They awoke to a beautiful morning.
After breakfast Joe ducked out to the communication center and called Emmanuel, explained about Louis' brother, and asked for the record of the investigation to be forwarded to him.
He put in a quick call to the lab, checked on the progress, wondered just how much longer before they had definitive results. 'We're working hard on this, sir, but it's extremely complicated and we're just not there yet', he was told.
The scientist detected the president's frustration down the secure phone line.
'It just takes time, sir. We're on this night and day, I can assure you. We are making progress but if we get this wrong then the patient dies, sir. It's that simple. We're in touch with the medical team in Paris. We know his status is critical but stable so we still have a little time but need to use that wisely. We've conducted additional tests and we expect those results by teatime', he explained.
In spite of everything Joe smiled. 'Teatime', such a quintessentially English thing to say. The Irish used it all of the time too now; a hangover from the times of Empire when the smaller island was dominated by its larger neighbor. He looked at the table in front of him and grinned. He had brought his cup of tea from breakfast across the yard and into the communications center with him, maybe the local vocabulary is catching', he thought to himself.
He tuned back into the call and sighed a little. 'I apologize if I sound ungrateful. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me and please thank your team for all of their hard work on this. We'll speak to you guys later', he said and putting the phone down, took a final mouthful of his tea and made his way back to the kitchen.
By 9.00am they were ready to go. He and Jill, trailed by their agents, headed along the track by the farm. They reached the beach easily enough and then made their way up the steeper terrain towards the headland.
'Look at all the stuff the tide has washed up', Jill commented as they began to make their way up the steps to the cliff walk.
Joe followed her pointed finger, noting the logs strewn along the sand.
'There's more up there, look', she added, gesturing to a bundle of objects stacked together at the far end of the beach. 'Maybe that stuff is fishing gear', she said, spying pieces of netting and what looked like lobster pots.
'Yeah, maybe. It could be where the local fishermen just leave stuff during the day, in between tides', Joe agreed, taking her hand and navigating away from the shore line and up the steps to emerge on the longer cliff top walk.
They walked hand in hand with synchronized steps, enjoying the crisp air and the sweeping view out over the Atlantic Ocean. It was bracing but beautiful and they were well wrapped up against the elements making for warm bodies and warmer hearts. The opportunity to be outdoors and feel the ocean breeze on their skin, the sunlight on their faces was one they were going to wholeheartedly enjoy.
Joe tucked his unused gloves into the large pockets of his coat.
'Aren't your hands cold?' Jill asked, watching him.
He stopped and smiled down at her. Her hair was blowing madly in the wind but his eyes just twinkled at the effect. With the side of his hands he gently brushed it back and then cupped her face with his warm hands. His lips were so close to hers she could feel the tiniest brush of contact as he spoke. She was surprised herself to hear a sigh, she didn't even know she had created, slip past her lips.
'Baby, you're here with me. Your gorgeous, sexy body is right beside mine. Your beautiful lips are going to kiss mine in a second', he murmured and she felt her knees give way a little in the expectation of their kiss. 'How could I possibly be cold right now?' he whispered, running his thumb across her lips. He looked into her eyes as the wind screamed past them on the exposed clifftop and she couldn't hear a thing. Her entire being was focused on her husband and when his lips finally pressed against hers she felt a coil of heat twist around her spine and flow throughout her body.
After a few delicious moments they continued on their way, hands entwined, bodies so close, steps perfectly aligned.
