9Reunited!
1900.
George had been out walking his dog, Violet, with Henry, spending some time together, as they used to when Addie was with them. Only this time she wasn't. Yes she was back from her sabbatical, but was yet to make and appearance in the station.
"Henry, I'm going to be frank. Are you pining for Addie?"
"No."
Well that's a blatant lie. George thought to himself as the pair walked on. It was all over Henry's face that he missed Addie, more than anyone else did. He shook his head, but said no more.
As they walked further into the park, they began to pass people out strolling. Since they were in uniform, on their hour lunch break, many people they passed nodded their heads respectfully to them. The constables returned their greetings, with nod and a touch of their helmets to the ladies.
As they traversed down a path sheltered by large poplar trees, Violet suddenly stopped in her tracks and began barking.
The only person they could see, was a young woman and a rather large dog. The dog, an Old English Sheepdog, was large and shaggy, with light grey, and white fur. The only visible feature on it was it's nose. It sniffed around a tree with the largest shadow, before flopping down on the little grass verge underneath it.
The owner, a shortish young woman, with deep black hair, wearing a small, elegant straw hat. Her dress, a walking dress George could hear the voice of his sweetheart correct him, was white, with blue flowers printed all over it, making it look like it was blue. It was lace trimmed on the neck line, oversized sleeves and jacket and over-skirt hemline. One hand clutched the skirt, pulling it up so it didn't trail on the floor, while in her other hand, she carried a white lace parasol, with a small purse with her, the same design as her dress.
She wore a pleasantly contented look on her face, as she walked along to catch up to her four legged friend. The dog and the young woman both looked up when Violet began to bark. The young woman's dog hesitated a moment, before he barked back, almost as if he recognised the other dog.
"What is it Vi?" George wondered as his dog began to bark, almost happily. The sheepdog instantly bounded over to Violet, and the two licked each other's muzzle before both laying down on the path.
It was then, that George recognised the other dog.
"Cujo!" he grinned. The dog, hearing his name, pricked up his ears and lifted his head, looking in the general direction of the voice. He wagged his tail gleefully, as the constable bent down to stroke him. So, if the dog was Cujo, then the young woman had to be...
"Addie..." Henry breathed slowly, as their friend approached them happily.
"George! Harry! It's so good to see you!" she gasped, throwing her arms around each of them, in a warm embrace. Violet whined, and Addie bent down to scratch her behind the ear, "Of course we've missed you too Violet!"
Rising, she gave George another, tight and warm hug, "Oh George! It's been miserable without you two!"
Henry blushed when she smiled demurely at him, and never said anything at all. George, keen to get the pair to reconcile, or something to that effect, informed Addie that he had to go back to the station, but Henry was on his half-day.
"We'll have to go to the tea room, just the three of us, like we used to." Addie suggested eagerly. George agreed, giving her one last hug before he and Violet left.
Addie and Henry were now stood in an awkward silence, surrounded by the whispering of the wind in the trees and the calls of the birds in the sky.
"You look well." Henry told his long lost friend. She beamed at him, looking up from petting her dog.
"Thank you.. So do you." she cleared her throat, "Uhm, Emily tells me you stopped courting the young lady from the ball."
"Oh, yes, yes I did."
"I'm sorry it didn't work out for you Harry, I really am."
Henry shook his head.
"Don't be. If it wasn't for her, I might not have ever figured it out."
"Figured what out?" she quizzed, as he helped her to her feet. They set off walking slowly. The sun grew brighter, and Henry, growing hotter, undid his two top buttons and removed his helmet.
"I'll explain another day." Addie was about to press him, but he gave her a look that told her not to bother, and instead, directed him to the shade of a large poplar tree.
He took of his jacket, so she could sit on it with out dirtying her dress.
"Harry, I'm not bothered if I get grass stains on my dress..."
"I am."
"I've got more at home..." she coughed a little, "Somewhere in my bags..."
"So, your sabbatical... how was it."
"Miserable. I missed George and Emily and Julia and the lads at the station, and my family... and you. I missed you most."
Henry blushed a violent red colour.
"Why-why?" he stammered.
"Because, you've always been there when I've cried... and I didn't have you this time." she admitted shyly, looking out to the small boating lake before them.
"What do you mean?"
"I was very upset and confused. Which is why I left. I got un-confused after the first few weeks, but since I'd taken sabbatical, I couldn't come back for a while, which made me more upset."
Henry nodded, following her gaze to the boating lake, as Cujo lumbered off somewhere. Finally, the two had been left alone from prying eyes and ears, to confront themselves about what they felt.
"Well I'm back now anyway, so you'll be seeing more of me again." she smiled.
"That's good news, now we all won't have to mope."
"Ah, yes I've heard about you moping. You especially."
"What do you mean?" He asked, tearing his gaze from the little boating lake, and fixing it on the young woman beside him. She looked at him with a sideways glance, but then returned her attention to the lake.
"Well Henry, a little birdy told me that you'd taken my leaving quite badly."
He scoffed, "I took it as bad as anyone else did! You just upped and left."
"Well then, I suppose I should show you how I did it." she replied, getting up, brushing herself off and whistling her dog. The great furry beast came bounding over, coming to a stop just before her shins. She picked up her bag, and parasol, and walked away from the constable, leaving him both angry and hurt.
He hid his face in his hands, trying to hide from all the times where he should have said what he was thinking. This was just another one of those times.