FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Chapter 7 - A Rainy Afternoon

Camila awoke to the sound of rain on the roof. It was eight in the morning, and she had slept well, which was a miracle in itself. She got up and looked out the window. The sky was dark and gloomy and the lake looked like black ice from here. It was as if the blue skies and buzzing bees of yesterday never existed. It was cooler too, and she put on leggings, a tour t-shirt and an oversized cardigan and padded downstairs in her socks. Shawn had just entered the kitchen after his workout and he smiled at her, a smile full of all the moments from the day before, and she returned it in kind.

"What a yucky day," she announced and Tally looked up at her from where he stood over the stove.

"Good morning Miss Camila, I trust you slept well," he smiled.

"I did thanks Tally," she blushed a little and sat at the kitchen table opposite Shawn. He reached out one foot and rubbed it against hers and she rubbed his back. She could add footsies to their repertoire now. Tally placed a plate with a poached egg, spinach and mushrooms in front of her and she attacked it with gusto. It was a companionable silence as they cooked or ate.

"What will we do today?" she asked. "Not a good day to go outside."

"No, but I'm sure we can find something to do."

She blushed, as thoughts of how they could while away the dark and rainy hours flashed through her head. In the end, they found Garry's game stores with Tally's directions and set up a big jigsaw puzzle of the London skyline out on the dining table.

Shawn nudged her out of the way. "I've got those ones, you're doing the white bits over that side," he said, reclaiming his jigsaw pieces. They had the puzzle pieces spread over the long dining table as outside the rain was torrential. They shared a smile and he leaned in and kissed her. His lips had barely touched hers when there was a sound from the doorway.

"Ahem," Tally cleared his throat. "I am going into the village for my Scrabble club meeting, but I'll be home to cook dinner. There is plenty to choose from for lunch in the kitchen."

"OK," Camila said. "About what time would that be, when you'll be back?"

Tally looked uncomfortable and coughed. "Ugh, well, unless you don't mind doing for yourselves this evening? I have a standing invitation to sausages and mash at the pub with Pam Irving, and I wouldn't mind taking her up on it tonight, if that would be alright with you."

"Don't let us get in between you and your sausages, and Pam of course. Go for it Tally! Don't rush home!" Shawn said.

Camila didn't know who was most uncomfortable as Tally backed out of the room and Shawn busied himself picking up the puzzle pieces that had fallen to the floor when he had leaned in to kiss her. It was fairly obvious where this was heading, and they both knew they had run out of reasons to restrain themselves. She was nervous, wondering how it was going to go, and then she realised she didn't have to wait, she could take control and make it go however she wanted.

***

"I think this one is yours," Shawn said, passing her a white piece from the pieces he picked up from the floor. She took it and put it down and then she stood up and walked out of the dining room without speaking. He heard the motor of Tally's old car as it put-putted up the driveway and then followed Camila out of the room. She was walking up the staircase, and as she did, she was undressing. Her socks were on the first step, her cardigan a few steps up. He watched as she pulled her t-shirt over her head, dropping it where she stood, then took another couple of steps and shimmied out of her leggings. She now wore a red lace bra and panties set, and she pulled the hairtie from her loose bun letting her hair fall in a waterfall of messy curls down her back. She looked back down at him over her shoulder then kept walking. She was almost to the top. He started up after her, picking up her clothes as he went. She had turned up the curve of the stairs and he bent to pick up the red lace bra with a dry throat. He looked up and saw her ahead, on the landing, only a few steps from his bedroom door. She opened it and walked inside and as he reached it, he saw the last red scrap of lace in the doorway. He picked it up, and threw all her clothes onto the chair inside and pulled his own t-shirt off.