Hello guys here's the next part hope you will like it. Im so flattered with all the reviews i got, very you everyone.
Happyhereford- i am not an english speaker so my english is very limited but i am so lucky to have Funkyshaz, a friend, who helped me polish my grammar. One of my motive in writing is to improve my english, will hope so. Thank you for your nice comment.
Cj4eva- yes we will going to meet Charlie in this Chapter. Thanks for your comment and hope you will like this part.
PART 3
It was a beautiful sunny morning. The sky is clear- blue and the sea is calm. The beach wasn't really that busy. Only few people are around, some are sun bathing ,while relaxing and some are enjoying swimming.
Freshened up and dressed, Lucie ventured out for a walk at the seaside. Her mind is too occupied with Sarah's proposition that she is wandering around the beach without any sense of direction . Lucie was mesmerized and staring blankly at the sea with her mind not really there. Her thoughts were battling with decisions of whether she'll take the proposition or not.
Too lost in her thoughts, Lucie continue to walk, but then suddenly realized that she is nearing the wharf, in fact only few metres away from the wharf. Her gaze suddenly landed on the figure sitting on the bench-it's the same woman.
As usual, the woman is staring at the horizon, her eyes look like they are searching , and her face though frowning looks a little hopeful.
Lucie remembered her conversation with Jenny yesterday. She stared at the woman for a little while.
Oh..it's that lady again...Ms...ahmmn... yeah Ms. Buckton... ,Lucie thought trying to remember the woman's name.
Lucie had seen the old lady many times at the distance , but this is the first time she could have a proper look at her face. Looking by her appearance Lucie guessed that the lady could be in her late 60's or early 70's. Even with the visible graying hair, and few wrinkles on her forehead and underneath her eyebags, you could tell that the woman is still beautiful. Even at her age she still has her petite build, the almost perfect nose, cute lips, and most of all, as anyone could tell, the woman's great asset, is her piercing blue eyes.
She doesn't look bad at all. You could tell that this woman was once a stunner, even now it still is visible. If her lover disappeared, im sure she wouldn't have a hard time finding a new one. Judging by her looks she could easily get a new lover. Lucie thought to herself whilst continue staring at the old woman on the bench. She is puzzled as to why this beautiful woman never found another love after all these years. Why hope for someone who was obviously not coming back... Maybe they are right..maybe she is quite not right in the head... Lucie feels pity for the old lady.
Oblivious to Lucie, the woman had noticed that she was being looked at. The woman on the bench finally returned the gaze and was now looking intently at Lucie's eyes. When Lucie realized that she had been caught by the woman staring, she had no choice but to smile back, in order to save herself from embarrassment. She doesn't want to appear to be nosey.
The woman is trying to break a smile back to Lucie but at the same time she also threw her a questioning look.
Lucie has got no choice now but to go over and say hi so she wouldn't look weird.
"Hi there! My name is Lucie, Im just visiting summerbay."
The woman still looking intently at Lucie - hesitated for a moment, "H- hi im...im Charlotte ...Charlotte Buckton" extending her hand for handshake whilst studying Lucie's face... , "Is there anything I can help you with?"
" You seem to look a bit lost? Are you looking for a particular place? I can give you direction's if you need", the woman's voice sounded a little bit concerned.
"Oh no. thank you! I mean i'm not really lost...actually I was just walking around enjoying the beach side. This place is just beautiful, its breathe probably my mind was kinda lost out there. I saw you here and i decided to say hi!..."
" Are you from around here or are you visiting too?". Lucie sounding innocent even though she knew from Jenny that Ms. Buckton is one of the locals.
"No, no , i'm from here. I used to be the Senior constable here and of course now am retired...That's why when I saw you look a bit distressed before I thought you were lost and needed help. I guess I still have that sense of urgency to help people as it used to be my job".
Lucie, was surprised to hear that the woman used to be in-charge of the town. With the woman's fragile look no one would guess she used to be a police officer and not just merely a police officer but a senior police officer.
"Aww! it's an honour to meet the senior constable of this lovely town". Lucie smiled to the older woman.
"Oh used to be but not anymore." the woman replied with a friendly smile to Lucie.
"Oh well the more I am honoured to meet the person responsible for keeping this place safe for many years." Lucie replied back with another friendly smile, feeling a little guilty inside for thinking before that the woman could be a little crazy in the head. She realized how wrong she was to think like that and that the woman in front of her seem to be a friendly and respectable person.
Growing a bit more intrigued about the story of the woman, Lucie seized the opportunity to continue the conversation hoping to get to know more about Charlotte Buckton. For some reason Lucie find this woman intriguing and mysterious. Lucie as an experienced journalist wouldn't find it hard to keep the conversation going and interesting at the same time. She wanted to know more.
"So, senior constable have you lived here all your life?" Lucie asked trying to sound casual and friendly. Staring at the older woman who glanced at her for a moment and then back at the sea.
"I am retired now, so just call me by my name Charlotte... or Charlie for short."
Lucie nodded to the woman's request. "OK".
"I wasn't born here but i lived here for 42 years. I can say i lived here most of my life."
The woman paused for a moment still looking out at the sea. Lucie decided to say something in order to break the silence.
"You must love the place so much that you decided to stay here for good?.. Well I wouldn't blame you this place is amazing. I myself would love to live in a place like this"...
The woman's face frowned and her voice became serious. "Yes you can say that... This is a very special place for me, indeed. I moved here from the city when i was 29 and then i never looked back since... The best part of my life happened here , and all the places here hold the best happiest memories I have ever had. That's the reason I couldn't leave this place"..."the woman sounded emotional.
Lucie was listening intently but quietly for a moment. She doesn't know how to react and what to say to the woman's somewhat emotional statement. It seems to be a sensitive matter that Lucie decided to just gave the old woman a look of sympathy and remain quiet for a while.
The long silence was broken when the woman started to talk again...she looked at Lucie for few minutes ….
"How about you Lucie...Lucie...? the woman are trying to get Lucie's surname.
"It's Smith, Lucie Smith", Lucie interrupted immediately.
"OK. How about you Lucie Smith? ,what brings you here in Summer bay?
"It's a long story, and since its going to be a long story telling I guess it would wise to get something to drink...ahhmmnn would you like to have some coffee with me in the diner? I was kinda planning to go there and get some coffee, we could continue our conversation there if you want?".. Lucie was hoping that the woman would agree with her invitation and that they could continue their is somewhat warmed to Lucie's friendly nature but hesitated to go.
"I guess I better just stay in here, we could continue our conversation next time."
Lucie was a little disappointed that the woman refused to leave the wharf.
"Ok. How about if I get you some coffee from the diner I will come back and hang around with you here for a while. Thats if you don't mind. I mean I don't have anything to do after this".
The woman thought for a moment and then nodded to Lucie.
"OK. I think its a kind offer that I can't refuse and you seem to be a nice person."
With that Lucie smiled back, happy that the woman agreed to her offer.