“So, you did manage to move away?” he smiled and then teasingly asked, “How’s your Mum and Dad these days?” He then sat down on the grass beside me.
“It’s a long story, and parts of it I try not to recall if I can help it,” I said with a sigh.
“Well, I’ve all the time in the world, so you can fill me in on the last twelve years if you have time,” Matt said smiling.
He then added, rising to his feet, “Why don’t we go and have a drink outside the pub and these two can have a drink from the dog bowls?”
The time flew as did our conversations. Matt listened patiently as I went through the gruelling parts of the past.
When I spoke of Neil, I never ran him down. I did tell him about Oskana, but I did say that in the short time our relationship had been good, it was very good and that now we were just really good friends.
Matt had been working out of the country, teaching languages at various schools.
“I hope one of them isn’t Russian,” I retorted and then we both laughed.
Matt said that he had been in a short relationship with a teacher at the college while he was away, but that she had married since then.
I made the first move and said I had better be getting back home.
Matt asked if he and “Lady”; his cocker spaniel, could walk us back to my car, and Sam obviously approved.
“Look Natasha,” Matt said looking me straight in the eye. “I realise that you have been driven to rock bottom and back with life, but you are definitely on the way back up. I don’t want to destroy that. Here’s my number, and it’s certainly completely up to you if you text or ring me. I would like to see you again,” Matt said gently, rubbing my shoulder.
“Thank you,” I responded. “I would like to see you too, and keep in touch,” I said smiling in return.
“I’d better say goodbye, until we meet again,” Matt said, looking as though he was stalling the moment of departure.
I turned towards my car and commented, “What a lovely end to the day.”
I felt Matt gently touch my arm, and I turned to face him. “It needn’t be the end. It could be a whole new beginning. This is the first chapter of a new book,” Matt said softly and tilted my chin with the tips of his fingers and we engaged in a passionate embrace.
Mm, I thought to myself, There goes that familiar throbbing, wanting feeling once again. I’ve grown up a lot though, I’m all woman and I’m ready for you Sunshine.
Through the Dark Keyhole Page 17
