FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Chapter 6 - Secret Garden

"Oh Shawn, it's a secret garden!"

Inside the wooden door it was overgrown with flowers and shrubs and bushes. In the centre was an old unused water fountain and there were stone benches positioned around it to sit on and in one corner, a swing from the branch of a huge tree that grew outside the wall and hung over it. She ran around, looking at everything and then moved to the swing.

"Is it safe?" she asked him.

He nodded. "I asked Tally to have the rope replaced, it's fine to use."

She sat in the swing and looked at him with a pout, so he moved behind her, pulling back on the seat and letting her feet swing behind her on the back swing, out in front on the forward swing. He pushed her and she hummed a silly tune as he smiled. Eventually, he pulled her to a stop and then he twisted the swing around and around, letting it go so that she squealed as it spun. He squatted down in front of her so that he was face to face with her. He was so glad he had made her happy today.

"You're so beautiful. I love it when you laugh."

She touched his face, cocking her head to the side, and they moved forward and kissed again. He stroked her face and they just stared at one another and then he took her hand, taking her into the corner beneath a large tree where the grass was soft and thick. They knelt opposite each other, kissing, as he slowly unbuttoned her dress to the waist, unclipping her front-opening bra, then stopped to pull the t-shirt over his head. They kissed again, then fell gently back into the grass, face to face. He didn't care if it didn't go any further than this, he thought, as he stroked her throat, drawing a line to her breasts and then bending his head to kiss her in the little space between them. She ran both hands through his hair and they simply lay there, trading kisses and gentle caresses, until the sun had moved on and the garden was in shadow.

"We should head back before Tally sends out the Navy divers to recover our bodies from the lake." He said, smiling, as he slowly did up her bra and buttoned up her dress again. She sighed and took his hand as he helped her up. She took one last look at the garden as they left and he pulled her in beside him as he locked it up.

"We'll come back here again, I promise, whenever you want."

She snuggled up to him in the golf cart on the way back to the Hall and when they got there the lights were on and Tally was standing nervously out the front. He looked relieved to see them.

"I trust you had a good day?" he asked them and they exchanged a look.

"Yes, thanks Tally, everything was perfect," Shawn said, passing him the basket. They walked hand in hand inside.

"I thought supper about seven thirty? Where would you like to eat?"

"The morning room, if that's allowed?" Camila answered, looking at Shawn. He nodded. It was a more casual room than the dining room.

"Of course," Tally smiled and he left them standing there.

"I think I'll go and have a shower before dinner," she said, then she stood on her tip toes and kissed him softly.

He pulled her in and kissed her in return. He wanted to ask her if she needed someone to scrub her back, but it wasn't time for that yet. He was taking it slowly, because they had the time, and it was kind of exciting, this build up, knowing where they were heading, and enjoying the journey.

He watched her trot up the stairs and then let out a breath, running his hand through his hair and turning to find Tally returned and now standing behind him.

"Garry would love to see you both so happy," he beamed.

"It's early days yet, Tally," he smiled. "Hey, can I ask you something? Jamila, the name on the boat, where did it come from. I always felt it was something I couldn't ask Garry."