Harvest of Hope

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The House of Four Seasons

Part 2

The days ran one into another; Diane had lost count, wasn’t sure what day it was, but it didn’t matter, nothing did but Cal. She was lost in him; it had not occurred to her just how vulnerable she was when he came, how much she needed him. He made her feel whole again, restored her faith in herself and made her feel feminine and sexy; something she’d not felt in an awful long time.

She’d hardly noticed her ankle for the house magic was slowly healing her, each day she was stronger and had tucked her cane in the wardrobe. Soon the slight limp would be gone and the thin traces of her surgery would disappear. So caught up in her new found ardor, she failed to notice; but Cal did.

Enjoying an early morning walk down one of the many paths on the property, "You’d never know you came here with a broken ankle."

"That’s true, everyday it seems to be better, I think this place is what I needed. I can’t remember ever feeling so relaxed…and loved."

"Better than physical therapy."

"Oh yes, my doctor was going to set me up for that before I came here. He said I wasn’t coming along as well as he’d hoped. There were probably a lot of reasons for that."

"I hope they’re gone now, all those reasons. You’re a fantastic woman, Diane," he stopped and pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"Oh, Cal it’s you, you’ve healed me from within."

He looked into her eyes recognizing what was there for him, she loved him, he could feel it, almost taste it but there was nowhere for it to go. He was beginning to love her too, but he was aware of the days passing; two months and he would be gone back to his movie world…and where would she be then?

"It’s not me that’s healing you, Diane, you’re doing it yourself. I think you’ve found yourself again. You’ll leave here a lot stronger than when you came. Don’t put it all on me."

"I don’t want to think about leaving. I don’t know what you feel for me but I love you."

"Yes you do know what I feel," he took her hand and began walking again.

She’d been pushing the thought of his leaving back in her mind. She wanted this to go on forever and wished he hadn’t brought it up. She knew of course that she could stay here, but he wouldn’t be with her. She’d fallen headlong into it; a relationship with someone she could not have. It was cruel and the more she thought about it the more it cut deeply into her.

He sensed a change in her, they’d walked around the pond and came to a wooden bench, he sat her down. "What is it, Diane?"

She felt tears pricking her eyes and bit her lip; she couldn’t look at him and concentrated on the leaves floating on the pond. "I think I’ve lost control of myself, I knew after Andy left what to expect. This is only temporary, three months vacation and then it’s over. I’m just not prepared for that…for it to be over. I can’t help it; I’ve fallen in love with you."

He lifted her chin, "I love you too, but we both know what this is…right?"

"Part of my brain knows, the other part doesn’t car; it wants you."

He gathered her in his arms, "You’ve got me, Diane all of me; right now here today, and for the next two months. Don’t waste time thinking about what’s ahead; we’ll deal with that when it comes. I said ‘we’ understand?"

"Yes, I think so, I’m sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about," he kissed her softly.

He knew he was going to have to do something about this situation, she’d just come through a hard time and he didn’t want to leave her worse than he’d found her. There had been no information about this kind of thing in the instructions. What do you do when you fall in love? Whatever happens…well it had happened. He knew what the options were, but he wasn’t sure she could handle that.

"Tell me about your daughter, the one that sent you here."

"Mary, she’s lovely and so intelligent. She’s gone to England for a year to study on an exchange program. I would have taken a student myself if it hadn’t been for my present circumstances. It’s not really a year, she’ll be back in summer. She’s sending me emails daily and sounds like she’s having the time of her life."

"She’s seventeen?"

"Yes, and I’m going to miss her birthday in December."

"Where will you be in December?"

"Oh dear I don’t know…working hopefully. We still need to put together my resume."

"That’s right we do." So she wasn’t planning on staying, he took a breath. "We’ll get started on that." He hugged her a little tighter. "What have you told her about your vacation?"

"I’ve described this place to her but I have not mentioned magic…or you." She looked at him, "I wouldn’t know how to go about that or what to say."

It bothered him a little, she wasn’t going to stay…hadn’t mentioned him, "Probably a good thing, she probably wouldn’t believe it anyway."

"She’s still very much attached to her father, I don’t know if she holds out hope there or not."

"Do you…hold out hope things can be put back together?"

"No…never, Cal. Some things can never be repaired. No, that’s over…gone.

"Let’s walk back." He could not complicate things with his own feelings, could not. He raised his head and let the breeze blow through his hair.

The weather turned cold in October, walks were accomplished with down jackets, and yet they walked every day the weather permitted. Diane felt the strength returning to her ankle and her weakened leg. In fact she hardly ever thought of it when she began to walk. She felt healthy and vibrant. Her long dark hair was shining as were her eyes. Especially when Cal was near. She made use of the clothes she found in her wardrobe including the dark brown low heeled boots.

They took trips into Gloucester and explored all the little villages on Cape Ann. Halloween found them in Salem taking advantage of all the hokey tourist attractions that sprung up this time of year. She pointed out the coffee shop where she’d met Andy. Cal met her eyes for a moment, ever aware of time passing. Diane found him a perfect companion he was comfortable to be with, enjoyed the same things she did, he was highly intelligent and a good conversationalist, well read and interested. He was exactly what she wanted in her life.

Diane found her old resume on her lap top for him to use as a base, and wrote down what she’d done since coming to the law firm that let her go. He spent a few hours one afternoon writing her resume. Diane lay on the sofa in the library while he worked and read a book, answering questions when he asked.

"It’s done, come and give your approval," He got up from the desk chair and Diane sat down and read it.

"How could anyone not hire me after this, Cal, excellent. Thank you."

"Thank me after you find a job. You should try looking in DC, it’s a commute but your chances would be better. They’re always hiring lawyers."

"And that’s where you are."

"Well, heh, yeah." He wouldn’t be anywhere she would find him, sad fact. He walked over to the French doors and watched the snow fall. He’d tried very hard not to fall in love with her and not to let her know how deep his feelings went.

Diane heard something in the tone of his voice and got up and walked over putting her arms around his waist and leaning her head in the middle of his shoulders. He closed his eyes.

"How long does it take to fall in love, Cal?"

"Forty five days."

"Thirty."

"I fought it longer."

"I didn’t fight at all. What are we going to do?"

"There’s nothing, Diane, nothing acceptable that we can do."

"What do you mean acceptable, what isn’t?"

He turned in her arms and placed his on her shoulders, "Nothing I would ask you to do. Let’s don’t even go there."

"But if there’s a way…"

"There isn’t, not for us." He wouldn’t tell her the only way they could ever be together would be for her to accept the house’s magic and establish four seasons, three other companions; that was the only way he could return to her next fall. "You’ve got your resume and a job to find, your daughter will be returning in the summer, you’ve got a life to begin again."

"It’s going to be awfully empty without you, I can’t begin to tell you what you mean to me, I thought I was through with love, but you…there will never be anyone, Cal; no one could ever take your place."

"You’ll find somebody," he heard himself saying, "I could write you another resume you have so much to offer. I know what you’re capable of." He took her face in his hands and kissed her.