Coincidence

As Always first things first. I thank my LadyCibelle and Techsan for their patience, proof reading, editing skills and of course encouragement. I'd also like to add that we don't always see eye to eye, so I take full responsibility for the content and any cock-ups in this story.

This is a very short story, more of a cameo. Before I start I'm going to indulge myself by telling you where the idea for this little story came from. I was reading the first few pages of "Hero's Reward" by S-Des, my medical condition demands that I lay down and take a rest at regular intervals so, I was forced to break off from reading the story and retire to my bed for a little while. But it's my body that is tired not my brain. As I lay there thinking about S-Des's description of the young girl, Paige, my mind drifted to a vague memory of a young lady I once knew and a particular sunset. Add to that certain other points from S-Des's story and after my rest this is what I started to write. I hope you like it, I must say that writing in the third person is not my favourite or most successful genre and actually writing this one I have found quite time consuming and difficult.

*

"How was your meal this evening, Mrs Letterman?" the waiter asked as he placed a cup of coffee in front of her.

"It was perfect as it always is here, Mario. You can tell the chef I'd like to take him home with me. I've never been disappointed with a meal here yet."

Thank you, Mrs Letterman. Karl will be pleased. He takes a lot of pride in his work."

Out of the corner of her eye, Mrs Letterman was watching a man, who had been sitting over the other side of the dining room, slowly rise from his chair, leaving his pretty young companion still sitting at the table, as he had done every evening since Mrs Letterman had arrived. He made his way out onto the hotel balcony where selecting his usual chair he turned it around then sat down in it facing the sunset. A golden retriever dog who had been sunning itself in the last rays of the sun moved over and sat at the man's feet.

"Mario, can you tell me who that man is that just went out on the balcony? I find his face so familiar."

"That's Colin Marsh, Mrs Letterman, the famous author. If you've read any of them you have probably seen his picture on his books and he's been on television quite a few times. Mr Marsh spends a lot of his time with us." Mario turned and gestured at the young lady who had been left at the table. "The young lady with him is his secretary, Katherine. Very pretty, isn't she."

"Yes, she reminds me of myself when I was her age."

"If you don't mind me saying, Mrs Letterman, I remember you were extremely pretty as a young lady; you had all our pulses racing back in the old days. I must say you still are a very beautiful woman. Mr Letterman is a very lucky man."

"You flatter me, Mario. But some men do not realise what they have got until it's too late."

"I'm sorry, Madam." Mario didn't understand what Mrs Letterman was getting at.

"Never mind, Mario, it's not important, Thank Karl for the lovely meal for me."

Mario, realising that he had been dismissed, retired from the table.

Mrs Letterman watched Colin Marsh through the window as she drank her coffee. He sat almost motionless staring into the distance, one hand gently stroking the dog's head. When she had finished her coffee, Mrs Letterman stood up. For a moment she hesitated, undecided, thinking about her next action, then having made her decision, she walked out onto the Balcony.

Before her was a view of the sea, with the cliffs leading away to the headland in the far distance. Colin Marsh was the only other person on the balcony; his gaze remained apparently locked on the distant headland. He had made no sign that he was aware of her presence.

"Lovely view, isn't it?" Mrs Letterman said as she got near to him.

"Yes," was his only reply.

"I love watching the sun go down over the headland."

"Yes."

"I like, the way the colours change as the sun gets lower."

"Yes." Still Collin Marsh did not turn his head in her direction. Mrs Letterman tried a different tactic.

"I'm sorry, that was very un-thoughtful of me. I'm disturbing you."

"No, you didn't disturb me. I see this view every night when I lay in bed; it's burned into my brain. I sit on this balcony at sunset whenever I'm at this hotel and live it again." Colin Marsh's eyes hadn't moved from the headland; he still didn't turn and look at the beautiful woman standing close to him.

"You've been here before?" she continued.

"Many times."

"It's nice here, and I love the view. Especially at sunset."

"There's some views that you can never forget. This view is very special to me."

"If you don't mind me asking, Mr Marsh. I know from your books that you've travelled all over the world. What makes this view so special to you?"

"What would you like the long or the short story, Mrs Letterman?" Still the man's head didn't turn towards her.

"Oh, you know my name. Either story - I've got plenty of time."

"I heard Mario talking to you in the dining room at breakfast." Collin Marsh was silent for a few moments; Mrs Letterman thought he was steeling himself before he continued. "Many years ago when I was a very young man, I used to sit on that parapet over there in the evenings, with a young lady. Otterley -- Otterley Allen was her name, a young lady that I loved very much.

"But then I was only fifteen years old and I never did get up the courage to tell her how I felt about her at the time. We sat there on that balustrade every evening for two weeks and talked about anything and everything. Now, whenever I come back here to this hotel, I sit here and watch the one love of my life, sitting there on that balustrade. I can see her sitting there now in my minds eye."

"What happened to her?"

"When the holiday finished, it was over."

"Didn't you write to her or anything? She might have felt the same way about you."

"Oh, I intended to write to her, but on the journey home we had an accident. I was unconscious for many months. When I came out of the coma, no one could find her address. My father's car and almost everything in it, had been totally destroyed."

"Surely the hotel could have given Otterley's address to you."

"I was just a child back then. It was many years before I thought of getting in touch with the hotel. By the time I did, she had moved home."

"So you gave up on looking for her?"

"No, I come back here each year. I watch her sitting on the balustrade over there, and I remember that summer."

"From what you say I assume that you haven't found anyone for whom you have the same feelings."

"You assume correctly. There can only one girl of my dreams."

"Not even your beautiful young secretary?"

"Katherine," Colin smiled to himself, "Is certainly a beautiful young lady, and I've become very attached to her in the last five years. I really don't know what I'm going to do when she's not around anymore."

"She's leaving you?"

"Katherine is getting married next month, to a handsome young man who is much closer to her own age. I will have to find a new secretary who will put up with me. Now if you will excuse me, it's getting a little chilly now that the sun has gone down. I think it's time Sheba and I moved into the lounge before Katherine comes out and starts fussing over me. She can be very protective."

Collin Marsh reached down and took hold of the harness attached to Sheba's back with his hand. The loyal animal immediately changed from the loving pet, to a dog with a job to do. As her master stood up Sheba was ready to lead him safely inside the building.

Mrs Letterman watched the two of them go in silence. For the next hour or so she sat there, now staring at the same point on the balustrade that Colin Marsh had apparently been looking at. She slowly played back over in her mind again and again what Colin Marsh had said to her.

Then with determination in her step she went into the hotel. In her room she picked up the phone and asked the desk to get her a number in San-Francisco. It was going on ten PM in England - that should make it around 4 PM over there.

"Davis and Field, attorney's at law. Good afternoon." An efficient female voice said to her.

"Shirley, its Mrs Letterman. Has my husband been in today?"

"Oh, yes, Mrs Letterman, he was in this morning. I'll put you through to Gary. Will you hold for a couple of moments?"

There was a moment's silence, then a barely audible click told her Gary Field was on the line.

"Tilly, Frank came in and signed the papers first thing this morning. There's no hang-ups. You got everything you asked for and more really. I told you he didn't have a leg to stand on. So now you are a lady of means as well as being single again."

"Thank you, Gary. You've been an angel."

"Any time, Tilly, and you don't have to worry about our bill, Frank's paying for everything. You really had him by the er, well..."

"The balls, Gary, that is what you mean to say. Come on, I'm not a prude. That is unless I catch my husband in bed with his whore."

"Well, the paperwork should only take a couple of weeks, but as far as you are concerned you're free of him from today."

"Thanks Gary. Send the paperwork over here will you. Shirley has the address of the hotel where I'm staying. If I move on, I'll let her know. Good night."

Mrs Letterman replaced the telephone in its cradle and sat there with a smile on her face. Through the window she saw Katherine taking Sheba for her evening walk before she settled the dog down for the night in Collin's room. Mrs Letterman knew the routine by now. She had watched it every night since she had arrived.

As Katherine began to make her way back towards the hotel, Mrs Letterman left her room planning on intercepting her downstairs.

When Katherine entered the foyer, she saw Mrs Letterman walking towards her. Sheba began to wag her tail as she spotted the lady whom her master had been talking to on the balcony earlier. Off duty now and without her harness, she was free to show affection to whomever she liked.

"Excuse me, Katherine, could you spare me a minute, I would like to have a quick word with you?"

"Yes, Madam, what can I do to help you?" Katherine had seen the attractive lady speaking to her employer on the balcony earlier and was wondering what the lady could want."

"Would I be correct in assuming that Mr Marsh has charged you with the task of finding your own replacement?"

"He's asked me to set up some meetings with prospective candidates, yes. But I haven't heard back from the agencies yet."

"Well, I would like to apply for the position. Could you kindly set up an interview for me?"

Katherine was taken aback. This lady had the look about her of being of independent means. Just to be staying in a hotel of this class meant she could not be short of money. Why would she want to be anyone's secretary?"

Katherine thought to stall.

"I suppose I can. But can you take short-hand?"

"Oh, yes. My Pitmans might be a little rusty, but I'm sure I'd soon get back into the swing of it again. It's like riding a bike, once it's learnt you never really forget. And I'm pretty sure I could find my way around that computer you carry around with you. I was a PA for some years before I got married and a good one to boot."

Katherine felt trapped; she couldn't think of any way of putting this lady off.

"I'll ask Mr Marsh if he'll see you tomorrow. Can I tell him your name?"

"Oh, tell him it's Mrs Letterman. He'll remember me from earlier. No, that's silly. I'm single again now -- I know tell him if he would like, I'll meet him for breakfast on the balcony and that my name is Otterley Allen.

Life goes on.