A Winter Sabbatical (Books We Love holiday romance) (4 page)

“Not tomorrow – sorry.
I’ve got to do some work.
Maybe in a day or so.”

Shoulders slumped, and this time looking
truly rejected, Travis walked out the front door.

“Hey, Travis.
Wait.” Marissa called after him.

“Changed your mind already?” Now grinning,
Travis started to walk back through the door.

Pushing him out again, Marissa handed him a
piece of paper. “It’s just my phone number. Now go home.”

Travis opened his mouth to speak at the
same time the phone started to ring.

“Sorry got to go. See you later.” Marissa
quickly closed the door and went to answer the phone.

“Hello. Oh, hi Mum. Yes, I’m fine. Nearly
everything is unpacked now. You’ll never guess. I’ve met a friend of Daniel’s;
Travis – Travis Johnston. He’s really nice; he even took me into town to do my
shopping. What? No Mum, he’s not married.

“Yes, I know – best to keep my distance.
What? Mum this is a really bad line. What did you say? You know I’m trying to
forget about... the... Mum, it’s really hard.” Tears began trickling down
Marissa’s face. “I have to go. I’ll call later in the week.
Yeah,
bye.”

Hanging up the phone, Marissa began to sob
uncontrollably.

***

Travis phoned consistently every day for
the next week. As much as she wanted to, Marissa wouldn’t see him; she couldn’t
afford to get close to anyone, let alone Travis Johnston – who she felt so
attracted to.

Travis refused to give up, and Saturday
morning dropped in unannounced.

“I’ll make the coffee,” he said, “While you
get ready.” He strode off into the kitchen as if he owned the place.

Marissa stuck her head around the door.
“What do you mean, while I get ready? I’m not going anywhere.”

Travis continued making the coffee. “I’m
taking you to see Porcupine
Village – one of our
tourist attractions.”
No discussion.

Marissa shrugged and went off to change
into her jeans. She needed a break, anyway.

The sun was shining, it was a cloudless
day, and Travis was where he wanted to be – with Marissa.

He held her hand – she hadn’t complained,
and he certainly wasn’t complaining.

 
She
seemed to enjoy the stroll through the pioneer village and Travis felt she was
even beginning to relax. He sensed her change of attitude – letting down her
guard in his company – and when they entered a miner’s cottage, complete with
furniture of the period, Travis caught her to him. He held her by the
shoulders, and towering over her, looked deep into her hypnotizing brown eyes. He
stared down into them momentarily, but her secrets were not revealed.

Travis lifted his hands to cup her face,
and leaned closer to her, his lips lightly brushing against hers. He pulled
slightly back to gauge her reaction, and when she didn’t baulk at his approach,
leaned into her once more. His lips gently covered hers, and when Marissa
opened her lips to him, he deepened the kiss. Her arms slid first around his
waist, then slowly up to his neck.

Heaven,
pure heaven
, Travis thought.
Here I stand with an angel.
To his annoyance, heaven was not to
last.

A couple with two young children wandered
in, and on hearing their voices close by, Marissa pushed against Travis’ chest
in an effort to disengage herself from his embrace.

Travis reluctantly removed his hands, and
leaned forward to whisper: “Later, Marissa. Later.”

She glanced up at him, her cheeks pink with
embarrassment. Marissa ran her hands down her body, straightening her clothes,
then turned and walked out. Travis followed close behind, a huge grin on his
face.

***

“A movie and dinner?”
Marissa sounded apprehensive. “Well… ”

“Just give me one good reason why not.”
Travis was losing patience. She was hot, and then she was cold. Today, she was
cold. “You’ve got to eat, so why not with me?”

“Well...”

“That’s settled then. See you at six.” Satisfied,
he hung up the phone.

Marissa was ready when he pulled into the
drive, but still seemed a little uneasy when she opened the door.

A low whistle escaped him as Travis stood
appraising her appearance. Marissa wore a short grey skirt with a white
button-through blouse. She carried a pale pink mohair cardigan – for later, he
guessed, when the air would be fresh.

“Whoa! The lady’s got legs after all,”
Travis mocked.

“If you don’t like it, I could go and
change,” she teased.

He pulled Marissa into the circle of his
arms, his head bent to kiss the side of her neck, nibbling at her ears, kissing
her jaw and eventually finding her lips.

When finally Travis lifted his head to look
into her eyes, he couldn’t help but stare. He just loved her eyes, the way they
glistened, the way they told him so much about her, while at the same time, so
little. Other times, they told him of her sadness, of something unresolved. Of
love, of hatred, but most of all, they told him of her anguish. The anguish she
wouldn’t share.

As they stood entwined, Travis breathed in
the perfume that he had come to know so well – the fragrance of Marissa. He
couldn’t put a name to it, but it was hers alone. He’d recognize it anywhere,
under any circumstance. It was a fragrance he’d never forget.
And never wanted to do without.

“I don’t know how I’ve survived these last
few days without you,” he whispered, and before Marissa could respond he
scooped her into his arms and headed toward the sofa.

Momentarily taken by surprise, Marissa just
stared at him, and then began to admonish him. “You put me down this minute,
Travis Johnston!”

Travis's lips curled as he continued
without pausing, toward his destination. Marissa wasn’t deterred and spoke
again, this time as determined as Travis. “You’re nothing but a big bully! If
you don’t put me down, I’m not going with you tonight, or ever again for that
matter.”

Travis stopped in his tracks, looked into
her face, and realizing this wonderful, caring, haunted woman meant every word
she said, gently set her back on her feet.

“That’s much better. Don’t you go thinking
that because you’re bigger than me, you can bully
me.
I won’t have it.”

Not sure whether to laugh, to frown, or
what in the heck he should do, Travis stood looking down at her with a
tentative smile on his face.

Marissa looked directly into Travis’ eyes. “Now,
are you going to behave yourself for the rest of the night, or should I send
you home?” Marissa suddenly burst into laughter, and Travis joined her.

When they had recovered, and without
another word, Marissa headed for the front door, turned out lights as she went,
with Travis following sheepishly behind.

***

The following Saturday couldn’t come quick
enough for Travis, as he made plans to spend the day with Marissa, unbeknownst
to her. He
arrived
mid-morning bearing chocolates and
flowers, and drove into Maldon showing Marissa the town and helping her explore
the shops.

They started at the ‘Gnome Factory’ where
all types of garden gnomes and statues were hand-made. Travis bought a statue
of a cat for Marissa to put in her garden,
then
they
moved on to the gallery where handcrafted gifts and baby clothes were sold
direct to the public.

Marissa would have stayed forever, but
Travis was practically dragging her out the door to continue her exploration of
the town. Next stop was a store that sold handmade lace, Manchester, and other hand-embroidered linen.

There were several antique shops, and it
took great effort for Travis to keep Marissa out of them. They went into
‘Cherry’s Ice creamery’ and sat on a bench seat in the street eating their
ice-creams, as they watched the many tourists exploring the town.

Then they went next door to the ‘Maldon Sweet
Shop’. It was an old-fashioned sweet shop, with jars of chocolates, and sweets,
most of the chocolates being made by the owner.

There were mints, jellies and lollipops,
rocky road and sherbet bombs, black cats and liquorice, peanut clusters and
Castlemaine Rock, just to mention a few. Marissa took forever to decide what
she wanted, and after about twenty minutes, they walked out with a huge bag of
assorted sweets.

From there they went for a ride in a cart
pulled by two beautiful Clydesdale horses, where they did a circuit of the
town. By this time Marissa was so animated, Travis wondered if she’d ever come
back to earth.

Marissa was looking tired, and Travis
decided she needed a break. They headed out to a local picnic area at a disused
mine site not far out of town.

Flicking the picnic rug over the ground,
Marissa reflected on the day’s outing. “Thanks for today
Travis,
I really had a wonderful time.”

Travis smiled. “I’m glad, and next week, I
promise it will be a quieter day. We’ll ride the old railway, and then maybe go
somewhere for a drive.” Travis' smile widened as Marissa agreed.

***

It was a difficult week for Marissa; Travis
was away on business, and her heart just wasn’t in her work.

As much as she tried to deny it, Marissa
was becoming very attached, and attracted, to Travis. This short separation
proved what she’d already guessed; the more she saw of him, the more she wanted
to see him.

Trouble was
,
Jeremy was still in her heart, and her mind. And he was in her dreams. Marissa
tried in vain to settle into her newly proclaimed life-style. Living in the
country for the cold winter months was supposed to help vanquish all thoughts
and memories – good and bad – of Jeremy forever, but he just wouldn’t go away.

Sleep was virtually a thing of the past,
and living in a strange house wasn’t helping. Marissa lay awake at night
listening to the hoot-hoot of the owls, or the branches of trees scraping
against the windowpane. Sometimes it was simply the breeze sweeping leaves
along the driveway, or heavy rain pounding the roof and windows.

As she stood looking out through the window
into darkness, Marissa turned her thoughts to Travis once more.

Who ever said love was meant to be easy?

***

Maldon Railway Station was the original
station, and over the years, had been painstakingly restored by volunteers.

Walking onto the platform was like stepping
back in time; the stationmaster in his pristine uniform, posters from a by-gone
era, right down to the fire buckets full of sand.

The National Trust listed the station, and
looking around her, Marissa could understand why.

Travis grabbed her hand and dragged Marissa
along the platform, wanting her to watch the vintage engine being coupled up to
the carriages. When the train was in readiness, the passengers were given the
all clear to board, and Travis quickly chose their window seats. The engine
driver sounded the whistle to signal their departure.

Travis pointed out places of interest along
the way, including the remains of the gold diggings at Fentimans Reef. Looking
around the carriage, Marissa was in awe of the detail. She held her hand to her
heart as Travis stuck his head out the window, the wind blowing his hair every
which way.

Travis egged her to do the same, until
finally she relented. As Marissa gingerly stuck her head out the window, the
breeze caught her long silky locks and sent them sailing across his face. She
watched in silence, as Travis ran his fingers slowly through her hair, and then
breathed in its perfume.

After leaving the station, they drove to
Hepburn Springs. The short drive gave Marissa a chance to take in the
picturesque countryside. She was totally in his hands, she realized, relying on
his knowledge of the area. She totally trusted him, and was becoming more and
more relaxed in his presence.

They followed a paved walking track that
wound around the park, and crossed a tiny bridge over a rocky creek. At this
time of the year there was a heavy flow through it, but during the summer
months the flow declined, Travis told her.

When they finally arrived at the end of the
path, it came to an abrupt end.

“Time to go back.”
Travis pointed to some dense foliage, and Marissa had to take a
second look to see that it was a tunnel of bushes.

“You’re not serious?” she asked, as he
dragged her along behind him into the overgrown mass.

“Deadly.”

It was cool and dark, and Marissa shivered
as they entered. They’d only walked a short distance, when she stopped
momentarily to let her eyes adjust to the semi-darkness.

“Marissa.” His voice was low, barely
audible, and Marissa turned to look at him. Travis caught her to him, as he
began to run his fingers through her hair.