Legacy Of The Past

‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered, aware of herself apologizing for nothing. But anything was better than his indifference.

Jeff looked down at her. ‘Are you?’ he asked.

‘Why did you walk away?’ she murmured, looking anxious.

‘I don’t like being treated like an idiot.’

‘But I wasn’t … oh, Jeff, I guess I am silly at times. Can’t we forget about it?’

Jeff’s eyes softened. ‘All right, Diana. I guess I was as much to blame for taking the huff. Did I make you jealous?’

Diana blushed. ‘Yes, you succeeded in that direction,’ she remarked softly, against his neck, and felt his arms tighten possessively about her.

When the music ended he glanced at his watch.

‘It’s nine-thirty,’ he said quietly. ‘Let’s go, hmn?’

She nodded and went to collect her coat. Outside the air was clear but bitterly cold and they walked swiftly along to the bus stop. Jeff lived at the opposite end of Otterbury, near the secondary school, in fact, but he always saw Diana right home.

The bus dropped them at the end of Evenwood Gardens and they walked up the darkened road towards the second block of flats where the Scotts lived. Before they reached the second block, between the two tall buildings, was a small ornamental garden with flower beds and a bench set among rose trees and rhododendron bushes. The last few dates they had had together had ended on the bench where they said a prolonged goodnight to each other. Although it was cold they still walked through the gardens to the bench, but they did not sit down tonight. It had been raining earlier in the day and everywhere was still slightly damp, but the bushes at least provided a little privacy.

‘Well,’ said Diana, looking up at Jeff, ‘thanks for bringing me home.’

‘It was a pleasure,’ he said softly, pulling her to him, close against his warm body. ‘Oh, Diana,’ he groaned urgently, and his mouth met hers.

Diana slid her arms around him, returning his kiss more responsively than ever. Their minor upset this evening had merely served as an incentive to their mutual attraction for one another and Diana, no less than Jeff, found something infinitely more absorbing in their embrace than ever before.

Diana knew very little about kissing of this kind, not being as old as Jeff or as experienced, but she was aware of a kind of danger not far away. Something about his intense hold on her and the increased tenor of his breathing warned her he was emotionally disturbed in a way hitherto unknown to her. With a feeling of revulsion, she suddenly drew back and swallowed hard.

Jeff fastened his overcoat with unsteady fingers and said:

‘Have you any idea what kissing like that does to a fellow?’ in a tight, withdrawn voice.

Diana bit her lip and clenched her fists. ‘Is … is something wrong?’ she asked nervously.

Jeff laughed shortly and mirthlessly. ‘Oh, no. Not at all.’ He looked furious. ‘Look, I’ve got to go.’

‘Will … will I see you tomorrow?’

Jeff hesitated, and then hunched his shoulders. ‘Oh, yes, I guess so. I have a lecture in the morning, but tomorrow afternoon I’m refereeing the rugby match. Would you like to come?’

‘Could I?’ Diana was interested.

‘Of course. We could have tea afterwards at my mother’s and then go to the pictures in the evening. If you’d like to.’

Diana looked more at ease. ‘I’d love to, you know that. Will your mother mind?’

Jeff shook his head. ‘Of course not. Well?’

Diana smiled. ‘All right.’

Jeff managed a smile in return and thrust his hands into the pockets of his coat. ‘I must go now,’ he said. ‘See you tomorrow. We’ll meet at the school.’

He left her at the entrance to the flats and then walked back down the gardens to catch his bus.

When Diana opened the door of the flat and went in she found her mother just preparing coffee and sandwiches in the kitchen while Adrian Sinclair was stretched out on the settee watching the television. It was apparently the repeat of a football match held in some continental country and after greeting Diana, Adrian returned to his viewing while Diana went out to the kitchen to see her mother.

Madeline smiled cheerfully at her. ‘Well?’ she said. ‘Did you have a good time?’

‘Yes, thanks,’ said Diana, sighing a little as she remembered the kiss they had exchanged. She supposed idly it was the first real kiss she had ever experienced. Prior to tonight all the kisses she had been given were light, casual affairs, and even Jeff had been the same. Now suddenly it was all different. Tonight’s kiss had been full of emotions that she had not realized existed.

Madeline was looking at her curiously and she asked: ‘Why the faraway look in your eyes? Where have you been?’

‘Just to the Club,’ exclaimed Diana, flushing and feeling rather embarrassed. ‘I … we … I’ll go and get undressed, Mum, and then I can go straight to bed after supper.’

‘All right, darling.’ Madeline frowned to herself. There was something different about Diana tonight and she couldn’t decide what it was. It disturbed her to realize that Diana was getting to the stage where she did not tell her mother everything.

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_e8d57738-87f1-5558-80e5-b41508813165)

ON Saturday morning, Madeline and Diana usually went shopping together. They bought most of the food required for the following week and the perishable goods were stored in the pocket-sized refrigerator, in the kitchen.

‘I’m going to the grammar school rugby match with Jeff this afternoon,’ remarked Diana, as they ate their lunch. ‘Then we’re going to have tea at his home and go on to the pictures.’

‘Really?’ Madeline raised her dark eyebrows. ‘Will his mother be pleased about that?’

Diana smiled. ‘Why shouldn’t she be? Besides, we won’t be there long.’

‘Have you met his family before?’

‘No. But that doesn’t matter.’

Madeline shrugged. ‘Well, I hope everything turns out all right. Does this portend a more serious relationship in the future? I hope not. You’re very young, both of you.’

‘Oh, Mother!’ Diana exclaimed, and carried her dessert plate through to the kitchen.

While she was making the coffee her mother joined her, her expression thoughtful.

‘Just remember,’ went on Madeline quietly, ‘you’re still only a child and Jeff is still at school. He intends to go to university in the autumn, so you’ve told me, so it’s no use either of you doing anything silly.’

‘I don’t see that you’ve any reason to talk to me like this,’ protested Diana exasperatedly. She hated being talked down to. ‘After all, I’ve not said anything, have I?’

‘No. But last night you looked rather strange, when you came home.’

Diana felt her cheeks flame again. It was annoying to be so transparent.

‘For no reason,’ she retorted abruptly, and turned off the percolator.

Madeline wondered, was she being over-anxious about Diana? After all, as Adrian said, girls did mature earlier these days. She hoped so; how she hoped so!