Love and Love again
By: Robin
Chapter 1
Paul and Lexie drew apart from their kiss. They
continued to grasp each others hands and look deeply
into each others eyes.
"Lexie", Paul whispered, "Oh Lexie."
It was all he had wanted since he had first set eyes
on her. When he had arrived at the big house and was
introduced to his brother's wife. He knew that he
wanted her straight away but never dared to dream that
it might happen. They had become close quickly.
Lexie had spent many hours with him near the activity
centre. She rarely spoke of Archie and sometimes Paul
allowed himself to imagine that she was his wife not
Archie's. Maybe she was thinking the same thing
sometimes. It was his arms she leapt into when they
won that football game, not Archie's. He'd held her
tight no wanting to let go until Archie came up to
them and Lexie pulled free of his grasp. But then,
after all that, she left with Archie. Left Paul at
Glenbogle with just his memories and his imagination.
And it wasn't long before Paul began to imagine. He
saw her everywhere. She was just as she had always
been, friendly, helpful and caring as well as in love
with Archie. He told this image time after time that
he loved her and the image turned him down and told
him she loved Archie. And then out of the blue she
turns up. It was obvious there had been tensions
between her and Archie. Paul didn't want to ask what
had happened. It wasn't his place. But he picked up
enough of what had happened to be able to find her on
the hillside when she ran off. He could see her
sitting alone up on the hillside and it took a lot of
resolve not to rush over to her, take her in his arms
and tell her that he loved her, whatever happened with
Archie. Instead he talked to her, reassured her of
his presence. Then they were caught in the storm.
Paul was soaked to the bone but he didn't mind. He
had a few minutes alone with Lexie to make up for it.
And it wasn't just a few minutes alone. As Lexie
removed his sodden jumper and t-shirt he allowed
himself to dream. He held Lexie close against his
bare chest and wished that she would love him.
He had spent the next few days remembering this
moment, wondering what might have happened if Isobel
hadn't discovered them. That was what he was dreaming
of when she walked down the stairs in that dress. The
dress that made her look like an angel. And to go
with the dress a secret smile saved specially for him.
He could see so much in that smile. So much promise
but he daren't let himself believe it. That was until
he saw her on that bridge. Then he realised he had a
chance. A chance that he took readily and was
rewarded by a gentle but passionate kiss. All that he
had ever wanted.
"Lexie, I think I'm falling in love with you."
"Don't Paul. Don't say that."
"But it's true!"
"I know. I feel it too."
She kissed him gently again then led him over the
bridge and into the woods beyond. The party continued
in the background as Paul and Lexie gently made love
under the trees.