CHAPTER FIFTEEN
While dinner cooked, Delphie wandered through to where her artwork was set up in the farmhouse, picked out a blank canvas and sat it on one of the easels. Taking a pencil suitable for drawing on the primed surface of the stretched canvas, she drew a dancing couple.
Callum had contacted her, wanting more dance theme paintings for his art shop. She’d promised him she’d work on them.
The lilac dress had given her ideas for her paintings, and this one featured the fairytale dress being worn as the couple danced together in the scene. The lilac tones of the dress would merge with midnight violets and lavender hues in the background, and she pictured adding starlight to create a fantasy feel.
With the sketch drawn on the canvas, Delphie selected the colours of acrylics she’d use for her palette, planning to make a start on the painting after dinner.
Wil listened to the composer’s music as he danced around the studio. Wil had spoken to him earlier on a video call, and heard the latest piece of music being played on a baby grand piano. He’d sent Wil a copy, and they’d discussed its inclusion in the new show.
The romantic rhapsody resonated in the studio, igniting ideas for the choreography. The storyboard that Delphie had drawn helped him visualise a dramatic scene where the two lead characters were dancing. Maybe later, he’d drop by the farmhouse and ask Delphie to dance it with him.
Although he knew it would take a while to put a show like this together, each dance he choreographed pushed it closer to completion. He was determined to keep making progress with it, especially as Delphie worked so fast. Between the two of them, and the composer’s enthusiasm, he believed they could do this.
During a break in the afternoon, he’d ventured down the shore to get some fresh sea air and take time to clear his thoughts.
No swimming today, but he enjoyed the walk along the quiet stretch of sand. The sea sparkled like liquid silver in the afternoon light. Way off in the distance, boats sailed along the silvery horizon.
The air bore a hint of autumn, but this didn’t deter Wil from planning to go swimming there on other days and inviting Delphie to join him.
Heading back to the studio he felt refreshed, and was delighted when a friend of his phoned to ask if Wil would help him with the dance choreography for a theatre show in Edinburgh. Wil scheduled for them to come down to the studio later in the month to rehearse. His friend ran the theatre and Wil had performed there a few times. Set in Edinburgh, Wil loved that it was tucked into a niche that looked like it belonged to the past. A hidden gem.
After dinner, Delphie worked on the painting. Adding more crimson and cobalt blue to her palette, she painted the background, sweeping a larger brush across the skyline to cover the canvas, while outlining the figures.
Wil had sent a message asking if he could drop by when he finished up at the studio. So after completing the first layer of the background, she left it to dry and got ready for him arriving.
He wanted to try out some new choreography, so she’d changed into a dress and put her dancing shoes on.
She’d just put the kettle on for tea when she saw Wil’s car headlights illuminating the garden.
He arrived, bringing a copy of the rhapsody on his phone and ideas for the choreography.
Delphie made the tea while he told her about the new piece of music.
Pouring two cups of tea, she invited him to play the rhapsody. They sat sipping their tea and listening to the song’s romantic melody fill the kitchen.
‘That’s so beautiful. It has to be a lead piece for the show.’
‘Or part of the romantic finale,’ Wil suggested.
‘Yes,’ said Delphie, picturing a fairytale waltz amid a wonderful setting. She sighed. ‘I wish I could watch it right now. It’s been a hectic but productive day.’
Wil told her he’d meandered down the shore.
‘Did you go in for a swim?’
‘No, I just wanted a walk in the fresh air. But I hope you’ll join me for a dip in the sea another day while there’s still some heat in the sunshine.’
Delphie nodded .
Wil then told her about his friend wanting him to help with the dance choreography for the theatre in Edinburgh. ‘Do you know the theatre? It’s tucked into a niche.’
‘That’s the wee theatre hidden in the heart of the city,’ she said. ‘I’ve never been to any shows there, but I’ve walked past it, barely knowing it was there.’
‘It has a fair capacity due to the depth of the structure. The stage and the interior reminds me of stepping into a storybook from the past. They’ve kept the original structure and updated the decor with vintage styling. I love the atmosphere of it,’ he said. ‘I told him about our new dance show, and he says we’re welcome to rehearse on the stage when we’re ready.’
‘That would be handy. The dance studio is great, but an actual theatre would be ideal for rehearsing the show.’
‘We could hold our opening night there. The seating capacity is a lot more than the impression the small theatre gives at first glance.’
While they were chatting, a message came through for Delphie from Gareth. It was short and bittersweet.
Sienna and Steaphan didn’t win the contest .
Delphie replied. Thanks for letting me know, Gareth .
She told Wil the news.
Wil already knew. ‘Steaphan called me. They didn’t even place in the top three. They were fourth.’
Delphie winced. ‘Sienna won’t be happy.’
‘Nooo,’ said Wil. ‘Steaphan told me they got into a fankle with a couple of the new moves Sienna added to the routine. ’
Moving on from the news, they finished their tea, and Delphie showed Wil the painting she was working on.
‘I’ve only painted part of the background,’ she explained. ‘I’m planning to include the lilac dress and create a fairytale atmosphere.’
Wil admired her work.
‘Callum wants more dance theme artwork, acrylics and watercolours,’ she said. ‘This canvas will be a limited edition print sold from the art shop website.’
‘From what I can see of the colours so far, this painting will look wonderful as a print.’
Then they headed over to the barn to listen to the rhapsody and practise the choreography he’d been working on.
The barn looked like a venue for a night of entertainment, with the spotlights and twinkle lights illuminating the dance floor and bar area. Seeing it like this brought back a flood of memories to Delphie and she was looking forward to being part of the fun.
Wil tapped the dance floor and glanced around him. ‘There’s an energy about the barn, even when we’re the only couple here.’
Referring to them as a couple resonated through her. As the opening notes of the rhapsody filtered out from his phone, it felt like they were embarking on being a real couple, not just dancing acquaintances, or teaming up to create a show. More than that. Much more. The feelings she had for Wil were deepening every time she danced with him, and as he gently pulled her into his arms when the romantic melody began, she knew how easy it would be to fall in love with him.
Secretly mirroring her feelings as they danced, he shook away the temptation to overstep the line between friendship and intimacy. This wasn’t the time or the place to declare his growing affection for her.
Following his lead, she matched his steps, flowing into the choreography as if they’d already danced it together.
‘You’re more in tune with me than anyone I’ve ever danced with,’ he said, and then spun her around the floor, taking her breath away with his strength, poise and aptitude for dancing a classic waltz.
He stopped and rewound the song. ‘I’d like to try a variation on a few of the sequences.’ He showed her what he had in mind. She picked up on these, and they danced again, this time adding more flair to the routine.
‘I like this routine,’ she told him when they paused.
‘You dance so well,’ he said, gazing down at her. ‘There’s a balletic quality to some of your moves that suits my style of dancing.’
The way he looked at her set her senses alight.
Blinking out of the temptation to kiss her, he continued to choreograph the dance.
He took her by surprise with a finishing move that swept her off her feet as he wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off the floor as he continued to spin.
Delphie giggled breathlessly as he put her down .
He smiled at her reaction. ‘Sorry, I should’ve told you about that finishing move.’
She smiled. ‘Well, I think you should include it.’
Playfully, he reached out to her. ‘What if I were to lift you even higher.’
Delphie darted away, laughing. ‘No, Wil, no!’
Chasing after her, he caught her before she made a bolt for the door, and lifted her up with ease, strong but gentle, before setting her down again.
She swiped at him jokingly. ‘I don’t believe that was part of the choreography.’
Wil shrugged. ‘Sometimes, you bring out the rascal in me.’
Delphie gasped. ‘Only sometimes?’
And then the chase was on again.
The two of them finally called it a draw, both breathless from laughing.
‘Is this how you usually teach people your choreography?’ she said lightly.
‘No, this is only when I’m with you.’ His voice dipped and took on a deeper tone. ‘Only with you.’
She felt the romantic tension between them, but there were so many things still unsettled in her life, and falling for Wil would change everything even more. The timing wasn’t right, especially as the party was only two nights away.
Wil sensed her hesitancy, and reigned in his own longing. But he knew there would come a time soon when he’d tell her how he felt.
A message on Wil’s phone jarred them. Then another message.
Delphie stepped back as he checked them .
‘Word is getting around about Sienna and Steaphan’s performance at the contest,’ he told her.
His phone started to light up with messages.
‘I’ll let you deal with this,’ said Delphie, prepared to end their evening there.
Wil frowned as he read them. ‘A few of the dancers I’ve been working with are keen to hear my thoughts.’
‘They’re not blaming you, are they?’
‘No, quite the opposite. They think Sienna was foolish to change the choreography.’
‘We’ve surely rehearsed enough for this evening.’ Delphie started to turn the lights off in the barn.
Wil was torn, but he could see that Delphie seemed fine with this, so he made his way out of the barn.
As he walked to his car, he paused and glanced back. ‘Would you like to go swimming with me in the morning?’
‘Okay. What time?’
‘Crack of dawn. We’ll have the shore all to ourselves.’
Delphie feigned disappointment. ‘But then no one will see me beating you in a race along the shore.’
‘Are you talking about swimming or sprinting?’
‘Take your pick,’ she joked in a challenging tone.
‘I choose both,’ he said, smiling defiantly.
‘Beaten twice in the one day. Are you up for that?’
Wil burst out laughing. ‘I trust you’re winding me up.’
Delphie smiled sweetly, giving him no such assurance. Though she doubted she could beat Wil at all. But the gauntlet had been thrown down .
Wil nodded his acceptance. ‘Swimwear and sandshoes at dawn.’
Wil picked Delphie up in the morning as the sky above the farmhouse had barely cracked a ray of dawn. But she’d slept well and was up for the trip down the shore. She wore black dance leggings and a long sleeve top over her pink swimsuit, training shoes, and had pinned her hair up in a top knot.
She threw the bag she’d packed with her towel in the back seat of his car, and jumped in the front as Wil drove off. He looked like he was ready for action, wearing a tight–fitting black top and black joggers.
‘Sleep well?’ he said. ‘Or were you up all night planning how to thwart me?’
‘I slept sound. And I have a plan. Run like blazes and swim like a shark.’
‘No wonder I couldn’t sleep,’ he joked.
Teasing each other, they soon arrived down the shore. No one else was there. Not even a distant ship on the flat calm horizon.
They got out of the car and Delphie limbered up, squinting against the sunlight that was now shining through the cloudy dawn and reflecting off the silvery sea.
‘Do you want to run or swim first?’ he said, looking like he could take on all challengers with his tall, fit build.
‘Run. Then you can ease off your tired muscles in the salt water.’
‘Oh, you’re in big trouble young lady,’ Wil said, finding her chirpy confidence warm his heart. Unlike the cold sea was due to do. But he pushed this thought aside and got ready to run.
Delphie picked up a piece of driftwood and drew a line in the clean sand.
The tide was far out, leaving the light sand smooth and compact, and quite good for running on. This area of the shore wasn’t rocky or scattered with pebbles, seashells or sea glass, just a vast expanse of sand.
‘We’ll make that the finishing line,’ she said, beginning to walk away to where they’d start sprinting. ‘Roughly a one hundred metre dash.’
‘Going for speed, huh?’
‘I can extend it if you want, give you a chance to catch up.’
He laughed, hearing his voice filter into the fresh sea air.
‘No, a hundred metres suits me. I’m usually quick off the mark.’
He’d barely uttered these words when Delphie dashed off, leaving Wil gasping at her opportunistic tactics. ‘That’s cheating!’
Her giggling trailed behind her, along with Wil, unable to catch up, mainly from her unexpected fast start and laughing.
Delphie raced across the finishing line and lifted her arms up in triumph.
Wil hadn’t even had a chance to take his phone from his trouser pocket before the race, but he used it to take a snap of her triumph. Everything about the photo showed Delphie filled with energy, smiling with joy, and it would surely be one of his favourite pictures of her .
Letting out a huge sigh of relief and breathlessness, she smiled at him. ‘Even if you win at the swimming, the most you can achieve is a draw with me.’
‘Fair enough,’ he conceded, stripping off his outer clothing to reveal his swimming trunks and a body that was a total distraction.
Delphie tried not to look like she was admiring him, but Wil was fit. She knew this from the last time, but seeing him standing there, lean muscles ready to challenge her, set her heartbeat haywire.
She took her things off and walked down towards the sea in her swimsuit.
They agreed where they’d swim to, turn and head back.
The sea looked cold, but Delphie told herself not to think about it and just get in there and start swimming.
Wading in, she gasped. ‘It seems colder than I remember.’
‘Running like blazes has probably warmed you up, so it seems colder by comparison.’
Delphie gave him a doubtful side–eye.
‘Okay, maybe it’s a bit brisker than before,’ he said.
Diving under the surface in tandem, they set off with Wil taking the lead, though Delphie’s technique of going all out from the start placed her in a close enough second.
Wil reached the turning marker ahead of her, but Delphie was enjoying the race, and that’s what mattered most to him. The fun they had together.
With Wil winning with more ease than Delphie’s all–out effort, he lifted her up in triumph .
‘Don’t drop me in the water,’ she squealed at him from his shoulder height.
Pretending he was going to do just that, he then caught her in his strong arms and placed her down gently.
She splashed him and scolded him, resulting in Wil running out of the sea and being chased by a giggling Delphie.
Retrieving her towel from her bag, she wrapped it around her, shivering slightly, but feeling invigorated.
Wil shook the droplets of water from his hair, swept it back from his face and smiled at her. ‘A draw?’
Delphie extended her hand and they shook on it.
His fingers wrapped around her hand and he then clasped her close to him and began a makeshift waltz.
The wet muscles of his physique pressed against the fabric of her swimsuit, and she could feel every bit of his strength to her core.
Delphie glanced around to see that they still had the shore all to themselves. No one else was there to see two fools dancing on the shore as the dawn sunlight shone through the morning sky.
Leaving her for a moment, he hurried over to his car and came back with a rucksack and two blankets. He wrapped one blanket around Delphie to shield her from the cold and put the other one down on the sand.
Patting himself dry with a towel, he shrugged his top on and sat down beside her. Pouring two hot cups of tea from a flask, he handed one to her.
She cupped it gladly, and they sat together gazing out at the glistening sea .
They sat there chatting happily about their dancing, their plans for the party and the show, finishing off two cups each. And then Wil drove them home.
It was still early morning by the time Delphie got out of the car outside the farmhouse.
‘That was fun,’ she said.
‘It was,’ he agreed. ‘I’ll see you later, and let me know if you need my help with anything today for the barn.’
Nodding, she waved him off and then went in to shower and get dressed.
Delphie spent the day getting on with her artwork, making progress with the acrylic painting and watercolours.
She sat outside in the garden to have a cup of tea and a piece of shortbread in the afternoon. Sunlight deceivingly gave the impression that it was the height of summer, but some of the leaves on the trees had a tint of autumn gold and bronze, giving a more accurate assessment of the season.
The party night celebration seemed appropriate now that the summer blooms were giving way to the autumn florals.
With most of the party preparations well in hand for the following evening, the day felt like the calm before the storm of organising the catering and getting ready for the dancing.
But it gave her time to think even more about living in the town and not going back to Edinburgh, except for short trips. She’d tentatively dropped a couple of heavy hints during a recent chat to her grandparents that she was thinking of extending her stay at the farmhouse. They’d been delighted. Now that she was working on the new show with Wil and involving her grandmother in the costume designs, it was surely more convenient to live in the town.
That prospect led to thoughts of Wil. It was clear that they were becoming closer.
And the demand for her art was greater than it had been when she worked in the city.
Finishing her tea, she went inside to continue working on her paintings.
Wil had succumbed to lunch at the bakery shop, and chatted to Kian and Catriona about any last minute plans for the party. They had the catering organised, and Kian planned to drive up to the barn the following day in his van loaded with enough food to fill the buffet.
Wil noticed a buzz in the town as people were looking forward to the event. And it felt like he’d become part of the community.
In the afternoon he had video calls from dancers learning choreography, and his plan to instruct them from the studio was working well.
But thoughts of Delphie kept filtering through his mind, knowing he was falling in love with her.
Locking up the studio to head home for dinner, Wil noticed Kian waving frantically to him from the bakery shop window. Wil hurried over to see what was wrong .
Kian handed him a white cardboard box as Wil walked in.
‘I was cooking up new recipes for the buffet,’ said Kian. ‘Here’s samples to take away with you. There are mini quiche, two slices of a cheese and vegetable bake, wee sausage rolls, and a couple of wedges of apple and bramble pie. I thought you’d like to try them. There’s no chance you’ll get a nibble tomorrow night at the party. These will go like hotcakes, and you and Delphie will be so busy dancing and tending to your guests, you’ll be lucky to get a sniff of a biscuit.’
Kian was joking, but Wil was glad to take the samples. ‘This will save me cooking dinner.’
‘Enjoy,’ said Kian, waving him off.
Getting into his car, Wil sent a message to Delphie.
Have you had dinner?
No, I’m thinking about raiding the freezer .
Don’t. Kian has plied me with samples from the buffet. There’s more than enough for two.
I’ll put the kettle on .
Wil arrived at the farmhouse armed with the box of buffet delights. He put it down on the kitchen table.
Delphie opened it and peered in. ‘Oh, this looks tempting.’
Helping Delphie set up the plates and cutlery, they chatted about their day.
‘I had a bowl of soup for lunch and a piece of shortbread for afternoon tea,’ said Delphie. ‘Somehow, I skipped breakfast, but I do remember swimming in the sea. ’
‘I had lunch at the bakery shop, but I’ve certainly got an appetite. I’ve danced my socks off all day.’
Sitting down to the makeshift buffet, they shared the tasty treats.
Finishing up, Wil wondered if Delphie would like to rehearse their dances for the party. ‘It’ll be the last chance we get to practise the quickstep and our waltz.’
‘Okay, I’ll change my shoes,’ she said.
Walking over to the barn she breathed in deeply. ‘There’s a scent of autumn in the air.’
‘I love the autumn. I hear the town looks great at this time of year.’
‘Yes, the farmhouse blends in with the burnished colours of the trees, flowers and scenery.’
Inside the barn, Wil set up their quickstep music.
Beginning in promenade hold, they stepped with flair into the opening beat, dancing across the diagonal, and then covering the dance floor with fast flicks and spins.
Finishing in time to the music, they agreed they’d nailed the choreography.
‘For a fast dance, it feels intuitive dancing with you,’ said Delphie.
‘We dance well together,’ he agreed, walking over to change the music for their waltz.
The romance of the song resonated around them as they began to dance.
Delphie knew the atmosphere would feel less intimate when they had an audience. But tonight, it was just the two of them, and she loved the feeling of being in Wil’s capable arms as they waltzed .
As the music ended, and the final notes drifted out of the barn into the night air, she wanted to remember these moments with Wil.
Deciding it made more sense to end the night there, Delphie walked back to the farmhouse, waving as Wil drove home.
Although tempted to paint or sketch into the late night, Delphie did the sensible thing and got ready for bed so she was well rested for the busy day ahead.
Wil decided to do the same, but before getting into bed, he checked his wardrobe to make sure the classic suit that he planned to wear for the party was hanging up ready. It was, along with his white ballroom stretch shirts and ties.
He turned off the bedside lamp and lay there gazing out the window at the night sky and fell asleep rewinding the dances with Delphie.
The following day flew by in a flurry of activity, especially the late afternoon as Kian, Catriona and their assistants set up the buffet in the barn.
Wil had made himself available during the day to help with anything that was needed, but now as the twilight’s glow stretched across the sky, he’d gone home to get changed into his suit.
Delphie put on the lilac dress and checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. Butterflies of excitement fluttered through her as she hurried downstairs to head over to the barn.
The solar lights in the farmhouse driveway flickered into life in time for the stream of car headlights approaching in the distance .
Here they come, Delphie thought, watching their arrival in the golden hour glow.
It was one of those calm evenings, with barely a breeze, filled with the scent of the autumn.
The barn door was open and the glow from the lights inside shone out into the evening. Delphie stood for a moment taking it all in, feeling the anticipation building.
Her long lilac dress felt wonderful, light as air, an ethereal creation of layered chiffon scattered with sparkling sequins around the bodice. The full skirt skimmed her ankles, the perfect length for dancing the quickstep.
Music filtered out from the barn as Kian, Catriona, Callum and others took charge of organising the party as they had done in past years. The band had arrived and set up their chairs and instruments on the small stage, ready to entertain everyone during the evening.
Wil’s car was one of the first to arrive, and Delphie’s heart squeezed when she saw the tall figure dressed in his classic suit, white shirt and tie, stride towards her, looking the most handsome she’d ever seen him.
His reaction when he saw Delphie assured her that she’d worn the right dress.
‘You look beautiful,’ Wil said, taking in how lovely she was.
‘Shall we go in?’ Delphie said, hardly able to contain her excitement.
Wil nodded, and she linked her arm through his to walk into the barn together .
An unexpected cheer arose from those already there.
Callum seemed to be their spokesman as he announced. ‘Everyone is grateful for the two of you holding the town’s autumn celebration party.’
Another cheer erupted, including from guests walking into the barn, having just arrived.
Everyone was well–dressed and the dance theme had been popular, with guests wearing various styles from tango dresses to ball gowns. Accessories ranged from sparkling tiaras to long strings of beads to go with the twenties era flapper dresses. The men wore suits, from classic evening suits to tuxedos. The three band members wore traditional kilts, ghillie shirts and sporrans.
‘My grandparents wished they could be here tonight,’ Delphie said to Wil. ‘So I’ve set up my laptop at the side of the bar.’
Wil looked over, and there were her grandparents cheery faces peering out from the screen, enjoying a view of the party. They waved when they saw Delphie and Wil.
The guests began to gather around the edges of the dance floor, clearing it in anticipation of Delphie and Wil’s first dance.
‘I’ll introduce you to my grandparents later,’ Delphie promised Wil. But now, it was time for their quickstep.
Delphie nodded to Kian, giving him the cue to start the music as she stood at a corner of the dance floor in hold with Wil .
As the beat kicked in, they were off, dancing across the diagonal, taking their audience by surprise with their speed and stylish moves.
Callum and a couple of other guests filmed the performance with their phones.
Despite the butterflies of excitement, Delphie felt she’d danced the quickstep better than in their rehearsals. The party atmosphere brought out an extra energy in her performance.
Wil raised the bar too, the professional dancer in him evident in his technique and presentation.
As they finished with a flourish, the cheers and applause assured them they’d chosen the right dance to get the night off to an exciting start.
Others took to the dance floor, and Delphie quickly led Wil over to the laptop to meet her grandparents.
‘This is my grandmother, Delphine, and my grandfather, Billy.’
‘We’ve heard so much about you, Wil,’ her grandmother said to him. ‘And what a wonderful quickstep to start the evening.’
‘I’m pleased to meet you,’ Wil said to them. ‘Delphie’s told me so much about you too.’
‘You look lovely in that dress,’ her grandmother said to Delphie.
‘I’m changing into another one of your dresses for the closing dance,’ Delphie revealed. ‘Your pink dress. The one from The Sweetest Waltz painting.’
‘Oh, that’s great,’ her grandmother said, bursting with enthusiasm. ‘And we’re so pleased to see the two of you. It feels like we’re there at the party. ’
Her grandfather nudged his wife. ‘Tell them,’ he urged her. ‘I don’t think they realise.’
Delphie frowned, wondering what they were talking about. ‘Realise what?’
‘Your names are the same as ours,’ her grandmother explained. ‘You’re Delphine, named after me. And Billy is William. We presume that you’re William too,’ she said to Wil.
‘Yes,’ Wil confirmed.
The penny dropped as Delphie realised the connection of the past and the present.
‘It’s like history repeating itself,’ Billy said to them.
‘Maybe you’ll find the same type of love and happiness that we’ve had all these years we’ve been together,’ her grandmother said to Delphie and Wil.
A wave of emotion hit Delphie. Her grandparents were a happy and loving couple. She’d always hoped to have a relationship like that.
Chatting to her grandparents for a few more minutes, Delphie and Wil then waved and headed over to the buffet to meet everyone, and then joined in the dancing.
Delphie danced with others, including Callum and Kian, while Wil whirled Catriona and other ladies around the floor.
‘Wil’s such a great dancer,’ Catriona whispered to Delphie. ‘The two of you look like a fine couple.’
This time, Delphie smiled at Catriona, and didn’t correct her .
Halfway through the evening the live band had everyone kicking up their heels as they played lively Scottish tunes.
Then the recorded music started again, and Wil danced with Delphie late into the night, pausing sometimes to enjoy the buffet and chat to the guests.
‘I’d better hurry over to the farmhouse and change my dress,’ Delphie whispered to Wil as the evening was due to end.
‘I’ll dim the lighting and make sure the music’s set up,’ said Wil.
Running over to the farmhouse, the night air wafted through the sheer fabric of her lilac dress. And she felt so happy and excited.
After a lightning fast change, she gathered up the long hemline of the pink dress, and ran back over to the barn.
The twinkle lights sparkled like stars around the dance floor that was now illuminated with the spotlights. Wil was standing there waiting for her, having announced to the guests that this was the closing dance of the evening.
The smiling faces encouraged Delphie to take to the dance floor with Wil. Once again, she could see that her grandparents were watching, and Callum and Kian were filming everything.
Wil smiled at her as the music began, and they started to waltz around.
Her pink dress felt light as air and added to the romance of their performance. The guests watched, enjoying them dancing together to the romantic ballad .
The music played, and the song lyrics highlighted their story...
I fell in love with you
When we met by chance
The first time I saw you
It felt like real romance
Through the years we’ll be together
In love for ever
One thing will be true
I’ll dance the sweetest waltzes with you...
Everyone then joined in for the last dance, waltzing under the lights, having had a wonderful night.
Seeing everyone off as the cars drove away, Delphie and Wil stood together under the vast starry sky arching above them.
Clasping her hand, he gently pulled her close and gazed down at her with all the love in his heart.
‘I hope you’ll decide to stay here instead of going back to the city,’ he said.
Delphie smiled at him. ‘Yes, I’m staying.’
She felt his gentle strength pull her even closer to him. ‘I have to tell you, that I’m falling deeply in love with you.’
‘I feel the same about you, Wil.’
This time when he looked like he was going to kiss her, he didn’t pause, and she didn’t resist.
The fire and romance ignited between them.
Two shooting stars suddenly soared across the night sky.
‘I don’t really believe in fairytale signs,’ said Delphie, glancing up at the stars .
Wil nodded, though he didn’t agree.
‘That was a sign, wasn’t it?’ she said.
‘I think so. And if we believe we can do this, be happy together here in the town, we will.’
‘Since I came to stay in the farmhouse, I’ve started to believe in lots of things that I’d long given up on. Like dancing...’
Wil pulled her closer, wrapping her safe in his arms. ‘And romance?’
Delphie nodded, and then he kissed her again and again under the star sprinkled night sky.
End