Chapter 8 : Evelyn Confides in Lewis

Lewis and Evelyn went for a stroll along the canal bank. As they walked, he asked Evelyn about her life which she had spent entirely in the village.

‘I looked after my invalid parents for years,’ Evelyn told him, ‘Then by the time they had both died I was too set in my ways to want to share my life with anyone else. Not that there were any options by then anyway,’ she added with a wry grin.

‘When Mary came to live over the café and I had some company occasionally, I realised just how lonely I had become. When Ron appeared, I could see right away there was something special between them and I have to admit that at first, I felt jealous, especially when Ron told me they were sharing a bedroom.’

‘The thought that they were so happy together, young enough to have a lifetime of togetherness ahead and were already sharing intimate experiences that I had never had and now never would, made me feel quite depressed. But that soon passed when I saw how devoted to each other they had become.’

‘If you could have your life over again,’ Lewis asked her, ‘What would you change?’ ‘I would still have looked after my parents,’ she replied, ‘But I think I would have been tempted to have sex, even if it was only once and not with a suiter. But que sera, sera, I will die an old maid. A lot of people have had a much worse life than me, or not even lived as long or as healthy a life as I have, so I’ve really no reason to complain.’

Lewis grinned at her, ‘Couldn’t you still find someone to have the experience with?’ he asked. Evelyn looked at him, ‘You’ve got an old head on those young shoulders haven’t you,’ she said with a smile. ‘How on earth did I end up discussing my sex life, or lack of it,’ she corrected herself, ‘With someone so young.’

‘Everyone tells me I’m a good listener,’ Lewis told her, ‘Plus I keep what I’m told to myself. You had a need to get it off your chest and without realising it, you sensed I would be safe to talk to.’

‘So, do you have a solution to suggest?’ Evelyn asked with a smile. ‘There’s always a solution to any problem,’ Lewis told her, ‘The only difficulty is finding the one that’s best for you.’

‘For instance, I’m sure if you went into the nearest city, you’d find someone to have sex with you, but you wouldn’t want to do that and even if you did you wouldn’t enjoy it. You could ask someone you know in the village for a one off, but you wouldn’t enjoy that either because you’d be more concerned about anyone else in the village finding out about it.’

‘Or of course, you could contact an escort agency and meet up with someone somewhere away from the village, but I don’t think you would like that either. I think that no matter how eager you were, if you were having sex for the first and possibly only time, you would need it to be with someone you knew and liked, even if you had no intention of anything coming from it.’

‘You’re a very perceptive young man,’ Evelyn said giving him a smile. ‘Pity you’re not older,’ she added, almost to herself. ‘Why?’ Lewis asked. ‘Can’t you guess?’ Evelyn answered. ‘Oh, I know the answer,’ Lewis told her with a grin, ‘I just wanted to find out if you did.’

Evelyn looked at him with her head on one side, ‘If you were quite a number of decades older,’ she said, ‘I’d be tempted to invite you to stay the night.’ Lewis nodded to her, ‘Thank you,’ he said, ‘That’s quite a compliment.’

‘How do you think you would cope with the physical side of sex?’ Lewis asked. ‘I don’t know,’ Evelyn replied. ‘Even at my great age I know the theory, but could I cope with a strange body in my bed and the close contact? I’ve really no idea.’

By now they were back at the boat. Everyone else was sitting around having a drink and chatting. Ron and Mary had decided they would sail away at six o’clock and cruise for an hour before tying up for the night. Evelyn invited everyone else to come back to the café after they had seen them off for a hot drink and some cakes before they set off home.

As quarter to six arrived, Ron and Mary started going round saying goodbye. When they came to Lewis, they both thanked him again and gave him a hug saying if it hadn’t been for you, we would still be two lonely people. Finally, they gave Evelyn a hug and a kiss each. Evelyn had tears in her eyes as she wished them bon voyage. ‘Enjoy yourselves,’ she told them then gave them both another kiss.

Lewis and Evelyn had decided that tying cans on the back of the boat was too dangerous as they could get caught up in the propeller, and they wouldn’t rattle on the water anyway! So instead, Evelyn had made two flags to fasten on the back rail. They were both embroidered with, ‘Just Married.’

Everyone stood on the bank and waved them off. As they sailed away, everyone waved until they disappeared into the distance. Ten minutes after setting off they were out of sight after going round a bend in the canal.

Evelyn led everyone back to the café, each one carrying some dishes. As they all sat and chatted, Evelyn served up tea and coffee along with plates of cakes. Sitting down with Archie and his mum and dad, she heard some more details of how life had been after Ron had run away. ‘He came back a new person,’ they told her. ‘We not only have our son back, but we have a very much improved model.’

As half seven approached, people started to drift away. Jayne offered to stay and help clear up, but Lewis told her he would stay. Closing up the shop, Evelyn and Lewis cleared everything away, washed up then the two of them sat in the café with a glass of wine.

They both agreed it had been a lovely day and everything had gone well. By now it was getting near to nine o’clock. Lewis looked at Evelyn and told her, ‘Before Ron and Mary left, I asked them if it got too late to cycle home, could I stay the night in their flat.’

‘I’m not bothered about cycling in the dark,’ he told her, ‘That was an excuse. What I would like to suggest is that you stay here with me.’ Evelyn was clearly taken aback and opened her mouth to speak.

‘Hear me out first,’ Lewis told her. ‘If you tell me to leave, I’ll go home. If you stay, we will spend the night in the same flat, but it need go no further if you don’t want it to. I like you and I think you like me. It doesn’t bother me in the least our age difference. We could lie close to one another, but only if you want to. We could explore each other, but again only if you want to. We can make love, but yet again only if you want to. If you decide you don’t want to do anything but sleep then that is what we would do.’

‘Whatever we do or don’t do, it would be your choice entirely, there will be no pressure. If we start anything and you want to stop, you only have to say. If you’re undecided, I suggest we lock up and go and sit on the settee in the flat whilst you decide. One other thing you should know. I am not a virgin, and my first sex was with a much older woman.’

‘You never cease to amaze me,’ Evelyn said. Lewis put his hand out to her. After a moment’s pause, she stood up. Lewis told her to lead on, so they crossed the café. Turning out the lights, Evelyn led the way upstairs. In the flat Lewis took her hand and led her over to the settee. Sitting her down, Lewis sat alongside her.

He turned sideways towards her and held her hand. ‘Now,’ he told her. ‘Tonight, can be the most memorable night of your life, or it can be just another night’s sleep. Only you can decide. Whatever we do will be at your speed and by your choice. We like each other,’ he continued, ‘But we are not in love or planning anything long term. What we are considering doing is having sex just for the experience and pleasure it gives.’