called me a bossy old mum, I exercised my recently-discovered authority and took control again by telling her that was the deal.

  She grinned and said I was a control-freak, and the second the last piece of toast and thick-cut marmalade was in my mouth, grabbed my hand and hauled me out of the restaurant, still chewing.

  Ten minutes later she was covered in snow, taking it upon herself to clear the BMW's windows with her arms, despite my insistence the automatic de-icers would do it for her. I shook my head as I climbed into the driver's seat, not quite believing the character change in the girl now giggling next to me.

  And finally she brushed off the snow and joined me, red-faced and grinning, and we headed carefully along the drive towards the Wroxham road.

  Chapter 38

  As we drove slowly over the humped river bridge with the semi-circular arch that had caught out many a boating holidaymaker since the beginning of time, I caught my breath yet again.

  In front of us now was the busy crossroads in the centre of the sprawling village, and apart from the snow-covered roads, it was all so familiar. Little had changed in the last twenty years. The small shops sitting close to the road, which in summer were rammed with tourists, had hardly altered. As we sat in a short traffic queue waiting for the pedestrian crossing to clear, I stared ahead at the frontage of Roys, positioned on one corner of the junction. It didn't look like that had changed much either.

  But as we made the crossroads, a big building came into view on the left of the street. One that wasn't there in my childhood. One that made me smile, because good old Roy had built me a much bigger place to shop... a two-storey department store on the opposite side of the road to the food-store.

  I would for sure find the things there my young daughter needed!

  We parked in the big car park at the back of the building, and headed into the store through the rear entrance.

  ‘Merry Christmas!’ said Zana with another giggle. She wasn't exactly joking; here in Roys it was Christmas. It might only be the middle of November but that didn't seem to matter. A huge Christmas tree twinkled multi-coloured lights at us, and festive music played away in the background. I half-expected to see a Santa Claus walking around saying, 'Ho-ho-ho', but thankfully there was none to be seen.

  If he had been there, the mood Zana was in she would be sitting on his knee telling him what she wanted for Christmas.

  That thought turned my stomach, and for a moment the dread was back. Christmas this year was unlikely to be a happy time for either of us.

  We took the elevator to the first floor, found thick ski-coats straightaway. I chose a light-blue one with white flashing.

  Zana chose a red one.

  We wandered over to the hats and gloves racking, picked warm-looking gloves flexible enough for snowball rolling. I found a silly fur cap with ear-protectors, put it on for a joke and asked Zana what she thought.

  She threw me a scowl. ‘Wear that and you'll be the snowball,’ she growled. Then she squealed with delight at something she'd just spotted. ‘Look Madeline… one of those Russian fur hats!’

  She put the light-brown Zhivago hat on her head, turned and gave me a beautiful smile. ‘What do you think?’ I smiled back and nodded eagerly, words just then difficult to find.

  Suddenly I could see Lara Antipov, hear the famous evocative music in my ears. And for the first time, understand the power of emotions that drove Doctor Zhivago.

  She looked incredible.

  I shuddered, remembering how the movie ended. Zana noticed. ‘You ok, Madeline?’

  I forced a smile. ‘Sure, just recalling an old movie. You look… beautiful.’

  For a moment a sad expression passed across her face. She laid her head on my shoulder and held me tight. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

  I doubted she could possibly know about the old movie, but right then got the feeling that somehow she understood.

  Chapter 39

  We played for ages in the snow like six-year-olds. The thought crossed my mind it was a good job there was only one other couple staying in the hotel, who were probably doing something much more intelligent and grown up, so wouldn't see us anyway. But I was having so much fun regressing to my childhood I dismissed the thought, and went back to attempting to get the better of Zana.

  We ran around the grounds defacing the smooth blanket of snow with a thousand footprints, an ongoing snowball fight resulting in me suffering the most. Most of the time I was the one with very cold melting snow trickling down the back of my neck, as Zana made sure I knew winter had arrived early.

  I watched her as she laughed beautifully, a woman being a little girl again. So full of innocence, it looked like she’d never had a bad thought in her life. I knew she was over-compensating once more, desperate to find a few shreds of happiness in an impossible situation. Craving for the last crumbs of memories to cling to and cherish when… when harsh reality came back and reared its ugly head.

  I knew exactly how she felt. The suitcase with its horrific contents belonged in another time. But as far away as that suitcase might be, it could never be far enough.

  Not when its owner was boring her way into my soul, and feeling like she would stay there forever.

  I caught her out once, a rare moment of stillness giving me an opportunity, as she gently shook the branches of a tree to watch the snow fall off. I'd already endured a multitude of snowballs in the face, so I decided it was payback time.

  She was facing away. Quickly I grabbed the biggest armful of snow I could, and wrapped my hands around her head so she couldn't run. She squealed, gloved hands cupping around mine as she helped press the snow into her face.

  She turned to me, her skin bright red and her green eyes alive, found a lump of snow still sitting on her left shoulder. I let her rub it slowly around my cheeks.

  ‘I love… I love snow,’ she whispered, pressed cold lips into mine, and ran off towards the broad.

  We stood on the end of a small landing stage, arms wrapped around each other, gazing across the cold-looking blue-grey water.

  ‘It's beautiful here,’ Zana said as she rested her head on my shoulder. ‘I can see why you loved it so much as a girl.’

  ‘This is a first for me though; never seen it in the winter before.’

  ‘Then we're sharing a first.’ She wrapped her arms around my neck, kissed me softly. ‘I wish it could stay like this forever.’ Suddenly her voice was shaky, and even through our thick coats I could feel her body trembling.

  ‘I do too,’ I said quietly.

  She lifted her head, sad eyes piercing into mine. ‘Do you Madeline… do you really?’

  ‘Really.’

  The sun had dipped behind the trees now. A slight breeze rippled the surface of the broad, and wafted around us. The day was drawing to its close. I saw Zana's eyes misting over, wasn't sure if it was the effects of the snow or something else. But she was shivering now, and it was time to find her some warmth.


  ‘Shall we go get cozy?’ I smiled to her.

  She nodded, and we walked slowly back to the house. As we left the shore I noticed a double seat nestling in the trees, a sofa made of logs positioned to give two people a perfect view of the broad.

  For a moment the dull ache was back. I knew now where we would be when I took the deepest breath of my life, and told Zana the truth.

  But that was tomorrow. There was still time today to make another memory or two.

  Chapter 40

  Zana's clothes began to come off as soon as she was a foot inside our room. First the Zhivago hat and gloves, slung onto the bed. Then the red coat, dropping to the floor as she walked.

  A couple of hops and skips around the bed, and the boots were flung aside. I began to do the same, saw her grab something from her bag, and then just before the door to the en-suite she and the jumper parted company.

  ‘You joining me, deWinter?’ she laughed. ‘Haha, deWinter… you've got the right name today!’

  She disappeared into the bathroom as I undressed in world record time, and then heard her call out, ‘Shower or bath?’

  ‘With the speed you’re moving it had better be the shower… that bath will take far too long to fill!’

  ‘You getting naked or what?’ She called back. As I reached the bathroom she turned and walked over-seductively to the shower, glanced back as she stepped inside and turned a knob. I grabbed a couple of towels, and then heard her squeal loudly.

  ‘What?’ I cried out, half-concerned but knowing it was likely to be something silly.

  It was. ‘It tickles!’ She giggled like the little girl again. I opened the curved shower doors and laughed. She'd turned on the horizontal water jets, and was facing away from me jigging up and down with her arms around her breasts.

  I grabbed her shoulders from behind to stop the jiggling. ‘You're an…’ I started to say, but Zana's head tipped back, and her lips against mine and her tongue inside my mouth made finishing the sentence impossible. As we kissed I turned on the top shower head, and wonderful warm water cascaded over us like a waterfall.