Audrey had sent Richard out to get a bottle of wine, thinking it would be the perfect end to the day to share a glass, lounging in front of the fire.
Opening the door she walked out onto the veranda to see if she could see him, before her thoughts turned to the events of the day. They had spent the morning on the slopes before enjoying several hot chocolates in one of Zermatt's many cafes. After that they had changed and dined in a romantic little restaurant a short walk from their cabin. It had been a perfect day she thought.
Richard shivered a little from the cold, perhaps he shouldn't have gone out in just his suit he thought to himself. The bar was only down the road so he decided a coat was not needed especially when Audrey was waiting to warm him up.
He spotted Audrey on the veranda of their cabin waiting for him, completely focused on her he didn't see the gentleman in front of him, bumping into him with a thud.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry" Richard reached for the old mans elbows to stop him falling over. Regaining his balance the man looked up "No, it was my fault, I wasn't looking where I was..."
All of a sudden the man seemed to become very anxious "Excuse me I must go"
As the man looked up Richard couldn't believe what he was seeing but before he could say anything the man was gone.
Richard called after him "Wait, hey wait" But it was too late the man had disappeared around the corner.
Audrey came down the steps of the cabin, she too had seen the mans face "Darling that man, he looked like..."
Richard nodded "My father...he looked like the photo of my father"
Audrey ran her hand down his arm, before reaching for his hand "It must be a coincidence"
"Yes, yes it must be, come on let's go inside, it's cold out here" he said pulling her up the steps and back inside.
Audrey noticed her husbands troubled expression "Darling? Are you alright?" Her words laced with concern
Richard sighed "It's just, he looked exactly like him"
"But your father died years ago, it can't be him darling"
"I know that Audrey, I'm not a fool" he snapped at her.
Regretting it instantly he was just about to apologise when she stormed out of the room into the kitchen.
He quickly went after her catching her hand and pulling her to a stop, "No wait, Audrey, darling, I'm sorry"
Audrey ripped her hand from his "Let go of me Richard" she went to the cabinets in the kitchen, reaching up to get a glass.
Richard knew he shouldn't of snapped at her, coming up behind her he put his hands on her hips, "Darling?" when she didn't acknowledge him he wrapped his arms around her waist bringing himself against her back and kissed her neck before resting his lips there "Darling...I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, please darling, please forgive me."
Audrey knew he hadn't meant to speak to her like that, she couldn't stay mad at him when he held her so tenderly "I forgive you darling".
Richard hugged her tighter, relieved she had forgiven him for his outburst. She placed her hands on his that were still around heR, rubbing his knuckles.
"Talk to me Richard, What are you thinking?"
He sighed "I know how this is going to sound, but something about that man is very familiar and I don't just mean his face, it's like I've met him before"
Audrey turned in his embrace wrapping her arms around his neck "Could you have met him when you were a boy, that would explain the familiar feeling you have, perhaps we should phone your mother, maybe she can shed some light on this"
Richard nodded "That's a good idea darling"
Audrey rested her forehead on his their breath mingled before Richard tentatively touched his lips to hers.
Ten minutes later and Richard was sat on the settee talking to his mother when Audrey brought their glasses of wine in, handing one to hI'm as she sat down next to him.
"Yes Mother...I will Mother...goodbye Mother" putting the phone down Richard took a sip of his wine.
"Well darling, what did she say" Audrey asked
"It turns out that my father had a younger brother called Syzmon, he disappeared shortly after my father died, mother never saw him again, no one knows what happened to him, apparently he was involved with some shady characters, one day he was there, the next he was gone".
Audrey was intrigued "So that man could very well be your long lost Uncle"
"It seems he could be, yes, but what's he doing in Switzerland and they way he looked at me, I'm sure he knew who I was."
"From the photos I've seen of your father you do have your similar features darling,perhaps he did recognise who you were. Do you want to see if we can find him, I'm sure people here know where he's staying"
Richard thought this was a long shot.
"But we don't even know if he's still using the same name"
"No but we know what he looks like, most of the people here come every year, they'll notice someone who's not a regular, if you want to find him it's worth a try"
"I don't even know what I'm going to say to him, what if he doesn't want to see me and what if he's still involved with these shady characters"
Audrey sighed "It's up to you darling, if you want to find him I'll help you"
"Thank you Audrey, I'll think about it tonight and make my mind up in the morning"
Getting up from the settee Audrey went to turn the radio on, a slow song she recognised was playing, Wonderful Tonight. Audrey wasn't that keen on modern pop music but Richard had introduced her to some artists he thought she would like and she found herself listening to the radio more often now.
"Dance with me" she said reaching her hands out to him.
Richard stood from the settee and grasped her hands placing one on his shoulder before wrapping his arm around her waist tacking her other hand and holding it against his chest, swaving to the soft music.
He rested his cheek against hers enjoying the feel of her in his arms "I love dancing with you darling, that night on the patio at the lodge, holding you in my arms that was the happiest I'd felt in a long time"
Audrey kissed his ear "It was the same for me darling, you were and still are my Prince Charming "
Richard chuckled "I love the other things we do now of course, but dancing with you like this, there is something so intimate about it"
Audrey let go of his hand and wrapped both her arms around his neck pulling him tighter against her, their cheeks still pressed together.
Richard now with both arms around her waist started to sing along to the song his breath tickling her ear.
"Mmm" Audrey snuggled closer to him
Richard loved how she felt pressed against him like this, they fit together perfectly, like they were made for each other.
Looking into the cabin from his vantage point across the road the man smiled at the couple dancing, they looked so happy. Seeing Bedrich as a grown man had been a shock, he wanted to stay and talk to the boy but his current circumstances meant it could put Bedrich and his wife in danger. Pulling his coat tighter around him, he turned and walked down the hill.