"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 0 Prologue - Ch. 3: Matthew & Jocie Meet, October 19, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace
(an original fiction copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace; all rights reserved)
[(1) right top, story logo]
[I will illustrate my story using my dream cast of: Richard Armitage for Matthew Drake, Kate Beckinsale for Jocelyn Burrows, and Brenda Blethyn for Aunt Madge.]
Author's Mature Content Note: "Lost & Found" is story with mature themes (D for drama and S for sensuality) of love and relationships. Most chapters will be PG or PG-13. However, if you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings I provide, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer.
Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 0 (PG): Prologue
Trying to navigate in a new city can be daunting. That task is compounded when the city is London, England. For Jocelyn Eileen Burrows—or Jocie (pronounced "Jah-see") as her friends and family call her--traveling out of town, let alone out of state, let alone out of country, let alone to a new continent opens up a brave new world for her. Though Jocie [(2) right] is only 30 years old—her life not yet half begun—she feels that her life is missing something, and Jocelyn is in search of it.
It is the Fall of 2010, Friday, August 13th to be exact. Though Jocie is not superstitious, she does believe in fate. So, Jocie takes the seven hour over night flight from Illinois in the USA to London, England and arrives around 10:00am—3:00am Illinois time. Jocie is embarking on a new beginning. And though she does not know it yet, she will end up helping the new friends she meets do the same. And for one man, Matthew Drake, Jocie will become his savior.
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 1 (PG): Jocelyn Needs a Tour Guide in London
After checking into her inexpensive South East London Hotel around 11:00am—inexpensive by London tourist standards anyway—Jocie decides to explore London armed with a tourist map of the city. However, Jocie doesn't get too far in London when she realizes that she is completely lost in the bustling city of over 8 million people. Deciding to view her lost state as an opportunity for adventure, Jocie gamely visits several local shops in search of a friendly face. She hopes to find someone who will set her on the right path. And, Jocie gets more than she bargains for—but in a good way, eventually.
As Jocie opens the quaint looking flower shop door, a real hanging bell over the door tinkles and the proprietress comes to the front.
Aunt Madge Flower Prop.: "May I help you? I am Aunt Madge, this is my flower shop." The flower shop proprietress says politely and smiles graciously.
A petite and slightly plump mature woman of warmth and charm, Aunt Madge [(3) right] --as everyone calls her--is the grand dame of locally owned shops on their street. Her having been in business continuously for over twenty years is a mark of distinction when many new businesses barely last two months if they have to compete with chain stores or the internet. But Aunt Madge is old school when it comes to business--believing in good value and providing service to her customers that they cannot get anywhere else.
Jocie: "Oh, Hello!" Jocie gushes, so glad to meet a friendly face. "I'm visiting London for the first time and I've lost my way. Might you please point out where I am on my map and suggest how I might get to my destination?" Jocie looks hopefully at the kindly woman.
Aunt Madge Flwr Prop.: Perceiving a sensitive soul in the young and pretty lady before her, Aunt Made says "Ooh Dearie, London is a very large city. You had best be finding someone to walk around with you. But, where are you trying to go?" Aunt Madge tilts her head questioningly. Aunt Madge does this gesture unconsciously--similar to how her cat Imelda tilts her head when the cat is trying to figure out what her human wants.
Jocie: Jocie replies sheepishly. "I wish I knew. I want to see some of the gardens and fountains and monument sculptures. But, I'm not sure where to start."
A tall, dark and handsome stranger sitting on a stool in a quiet out of the way corner of the shop by the tall potted ferns he was dusting with a damp cloth, stands up, and he turns toward Jocie as he says in a deep and velvety voice.
Matthew: "There is always the park down the lane and around the corner that you could stroll through." Matthew [(4) right] smiles shyly at the pretty lady.
Startled because she did not know he was there, Jocie looks at the man. He is handsome--classically so, with his square jaw, roman nose, broad shoulders, and piercing blue eyes. And since the man is taller than her five foot four inch person—he is well over six feet tall--the petite Jocie feels a bit intimidated by him at first.
Jocie: "Well, I don't know." Jocie looks up at him uncertainly.
Aunt Madge Flwr Prop.: "Oh Matthew Dear!" She walks over to her nephew, takes his hand in hers and pats it. "You've got to smile once and a while when you talk to new people--so they will know that you're a nice bloke."
Matthew: "Sorry Aunt Madge." Matthew grins sheepishly, and he finally cracks a small smile which does brighten his countenance.
Aunt Madge FP: "That's alright Matthew." Then she says to Jocie. "Matthew sometimes helps me around the shop when he doesn't have to work at his regular job. What's your name Dear?"
Jocie: Smiling first to the Flower Lady and then to Matthew, Jocie feels slightly embarrassed for her lack of manners by not introducing herself right away. "Hello, I'm so sorry." Jocie blanches and rolls her eyes." "I'm Jocelyn Eileen Burrows—well Jocie is what everyone calls me. Lovely to meet you." Jocie extends her hand to Aunt Madge and they shake hands.
Aunt MadgeFP.: "It's lovely to meet you, too, Dear. I'm Marjorie Ann Drake. But everyone calls me Aunt Madge. And this is my nephew Matthew Charles Drake." Matthew looks shyly and hesitantly at Jocie. "Matthew, it's your turn to say hello, Dear."
Matthew: Matthew's voice is deep, and slow, and precise--his diction is impeccable, and his manners are flawless--if seeming just a little shy. "Sorry Aunt Madge. Hello, Jocelyn, it is lovely to meet you."
Matthew nods his head and smiles a bit, then he extends his hand to her and Jocie does the same and they shake hands. But, it is a little humid out and Jocie had rubbed her shoes on the doormat--to make sure they were clean when she came into the shop--so they shock each other unintentionally.
Jocie: "Ouch!" She says pulling her hand back quickly and shaking it up and down.
Matthew: Flexing and compressing his hand into a fist back and forth, Mathew says blandly. "Sorry. That seems to happen a lot in here."
Aunt MadgeFP: "Never mind Matthew, it wasn't your fault." Aunt Madge comforts Matthew by patting his broad and muscular shoulders, as she would a child's. Then an idea occurs to her. "Jocelyn, would you like Matthew to show you the park that he mentioned?"
Jocie: She hesitates. "Well, I don't want to impose on you." Jocie says looking at Matthew hesitantly.
Matthew: "Not at all. I will be happy to show you the park." Matthew replies to her in a somewhat bland monotone voice and Jocie wonders if he's just being polite. Then he continues and gestures toward the door. "The park is this way."
To be continued with Chapter 2
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 2 (PG): Jocie and Matthew Walk to the Park
So Jocie and Matthew walk out of the flower shop and head down the lane and around the corner to the park. It is really just a large green space with a few blooming flower beds, some benches, and an old sculptural fountain [(5) right] in the middle. This park has long since been encroached upon from the surrounding buildings as city development took over the green space. So the park is a shadow of its former glory and size of even fifty years ago.
Jocie: Looking around, Jocie likes what she sees and praises it. "This park is lovely--just right for my introduction to British garden spaces."
Matthew: "Yes, it is a favorite of mine, too." Matthew says--again, a bit blandly.
Jocie notices that though Matthew's words and phrasing are correct, he does not seem to have any emotion behind them--and it strikes a chord of recognition in her. But, she does not want to make an assumption about him, because she feels that it would be impertinent of her to do so since they just met. So, Jocie continues in conversation with him about the park.
Jocie: "Well Matthew, it's kind of you to show me around this park. Shall we sit on the bench here and you can tell me what you like best about the park?" He nods and both of them sit on the bench.
Feeling a bit out of his element—talking with a stranger who is a woman—Matthew thinks for a moment about how to answer. He does not interact with too many people since his injury two years ago. Jocie waits patiently for Matthew's response.
Matthew: Matthew replies, hesitantly. "I guess ... I like that this park is small enough not to be of interest to a lot of people. So, I often have the park to myself. I can sit and watch the birds and squirrels—and enjoy the green space—without having others interrupt me or strangers wanting me to talk to them."
Jocie: "I can see why that would be nice, Matthew." Jocie says smiling benignly at Matthew. "I think I'll follow your example and just sit here quietly for a few minutes taking it all in."
And she does. Matthew and Jocie sit quietly together on the bench for about fifteen minutes. Jocie looks around a bit, and then she shuts her eyes and leans back so that her face turns upward, toward the sunlight. After a few minutes, Jocie sits up and opens her eyes. She discovers that Matthew is not sitting with her anymore and she becomes concerned—for him as much for herself. Then, she notices that he is standing in front of the fountain and looking into it. So, Jocie stands [(6) right] and walks over to him—but, she does not say anything wanting to respect Matthew's wish for a quiet space. She observes that Matthew is a very quiet person--almost fading into the background of the park, as he did at the flower shop. And she wonders about his story.
Matthew: Eventually noticing that Jocelyn is standing at his side at the fountain, Matthew asks. "Do you like water fountains?"
Jocie: "I do. The bubbling of the water is so soothing. And I like the way the sunlight dances on the water."
Matthew: Then becoming seemingly uncharacteristically cheerful and more animatedly--for him--Matthew reveals [(7) left] "Yes, my wife and I used to ..." But then Matthew's mind and his face cloud over and he does not finish what he is saying. He looks down at his bare left hand--looking for something that is no longer there. Then Matthew lowers his arms to his sides in resignation. "Perhaps, I should take you back to Aunt Madge. She will know what to do with you." He says in his usual bland tone.
Jocie thinks that Matthew's last statement would sound odd coming from anyone but Matthew—whom she only met 30 minutes ago. But then, Jocie has an instinct about and an empathy for others. So, she and Matthew walk back to the flower shop in companionable silence.
To be continued with Chapter 3
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch, 3 (PG-13, D): Jocie Talks to Aunt Madge about Matthew
After Jocie walks back to the flower shop with Matthew, he kisses his aunt's [cheek] then excuses himself and walks to the apartment he shares with her upstairs. So, Jocie has an opportunity to talk with Aunt Madge privately—about Matthew.
Aunt Madge FP: As Aunt Madge watches her nephew walk to the back of the shop and then up the stairs to their apartment, she asks Jocie amiably. "So, Jocelyn, did you enjoy the park?"
Jocie: "Yes, it was beautiful and quite peaceful--with few people there. Matthew told me that's what he likes about it, too."
Aunt Madge FP: "Did he now?" She asks with surprise. "Sorry Dear, but my nephew doesn't talk much these days." Then Aunt Madge pauses and looks at Jocie with a slightly pained expression on her face.
Jocie: "Yes. Matthew seems sweet, but detached. Pardon me for saying this—since I've only just met you both—but he reminds me of my late father after he had some strokes. Dad didn't talk much either. And when he did, the affect, or the emotions of the words that he was using was missing. I see that in Matthew."
Aunt Madge FP: "Ah, that's quite perceptive of you my dear." Aunt Madge nods her head knowingly. Most people look at Matthew strangely, as if his hesitant way of speaking with others makes him an alien. But Aunt Madge believes that Jocelyn is different--not judging him.
Jocie: "But then, when Matthew and I were standing at the fountain, he seemed to cheer up a bit when he started to mention his wife. But, he didn't finish his thought and he returned to his bland way of speaking. I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry. It's just that Matthew seems sweet ... and a little lost—trying to find his way back from ... something."
Aunt Madge FP: "Yes, my Dear. You seem to have a compassionate heart. Most people don't understand Matthew's way of communicating since the accident." Aunt Madge leans closer to Jocie and whispers in a hushed voice so that the sound will not carry upstairs to where Matthew might hear her. "So he tends to be more withdrawn around people other than me. But the doctors say that he needs interaction with people if he is to recover some semblance of his old self."
Aunt Madge [(8) right] is almost tearing up. Jocie can tell that the strain of being her nephew's main human contact and primary caregiver has been trying for her.
Jocie: "Accident? Was Matthew injured in it?"
Aunt Madge FP: Slowly and continuing in a hushed voice, Aunt Madge says sadly. "Yes. ... And his wife their little boy were killed." Tears brim in her eyes for their family's sorrow.
Jocie: "Ohhhh!" Jocie gasps at such a tragic thing—a child dying and Matthew losing his wife as well.
Aunt Madge FP: "It was a rainy dark night and the roads were slick. Matthew was driving. The doctors think that part of Matthew's problem—in addition to the stroke that he had either before or after the car accident—is that somewhere in his mind, Matthew blames himself for the accident. And, Matthew can't bear to face the loss of his family. Though, no one thinks that it was his fault."
Jocie: Putting her hand on the diminuative lady's shoulder, Jocie [(9) right] says soothingly to Aunt Madge. "I'm so sorry for Matthew's loss and for your loss. It sounds like a terrible family tragedy."
The two women stand next to each other for a few moments as Jocie comforts Aunt Madge in a caring embrace.
Aunt Madge FP: Eventually, Aunt Madge regains her composure. "Jocelyn, thank you for understanding. I don't usually go into this story with new people. But, you seem to have a caring nature."
Jocie smiles caringly to Aunt Madge. Jocie wonders what, if any, help Matthew might need for him to be made whole again and live in the world. And Jocie thinks that her own disappointment pales in comparison to Matthew's grief.
To be continued with Chapter 4
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 0-3 References for Wattpad, October 19, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace
(1) "Lost & Found" story logo image representing Matthew is an artistic blurring of a portrait of the Spooks character Lucas North (as portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage) found at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Spooks/Spooks9/album/episode2/album/slides/2_201.html
(2) Image representing Jocelyn is a cropped and zoomed portrait of British actress Kate Beckinsale found at http://freshlookhairstyles.blogspot.com/2011/10/fresh-look-celebrity-kate-beckinsale.html
(3) Image representing Aunt Madge Drake is a cropped and brightened portrait of British actress Brenda Blethyn found at http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_ETHv0i8i0/Ti2-TA0VimI/AAAAAAAAask/iPSoRfv9KpI/s1600/Brenda%2BBlethyn4.jpg
(4) Image representing Matthew Drake is a Lucas North (as portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage) pix from Spooks series 7 or 8 on RANet found at www.richardarmitagenet.com
(5) Image of a fountain found at http://www.bnblist.com/oh/housley_house/The_fountain_in_our_English_Garden.jpg
(6) Image representing Jocelyn is a cropped portrait of British actress Kate Beckinsale found at http://freshlookhairstyles.blogspot.com/2011/10/fresh-look-celebrity-kate-beckinsale.html
(7) Image representing Matthew Drake is a Lucas North (as portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage) pix from Spooks series 7 or 8 on RANet found at www.richardarmitagenet.com
(8) Image representing Madge Drake (cropped and brightened) is a portrait of British actress Brenda Blethyn in character found at
http://i.digiguide.tv/up/1104/1304276400-798244-Vera-13033833640.jpg
(9) Image representing Jocelyn is a portrait of the British Actress Kate Beckinsale and was found at http://www.customity.com/storage/public/image/wallpaper/201007/485-kate-beckinsale-wallpaper-1920x1440-customity.jpg
Ch. 0 - 3 on Blog with embedded images and reference credits:
http://gratianads90.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/lost-found-ch-0-3-matthew-jocie-meet-121911-gratiana-lovelace-post-81/
Ch. 0-3 Images for Wattpad:
http://gratianads90.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/blostfoundch0-3wattpadimages_oct1914gratianalovelace.jpg