Chapter 1 – There Shadows Meet
It seems like only yesterday that fear and old taboos used to rule most of my 40 some odd years of life, then like shadows dancing in that unreal time between dusk and dawn they disappeared, as all shadows must when the sun's rays slowly kiss dawns golden lips.
No I'm not crazy at least I hope I'm not, nor am I perverted, kinky or sick as some others my age might think. I am in fact in love truly and deeply for the first time in my life, regardless of the fact that I was married to someone for almost twenty years and have a son 17 years of age. I honestly do not think I knew what love was before Dawn entered my life and lifted these veiled shadows and cobwebs of hurt and mistrust.
In the spring of last year I had had enough of everything from the lies deceit and sharp open ended barbs of my wife and son to her giggles, when with me present, she recounted to her trusted girlfriends my perverted wishes regarding my needs and wants. You can forget about desires they got buried very very deep years ago. Sex was nonexistent in our lives and even then it had only become apparent she had used me to have a child. I suppose most men would have left years ago but I loved my son and would not desert him for the world. It had only been in the last few years that he had taken on his mothers tone and sharp barbs but I also suspected it was part of the teenage growing years. I guess it should not surprise anyone that I was taking pills for depression, as well as for bursitis and a mild case of osteoporosis I had also just completed surgery for a lazy eye that had fallen very badly. and two years back surgery to remove all my teeth. Yep Murphy's Law had nothing on me, therefore, I was carrying a fair amount of baggage when I decided to head to the west side of Vancouver Island for a holiday.
I arrived at the Provincial Parks paid for three weeks and drove around to find what I considered to be the perfect camping area. It was beautiful really just a short distance from the water and fairly secluded. I took note of the number dropped my gear and returned to the Park gate, gave the information to the Park Operator, returned and proceeded to set up my campground. I had purchased two books too read on the way over on the ferry and thinking about them brought a small smile to my lips. It was quiet and peaceful for the rest of the day as no one else was even close to my camp site, so by evening I had made a light supper, had a small fire and relaxed reading the first of the two books. I watched the stars through the trees blink in and out of existence as a slight breeze waved the pine branches overhead. I felt so calm and relaxed that I said a small prayer to thank God for this small blessing. I did not even crawl into my tent but brought the sleeping bag out lay under these stars and fell asleep trying as I had as a small boy to count them.
I awoke feeling stiff and a bit sore as it had been years since I had actually slept on the ground. Smiling slightly at the fact that these old bones could still move, my next step was to ready and place a pot of coffee on the camp stove to flash up when I returned from the public washrooms that were placed throughout the park camp grounds. They smelled like public washrooms and I was determined that except for a bowel movement I would not use them again. I returned walking slowly and just enjoying the scenery when a RUV slowly crept passed me down the vehicle lane and entered a campsite not too far from my own. Shit I murmured the whole park and guess what they have to be this close. Then I remembered that this was the Saturday of a long weekend and my site along with three others bordered on the waters edge. Oh well at least it would be just the weekend. Or so I'd hope.
I fired up the camp stove and settled back watching the sun dancing off the tips of the water lapping the shore. My thoughts wandered back to all the pain and hurt and soon my eyes misted, so as the coffee perked, my mind tried to expunge some of the poison and I was oblivious to the sound of footsteps behind me as a voice very cheerful soft and feminine said
"Would I have to sell you my first born for a cup of that coffee?"
Startled I must have jumped and turning around I was staring into a set of wonderful soft green eyes, surrounded by reddish brown hair flowing over a face that would have made the angles sing. I never even looked at the rest of her when her eyes saw the mist in my eyes and suddenly realized she had intruded into my thoughts. She seemed suddenly saddened and was about to turn and go when I realized that I did not want this angel to fly away.
"Not your first born, but you make the next pot." I said softly and smiled a little.
She was about to apologize for the intrusion when I just shook my head slightly and smiled
"How do you want it?" I inquired
"I beg your pardon!" she said, her head tilting up and .....
"I mean your coffee" I stated calmly smiling warmly.
"Oh God" she said then laughing softly "With cream, sugar, parents, sister and brother-in-law" she laughed again.
"I must admit I have never had coffee that way before? Is that a coffee house special?" I laughed trying to lighten her mood.
"Nope" she replied "It's the Dawn special to which I would be amiss if I didn't invite the provider of said coffee to join us."
She turned tilted her head towards the coffee pot indicating she would carry it.
"Nope" I smiled "I still have some gallantry left in these old bones" I joked.
"Ye gads a gentleman and knight in shining armor all rolled into one. I might just swoon."
"I shall hie away to my steed fair damsel, and slay any foul dragon that may cross thy path" I said back, causing us to both laugh and smile at the same time.
I started to get up finding some of the joints sore and stiff from sitting as I had been semi cross legged. She reached down to give me a hand and part of me revolted from the thought of this beautiful lady seeing me like this but after a moment with her hand still extended I reached for it and she helped me to my feet. I rubbed some stiff joints and limped a bit until the hip joint loosened up I could walk normally. All the time she just watched me and then not seeming to care if I heard or not whispered "Now that's my idea of bravery."
"Huh" I inquired?
She shook her head causing her hair to sparkle and shimmer in the sun and when she saw me looking at it smiled a devious grin shook it again and turning towards her campsite spoke "So grab the damn coffee already and let's gallop back to the kings castle."
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I accompanied her back to her campsite all of 10 meters and avoided looking at her body along the way. She seemed to be giving me a number of quick glances along the way at my eyes especially, and by the time we reached her campsite she had turned and said a soft "Thank You".
