A Winter Sabbatical (Books We Love holiday romance) by Cheryl Wright Page B
Authors: Cheryl Wright
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biggest concern was that Marissa
was using him as a shield – a shield against her painful memories; memories of
Jeremy.
Deep down, he knew it wasn’t true. Marissa
would never use him like that. She would never do that to anyone, let alone
Travis.
He glanced across at her. She was watching
the countryside pass her by. She seemed to be in awe of its beauty – its rugged
splendor.
She once told him she was a city girl
through and through, but Travis now realized it simply wasn’t true. Marissa was
at home here in the country, in Maldon.
And Maldon was where he wanted her to be.
He recalled that first day they met – the way she’d become so excited on seeing
his home. Could he convince her to live in that home? He certainly hoped so.
Come what may, Travis wanted to spend the
rest of his life with Marissa Temple.
They pulled into the picnic grounds in the
late afternoon. There were still a few other cars in the car park, and children
on the playground equipment, their parents not far away.
Together they’d packed a hurried picnic
dinner comprising of sandwiches, drinks and some leftover cake. Travis didn’t
care what they ate, as long as they ate together.
It was a long time since he’d come to these
grounds, years in fact, and he barely recognized it. Somewhere here was a track
to follow, ending at a spectacular waterfall. At least that’s what he seemed to
recall.
“A penny for them.”
Marissa turned to him, startled by his
words. “Huh?” She was worlds away.
“Your thoughts. A penny for your thoughts.”
He reached across the space between them and brushed a stray wisp of hair from
her tired face. These last two days seemed to be too much for her.
“I was thinking about how stunning it is
here.”
And I
was thinking how stunning you are , Travis silently
added.
Together they carried the basket of food to
a grassy area nearby. Travis flicked the blanket out over the lush grass, then
Marissa set out their food on it.
As they ate, Travis looked about them. The
place had changed a lot since his last visit. It had to be at least ten years
since he’d been there. Absolute minimum.
Electric barbeques, four of them, were
housed under a picnic shed. The children’s playground was new, there wasn’t one
last time he visited, Travis was almost certain.
And the walking tracks were now paved. They
were just dirt tracks the last time he came. That would certainly make life
easier.
He popped the cork on the champagne, and
filled two glasses, handing one to Marissa.
“To love and happiness.” Travis leaned
forward and kissed her briefly.
Champagne was an extravagance at a picnic
he knew, but love was always worth celebrating. Especially love with Marissa.
“Love and happiness.” Marissa clinked her
glass against his, but abruptly turned her head away.
How could he have been so blind? He’d
overwhelmed her. With his attentions, his lovemaking, perhaps even his very
presence.
But he didn’t comment as Marissa brushed at
her errant tears, then turned back to him smiling and drinking her champagne.
Almost the second they’d finished eating,
Marissa began to pack up – as though she couldn’t wait to get away. Travis was
puzzled. He was sure she would love it there.
“Come on slow coach. I want to go on the
walk.” Ah, so that was it. “And I
don’t want to be coming back in the dark.”
Travis helped with the packing away, then
they started their adventure. If he remembered correctly, the climb was pretty
steep.
Sure enough, steep it was. At least now
there were handrails to help with the steady climb.
Another new addition, Travis noted, were
the lights jotted along the path, making it easier to find the way back to the
car park in the evening.
Marissa ran ahead of him, occasionally
waiting, sometimes grabbing his hand impatiently and pulling Travis along after
her.
Finally they arrived at their destination –
the waterfall.
Marissa stood in awe. The waterfall was
spectacular,
was using him as a shield – a shield against her painful memories; memories of
Jeremy.
Deep down, he knew it wasn’t true. Marissa
would never use him like that. She would never do that to anyone, let alone
Travis.
He glanced across at her. She was watching
the countryside pass her by. She seemed to be in awe of its beauty – its rugged
splendor.
She once told him she was a city girl
through and through, but Travis now realized it simply wasn’t true. Marissa was
at home here in the country, in Maldon.
And Maldon was where he wanted her to be.
He recalled that first day they met – the way she’d become so excited on seeing
his home. Could he convince her to live in that home? He certainly hoped so.
Come what may, Travis wanted to spend the
rest of his life with Marissa Temple.
They pulled into the picnic grounds in the
late afternoon. There were still a few other cars in the car park, and children
on the playground equipment, their parents not far away.
Together they’d packed a hurried picnic
dinner comprising of sandwiches, drinks and some leftover cake. Travis didn’t
care what they ate, as long as they ate together.
It was a long time since he’d come to these
grounds, years in fact, and he barely recognized it. Somewhere here was a track
to follow, ending at a spectacular waterfall. At least that’s what he seemed to
recall.
“A penny for them.”
Marissa turned to him, startled by his
words. “Huh?” She was worlds away.
“Your thoughts. A penny for your thoughts.”
He reached across the space between them and brushed a stray wisp of hair from
her tired face. These last two days seemed to be too much for her.
“I was thinking about how stunning it is
here.”
And I
was thinking how stunning you are , Travis silently
added.
Together they carried the basket of food to
a grassy area nearby. Travis flicked the blanket out over the lush grass, then
Marissa set out their food on it.
As they ate, Travis looked about them. The
place had changed a lot since his last visit. It had to be at least ten years
since he’d been there. Absolute minimum.
Electric barbeques, four of them, were
housed under a picnic shed. The children’s playground was new, there wasn’t one
last time he visited, Travis was almost certain.
And the walking tracks were now paved. They
were just dirt tracks the last time he came. That would certainly make life
easier.
He popped the cork on the champagne, and
filled two glasses, handing one to Marissa.
“To love and happiness.” Travis leaned
forward and kissed her briefly.
Champagne was an extravagance at a picnic
he knew, but love was always worth celebrating. Especially love with Marissa.
“Love and happiness.” Marissa clinked her
glass against his, but abruptly turned her head away.
How could he have been so blind? He’d
overwhelmed her. With his attentions, his lovemaking, perhaps even his very
presence.
But he didn’t comment as Marissa brushed at
her errant tears, then turned back to him smiling and drinking her champagne.
Almost the second they’d finished eating,
Marissa began to pack up – as though she couldn’t wait to get away. Travis was
puzzled. He was sure she would love it there.
“Come on slow coach. I want to go on the
walk.” Ah, so that was it. “And I
don’t want to be coming back in the dark.”
Travis helped with the packing away, then
they started their adventure. If he remembered correctly, the climb was pretty
steep.
Sure enough, steep it was. At least now
there were handrails to help with the steady climb.
Another new addition, Travis noted, were
the lights jotted along the path, making it easier to find the way back to the
car park in the evening.
Marissa ran ahead of him, occasionally
waiting, sometimes grabbing his hand impatiently and pulling Travis along after
her.
Finally they arrived at their destination –
the waterfall.
Marissa stood in awe. The waterfall was
spectacular,
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