There were seven of us in total – Marie and Glen, an older couple, Tracey the librarian and Brian the accountant, but it was Mark and Rachel who had me instantly fascinated. Mark, with his farmer hands, dark complexion, piercing eyes and wicked sense of humour. And Rachel, who glowed with the earthy appeal of a country girl, and a laugh that played in her eyes long after the joke had subsided. They were so handsome, so desirable, so lovely. And so married. And then there was me, a fresh-faced doctor from the big smoke on my first locum in the country – a high-powered woman with all the letters but "Mrs." to go with my name.
The newcomer to the bible study group.
"Well, it's great to have you with us, Alana," said Rachel warmly. "You've gotten us at a good place – we're just about to start at the start. Genesis chapter one!"
We dutifully opened our bibles and began to read and share together. My eyes wandered around the group, observing the exchanges, the nuances, the positioning between the people. I'd always found human interactions so fascinating, but also somehow always felt like an outsider – ever restless and constantly moving with my job. Perhaps I'll work overseas next year, I thought to myself.
After drinking in the group, my gaze flicked to the walls. They were crowned with pictures of Mark and Rachel's two angelic-looking kids, the family, finger paintings. I dwelled on the wedding photos. Mark looked uncomfortable in his suit, and Rachel's makeup seemed somehow to mask her natural glow of inner beauty, but nothing could disguise the fact that they were so happy and in love with one another. I watched them now – Mark was sprawled easily on a chair, across the room from Rachel, who shared the couch with Tracey. Several years and a couple of kids on, the initial spark had dimmed, but been replaced with something perhaps even more appealing – home. A sad smile touched my lips as I realised what I'd overlooked in pursuit of my career.
"Lana?"
"Sorry?" I apologised, snapping out of my contemplation.
"What do
you
think of this passage?"
"Oh.." I murmured slowly, as I skimmed the page.
And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light...
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. And God blessed them."
I looked around the room. All of their faces were illuminated by the fire, from both without and within. The hearth crackled and popped, dispelling the cold night from the house.
"I think... that in the beginning, God created the Earth to be perfect for us. And despite all the attempts we've made to screw it up since, it's moments like these that you realise His creation really is good, and how incredibly blessed we all are." My response was met with smiles and murmurs of agreement. I went home that night, full of joy.
And there was light...
************************************
For the rest of the week, I couldn't stop thinking about bible study and the love I'd felt in Mark and Rachel's home. Despite being fiercely independent, I couldn't deny that I so desperately wanted that for myself – that feeling of family and sense of belonging. I counted the days till we met the next Thursday.
"Hello, Lana!" beamed Rachel as she opened the door. "So good to see you again!"
She embraced me and I closed my eyes, drinking in the smell of her hair.
"Mm, and you too," I said contentedly.
"You're a bit early, would you like anything to drink?" she asked.
"A bit of red would be lovely," I said, and she walked me to the living room where I sat down on the couch. From where I was I could see her in the kitchen, reaching up to get the glasses. She was simply dressed, in tracksuit bottoms and slippers, with a loose T-shirt on top. Even so, I could see that she had an amazing body. She was fit, though not at all scrawny, with moderately sized yet full breasts and healthy round buttocks that completed her feminine figure. I felt self-conscious and over-styled in my restrictive work suit and shed my high heels and pantihose, curling up beside the fire. I continued to gaze in wonder. Her short dark hair was pulled back into a careless ponytail, with a frond that simply refused to stay behind her ear circling her cheekbone attractively. She pulled ineffectually at it and caught my eye, smiling and turning coyly away as it fell to caress her face again. It made your breath catch to look at her. She was a backyard miracle.
Presently Mark entered the kitchen, and playfully landed a kiss in the nape of her neck en route to the fridge. She laughed, that spine-tingling laugh, and cuffed him lightly on the arm. There was a moment of tender affection between them before Mark spied me on the couch.
"Lana! How are you this week?" he grinned from the doorway, beer in hand.
Rachel laughed and pushed past him, saying, "Girls only, Mark, go keep an eye on the kids!" He lifted his beer in mock salute, winked at me and vanished into the back of the house.
She walked in and handed me my drink, then nestled herself cross-legged into the other end of the couch with hers. "Wow, look at you," she said admiringly. "How do you always look so glamorous?"
I blushed and squirmed. "Really? You know, I feel so pretentious sitting next to you, a stunner even in tracky-daks."
She snorted and rolled her eyes in mock disgust. "Really," she said, looking earnestly into my eyes with those warm chocolate pools of hers, "you're beautiful." She smiled – I melted.
"So tell me about your week! How's this town of ours treating you?" Back to reality. We chatted easily and before long the other members of the group had arrived. We continued our way through Genesis.
I struggled to keep my eyes off Rachel through the study. She was just so stunning, her complete ignorance of her own beauty only adding to the appeal. The wine brought the colour to her cheeks and the soft firelight highlighted the elegance of her neck. It was my turn to read.
