Lucy in the Sky

around the castle grounds. The others sense we want to be left alone and don’t attempt to join us.
    ‘Those guys are great,’ he chuckles.
    ‘They like you too.’ And it’s true. My stepbrothers seem to click far better with Nathan than they ever did with James.
    We climb up the hill towards the castle and are both huffing and puffing after a couple of minutes.
    ‘And you thought the hills in Manly were steep,’ I pant.
    ‘Yeah,’ Nathan agrees. ‘At least you got a view of the ocean from the top.’
    ‘What do you call that?’ I point over to my left.
    ‘Shit! Is that the…’
    ‘Ocean, yes.’ I laugh. It’s such a dark day that you can barely make it out, yet there it is, a bluey-grey expanse, stretching out from some of the greenest fields I think I’ve ever seen.
    ‘Wow.’ He takes in the view.
    We wander around the castle and then slowly begin to make our way back down the tiny paths, too narrow to walk side by side. The sound of the river thunders up from down below as we head towards it, me treading gingerly in front of Nathan so as to avoid slipping on the wet leaves under our feet.
    At the bottom of the path is a bridge leading to a pretty green pasture. Behind us the castle towers above at the top of the hill. I lean over to the right of the stone arch and watch the water quietly rush towards the bridge before going to the other side where it churns and tumbles over the rocks below. I look up and Nathan is leaning against the arch with his hands in his pockets, regarding me with amusement.
    ‘What?’ I walk over to stand in front of him.
    ‘Are you okay?’ he asks, his face growing serious. ‘You seem it. But are you really?’
    ‘I’m fine,’ I tell him, folding my arms across my chest. I take in his bruise and suddenly feel emotional. I look away and swallow quickly. Then I turn back to him.
    ‘I’m so sorry. I’m sorry he hit you. I’m sorry you had to get involved.’ I shake my head angrily to try to stop the oncoming tears. It’s easier if I don’t look at him.
    ‘Hey, it’s alright,’ he says, taking his hands out of his pockets and hooking them through my belt loops. He pulls me towards him, but not so close that we’re touching. ‘I’m sorry about what he did to you. I can’t believe what he did to you.’
    I take a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. I’m fine, I’m fine, I tell myself. It’s all okay.
    Oh, who am I kidding? I’m obviously in denial. It kills me that I’ll never know the extent to which James lied to me, or theextent to which he cheated on me with Zoe–and others if what William said about his reputation is true. We were together for four years and I now realise I didn’t know him at all. At least I can take some comfort from the fact that I never really trusted him. Next time I’ll listen to my instincts. But I can evaluate my feelings later, when Nathan’s gone. I refuse to spoil the here and now.
    I meet his eyes. He’s so close, leaning there against the stone arch in his beige cords and black coat, unbuttoned to reveal a hooded grey top underneath.
    ‘I’ve still got your note, you know,’ he says.
    ‘What note?’ I’m confused.
    ‘The one you wrote for me on the first day I got here.’
    He gets his wallet out of his back pocket and pulls out the Café Rouge receipt. It’s signed ‘ Love, Lucy xxx ’. I can’t believe he’s kept it all this time.
    ‘It’s the only thing I have with your handwriting,’ he explains shyly. ‘Do you know how relieved I was to finally see those wedding photos?’
    ‘Me too!’ I exclaim. ‘I was so distraught when I realised I didn’t have a single picture of you.’ He puts his wallet back into his pocket and smiles at me.
    My gaze falls on the dark stubble grazing his jaw, and then to his sexy mouth and those lips. God, those lips…I look up into his eyes as he puts his hands on my waist and draws me to him.
    He kisses me, slowly at first, then more passionately. I slide my hands up inside his jumper and he takes a sharp intake of breath at my cold fingers. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything as much as I want him, right now.
    ‘I love you,’ he gasps, tearing his lips away.
    ‘What did you say?’ I ask. I heard him, of course. I just want to hear him say it again.
    ‘I love you,’ he repeats, kissing my lips softly.
    ‘I love you too,’ I respond, as my heart bubbles over with happiness and I begin to laugh.
    ‘What?’ He laughs back at me.
    ‘I