The Unwanted Gift: (Part 4) A Gift Of Love

Richard was in love, he was blessed with this gift when he had least expected it. This was the happiest he had ever felt, for once; he wanted to go to sleep holding a woman, and wake up in her arms. The word love, seemed so insignificant to describe what he was feeling, Constance, his Connie, she hated the name Connie but she allowed Richard the privilege of using it.

The boy Richard had grown into a handsome young man, intelligent, with a wicked sense of humour and a devil may care attitude, women were attracted to him, most of his old flames were still friends, until now, Richard loved women, but never experienced being in love, he often wondered what all the fuss was about. He has had many casual relationships, but he could always walk away when it got complicated or he got bored, which- ever came first, and then he met Constance.

Would the good folks of York think him quite mad, if he were to burst into song and swing off the lamp-post here and now?

He wanted to do an impromptu dance, show the world he was in love. God must be in his heavens, because all was right with the world.

Not only had Richard found his perfect woman, but she brought him amazing good luck, for the first time in months he was on a roll, winning a great deal of money on the gee gees, he promised Connie that he would stop gambling, “soon”, he whispered, “soon babes, but not just yet” Richard had found a sure way to win on the horses, he called it his little gift from the oracle, the oracle will help him to win the down payment on the flat in St Johns Wood which Connie had her eyes on, she made him so happy, he wanted to do something to show her how he felt.

Just thinking about Connie gave Richard a natural high, he walked around in a daze with a perpetual smile on his face; back in London, where he was studying economics, at the London School of Economics (LSE) his friends could not understand what was wrong with him, they would constantly place their hands on his forehead to gage his temperature, inquiring about his health. He hasn’t yet told them about Connie, he wanted her all to himself for just awhile longer, but they knew something had changed ” it’s got to be a woman” said Samuel, Richard’s class mate," that, or he’ll be carried away by the men in white coats, if he doesn’t stop that demented grinning," replied Annie .

In a way they were right, he had a fever, but he wasn’t ill, in fact he never felt better.

Richard left London for a short visit to Yorkshire to see his parents who still lived on the farm where he grew up, his Dad called, summoning him home. “Your mother is not herself these days,” his dad stated, in his matter of fact way, “she needs to see you lad, I think it’s high time you made a visit, and we need to talk.” Richard’s dad was a man of few words, there was no point asking questions, Richard knew from experience, his dad had said as much as he was going to say. He suspected, his father wanted to discuss what will happen to the farm, when he could no longer manage it.

Richard had skilfully managed to avoid this issue for as long as it was possible, but he was running out of options. His sister, happily married with two children now lived in Wales. As the eldest child, it was his responsible to take over the farm, but Richard had little or no interest in running the business. When he was home, he spent all his time at York race course, even though he knew the old man hated gambling, he must prepare himself for a rough visit.

But before he goes to the farm to face the music, he took a detour to York to purchase presents for his parents and something for Poppy, whom he loved like a little sister, he knew his parents thought of Poppy as another daughter, he had several reasons to seek her out as soon as possible he’s going to need an ally when he speaks with the parents. Yes, he must get Poppy a good present and it’s her birthday soon, but mostly he wanted a gift to impress and to wow… Connie, he shook his head smiling, as he pictured her face when she open his gift, she was like a greedy little girl the way her eyes would light up at the sight of a parcel, but this little girl shall have her gift because she made him feel invincible .

Constance was tall, statuesque, dark skinned and beautiful; her parents were immigrants from the Caribbean island of Grenada, she was born in the London borough of Lambert in Streatham. She has never visited her parent’s home land, although she listened patiently, as her father spoke longingly about his island home, her home was Streatham, she would like to visit Grenada one day, but as for now, she was trying to get to grips with her new job and find somewhere to live so she can move out of her parents’ home.

Constance worked part time as a fashion model, she loved modelling, but the work was sporadic. So between jobs she also worked as a croupier in a casino up West, the money she earned, helped with the bills, and the remainder went into her savings fund to buy a flat in St John’s Wood. An expensive area, but with a bit of savvy, she could manage to save enough for the deposit.

Meeting the right man with a bit of his own dough wouldn't hurt either, she thought. However, Constance always seems to fall for the wrong men, but maybe her luck was about to change.

Constance met Richard about 3 months ago, at the casino where she worked, he was handsome and funny, and losing a great deal of money. He made it clear that he fancied her, but she kept him at arms length, maintaining a professional distance, although, she thought it must be obvious to everyone that she was well and truly smitten with the man. Richard refused to take no for an answer and would return again and again determined to break through her cynicism and stoicism, and would slowly but surly wear down her resistance. Constance did not want a relationship with a gambler, Richard was a dream, but he was flawed.

Constance was falling in love, she loved Richard but she was concerned about the way he would bet on everything and anything, so she extracted from him a promise, that he would stop gambling, and concentrate on his studies, but that was before he found his little oracle.