Kiss On The Bridge (6 page)

“I know a place where we can go,” hinted
Wade. “If he’s wrong we’ll see a beautiful sunrise.”

“What if he’s right?”

“There’s no need to worry, we’ll be safer
than a church full of people. My home isn’t far. I’m positive
you’re going to love meeting Charlotte. Now tell me your
story?”

“Who’s Charlotte?”

“Surely you’re not jealous?” blurted Wade.
Skipping ahead a few steps he swiveled on his toes, waiting for
Anneli to walk into his arms.

“What a slick move,” she giggled.

Wade swept Anneli off her feet. Looking up
into her eyes, he gradually lowered her feet to the ground. Placing
one hand behind her head he pulled her towards him.

“I’ve waited almost an entire year for this.
I can’t wait any longer.”

“You have yet to divulge who Charlotte
is?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Wade and Anneli stood in the middle of the
street outside a pharmacy window locked in a loving kiss; both
wanting to re-ignite the kiss on the bridge.

Wade eventually pulled back.

Anneli felt totally devastated at the
interruption. Her emotions were falling fast. She wanted to shrink
away to be swallowed up by the night. Convinced beyond doubt
prematurely ending the kiss meant the night was over she started to
think Wade’s story of trying to find her had been an illusion. How
could he have dashed her hope? He might as well have opened her
chest and yanked out her heart.

Wade quickly smoothed over the scene.
“Believe me I didn’t want to interrupt the kiss. If you look
skywards it’s a gorgeous evening. The beauty in the sky is dull
compared to the radiant features of your face.”

Still aching inside, Anneli reluctantly
viewed the stars. Her breathing momentarily stopped. “Even the
breeze has dropped,” she managed to whisper.

“Though the moment has been interrupted, the
sky has enriched our reunion.”

Anneli wrapped her arms tighter around Wade.
The words he spoke were starting to melt her anguish. She wanted
desperately for her heart to dominate what she thought. “My ideas
of late have been way off.”

Wade copied her move, cementing their cuddle.
“Where have you been hiding my entire life?”

“Nowhere,” replied Anneli giving a school
girl’s grin. “I’ve been waiting for my hero to sweep me off my
feet.”

“You’re looking for a romantic
lifestyle?”

“Yes, I am.”

Anneli took hold of Wade’s hand. Walking
along the street, they watched their reflection in the glass shop
windows. Once the shops were gone they both looked at nothing in
particular.

Anneli started to wonder how Wade might react
to the news of her appointed contract deed her father made. Even
though they touched on the subject earlier they didn’t discuss it
at length. If she were to listen to what her heart suggested, she
needed to be certain. Anneli looked sideways at Wade. ‘Is he the
type of man to click his tongue and walk?’ She knew of only one way
to find out.

“You’ve gone quiet,” commented Wade.

“I’ve been thinking.”

“I hope it’s nothing I’ve done?”

“Far from it,” confessed Anneli.

“I know you’ll tell me what’s on your mind
when the time is right.”

“You’re a hard man to predict.”

“I blame it on my career.”

“Are you in the army?”

Wade let a chuckle slip. “No, I’m a lawyer,
or at least I used to be.” He heard Anneli sigh before looking
away. “Please, tell me what’s on your mind.”

“I suppose I do owe you an explanation.” For
several moments Anneli studied the ground at her feet. “When I was
born my father received a photo of a baby in the mail. A contract
has been drawn up. The man and I have been promised to each
other.”

The truth behind the story the messenger spun
took Wade totally by surprise. He didn’t know how to react. One
thing he knew he needed to keep his emotions in check. “Stand up
against the contract.”

“I’m expected to accept it. No exceptions.
I’ve been informed his family is rich.”

“Money’s not everything.”

“Exactly what I told my sister.”

“Simply tell your father no.”

“I’ve tried. The closer the meeting gets, the
more I feel it’s easier just to give in.”

Wade lifted Anneli’s head so they were
looking at each other square in the face. “Even though I don’t know
you yet, you strike me to be an extremely strong, courageous young
woman. I feel it in my spirit you can say no. You should stick to
your ideas come what may. I’m positive when you relay how you feel
your father will change his mind.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“What about if I talk to your father,
explaining how much this idea is stressing you?”

“No. I have to solve this problem on my own.
My father and I have discussed the stupid idea a few times. I also
told him how I felt about the whole mess.”

“What did he say?”

Anneli squeezed Wade’s hand. Tears rolled
unhindered down over her cheeks. “He threatened to drop my name
from his will. Adding to the list he said he’ll never see me again.
I don’t want to back down on the idea I have the right to choose my
own husband. The trouble is it’s getting harder every day.”

“You should never back off from what you
want,” blurted Wade.

“Again, I thank you for being on my side.
It’s nice to know someone agrees.”

“What your father has proposed is
illegal.”

“I know. Believe me it’s easy to say.”

“Yes it is. In an Australian court you’d win
hands down.”

“It’s good to know the law is also on my
side.”

Wade recommenced to walk along the street;
gently tugging Anneli’s arm so she’d follow.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

Wade winked. “I’m positive the place I’m
thinking of will cheer you up. I promise every one of your ideas
will turn out.”

“You’ve said a big commitment.”

“I sure did,” replied Wade.

Anneli fell silent, allowing the man holding
her hand to take her on a journey. Deep down she felt excited by
not knowing where they might end up. She decided to entertain the
feeling of suspense.

The two walked down the road, ending at the
sea. Before they rounded the last bend, tall masts from the many
yachts could be seen towering over the trees.

Anneli didn’t know what to make of it. She
hadn’t known Wade for a great length of time. She started to count
the hours since they met in her head before thinking he lived next
to the marina in a little one room seaside shack. It could even
have a small wooden table amongst a miniature garden and a small
window in which to view the sunset. Anneli loved her idea so much
she posted it from her daydream to her consciousness. She started
to relax, deciding she discovered the secret of Wade’s little
shanty.

Stepping onto the wharf, Wade firmly held
Anneli’s hand. He noticed her expression slowly change from
confident to complete bewilderment the further they walked along
the wooden slats towards the end. At the halfway point they heard
the water gently lapping the pylons. Wade started to doubt if the
young lady would approve of Charlotte.

“Wade, where are you taking me?” Anneli
started to tug at his arm in an attempt to signal she wanted to
return to the road.

“We’re almost there. Soon you’ll meet
Charlotte. I know when you meet her you’ll understand.”

Glaring at Wade, Anneli stopped walking.
“Tell me who Charlotte is? If you don’t I refuse to take another
step.”

Wade smiled his warm luring expression
again.

Anneli didn’t fall for it. She looked
determined to have her say. “I’m not into guessing games. Tell me
or I’ll turn my back on you.”

Wade gently took her hand. “We’re here. Take
a look.”

Anneli looked sideways, staring at a brand
new yacht.

Wade stepped behind Anneli, slipping his arms
around her waist. He swiveled her slightly. “You’re looking
directly at Charlotte.”

“You named a yacht, Charlotte?”

“Yes and no.”

“Which is it?”

“The bloke who built the yacht christened her
Charlotte after his wife. He said before I bought her it is bad
luck to change names. I’m the first one to agree on what you’re
thinking; what a strange name for a yacht. I reckon the name suits
her.”

Anneli confessed slowly. “I thought Charlotte
might be your girlfriend or your wife or a daughter.”

Wade looked horrified.

Anneli smiled first. A few seconds ticked off
before they began laughing at the misunderstanding.

“You’re right, after the initial shock the
name does grows on you,” giggled Anneli.

“Care to come aboard for the five-cent
tour?”

“Yes, I’d love to.”

Wearing a widening grin, Wade helped Anneli
onboard. Almost immediately she ran her hand along the main boom
before looking up at the pulley bolted to the top of the mast.

“The main sail has been rolled perfectly,”
she remarked.

“Of course,” replied Wade.

Anneli stepped onto the bridge. Slipping
behind the wheel she rubbed her hands around the outside of the
highly polished wood.

“You seem quite at home on a yacht,” stated
Wade.

“I’ve been on a few,” replied Anneli.

“Come, I’ll show you downstairs.”

The young lady followed Wade into the belly
of the yacht. Standing on the bottom step he faced Anneli. “You’re
the first visitor.”

“This is indeed a momentous occasion.”

Wade palmed an open hand allowing Anneli to
step into the small lounge. She nodded her approval at the inner
sanctum.

Wade showed off the galley, the dining room
and the bedroom.

“I wondered when this room might come into
the equation.”

Red faced, Wade quickly closed the door.
“Care for a drink?”

“What are you offering?”

“You can have either a white wine or a
red.”

“White sounds nice,” hinted Anneli. She sat
at the small round table pondering over the man as he pulled a
bottle of white from under the bench. She watched him fan out water
crackers on a plate and coat the surface in a salmon topping.

Before finishing the last biscuit Wade
suddenly looked up. “You do enjoy eating fish?”

Anneli deduced he looked a little nervous.
Maybe after the trouble he’d gone through to find her he
unexpectedly thought she mightn’t eat seafood.

“Salmon is palatable,” she whispered on a
sigh.

Wade walked to the table carrying a plate of
biscuits and two glasses of wine.

“Do you live permanently onboard?”

“No, this place is only temporary,” admitted
Wade sitting opposite Anneli.

“Where in Melbourne do you live? Do you have
a house or do you share it?”

“I live on the coast, over-looking the
water.”

Wade felt a little uncomfortable at the
personal questions. To hide the fact he gulped half a glass of
wine.

“You don’t answer my questions too easily do
you?” mentioned Anneli.

“I’m a private person. I take a while to warm
up.”

‘It’s not a good trait,’ thought Anneli,
looking at the floor. “I thought we were trying to get to know one
another.”

“I apologize. I’ve worked so hard trying to
find you I don’t want to lose you by coming on too strong.”

“Honesty doesn’t seem to be your weakest
point. I like it. You say you’re a lawyer.”

“Was a lawyer,” replied Wade. “I’ve recently
changed directions.”

“Is this yacht one of the perks of the
job?”

Wade shook his head, giving her a blank
stare.

“I don’t mean to sound rude. You certainly
don’t look old enough to have earned enough money to buy the small
boat attached to the stern of this yacht.”

“I’d prefer it if we changed the
subject.”

“I think our date, if you could label it a
date, is over.” Anneli walked towards the stairs. Before climbing
she faced Wade. “I believed we discovered something special on the
bridge. A stranger, walking alone at midnight insisting on giving
me a kiss sounded and felt exciting.”

“I assumed we discovered something special
too.”

“We were both wrong.”

Anneli climbed the stairs, marched across the
deck and started walking along the pier back to the beach.

Wade sat alone at the table contemplating
should he run after Anneli. He’d worked so hard to find her only to
have her slip through his fingers. Staring at the bottle of wine on
the bench, determination slowly wrinkled his brow. She wasn’t going
to slip away uncontested. If he only managed to convince Anneli she
shouldn’t be enslaved in a loveless marriage, then so be it.

CHAPTER SIX

WADE SPRINTED up the stairs holding the empty
wine bottle in his hand. He stood on the deck searching the entire
area. Beyond two young boys fishing he found the silhouette of a
woman leaning on the second pylon in from the start of the wharf.
He stopped running when he closed to talking distance.

For a long time both stared at each other.
The only sound came from the water lapping under the wooden
boards.

“Before you go out of my life I have
something to show you.”

Anneli felt surprised at Wade’s determination
to keep after her. “I’m not really interested.”

“I’m going way out on a limb here. I have to
insist you look at what I’m holding in my hand.”

“Why take the chance? It won’t get you
anywhere.”

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“Okay, show me what you have so we can call
it a night.”

Wade squared himself to Anneli and produced
the wine bottle.

“I’ve seen a wine bottle before,” she jeered
looking totally uninterested.

“I believe what is inside the bottle will
tantalize your thoughts.”

Wade up ended the bottle. The handwritten
note fell into the palm of his hand. He watched Anneli’s expression
alter dramatically from a non caring attitude to eye popping
interest in a micro second.