“College. I was studying media and he was doing CAD” She was now looking unseeing at a large tree, a soft reflective look in her eyes
“He never finished….it wasn’t what he wanted to do. He really wanted to join the fire brigade – so that’s what he did”
“What happened” Marc prodded softly as she had fallen silent
After a while she had spoke again an anguished sadness in her tone
“There was a fire in a tenement building. A mother had managed to get herself and 2 of her children out of the flat, but one was still trapped in a bedroom. Danny went in and got her. The only way out was through the window, and fortunately the ladder was already up there.” She paused for a second before slowly continuing “He was able to pass her to his friend John, and was trying to get out himself when…” her voice had broken and instinctively Marc had reached out to cover her hand with his. This touch seeming to give her the strength to continue
“….when the floor gave way. Danny was killed instantly”
“I’m so sorry” he said “You two looked so in love”
Kelly had given him a sad smile “We had just bought the flat and were planning to get married in the summer before….”
Reaching into the large canvas bag she carried she had pulled out her purse, and opening it shown him a picture of a small girl of about 4 beside the picture of Max
“Every year on her birthday her parents always send me a thank-you card and a picture of Mary, the little girl he saved …. Danny would have liked that”
Marc had smiled “You must be very proud of him”
Seeing as Kelly had nodded her eyes brimming with tears.
“Did you never meet anybody after him?” he had prodded seeing as Kelly had looked at him a strange expression in her eyes
“He was a very hard act to follow” she had replied softly, then in a more forced voice declared “But I have a very special man in my life now” and with that she had lifted Max from the high chair, twirling with him in the grass. Marc had watched her with a strange look on his face, which Kelly was unable to fathom.
After lunch Max had lain in his buggy and had instantly fallen asleep, leaving Marc and Kelly to stroll contentedly for an hour around some of the gardens in the petting farm. They had joked and laughed comfortably with each others’ and Kelly had found herself enjoying her day very much.
When he had once more woken, the new re-energised Max had played with the many animals they passed on the way. His speed crawling kept the two of them on their toes as he continuously made a dash for it every time they let him down, something which he cried for continuously, stiffening up his little body until he got his own way. Marc had looked on in exasperation,
“Where does he get that stubborn streak from?”
Kelly had looked at him in disbelief “You’re kidding me” she had gasped her eyes wide in astonishment
Marc had laughed, Kelly was so natural with him he had once more thought, no other woman would ever have talked to him the way she did, and yet he found that he liked this about her very much.
“Has Beth told you anything about the party next month” he asked suddenly, seeing as Kelly had shrugged “she mentioned something about it”
Adding with a twinkle in her eye “Something about a birthday”
Marc had grimaced “another year…however, it is expected” before adding
“Are you OK to come”
Kelly had frowned “It’s a black tie affair isn’t it”, seeing as he had nodded
“I don’t think so” I’ll stay upstairs and watch Max she had said with finality
Marc however, had shaken his head “I don’t think so, every body is dying to meet you”
With a small groan she had sighed “Marc it’s not really my thing… and besides I don’t have anything to wear”
“Is that the only reason” he had asked quickly, and when she had nodded with an unconvincing “Yes” added
“Fine, I know just the person who can sort you out with something”
Kelly had spluttered that he couldn’t do that, that she couldn’t accept him buying her clothes, when he had held up a hand
“God Kelly what is it with you and presents. Anybody tries to give you something you’d think they had insulted your whole family”
Kelly had sighed in surrender, but she realised that he was not far from the truth where he was concerned. Having read Trudy’s journals she had gotten a good picture of Marc’s MO where women were concerned. He would pursue them with expensive gifts and when the affair was over make sure that they were well paid for services rendered. She had bitten her lip, not wanting to ruin the lovely day.