The Season of Love #SYTYCW15 #Loveinspired

The Season of Love Part 9

                                                                     Chapter Eight
                                                                            Simon

"Thank you for helping me do this"

Melissa smiled at him as she lit a candle, "It's my pleasure, really, it'll be so lovely to see Hollie happy again".

Simon peered into the oven anxiously. He wanted everything to be perfect, especially the dinner. Melissa glanced at him and chuckled "Relax Simon, you'll be fine, I promise!"

Simon shrugged and half smiled "Sorry, I haven't been on any kind of date for sixteen years, I may have forgotten how to do it"

"Well,' she patted him on the arm, reassuringly, 'you seem to be doing just fine so far"

"Thank you"

"Right, ' Melissa took one last look around the room, 'I'll leave you to it. Remember, you'll be fine!"

Simon watched her go, feeling as though his life boat had just burst in the middle of the sea. He didn't know why exactly he was so nervous. Maybe it was because it wasn't Francesca meeting him for dinner. He sighed. Maybe he wouldn't ever really be ready.

"Hi"

Simon stared at Hollie for a moment. She looked wonderful; her auburn hair flowed in loose waves down between her shoulder blades and she wore an emerald green knee-length dress with black heels. And her beautiful face was staring with child like wonder at the room, and he knew then that he'd made the right choice.

                                   *

                             Hollie

Candles were dotted all over the room amongst vases and vases of fresh flowers. A white lace table cloth adorned the dining table where two plates awaited dinner. Music was playing softly in the background; she didn't recognise what it was but it made her feel happy and romantic. And an amazing smell floated to her from the oven.

"This looks amazing,' she breathed, 'how did you do all of this?!"

Pulling out a chair for her, Simon smiled, "I didn't do it alone, Melissa was a huge help,' he began to serve the starter, a prawn cocktail, with shaking hands, ' I just, I wanted it to be perfect for you."

Hollie stared at him for a moment as the candle light softly illuminated his face, "It is, it's perfect"

She felt light, as though she were being lifted and carried through the air by balloons.  As the nerves fluttered in her chest, she took a sip of wine in an attempt to calm her nerves.

"So,' Simon sat  beside her, his elbow gently brushing against her arm, 'can I ask you something personal?"

"Okay..." She answered cautiously.

"Why did you and your husband divorce?"

She focused on her plate, tears springing to her eyes; she brushed them away angrily.

"He left me,' she glanced up at him, and he watched her impassively, 'I can't have children" she let out a slow, shaky breath. She'd ruined it now, she told herself, more tears rising.

"I'm sorry' he whispered placing a hand over hers, 'is there nothing that they can do to help?"

"IVF they said, or surrogacy. But even with IVF I only have a five percent chance of falling pregnant,' she smiled sadly, 'I even suggested adoption but he insisted that he couldn't bring them up if they weren't his own flesh and blood. And then he left. Told me he didn't love me anymore because I can't give him what he wants."

They sat in silence for a moment before Simon spoke, "He's an idiot,' he cupped her face in his soft hands, 'I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that you weren't enough for him. But you're plenty for me"

His face blurred in front of her, and she was only vaguely aware of his pink lips pressing gently against hers. It lasted a mere matter of seconds, and yet it felt like a pivotal moment in her life.

"But don't you want more children?" She whispered, anxiety gripping her chest so that for a second she couldn't breathe.

"If it happens, it happens,' he sat back to get a better look at her face, 'but I want to spend time with you, for you."

She smiled happily, a wave of relief crashing over her.

"Now come on, ' he fetched some plates piled high with delicious food, 'let's eat, drink and be merry!"

                                                                                     *

                                                                                 Simon

Here they were, he thought, outside her bedroom door. She was watching him from under those long, dark lashes with her sparkling eyes, a half smile playing about her lips.

Her carefully coiffed hair had become dishevelled, and there was a tiny smudge of eye liner across her cheek.  But to him, she looked prettier now than she had before dinner. Carefree and happy.

"So" she whispered, her face inches from his.

"So,' he swallowed hard, 'I should um... I should check in Alison"

"Oh" She took a step back, disappointment clouding her face.

"Hollie, I want to, I really, really do. I just think that you would regret it if we did anything tonight. "

He watched as she stared down at her feet, her cheeks flushing a little and he felt his heart beat for her. He took a step forward, and another, filling the space between them.

His eyes scanned her soft skin, her pink lips as they parted a little. Slowly he pressed his mouth against hers, a frisson of excitement running through him as she sighed against his lips and relaxed against him.

Finally, he pulled away, both of them breathing heavily.

"Good night" he murmured, his chest tightening at the thought of leaving her tonight.

"Night"

He opened the bedroom door for her, watched her go in and very slowly close the door.

And then he sighed, happy and content.

                                                                                  *

Pulling her dress off in a dreamlike state, Hollie clambered happily into bed. Through bleary eyes she peered at her phone screen. Five missed calls from a withheld number. She threw the phone under her pillow, laid her head upon it and sank immediately into a satisfied sleep.