Cherry Blossoms by Patricia Keyson Page A

He resolved that he’d only knock if there was a light on. After all, he had to consider Jay who might be in bed by now.
    Scarcely aware that he was holding his breath, Oliver exhaled noisily when a light showed at t he front window of the chalet. Marching to the door, he rapped hard.
    * * *
    Cherry was startled when she heard the knock. Pat had lent her a large wheeled suitcase, and Cherry had by now very nearly filled it with Jay’s things. She had to put a light on, but had hoped that no one would be about to see it. Who could be at the door? As she wondered this, she instinctively knew that it would be Oliver. Probably checking to make sure she’d gone. She poked her head around the sitting room door and saw his familiar outline through the glass front door. Catching her breath, she knew she was trapped. He could tell she was there; the light was on. It would be rude to ignore him. She decided that she’d ask him in out of the rain and make sure he knew she was packing. She’d be out of his hair very soon.
    “ Hello Oliver. Come in.” Cherry stood back to allow him to enter the chalet. However, he didn’t move.
    “ Where have you been?” he shouted. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
    Cherry wondered if all their conversations from now on would be shouting contests until she remembered that this was probably the last time she’d ever see him.
    “ We’re living with Pat. I just came to get the last of our things. See.” She indicated the case and empty cupboards. “It won’t take me long to pack these last few things and then I’ll be out of your way.” Cherry felt her chin wobbling and ducked her head so Oliver wouldn’t see.
    But Oliver purposefully walked through the chalet. Cherry suddenly felt furious with him. “There’s no need to check up on me,” she snapped. “I know it was wrong of me to live here without telling you, I’ve apologised and now I’m packing. What more can I do?”
    “ This chalet’s in an appalling condition,” he fumed.
    Cherry felt as if she’d been slapped in the face. One thing she’d been very careful about was keeping the place clean. “I’ll scrub it again before I leave.” Now she couldn’t wait to go. It would be a relief to get away from this man, this chalet, and everything.
    Oliver stood in front of her. “Cherry, I didn’t mean . . . The chalet’s beautifully clean,” he said softly. Gently putting his hands on her shoulders, he said, “There seems to be a misunderstanding. When I said that you’d have to move, I meant that this place is far too ramshackle for you and Jay. Look at it. It’s not fit to live in.”
    “ But it’s our home.”
    “ My plan was that you and Jay should move to one of the pretty cottages nearer the river.”
    Cherry gasped. “But you shouted at me,” she said biting back a grin as she realised she sounded like a sulky child.
    “ I didn’t mean to be unkind. Forgive me?” Oliver asked.
    “ I’m not sure,” she teased. “What are the cottages like inside?”
    “ Come with me and I’ll show you,” urged Oliver, relief washing over him as he heard the mocking tone in her voice. His world was back the right way round now, and he wanted to make sure it stayed that way. He’d never met anyone as sensitive yet strong-willed as Cherry and he knew he was falling in love with her.
    “ This is so pretty,” enthused Cherry as they went into the renovated cottage. She’d forgotten that she’d ever been cross with Oliver. Now that he’d explained, everything made sense. The cottage really was lovely. There were two bedrooms, a kitchen cum living room, and a little deck at the front where they could sit and look at the river. It was perfect. There was only one problem now. “How much is the rent?” she asked, crossing her fingers and hoping she’d be able to afford it.
    Oliver puckered his lips and frowned. “Well they are quite expensive of course with their prime river location and superior