Although they had known each other for years, theirs had been an online romance. On different sides of the worlds, in different time zones and in situations that wouldn't drastically change theirs was a relationship that shouldn't have worked. Yet somehow it did.
Their first real meeting came about quite by chance, three years after 'meeting' online...
Mary had been in Cornwall for a fortnight already and still had a few weeks left of her holiday. It had been a great idea, coming to the southern-most part of the UK just after the main holiday season when all the kids had gone back to school and driving down the narrow lanes with those high borders wasn't quite as death-defying as it might normally have been.
The old fisherman's cottage she was staying in was basic but comfortable and perfect for her one-person needs. There was a single bedroom, a tiny bathroom, a kitchen and a lounge/dining room but what she really loved was the small terrace with the view of the sea (and the most comfortable seats!). This cottage was where she awoke every morning to the cries of the seagulls and the sounds of the waves...perfect.
Well, almost perfect. Since she had left home so suddenly she had only been able to send a quick e-mail to Rob, her American 'friend', and with the phone signal so terrible she hadn't been able to check if he'd replied. 'Oh well', she thought sadly, 'he's going away himself soon so he may not have replied...'
It was 4am when the loud pounding on the front door started. Deep in sleep it took Mary a few seconds to wake up and work out that it was actually happening and wasn't simply part of her dreams. Hurrying through the cottage to the door she pulled on her thin dressing gown and heard the pounding increase with the start of the pattering of rain against the windows. Wondering what had happened – she hadn't heard an alarm or a crash – she looked opened the door, only thinking afterwards that perhaps she should have looked through the peephole or opened the door on the chain...too late now.
Soaking wet, the hunched over figure slowly straightened out revealing a face only familiar through pictures...Rob! Not taking the time to wonder if she should be forward or shy and withdrawn, Mary launched herself out of the door and into the arms of the man she loved. It was only the quick thinking of this man that caught her and an even quicker arm which held the door from closing.
Rob certainly hadn't expected such a welcome. It had taken him a long time to work out where she was staying but he had done it...and here she was in his arms for the first time. Perfect. Wet. Ducking through the low front door with her still in his arms he got them both into the dry quiet of the cottage. Looking down at her smiling face he kissed her for the first time...then shivered. And sneezed. Oh no, was their first meeting to be ruined by a cold?!
Jumping down from his arms – much as she hated to – Mary ushered him into the tiny bathroom, stripping Rob of his clothes, turning the water in the moderate-sized shower on high and then pushing him in to warm up. She glanced at his face as he was given no choice in the matter and grinned...it was good to see him. Mary glanced down...it was VERY good to see him! Turning swiftly she checked there was a spare towel and moved towards the kitchen, fanning her hot cheeks with her hand.
It was only as she was filling the kettle up that she realised how wet she had gotten and how see-through her white t-shirt was. Since she was holidaying on her own she hadn't been particularly bothered about having pretty nightwear and had just packed a few basics...the ratty but oh-so-comfortable white t-shirt being one of the worst choices at this particular moment. Plus, being alone she hadn't bothered with a bra... crap! Oh well, there wasn't a lot she could do about it now except tie her dressing gown over the problem and hope he hadn't noticed.
