Loss and Longing

*****

Grant hadn’t known what to do when he’d seen her tears. She cried like her heart was breaking and it touched him. In that moment she’d reminded him of someone, stirred a memory that caused his chest to hurt.  Needing the connection to another person as much as he wanted to comfort her, he’d unwrapped the hand closest to him from where it still clung to the steering wheel, and held it.

*****

Stevie knew he must be thinking she was ridiculous, she felt ridiculous, but she could see nothing but concern in his expression. She flicked her eyes away. “Sorry” she said disengaging her hand.

“No problem” he said “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Oh I’m okay” Stevie said, her voice harsh now “but I don’t think the car is.”

Grant grabbed the door frame and moved back to look at the car. “From what I can see, it doesn’t look too bad” he resumed his former position and moved his gaze back to hers, “you weren’t going fast, so it shouldn’t take too much to fix.”

“Any damage is too much” Stevie muttered, a frown coming down on her face. Then realising she’d said it out loud she added “but that’s my problem. Thanks for stopping and as she said it she looking for his car. She could see nothing ahead of her so looked over her shoulder. But it was too dark and wet to see much. He must have turned off his head lights she thought. “I’d better get going and you’re getting wet.”

He smiled “there comes a point when you can’t get any wetter. I’m Grant Rumor by the way” he said extending his hand.

Stevie took the hand he offered and shook it. “Stephanie Fielding” she said “Stevie.”

He smiled. “Nice name” he said.

She couldn’t help but smile back “thanks but I hate it.”

He laughed. “Which one, Stevie or Stephanie?”

“Both” she said “but of the two, I prefer Stevie.”

“Stevie it is then” he said. After a pause he asked “are you sure you’re okay to drive?” he asked.

Stevie nodded “yes I’m fine now and Mum knows what time I finish work and she’ll be waiting for me. She worries when it’s raining.”

“I can understand that. Where do you work?”