Echoing love

Chapter 1 Part 2

Lavender Fray knew nothing would ever be the same again. It felt like walking on air to be matching her steps to Kyle Robinson's and holding his hand. She'd no sooner mentioned how disappointed she'd been that her mum hadn't felt well enough to take the trip they'd planned to London than she found herself being escorted down to the train station.
'We can go now,' he said.
There were lots of passengers on the train even this late in the afternoon. There was an air of expectation, of excitement, and Lavender could hear fighting talk on all sides.
'I'm dying to fuck that president up.'
'Once we get our hands on him, he's dead. Won't take us long.'
'He's asking for a kick up the ass, that one'
Lavender spent more than four magical hours with Kyle, walking through the town in the evening sunshine, the British breeze fluttering at her hair. There were people everywhere, more than usual even for a bank holiday. The coming war seemed to add more excitement. Kyle held her hand and spent more time gazing into her face than looking where he was going. He whispered: 'I can't stop thinking about you. You're the most beautiful girl in the whole of Sheffield. I love you, Lavender.'
After the first ecstatic shock, Lavender was not surprised. Ever since she's started working at Robinson's, he'd seemed to single her out. If he wanted something special done, it was always Lavender he asked. More recently he'd been making excuses to speak to her. The other girls had teased her about him. 'You've got him whipped, Lav' they'd laughed.
'No, it's just his way. He's like that with everyone, isn't he? Bit of a flirt.'
'He want you, wait till his dad finds out.'
To start with Lavender had been flattered but hadn't taken Kyle seriously. Why should she when she already saw her future as Ellis Ferry's wife? She'd been thrown together with Ellis for as long as she could remember.
He worked at Robinson's too, and lived with his mum on the floor below. The other room there was occupied by a man they rarely saw. Tracy Ferry, Ellis's mum, was mums friend; they'd supported each other through there bad times. Ellis was seven years older than than Lavender, and she'd been proud and flattered that he was interested in her.
Mum never shut up about it she was always saying : 'your best chance at happiness lies with Ellis. He's a good lad and if you know what's good for ya, you'll marry him.'
Lavender began taking Kyle serious the day a bag of pickled onions burst as she lifted it. He'd bent to help her pick them up and his arm accidentally brushed against hers. His touch had sent fire stabbing through her, leaving her shaking with emotions that Ellis hadn't touched. And she'd seen the same hunger flare in Kyle's lustful eyes.
After that he'd stopped to talk to her several times a day. They had long conversations, and she felt like she was getting to know him. On two occasions when her mum had been off work he'd insisted on walking her home. It had put her on edge because usually she walked home with Ellis and his mum. She hadn't had an argument with Ellis, but his dark eyes watched when Kyle came to speak to her. He didn't like it, she knew, but Ellis couldn't afford to show his displeasure. Kyle was the bosses son, and one day he would take over running the restaurant.
But Ellis hadn't held back to Lavender. 'You're flirting with Kyle.' He'd sounded shocked. 'Have you changed your mind about me?'
She'd been to unsure of Kyle, too ashamed of what she was doing to Ellis to tell him she had. 'He's no good for you, Lav. You'll get yourself in trouble, babe?' Ellis's face was full of hurt now, and that stabbed at her conscience, because she knew his pain was her fault. And Tracy was less friendly to her mum now as well. The trouble now was that her mind was filled with daydreams about Kyle, visions of what might be, and to accept Kyles love she'd have to reject Ellis's. She hated the thought of telling him outright, especially after being in a relationship with him for four years.
The more time she spent with Kyle, the more she learnt about him. She and mum had believed he must have had a very happy and comfortable life, but now she knew that wasn't so.
They walked to a river and leaned against a wall where they could look across the water. Lavender felt Kyle's arms wrap around her waist and he pulled her close.
'I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Lavender,' he whispered. 'I love you. I want us to be married. I'd love that. How about you?'
For Lavender, that changed everything.

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