Bluebells in May (a short love story)

It was a beautiful spring morning. Birds were chirping excitedly, the bees busying themselves around the flower pots on the balcony, and the sun broke through the clouds to shine its delightful warmth through white rimmed windows and onto a sleeping Sam.

“Oh god…” Sam grunted as she lifted her head slightly and looked at her alarm clock through puffy eyes. It was time to get up, like most mornings, and join the buzzing drudgery outside. She sat up scratching her head, which was slightly throbbing from last night’s bottle of chardonnay. She pulled some long strands of dark brown hair away from the side of her face, and looked over at her phone. No messages. Typical. She breaks up with boring Alex, and he doesn’t even have the spontaneity to drunk text her. Then she realised with utter mortification that she had, and started her morning routine in low spirits.

At the kitchen table her phone rang and she pick it up in a flash. Slightly disappointed that is wasn’t Alex, she heard Luke’s voice on the other end with whom she usually gets a ride to work, to tell her he is feeling sick today.

“You’re hungover! I can’t believe you! I was looking forward to our car gossip this morning.” Sam teased Luke.

“How did it go with Boring Alex?”

Alex hadn’t always been boring. He started off as Handsome Alex, and one year later had become Boring Alex. Her parents liked him, since he had a bright and successful future as a chartered accountant.

“Shite.” She sipped her coffee, and switched her phone to the other ear holding it steady with her shoulder, while using her hands to tear out a corner piece of The Bath Chronicle newspaper.

“Sam, love, I organized a lift for you. I have a friend who is heading towards Trowbridge this morning, and he is happy to help. I gave him your address.”

“Thank you, darling.” With that they blew kisses and hung up. Sam sighed deeply, leaning back against the kitchen chair. There was a time she actually enjoyed her job. It was not the job itself that had become redundant, which it had, but as exciting months turned into experienced years, the undercurrent politics and soul destroying retail world, wore her down. She sat up, collected herself, and took another bite of her toast. Just then the doorbell rang.

*

Thom held open the car door for Sam. It had started to drizzle, and he was in a bit of a rush this morning, since it had been a late start. Anne had slept over, but she left angrily after Thom attempted to convince her, again, to leave her boyfriend. Not a great start to the morning, he thought, and instead he found himself driving a friend of a friend to work.

Thom glanced at Sam and said with a smile, “Rough night?”

“Oh you know, just the usual.” Sam was staring out of her window, seemingly uninterested in conversation.

“Alright.” Thom continued driving. He was happy to have some time to think, and didn’t mind the quiet. He decided to take the scenic route, for his thoughts. Two weeks ago he inherited a small fortune from his favourite aunt, Edna, who had passed away a couple of months ago. As Thom was a decent sort of fellow, he planned on doing something with it that would have made his aunt’s heart leap with joy, and this something just happened to be located in Bradford-upon-Avon, on the way to Trowbridge.

“If you must know, I broke up with my boyfriend last night, drunk texted him, and now have a dreadful day to look forward to.” Sam blurted out.

Thom glanced at her and said, “I’m sorry to hear that.” There was a long silence, then Thom spoke again, “I slept with my ex last night, who is also cheating on her boyfriend, with me, and I asked her to be my girlfriend, again. She said no.”

“That is terrible!” Sam laughed, “I feel so much better.” She looked over at him. Thom had a mop of unruly black hair, and wore spectacles over his blue eyes. She liked the way he looked, and thought he was the honest and unintentionally funny type of person. Their confessions of the night before had broken the ice between them, and each spoke a bit about their past relationships, as well as what they would like in a future partner, knowing what they know now.

“Bluebells. That is all. I don’t need fancy gigantic flowers.” Sam waved her hands in an arc to demonstrate, and almost hit Thom in the face.

“Why those specifically? I thought all women like bright gigantic flowers!”

Sam smiled to herself, “They symbolise eternal love. Beautifully captured in a simple little flower.” Then turning to Thom, she asked, “What about you?”

Thom shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know.”

“Oh come on, it’s probably something awfully typical. Like her showing up naked underneath her coat, or not wearing any underwear!” Sam teased laughingly.

“Absolutely not!” Thom replied, then grinned, “Alright, maybe. Yes.”

“Ha! I knew it.” Sam slapped the dashboard.  Just then the car came to a halt and Thom rested both of his hands on top the steering wheel. A flock of sheep had gathered onto the small road, blocking it entirely. Shifting the gear, Thom reversed the car steadily and with some bad luck, steered a little too far to the left side of the low stone wall and got stuck in the mud.

Getting out, both Thom and Sam were standing behind the car now, looking at its wheels that have sunk a little into the mud.

“Right, I think I know what to do.” Thom tested the severity of the situation by pushing the back of the car. It budget a little, and he straightened up. He got behind the steering wheel, leaving the door open, switched on the engine again, and pushed down on the pedal. A spray of mud flew out and onto Sam, covering the front of her clothes and face.

“What the hell!” She shouted, and wiped some mud from her face, and flicking it onto the ground. Thom jumped out apologising, and tried to help wipe the mud off her clothes and hair, then started to laugh.

“I don’t find this funny at all.” Sam picked up a hand full of mud and tried to fling it at Thom, who dodged skilfully.

“How am I supposed to go to work like this?” Sam said in agitation.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a clean shirt in the car for you.”

By the time Sam changed into the clean shirt, the road was clear again, and Thom managed to get the car moving and out of the mud. Continuing along the little winding road, Sam phoned her work and explained why she would be a little late. They sat quietly, each to their own thoughts, when Thom stopped the car.

“What’s wrong? Are we stuck again?” Sam looked out the window trying to see why they had stopped.

“This is a little awkward, but I really need to go see a man about a dog. Really badly. I had three cups of coffee this morning and forgot to go before I came to pick you up.” Thom sighed. “Sorry. Just look out your side of the window and I’ll be quick as a flash.” Sam rolled her eyes and shook her head, then turned to look the other way. Thom made his way to stand next to a tree, not too far, and looked out over a small field spotted with some cows.

Sam heard shouting, and looked back to where Thom was standing. A farmer came running from across the field shouting angrily and waving a fist. Thom panicked, and clutching his trousers tried to hastily turn around, but lost his footing on the wet grass and fell forwards. He jumped up again, and ran towards the car, holding onto trousers that were starting to slip down. Slamming the door closed, Thom revved the car, causing the tires to scream, and sped off, leaving an angry farmer shouting profanities behind them.

Sam burst into hysterical laughing. “You should probably try and pull your pants up a bit.” Thom blushed, “Oh my god that was close! For a second there I thought that was it for me.”

“Well, that was the funniest thing I have seen in a long while.” Sam was still laughing, “If ever!” They continued their way towards Trowbridge, joking and telling bits and pieces of their lives, when they finally arrived outside the Mall and in the parking lot.

“Thank you so much. It was fun. Although I am about an hour late for work!” Sam didn’t mind at all. The little adventure with Thom brightened up her day, and quite possibly the rest of the week too. There was a slight awkward silence, as the two of them fumbled for words, not really wanting to say farewell.

“Alright, well, it was a pleasure meeting you. I do hope we will run into each other again.” Thom immediately regretted saying that. Sam waved and walked through the automatic doors of the Mall. Thom sat for a moment looking at the spot Sam walked through, feeling sadly alone. Suddenly remembering the time, he started the car, and drove off to Bradford-upon-Avon, to fulfil a childish dream of his.

*

 Sam stood looking at the window display of the bookshop. She had made a beautiful children’s display last Friday, and was amazed that it was still intact after the weekend. In the centre of all this was her favourite book, The Wind in the Willows. She looked up and saw Gemma sneering at one of her colleagues. With a nervous flutter in her heart, she made a spontaneous decision, and phoned work. She saw Gemma answer the phone.

“Sorry, I won’t be coming in after all today. Will explain later.” Sam hung up before Gemma could respond, and walked out towards the train station. As she sat down at a window seat in the train, she took out a piece of torn newspaper from this morning. It read;

Bradford-upon-Avon

Windy Willows Bookshop for Sale

Contact for more details

*

Thom took a sip of his tea. The Bluebells Coffee Shop was aptly named, he thought, as there were bluebells growing in pots all over, and on the grass next to the little river. His fingers reached out to touch the petals of the Bluebell sitting neatly in a small glass vase, and thought of this morning’s misadventure. He realised that he hadn’t even thought of his ex until now when the waitress asked if anyone will be joining him. Looking through his pockets for his phone, he realised two things; he forgot to ask Sam for her number, and he left his keys on the counter of the Windy Willows. Finishing his tea, he got up and made the short journey back to the bookshop.

*

The Windy Willows Bookshop was a quaint and beautiful little place to escape from the outside world. The stand-alone building was made of grey stone from a nearby quarry, and hanging beneath each white painted window frame were colourful potted flowers. Sam walked through the red wooden door, and a little tingle was heard to announce her arrival.

“My dear, I’m afraid you are too late. A gentleman was here about half an hour ago, and has made an offer I could not refuse. He was quite charming. In fact, I knew his Aunt, Edna Quinn, very well.” Mrs Badger said thoughtfully. She seemed a lovely lady, but felt that she was getting too old, and wanted to retire.

With a sunken heart, Sam thanked her and wished her well on her new adventure. She turned and headed for the door, disappointment welling up in her eyes. As she stepped outside, Thom bumped into her.

“Oh what a surprise!” Sam tried to regain herself, and was truly happy to see Thom, albeit a bit surprised to be running into him here.

“I forgot my car keys here.” Thom looked at her and saw she was not alright.

“You!” Sam exclaimed, suddenly realising why she ran into him. “You are the one who is buying the bookshop?” She explained why she was a little upset. Thom said, “Well, I am in need of a manager. If you are interested, of course.” He smiled at her, and she jumped in his arms with joy, accepting his offer.

Thom let go of the embrace, and looked into her eyes, “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

Slightly blushing, Sam’s eyes twinkled. “Of course I would.”

“Alright, how about now?”

“What? As in right now?”

Thom smiled, and took Sam’s hand “I know of this lovely coffee shop just down the road. You’ll love it.”

It was a beautiful spring morning. The birds were still chirping, the bees buzzing happily from flower to flower, and the sun’s warmth shone down on Thom and Sam, as they walked together to where the Bluebells grew.

The End