Morning’s Glory
From Chapter 8
At an intersection, the flutter of an umbrella and the smell of fresh bread attracted their attention.
They spoke at the same instant. “Wanna coffee?”
It was the work of a moment to park in the sunshine and sit in the shade. “Do you all have bicycles?” David asked, when they were settled and occupying themselves with coffee-plunging and with croissants.
Carolyn wasn’t going to imagine that his glance was one of admiration for her figure and approval of a healthy lifestyle. She laughed. “It’s having three children that keeps me fit.”
He dipped a croissant into his bowl. “We had only Maria. She’s seventeen. She lives in a home of her own now.”
How little Carolyn knew of this man! Perhaps he got up at dawn to cycle around the Port Hills. Would he rise stiffly from her bed? Did he favour body-hugging stretch materials? He would certainly ride for pleasure, gasping with exhilaration and the excitement of being mounted, the bicycle trembling as he thrust forwards. His shoulders and arms would lift the handlebars. His hands would splay over the controls, every part of the bicycle responsive to his firm but gentle fingers. Oh, happy cycle of his use, his service, his delight! No novice, he, to lurch ineptly from side to side. His powerful thighs would push downwards, stroke after stroke, thrust after thrust. She imagined sweat glistening under her fingertips, and the salty taste of slippery skin on her tongue. David would fly like an eagle, trusting his life to the age-old rhythm of striving and fulfilment.
The road would suddenly become less steep as David approached the highest point. Faster and faster he would build to the climax. With a shriek of ecstasy, sweat flowing from under his helmet, wouldn’t he throw high his arms and arch his back in exultation as he crested the summit? For an eternity, wouldn’t David breast the rising sun, shouting the Word?
A fraction of a second (or a lifetime) later, she knew, she could trust him to be a hands-on careful driver again, neither selfish for himself nor a danger to others.
A danger, definitely. A danger to her peace of mind, without a doubt! Had she really thought of him rising from HER bed? She tried to push her thoughts away from such matters. This proved as difficult as the Zen exercise of not thinking of an elephant.
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