Can you believe it?’ Rachel laughed.
‘That’s so cool!’ said Esme.
‘I think it’s really cool too. I love my job.’
There was a quiet pause in their conversation.
‘I still wish you could stay longer.’
Rachel put her arms round her again.
‘You can come and visit if your Dad ’s OK with that.’
‘Dad’s OK with that,’ came the reply. Eric was standing by the door, listening to their conversation.
He looked relaxed now, the tension after their post-coital conversation now gone. His hair was slightly ruffled and he had changed into a blue shirt and cream trousers. He was very handsome, athletic and elegant. She was dismayed to feel that her attraction to him had intensified if anything after their lovemaking.
She chastised herself for not being able to resist him. Their relationship, whether she liked it or not, now had an added level of complication. With Esme involved she couldn’t simply cut relations. This little girl had formed some kind of attachment to her and she couldn’t just an nn’t jbandon her. She felt it was only right to let Esme work this out of her system in her own time. She was sure that after a few visits, her interest and affection towards Rachel would diminish.
‘ Esme, come and get ready. We’re driving Rachel home.’
‘No Eric. I need to walk....you know ..get some fresh air. My house isn’t far from here. Thanks anyway,’ she interjected quickly.
‘ You’ve a bad cut to your arm and the weather’s closing in again. We’ll run you home.’ She could tell by his tone that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Esme jumped to her feet, shouting for Jack to follow her, ‘I’ll get my jacket.’
Rachel rose to her feet. Eric continued to watch her from the doorway.
‘I’m not going to let you walk out of my life Rachel..... I don’t know what’s happened in your past but I want you to know that I’m not that man.’
Frustrated she sighed, ‘I ...I ....don’t want any ties Eric.’
Their conversation was halted as Esme bounded into the room, ran up to Rachel and threw her arms round her.
Eric joined her and held both of them together, kissing Rachel on her forehead.
For a brief moment, Rachel had a sense of belonging and it felt warm and welcome.
Eric broke their embrace and linked his arm through Rachel’s.
‘I’ll take you to the car.’ He winked at her and led her through a door leading from the kitchen, straight into a garage.
A large Audi 4x4 was parked there and Eric opened the passenger door for her, helping her climb into the sea t. Esme bounded into the back seat with Jack following her closely.
‘Where’s home Rachel?’
He pressed a button on the dashboard and the garage door slowly opened. He drove the car through and into the sunshine. Rachel could see dark storm clouds were gathering on the horizon.
‘Drive up the coast to Larig Beach. I’ve got the cottage at the north side of the bay.’
‘I know exactly where you are. It’s a beautiful place. Fantastic views of that little island if I remember’
Rachel turned to Esme in the back seat, ‘The island’s called Ersay. When you come and visit, I’ll show you the amazing creatures that live on the beach, maybe take you out to Ersay.’
‘I’d love that. When can I come?’
‘I’ll leave you my number and you can give me a call when you’ve some free time. I’m guessing you’ll be back to school tomorrow?’
She nodded and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
‘Are you back at the surgery tomorrow?’ she turned to look at Eric.
‘I think I’ll ask Jon to cover tomorrow...< tomorr.’
‘Ahh Dad,’ Esme protested, ‘you didn’t tell me you were taking an extra day off. Can I take a day off too?’
‘School tomorrow Esme. I’ve got things I need to sort out tomorrow.’ He took his eyes off the road and held Rachel’s gaze.
‘So how long’ve you been on the Peninsula Rachel?’ he changed the subject quickly
‘A bout six months.’
‘And
‘That’s so cool!’ said Esme.
‘I think it’s really cool too. I love my job.’
There was a quiet pause in their conversation.
‘I still wish you could stay longer.’
Rachel put her arms round her again.
‘You can come and visit if your Dad ’s OK with that.’
‘Dad’s OK with that,’ came the reply. Eric was standing by the door, listening to their conversation.
He looked relaxed now, the tension after their post-coital conversation now gone. His hair was slightly ruffled and he had changed into a blue shirt and cream trousers. He was very handsome, athletic and elegant. She was dismayed to feel that her attraction to him had intensified if anything after their lovemaking.
She chastised herself for not being able to resist him. Their relationship, whether she liked it or not, now had an added level of complication. With Esme involved she couldn’t simply cut relations. This little girl had formed some kind of attachment to her and she couldn’t just an nn’t jbandon her. She felt it was only right to let Esme work this out of her system in her own time. She was sure that after a few visits, her interest and affection towards Rachel would diminish.
‘ Esme, come and get ready. We’re driving Rachel home.’
‘No Eric. I need to walk....you know ..get some fresh air. My house isn’t far from here. Thanks anyway,’ she interjected quickly.
‘ You’ve a bad cut to your arm and the weather’s closing in again. We’ll run you home.’ She could tell by his tone that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Esme jumped to her feet, shouting for Jack to follow her, ‘I’ll get my jacket.’
Rachel rose to her feet. Eric continued to watch her from the doorway.
‘I’m not going to let you walk out of my life Rachel..... I don’t know what’s happened in your past but I want you to know that I’m not that man.’
Frustrated she sighed, ‘I ...I ....don’t want any ties Eric.’
Their conversation was halted as Esme bounded into the room, ran up to Rachel and threw her arms round her.
Eric joined her and held both of them together, kissing Rachel on her forehead.
For a brief moment, Rachel had a sense of belonging and it felt warm and welcome.
Eric broke their embrace and linked his arm through Rachel’s.
‘I’ll take you to the car.’ He winked at her and led her through a door leading from the kitchen, straight into a garage.
A large Audi 4x4 was parked there and Eric opened the passenger door for her, helping her climb into the sea t. Esme bounded into the back seat with Jack following her closely.
‘Where’s home Rachel?’
He pressed a button on the dashboard and the garage door slowly opened. He drove the car through and into the sunshine. Rachel could see dark storm clouds were gathering on the horizon.
‘Drive up the coast to Larig Beach. I’ve got the cottage at the north side of the bay.’
‘I know exactly where you are. It’s a beautiful place. Fantastic views of that little island if I remember’
Rachel turned to Esme in the back seat, ‘The island’s called Ersay. When you come and visit, I’ll show you the amazing creatures that live on the beach, maybe take you out to Ersay.’
‘I’d love that. When can I come?’
‘I’ll leave you my number and you can give me a call when you’ve some free time. I’m guessing you’ll be back to school tomorrow?’
She nodded and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
‘Are you back at the surgery tomorrow?’ she turned to look at Eric.
‘I think I’ll ask Jon to cover tomorrow...< tomorr.’
‘Ahh Dad,’ Esme protested, ‘you didn’t tell me you were taking an extra day off. Can I take a day off too?’
‘School tomorrow Esme. I’ve got things I need to sort out tomorrow.’ He took his eyes off the road and held Rachel’s gaze.
‘So how long’ve you been on the Peninsula Rachel?’ he changed the subject quickly
‘A bout six months.’
‘And
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