Inheritance

Chapter Nineteen. Playing an Ace.

Chapter Nineteen 

Playing an Ace. 

Over the following weeks, Rachel was encouraged by developments beyond the cozy confines of her room. John's male friends were falling like flies, his social circle decimated by the local girls. Soon, his only unattached friend was the obnoxious Ray Harrison, and even he was often otherwise engaged over the weekends. John spent more and more time on his own. Rachel generously offered to fill the void. Much to her delight, he accepted. 

On a typical Friday evening, John picked Rachel up about nine, and took her to one of the more respectable pubs in town, where they shared a couple of drinks. Then he would escort her to the dance at the Coro'. He was not a suffocating dance partner. In fact, he rarely danced, and much to Rachel's disgust, didn't seem to mind if other men partnered her. John reserved Saturdays for cricket. John was a star batsman, his father an umpire, in the North Lancashire League. 

Rachel hated cricket, but she volunteered to help make teas for the matches at Tarn Close so that she could spend even more time with John. This meant she spent Saturday mornings scouring the shops for suitable pastries, fresh bread, and sandwich fillings. Routinely the games started at 2.30 and she, along with two other girls, would spend the first innings preparing teas for twenty-two players, two umpires, and two scorers. Simultaneously they had to cater to the spectators. She endured all this in the hope of spending a few minutes with John before he went in to bat. At least when the ordeal was over, she knew John would be taking her to the pictures - unfortunately not in the balcony where she longed to be, but in the staid stalls reserved for families. 

John spent Sunday mornings and evenings with his father. Rachel never objected to this. In fact, she found it most endearing, the way he shared so much time with him.In the afternoons, she joined John in his sporting activities. On cooler days, they played miniature golf, and if it rained, they would go for a drive around the Lakes. If the weather was warm and sunny, it usually meant an afternoon at the swimming pool in Grange.  

                                                                                   ***** 

The tutorial sessions came to an abrupt end the week before the start of school, one month before John was due back at University. Rachel knew something was wrong as they climbed the stairs to her room. John seemed to be lost in thought. Rachel sat down at the desk and opened her trig book at the appropriate page. He came to her side, placed his left hand gently on her shoulder, and closed the book with his right. 

"We have to talk," he murmured. 

She turned her chair to face him. He retreated to the wicker chair in the corner. 

"I'm afraid we have to stop. Things are getting out of control." 

"What do you mean?" 

"I have always considered you as a friend, but something has happened. I find myself thinking about you a lot. Not in an innocent way, if you know what I mean." 

"You're such a prude, John. It's only natural to have such thoughts." 

"You have them too?" 

She thought her time had come. She moved towards him. He rose from the chair. 

"No closer Rachel." He held her off with a straight arm. "I should never have let this to happen. It just can't go on. We have to stop seeing each other." 

"What on earth for?" she cried in frustration. "I know you like me just as much as I like you. We have had a wonderful time this summer. We make a great team."