We broke up last Christmas
A hasty knee jerk reaction
To a silly misunderstanding
Which I regretted so much
And I was still hoping
For some kind of miracle
That we might make amends
When we met by chance
And there was a spark
I was looking closely
For some kind of sign
That we might go back
To how things were
But it was soon apparent
That it was too late now
To salvage our relationship
That was born and died
You’re just a name in an address book
But thoughts of you pop into my head
Some distant half-forgotten memories
Of when we shared a home and a bed,
In quiet moments I wish us back there
Where I had a special place in your heart
But it would take a Christmas miracle
For us to go back in time to the start
It was a very special Christmas love, but
Too much time has passed since then
And it’s too late now to have regrets
For love that died by the seasons end
“I really enjoyed that” he said
“Me too” she concurred and that was the moment when
they were face to face in the evening sunshine when he could have kissed her,
he wanted to, and she wanted him to, so before he lost his nerve, he kissed
her.
“That was wonderful” Debbie said “But…”
“There’s a but?” he retorted
“Unfortunately yes” she confirmed
“Oh,
there’s someone else” he
“No,”
she said emphatically
“What
then?”
“I’m just desperate for a pee” Debbie replied,
and they both laughed, then he grabbed her hand and ran down the jetty.
“Not
too fast” she giggled “I’ll wet myself”
After
she’d relieved herself in the Marina Lavatory and tidied her hair and makeup
she reappeared and found Daryn sitting on a capstan.
“Better?”
he asked
“Much”
she replied with a giggle
“I
thought we could eat at L'uccello Canto, if that’s ok with you” he said
“Absolutely,
that’s my favourite restaurant” she enthused and put her arm through his.
It
was dark when they left the restaurant after they had enjoyed an excellent meal
and a glass or two of wine and as they walked along the promenade he asked
“Did
you have a pee before we left the restaurant?”
“Yes,
why?”
“Because
I want to kiss you again” he said as he turned to face her
“And
I don’t want any interruptions”
“Oh
ok” she responded and then he kissed her in the moonlight, a prolonged and
passionate kiss which led to them making love that night aboard the Sea Nymph
in Sharpington Marina.
They started the next morning by making love again
before walking into Sharpington for breakfast, so it was midmorning by the time
they set sail and as the wind was against them it was a much slower crossing,
but they were happy with that, as they stood side by side at the helm.
It was late afternoon when they navigated their way
into the mouth of the Spanish River and while she was manoeuvring the sloop
alongside the quay, he received a text from Adam Jandrell.
“How would you like to go to dinner tonight?” He
asked
“I thought you were getting the last ferry” she
replied
“I was”
“But you’re not now?” she asked hopefully
“No, I’m staying another night” he replied
“So are you on for dinner?”
“Of course I am” she said and hugged him
“And if you play your cards right you could stay for
breakfast” he added
“Now you’re talking” she said and kissed him
After mooring the Sea Nymph they walked hand in hand
down the tow path to the carpark and shared a goodbye kiss.
Debbie was rushing home to clean herself up and get
into a posh frock ready for their dinner date, and her best underwear for
afters.
Over dinner he explained why he was staying on the
island for the extra night, it was because he was meeting with Project Manager
Adam Jandrell on Monday morning about some stonemasonry work on St Clara’s
Church.
“And you know what that means?” he said, and she
just looked at him blankly
“It means I’m going to be spending more time on the
islands” he said, and a smile played around her mouth
“How much more?” she asked suspiciously
“Months” he replied, and the smile spread over her
face
That night they made love in the comfort of a
four-poster bed at the Beaumont Manor Hotel, which felt like a special
celebration of their developing relationship which was now a burgeoning love.
The next day they said a very special goodbye in his
room before they went their separate ways, Debbie to Roman Water Farm and Daryn
to Spaniards Creek for his significant
meeting with Adam Jandrell on the site on the west of the river.
On the first Friday in May, Daryn Goldsmith was in Spaniards Creek to perform the final inspection on the eastern Spanish River site.
He was a stonemason by trade but doubled up as the
Islands Building inspector, which was scarcely even a part time occupation.
He
was forty-eight years old and was widowed, and on his first visit to the
island, fifty-year-old farmer Debbie Wilson reversed her car into his in the
Stephenson’s Supermarket carpark.
She
was deeply apologetic and insisted on exchanging details, even though he was
satisfied there was no damage.
Later
that day she phoned him and offered to buy him a coffee on the pretence of an
apology.
In
truth she wanted some romance back in her life whether out of desperation or
loneliness, so had decided to dip her toe back in the water and begin dating
and she saw the accident as providence.
So
they met at the Galleon Coffee shop in Spaniards Creek and made a very strong
connection, and apart from being attracted to each other they also discovered a
shared love of sailing.
They
had subsequently met for coffee or lunch every time he was on the island for an
inspection and a few more when he had just made the trip to see her.
However
they hadn’t really gone beyond the friendship phase even though there was a
distinct romantic vibe going on.
On the upcoming weekend, they both hoped that would
change, but he didn’t get to see her on Friday as she had a full day on the
farm, so he did all of his inspections and even had time to take a look around
the Church,
The Vicar even agreed to let him go up in the bell
tower so he could have a look at the masonry and spent a very pleasant hour in
conversation with her.
On Friday night he stayed at the Beaumont Manor and
after a healthy breakfast he drove down to Spaniards Creek and parked close to
the river and followed the tow path to where “The Sea Nymph”
was moored.
It was a 30ft Masthead
Sloop, wooden hulled and built on the island in 1934, but as beautiful as the
boat was, he thought the owner was even more so, when he caught sight of her
working on the boat.
Debbie’s
was a very tall and striking looking woman, with the sun illuminating her long
ginger hair, and he was greeted by her radiant smiling freckled face.
She was not as smartly dressed as usual, and was
sporting a pair of boating shoes, cut off denim shorts and a white T-Shirt.
“Come aboard” Debbie said and flashed him another
smile.
Once aboard they exchanged a kiss on the cheek, and
she said
“Stow your bag below, and you can help me get her
ready to sail”
“Aye aye skipper” he retorted “I’ll change into my
shorts while I’m down there, I feel a bit overdressed”
“Don’t be long though” Debbie responded
“You’re looking really good by the way” he added
just before he went below.
When he reappeared, he helped her prepare for
departure, he was an experienced sailor, so he knew what he was doing, he just
hadn’t sailed since before his wife got ill.
He cast off and jumped back aboard as she steered
away from the quay
“Here
put this on” she said offering him a bright orange buoyancy aid, and as they
got into the channel, she put one on herself.
It
was a beautiful bright morning, sunny with a light breeze, and after she raised
the sail, he watched her deftly handle the boat getting the
most out of the breeze until they were racing along and they virtually had the seas
to themselves apart from a couple of other vessels, a ferry and the Water Taxi.
He had missed sailing, he didn’t realise how much
until he was out on the sloop with Debbie, and the scenery was quietly
spectacular, and it was quite exhilarating with the wind blowing through his
brown hair and the spray cooling his face, and of course there was a gorgeous
woman at the helm with her ginger main streaming behind her.
All of a sudden, she turned to look at him and
smiled as if she knew what he was thinking, and she said
“Are you enjoying it?”
“Yes, very much” he replied unsure what she was
referring to.
“Would you like to have a go?” she asked
“Can I?” he asked
Although the sloop was old it was supremely graceful
in the water, and it handled beautifully
So they stood shoulder to shoulder as the Sea Nymph
glided across the bay but then about an hour later the wind died away.
“Why don’t we put into Sharpington Marina for the
night” Debbie suggested.
“Good idea” he said, “But only if I can take you to
dinner”
“You’re on”
I was ready, without a doubt
Ready for the one
I was set on the start
line
Heart beating at the
run
Then bang!
Went loves starting
gun
“She’s ticking all the boxes”
I thought to myself
When I first laid eyes
on her
But of course she
wasn’t perfect
That would have been a
claim too far
Then when we spoke, at
length
More boxes were
checked
But again she fell
short of the summit
But then who wants
perfection
Which is in reality
subjective
I have met girls in my
life
Slightly more than
ordinary
But thought themselves
perfect
And others nearly
perfect
And thought themselves
ordinary
This girl was as close
to it
As I had ever come
Or wanted to come
For if she was to be
flawless
That would be
unnatural
As well as undesirable
For it’s in the
imperfections
Where character lies
Oh wind of love,
Blow my way
Have influence over me
Like the moon does the
tides
Bring music into the
silence
And shine your light
Into every darkened
corner
And fill my world with
love
You bring me rainbows
Of an April morning
You bring me the
laughter
Of a hundred happy
children
You bring me the azure
blue
Of a summer sky
You bring me the
scented meadows
Of a summer day
You bring me the
moonlight
Of a star bright night
You bring me the
wonders
Of the modern age
But most of all you
bring me
A love that I have
never known
Finally, I found someone to love
Someone caring and
nice
Someone who loves me
But it was over in a
trice
For I was complacent
And so paid the
ultimate price
Sending signals
And reading
The replies
A look or gesture
That holds a message
To be relayed
Is as ancient
As hieroglyphs
And as difficult
To translate
The words flowed
like spring melt
Rushing to fill
Every stream of reason
Every rivulet of love
With bitter bile
I fell for you
Like a stone
And I am in heaven
I’m walking on air
As I imagine
Your arms around me
And if you fall for me
You’ll leave me
breathless
I look back fondly
Across the years
On that brief affair
So glorious, yet
All too brief
Like a perfect summer
That left its mark
Forever on my heart
My sweet words of love
Were wasted on her it
appears
Because all I got in
return
Was the bitter sting
of tears
She was my compass
And my anchor
She steered me
And held me
She gave me direction
And stability
Without her I am
Lost at sea
And rudderless
Her beauty was like the Spring
A smile as warm as
Summer sun
Tempestuous like an
Autumn gale
And as refreshing as a
Winters day
I will sail Around the Cape of Good Hope
where the two great oceans meet
I will follow you to
the ends of the earth
Because you’re the only one for me
My love for her
Is resolutely strong
She lifts my heart
Like the sweet song
Of woodland birds
In chorused throng
She was beautiful
Like a Constable
landscape
And she painted love
Into my dreary world
Each brushstroke
Changing me forever
She was so elegant
And light of step
As if on Angels wings
She was swept
From heavens high
Into my arms
To bless my life
With her charms
