Roses at Home-3
William walked into the small church, which was now empty. The darkening sky looked even more threatening through the small windows, and the entire church was cloaked in darkness. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the inside.
“Now if I were Kate,” Will thought to himself, “Where would I hide from a boy?”
“Son? Is there something I can help you with?” Father John, the priest who performed the ceremony had returned. “You look lost.”
“Actually Father, I lost… something.” William was silent for a moment. “Father, is there a library in the church?” William wondered why the idea didn’t strike him earlier.
“Well yes my son,” Father pointed to a door at the end of a hallway to the right. “What are you looking for?” But William had already taken off running towards the door. He threw it open and yelled.
“Kate!” But she was not there. William looked around quickly and then dove under the lone table, sure to find the girl who was occupying far too much of his mind. But the table proved fruitless.
“William, who are you looking for?” Father John looked at William rather warily.
“Kate, Marie’s maid of honor. She’s missing. Her and I, we-.” He was cut off by his cell phone. “Hello? Yes Marie I’m looking. No I’m sure she’s safe. Yes I know there is a storm coming. Well we had an argument and- No I did not hurt her feelings. Okay maybe a little. Well I can’t find her if you are yelling at me. No I’m not sassing you- Okay I won’t ruin the wedding!” William hung up the phone and ran his hands through his hair.
Thunder began roaring outside and was following by the first drops of rain. Father John walked over to the window. “William, if its Kate Martin, Marie’s best friend, you’re looking for. I’d say you’d have better luck out there.” He pointed to the willow grove. He pulled out an umbrella from behind a shelf. “And you will need this.”
William looked at Father John as if he were crazy.
“William, time is of the essence.” Father John handed him the umbrella and left the library.
William still couldn’t understand why he had to go near trees during a storm. Was Father John trying to get him killed?
William reached the doorway, opened the umbrella and stepped outside. The rain was falling steadily now and the wind was picking up even more. He looked around the back of the building and saw the willow grove Father had just pointed out.
“Crazy old man,” he mumbled to himself. He walked carefully and followed the stepping stones to the trees. Each stone had names on it of benefactors of the church. William reached a stone that stopped right before the first tree. The branches grazed the ground like a curtain, beckoning him in. With the rain and the thick summer leaves, he couldn’t see anything past the branches. He looked down at the stone and saw something he did not see before.
It was a rose. A white rose, with a ribbon. He realized it was a corsage. He slipped it into his pocket and then saw something else.
A peach shoe. A strappy, high heeled, complicated contraption that only a lady could understand. A device terrible for walking in wet grass.
“So Father was right.” He gripped the umbrella and shoe in one hand. With the other he pulled some branches aside. He pulled a little further and slipped through. He was now standing in a cave of sorts. The walls and ceilings were branches covered in leaves. Some parts were so thick that the rain barely made it through. He looked around. Many willow trees were growing close to each other. They seemed to circle each other and form little caves here and there.
The rain picked up and William knew he had better hurry. His feet were now getting soaked and made squelching noises when he walked. Or perhaps it was the spongy earth. He didn’t know.
Squelch, squelch, squelch, tap. His foot hit something solid and he had reached another curtain. He found another shoe, a mirror of the last one. Gripping both shoes, and the umbrella, he pulled at the curtain. He slipped through and found himself in another cave. It was smaller and he had to stoop a little. He looked around. The rain had barely penetrated here. However the leaves were getting heavier and he knew better than to close the umbrella now.
“Kate,” he whispered. She was there. Barefoot, sitting in the mud, with her legs to one side and leaning on her left hand. Her head was down and her hair had come out of its lovely bun and was everywhere. There were leaves stuck in it. She was a mess. But a lovely, lonely mess. And she was William’s mess to clean up.
“Kate, lets get out of here.” He called to her over the rain. She turned around. “Uh oh,” he whispered to himself. Her mascara had streaked down her face. She was getting wetter by the minute and looked miserable. He walked over to her and knelt down beside her. Water was gathering in little puddles by the roots of the tree. He had an idea.
He put down the umbrella, he was wet anyway. He placed her shoes by her feet and then he pulled out his handkerchief. He unfolded it and dipped it in a puddle.
“Kate, listen I’m sorry I made you feel terrible.” She turned around to look at him. “I only meant to laugh about it a little. I wish you had called but what kind of gentleman would I be….” He looked at her tears, “A terrible gentleman, for expecting a lady to do everything.” She looked down again. This time he cupped her chin with one hand and made her look at him. Slowly he used his handkerchief to wipe the streaks away. She said nothing but looked into his eyes. “Had I wanted to, I could have called.” He got more water from the puddle and wiped her face of all the war paint the stylists had applied. The beautiful Kate from the park was showing through. “Why would a girl, that I teased most of my life want anything to do with me?” He had finished his task, and was now pulling the leaves from her hair.
“Oh William,” Kate sighed. “Because you’re absolutely wonderful. I’m sorry.” She leaned against his chest. William instinctively wrapped his arms around her.
“So am I darling.” He kissed her hair and they sat quietly for a moment. Suddenly a gust of wind blew all the branches around. All the water the leaves had gingerly held for so long was dumped on William and Kate. William couldn’t help but laugh at this beautifully messy moment. “Let’s get back to the house, shall we?” He stood up.
“I can’t,” Kate replied sorrowfully. “I twisted my ankle on those blasted stones. I tried to call for help but I didn’t think anyone knew where I was.”
“Well then it’s a good thing I’m such a strapping young fellow than isn’t it?” William pretended to show off his muscles, which were unfortunately hidden under his suit jacket. Kate laughed.
“You’re not going to carry me,” Kate said in all seriousness. “I refuse to be carried.” She picked up her shoes and was about to put them on. Before her hand was halfway to her foot however, William picked her up in one swoop. “What the hell are you doing?!” Kate half laughed-half screamed. Her shoes were still dangling from her hand, which was now wrapped behind his shoulder.
“Look, its just back to the church, then we can call for a car to take us to the house,” William looked at her with such an intensity that she stopped laughing. “You’re not getting hurt again because of me.”
And so they went, with Kate using her free arm to part the curtains of leaves. By the time they got out of the willows, they were completely drenched. William walked slowly back to the church, careful as to drop his precious load.
Kate was silent. Her mind was still replaying what had just happened. Before she could think of something to say, they were back at the church. William sat her down on the stairs which were thankfully covered. She sat quietly while he made a phone call.
“Nelson is sending a car,” he said as he sat down next to her. The rains had begun to die down.
“Thank you William,” Kate said, looking at him. She brushed the back of her fingers against his cheek. “Thank you for finding me, and bringing me home.” He took her hand with one of his and kissed it.
“I think I have something of yours,” he said while his other hand pulled the corsage out of his pocked. It was slightly crumpled and a little muddy, but to Kate it was the most perfect rose she had ever seen. He tied it on her delicate wrist and looked up at her. She was looking at him more honestly than any girl had ever in his life. He leaned towards her. “Kate-.”
But he was cut off by a car horn. The car had arrived. William felt startled and only then realized how close he was to Kate’s face. Her breath tickled his lips and he was quite sure his breathing wasn’t quite as even as hers.
“I think its time we get to this party William,” Kate whispered to him.
“I think you’re right Miss Martin,” William said. And so he and the driver helped her into the car, and before he knew exactly what had happened, they were off to the manor.
“Now if I were Kate,” Will thought to himself, “Where would I hide from a boy?”
“Son? Is there something I can help you with?” Father John, the priest who performed the ceremony had returned. “You look lost.”
“Actually Father, I lost… something.” William was silent for a moment. “Father, is there a library in the church?” William wondered why the idea didn’t strike him earlier.
“Well yes my son,” Father pointed to a door at the end of a hallway to the right. “What are you looking for?” But William had already taken off running towards the door. He threw it open and yelled.
“Kate!” But she was not there. William looked around quickly and then dove under the lone table, sure to find the girl who was occupying far too much of his mind. But the table proved fruitless.
“William, who are you looking for?” Father John looked at William rather warily.
“Kate, Marie’s maid of honor. She’s missing. Her and I, we-.” He was cut off by his cell phone. “Hello? Yes Marie I’m looking. No I’m sure she’s safe. Yes I know there is a storm coming. Well we had an argument and- No I did not hurt her feelings. Okay maybe a little. Well I can’t find her if you are yelling at me. No I’m not sassing you- Okay I won’t ruin the wedding!” William hung up the phone and ran his hands through his hair.
Thunder began roaring outside and was following by the first drops of rain. Father John walked over to the window. “William, if its Kate Martin, Marie’s best friend, you’re looking for. I’d say you’d have better luck out there.” He pointed to the willow grove. He pulled out an umbrella from behind a shelf. “And you will need this.”
William looked at Father John as if he were crazy.
“William, time is of the essence.” Father John handed him the umbrella and left the library.
William still couldn’t understand why he had to go near trees during a storm. Was Father John trying to get him killed?
William reached the doorway, opened the umbrella and stepped outside. The rain was falling steadily now and the wind was picking up even more. He looked around the back of the building and saw the willow grove Father had just pointed out.
“Crazy old man,” he mumbled to himself. He walked carefully and followed the stepping stones to the trees. Each stone had names on it of benefactors of the church. William reached a stone that stopped right before the first tree. The branches grazed the ground like a curtain, beckoning him in. With the rain and the thick summer leaves, he couldn’t see anything past the branches. He looked down at the stone and saw something he did not see before.
It was a rose. A white rose, with a ribbon. He realized it was a corsage. He slipped it into his pocket and then saw something else.
A peach shoe. A strappy, high heeled, complicated contraption that only a lady could understand. A device terrible for walking in wet grass.
“So Father was right.” He gripped the umbrella and shoe in one hand. With the other he pulled some branches aside. He pulled a little further and slipped through. He was now standing in a cave of sorts. The walls and ceilings were branches covered in leaves. Some parts were so thick that the rain barely made it through. He looked around. Many willow trees were growing close to each other. They seemed to circle each other and form little caves here and there.
The rain picked up and William knew he had better hurry. His feet were now getting soaked and made squelching noises when he walked. Or perhaps it was the spongy earth. He didn’t know.
Squelch, squelch, squelch, tap. His foot hit something solid and he had reached another curtain. He found another shoe, a mirror of the last one. Gripping both shoes, and the umbrella, he pulled at the curtain. He slipped through and found himself in another cave. It was smaller and he had to stoop a little. He looked around. The rain had barely penetrated here. However the leaves were getting heavier and he knew better than to close the umbrella now.
“Kate,” he whispered. She was there. Barefoot, sitting in the mud, with her legs to one side and leaning on her left hand. Her head was down and her hair had come out of its lovely bun and was everywhere. There were leaves stuck in it. She was a mess. But a lovely, lonely mess. And she was William’s mess to clean up.
“Kate, lets get out of here.” He called to her over the rain. She turned around. “Uh oh,” he whispered to himself. Her mascara had streaked down her face. She was getting wetter by the minute and looked miserable. He walked over to her and knelt down beside her. Water was gathering in little puddles by the roots of the tree. He had an idea.
He put down the umbrella, he was wet anyway. He placed her shoes by her feet and then he pulled out his handkerchief. He unfolded it and dipped it in a puddle.
“Kate, listen I’m sorry I made you feel terrible.” She turned around to look at him. “I only meant to laugh about it a little. I wish you had called but what kind of gentleman would I be….” He looked at her tears, “A terrible gentleman, for expecting a lady to do everything.” She looked down again. This time he cupped her chin with one hand and made her look at him. Slowly he used his handkerchief to wipe the streaks away. She said nothing but looked into his eyes. “Had I wanted to, I could have called.” He got more water from the puddle and wiped her face of all the war paint the stylists had applied. The beautiful Kate from the park was showing through. “Why would a girl, that I teased most of my life want anything to do with me?” He had finished his task, and was now pulling the leaves from her hair.
“Oh William,” Kate sighed. “Because you’re absolutely wonderful. I’m sorry.” She leaned against his chest. William instinctively wrapped his arms around her.
“So am I darling.” He kissed her hair and they sat quietly for a moment. Suddenly a gust of wind blew all the branches around. All the water the leaves had gingerly held for so long was dumped on William and Kate. William couldn’t help but laugh at this beautifully messy moment. “Let’s get back to the house, shall we?” He stood up.
“I can’t,” Kate replied sorrowfully. “I twisted my ankle on those blasted stones. I tried to call for help but I didn’t think anyone knew where I was.”
“Well then it’s a good thing I’m such a strapping young fellow than isn’t it?” William pretended to show off his muscles, which were unfortunately hidden under his suit jacket. Kate laughed.
“You’re not going to carry me,” Kate said in all seriousness. “I refuse to be carried.” She picked up her shoes and was about to put them on. Before her hand was halfway to her foot however, William picked her up in one swoop. “What the hell are you doing?!” Kate half laughed-half screamed. Her shoes were still dangling from her hand, which was now wrapped behind his shoulder.
“Look, its just back to the church, then we can call for a car to take us to the house,” William looked at her with such an intensity that she stopped laughing. “You’re not getting hurt again because of me.”
And so they went, with Kate using her free arm to part the curtains of leaves. By the time they got out of the willows, they were completely drenched. William walked slowly back to the church, careful as to drop his precious load.
Kate was silent. Her mind was still replaying what had just happened. Before she could think of something to say, they were back at the church. William sat her down on the stairs which were thankfully covered. She sat quietly while he made a phone call.
“Nelson is sending a car,” he said as he sat down next to her. The rains had begun to die down.
“Thank you William,” Kate said, looking at him. She brushed the back of her fingers against his cheek. “Thank you for finding me, and bringing me home.” He took her hand with one of his and kissed it.
“I think I have something of yours,” he said while his other hand pulled the corsage out of his pocked. It was slightly crumpled and a little muddy, but to Kate it was the most perfect rose she had ever seen. He tied it on her delicate wrist and looked up at her. She was looking at him more honestly than any girl had ever in his life. He leaned towards her. “Kate-.”
But he was cut off by a car horn. The car had arrived. William felt startled and only then realized how close he was to Kate’s face. Her breath tickled his lips and he was quite sure his breathing wasn’t quite as even as hers.
“I think its time we get to this party William,” Kate whispered to him.
“I think you’re right Miss Martin,” William said. And so he and the driver helped her into the car, and before he knew exactly what had happened, they were off to the manor.