Page 10 of Love, Will

“Of course, miss,” I hurried to say before she had a change of mind. She was overpaying for mother’s embroidery and we both knew it.

The woman came back a few minutes later and placed the coins in my hand, but while I carefully shoved them in my pocket, she was lost again in another room. Since the door had not been opened for me, I had to wait for her return.

The woman came back holding something wrapped in a grey cloth and while she approached me, both myself and my stomach knew what awaited. She took pity on my poor hungry self and decided to share her supper.

“Thank you,” she said, while placing the cloth in my hands. This time, victory was a representation of warm fresh dough, still hot, slowly sinking in my hand.

“Thank you for your time and generosity madam...miss,” I replied while following her to the door. As soon as she opened it, I stepped out and bowed, then waited for her to shut it and took a few steps back, enough to advance out of her garden.

Once her features vanished from my sight, I eagerly opened the cloth and stared at what had tortured my senses for the last half hour, two beautifully crafted round pastries. I gobbled a bite. Lamb and garlic, what a treat.

During the next few days, I remained intrigued about this Miss Hathaway. She was clearly older; her marrying times had long arrived, but she seemed either not aware or not caring for such matters. She manned the house by herself, as I found out from asking some of the regular members myself and friends from grammar school met through town. Her father had recently passed, and she was left in charge of the entire family, brothers and sisters, being the oldest one. Whatever information I found out about the Hathaway’s, it could not explain how a woman dared to become so impertinent and behave so independently on her own. I was both shocked and attracted by this and decided to meet her again.

Since I was always in a hurry between private lessons and delivering orders for the family, destiny took a course in my favour and arranged the meeting I was so eager to plan myself but kept postponing from lack of time and coin.

One Saturday, on a chilly March afternoon, I was to kiss my future wife for the first time. Of course, I did not know this when I presented myself at the country fair without giving a second thought about trying to embellish my appearance. My fellows and I went to the welcoming spring celebration for our parents, who were superstitious and wanted all the youngsters to perform the water rituals to make the crop grow strong and rich.

After the traditional jumping the pong and throwing the braided crowns in the trees, we welcomed an agreeable, free meal and washed it down with the ale the village women so proudly prepared for us each year. The afternoon also presented an occasion for the younger folk to meet and talk. Sometimes we danced, but mostly engaged and married couples took part. There were very few dances that allowed singles to participate, mostly because of the hand holding.

I readied myself to continue the routine towards the tavern when my gaze stumbled upon Anne. She sat by the stake, helping the older women prepare the evening fire and wore a black dress, as traditional, and a black bonnet, her face almost hidden from the ribbons. But I could clearly distinguish her posture from all the other women. She stood tall and proud, as if she could find a place to belong to, anywhere she went.

I immediately went towards her, deciding to correct all the wrongs I may have committed in her thoughts when she looked straight at me, holding a penetrating gaze which made me stop only a few feet from her. She then turned and started walking in the opposite direction, a clear intent to avoid the conversation I was so eager to ignite between us.

Instead of feeling excluded, I became even more ambitious, and followed her. While she squeezed through the crowd, I passed a stand of dates and bought a small sachet, just to have a reason to go to her.

It took me a few minutes to reach her. Anne was heading home, and squeezed through the crowd so much easier than I. Having many acquaintances did not help in this particular case, they all wanted to have a chat and shake hands, which prevented me from chasing after her with the immediacy I intended and had to filter through the crowd in the hunt for her. Finally, I saw the black bonnet, barely, just as she passed underneath a line of cherry trees.

“Miss Hathaway,” I shouted.

No response. She did not turn.

“Miss Hathaway, please.”

Again, nothing. She did not hear me. Or she did not want to.

“Anne, wait!” I shouted as loud as I could.

That got me an immediate response. The woman turned and started walking in my direction. Angrily, I might add.

“How do you know my name?” she questioned, upset.

“I... asked,” I stupidly said, lacking a better explanation.

“Why would you do that?” She stared at me straight in the eye, with a power that made me lose feeling in my knees and I just stood there, wobbling in front of this powerful woman.

“I was interested. I like you.” The man I am today still laughs at the humble and childish declaration of love I made to my wife when I was only seventeen.

Her gaze did not shake for the next second, but I was glad when it did, since I could not hold my legs steady for much longer. Her eyes shifted and dropped lower, but not enough to leave the sight of my face. She stared at my neck...no, my chin? Or my mouth?

It did not take me long to find out because in a split second, Anne’s lips pressed mine with a power that was both silky and coarse. I did not get any other sensation because I closed my eyes to allow all my senses to get a good grasp of our first kiss. Which stopped abruptly. Her eyes returned to staring into my own and then she turned and started walking home again.

I followed instinctively and ended up walking at the same pace as her, in the same piece of the road, covering the same distance, side by side. But it was like she was walking alone and I was just a drop of air her glistening eyes had no reason to notice.

“I bought you some dates,” I said, stretching my hands with the open sachet so she could take one. Anne looked at it with the tail of her left eye and then snatched the lot, closed it and placed it in her bag.

She continued walking.

So did I.

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