Loved But Broken

Chapter 6

Arriving at Grandma Annie’s a few days later was daunting. I felt lost for the first ever when we arrived. Grandma Annie had invited everyone she knew to her place for Christmas including her new friend Kristof he had Norwegian background. He seen something in me Christmas Day and a friendship was formed that would last a lifetime. Over the next few weeks, we would see Kristof often. Gran and Pa volunteered at the local race club and Kristoff was one of the horse handlers. He had a way with them. He even got me liking horses again and I was able to go out on a trail ride with him and a few other people. Gran had to approve first of course. Nearing the end of my time at Grans I overheard her on the phone to someone. “Soph is fine you don’t need to worry...No she hasn’t said anything about him...No Louise I haven’t taken away her phone she needs it while she is here, she’s out with the horses...Louise everything will be fine she won’t be thinking about William by the time she leaves here.” My heart sank they knew. How did they know about William? I snuck back out to the horse my phone on silent I sent a quick message to William I knew he was at work at this time of day and he probably wouldn’t reply yet. A few minutes later my phone lit up.

William: Soph you ok?

Me: yeah, they know they all know about us.

William: What do you mean they know

Me: Mum Dad they found out about us idk how

Me: I overheard gran on the phone to Mum they sent me here to forget about you

Me: that is not going to happen though

William: s**t that’s why your Dad was acting weird the other day

Me: I love you babe nothing will stop me

William: I know babe I love you too.

William: everything will be ok.

Me: what if they try and lock me away when I’m back home.

William: we will still see each other babe. You are mine and I am yours.

William: I love you more than I should babe

William: I know you had a hard time when my accident happened

William: but I’m not leaving you again. It broke my heart being away from you for so long.

Me: what are we going to do about Mum and Dad

William: babe we will talk to them together. I got to go il try and call you tomorrow

Me: ok babe I gtg too gran will be out any minute ily with all my heart

Kristof came around the corner of the stable just as I was hiding my phone back inside my jacket. His smile was magical it lit up his whole face. “hi Soph, how was the ride earlier?”

“yeah, was great I’d forgotten how free it felt being on the back of a horse again”

“Again? Have you ridden before?”

“It was a long time ago. Gran used to own a few horses and every Christmas when we'd visit, we would be allowed to go for a ride. But about five years ago I fell off one. We were climbing up a gully and I was holding on tight enough and slipped sideways off the horse. Gran never knew and I haven’t been on a horse until today.”

“Oh, he said. What made you get back up today and give it another go?”

I looked at him and gave him a weak smile finding the right words before saying, “Actually you, I seen how you respond to them and I missed that feeling. Once upon a time I could respond to them with sincerity and love just like you. I had a feeling that you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. Probably because Gran would kill you if it did, bring you back and kill you again for not being more protective of her eldest granddaughter. I see in your eyes the same look I have seen in someone else’s eyes when they look at me. You wanted to protect me. I know you were shocked Christmas Day when we’re talking and you found out my age. I am happy to have a friend that can see the real me. Someone apart from that person you just caught me talking to as you came around the corner.”

He looked at me his deep blue eyes raising slightly as if to say damn you’ve caught me out. “It’s ok your secret is safe I’m guessing it was an older guy, boyfriend? Maybe that you can’t talk to freely.”

Damn this man was good it was as if he could read my thoughts. A lifetime of friendship was forming. One that anyone close to me would try and shut down because he was older than me. Gran would try but wouldn’t succeed. A few days later I had to leave, Kristoff and I had exchanged numbers without Gran knowing he told me I could talk to him anytime.

Arriving back home wasn’t the same. I felt like a different person. I felt lost. William snuck into my room the first night I was back, for the first time in over year I could see hurt in his soul. Something I'm sure he could see in mine too. I wanted to live my life with him beside me. My life felt complete with him. That night we made love with more passion than ever before. Even though we both knew it was forbidden we had to have to each other. Our hearts were intertwined and no matter what life threw at us I knew we would be able to withstand everything. I snuggled into his arms and we stayed like that for ages. Everyone was asleep in the house.

We talked for hours in each other’s arms about everything. We even talked about sitting down with Mum and Dad and telling them what we both wanted was each other with or without their approval. When though well that was the problem. I know they weren’t ready to accept us. I told him about my trip to Grans and my trail ride with Kristoff and a group of others. He listened while I talked. And he told me all about work and how he missed me while I was away. I couldn’t hide my excitement. My sea green eyes lit up like a Christmas tree while I told him about my adventures at Grans and the light died out when I came to the end of my story. It was everything I wish I could have enjoyed with him by my side. William was all I could think about. So, consumed in my thoughts I must have tuned him out because all I caught from his story was, he was moving away in six months’ time. I didn’t know what to say. I reached up to cup his face and pulled him into one of our passionate kisses. Him and I against the world.

“Soph, I got to go before anyone wakes up.” He whispered in my ear, placing one last long kiss, tongues dancing with each other we parted for the night. Nothing could break my happiness being back in his arms again I was truly home.

“Night, babe I love you I’ll see you in the morning.”

Days passed, holidays were ending and I wasn’t looking forward to the new school year. Thoughts racing through my mind how was I going to make it through the year when all I wanted was to be in the arms of one person.

Sounds of a horn blaring in the distance pulled me from memories, looking up just in time to see the silver snake pulling up to the platform. My memories buried again for now. Standing up after sitting for so long I found my land legs and hopped on to my train. Ready for my trip home to my reality where life isn’t what it seems. Taking my seat, I had time to kick back while I waited for my stop. A few seats down I could hear the faint acoustics someone was playing their guitar. It was so peaceful. I closed my eyes leaning back into my seat pulled back into my memories. Taking me back in time. His golden eyes shone brightly in my memories, smiling at me across the room.

Looking up I smiled, winking at him. Love can make someone do strange things. Love is what I was feeling. Nothing could change how I was feeling. Six months had passed and all I could think of was him, my William. No-one around he came over to me, wrapping his arms around me the sweet smell of roses in the garden overpowered the fresh smell of shorn sheep he was covered in. “Soph, you’re so beautiful, sun reflecting your beauty more. God I’ve missed that smile babe.”

“William,” I whispered as the warmth of his arms embraced me home. “omg I didn’t know you were back.

“It’s ok babe, I wanted to surprise you god I’ve missed that smile, the sweet smell of frangipanis, I wanted you all this time. I couldn’t leave without seeing you for so long. So, I got more work here I won’t be leaving again babe you are where I need to be.”

Breathless, speechless for the first time ever I couldn’t believe how much I wanted him. Sneaking back to his room where we could hide away for hours. Peaceful for the first time in years. Safe even. My world was complete.