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Part three
Part four
Part five
Part six
Behind the scenes!
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* * * Part four * * *
The next morning Andrew was at the lake, with his dad.
'I want to ask you something. Here, look at this picture; do you know the guy?'
'I think I saw him before. But I remember he died in that accident, a couple of weeks ago', his father told him.
'Well... how do you know? You've seen him in the papers?', he asked, hopingly.
'Ahm, no. It wasn't in the news. I was there', spoke dad.
'Weren't you here? I was just going to meet you at the lake, when it happened, remember?'
'Of course, I remember. I was nearly killed too. All of a sudden someone pushed me out of the way. That was some accident...'
'Why didn't you tell me earlier, that you were almost killed?', he was a little upset.
'Because... I didn't want you to worry for nothing. I want you to be happy, you know. And I appreciate all this time you spent here with me, instead of moving away..."
He felt how real his father's care for him was. Inside him was now a warm, cozy feeling. 'There was still hope. It was worth it. I didn't stay with him for nothing. He really cares...' Andrew was no more upset, he felt appreciated, finally, by someone...
'Where have you been? We were supposed to meet at five, I was waiting for you... You got me worried. I thought you went in search for my father, instead of coming with nothing.', Susan told him, earnestly.
'I've got something interesting. I'm sorry I'm late, I just had a great time with my father. Wonderful, actually! He was much better than he usually is.'
Although he had spent more and more time with Susan for the past few weeks, he did meet his father every now and then. He could see he was changing, slightly. The talk he just had proved his suspicion. When he asked his father what lifted his moods, he told Andrew something about a beggar, poor guy who he had met during his job. That was the last thing they talked about, but then Andrew looked at the time and realized he was late. He ran back here, hoping she was still waiting.
'I've been waiting at this entrance for almost two hours.'
'I'm sorry. But I hope you'll forgive me, because, you see, I rarely have the chance to talk to my father like that. Time just ... flew by. I didn't realize it until the sun was really down... So, can we still go in?'
Forgive him? He was really nice, she thought. 'I've met nice boys before, but they never made me feel like this. And, judging by his breath, he really did run to meet me. He might actually think something of me. So, what's there to forgive?'
'Sure. But let's eat something, too. I'm a bit hungry with all this waiting...'
'Great! My treat. I'll tell you what my dad was like...'
So they ate, and talked, and she seemed livelier than usual. He might be able to ask her more, this time. She might accept his offer to help. She might get to like him, he thought. Time passed, as he told Susan what his father saw, what was he like, how great their time together was today. As he spoke, she realized how caring Andrew had to be, to spend time with his father like that, not leave him, nor push him in any manner. He was curious about the accident too, and his father told him things she didn't know about. For the first time in her life, she blushed easily at the thought of a boy being interested in her, and blushed even more when she thought he might have seen her. 'My God, things are happening really fast in my head. I mustn't hope too much. Even for a first love, I want to be certain', Susan told herself.
'Do you think you can tell me about the accident, and why you said it's not accidental?'
She pondered. Should she tell him? Why get anyone else involved? Wasn't it bad enough that she, Susan refused to let it go, when she should move on?
'I want to help you. Honestly.' he spoke again
'Okay, but this is a long story. We better get some more tea and biscuits.'
As Andrew went to the buffet, she couldn't figure out why she had said yes. Did she really want him in on this? But what's done is done. So he should know.... She knew, she felt he can understand. He can be with her. She might get over it, this way...
'No, I can't tell you everything yet. But I'll tell you some things', she spoke.
'Okay. First, how did you know about the accident before we did, that day?'
'I had found this note, from my dad.'
She pulled out a piece of paper, written by her dad. Mum was stuck under a car whose driver had lost control and crashed. It seems he was struggling to get her mother out of the way of the incoming truck, and left a note in case he didn't make it. There were few words written, but they were from the heart. He loved her more than anything, he said, and he'll never leave her unless it was called for.
'Seems like it was called for', Susan said, almost crying.
'So how'd you find it?'
'It was right there. I heard the explosion from the park, so I ran and saw this note flying through the air, hit me right in the face. It was moist, that's why it hadn't burnt, I guess.'
Andrew thought this was more than unusual, but he also saw the deep sadness in her eyes. After all, the girl lost her parents. And it seemed they had both died trying to save his father. Were there more people saved, not only him? That, he should ask his dad about. Maybe he remembers. Susan agreed with him.
'I hope you won't get caught into this. I don't want to make my parents' death a big deal for any other human being. I don't want to make people suffer.'
She was really hurt. And she had why...
'Really. Don't worry about it.', his heart was beating faster, 'I'm doing this for you, so you can move on. You deserve to...' he blushed.
There was a moment of silence. Susan couldn't say more, she just smiled, sincerely. She was afraid, and she was sad. She didn't want to think about anything anymore.
'Can you take me home, please? I'm too sad already. I'm sorry...'
'Don't be. You'll be alright.'
They walked together. The moon was shining beautifully this evening.
Maybe on an evening like this they will go out again, thought Andrew. Until then, he should talk to his father again.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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