“The Things We Do For Love”

…

Back at work, all thoughts of the holiday are shoved to one side.  Ships, being very large machines with many working parts, and humans left to tend to them., provide a dearth of distractions, from badly loaded cargo, engines with problems, crew signing on and off, victualling, and duelling with the officers.

And helping his relief purser sort out everything that had gone wrong.

Only after sailing hour passed, and there were moments when nothing could be done, did Henry get to tell his captain and others of what had happened, in not so many words.  All are surprised at who she is.  None, apparently, knew what had happened to her.  Yet.

Michelle has found herself in a sanctuary away from those whom she is hiding from, courtesy of a friend, Millie, and a girl who was still caught up in the trade she used to ply.  She had friends who had helped her get to this point, and if she was discovered all three would pay for it dearly.  Any wonder that first night, home, alone, she was very miserable.

We are also introduced to Radly, the man who has no trouble with women, a man who only wishes Henry the same opportunities he has.  Always interested in his holiday, Henry finally catches up with him, and the secret is a secret no longer.  Eight weeks at sea was going to feel like a year.

…

Words written 3,844, for a total of 26,966

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

It’s a slow march to the end of the stay for both of them.  By unspoken agreement, they partake in picnics, walks, and talk about anything other than parting.

And in the end, she alleviates his concerns for her by telling him about a fictitious job that might be available, if only to keep the truth from him.  It’s not fair, but it is better than the alternative.  She also tells him he can write to her.

And at the end, she realizes that on one hand, happiness was an option if she let it happen, and on the other, she had stronger feelings towards him than she should, and should not have let it happen.  It had, and it would have to be dealt with.

His concern that Mrs Mac might be worried about them is not a concern, she tells him that Mrs Mac had been subtly drawing them together with candle-lit meals, subdued lighting and gentle hints.

The fact he tells her he loves her almost breaks her heart. 

They remained together this time in his room that last night, and she had to use every reserve to stop them from making a mistake.

They have to go back to their lives, and maybe one day they could be together again.

…

Henry takes the train back, an early call to return to the ship.  At least he will not have time, at home or elsewhere to reflect on what just happened.

…

When Michelle returns home, we learn exactly who she is and why she left him.  But, after everything, was there a glimmer of a plan that might be her salvation.

…

Words written 3,673, for a total of 23,122

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

It’s a slow march to the end of the stay for both of them.  By unspoken agreement, they partake in picnics, walks, and talk about anything other than parting.

And in the end, she alleviates his concerns for her by telling him about a fictitious job that might be available, if only to keep the truth from him.  It’s not fair, but it is better than the alternative.  She also tells him he can write to her.

And at the end, she realizes that on one hand, happiness was an option if she let it happen, and on the other, she had stronger feelings towards him than she should, and should not have let it happen.  It had, and it would have to be dealt with.

His concern that Mrs Mac might be worried about them is not a concern, she tells him that Mrs Mac had been subtly drawing them together with candle-lit meals, subdued lighting and gentle hints.

The fact he tells her he loves her almost breaks her heart. 

They remained together this time in his room that last night, and she had to use every reserve to stop them from making a mistake.

They have to go back to their lives, and maybe one day they could be together again.

…

Henry takes the train back, an early call to return to the ship.  At least he will not have time, at home or elsewhere to reflect on what just happened.

…

When Michelle returns home, we learn exactly who she is and why she left him.  But, after everything, was there a glimmer of a plan that might be her salvation.

…

Words written 3,673, for a total of 23,122

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

Of course, it’s too good to be true, and Henry is going to have to steel himself when the holiday comes to an end.

It’s halfway through the holiday, and the conversation veers towards the elephant in the room; parting.

Then…

Michelle takes ill, the ravages of the past still causing her problems that she does not speak about, but requires a doctor’s ministrations, and discretion.

We learn she had been in rehab and left early.  Grim determination is not enough to substitute for doing the time.

She recovers, but Henry knows something is wrong.

Once again out for a drive, Henry is overcoming that painful shyness, and awkwardness in her presence, and she is letting him via the door that is more than ajar.  

After another pleasant dinner, he ‘escorts’ her back to her room, at the other end of the corridor, a metaphorical wall built between them, where she asks, innocently or otherwise, if he’d like to stay.

It’s that proverbial loaded question with a double-edged sword.

He does, and he doesn’t take it any further, afraid of what it might lead to, and disappointment.

But …

They sleep, fully clothed, on her bed.  Another subliminal moment.

…

Words written 2,999, for a total of 19,449

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

Of course, it’s too good to be true, and Henry is going to have to steel himself when the holiday comes to an end.

It’s halfway through the holiday, and the conversation veers towards the elephant in the room; parting.

Then…

Michelle takes ill, the ravages of the past still causing her problems that she does not speak about, but requires a doctor’s ministrations, and discretion.

We learn she had been in rehab and left early.  Grim determination is not enough to substitute for doing the time.

She recovers, but Henry knows something is wrong.

Once again out for a drive, Henry is overcoming that painful shyness, and awkwardness in her presence, and she is letting him via the door that is more than ajar.  

After another pleasant dinner, he ‘escorts’ her back to her room, at the other end of the corridor, a metaphorical wall built between them, where she asks, innocently or otherwise, if he’d like to stay.

It’s that proverbial loaded question with a double-edged sword.

He does, and he doesn’t take it any further, afraid of what it might lead to, and disappointment.

But …

They sleep, fully clothed, on her bed.  Another subliminal moment.

…

Words written 2,999, for a total of 19,449

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

With the improved weather, they settle into a routine, she is getting comfortable with Henry being around, and he is finally getting out of the shipboard routine, and becoming more relaxed, though still wary of making a mistake.

They go for walks along the beach, and gradually, a form of intimacy takes place, holding hands, at first with gloves on.

Then in a totally unscripted moment from out of left field, they kiss. It just happens ‘in the moment’.  He apologises, and she just smiles.

Given what she has escaped from, it is a sublime moment that gives her the opportunity, against all odds, that it was possible, one day, she could be happy.

It leads to another unscripted moment, but this time a kiss with more meaning behind it.

Henry doesn’t know how to process this event but goes with the flow.  Out of the confines of the town, on a short road trip, they admit they like each other and to not have any expectations that it might go anywhere.

But the ugly truth of her background raises its head with the conversation turning to the future, and Henry puts his foot in it.

As an unexpected result of that feeling he had ruined everything; a hug that, for him, seemed to last a lifetime.

I remember that first kiss, and the moment that led to it, and it left me with butterflies and dread, that eventually it would all fall apart.  It was a passing moment in time, and it taught me one very valuable lesson, leave expectations out of it.  And that flush of first love, there is nothing like it.

…

Words written 3,274, for a total of 16,450

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

With the improved weather, they settle into a routine, she is getting comfortable with Henry being around, and he is finally getting out of the shipboard routine, and becoming more relaxed, though still wary of making a mistake.

They go for walks along the beach, and gradually, a form of intimacy takes place, holding hands, at first with gloves on.

Then in a totally unscripted moment from out of left field, they kiss. It just happens ‘in the moment’.  He apologises, and she just smiles.

Given what she has escaped from, it is a sublime moment that gives her the opportunity, against all odds, that it was possible, one day, she could be happy.

It leads to another unscripted moment, but this time a kiss with more meaning behind it.

Henry doesn’t know how to process this event but goes with the flow.  Out of the confines of the town, on a short road trip, they admit they like each other and to not have any expectations that it might go anywhere.

But the ugly truth of her background raises its head with the conversation turning to the future, and Henry puts his foot in it.

As an unexpected result of that feeling he had ruined everything; a hug that, for him, seemed to last a lifetime.

I remember that first kiss, and the moment that led to it, and it left me with butterflies and dread, that eventually it would all fall apart.  It was a passing moment in time, and it taught me one very valuable lesson, leave expectations out of it.  And that flush of first love, there is nothing like it.

…

Words written 3,274, for a total of 16,450

“The Things We Do For Love”

…

That first encounter outside the confines of the hotel has shaken him.  He realises that he really has no understanding of women and that his first love with Jane had done nothing to prepare him.

It only reinforces the notion that he should simply avoid her where possible.

Yet, over dinner, she tells him her story, not the real story, but close enough to the truth.  In doing so, allowing the door to be ajar, she realises this could become complicated very quickly.

And yet, despite her resolution to remain aloof, she is curious.  Who is this Henry?

The beach quickly becomes Henry’s thinking place.  He ruminates on what a friend on board the ship, Radly, might think of his situation.  Radly is a lady’s man and would have swept Michelle off her feet by now.

Michelle reappears, and, curious about him, asks him who he is, those usual questions, where he lives, and what he does.

Why?  If she is only there to hide, why get involved?

…

Words written 3,482, for a total of 13,176