The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 26

"You have so many lovely memories, Gracie. You're very fortunate Jock and Jessie found you."

"I agree. They're the best, really."

"Mind if I ask you something?"

"Fire away."

"Are you glad Willow didn't reply?"

"I suppose it makes things less complicated that she didn't, though it might have been nice to be acknowledged. Still, she's likely moved on and revisiting her past could open old wounds. She follows God's path now and as long as she cares for others I'd like to believe that's enough for me. And her."

"I'm glad it makes no difference," he says honestly. "I want to give you something."

"Another gift?"

"I guess you could call it that except it's not from me." Pulling a crisp white envelope from his inside pocket he places it in my hand. "It arrived the day we left Lansdowne Road but I didn't want it upsetting you before the wedding."

"Is it from her?" I ask, my voice a fraction shaky. "From Willow?"

"No, love. It's from New York but it's not been postmarked so I think it must have been hand delivered."  Inspecting the reverse of the envelope I see he's right.

"Perhaps it's from one of my sisters. Didn't Father Paul say one of them lived there?"

"He did. I hope you don't mind me giving it to you now."

"No, it's fine."

"I just didn't want to keep it from you any longer. I don't want secrets between us, Gracie."  His words so sincere mirror the look in his eyes and softly I stroke his cheek.

"Thank you. It was the right thing to do."

"Good."

"You know what I'm going to do with this, Max?  I'm going to put it away for a while and when I'm ready I'll open it."

"That's what I thought you'd say." Reaching the fence on the bridleway Max swiftly jumps over the step, stretching out his hand in invitation.

                    ***********

Drawing near the glassy black lake creeps into view, its ghostly presence largely impressive. Reflecting on the water is a shimmering moon, looming trees casting their perfect shadows as if splashed on canvas from a painters brush. And as I sensed he would Max gasps in awe.

"Jeez!"

"It's spectacular, isn't it?"

"And then some. It's so much more than the photos you showed me."

"I'm delighted you like it."

"Like it? I love it! I can't believe this place sits empty for most of the year."

"I know. Dad's fishing friends used to come here a lot but the last couple of years less so. He really should list it for holiday lets. We're at the foot of Dochart Falls. Can you imagine the interest?"

"Absolutely! But surely the place is too big for them. I mean Jock's fit now but what happens in ten years or so? He'll be pushing eighty."

"I don't know. I should probably talk to them about it but the time never seems right, not to mention I dread to see the place sold."

"Yeah, I get that. Maybe I could have a word after our honeymoon."

"Would you?"

"Of course. Leave it with me."