Jess shrieked with delight as Dan drove her car, roof down, around the tight country Cornish Lanes. She felt like Grace Kelly, in her makeshift serviette scarf. Dan had pulled on her favourite pink beanie hat. They kept glancing at each other and laughing out loud at their tasteless apparel, as the wind whipped their reddening faces.
‘Where are you taking me?’ she shouted above the engine.
‘Wait and see.’ Dan smiled.
They drove for what seemed liked ages and arrived in the seaside town of Polzeath. They parked up and walked towards the sea. The rugged, sweeping beach was amassed with surfers in wetsuits enjoying the first rays of spring sunshine.
Dan took Jess’s hand. ‘This way I think.’
They started to walk along the coastal path towards Daymer Bay.
‘I just love everything about Cornwall,’ Jess exclaimed. ‘Just look at these views. It really is something else.’
They stopped along the way to take in the beautiful vista, chatting and laughing as they went. Dan had decided that he was going to go home the next day as Charlotte was flying back from LA. Jess too would leave, as Freya was breaking up from school and she wanted to be there to pick her up. Although Freya would have loved to come down to the cottage, Jess wanted to speak with Sam face-to-face, sooner rather than later.
‘So what are you showing me?’
‘Look over there.’ Dan pointed to their right.
In the distance she could see a beautiful little church that looked like it had almost sunk into the grass. Jess smiled broadly. ‘You are so clever remembering that I like old churches, Dan.’ Dan began to reel off some facts about the church.
She’d forgotten that he always seemed to know something about everything, and she was impressed. ‘This, my dear Jess, is St Enedoc’s Church. Evidently in the 19th century it is reported that the church was almost completely swallowed by the sands of Daymer Bay. Apparently the only way into the church was through the roof! And because of this the church gained the nickname of Sinking Neddy.’
‘You should be a tour guide not a web designer.’ Jess laughed.
‘Follow me.’ Dan carried on. ‘I’ve got something else to show you.’
They went through the old gate to the churchyard and Dan pointed to his right.
‘Oh my God, I don’t believe it. I didn’t know John Betjeman was buried here!’ Jess shrieked. She looked at his ornate black headstone with interest.
‘Jess, stop blaspheming, we are in the Lord’s garden,’ Dan said with mock authority and they both sniggered like school children. ‘Betjeman was renowned for saying his biggest regret was not having enough sex, how terrible would that be?’ Dan smirked at Jess. He then proceeded to climb a grassy bank, and begin his recital.
‘Love-forty, love-fifty, oh! weakness of joy,
The speed of a swallow, the grace of a boy,
With carefullest carlessness, gaily you won,
I am weak from your loveliness, Jessica Ann Morley.’
‘Pot Pouri from a Surrey Garden!’ Jess exclaimed laughing out loud at his clever interpretation. ‘I cannot believe you just remembered that, Dan Harris.’
‘I doctored it especially. I know how much you love your poetry, and especially Betjeman.’
Jess looked at him and bit her lip, there were tears in her eyes. She took his hands in hers, looked up at him, and their eyes met. They kissed passionately and Jess melted into his embrace. After what seemed like forever, Jess broke away.
‘This is the most romantic moment I have ever had in my life,’ she said softly.
Dan put his hands on her shoulders and looked her right in the eyes. ‘I love you, Jessy Morley.’
They ran up the path to the cottage, like excited school children. As soon as the door shut behind them Dan grabbed Jess and began to kiss her passionately. She pulled away.
‘No, Dan, let’s not.’
‘Why, Jess, it seems like the most natural thing in the world? I know now that I love you. I love you with all my heart. In fact if I’m honest with myself I actually don’t think I’ve ever stopped loving you.’
‘Dan, I still feel for you too, I fancy you to the core, but it’s just not the right time now.’
‘I don’t understand, Jess, I really don’t.’
‘Look, I’m still married.’
‘Jess, your marriage is a farce; your husband has been having an affair!’
‘Yes I know that, but two wrongs don’t make a right, Dan. I have to talk to Sam. I need to do what’s right by him and Freya, and I don’t want us jumping into bed with each other on a whim. It will cloud my judgment.’
‘So you might stay with him, is that what you’re saying?’ Dan asked quietly.
‘I need to talk to him,’ Jess said, not wanting to admit to herself or Dan her final decision, of which she now actually wasn’t sure of. ‘And you also need to decide if you really don’t want to be with Charlie,’ Jess stated.
‘I made my mind up on that, the minute I set eyes on you at your house the other week,’ Dan instantly replied. ‘Jess, it makes sense, we make sense. We’re better together.’
‘Dan, please give me some time and respect, to sort my feelings and my life out.’
Dan took a deep breath. ‘OK, Jess, I will do anything to make life easier for you and I mean that.’
They slept in the same bed, cuddling up closely all night. Ten years ago this was all that Jess had hoped for. Ten years on, she now wasn’t sure if Daniel Harris was the man to make her life complete.