The Love Story Part 13 - The New Woman
As the train weaves its way through the vast green, undulating
hills of Kent, I feel a mild flurry of anticipation. He has planned two days of
adventure for us and after all of this time, I am finally granted a glimpse into
his brave new world; his new apartment with recently acquired furniture and décor,
the print of mine of our Tongariro Crossing that he had framed, his new sporty car,
his local shops and pubs and the walking trails he takes each day.
Anxiety reeks.
He opens the door with cautious hesitation, and I see that he is
nervous.
“It’s not as nice as yours”. He says
We spend the morning wandering through the historical Knole, and its
surroundings, an ancient woodland home to fallow and silka deer. Then a stroll
through Shoreham, a quaint unaltered village where cobblestoned streets and crooked
old cottages ooze tall tales of Tudor escapades and Shakesperean drollery; and finally
a brisk walk around Sevenoaks Nature Reserve, a former quarry now a wildlife
conservation area and home to Nina’s pond.
At day's end, we relive the highlights over drinks and dinner at The
Rose and Crown. The conversation naturally shifts to his recent walking
adventures. His voice wavers as he nervously mentions that he has met someone
whom he finds attractive. He quickly follows up with …“but it’s not going to
work out.” He watches intently for my reaction. I’d been expecting something
like this for some time and was relieved to finally hear it from him though it
still caused a quiver in my stomach and a twist in my chest. I hope it didn’t
show.
The following day, after a fascinating meander through Winston
Churchill’s home, Chartwell, he takes me to meet his daughter at her new
apartment followed by a trip to Bluewater shopping centre to solicit my opinion
on a Bremont watch he is keen to buy for his upcoming “special” birthday. He
also wants my opinion about the size and colour of a sofa he has chosen for his
apartment. When I suggest the smaller of the two would be better suited to his
lifestyle and apartment size, He comments “You don’t know what I might have
coming up in my life.”
Prediction. What he has coming up are coffee catchups, dinners
out, nights at the theatre, and afternoon walks with her, this young accountant
from Bromley called H. I know that his “it’s not going to work out” is a temporary
safeguard. He will pursue her with vigour.
I walk away from him over to the home accessories department and
take a breath. A tear begs to rise but I will it to stay at bay. I pull myself
together and resolve that I will not let it affect me. It's time to move on.
I return to London and pack my bags for Paris.
The story continues...here
Read from the beginning here..
THE AUTHOR
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