Summer Rain Part 2

Written soon after Pt1. Altered the ending of Pt1 to make this work better. Also evolved a little to fit in the later parts.


Kitty Returns


It was funny, he mused, he hadn’t thought of her too often in the last year or so. For four long years he had wondered whether he’d done the right thing. It had affected, or infected, the few relationships he’d had since the evening they’d parted, the guilt. The brief fling with Mandy, the briefer one with Jean. Then he’d finally asked Rachel out. For the next six months they had been almost inseparable, and he’d almost forgotten The Girl With The Smile. Almost. Then had come the row and Rachel had left for America on her own. For the last few months he’d had little to do with women, and finally the memories had faded. Then this morning, riding to work on his motorbike, he’d realised Alex still had his spare helmet. He hadn’t been without one since...
He wondered what had become of her. Things had certainly improved for him. He had his own refuse crew now and had passed his HGV test, meaning he sometimes drove the dustcart. He hoped she had done equally well for herself.
As he entered the office he saw a smirk on the face of the refuse manager.
“What?” He said, suspiciously.
“Eddie, good to see you.”
“Just tell me what’s wrong.”
“We would like you to take a trainee reporter out with you today.” The smirk widened into a grin. “A lady reporter.”
“Oh thanks a bunch. Just what I need on a Friday.” He paused to think. “I suppose you’ve already got Alex to take the calendar down?” There was an answering nod. “And I’d better warn the others about their language.”
“That would be a good idea.” The manager glanced out of the window and continued. “That looks like her arriving now. What was her name again, it’s here somewhere?” He shuffled through some papers on his desk. “Oh yes. Katherine Summers.” The name hit Eddie like a hammer-blow, it couldn’t be!
“What name was that?”
“Katherine Summers.”
He heard a gentle tap on the door, then the door opening. The manager went on.
“Ah, Miss Summers, come in. This is Eddie Harrison, in charge of the crew you’ll be with today.”
Eddie turned around slowly.
“Hello Kitty.” He said. The polite smile on her face froze for a moment, and then spread into the huge grin he remembered so well.

She didn’t really expect him to still be working at the same job; he’d always seemed misplaced as a dustman. The most she was hoping for was that there might be someone who could put her in touch with him. She rapped lightly on the office door, and then went in. The refuse manager, who she had spoken to the day before, was talking to someone with their back to her.
“Ah, Miss Summers, come in. This is Eddie Harrison, in charge of the crew you’ll be with today.” At the mention of his name she faltered, her smile frozen. It wasn’t possible! He turned around to face her, smiling that same wry smile she’d dreamt about for so long. She felt herself grinning like a schoolgirl once again.
“Hello Kitty.” He said.
“Hello Eddie.” She replied. There was an awkward pause as they both tried to think of something to say. Finally she spoke. “So, you’re going to look after me for the day?”
“We shall endeavour to aid the press to the best of our meagre abilities.” He nodded his head in parody of a formal bow. The manager snorted.
“You definitely read too much Eddie; you’re starting to sound like a book. Go and get the rest of your rabble together while I have a few words with our charming guest.”
As he left the office she noticed the sharp glance he gave the manager and wondered what it was about, then her eyes caught his and she found she couldn’t break the contact until he’d left. When she looked back to the manager she found he had an inquiring look on his face.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise that there was any history between you. I can get another crew to take you out if you’d prefer?” She looked away from him.
“No, it’s perfectly all right, as long as Mr. Harrison has no objections.” She sighed. “The whole thing happened some years ago now.” She pulled her thoughts back together on the job in hand. “I will get to see how the whole crew works, won’t I, not just the dustcart?”
“Sure, I’ll have a word with Eddie. Just tell him what sort of thing you want.”
“Now I’m not so sure.” She muttered under her breath.

He hadn’t worked as fast for months, the refuse sacks went flying into the back, one after the other. The crew could barely keep ahead of him. Some force was driving him on. It was as if he had to keep her in view or he would lose her again. This sudden meeting had reawakened the feelings he had for her, feelings he thought long gone, but obviously they had merely been suppressed.
They came to the point where they had arranged to pick her up again. As he jumped out of the cab she flashed him a smile as she climbed in. Although he knew she was only talking with Alex he felt jealous. And all of the others had spent some part of the day with her. A sudden panic gripped him. Was she avoiding him? Perhaps she didn’t still feel the same way about him as he did for her? Maybe she hated him for breaking her heart? He stopped still, calming his racing thoughts. He remembered her smile in the office. She couldn’t hate him, not after a smile like that. Perhaps she was as unsure as he was. Then, a little more hopefully, maybe she was just doing her job?

It was easy for her to talk to the crew. They were all fairly young and new to the job; only the driver had been on this crew for more than a year, none of them would remember anything from five years ago. As she talked with Alex the driver she wasn’t that surprised to discover that Eddie liked to keep his crew the most efficient. When he’d taken over the charge-hand job, he’d also taken on the high standards of the man before.
She knew she would have to talk to him and she was getting a little nervous and kept glancing at him in the mirrors. It was all very well wanting to meet him again, but what if he didn’t still feel the same way about her? Or if he still felt that the age difference was too much? Was she just chasing an old memory? The driver looked over at her as once more she checked the mirrors. He sighed and put the handbrake on.
“Time for a shift change.” He said, and slipped out of the cab.

He was a little surprised at the suggestion that he take over the driving; normally he almost had to pull Alex out of the cab to get behind the wheel. He shrugged his shoulders and then pulled himself into the driving seat. He looked across at Kitty. She looked as worried as he felt. He smiled at her.
“Hello princess. It’s been a long time.”
“Hello Eddie. It has, hasn’t it?" Impulsively he reached out and caught her hand, pulling her towards him. They kissed. It seemed to last forever. A buzzing sound filled his ears, then he realised it was Alex wanting to move to the next pile of sacks. She pulled back, blushing.
“I’m sorry.” He said with embarrassment, as he moved the vehicle forward.
“Don’t be. I’ve waited a long time to see you again.”
“You have?” He was genuinely surprised. “Maybe it’ll be easier to talk about it later. Can I take you out tonight? Get a bite to eat perhaps?”
“The Chippie again?” She grinned.
“If you like.” He laughed back. “Now, what about those questions for your article?”

He was to pick her up at the motel where she was staying. Getting off the bike he realised he still hadn’t recovered his spare helmet. With any luck she had a car they could use. Shrugging, he knocked on the door. She opened it, smiling when she saw his helmet beneath his arm.
“Come in, I won’t be a second.” She disappeared into the other room. Eddie was at a loss for a moment. How did you ask someone for the loan of a car when you were supposed to be picking them up?
“Er, I was wondering if you had a car.” He asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Sure, but we don’t want to use it, do we?” Her voice was muffled slightly. He shifted his feet uncomfortably.
“Don’t be too certain.” He muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Are you sure that you wouldn’t be warmer in a car?” He was beginning to sound desperate and he knew it.
“Don’t be silly. Anyway it’s been absolutely ages since I was on a motorbike.” She came back into the room holding something behind her back. “Come on then, let’s hit the road.”
“There may be a slight problem.” He began to explain, stopping as she brought a helmet out from behind her. It was the one he’d left her with five years before.
“I thought I might be needing this again some day.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Premonition?”
“I meant why have you still got that particular helmet?”
“Premonition?”
“All right, I give in. Let’s go.”

She looked across the table at him. He certainly seemed more self-confidant in public. Probably the responsibility had brought that out in him. The meal had been wonderful. They had come to one of the swish places just outside of town, but now it was time to go.
“Do you remember the last meal we had together?” She asked.
“I’ve never forgotten a single moment of the times we had.” He looked away from her. “Although I’ve pushed them aside from time to time.” She recognised that reticence from before.
“You’re not going to start on about that age thing again are you?”
“Never again princess. But you must realise that I thought I’d never see you again, or if I did, that you’d not want to speak to me after what I did. So I tried to forget you...” He trailed off. Kitty smiled at him, his imagination was obviously on overtime again.
“Don’t torture yourself. I never truly expected to see you again either, but when I got the chance to try I jumped at it.” She placed her hands on the table. “I know what you’re trying to say, and you should realise that I’ve had other dates too, so don’t worry about it.” She was trying not to laugh at the way his face brightened then darkened as she spoke, the relief and jealousy intermingling. “Let’s go.” She said, reaching for his hand across the table.
Out in the car park she stopped him and pulled him close to her side.
“About trying to forget me, did it work?”
He shook his head slowly.
“Never completely or for long.”
“Nor for me.” Then before he could say anymore she kissed him. He responded. She lost herself in his arms. This kiss made all the others pale into insignificance, it went on forever. Abruptly they were interrupted by a car horn, as someone wanted to get past.
“I’ll take you home.” He said.

During the ride back he was more aware than ever of her proximity. She had wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. It felt right, almost pre-ordained, as if it was meant to be. He didn’t hurry.
It was starting to rain as they pulled up outside the motel once more.
“This sort of gentle summer rain has always reminded me of you.” He said as they dismounted. She looked at him, slightly puzzled. “I first began to notice you when it rained on us in that close all those years ago.” Impulsively he grabbed her hand. “Shall we dance Cinderella?” She laughed with him as he led her in a waltz around the car park.
“You’re daft.” She panted as they stopped outside her cabin.
“Only in your delicious presence.” He smiled at her.
“Then kiss me, you mad fool, kiss me.” He obeyed. It was another time-melting kiss. He decided he was getting better at them. Finally he pulled away.
“I’d better be going, it’s getting late.”
“But you’re soaked; you’ll catch your death. Come in and get dry.”
He looked into her eyes and knew what she was feeling. He felt it too, maybe more. Then with an effort he said.
“No, I’d better go. It’s for the best.” He smiled. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Nothing especially, why?”
“Then I’ll pick you up at nine.”
“Make it ten.”
“All right, ten it is. Au revoir, mon petite chere.” He said, jumping onto the bike. She waved as he roared out of the car park.
On his way home he began to think, maybe he could put that extra hour to good use.

She sat on the bed drying her hair, turning things over in her mind. Tomorrow morning she would have to make a few arrangements. Now that she’d found him once more, she didn’t want to lose him again for any reason. Maybe she could finish the course from here, if she could just sweet-talk the Principal and the Editor of the local paper into it. That would have to wait until the morning though. Hopefully she would be able to get hold of them.
Satisfied, she lay back against the pillows, reliving the day. He was still as shy, still had to ‘work his way up to things’ as he put it. He was a little more serious now, but not much, thankfully. Really he was still the same person that she’d thought of for five years. She turned out the light, rolled on to her side and fell asleep.

He was a little late he knew. That errand into the shopping centre had taken him a little longer than he’d expected. As he knocked on her door he could hear her talking on the phone through the open window.
“Right, I’ll be down on Monday to sign the papers. Yes. Yes. All right, see you on Monday then. Thank you. Goodbye.” She had opened the door, the phone clutched under her chin.
“So, leaving already?” He asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Just for the day, I couldn’t bear it for longer.” She said, pretending to swoon.
“But why?” He could feel the anxiety creeping into his tone. She put the phone down.
“Aren’t we insecure this morning? As I hate to see a grown man cry I’ll tell you. I’ve one or two loose ends to tie up before I start my new job.”
“New job?” He was puzzled.
“I’m the latest staff reporter on the local paper.”
“I thought that was your job anyway.”
“No, I was just on a placement from my Journalist course. But not anymore. So there are no barriers between us now.”
“I didn’t know there were any.”
“Only the ones put there by you, you big idiot.” She smiled and put her arms around him. He was starting to feel confused. Then with a shrug he decided to forget it. He looked into her brightly shining eyes.
“Kitty, I think I love you.”
“Only think?”
“I’ve told you before; I have to work up to things.” She gave him a punch on the arm.
“Come on then.” She said. “Where are we going?”
“Straight to the top, princess.” He said, in an appalling imitation of Humphrey Bogart. She laughed again. He grinned, and then became serious.
“Before we go anywhere, would you...” He struggled with the words. “Would you become my fiancée?” He looked down at his feet, that hadn’t come out like he’d wanted. She kissed him gently on the cheek. Here comes the big let down he thought.
“You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that. Or something similar.” She added with a grin.
“Is that a yes?” He asked bemusedly.
“Yes, yes, yes.” She said, smothering his face in kisses. He just stood there, letting her enthusiasm roll over him.
“You’d better have this then.” He said, putting his hand in his pocket and handing her the small box that had been the subject of his earlier errand. “Open it.” She took it from him and slowly lifted the lid, sitting on the edge of an armchair as she did.
“It’s empty.” She cried, looking up into his face. Her look of despair was too much and he couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. He held out a closed hand, laughing.
“I’m sorry princess, I just couldn’t resist it.” She cautiously opened his hand to reveal an engagement ring.
“It’s beautiful.” She gasped.
“So are you.” He said. “Come here.” Their eyes met. “I do love you Kitty Summers.”
“And I love you Eddie Harrison. Now kiss me.”
And he did.