|
Post by pinkyster on Aug 8, 2008 4:56:18 GMT -10
Uh Jen..... Whose husband....? Lucy Sorry I saw Sarah and I guess my mind went right to Frances. It has been a tough and busy morning for me LOL. Jen
|
|
|
Post by tanyadell on Aug 8, 2008 5:06:57 GMT -10
oohh it has to be...they are the same person for sure!....his skills as a detective will come in handy on down the line..awesome chapter and the wp is as always stunning!
tanyadell
|
|
|
Post by lucymalta on Aug 8, 2008 5:24:57 GMT -10
So you all think Frances is Sarah..... *sigh* Lucy
|
|
|
Post by sanne on Aug 8, 2008 7:32:37 GMT -10
Well.....with the info we have now.....it would surprise me to the most if Sarah appears to be Mrs van der Zandt....... ;D ;D Sandra
|
|
|
Post by margaret1234 on Aug 8, 2008 10:44:57 GMT -10
Sandra....you are so funny. I think Lucy is playing games and is trying to put us off the track......Sarah now known as Frances is his wife.
Margaret
|
|
|
Post by lucymalta on Aug 8, 2008 11:03:21 GMT -10
He he.... Well if you didn't get that one........ I would have been very worried... But why is he after her... Good guy, or bad guy.... Lucy
|
|
|
Post by margaret1234 on Aug 8, 2008 11:45:18 GMT -10
At the moment I think he may be a bad guy......but very good guy in his feelings for his wife. Otherwise why were they so happy before she found out whatever.......unless he was playing around at the same time as being in love with Frances......but, then that surely would not be enough to make her run away. So what on earth is/was he into that scared her so much.......I need to know a bit more yet.
Margaret
|
|
|
Post by ehmalo01 on Aug 8, 2008 11:59:13 GMT -10
Margaret...what makes you think that his reason for looking for her has anything to do with love? Yes, they USED to be happy together. But I have a feeling that 'his work' is something that not only did Frances/Sarah dislike, but perhaps she feared it. Maybe he needs to track her down b/c she/what she knows is dangerous to him and his work. I don't think there's much love anymore. Perhaps he even views her as a possession, or even a trophy of sorts.
em
|
|
|
Post by margaret1234 on Aug 8, 2008 14:04:55 GMT -10
Could be........BUT... I happen to think he is in love with her.......Lucy's words "Placing the picture gently back on the desk" suggest to me he does love her.......even if he may be looking for her because of what she knows about what he is into. There was no anger in that movement or for that matter in his move to the window. So.......looks like we disagree for the moment....we will see. Frances is obviously nervous about something.......and I still have a feeling she has not necessarily been the saint we think she is right now. Margaret
|
|
|
Post by lucymalta on Aug 8, 2008 19:06:27 GMT -10
So.. You think Frances is not all she seems.... Well you could be right... Lucy & Chris Chapter 2 Part 1 Frances woke drenched in sweat, once again the nightmare had come back to haunt her. Sighing to herself, she walked to the kitchen and took a glass of orange juice from the carton in the fridge. Glancing at the clock she noticed that it was a little after 3 am, taking a few deep breaths to steady her heart rate, she returned to her bedroom. Not willing to return to sleep with bad memories still in her mind, she pulled out her work mat and sat, cross-legged in the middle, facing the direction of the rising sun. Closing her eyes, she slowly began to empty her mind of the images she remembered from her nightmare, replacing them with more relaxing ones. The footsteps of running men became the sound of running water, the high buildings became snow capped mountains and the sound of traffic became wind in the trees. She had done this exercise so many times that it now came as second nature. Standing slowly, she went through the more basic Tai Chi movements, those designed to calm and relax. After half an hour she opened her eyes and smiled. Her Aikido Sensei would be happy, he had taught her the basic Tai Chi movements after a session of Aikido had caused her to break down when she realized she could finally defend herself against a man twice her size. Not only the calming ones, but also those designed to refresh and stimulate her spirit, others to increase flexibility and inner strength. Finally he had suggested that she needed to speak to someone about her experiences, Frances had declined, not wishing to see a psychiatrist. Steve had laughed and shaken his head, instead introducing her to a fellow Aikido student, Father Tim Scanlon. Though she was not Catholic, Frances had found the Irish-born priest easy to talk to during breaks between classes and was soon visiting him in private at the local church. After six months she had decided to convert and finally began to find peace within herself, though her life was still in turmoil. It was Father Scanlon who had given her refuge when she needed to hide and helped her to get the job at the convent school here in New York. Although she had been forbidden to contact any of her friends in the UK after her move to the States, Father Scanlon was an exception as she could use the Vatican mail system. Although it was difficult for her to write in Latin, the priest in Manhattan helped her and she had already received a reply to her first letter. Tim was moving to a different parish, but as yet, did not know where. He asked her not to contact him until he got in touch first. Frances had been worried, but Father Downey had sat down with her quietly and she knew that at least there was one person in New York that she could trust. &&& Finishing her Saturday morning shift in the Art Gallery, Frances decided to walk home through the park when she caught a whiff of fresh baked bread. Smiling to herself, she walked into the deli and bought a sandwich, chuckling at the assistants face when she asked for a traditional English cheese and onion filling. Crossing the road carefully, she entered Central Park and slowly began to walk one of the many paths, giving a wry smile when she realized that the one she had selected would lead her past the reservoir towards the school. One day she would have a little more confidence and move further afield, but for now was content to stay in the safety of her ‘range’ – from the school to her apartment, to the Gallery and the park. It was only a matter of four city blocks, but for the first time in ages she felt she could relax a little.
|
|
|
Post by ehmalo01 on Aug 8, 2008 19:11:30 GMT -10
And I'm betting she's going to run into John.... Lucky woman. Defend herself against a man twice her size? Alright...so what happened in her past? What man? Her husband? Hmm...LOTS of new questions. I like the 'new' stuff, Luc. em
|
|
|
Post by gonsy on Aug 8, 2008 20:55:12 GMT -10
Very nice chapter Lucy. You're giving us more and more info about her. And I love the Frances I can perceive....Uh....I want an Aikido Sensei too... Gonsy
|
|
|
Post by sanne on Aug 8, 2008 21:55:02 GMT -10
Something happened....has she been attacked, that she feels the need of being able to defend herself against a man twice her size? What part is her husband playing in this case? Sandra
|
|
|
Post by margaret1234 on Aug 9, 2008 4:17:44 GMT -10
Nice soothing time for Frances............so she has nightmares does she..........and we now know how she became involved with Father Scanlon. Hmm......I still do not think it is her husband she is running from. So I am sticking my neck out and I am going to say that she is definately not running from her husband but, I have a theory that whatever business he is in which disturbed her so much is perhaps connected to someone else in her past that came to light when she found out what her husband was into.....this is what scared the life out of her.
Beautiful wp Chris.
Margaret.
|
|
|
Post by lucymalta on Aug 9, 2008 19:40:34 GMT -10
So.... Does Frances bump into John....? Lucy & Chris Chapter 2 Part 2 John eased into his run as he entered the park. The night before had been spent at home watching a recent movie that had just been released onto video. He had enjoyed it, the comedy being a little dry, but had ended the evening feeling lonely. He really must get out and about a little more, his life was becoming just a little too routine. The social events he went to were never relaxing as they were ‘work’, not that he expected to find friends in that class of people – nor did he want to. Exposure to high society had confirmed one thing to him – money did not bring happiness – in fact it attracted trouble, which was why he was gainfully employed… Though he still kept in touch with his friends – meeting them for basketball on a regular basis and still kept in touch with Andy, he realized his circle of friends was getting smaller and working most evenings wasn’t helping. A shout up ahead brought him out of his thoughts and he increased his speed, sprinting up the hill. Someone needed help. && Frances was furious, a youth had quietly come up behind her and grabbed her arm and quickly pulled it behind her back and she could also feel the point of a knife near her ribs. The young man’s move had happened just as she had walked into the shade of one of the parks many small woodland sections. Her eyes had not quite adjusted to the dim light and she had been caught off guard. Forcing herself to relax as she had been taught by Steve, she felt her assailant relax his grip when he realized his victim would not fight back. It was a mistake. Frances’ Sensei had explained things to her… ‘Never try to fight strength with strength because you will always lose.’ He had instead taught her several moves which would help her get out of an attackers grasp – stamping on his toes if she was wearing heels – especially stilettos, a larger heel could do damage to the shin if used correctly, but her favourite was ‘scratching her ear’. All the moves started with the same thing – relaxation… ‘Make yourself as relaxed and soft as possible’ Steve had told her, ‘Your attacker will relax his grip a little – more if he is an opportunist’. Frances had followed his instructions, then been told to break free – which she hadn’t managed. Steve had smiled and brought her back to the ‘relaxed’ position, “Now scratch your ear and turn under your arm.’ Frances had stared at him – but been stunned at the effect of the simple manoeuvre – easily getting away from the man that had been holding her. Steve had explained that the more relaxed she was initially and the faster she moved, the greater the effect – in one instant she had moved so quickly, she had thrown her ‘attacker’ to one side. “Now what do I do?” she had asked…. “Run for help…” had been Steve’s answer. He had gone on to explain that an attacker would be momentarily shocked and slow to react. “Never try to deal with someone like that alone – especially if he is armed. Even better, never put yourself in that situation if you can help it…” He had gone on to explain about how to follow a safe routine – especially at night – and how ordinary items could be used for self defence, even a set of keys or an umbrella.
|
|