Lovers Dilemma

Excerpt from a Mystery Novel in Progress

Their kiss seemed to linger on and on. In the end she had to force herself to draw away from him. For a long time they stood still looking into each others eyes with that quiet understanding that only two people in love usually do.

Outside from where they sat in the patio facing the vast green garden in the compound, it was raining. And it had poured like that all evening and night up until now. The wind was also blowing the rain water onto them gently. The chill outside and the little drops of water drying on the sides of her lovely face only made her catch her breath. She managed a smile and said something at last...

"Darling...are you sure? Do I really have a chance with you?" she gasped.

" Yes. I love you Celia...," Neil returned.

She laughed aloud. "How come you did'nt do anything about it till now?" she said

" I had to make sure for myself. Dad's passing away settled it."

There was a long silence. "Listen Neil," she looked alarmed. "What are we going to do about your mother? She does'nt like me in that way, you know."

He moved closer to her and cupped both his palms on the sides of her rosy cheeks. "Listen love," he said. "Mom does what I tell her. See?"

"It's like that eh?" she laughed.

" Yeh, just like that," he said, snapping his fingers.

A sudden clap of thunder brought them awake.

"Isn't it time we went inside?" she asked as she raised her head to brush his hair gently with her lips. "It's time for your mom's medicine for the night"

"When do you think she'll be alright, Celia? " he asked. "Dad has been gone for two weeks now and she still hasn't recovered. Thank God for a nurse like you."

" First it was your father and now it is your mom," she replied. "But she isn't that ill, you should know. It will take a little more time for her to recover from the loss."