The following Friday at the Book Store, Clare saw Hal standing in the usual place scrutinising a book, as was his habit. The sight of him made her feel deeply embarrassed. Not wishing to appear over friendly, she decided not to disturb him. 'If he wants to talk perhaps he'll come over to me', she thought. She went to the section where true life stories were kept and searched through, trying to find a book about child evacuees during the Second World War.
She was so intent on what she was doing that when a large hand was placed on her arm, she jumped. Looking up she saw Hal standing beside her. His eyes were full of apprehension as he took her hand in his own.
"My dear lady," he said "Would you do me the honour of coming out with me one evening?"
This was the moment she had waited for, but her cheeks grew hot and her heart fluttered at the surprise of it. "Oh, that would be nice," she replied quietly.
For their first date Hal took her to a concert at the Colston Hall. It was a lovely evening. Hal was comfortable to be with. He smiled at her, held her hand and was the perfect gentleman. He drove her home in his old car and they sat talking, forgetting the time. Suddenly, she shivered with the cold and realised how late it was.
"I'd better go," she said.
"Would you come out with me again some time?" he asked.
"I'd love to." she replied. Even at this point in their new relationship she knew, deep in her heart that Hal was to become a very important person in her life.
The following week they visited a Wine Bar and listened to modern Jazz, Hal's favourite music. Clare wasn't mad on it, but it made a change to do something different. They talked much more in the car that night and he told her how pretty she was, when she was sure she wasn't, but even if it wasn't true, it was nice that he thought it.
The next date was dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant 'The Heart of Italy.' When they arrived, a waiter showed them to a table by a large window, where they sat down opposite one another and looked out over a cobbled walkway by the river. Street lights twinkled in the darkness and couples walked by, hand in hand. It was a romantic setting in one of the parts of Bristol she loved best.
A wine waiter came with the wine list and Hal chose a bottle of white 'Sauternes'. It was more expensive than Clare would have wished and it made her feel uncomfortable. She said so, to Hal, but he gently brushed her comments aside. When the bottle arrived he poured the wine into their glasses. Putting on a French accent he asked, "Ver you brought up in Bristle?" Clare laughed.
"Yes, I've lived here all my life. I'm not very exciting I'm afraid."
"Vell, zat is funny," he said still in a French accent. "Because only ze other day I said to Gerald, 'Clare is ze most exciting girl I 'ave met for a long time'. In fact, you are ze only girl I 'ave met for a very long time."
It was a lovely compliment, but he was beginning to make her feel self-conscious and not only because of his French accent! People on the nearby table were looking over at them, so she changed the subject.
"Where were you brought up?"
"I was brought up in South Africa. I was an only child, but when my parents were murdered I came to live in England." he said. Clare was horrified. There was a pause as the waiter came with menus and they gave over their orders both, by chance, choosing vegetable lasagne.
"What happened?" asked Clare.
"Local rebels went on the rampage and set fire to several houses, about fifty people were killed. They set our house on fire. I used to climb out of the window late at night and hunt for insects and animals in the garden. It was strictly forbidden, but I did it all the same.
I watched as the men set fire to the house and I saw my parents shouting from their bedroom window, but the fire was rampant and the last thing I remember was hearing two gun shots. My father shot my mother to save her from the fire and then shot himself."
He paused, toying with his wine glass. "I had nightmares for years. It was not a pleasant experience."
At this point he lifted the bottle of wine and refilled their glasses.
Clare had read such stories in books and magazines, but never from a real person. It was almost beyond belief. "How old were you, when it happened?" she asked.
"About ten, I suppose. My Aunt sent for me and I came to live with her. She was the Head Mistress of a school in Kent. I was very fond of her. She never married, but she was very motherly and I always felt loved. Sadly, she died two years ago." He paused again, taking a sip of wine.
"I know what bereavement is like." said Clare. "My dad died not long ago, too."
"I'm sorry to hear that." said Hal.
Their food arrived and they each said thank you to the waiter as it was placed before them.
"This looks good," said Clare lifting up a fork.
Hal picked up his serviette and tucked it under his chin. Clare was tempted to smile, but managed to control herself.
"Actually, I was injured that night, a man saw me in the bushes and hit me on the knee. I've had problems with my knee ever since. It's very painful sometimes. I think he meant to kill me. I could see it in his eyes, even in the dark, but something interrupted him."
Hal shuddered. Clare was lost for words. She had noticed on their first date how now and then he rubbed his knee and had wondered why. Now she knew.
"How's that for a story?" Hal asked, tucking into his food.
"It's not a story, it's the truth." Clare replied.
"Unfortunately, it is the truth, but on the whole I've had a happy life. I forget all about my ex-wife by the way, I pretend that episode didn't happen."
"I won't ask you anything about her then. Do you have any other relatives?" Clare asked.
"No, no one. When my wife embezzled from her company and went back to South America, where she came from, I was left alone."
His eyes misted over and he reached across the table and touched Clare's hand.
"I'm glad we've met Clare, you've saved my life."
She lowered her eyes, prodding the pasta with her fork.
"I'm glad we've met too. I was feeling rather lonely myself."
Her eyes met his across the table. Hal flashed a radiant smile...and her heart missed a beat.
Hal enjoyed taking Clare out to dinner and he always found a restaurant where there was a special event. They visited a superb Indian Restaurant, where girls wearing lovely saris danced while men played Indian music. Then a Greek Restaurant where a troupe of dancers danced to authentic Greek music and smashed plates. Clare, being Clare, thought this was a safety risk. What if a piece of china flew into someone's eye? It could be nasty! She mentioned it to Hal and he laughed uproariously! She was annoyed, why did no one take her seriously? She wanted to argue with him, but thought better of it. She didn't know him well enough at present, however, they had a wonderful evening and the food was delicious. Wherever they went, to a Show or to the Cinema, they always had a good time together, provided he took her seriously, of course.
As time went by, they found they had a similar taste in most things and very much the same outlook on life. Hal loved golf and said he was an accomplished player, but Clare had never tried it. He told her he hoped to marry one day and have a family and she said the same to him. They'd been out on several dates before he kissed her good night. He'd driven her home and they were standing at her front door.
"Can I kiss you goodnight?" he asked.
"Yes, of course," she replied.
Clare was five feet seven inches tall and Hal six feet four. Before she'd met him properly he'd had a 'winter' face, dark and sullen, but tonight his face beamed like summer sunshine. He smiled down on her, wrapped her in his strong arms and kissed her; a kiss so passionate, an electric charge passed through her body. 'Wow', she thought, 'so that's what they mean by chemistry!'
That night she couldn't sleep for thinking about him. She knew now that she was falling in love, but she decided she must tell him without hurting his feelings, how she hated being called 'my dear.' He often said it.