|
Great Writing - Home > Extended > Another chance to love her - chapter 1
| READING ROOM | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| COMMUNITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| ABOUT GREAT WRITING | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| WORK AWAITING REVIEW |
|---|
|
| WHO'S ONLINE |
|---|
| We have 1233 guests online and 2 members online |
Extended Work
| print friendly version | |
| Another chance to love her - chapter 1 | |
| By LynB | ||||||||||||||
| 07 March 2007 | ||||||||||||||
|
While writing 'Let no man put asunder', one or two reviewers asked me how Emily came to be adopted by Jon. This story, a prequel to the prequel (if that makes sense!), explains exactly how she came to be a part of his life. I hope you enjoy it. Chapter 1 "Daddy!" said a tiny voice from the corner of the room. "Daddy!" "Come on!" said Jon, holding out his arms. "Walk to daddy - come on, you can do it!" He watched, his heart bursting with pride, as little Rosie clambered to her feet, and toddled over to him, with wobbly, uncertain steps. As she reached him, he swept her into his arms, and held her close, kissing the top of her head. She leaned her head on his chest, and curled up into a little ball - that only meant one thing, she wanted to go to sleep. As she wriggled around on his knee, beginning to cry softly, he cradled her in his arms, so she was looking straight into his eyes, and began to sing quietly to her. "You'll never know just how much I love you, you'll never know just how much I care...." Her huge blue eyes fixed firmly on his face as he sang - the love she felt for her daddy, but as yet was unable to express - was clear to see. Like so many other people, she never tired of hearing her daddy sing - she always felt safe and secure in his arms. She was too young to know that there were many people who would give their right arm to be held by her daddy, and serenaded like this! As the final notes died away, he glanced at his tiny daughter, and saw that her eyes were closed, her little clenched fist clinging tightly to his hand. He looked up to see Donna standing there, her eyes shining with love and pride - he smiled at her. God, he had never realised it was possible to love anyone so much. She sat down next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "You really do have a way with her!" she said, taking his spare hand. "But then again, your singing has that affect on everyone!" "What? It sends them to sleep!!" "No, you know what I mean!" "Yes" he said, softly, kissing her. "I know exactly what you mean!" "Were those words meant for me, too?" she said, her dark eyes full of love and expectation. "I hope they were" "What do you think?" he said, his eyes filling up. "For God's sake, Donna, I'd be nothing without you! You're my heart and soul!" He began to sing again, this time looking at Donna. "If I give my heart to you.... I'll have none and you'll have two!" Donna picked up a cushion, and hit him with it. "Last of the great romantics, aren't you?" she said, beginning to laugh helplessly. "What are you like?!" She had such a beautiful, infectious laugh, it was impossible not to laugh with her. "Can you take her from me?" he said. "Why, have you had enough of her already?" she joked. "No, I'm busting for a pee!" "You are impossible!" She took the sleepy little girl in her arms, and gently carried her upstairs, laying her down in her cot, where she continued to sleep peacefully. She made her way back downstairs, where she rejoined him on the sofa. "I can put my arms around you properly this time!" she said, proceeding to do just that. "I'll have to make the most of it, though, because you won't be here tomorrow, will you?" "I'm afraid not!" he said, looking a bit crestfallen. "Another poxy book signing!" "Oh come on, love!" she said, stroking his face with her hand. "You don't mean it like that!" "No, of course I don't!" he said, taking hold of her hand and kissing it. "It's just that sometimes I feel a bit like an animal in a circus, like I'm going through the motions - do you know what I mean? I love each and every one of those people who come to see me, more than they'll ever know, without them, I’d be nothing. It's just that... I'm getting a little tired, but don't worry, it'll be all right!" "I know" she said, taking him in her arms, and they kissed with the urgency and passion of two people who knew that once again they were to be separated for, what seemed to them, like an eternity. He sat there at the table, pen in hand, giant posters behind him, advertising his new book in all its glory. "Is there a good crowd here today?" said Mike, his most loyal and trusted friend, taking a swig of water from his bottle, and burping loudly. "Sorry, pardon me!" He laughed, as Mike put his bottle back on the table, and began to do Morse code with a pen, until Jon could take it no longer. He took the pen from his hand, and slammed it down on the desk. "If I hadn't stopped you, you'd have gone right through the desk eventually!" he said. Mike could not help joining in the good-natured laughter that followed. "Right! Here we go!" said Mike, as the doors opened, and people began to filter into the shop, security guards standing by, to make sure there was no queue jumping. Things seemed to move fairly quickly, as he signed books, chatted, and posed for photos. He felt like he had a smile permanently glued to his face! There seemed to be a lot of people there, and as time wore on, he began to wonder if it was ever going to end. Although he would never tire of the endless requests for kisses, cuddles and photos, he was beginning to feel incredibly tired, and he now just wanted to go home. One lady came up to the table alone, clutching her book under her arm. She was an older lady, who looked rather self-conscious, and a little shy, unlike some of the confident, chatty people that had gone before her. As he signed her book, she didn't seem to know what to say, then, eventually she began to speak, so softly he had to strain his ears to hear what she was saying. "I won't take up much of your time" she said, nervously wringing her hands together. "I just wanted to thank you for all the joy you bring to this not so young heart with that beautiful voice, you've enriched my life, and I love you so much!" Mike glanced at Jon; he had not said anything. He noticed how the tears were welling up in his eyes, and his lips trembled as he tried desperately to control himself. He was so tired, but had managed to hold it together until now. The lady in front of the desk knew exactly what to do, her motherly instincts kicked in, and, as he apologised profusely for making a show of himself, she held out her arms to him. "I know what you need" she said, as he stood up and made his way around the desk. "Come here!" She put her arms around him, and held him gently but firmly, as he leaned his head on her shoulder, crying tears of complete and utter exhaustion. He did not know or care who could see him. "I'm sorry!" he said, his voice still muffled by her shoulder. "I'm so tired!" "Shh!" she said, gently rubbing his back. "You don't have to explain. I just wanted to give back a little of what you give to me!" He pulled away from her, searching vainly in his pockets for a handkerchief. She offered him hers, saying he could keep it. As he returned to the table, she picked up her book, and began to walk away. Jon took hold of her hand. "Thank you!" he said, his self-control still very fragile. "I'll never forget this!" She did not answer him, but just smiled and walked away. With that, she was gone. Mike put his hand on his shoulder, he felt close to tears himself. "Was she the last one?" he said, trying to stifle a yawn. "I think she was! I've had a lovely day, but I really would like to go home now!" They both stood up, but as they began to walk away from the table, they could hear an impassioned plea, a little girl was pleading with security to be let in. She had got lost, she explained, she had come a long way. "Please let me see him!" she said. "I won't stay long, I promise!" As she spoke, Jon thought she sounded familiar, but he could not quite place her. Anyway, one more wouldn't hurt, he thought. They must have been thinking the same, because Mike called out: "It's okay, let her come in! We don't want to disappoint anybody!" "Oh bless her!" he thought. "She's in a wheelchair!" As she stopped her chair in front of the table, she smiled at Mike, but her eyes came to rest on Jon. "Hello, Jon!" she said, smiling fondly at him. "Do you remember me? I remember you!" "Oh my God!" His voice was a stunned whisper. "I don't believe it - Emily!"
Only registered users can rate and write comments. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
||||||||||||||
Loved it 
 Previous item
|
Next item
|
|---|