"Lost & Found" (Revised for W...

Da GratianaLovelace

11.3K 332 350

At 30, Jocelyn feels that her life is missing something--herself. So after dumping her controlling boyfriend... Altro

"Lost & Found" (Revised), an original story by Gratiana Lovelace, 2014
Ch. 0 Prologue to Ch. 3: Matthew & Jocie Meet
Ch. 4: Jocie has Lunch with Matthew and Aunt Madge
Ch. 5: Jocie Escorts Matthew to his Speech Therapy Appointment,
Ch. 7 (PG): More than a Feeling
Ch. 8 (PG-13, S): A Love Rekindled
Ch. 9 (PG-13): Through Others' Eyes
Ch. 10 (PG-13): Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Ch. 11 (PG-13, S): A Turning Point for Jocelyn and Matthew
Ch. 12 (PG-13, S, D): Love's Joys and Complications
Ch. 13 (PG-13, D): Fallout
Ch. 14 (PG-13): Separation Brings New Beginnings
Ch. 15 (PG-13): The December Holidays Bring Second Chances
Ch. 16 (PG-13, S): Jocelyn and Matthew Talk
Ch. 17 (PG-13): Wedding Planning & Such, Part 1
Ch. 18 (PG-13, D): Matthew Relives the Accident
Ch. 19 (PG-13): Wedding Planning & Such, Part 2
Ch. 20 (PG-13): Double Wedding
Ch. 21 (PG-13, S): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Nights of Love and Christmas Eve Joy
Ch. 22 (PG-13): Christmas Day Gifts of Love
Ch. 23 End (PG-13, D): Because you loved me

Ch. 6: Getting to Know Each Other Better

535 19 17
Da GratianaLovelace

“Lost & Found” (Revised), Ch. 6:  Getting to Know Each Other Better, October 27, 2014  Gratiana Lovelace

(An original fiction copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace;  all rights reserved)

[(1) top right, story logo]

[I will illustrate my story using my dream cast of --Richard Armitage for Matthew Drake, Kate Beckinsale for Jocelyn Burrows, Brenda Blethyn for Aunt Madge Drake, Michael Crawford for Michael Ferguson, Gina McKee for Marcia Glass, and others.]

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.

Recap from the previous installment:  After Matthew spends a fruitful half hour in speech therapy with Jocelyn by his side, his therapist Marcia Glass is impressed with both his improvement and his new friend Jocelyn.  Part of Matthew’s greater energy and interaction also stems from him being out of his calming medicine and missing his morning and midday doses.  Yet he does not seem anxious or frustrated with his deficits, so Marcia elects to have him continue taking less medication for the following week--only the before bed time dose--to see how he manages.  And Jocie and Matthew’s Friday August, 13th is still not done.

 

“Lost and Found”(Revised), Ch. 6:  Getting to Know Each Other Better 

It is a quiet ride back to the Flower Shop for Matthew and Jocie.  He has done more talking today than he has in the last week combined—as alluded to by his speech therapist, Marcia Glass.  So, Matthew is feeling somewhat tired—emotionally and mentally—from the challenge of maintaining a conversation.  As they walk into the flower shop, they are greeted warmly by Aunt Madge.  And Michael the bartender is also there. Hmmm.

Aunt Madge:  “Hello Matthew and Jocelyn.  Did you have a nice time with Marcia today?”

Matthew:  “Yes, Marcia was very interested in Jocelyn and she let us bring the Reader’s Digest home.”  Matthew holds up the magazine for his Aunt Madge to see.

Jocie:  “Ms. Glass seems very nice, Matthew.”  Jocie smiles warmly at him [(2) right]. 

Michael Brtndr:  “See Madge.  I told you that the boy would be alrrright with Jocelyn—and vice verrrsa.”  He says under his breath.

Jocie’s ears perk up at that last remark.  She knows that people who have had strokes or other head trauma—like her father had—can have affective and cognitive challenges and be frustrated by that and sometimes act out aggressively.  And she gathered that Matthew is on medication to calm him for that very reason--though, he had run out of medication last night.  Yet, Matthew—despite his bland way of communicating and not liking busy people filled places—seems to not be frustrated by his situation when he is around her.  Though Jocie is not overly fond of medicating people’s symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes, Jocie accepts that Matthew’s medication is designed to help him manage anxiety.  And Matthew seems to be doing that.  So with him now taking fewer doses per day--as any residual effects of the more frequent doses of the medication leave his body--Jocie realizes that possibly his moods and emotions could change quickly should he become anxious or frustrated.  So, Jocie resolves to be a bit more mindful of that with Matthew, just in case—since he is such a tall and muscular man who could easily over power her, though he would not mean to.

Aunt Madge: “Yes, thank you for helping out today Jocelyn.  You’ve made a wonderful difference for Matthew.” [(3) right] She means that sincerely.

Matthew:  “Yes, Jocelyn.  Thank you for today.”  He says politely.

Jocie:  “Well, thank you, too, Matthew.”

Michael Brtndr:  Michael gently nudges Madge with his elbow.  “So, ask herrr, Madge.”  Madge shakes her head no.

Jocie:  “Ask me what?”   Jocie curiously looks first at Michael and then at Aunt Madge.

Michael Brtndr:  “I want to take Madge out for dinnerrr tonight, like old times.  But she doesn’t want to leave Matthew alone.”

Jocie:  “Oh!   Well, Matthew and I have yet to do the Times Crossword Puzzle and read the Reader’s Digest.  Maybe he and I can have dinner in my hotel room and do those things.  Then, we can meet you in the lobby at a prearranged time for you to pick him up.”

Aunt Madge:  “I don’t know.”   Madge hesitates as she says haltingly.  “That’s asking a lot of you, Jocelyn.”

Jocie:  “Not really, I’m all alone here.  So, I’ve appreciated your kindness and your being welcoming to me.  And, I’m enjoying getting to know Matthew.”   Jocie smiles warmly up at Matthew.

Matthew:  “I’m enjoying getting to know you, too, Jocelyn.”   Matthew still says rather blandly [(4) right].  But Matthew liking anything other than the park--especially, him liking another person--is progress.

Michael Brtndr:  “See?” Michael looks plaintively at Madge.

Aunt Madge:  “Alright.  It’s 4:00pm now.  I’ll drop Matthew off with you at your hotel lobby around 5:30pm.  Then, we’ll collect him back from you around 10:00pm in the lobby.”

Jocie:  “That works for me.  It gives me time to go back to my hotel room and shower—and get the dust of traveling off of me—before Matthew arrives for dinner.”

Matthew:  “You’re leaving Jocelyn?”   He looks a little uncertain--almost sad.

Jocie:  Jocie replies softly, in a soothing voice.  “Yes, Matthew, just so I can go to my hotel room and shower and change clothes for our dinner.  But, your Aunt Madge will bring you to me around 5:30pm and we’ll have dinner together and do the crossword puzzle.  Is that okay by you?”   She smiles brightly at Matthew using American idiomatic phrasing.

Matthew:  “Alright.  See you later.”   He holds out his hand and Jocelyn shakes it—this time without shocking each other because of static electricity.

Jocie:  “See you later.”

So, Jocie gives Madge her hotel information—in addition to her cell phone information that she already has.  Then Jocelyn leaves the flower shop and walks to her hotel down the block.

***

Jocie gratefully takes a shower once she gets back to her hotel room.  Then she dries her shoulder length brown hair and curls it slightly and she redoes her makeup.  Since she and Matthew plan to eat in her room, she doesn’t get dressed up.  Instead, she puts on a casual light blue soft weave jeans dress with a scoop neckline.   Jocie has a pleasingly curvy womanly figure for her five foot four inch frame. But she dresses demurely, not provocatively.   At 5:30pm she waits in her hotel lobby to receive Matthew from his Aunt.

Jocie:  Seeing Madge, Matthew and Michael walk in the lobby door, she waves her hand in greeting them. “Hi everyone.”  Then she pauses.   “You know.  I just realized that your names all start with the same initial—M.  Is that a strange coincidence, or what?”  Jocie looks at them quizzically bemused [(5) right]. 

Matthew:  “Or what?” 

Madge, Michael, & Jocie:   “Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”  They all laugh--except Matthew, who wasn’t trying to be funny.

Aunt Madge:  “Thanks again, Jocelyn Dear, for having Matthew for dinner.  It will give Michael and I a chance to catch up.”

Michael (Madge’s boyfriend):  “Yes!”  Michael sighs.  “We haven’t had a moment to ourrrselves forrr a long time.”  Of course, Michael [(6) left]  instantly regrets saying this and it shows on his face.

Matthew:  “I’m sorry, that’s my fault.”  Matthew looks a little sad [(7) right]. 

Aunt Madge:  “No, no,  Matthew Dear.  Don’t ever think that.  We love you.  We’re just glad that you’ve made a new friend in Jocelyn.”

Jocie:  Jocie smiles at  Aunt Madge supportively.  “Yes, and I’m glad to make new friends in all of you.”   Taking Matthew’s arm, Jocie compliments him.  “You look all spiffed up in your pressed shirt and trousers.”

Matthew:  “Aunt Madge ironed them for me while I took a shower.  Thank you, Aunt Madge.”

Aunt Madge:  “My pleasure Matthew, Dear.  Now you two have a good time tonight and we’ll come back for you about 10:00pm, Matthew Dear.”

Jocie:  “That’s great!  You also have a good time.  See you later.”  She waves goodbye to Aunt Madge and Michael as she and Matthew walk toward the elevators.  “I see you brought the Reader’s Digest with you, good.  And I have the Times Crossword Puzzle in my room.  So we have some choice in our activities tonight.”

***

After a short elevator ride to her floor, Jocie and Matthew enter her hotel room.  It is a little larger than most inexpensive hotel rooms with a couch sitting area by the tv and gas fireplace—with a mini bar off to one side--and a small work and dining table.    The sleeping side of the room has one double bed.  The room is spacious for one person, but it is by no means a suite.

Jocie:  Jocie opens her arms wide as she admits Matthew to her hotel room. “Well, here we are!  Sorry, it isn’t much, but at least we have the basics.  Why don’t we look at the room service menu and order our dinners?  Then we can decide what we want to do.”

Matthew:  “Alright.”

Jocie and Matthew phone in their dinner orders to room service, expecting them to arrive around 6:15pm.  So, in the meantime, they plop on the couch to read the Reader’s Digest.

Jocie:  “So, have you had a chance to read through any more of the Reader’s Digest issue that we picked up at Marcia’s office today?”

Matthew:  “A little.”  He admits sheepishly.  Actually, he has read through much of it--well, the articles that most interested him.  He skimmed the rest of the articles, to read them later.

Jocie:  “Matthew, why don’t you read me some of the funny parts, I love the jokes.  And you have a nice voice.”

Matthew:  “Alright, Jocelyn.  Thank you for liking my voice.”  He nods appreciatively. 

Matthew does have a nice voice--he used to, anyway.  It was his profession.  But with the accident, the stroke, and the medication, his mind and his voice have been halting--not as smooth as he once was.  That is why he sees the speech therapist, Marcia Glass.  Or that is what Matthew’s Aunt Madge told him--to improve his speech.

The Reader’s Digest articles that don’t fill up a page tend to have amusing stories or jokes printed at the bottom of the page.  And, of course, there is always the “Humor in Uniform” and  the “Day in the Life” sections that have humor in them, too.  While Matthew reads, Jocie listens and she is getting a bit sleepy as she sits next to Matthew on the couch.  What with traveling and jet lag and then all of their walking today in the fresh air, Jocie is rather tired.  And, she closes her eyes and dozes off. 

But, Jocie wakes up when room service knocks on her door with their dinners.  Jocie and Matthew eat their dinners while also trying to complete the Times Crossword Puzzle at the small dining and work table.  They do a pretty good job of completing it working together on it.  Then after dinner, they return to the couch for more Reader’s Digest stories and jokes that Matthew reads out loud.  Of course, Jocie falls asleep again--and this time, she leans on Matthew while she is sleeping.  Matthew continues reading the jokes or funny sections out loud, but softly, until he gets to the last page in the issue.  Then, Matthew turns to look at Jocelyn, whom he has absentmindedly put his arm around as she sleeps nestled into the crook of his arm against his chest.  It is now about 8:00pm.

Matthew:  Looking sweetly at Jocelyn, Matthew leans down and whispers softly to her in his deep voice--noticing the pleasing cocoanut fragrance of her freshly washed hair, that momentarily distracts him.   “Jocelyn, Jocelyn.  You fell asleep again.” [(8) right] 

Jocie:  Very sleepily, Jocie stretches and yawns tiredly--inadvertently clinging to Matthew as she leans against him on the couch.  “Hhhhh!  I’m so sorry Matthew.  It’s the jet lag and we did a lot of walking today in the fresh air.  That always makes me sleepy.”

Matthew:  “Well, it’s only 8:00pm and Aunt Madge isn’t going to pick me up until 10:00pm.  Did you want to nap in bed until she arrives?  Your back might be more comfortable.”

Jocie:  “I think you’re right Matthew.  I’m sorry that I’m so sleepy.  I’m not being a very good hostess.  You could turn on the tv and watch a movie in the meantime.”  Jocie thinks nothing of her planning to take a nap in the presence of Matthew.  He has proved himself to be a gentleman and she trusts him completely.  Also, Jocie has seen the way that Aunt Madge treats Matthew--as if he were a man-child.  And that does influence her reasoning a bit.

Matthew:  “Okay by me.” Matthew smiles in using one of Jocie’s American idioms that he has picked up while being around her.

As Jocie stands so does Matthew.  But she is so tired that she is woozy on her feet.  So, Matthew instinctively picks Jocie up in his arms, walks over to the bed, and he lays her gently down on the left side of the bed and takes her shoes off for her.

Jocie:  And Jocie half way to slumbering again, sleepily sighs.  “Thanks, Matthew.”

Matthew:  “You’re welcome, Jocelyn.”  Matthew replies warmly as he smiles at her.  Though Jocie is too sleepy to notice the change in Matthew’s slightly husky tone of voice--let alone his smile.

Matthew covers Jocelyn with the couch throw blanket as she faces in toward the other side of the bed and falls asleep with her back to him.  Then impulsively, Matthew kicks off his shoes and sits on the other side of the bed, also covering part of himself with the throw blanket.  Matthew likes being with Jocelyn--and he likes being near Jocelyn.  He feels drawn to her sweetness--and the fact that she does not become impatient with his reticent way of speaking and interacting.  She accepts him as he is. And Matthew likes that about her.

Matthew turns on the tv and he watches a comedy movie playing softly in the background--it was the channel on the tv when he turned it on—keeping the volume low being considerate so as not to disturb the sleeping Jocelyn.  But soon Matthew loses interest in the movie and he turns off the tv and he lays down further in the bed to rest, and he closes his eyes—then he falls asleep as well.  All of Matthew’s conversing with Jocelyn and his speech therapist today has tired him out.  So, Jocie and Matthew sleep soundly on the bed under the blanket throw.  As they both move in their sleep, they eventually end up lying in each others’ arms—chastely and fully clothed.

***                                                                                                                                           

Though Jocie and Matthew had planned to meet Aunt Madge in the hotel lobby at 10:00pm so that Madge can take him home, they sleep right through it.  So, about 10:10pm, Jocie’s hotel room gets a call and she sleepily answers the call by leaning over the sleeping Matthew to pick up the phone on the bedside table.

Jocie on phone:  “Hhhh!  Hello?”  She says with a yawn.

Aunt Madge on phone:  “Jocelyn Dear, we’re waiting down in the lobby to pick up Matthew.”

Jocie on phone:  “Ooh! I’m so sorry Aunt Madge, we both fell asleep—me from jet lag and all the walking and Matthew from all the talking he did.  Ha ha ha!”  Jocie winces sheepily. “We’ll be down in about five minutes.  Did you have a nice date with Michael?”

Aunt Madge on phone:  “Yes, Dear.”  Madge blushes because it was a date, even though they had not told Jocelyn or Matthew that it was a date.  “We’ll see you in a few minutes.” Aunt Madge says brightly.

Jocie hangs up the phone in its cradle and her reaching over Matthew wakes him up.  Matthew’s eyes flutter open, seeing and feeling Jocie.  The slight weight of her upon his chest--almost in an embrace--is comforting to him.

Matthew:  “Hello.  Hhhhhh!”   Matthew yawns sleepily to Jocie.  “I fell asleep.”  He sheepishly shrugs his shoulders while still lying down next to her. 

Matthew rubs Jocelyn’s back and smiles shyly at her.  It has been so long since he held a women in his arms or since he felt the caring sympathy that he feels from Jocelyn.  His Aunt Madge is kind, but she is related to him--so, she is obligated to be kind to him.  Or at least, Matthew feels that sometimes Aunt Madge seems overwhelmed and burdened by him--though she doesn’t say so.  But Jocelyn’s manner is carefree and relaxed.  He likes that about her.

Jocie:  “I did, too.  So, we’re a real pair.  Your Aunt Madge just called, she and Michael are waiting in the lobby to pick you up.  So, let’s put on our shoes and head down there.  Hhhh!”   She yawns again.

Matthew:  “Uh huh.”   Matthew says sleepily as he continues to gaze at the lovely Jocelyn.  Her long hair hangs down on either side of her face, framing it--the ends of her hair slightly touching his shirt covered shoulders. “Hmmmm.” Matthew moans as some long forgotten feeling struggles to emerge from the darkened corners of his shuttered heart.

Then, as Jocie moves back from reaching over Matthew to lay the wireless phone in its cradle, his arms go around her in a gentle embrace.  Jocie looks at Matthew quizzically because he does not usually have any expression of feeling when he speaks, let alone show emotions.  And Matthew’s having his arms around Jocie is definitely showing emotion, she thinks.  Matthew gazes deeply into Jocelyn’s chocolaty brown eyes--getting lost within them as he pulls her closer to him.   And for a moment, Jocie gazes into Matthew’s clear blue eyes, mesmerized by his loving look.  Their faces move slowly toward each other.  

Then  a small voice of reason reminds Jocie that she should remember that Matthew is still healing.  And that she should probably not be in this position with him—lying partially over him in the bed with his arms around her.  So, Jocie takes the lead to try to interrupt what Matthew might be intending to do consciously or subconsciously--she thinks that he might kiss her.

Jocie:  “Matthew, thank you for a lovely evening.”  Then Jocie gives him a quick kiss on his now stubbly cheek.

Matthew:  Smiling shyly, unsure if he would have kissed her on her lips--but glad that she kissed him a little--Matthew parrots back what Jocelyn just said and did.  And Matthew lingeringly kisses Jocelyn’s softly smooth cheek.  “Jocelyn, thank you for a lovely evening.”

Matthew and Jocelyn smile warmly at each other--each imprinted with the other’s kiss upon their cheek.  Then they hear the old fashioned mechanical alarm clock Jocelyn brought with her, sound a click to the next quarter hour as it sits on her nightstand.  It is 10:15pm, late, and Matthew must return home.   So with the spell of  the moment broken, they rise from the bed, put their shoes on and then walk down to the hotel lobby to the waiting Aunt Madge and Michael.

***

Holding hands as they walk into the hotel lobby, Jocie and Matthew are still yawning and looking a bit wrinkled and sleepy from laying in bed together with their clothes on.  On the other hand, Aunt Madge and Michael Ferguson have bright and happy expressions on their faces.  So Jocie guesses that their evening went swimmingly--not the least of which is because, Aunt Madge is all dolled up for the evening  [(9) right]--quite the contrast from the slightly frazzled and matronly looking flower shop proprietor whom Jocie first met this morning.   And Madge’s attractiveness is something which her date Michael clearly appreciates as he gently rests his arm around her waist.

Jocie:  Jocie waves apologetically.  “Hi Aunt Madge and Michael.  We’re so sorry about falling asleep and not being down here on time.  We hope that you haven’t been waiting long.”  Jocie is alsways concerned with politeness and consideration.

Aunt Madge:  “No, we’re fine, Jocelyn Dear.”  Aunt Madge smiles politely, not mentioning Jocelyn’s and Matthew’s  wrinkled clothes--but she wonders.  Then Aunt Madge asks while caringly patting her nephew Matthew’s arm.  “Matthew, did you have a nice time?”   Although Matthew is a grown man of forty, his physical injuries and slow recovery from his stroke has caused his aunt to think of him, and to treat him like, a child.

Matthew:  “Yes, we did.”  Then Matthew turns to Jocie and smiles broadly [(10) right].

Their eyes widening, Jocie, Aunt Madge, and Michael all stare at Matthew with open mouths--because they have not seen Matthew really smile in a very long time. And they have told Jocie that.

Jocie:  Composing herself quickly so as not to make Matthew feel self conscious, Jocie asks politely.  “And Aunt Madge and Michael, did you have a nice evening?”

Michael:  “Verrry.”  Michael smiles warmly and puts his arm around the petite Madge’s shoulders--causing her to blush, which this time, Jocie can see.

Then, Matthew mirrors what Michael just did, by now putting his arm around Jocelyn’s shoulders.  Jocie and the others realize that Matthew is simply parroting what he sees.  But, Matthew has seen this friendly and romantic behavior in others since his accident, and he did not do it then.  It is different now because he has a woman friend—Jocelyn—for whom he can act out those behaviors and those feelings with.  However, Jocie knows that Matthew is still dealing with regaining his health, and so she knows that all they can be is friends for now.  But a little part of Jocie’s heart tugs a in regret for needing to distance herself from Matthew--this kind man whom she has grown fond of.

Jocie:  Jocie pats Matthew’s chest as she turns to face him—thereby extricating herself from his embrace..  “Well, I think we all better get to bed before we fall asleep in the lobby.”  Madge, Michael, and Jocie chuckle.

Matthew:  Matthew looks at Jocelyn and asks earnestly.  “Will you come over to the flower shop tomorrow?  We could go to another park as I told Marcia.”

Jocie:  Jocie doesn’t even question her response--old habits of acquiescing to others is difficult to break. “If you like, Matthew.  I know you said you have your job in the morning.  So, maybe I can come over around 10:30am and we can also do some site seeing before we have a bite of lunch.” Jocie asks Matthew with a smile [(11) right].  

Matthew:  Matthew smiles broadly with Jocie agreeing to see him again tomorrow.  “Yes, and we have to do the new Times Crossword Puzzle and get a new Reader’s Digest.”  He turns to his Aunt Madge and Michael to explain.  “We finished reading the one we have.”

Jocie:  “Of course, we can pick those up when we’re out tomorrow, Matthew.”  Jocie nods agreeably.

Aunt Madge suddenly feels a bit wary about Matthew spending so much time with Jocelyn--but she doesn’t know why.  Jocelyn seems like a very nice girl.  It’s just that Aunt Madge still thinks of her nephew Matthew as being ill and not able to do for himself.  Aunt Madge asks her cautiously.

Aunt Madge:   “Are you sure, Jocelyn Dear?  We don’t want to monopolize your time.”  Aunt Madge is trying to give Jocelyn a gracious way of bowing out, should she wish to change her mind.

Jocie:  Not picking up on Aunt Madge’s rather subtle signals, Jocie assures her.  “Oh, I’m good.  Like I said, I don’t have to start looking for a job in earnest until next week.  Well, good night everyone.”   Jocie waves goodbye and turns toward the elevator. 

Matthew turns and follows Jocelyn.  In his fatigued mind, she is the person he wants to be with at the moment.

Michael:  “Uh Matthew?”  Michael Ferguson raises his eyebrow.

And then Jocie turns back and she realizes that Matthew is following her and she stops.  Aunt Madge walks toward Matthew and gently clasps his arm, while saying gently.

Aunt Madge:  “Matthew Dear,… you have to come home with us now.”

Walking one step toward Matthew, Jocie puts her hand on his chest and they gaze at each other for a moment.  Aunt Madge and Michael exchange quizzical glances.  Then Jocie suggests softly with a caring smile. 

Jocie:  “I will see you tomorrow morning, Matthew.  Have a good night’s sleep.”

Matthew:  “Have a good night’s sleep, Jocelyn.”  Matthew replies to Jocelyn in his deeply timberous baritone voice.   Then he leans down and kisses her on her cheek—a goodnight kiss.  Slowly, Matthew stands upright, then he  leaves for home with his Aunt Madge and Michael--turning his head once to look over his shoulder at Jocelyn still standing in the lobby.

After Matthew turns back and heads out the hotel lobby entrance, Jocie puts her hand to the cheek that Matthew just kissed.  Just now, Matthew seemed like any normal kind and gentlemanly man.  But she has only known him for not quite one day.  And she has to remember that he is still trying to get well.  But he seemed well to her just now.  However Jocie does not want to mistake Matthew responding to her so sweetly just now, for him feeling something more for her.  And Jocie’s doubts surface about her own ability to find and to receive the love and affection that she  would like to have in a loving relationship.  Her former boyfriend had planted seeds of doubt in her about herself--as a means of controlling her.  

With a failed relationship behind her, Jocie wonders how Matthew could feel anything but friendship for her?  And Jocie realizes that she will need to have a conversation with Matthew’s speech therapist Marcia Glass before she sees Matthew tomorrow.  But, for now, it has been a long and eventful day.  So Jocie gratefully goes back up to her hotel room, changes into her nightgown, and she falls fast asleep--with a certain tall, dark, and handsome kind man entering her dreams.

And in his bedroom in his Aunt Madge’s apartment above her flower shop, Matthew smiles while lying in bed as he thinks about meeting and being with Jocelyn today.  She is pretty, she is nice, she is kind, and she doesn’t treat him as if he were recovering his health.  She doesn’t remind him that he is less than he was--as his Aunt Madge unconsciously does from time to time.  Jocelyn accepts him as he is--perhaps as the man that he hopes to return to being. 

The sadness of Matthew losing his wife and his son in the tragic car accident two years ago will never leave him.  He will always mourn their loss.  But something else is stirring within Matthew now.  He can’t quite name his feelings as he drifts off to sleep--his mind is becoming foggy due to his bedtime calming medicine that he took five minutes ago.  But having the carefree and kind Jocelyn in his life gives Matthew a wish to look forward to tomorrow--when he will see Jocelyn again.  And looking to the future is not something that he has done for a very long time.  What Matthew is feeling, is hope.

To be continued with Chapter 7

“Lost & Found” (Revised), Ch. 6 References for Wattpad, Oct. 27, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace 

1)   “Lost & Found” title graphic 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_199.html

2)  Image representing Jocelyn is of the British actress Kate Beckinsale http://www.moviespad.com/photos/kate-beckinsale-image-a8481.jpg

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 is of Lucas North (portrayed by Richard Armitage) from Spooks series 7, episode 5 (pix 218) was found at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Spooks/album/ep5/slides/5_218.html

5)  Image representing Jocelyn looking bemused is a portrait of the British actress Kate Beckinsale and was found at http://www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/Female_Celebrity/Kate_Beckinsale/Kate-Beckinsale-Brown-Hair-Headshot-1-1920x1200.jpg

6)  Image representing Michael, Madge’s boyfriend, is a portrait of the British actor Michael Crawford and was found at http://crowdfusion.myspacecdn.com/media/michael-crawford-interview-1-part-i-621x322.jpg

7)  Image representing Matthew is a portrait of Lucas North (as portrayed by Richard Armitage) looking sad in Spooks series 7, episode 8 (pix 28) http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Spooks/album/ep8/slides/8_28.html

8)  Image representing Matthew is of Lucas North (portrayed by Richard Armitage) from Spooks series 7 or 8 on RANet  and was found at www.richardarmitagenet.com

9)  Image representing Madge, cropped from original portrait of British actress Brenda Blethyn found at http://image.qpicture.com/image/b/artist-brenda-blethyn/brenda-blethyn-115231.jpg

10)  Image representing Matthew is of Lucas North (portrayed by Richard Armitage) from Spooks series 7, episode2 pix 42

http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Spooks/album/ep2/slides/cap042.html

11)  Image representing Jocelyn smiling is a portrait of the British actress Kate Beckinsale and was found at  http://www.320x480.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kate-beckinsale-0028.jpg

“Lost & Found” (Revised), Ch. 6  Images for Wattpad, Oct. 27, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace

http://gratianads90.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/blostfoundch6wattpadimages_oct2714gratianalovelace.jpg

Continua a leggere

Ti piacerà anche

14 4 10
Tatum had lost her father a year ago and just when everything seems to be going right in her life she gets kidnapped. Reedan, her best friend, sets o...
222 26 17
Reece looses both his parent to a suicidal-murder and his boyfriend ditches him. he moves in with his Aunt. he becomes friends with the neighbor. Je...
10.7K 409 74
Sebastian's life was filled with love and happiness when he found his soul mate. However, his world turned upside down when she passed away due to ca...
4.9K 162 36
"What I was suppose to do? You left me, you went to Arizona." I shout at him as he storms away. "Wait for me." He shouts and I g...