And Peggy

Opening up

Stephan comes over more frequently over the next two weeks. Sometimes we walk In the garden, sometimes we stay inside and do puzzles together, occasionally father will let us go into the city as long as i stay in the carriage and have Stephan buy something on my behalf.
He wouldn't usually let this happen. It's only because he thinks that the two of us will in love. But the truth is that all our discussions, walks and carriage rides are strictly formal. Formal and awkward. Although I admire Stephan and consider him my friend, the only time when he has seen me as my real self was at the celebration of the ending war. I haven't felt close enough to him to really let my hair down and show the loud, sassy side of me. How am I to marry the man if I can't be myself around him (for I know father has marriage on his mind)?

The following Sunday, Stephan comes to church with us. He sings and claps along with a smile on his face. This makes me happy. He seems to genuinely be interested in religion.

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After lunch, Stephan and I go for a carriage ride. It's just me, him and the driver. We take the route out of the city and along the coastline. I press my nose to the window.

I've only been to the beach three times. Once for Angelica's seventh birthday, once for a family friend's wedding and once when we were bypassing on the way to a holiday. All three times I've only been on the sand while fully clothed with shoes on!
Since no one is around to stop me, I stop the carriage and step outside. Stephan follows with a curious expression on his face.
I walk all the way to the railing and take in the salty beach air. Then I turn to Stephan with a glint in my eye.
"Oh, let's go down there and feel the sand between our toes."
Then I grab his hands and lead him down the stairs that take us down to the beach. On the bottom step, I shake off my shoes and take a cautious step onto the sand. It feels soft and cool on the souls of my feet. I take another step and the sand squeaks. I giggle like a little girl. I turn to Stephan to see him already taking off his shoes and socks off. I hold out my hand for him to take and he takes it.

We both rush down to the water. It is an overcast day and the water is a variation of greys. The waves a big and loud and there is lots of white water. Stephan and I try to make out animals in the water.
I point to a wave that is breaking right in close to us. It looks like a frog.
Stephan points further out to see where a wave takes the appearance of a horse.

While we admire a chicken shaped wave out the back, we don't notice the wave that breaks right on the shore and crashes down. Our feet and the hems of our clothes are immediately soaked. We shriek and jump back from the water. Then we turn to each other and laugh.

We play chase the wave which is when you run away from the waves when they come in and chase them back to the sea.
When a sudden breeze picks up, I have to hold my hat to my head. We rush back up to the sand and sit on the dry reeds.

As the breeze becomes steady, children swarm down to the beach with old painted newspaper and string. They wear simple frocks and overalls. They launch the paper into the sky and hold it by the string. Once the wind fills it, you can make out the shapes painted on them.

Some are fish. Some are just basic but colourful shapes and some are shaped like planes or hang-gliders. They dart and swoop all over the sky, occasionally hitting the sand.

Kites.

The sky is filled with them. It is beautiful. Stephan walks over to the nearest child and crouches down to talk to him. He pulls some change out of his pocket and shows it to the kid. The boys nods and takes the change, giving Stephan the bee shaped kite that he has.

Stephan hogs back over to me and hands me the kite. With mock formality, he says:
"For you, my lady."
I graciously curtsy then suddenly dart around him and start running along the beach, launching the kite behind me. It floats up, fills with wind and follows me down the beach. Stephan chases me but abruptly stops as a group of children rush past. I stop to laugh but as soon as they pass, he's right on my tail. I push through the children but my kite keeps getting tangled in other kites or flying in the opposite direction which I want it to go. Finally Stephan catches me. He wraps his arms around me, ensuring I can't get away. Then he rips the bee out of my grasp and takes us up the beach a bit more.
He shows me how to make it swoop and change direction to my will.
When I try, the kite turns......and lands in a tree. Stephan fishes it out again but there is a rip in the side. We try again but the kite is ruined and acts of it's own accord.
It crashes over and over again until finally the string snaps and the bee floats into the sky, over the ocean.

"Ah, oh well," he says squinting at the disappearing kite. "It was fun while it lasted. You really suck at that though you know." He says with a cheeky smirk.
I elbow him playfully.

We watch it until it disappears over the horizon which is now a bright orange.

It's getting dark.
Finally, we trudge back up the stairs, our clothes are wet and sandy and my hair is a mess but I don't mind. It's been an enjoyable afternoon.

Our carriage sits loyally by the side of the road. The driver is reading the paper. We get in and since it is my family's carriage, we drop off Stephan first. As he climbs over me to get to the door, I peck him on the cheek and even though his back is turned, I can tell he is blushing.

I am starting to really like Stephan. And after this afternoon, I feel like I can be myself around him a little more.

Hey guys thanks for reading,
This chapter and the next few will just be Peggy and Stephan getting to know each other. They might be a little short but they will come quicker.

Thank you to BinChickenQueen for voting all my chapters!

Christmas is soon. Maybe I will do a chapter on that but it might not fit into the plotline so don't get your hopes up.

In the mean time, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎄
Cocolocosam 🐔😊