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| Some Things Never Change http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2121 |
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| Author: | Fatima [ Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:38 am ] |
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Len stood by the window, looking out at the familiar view of the white-capped mountains and the snow clad pine trees. It was strange to be looking out on this vista again after so many weeks of gazing out across the rooftops of Oxford; initially she had missed the majestic mountains and found the endless roofs of the city dull in comparison, but she had quickly got used to the new view, just as she had adapted to her new lifestyle. It had been frightening at first, not having all the rules and regulations of the school to guide her through the day, but she soon found that she could manage her own time and organise herself pretty well for someone used to the sheltered life she had lived on the Platz. In fact, she had made friends, worked hard, joined a debating society and gone to parties and generally managed to fill almost every waking moment and still get her work done to a high standard. And now, after just over three months of freedom, Len was back at Freudesheim for the Christmas holidays. She had been so excited about returning home for Christmas, seeing Mamma and Papa again, being reunited with Margot once more, seeing her younger brothers and sisters and Anna and Rosli and all the friends that lived nearby, but now she was there it felt odd. It was so familiar, and yet so far from all that she had got used to in Oxford. In many ways it felt like a step backwards; she had grown up so much over the last few months and now she was back in her childhood home she was worried that she would somehow slip back into her old ways again. That was something she hoped to avoid, for it was nice to feel quietly confident of one's ability to manage on one's own. She had, after all, travelled all the way to Edinburgh on her own, just to spend the weekend with Margot, and she had got used to planning her own time, doing what she wanted when she wanted. It would be strange to have to follow someone else's plans for her, and Jo had already assured Len and Con that she had made plenty of plans for their holiday. Len smiled to herself as she realised that the Platz was very different from Oxford. There she always had plenty of people to go out with and there were so many places they could go. Here, there was very little to do, so maybe it would be all right, falling in with all her mother's plans for them. "Len!" It was Mamma calling, so she called back, "Yes? I'll be down in a moment!" "Reg's here!" Jo informed her in stentorian tones. "Ok!" she yelled back. "I'll just change." Realising that she did not need to change, having already removed her travelling clothes and had a thorough wash, Len knew that she was just buying time. Reg was the one person she felt nervous about seeing, and yet it was silly to be so worried about meeting him again. She glanced down at the pretty ring she wore on her left hand and tried to stop herself from feeling so anxious. She loved him and being away for three months was not likely to have changed that. They had written to each other every week at least, often two or three times a week, and Len had even found time to miss him in amongst her busy schedule. So why would she feel anxious about seeing him again she wondered. Remembering how some of her new friends had thought it strange that she could get engaged so young and how they had predicted that she would find someone else - she knew they were thinking someone younger although no one ever said that - and had done their best to include clever and handsome and witty young men in their plans to tempt her, Len smiled. She had not been tempted by any of them. They were good fun to spend the afternoon with, or to debate important issues with, but they all seemed so young and unreliable and interested merely in having fun. Reg was also good fun, but he was the kind of man who could be relied upon in times of trouble, the kind of man you could imagine spending years with and never getting bored of his company. Len knew that she had changed though, and she wondered if she would find Reg as different as he would be sure to find her. She realised that she was worried that Reg would not like the woman she was becoming. Perhaps he would find her too independent and opinionated now and would wish her to become once more the demure and amenable girl he had fallen in love with. He had firmly supported her decision to go away, though, and had never once suggested that she should abandon her dreams and return to the Platz to marry him. He missed her, as he told her every time he wrote, but accepted that their separation was necessary. Having no good reason to keep him waiting any longer, Len left her room and ran lightly down the stairs. She could feel her heart thudding and she upbraided herself for her foolishness. There was no reason she should feel nervous about seeing Reg. Everything would be fine. "He's in the salon," said Jo, appearing in the doorway of her study. Len opened the door of the salon, drew a deep breath and went in. Reg was sitting in a comfortable armchair by the fire as if he belonged there, but as she entered he stood up. "Hello," she said, hoping he would not hear in her voice the apprehension that she felt. "Hello," he answered, and he gave her a huge grin, evidently pleased that she was back. "I'm so happy to see you." As he caught her in his arms and kissed her, Len felt her doubts melting away. He was just the same as he had always been, the man she loved and a dear friend, and nothing between them would change at all. "It's wonderful to be back," she told him with a laugh, and she really meant it. |
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