A Ghost Of A Chance
By
Iain.McMurtrie
A Walk On The Beach
By Iain.McMurtrie.
CopyWrite. Iain.McMurtrie.
Smashwords Edition.
Front cover Picture by Sara Moon.
This Book is dedicated to.
All my wonderful friends in Ramsay House, for their belief in me and there patience and kindness.
Thank you all.
CHAPTER ONE
John Hamilton was touring the USA getting material for his paintings and had stopped of in Seattle to get a flight to LA where he was going to hire a Triumph Speedmaster to tour the West Coast.
Arleen Blair had just arrived from New York on her way to LA from her English University to take up as ex-change student post-graduate post at the Californian State University Department of Marine Sciences. Arleen was in the departure lounge waiting for her flight to LA. She was reading some of the documents for her placement when one of the files fell of her lap.
John was just passing to go to his seat and saw the file fall to the floor, so stopped and picked it up and hand it to the girl. As he did so, he noticed her lovely flowing blonde hair, and those beautiful pale blues eyes that seemed to sparkle at him, as she gave him a sweet smile, as he handed her the file.
“Excuse me I think you dropped this”.
“Oh yes thank you very much that's very kind of you.”
She said in a sweet voice, and then she saw he was smiling and thought how handsome he looked, and that he had a very pleasant and deep Scots accent.
“Your welcome.”
He said modestly, taking a seat opposite the lovely young blonde girl. And started to read press cuttings and literature that he had brought with him about the common and bottle nosed dolphin colonies of the west coast of California, that he was intending to paint and draw. Arleen made a mental note to herself to try to get to know this tall handsome stranger, for he seemed to have the same interests as her. The only problem was she did not know if he was married or had a girlfriend. Though she did notice that he was not wearing a wedding ring, which seemed a good omen. Then she thought she would never know unless she asked, and he was definitely someone she would like to get to know better.
John had noticed the symbol on the front of the file when he had picked it up. So made a mental note to himself to visit there to do some research. For some pleasant and unknown reason he had felt a definite attraction to this beautiful young blonde girl. Yet he was still unsure inside for it had been a long time since he was a teenager and able to talk to girls with confidence, yet when he did the hurt and loss still came back to haunt him some 27years later.
For John’s first love had also been a beautiful, intelligent, and passionate young blonde. They had enjoyed a life together like any other young couple in love. Laughing and messing around, going to the cinema and out for romantic meals as well as meeting in café’s at lunch times, just anything to be together. Then something happened that would change their lives forever. For Arleen had been having headaches and feeling sick for a few days and was due to go and see the doctor the next day. Then that day Arleen collapsed at work and was rushed down to the A+E department of the hospital where she worked as a staff nurse. Then she was transferred to Intensive Care, there they did tests and monitored her. Her parents had been called soon after her emergency admission and where told by the doctors that she had a brain tumour. And that they would have to do an emergency operation to relieve the pressure on her brain due to internal bleeding, then they would carry out more test and scans to see whether it was operable or not.
It was later that day that Arleen’s parents phoned John to tell him what had happened and where she was. For he had been quite worried because she had not contacted him, and that he had not been able to contact her either. So John went straight to the hospital from nursing college. Before he went in, he tried to prepare himself for what he might face. He knew he had to be strong for her sake.
Yet as he walked into her room and saw her lying there in the bed, he still saw the beautiful young blonde girl that he knew so well and loved so much. So as he stood next to her bed, he took her hand in his and kissed her lovely long manicured fingers, yet they seemed thinner and paler now. The silver heart bracelet was still on her wrist, the one he had given her not long after they had met. Arleen had liked it from the moment he had placed it on her wrist and said she would ware it always.
“Hello sweetheart, I am here now and will stay as long as you want me to, I love you Arleen.” He said as he stood and leant over to kiss her gently on the lips, her bright pale blue eyes shinning up at him, as she smiled back at him. For the first few days and nights John hardly left her bedside except for college or when the doctors and nurses needed to see to Arleen, or to get something to eat. The doctors and nurses pleaded with him to take a break, his usual reply was soon, soon. Yet he always seemed to be their many minuets later. The nurses brought him tea or coffee and biscuits when they had time for which he was always very thankful. Just to be there with her, holding her hand and giving her a kiss when she woke was all that mattered to him.
Some weeks later after more tests and surgery the doctors said she could go home for some time. For John and her parents had asked if she could go home for some time. They knew it might not be much time but at least she would be with the ones she loved and cared for. The doctors said that would be all right as long as she was happy with that and that she had adequate pain relief. Fore the doctors had also told them that there was nothing else they could do for her as the tumour was inoperable and that she could have a few weeks or a year at the most.
They did have some very enjoyable and fun times together many weeks later yet they both knew that they were living on borrowed time. It was on one bright and warm spring day, when the flowers that she loved so much were blooming and the birds were singing. As Arleen lay on a sun lounger happily reading and listening to music on the radio, with John sat next to her. She said to John that she felt dizzy, so John gently picked her up in his arms and carried her into the house, placing her gently on the couch and covering her with a blanket to keep her warm. Then knelt down beside her as she rested.
“John I think this could be the end my darling, is this really all the time we have left. We have had some wonderful times together my love, and you have always been there for me, as you are now my darling. I have always loved you and always will my sweet darling giant.” Holding onto his hand and looking up into those loving deep ocean blue eyes, that she always said were as deep and beautiful, as the wondrous ocean itself.
“Yes Arleen I honestly and sadly think it is my sweet fare angel. And I have loved and enjoyed every bit of the time I have had with you, my dearest Arleen.” He said to her as he was knelt down beside her, cradling her in his arms. Looking into her beautiful tear filled pale blue eyes, as he gently lowered his head and kissed her softly on those lovely soft moist pale pink lips, for what was to be the last time.
“Good bye my sweet fare angel you will stay in my heart forever more. Till we meet again, in another time and in another place, my love, I love you.” At that moment he felt her hand go limp in his and he gently placed it at her side. Her beautiful pale blue eyes had closed for the last time, as he gently laid her head on the cushion at the end of the couch. Then he gave her one last kiss, then dropped his head onto the couch next to her and cried.
CHAPTER TWO
The in flight film, he had seen a dozen times before, even the paper and the book he had bought in the shop at Glasgow airport had been finished ages ago. He normally flew economy class. But he had decided to go club class this time for a change as he had heard that the seats were bigger and had more legroom than the usual ones. It was as he saw the blonde girl enter the club class cabin that he knew fate was telling him something and he should go with the flow. The club class cabin was normally busy
with business folk on their way to conventions in LA.and Las Vegas. Yet this time it was quite quiet. John had decided that there was nothing to lose by asking if the beautiful young lady would like to share a glass or two of champagne with a lonely but friendly artist. So asked the lovely stewardess if she would be kind enough to ask the beautiful young lad, if she would like to join him for a glass or two of champagne.
Arleen Blair had just finished reading her book when the lovely stewardess approached her and said that.
“Mr Hamilton, the tall and handsome gentleman, asks if you would be kind enough to join him for a glass or two of champagne”.
Arleen had been wondering how to get to know this tall ruggedly handsome man while waiting to board her flight. Yet at one time thought she had lost him, when he had entered the plane and turned left to go to the club class cabin. Then she handed the stewardess her boarding pass and was pleasantly surprised when she was directed towards the club class cabin also. Then was even more pleased when she was directed to the seat just a couple of rows away from this strangely quiet yet at the same time deeply sensual and attractive man. What was it about him, was it those beautiful deep ocean blue eyes that seemed as deep and as wondrous as the ocean itself. Or was it his warm, caring and loving smile that had this strange yet lovely feeling. Making her feel like a school girl, with a crush on the kind and friendly art teacher at high school. She had just been daydreaming about all this when the stewardess appeared by her side.
As much as he was looking forward to meeting and getting to know the lovely girl. He was still very nervous for it had been a long 28 years to be exact, since he had last tried to chat to and get to now a girl, in any kind of friendly or romantic way.
And he thought him self very rusty and unsure of him self in the presence of this beautiful young woman. Then somewhere from deep down in his memory he remembered his first love, another beautiful , blonde young girl and the words she used to say to him when he got a bit stuck for words, as she gently put a finger to his lips, and said.
“Oh my love, I know what you mean and what you want to say my darling, so don't worry I can tell by the look in your lovely warm and kind eyes and the way that so gently, lovingly and passionately hold me and kiss me, that you love me. And I love you my big cuddly teddy bear, and your actions always speak louder than any words.”
And with that thought in his mind he stood up to his full and proud 6ft 5ins. And when she held out her hand to shake his,
he took her hand and kissed it first, then offered her the seat opposite his where there was already a champagne flute full waiting for her in the drinks stand next to her.
Arleen was beginning to think she was dreaming as things were definitely getting strange but in a nice and interesting way.
For after arriving in Seattle and waiting in the departure lounge she sees this very attractive and handsome man come in to the departure lounge, then he kindly picks up her papers for her. And says in a lovely quiet yet deep Scots accent “Its my pleasure.” Then when ever she unashamedly glanced over at him he had that lovely warm and kind smile in those deep ocean blue eyes, That just seemed to melt any worries she had away, and made her blush with pleasure.
Now here he is towering over her, and kissing her hand, yet
she felt safe and secure in his presence.
“Sorry do forgive me; my name is Hamilton, John Hamilton”
John said as he offered her the seat opposite him.
“Well thank you and my name is Arleen Blair.”
“Well Arleen nice to meet you and please join me in a glass
of champagne.”
They sat drinking champagne and chatting.
“I see you are studying the Dolphins, that’s great because they are wonderful creatures, the dolphins and whales and deserve all the help we can give them. I can see with your dedication and interest that they will be well looked after.
“Oh thank you but I think they will end up teaching me a lot more than I can do for them” Arleen said with a shy smile.
“They are actually why I am here for they are the project I am working on at the moment, getting as many paintings and drawings of them as I can for a exhibition of my work in a few weeks time.” John said as he pulled an A3 portfolio out of his brief case.
These are some examples of my work” he said as he handed Arleen the portfolio.
“Oh they are beautiful John and so detailed and life like, you shouldn't have any problem selling these they are wonderful” She said with a warm smile as she gently placed her hand on his hand.
John didn't know what to do for this girl was definitely interested in him, as he was with her yet as it had been a long time since a girl had been so assertive with him he was not sure.
“Well thank you I like to think I show them as life like as possible in their natural habitat. And that people will like the pictures for that. I also donate a percentage of the price of the paintings towards the WDCS for I feel it’s the least I can do for those wonderful creatures, that give me the pleasure of watching them and painting them.”
The more he spoke in that quiet yet deep Scots accent, the more she seemed to be attracted to him. And if she was not mistaken, begging to like this tall handsome artist very much.
Oh my god John thought this is very strange. She has the same name and even the same beautiful pale blue eyes and lovely long blonde hair and amazing perfect hour glass figure. And as they sat and chatted John realized that he could not afford to let this beautiful girl go out of his life.
They were getting near the end of their flight so John decided he had to do something so asked her if she would like to go out to dinner with him.
“Arleen I hope you don't mind me asking but would you like to go out to dinner with a rather shy, though very happy artist, that is if you don't have any other plans that is.”
“Yes please that would be a wonderful idea for I had been hoping you would ask me, actually thank you” She said then leant forward and kissed him a gentle, yet affectionate kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you it would be a pleasure to have your company, for I.......” John was saying, then Arleen leant forward and gently put one of her lovely long manicured fingers to his lips and said “ Its alright John I can guess what you want to say and do, for I can see it in those lovely deep ocean blue eyes of yours.
So don't worry just do it, on you go you know you want to and I certainly won’t mind.” So John leant forward and at the same time Arleen also leant forward and he took her lovely soft golden tanned face gently in his big hands and kissed her a slow and passionate kiss. At that moment Arleen slid her arms round his neck as she felt a lovely warm tingle go through her body and didn't want him to stop.
As she pulled her body closer to him. Then she was sitting on his lap as he gently put his strong yet gentle arms round her lovely waist and pulled her to him.
“Where are you staying Arleen” John asked her.
“In the Holiday Inn next to the university, just to make it easier to get to uni until I am settled in”
“That's great for that's also where I am booked in, so how about I meet you at the reception at 8:00 alright and we go to a great Italian restaurant down the coast near the south shore. I hope you don' t mind going pillion on the back of a motorbike for I always feel its the best way to see the sights and feel the warm Californian sun on your face and a great way to travel. Any way it’s a lot easier to park a bike than it is to park one of those tanks the yanks call cars.”
“Oh no of course not, I have never been on a bike before but it sounds exciting and I am sure I will be very safe in your kind and caring hands so thank you.” This was getting very interesting indeed Arleen thought. Inside she felt like a school girl on her first date. She felt she was definitely attracted to this tall handsome man and going on the back of a motorbike sounded exciting. He was a rebel but a kind and loving one Arleen thought as she went for a shower before getting ready.
She had set out a nice set of black lacy under wear, a pair of slim fit jeans and a nice low cut top and a pair of cowboy boots and her short leather jacket. Arleen got dressed and went down to the reception to meet John.
John had gone out early to check the bike that the local Triumph dealer had delivered earlier that day ready for John. The bike was exactly as he had requested. A jet black and cardinal red Triumph Speedmaster with sissy bar backrest and rack and canyon bags also engine bars and a highway screen. He had decided on his sued jacket with the traditional North American Indian bead pattern on the back and front along with a pair of strong denims and his engineer boots. After checking the bike he headed back in to meet Arleen.
It was a warm evening as they cruised down the Coastal Pacific Highway towards the small but stylish and traditional Italian restaurant on the coast. Their was another reason that John had chosen his friends place for a meal. For there was a particularly nice and peaceful and secluded cove where you could always see plenty of bottle nosed dolphins swimming and playing in the deep waters just of the shore.
They pulled up outside the restaurant just as Toni Asscari the owner and old friend of John's came out to see who had pulled up on the lovely classic cruiser. When Toni saw the beautiful tall blonde get of the bike and take her helmet off and shake her lovely long blonde locks free. He gave her a friendly smile then he spotted the tall athletic built figure of the riding the bike even though he had his back to him, and when John turned round Toni gave him a big smile as his face lit up. He had been looking forward to seeing his big Scots friend for some time eve tough it had been some time since they had last seen each other.
“Hey my friend time has been good to you, you lucky beggar where did you get that beautiful angel from she is absolutely wonderful my friend, you deserve some happiness in your life.”
Well thanks Toni and how are you my old mate, time has also been good to you my friend and how is that lovely young wife of yours Maria. Hope you are looking after her for she seems to be looking after you well enough”
They were shown to a discreet and romantic corner booth at the back of the restaurant as they smiled at the other guests as they watched Toni show his friends to their seats. As Tony departed to get their drinks and put their food order in John managed to whisper to Tony without Arleen hearing “Tony don't mention the beach or the dolphins its a surprise ok thanks”. To that Tony just smiled and a slight nod of the head and went to get their drinks.
23
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IAIN MCMURTRIE
A
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