Hi Everyone,

When I started this fiction, I originally called it ‘For Always’. This week-end when I did some editing on the story before posting, I realised that the title doesn’t ‘fit’ the story anymore.

Usually when I start a new story, I have a beginning and an idea of the end … I start working and the middle usually takes care of itself. There are times when original ideas are replaced by others that happen to come along as I write. This happened when I was almost half-way with this story. Something dramatic happened … please don’t ask me to explain because I won’t be able to; it won’t really make sense. Very little of the original idea(s) remained, and what you will read for the next couple of weeks, is the result. This is also my longest story to date – 30 chapters! I was so inspired by the story & the direction it was going, that I didn’t mind sitting in front of the PC night after night till very late … It’s a story that captured me … and wouldn’t let go until it was done.

I am very excited by this story. In my opinion, this is my best work so far. I took chances with this story; I explored areas that I haven’t touched before. I dared myself to push the boundaries … and maybe in some instances, broke a few.

I will post twice a week (Tue & Fri) 3 chapters each day until chapter 20 – then 2 at a time … all for a reason.


The story is now titled: ‘I Will Follow …’

I hope you will enjoy it as much as you’ve had all the others.

CHAPTER 1


‘Alex, please call Josie Cliff. She’s left a few messages while you were away – said it’s urgent. The number is …’ Alexandra groaned when she read Megan, her assistant’s message. She landed on Heathrow a 2hours ago from an assignment in Thailand, and she was bone-tired. All she longed for was a long soak in her bath, something decent to eat, and as much coffee as her system could handle.

She decided to come past the office on her way from the airport to see if there were any urgent messages for her. She looked around Megan’s desk but couldn’t see anything else with her name on. She looked at the piece of paper in her hand again, ‘Josie Cliff … Josie Cliff … why does the name sound familiar?’ she asked herself softly. She tried to think, but her brain was numb; she was in transit for almost 20 hours. ‘This can wait until tomorrow …’ she mumbled, and pushed the piece of paper in her bag. She switched off the light, locked the door behind her, and slowly walked to where the elevators were situated.

She smiled when the elevator door opened and saw the doorman, Charlie, waiting for her. “You done here Ms. Daly?” he asked in his gruff voice and looked at her. She nodded, “yes Charlie I am, thank you. Now its home and then some much needed sleep.” He nodded gravely, “you should get some proper rest Ms. Daly, you look awfully pale.” She smiled at him, “that’s the plan Charlie. Nice rain outside isn’t it?” she said conversationally. He grimaced, “been raining non-stop since you left almost 2 weeks ago. Very depressing this weather. Me missus says that we should get ourselves a holiday home where the sun always shine” he added and looked at the floor. “I missed the rain Charlie. Where I was, it was sweltering hot. One couldn’t sleep at night; it was just too uncomfortable” she added. She really did miss the English weather. She missed hearing the sound of rain pelting down against the windows and roof. Most of all, she missed the smell of the rain when she walked in the streets in the early morning. Ever since she was a little girl, she always loved the rain; to her it symbolised cleansing and growth.

The bell of the elevator sounded softly to announce their arrival on the ground floor. The doors slid open effortlessly and Charlie held them for Alexandra. She hooked her hand through the handle of her luggage and smiled, “g’nite Charlie and thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” The old man nodded, “Good evening Ms. Daly. Have a good rest now” and touched the brim of his cap. Alexandra waved and walked in the direction of the underground parking where her car was parked. She grimaced when she saw how dusty the car was; ‘I’ll get you washed in the morning I promise’ she said and slowly drove away into the rainy night.

She arrived home a few minutes later and dragged her luggage up the stairs. Alexandra cursed under her breath; the elevators were still out of order as it was when she left 2 weeks ago. She searched for her keys and fumbled to unlock the door; she was beyond tired. She dropped her luggage in the passage and switched on the kettle to make her some coffee. She took the mug with her to the bathroom and placed it on the little table next to the bath. She got undressed and sank into the luxurious warmth of the water and bath salts. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to be wrapped in warmth, enjoying the feeling of relaxation that set in. She forced herself out of the water a few minutes later, and dressed in a fluffy gown, made her way to the sanctuary of her bedroom. She finished her coffee and switched off the bedside lamp before falling into bed. Within seconds, she was fast asleep, swept away on winds of nothingness.

“Josie, have you called that Daly woman like I asked you?” Rob asked irritated. He was at the management offices to discuss the upcoming album’s release, as well as making a decision which single to release first. He didn’t want to be there. He wanted to be at home. In LA; where there is some kind of sanity. London wasn’t agreeing with him on this trip; maybe the memories were too much. He looked out the window and stared at the grey landscape, and the rain falling down in torrents. “Fucking miserable weather makes it worse” he muttered under his breath. “Josie?” he called, louder this time. She rushed into the room, “sorry Rob, I was on a phone call. What is it?” she asked, sensing his foul mood. He sighed dramatically, “I asked if you got hold of the Daly woman yet?” She shook her head, “no, but I did leave a few messages for her. Her assistant said that … “What the fuck is wrong with these people? Doesn’t anyone want to work anymore?” he asked, his tone argumentative. Josie looked at him, and noticed that Rob was chewing one of his fingernails and wondered what bothered him so much today? She sighed, “Alexandra Daly was out of the country for a few weeks, and she was due back last night. Her assistant assured me that Ms. Daly would call me today. As soon as I’ve spoken to her, I will notify you immediately.” She tried to pacify him, “is there anything else Rob?” He looked at her and nodded slowly, “what else is on my agenda for today?” he asked glumly. She smiled tightly, “well, obviously your meeting here with Tim and David, and then later this afternoon, at 2.30 you have a radio interview with Radio 1, nothing else.”

He walked to the window and turned his back on her, “cancel Radio 1, I’m not doing it.” She rolled her eyes heavenwards and sighed softly, “may I ask why not? What should I tell them?” she asked worriedly. He shrugged, “whatever you want really. Think of something Josie, that’s why I pay you.” His voice was hard and Josie couldn’t believe what she just heard. She’s worked for Rob for years now and this was certainly not the first time that he’s been rude. The last few months though Rob was in reasonably good spirits and everyone sighed with relief. Rob met a young lady and he was quite smitten with her. Josie didn’t like Lucy the moment she met her; there was something very fake about her, but Rob didn’t seem to notice it as usual. She watched the affair develop from a distance and waited for the novelty to wear off. It took longer than usual, but it did eventually. In her opinion, Lucy was a spoilt brat, a product of trust-fund money and used to getting her own way.

In the beginning Rob was quite fascinated by Lucy and seemed to dote on her. But then she started pressurising him, wanting to push him into a corner; she wanted a commitment which Rob was not willing or able to give her. The arguments started; horrible exchanges of insults that usually ended with Lucy storming out the house, slamming the door in her wake. Two weeks ago the final split came just after Rob returned from Germany, presenting and winning an award for best international male artist. Lucy moved out of Rob’s place, back to her parents’ home. The tabloids of course, were rife with speculation and day after day, new pieces of gossip appeared, fanning the fires of speculation … hence the reason for Rob’s foul mood of the last few days. He was constantly followed by the paparazzi, harassed by fans, and bombarded with prying questions.

Josie walked back to one of the private offices and picked up the phone. ‘Well, here goes nothing’ she muttered, as she called Radio 1’s Andrew Kelly, programme chief. “Hello Andrew? Josie here. Regarding Rob’s interview this afternoon …”

Rob could hear Josie’s voice in the background and couldn’t be bothered to feel guilty about his rude behaviour towards her or the careless dismissal of his responsibilities. Today was not a good day for him … fuck, he couldn’t remember when last he had a good day. He wanted to get away, but he couldn’t. The new album’s release was scheduled in a few weeks time, and they still had to finalise the shoot for the CD booklet; another delay before he could return to LA. He sighed morosely and watched the rain as it quickly ran down the window. ‘When am I gonna get it right? When? Is it too much to ask to meet someone decent for a change? I’m so fucking tired of all of this …’ he said softly, and felt an intense loneliness invade his being; making him feel like the last person left on the planet.

CHAPTER 2


Alex was in the office early the next morning. She still had a lot to do before submitting her assignment to the offices of ‘Time’ magazine. She wanted to make sure that everything was exactly as she wanted it; she was a perfectionist where her work was concerned. “Welcome back Alex! Thought you could do with a cup, knew you would be here before me.” It was Megan, Alex’s assistant, standing in the door of her office, armed with some coffee. Alex smiled and sat back in her chair, “hi Meg, has someone told you lately that you’re worth your weight in gold? Coffee is exactly what I need!” Megan pulled a face and handed Alex her coffee, and sat on the edge of the table, “so? How was your trip? Anything exciting?” she asked. She was fascinated with Alex’s work, and probably her greatest admirer. She knew how committed Alex was, and how much she cared about what she was doing.

Alex frowned, “the trip was depressing actually but good, if that makes sense. I got a lot of information which I’m sure ‘Time’ will appreciate. And with the piece that Jake did, it’s going to be spectacular.” Megan heard the pride in Alex’s voice and smiled; she was sure that this work of hers will be highly acclaimed as most of her other work. She nodded, “How is Jake?” she asked and watched Alex closely. She always wondered if there was something between them. Jake Adams was a freelance journalist that specialised in writing humane stories. He was a maverick, and worked by his own rules, creating masterpieces of any work he does. His work was well-known in the news media and he was the first choice for many editors of respectable papers and magazines. He was also known as a man that let nothing and no one stand in his way when he’s committed to an assignment. The bottom line was that Jake always delivered on his work, and could command a higher payment than any other freelancer.

Alex smiled and shrugged, “Jake is Jake Meg, its not always easy to know how he really is. He hides away a lot of his emotions, but I guess that’s because of the work that he does; you can’t let emotions influence you. Still single as far as I know. Why do you ask? Have you got a crush?” Alex asked with a grin. Megan blushed, “no … no … I was just wondering. But I have to confess, he is a very attractive man. Wonder why he’s single?” she wondered aloud. Alex looked at her assistant, “who knows Meg? I agree with you though, he is a handsome man. You should see how he uses his charms from time to time to get the information he needs for his work. Unbelievable.”

She smiled as she thought of Jake Adams. The two of them have teamed up for a few assignments over the last few years; he wrote the articles and she took the photographs. Since they first met at a media awards ceremony where he won the award for ‘Journalist Of The Year’, they felt at ease in each other’s company. They seemed to communicate on a different level and it showed in the quality of the work they do. They understood what the other is thinking and filled in the empty spaces. A few times Alex had seen the end result of their work and it matched perfectly; her photos said what Jake’s words hinted at. They worked together as a team, and to Alex’s delight, Jake had demanded the use of her artistic skills as a photographer on many of his assignments. She is used to getting calls in the dead of night from Jake with the words, “pack a bag and grab your camera Alex, we’re leaving for an exciting destination in the morning.”

She respected Jake Adams as a serious journalist as well as a man. He’s truly gifted, and had honed his skills to perfection. Alex always felt safe with him; he was a man she knew she could depend upon. From occasional chats they had on assignment, sitting in a pub in some Godforsaken town, that he’d never been married. He vaguely mentioned that he wasn’t interested in women because they’re more trouble than they’re worth. Alex deducted that a woman must’ve hurt him badly for him to have so little faith in the female population. There was a comfortable atmosphere between them based on mutual respect and trust. It was something that meant a lot to Alex, because she knew how highly Jake was regarded in the industry.

She pulled herself back to the present and smiled at Megan, “you better get me Josie Cliff on the line. You mentioned that she left a few messages?” Megan nodded, “I’ll do that right away. She was very understanding when I said that you were away on assignment. She stressed however that she has to speak to you and that its urgent.” Alex looked perplexed, “her name sounds familiar to me, but I can’t think that I’ve met her before. I know most of the journo’s and editors around … Anyway, get her for me will you?” Megan nodded, hopped down from the table and walked to her office.

“Alex Daly” she answered the phone when Megan transferred the call. “Ms. Daly hi, this is Josie Cliff. I do apologise for hunting you down like this, but thank you for returning my call.” The woman sounded pleasant enough and Alex relaxed, “Apologies for the delay, but I only got back from an assignment overseas last night. How can I help you?” She heard Josie sigh on the other side, “Alex, my employer is a great admirer of your work. He has asked me to call you with regards to a photo-shoot” Josie ended hurriedly. “What kind of photo-shoot are we talking about Josie? Your boss is aware that I only shoot black and white photos, isn’t he? I’d hate to …” She was interrupted, “that is exactly the reason why he asked me to contact you. He wants to do an abstract shoot, says it will have the desired effect he’s looking for.” Alex smiled wryly when she heard the words ‘abstract’ and ‘desired effect’ used in one sentence. She pulled her diary closer and leafed through the pages, “would the day after tomorrow at 1.00pm suit you? Should I come to your offices?” Josie sighed relieved, “Thursday is fine. Give me your office address and we’ll meet you there if that’s ok with you of course.” Alex smiled, “that would be great thanks. The address is …. Oh before I forget, the name of your company? I want to write it down in my diary so I won’t forget.” There was a slight hesitation before Josie answered, “it’s IE Music. We’ll see you at 1.00 on Thursday. And Alex, thank you so much for making the time to see us. I realise that you must be very busy.” Alex smiled when she heard the other woman’s obvious relieve, “it’s my pleasure. I’ll see you soon” and disconnected the call.

She sat back and swivelled her chair to face the window. It was a cold and gloomy day outside with heavy dark clouds hanging low, and a promise of rain later on. Alex let her eyes roam over the bustling city of London and smiled softly to her herself; this was her home where she felt comfortable and alive. She thought back about her conversation with Josie, and couldn’t help the nagging feeling at the back of her mind. She was certain that she’d heard of her before, but it was just out of her reach. She got up from her chair and stuck her head around the door, “Meg? Can I beg for a refill coffee please? Oh, and before I forget, just make a note that I have a 1.00pm appointment with Josie Cliff here at the office. She and her boss will see me here. He wants a black and white shoot, thinks it will have the desired effect for what he’s aiming at.” Megan nodded and made a note in her book, “what’s the company’s name?” she asked and looked at Alex. “IE Music. I can’t fathom what they’re after …” she said and shook her head. Megan looked up at her boss, surprise on her face, “did you say IE Music? Are you sure about that?” she asked, her voice suppressed with excitement. Alex looked at her and nodded, wondering why Meg was so animated, “yes it definitely is the right name. I looked at it and still wondered what the ‘IE’ stood for.” Meg grinned and turned back in her chair, hurriedly writing down all the details Alex gave her. “Do you know the name Meg?” Alex asked and watched her closely. Megan didn’t know if she should tell her boss who owned ‘IE Music.’ Just now she decided to cancel the appointment, and Meg couldn’t allow that to happen. She turned around with a smile plastered on her face, “no idea Alex, never heard it before. But it sure stands out; a name not to be forgotten’ she murmured softly, and quickly picked up the ringing phone.

Josie knocked on the bedroom door and waited for Rob to answer. She heard a low mumble and pushed open the door. He was seated in the middle of his bed, crossed-legged with the game console resting in his lap. “Just to let you know that I spoke to Alex Daly and we can see her on Thursday at 1.00 ok?” He didn’t take his eyes off the screen, “is she coming here?” he asked. She shook her head, “no, the appointment is at her office” Josie answered carefully, expecting Rob to have a comment. He nodded, “cool. Thanks Josie. Just remember to wake me up early enough; we don’t want to create a bad impression now, would we?” She shook her head, “I’ll make sure that you’re up in plenty of time. Is there anything else?” she asked. He merely shook his head; too absorbed in the 3-D graphics on the screen in front of him.

Alex packed the ‘Time’ assignment in her briefcase and made sure she had everything with her before closing her office door behind her. “Meg, I’m going to Time’s offices. Please let them know that I’m on my way. I should be back this afternoon sometime. If you need me, call me on my mobile.” Megan nodded and smiled, “I already called Time’s offices; they are expecting you and very excited to see your work.” Alex grinned, “thanks Meg, you’re the best. I’ll see you later” Alex called over her shoulder and left the office in a hurry.

Megan watched the door close behind Alex and grinned broadly. “Oh Alex, if only you knew who you’re meeting face-to-face on Thursday … You’ll be the envy of millions of women the world over. I can’t wait to see your face …”

CHAPTER 3


Photography was in Alex’s blood. Her grandfather, Joseph Daly, was a photo-journalist during both the great wars and highly regarded as someone’s pictures that spoke louder than any words. When Alex was much younger, her grandfather Joe gave her a camera for her 10th birthday, and she was hooked. For the first couple of years, she messed around with the camera, taking pictures of everything and everyone. Her grandfather encouraged her to continue because he noticed that Alex had a natural eye for photographic composition. When she was 15, he thought she was old enough to show her the insider tips on taking a striking photo. She fell in love with her grandfather’s collection of black and white photo’s, and asked him endless questions about the difference between colour and black and white photos, and why certain photographers preferred them.

Sitting on the floor, photos spread around them, her grandfather picked up a photo and gave it to her, “what do you see when you look at this picture Lexie?” he asked and watched her closely. Alex studied the photo; it was a picture of a burnt-out army jeep still smouldering. There were some shrubs and blackened grass on the foreground. Alex looked at her granddad and told him what she saw. He nodded and handed her another picture; it was exactly the same as the previous one, but this one was black and white. Immediately, Alex sensed the huge difference between the two pictures, even though the one in her hand lacked colour. She could feel the desolation, the futility of the country’s civil war, dashed hopes of better days. She looked up and saw her grandfather watching her with a smile; he knew that she possessed that elusive ‘something’ that made a photographer exceptional. From that moment on, Alex knew that photography will become an integral part of her life; she wanted to take photos that will touch people, make them feel the emotion she wanted to get across.

When she finished school, she studied at a photography school and after she completed her studies, she worked with two of the world’s most acclaimed photographers for practical experience. They were hard masters, but Alex was equally determined to be one of the best. When she felt she was ready, she approached reputable news agents for work. It wasn’t easy; it was a male territory and she had to hear endless sexist jokes and remarks about it. She started at the bottom and worked her way to the top, proving to her superiors that she meant business; she was just as good, if not better, than many male photographers in the field. 5 Years ago, when she turned 27, she decided to open her own little office to work from. She was free-lancing and away from home a lot, and needed someone that could run the office in her absence. She found Megan quite by chance when she had coffee in the cafeteria of one of the newspapers she worked for regularly. Alex made her an offer, and Megan accepted immediately, wanting to do something different with her life.

Alex pulled herself from her reverie when Megan softly knocked on her open door, “just a reminder that your appointment with IE is in 15 minutes. Do you need anything for the meeting?” she wanted to know. Alex shook her head, “I think I have it covered thanks Meg. Let’s first see what they have planned for the photo shoot. I wonder who Josie Cliff’s mysterious boss is; she never mentioned his name.” Megan tried to maintain a calm exterior, but Alex noticed her nervous behaviour and narrowed her eyes, “you know who IE Music is don’t you Meg? The other day when I asked, you denied it, but I could see that you were not completely honest with me. Come on, out with it. Who is it? Do I know them? Are they famous?” Megan knew that she was in a corner and couldn’t think of anything to say. Should she tell Alex? Maybe she had a right to know, it is her client after all. She opened her mouth to answer, just when Alex’s mobile phone rang, giving her the necessary opportunity to escape from her office. Megan couldn’t wait for the visitors to arrive; she would love to see if Alex is as cool and calm under different circumstances.

“Alex, your appointment has arrived” Megan murmured demurely into the phone a few minutes later. “Thanks Meg, I’m on my way” she said and got up from behind her desk, and walked briskly to the reception area. Megan stood next to the two figures with a smile on her face, “this is Josie Cliff and Robbie Williams Alex.” Alex’s eyes couldn’t believe that Robert Williams, world famous star, was standing in her office. Her eyes quickly took in the dark blue jeans, white long-sleeved shirt and black leather jacket on his tall frame. ‘He looks much taller than on stage’ she thought quickly and managed a smile, “hi, I’m Alex Daly. Would you like to come through?” she asked, her voice sounding strong and confident.

For the first time in days, Josie saw a ghost of a smile creep around Rob’s mouth, and he stood up a little straighter. She suddenly wondered if Alex was involved with anyone. Maybe Rob needed a bit of a distraction, a pretty woman to restore his hurt pride. She caught Rob winking at her and shook her head slightly; this ought to be a very interesting meeting, she thought before they sat down in Alex’s office.

Alex quickly recovered from the momentarily uncertainty she experienced, and turned her attention to the 2 figures in front of her. “Ok … what exactly do you have in mind Mr. Williams? I believe from Josie that you want to do a photo shoot of some kind. I need to know what exactly you’re after and of course how much time you have available to do the shoot. I also have to know where you want the photos taken; location is most important.”

While she spoke, Rob watched her closely. Alex Daly was indeed a woman of substance; what you see, is mostly what you’d get. She had shoulder-length dark hair, and the most arresting eyes he’d ever seen; they were steely grey in colour and had a warmth that reached out and touched you. Her face was a little broad, with high cheekbones and a pert nose. He thought he saw a few freckles across her nose, but could be mistaken. He was drawn to her eyes repeatedly, and knew that it was probably her best facial feature; that and her mouth made for kissing. She wore the minimum make-up and it suited her perfectly. She wore a chain around her neck with a Saint Christopher medallion on it, and immediately Rob understood the meaning; St. Christopher is the patron saint for those that travel, and is said to keep the traveller safe from harm.

He sat up when he realised that she stopped talking. He looked at her and immediately started explaining his ideas for the shoot. He grabbed a pencil and paper lying on her desk, and began making rough sketches of what he had in mind. He warmed up to the subject, and went into greater detail. Alex was impressed. Her attention was completely focussed on what he was saying and putting down on paper. He certainly did his homework, and knew exactly what he wanted. The initial doubt melted away when she realised that what he suggested, was in fact a brilliant idea. A few minutes later, he downed the pencil, his striking green eyes intensely focussed on her, “there you have it. A bit rough perhaps, but that is what I want. Do you think you can do it? Do you have the time to do something like this? I realise it’s not your usual thing, but you came highly recommended.”

Alex looked at him and nodded, “I realise that you’re schedule must be hectic. When did you think of doing this?” Rob turned to Josie, “what’s my schedule like in 4 weeks from now Josie? I don’t recall anything important.” Josie quickly scanned Rob’s diary and nodded, “you’re right, you’re a free agent for about 3 weeks before jetting off to Sweden for the MTV Europe music awards.” He smiled, “the end of July it is then. Are you free then?” Alex nodded, “I haven’t been booked for anything. I will tell Megan to add it to my schedule.” She sat forward suddenly, “I think I have the perfect place for what you have in mind. Let me just investigate it a little more and I’ll let you know. If you have a specific place in mind, please let me know.” Rob nodded and got up, “I’ll leave it in your capable hands Alex. Here is my number” he said, and quickly scribbled on a piece of paper. She took the paper and placed it in her diary for safekeeping. “If the mobile is off, just leave a message and I’ll get back to you.” She nodded, “I’ll do that. Expect a call from me in a day or two; I don’t want to waste any time, there’d be loads to do.” Rob held out his hand, “it was great meeting you Alex. I hope we can work well together” he said and flashed a grin at her. Alex felt her tummy do a little flip-flop when he shook her hand, and was surprised at her reaction. She hardly ever allowed a famous person to intimidate or affect her; they were human just like her, she realised a long time ago.

She walked with them to the reception area and with a promise to call as soon as possible, Josie and Rob left her office quietly. Alex smiled and turned around to face Megan, “that, dear Meg was very interesting meeting Robert Williams face to face” she said and watched the other woman’s face. Megan grinned, “I’m sure it was. And I couldn’t tell you that he was part of IE Music because I thought you’d be freaked out or something.” When Alex looked at her questioningly, Megan continued; “I know how you feel about celebs Alex, especially the ones thinking they’re God’s gift to human kind. I wasn’t too sure about Rob though; there’s so much crap written about him that you don’t know what is true anymore.” Alex smiled and nodded, “it’s ok Meg, I understand. But I must admit, Mr. Williams looks like a pretty decent bloke. He’s bloody brilliant in his ideas though; kudu’s to the man for thinking things through thoroughly.”

Megan watched Alex as she spoke and smiled, “so is he one of your clients then Alex?” she asked, excitement evident in her voice. Alex nodded, “yes Meg he is. I think it’s going to be a very interesting collaboration, and I am excited about it. Oh before I forget, pencil it in my schedule for the first 2 weeks in September.” She started walking back to her office and stopped, “and Meg? Not a word to anyone about this. If I read about this in the papers …” Megan looked at Alex aghast, “I’d never do that Alex, you should know me by now!” She sounded hurt and Alex immediately regretted her words. She sighed, “I know you won’t say anything deliberately Meg, but sometimes we get carried away and say things that shouldn’t be mentioned. All I’m saying is please be careful; we can’t afford this to land up in the tabloids. It will cause major speculation and I’d rather not find out if Mr. Williams is still a decent guy when the shit hits the fan.”

CHAPTER 4


Rob gave Alex the go-ahead for her choice of location. When she contacted him a few days later and suggested the location, he was excited about her choice and told her that she knew best. She knew exactly what he was aiming for, and finding the right location, was her responsibility. Megan took care of all the bookings and arrangements and made sure that nothing was left to chance. She looked at Alex with a smile, “Alex, are you sure this is work and not a holiday? Look at these pictures … I would give anything to go there … just to be away from everything for a few days.” Her voice had a tinge of envy and Alex understood exactly what she meant. She shook her head, “unfortunately it is for work Meg. I’d probably be so busy that I won’t have time to see much anyway.” Megan looked at her boss and smiled cheekily, “at least you get to spend the time with one of the world’s sexiest men, working or not. I wish I was in your shoes.” Alex looked at her with a grin, “sexy he may be, but I believe that he can be a piece of work given the circumstances. But I’m a professional and I won’t allow my personal prejudice to colour my judgements.” Megan looked at her attentively, “don’t you like him Alex? You said yourself that he seems a decent bloke …” Alex shrugged, “at this stage I can’t say that I like or dislike him; I do not know him at all. All I know of him is the bits and pieces from what I’ve read and heard from others. And we all know how much people like adding their own bit on. So … to answer your question, let’s see if Mr. Williams will allow me a glimpse behind the mask, and let me see the real person that’s in hiding.”

Alex was due to meet Rob at Heathrow airport an hour before they were to leave. He insisted they used his private jet; it would make travelling less complicated and they could use the time to go through the finer details of the project again. One of his bodyguards met her in the underground parking, and escorted her to where the rest of them were waiting in a private lounge. “Morning Alex” Rob greeted her with a faint smile, and got up from his chair. She smiled back at him, “morning. Are you ready for your venture?” He nodded, “yeah, I’m actually looking forward to it. I think it’s gonna be fucking great!” Alex was used to crude language and didn’t flinch at Rob’s words. She nodded, “I think so too. I’m gonna get myself a coffee; do you want one?” He nodded, “come on, I’ll walk with you” and led her to the counter of a café in the corner.

Josie was going with for a few days just to oversee all the arrangements and make sure that Rob was comfortable. She watched Rob and Alex walk away and suppressed a small smile; she would bet her month’s salary that there was something cooking in Rob’s mind. Since the meeting with Alex Daly 2 weeks earlier, he seemed a little more interested in life around him. He didn’t spend quite as much time brooding or playing computer games, and gave all his time and energy to the new project he initiated. She was glad to see him like this; it’s so much better knowing that Rob wasn’t locked away into the dark recesses of his mind. He had something to look forward to, and it showed; he was in a better mood and frame of mind since Lucy decided to walk out of his life.

They left a wet and windy London behind, and were on their way to sunny Italy. When Alex called a friend regarding the rental of an ancient farmhouse in Chianti, Tuscany, she knew that it would be the perfect place for Rob’s photo shoot. She’d been there before, and the estate was called ‘Casa al Prato’ and situated in the small village of Lamole, and were surrounded by vineyards and forests close-by. The farmhouse was restored a few years ago by the owners, but they retained the old ancient ‘feel’ of the house. Most of the original stonework was preserved, as well as a stone staircase that leads to the garden from the first floor. The living room sported wooden beamed ceilings, stone architrave and a fireplace dating back to the 16th century. From there, you enter the large and spacious kitchen with a fireplace and antique furniture. A private room is down the passage from the kitchen, and has a double bedroom with a private bath and a wooden staircase that ascends to the top floor and occupies a smaller private bedroom with a private shower.

In front of the house, is a small rustic alcove containing a genuine and perfectly functional wood oven that the owners use to bake their bread. ‘Casa al Prato’ combines the ancient with the modern comforts to provide real tranquillity. The house has central heating for the cold winters, a telephone, television and a small library that mainly stocks books on Chianti and Tuscany. The house has two private gardens; one in the back and one in the front, and is perfect for meals outside, especially during the hot summer months. From any angle on the property, you could see for miles in each direction, beckoning you to come closer and explore.

When Alex wanted to show Rob what ‘Casa al Prato’ looked liked, he refused. “I don’t wanna know, just surprise me. From your description, it sounds like the perfect place. I’ll be patient.” His answer surprised Alex; if she was in his shoes, she’d wanted to know where she was going. She watched him as he interacted with the others on board, and noted the mutual respect between employer and employee. Alex and Josie chatted mostly about the final arrangements, and Alex liked her immediately. Josie had tremendous strength and endurance working for Rob, and Alex sensed a friendly bond between them. She realised that Josie ran Rob’s life; almost every hour of his professional and sometimes personal life, was arranged by Josie.

Rob watched the 2 women as they chatted, and noticed the easy rapport between them. He couldn’t believe that Alex was the same woman he met 2 weeks previously. She was more at ease and relaxed now, and noticed the way her hands emphasised something she said. Her hair was loose and partially hid her face when she bent down. Rob wondered what her hair would feel like if he touched it … or how she would look lying down, her hair spread like a fan on a pillow next to him … He became aware of eyes watching him, and when he looked slightly to the left, he saw Josie watching him with a smile. He managed to keep his face unreadable, but somehow suspected that Josie already knew his mind was in the gutter. He cleared his throat nervously and looked at Alex, “if you have a minute, I would like to add a twist to the project.” When he saw the look of alarm on Alex’s face, he smiled and held up his hand, “no, don’t worry. It’s not what you think. I was just thinking … maybe we could use …” and went into a quick explanation to allow Alex to understand his idea. When he finished 5 minutes later, she shook her head and smiled, “you amaze me Rob. That will work very well; the more personal the better, and the bigger the impact.” He sat back, pleased with her praise, and knew that he was venturing into something he’d never done before. The idea came to him one morning when he couldn’t sleep, and he was watching a black and white movie on TV. He started investigating the possibility and was amazed that the idea was met with so much approval. When Tim and David heard about the idea, they were brimming with enthusiasm and urged Rob to not give up on the idea.

He looked out the window as the jet slowly descended and couldn’t help wondering what the next few days are going to hold for him. Would he be able to realise his idea without too many interruptions and trouble? Would he see this through and not want to give up after a bad day? And most importantly of all; how would he and Alex get along? Alex with the hauntingly beautiful grey eyes that invited you closer and then kept you at a distance.

CHAPTER 5

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When they finally arrived at Casa al Prato, Rob couldn’t believe his eyes. The farmhouse stood majestic against a little hill, overlooking nearby vineyards and properties, stretching on and on as far as the eye could see. He turned to Alex, “you did an amazing job, this is fucking ace! I love it!” He walked around the farmhouse, stopped often to look at something and shook his head in amazement. It felt like someone has picked him up and deposited him into this little peace of heaven. He looked at Alex and Josie and grinned broadly, giving them thumbs up. Alex turned to Josie, “I gather that he approves then” she said dryly and took her baggage and carried it inside. Josie followed her inside, leaving Rob outside, still admiring the view.

The section where they were staying was completely separate from the main farmhouse. The owners were away for the duration of their stay and only the gardener, housekeeper and cook were in residence. After unpacking and freshening up, they gathered outside in one of the private gardens to enjoy something cold to drink. They talked about the house and how beautifully it was restored, as well as the wonderful atmosphere around them. Josie looked around and sighed, “if only I had the money, I would buy a place like this one. I can see myself lazing around doing as little as possible.” Rob looked at Josie and winked, “this will be too quiet for you Josie, you’re used to the hustle and bustle of the cities.” She looked at him and slowly shook her head, “I can think of nowhere better to bring up children and settle down” she said, taking a sip of her drink. Rob was startled, “are you and what’s-his-name thinking of having kids then?” he asked worriedly. “We’ve talked about it, but it wouldn’t be right now if that’s what you’re worried about. Maybe in another 5 years or so … I’m not getting any younger you know, and I would prefer to have kids while I’m still young enough to enjoy them.”

The thought that Josie might want kids one day never crossed Rob’s mind before. He always took it for granted that she would, like the rest of his staff, always be there with him. The thought of Josie not being around to organise his life, scared him suddenly; what would he possibly do without her? As if reading his mind, Josie touched his arm lightly, “It would probably a few years from now Rob; you know I’d never leave you in the lurch.” He smiled at her words, but felt guilty taking for granted that his staff do not have private lives of their own. He realised that it was something he definitely had to think about … but not now. Now they were in one of the most beautiful places in Europe, and he intended to make the stay as memorable as possible.

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“It’s beautiful innit?” Rob asked Alex, standing on the patio, looking at the neighbouring estate from afar. She nodded slowly, “it sure is. I can appreciate why people want to settle here … it’s so far removed from the world; it forces you to slow down and really look around you.” He nodded and understood what she was saying. “What do you suppose they’re growing?” he asked curiously. She smiled, “its most probably grapes and olives. Chianti is the wine district of these parts you know. It’s a very interesting process I believe, but requires a lot at patience and attention to detail.” He became aware of her perfume; a lovely fresh fragrance with a hint of vanilla, and thought how well it suited her. He turned to her, “when do we start working?” She looked at him, “I will have a look around tomorrow for possible locations. I have already chosen a few for late afternoon shots; we don’t want to take all the photos in the morning; lighting is very important to capture a special moment.” He grinned and put up his hands, “you’re the boss. What time are you having a look around tomorrow? Mind if I tag along?” She shook her head, “actually, I was going to suggest that you come with. You have to be comfortable with the location as well. We could have the most beautiful spot, but if you’re not at one with the place, it’s gonna show in the photos. I would like to make it as painless as possible for you.” He nodded, “so what we’re gonna do is to take photos at any time during the day for certain effects?” Alex nodded, “yes. I was thinking we could do one or two shots in the early morning when the mist is still hanging over the place, giving it this eerie, but lonely feeling.”

Rob was mesmerised by Alex and her presence. There was something about her that intrigued him. It was not the usual instantaneous attraction of a pretty face or a big bust; this was something subtle, something that he couldn’t quite touch or name. It was an elusive ‘something’ that was just beyond his reach, and for exactly that reason, made it so irresistible for him. As far as he’d noticed, Alex didn’t indicate that she found him attractive or sexy; her interest was purely on an artistic level. The thought amused him somewhat; he had yet to meet a woman that didn’t succumb to his charm. Another thought struck him … unless … she’s involved or engaged. He didn’t notice any rings on her fingers or heard her mention a man in her life, but knew that didn’t mean a thing. She might very well have someone in her life, and just choose not to talk about her private affairs.

The sound of her ringing mobile brought Alex back to earth. She was slightly annoyed at being disturbed, but smiled when she saw the caller ID. “Jake! How are you?” she asked, excitement in her voice. She listened for a few moments and laughed at something he said. “No, no I’m still alive thank you, just busy. Did ‘Time’ tell you when the article is going to feature?” She looked at Rob, shrugged her shoulders and mouthed ‘sorry, won’t be long.’ He nodded and tried not to listen to the conversation, focussing his attention on the landscape in front of him. She laughed, “Jake you’re terrible! Hope they survived the snub.” She frowned as she listened and turned around, “I’m sorry Jake, won’t be able to go with you. I’m on assignment; didn’t Meg tell you? No, I’m in Tuscany for a photo shoot.” Rob’s curiosity was piqued and he stepped closer. “I’ll be back by the end of next week. If you’re in town, why don’t we go for coffee or something? That’s great. Enjoy the trip and see you soon.”

There was a soft smile on her lips when she ended the call. She looked at Rob, “sorry about that. I had to take the call.” Rob nodded, “an admirer?” he asked casually and sneaked a look at her face. She shook her head, “God no, that was Jake Adams; a good friend of mine. We sometimes do assignments together – he writes and I take the pictures. That’s why he called, he wanted to know if I could go with him to Kenya for the migration of the lions in the Serengeti.” She walked back to her seat and picked up her bag, “if you’ll excuse me, there are still a few things I’d like to do before nightfall. I’ll see you in a little while.” She turned around with a smile and walked away, softly humming under her breath.

Rob watched her retreat through the big wooden doors of the house, and felt a pang of disappointment. If he had to be honest, the phone call from her friend Jake, changed Alex into someone he didn’t know. She was laughing and smiling; her face softened while she spoke to him and her eyes twinkled with merriment. He couldn’t understand the sudden feeling of slight jealousy over Jake. Alex was a photographer that was helping him with his project. She was there to do a job for which she gets paid for and nothing else. She wasn’t even interested in him, she showed that clearly enough. Rob sighed, put his hands in his pockets, ‘This is just fucking great innit?’ he said to no one in particular and suddenly wished that he was somewhere else.

CHAPTER 6


Alex was up early the next morning, and decided to have her coffee outside in the garden and watch the sun rise. It was quiet around her; everyone was still asleep and she cherished the few minutes she had all to herself. She stood at the edge of the garden, and overlooked the view in front of her; it was breathtakingly beautiful, and for a moment she could imagine herself being in another world. Mist was hanging over the lower laying areas; creating a picture of illusion and mystery, giving wings to the imagination.

Her thoughts turned to Rob. She wasn’t quite sure how to perceive him; he seemed to be an easy-going person, but she instinctively knew that there was much more to him than what meets the eye. She watched him a few times unnoticed, and tried to figure out what made him tick. Her knowledge of him was very skimpy, and she preferred to form her own opinion on people in general. She was a good analyser of people, and could quite easily get a ‘feel’ for a person. As a rule, she generally trusted her instinct, and so far, she hasn’t been proven wrong. An interesting man Rob certainly were, and she wondered what it would be like to spend some time with him alone, talking, and discovering his thoughts and ideas on certain issues.

“Makes one think of dragons and knights this mist innit?” a voice said behind her which she recognised immediately. She turned around and smiled, “I actually thought of fairies and elves, but I guess dragons and knights would be more appropriate.” He stood next to her, his hands cupped around a mug of coffee, “makes me want to saddle a horse and slay some dragons or something” he said, smiling at her. His face was transformed and Alex had a fleeting thought that he looked so carefree when he smiled. Together they admired the early morning view, content to be surrounded by a mutual understanding of the other’s thoughts.

Alex turned to face Rob, “are you ready for the excursion Mr. Williams?” He grinned, “Only if you drop the ‘mister’ Alex; call me Rob.” She nodded, “deal. When you’ve finished your coffee, we can leave. I would like to see what we can get before the sun is too high.” He nodded, “we can leave now if you like. I’m done.” “I’m going to fetch my camera, back in a minute” Alex said and quickly walked back to her room.

They followed the gravel road in the front of the farmhouse, making small talk until they came to an open field. The stems of grass gently swayed in the wind, mixing with the slow-rising mist. Rob stuck out his hands and let his fingers touch the grass lightly, feeling the wetness of the dew touching his skin. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, and imagined that this place probably looked exactly the same hundreds of years ago. ‘God it feels good to be somewhere clean, somewhere uncluttered’ he thought to himself and enjoyed a few moments of solace, surrounded by nature. Alex watched his face as he stood there, oblivious to anything or anyone around him. She noticed the look on his face change to one of serenity, and could only imagine what he must feel at that moment. She stood completely still, not making a sound; wanting to give him a few precious minutes to himself.

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Alex left him standing, and walked a short distance away with her camera. She looked through the lens, wanting to take a few pictures to compare the difference in light. She aimed the lens towards a distant hill and took a few photos in quick succession. In her line of work, she has found that the vibrancy of colour can, at times, actually detract from the desired photographic effect. Subtle effects of texture and lightning that can be lost in colour photographs will stand out in black and white photography. It also gave a timelessness and mystery to otherwise rather ordinary pictures. Alex discovered that black and white photos emphasise the play of light and shadows without the distraction of colour. Because shadow and light play such a key role in the effect, two pictures of the same subject can create very different looks at different times of day. That is why she loved black and white photos; the mood achieved can be very powerful, and give photos a timeless and nostalgic feel.

She turned around and found that Rob was watching her, “are you having fun Ms. Daly?” he asked with a slight smile. She blushed, “I didn’t want to disturb you and thought I could take a few pics to test the light.” He walked towards her and stopped in front of her, “wanna show me?” he asked. She suddenly felt nervous in his presence; he was standing very close to her, and didn’t notice her slight hesitation. She indicated that he should stand next to her, and proceeded to show him what she’d captured. Rob looked at the display on the camera as she slowly showed him the few photos she took. He shook his head, “amazing” he said softly, and looked at her, “I’m gonna sound like a total idiot here, but I never knew that digital camera’s can take black and white pics.” She smiled, “don’t feel lonely; you’re definitely not the only one. Fortunately technology has advanced so quickly and made a photographer’s job so much easier. The up side of this is that I just plug the camera into my laptop, and download the pictures. The quality of the photographs is exactly the same as those taken with a conventional camera. Of course, a decent digital camera can set you back quite a few pounds, but it’s worth it.”

Rob watched her talk and saw her eyes come alive as she explained the finer details of her work to him. “Do you still take photos with a normal camera?” he asked, genuinely interested. She nodded, “oh yes I do. I still have the camera my grandfather bought me when I got my degree. It is my pride and joy and has been with me on many foreign trips. I still use it quite often, especially when I do local work. I hate to think what would happen if the camera had to be stolen; it’s got a lot of sentimental value for me.”

Rob nodded, “you know what is the weirdest of all?” Alex shook her head, and waited for him to continue. “Being photographed so often by thousands of people, and I don’t have a proper collection of pictures with my family and friends. I mean, me mom’s got photos of me when I was younger, but I don’t have any decent photos of myself with the people I care about.” Alex was surprised to hear his confession, and couldn’t imagine not having mementos of the people closest to her, to look at from time to time, and reminisce about times spent together. They started walking in no specific direction, at ease with one another. “Why not?” she asked softly, hoping that he would tell her. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, “I guess I hate the fact that my pictures are everywhere you look; magazine covers, the internet … Do you know how weird it feels to see your face plastered everywhere? Private moments that were stolen and contaminated by paparazzi for every fucking stranger to gawk over. I sometimes look at pictures of myself and feel sadness. The person people see in posed pics are not the real person; it’s acted to up the sales a little bit. It’s like getting into the skin of someone that is not real; it’s the pretending of being someone or something you’re not …” He fell silent and she heard the slight anguish in his voice.

Alex felt sudden compassion for the man next to her; he was a human being first and foremost, a fact that some people seem to forget in the chase after fast cash and the violation of someone’s privacy. She couldn’t imagine the mental anguish he must go through as well as the crippling pressure to give of himself. For the first time, she got a very small glimpse into Rob’s world, and what she perceived was that it was definitely not a world for the faint-hearted. In his harsh world only the brave and the strong survived, and will leave the battle scars to prove it.

Impulsively, she hooked her arm through his. When he looked at her questioningly, she smiled at him, “I promise not to intrude Rob. I will take extra care because believe it or not, I actually do give a shit and take pride in my work.” He didn’t answer her, just gently squeezed her arm, letting her know that he understood and knew that he could trust her. Together, they slowly walked back in the direction of the farmhouse, taking the first steps towards mutual understanding and respect.

CHAPTER 7


By the time Rob and Alex arrived back at the farmhouse, Josie and two bodyguards were having coffee in the kitchen. Josie grinned, “Jeez Rob, it’s strange to see you up and about this early!” Rob pulled a face at her, “very funny Josie” and walked to the stove where some coffee were brewing. He looked at Alex, “fancy a cup?” She nodded gratefully, “that would be super thanks. I’m just going to put the camera away” and walked in the direction of her room. Rob took a seat opposite Josie and smiled at her, “still enjoying country life Josie? Its different here, innit?” She nodded, “I’m loving it. I can’t tell you when last I felt so peaceful.”

Josie sat forward suddenly, “do you need me here much longer?” she asked, her face scrunched up. “Why do you ask?” She got up, “I had a call this morning; there seems to be a small problem with one of the aspects of this project.” He looked at her, his eyes full of questions, “nothing serious I hope.” Josie shook her head, “at least I can do something about it, but I need to fly back to London today.” Rob shrugged, “I’ll be fine. I think everything here is under control. If there’s a problem, I’ll call. Go do what you have to do.” She looked relieved, “are you sure? I can call and say …” He held up his hand, “I’m not made of glass ducky, I’ll survive.” She nodded, “thanks Rob. I’ve already called the airlines and there is a flight early afternoon; I can make it.” He smiled at her, “get packing then! Jerry can drive you to the airport.” It was times like these, when Rob was so generous, that made Josie realise that it was all worthwhile.

After Josie left, Alex and Rob spent most of the afternoon until early dusk out and about, testing the light of the different locations. She took a few photos of each location to study later when she had some time to go over the details at leisure. She just had a feeling that this project was going to be very special. She felt the usual excitement when she looked at the different shots on her camera, and could just imagine what the end result would be like.

Rob and Alex were sitting outside in the back garden, and watched as the sky changed colours. “It looks like someone had taken a multi-coloured brush and painted a few strokes at random” Alex commented, as she watched the setting sun. He nodded, “yeah, it’s fucking amazing really. Someone knew what they were doing when this was created.” Alex found his words surprising and knew that there’s a lot that she didn’t know about him. For a few moments, they were watching the beauty in silence, comfortable in each other’s company. Alex turned to Rob, “is your friend still arriving tomorrow?” He nodded, a sudden smile on his face, “yeah! I can’t wait to see the bugger again. It’s been too long … but our schedules are so hectic to get together on a regular basis. He’s always off somewhere to save the world.” Alex grinned, “I can’t wait to meet him. Of course I know of him from what I’ve read and seen. He seems to have this empathetic energy around him, and everywhere he goes, people respond to that. He’s done a lot of good though, and I admire that.” Rob nodded, “oh yeah, he certainly has. He’s helped me a lot during my wild years and I’ll never forget that. He looked past the obvious, and saw the scared boy inside; never hesitating to hold out his hand.” His voice was soft in the semi-darkness, and Alex suspected that he was transported back to a time in his life he’d rather forget.

She got up and rubbed her arms from the chill in the air, “come on, let’s go and see what Francesca has made for dinner; I’m starving!” He grinned at her and got up, “Good to hear that you’re not gonna deny yourself some decent food. Could never understand why women would starve themselves willingly.” Alex shook her head, “not this girl, I love food way too much!” They made their way to the cosy kitchen where they were met by a smiling Francesca, indicating that dinner was about to be served.

Rob, together with Alex, Jerry and Dave, sat around the kitchen table, enjoying grilled fish with a lemon butter sauce, fresh green salad and homemade Italian bread. The meal was relative simple, but it was prepared with care and the difference could be tasted. Rob called Francesca over and in limited English and lots of hand signals, indicated that the food was wonderful. When she finally understood, Francesca smiled broadly and said something in Italian. “She said you’re very welcome, and that she has also prepared desert” Alex said as she ate the last of her bread. “You speak Italian?” he asked surprised. She shrugged lightly, “with all the travels, I have picked up a few words here and there. I’ve never stayed in one place long enough to learn the language properly, but I can help myself now and again.” He sat back and looked at her, “not just a pretty face then” he remarked dryly and popped a last piece of buttered bread into his mouth. Alex blushed lightly and avoided his eyes, suddenly very interested by the intricate patterns on the table cloth.

She was saved by the timely arrival of desert, proudly placed in front of them by a beaming Francesca. “What is this?” Rob asked, as he inspected his plate closely. Dave laughed at him, “it’s called tiramisu Rob, and is probably the most favourite Italian desert.” Rob took his spoon and tentatively scooped up a small piece of the desert, “I won’t gag will I?” he asked and looked at Alex. She had a bemused expression on her face and slowly shook her head, “you’re gonna love it, trust me on this.” He nodded and slowly put the piece of desert in his mouth. Everyone watched him closely, waiting for a reaction. His face suddenly broke into a smile of delight, “fucking ace! This is even better than sex!” Everyone around him burst our laughing, not believing what they just heard. Jerry shook his head, trying to control his laughter, “only you Rob. God, if your mother had to hear you now …” Rob laughed, “yeah, she’d probably clobber me one against the head with her spoon. I didn’t mean to be so vulgar, honest” he remarked and looked at Alex. She smiled slowly, “fortunately I’ve heard it all ... well … almost anyway. No offence taken Rob; as long as you’re enjoying it.” They spent a long time laughing, sharing funny antidotes about some of their experiences on their travels.

Alex sat back and watched the interaction between Rob and the two men hired to keep him safe. She was amazed by the easy-going atmosphere between them, and the mutual respect they showed the other. Alex wasn’t quite sure what she expected from Rob; he seemed to treat everyone not as mere employees and because of that, he showed what an exceptional human being he was. To say that she was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. She was quite happy just being in Rob’s company, allowing her to get a glimpse of the uncertain man hidden underneath the surface.

“Hey Alex, tell us about all the interesting places you visited during your travels” Rob said and got them some espresso Francesca made before she left. She smiled; “nothing as exciting as all the places you must’ve been to in your life” she said and took a sip of the strong coffee. “Don’t be coy now; there must be places you’ve been too that have touched you?” Rob asked and sat down, his eyes focussed on her. She looked around the table and saw all eyes on her; waiting for her share her experiences with them. “Ok then guys … if you find it boring, you were warned” she said and sat forward, suddenly eager to tell them about her experiences.

As Alex spoke, Rob looked at her face from time to time; he didn’t want to make it too obvious that he found her very attractive. He liked listening to her talk; her voice was melodious and made everything come alive for him. His mind began to wonder as he thought what her voice would sound like during the heat of passion, calling his name … ‘Oh fuck’ he thought as he felt his body’s response to his flights of fantasy. He tried to get his attention back to what she was saying, but found it difficult to concentrate on her words. Her lips were curled in a smile, and Rob had a sudden vision of capturing her lips with his, kissing her silly. Rob grew uncomfortable, and moved his chair to the side. In the process, his upper thigh touched hers slightly and he felt a surge of electricity shoot through him. “Sorry” he mumbled under his breath and sat still … or tried to at least. Alex was affecting him sitting so close, and Rob didn’t know if he should stick it out or excuse himself and leave. ‘Don’t’ be a chicken’ he berated himself silently, and tried to calm down. ‘Its gonna be a long night mate, a very long night indeed.’

Alex felt the quick touch from Rob’s leg against hers. She inhaled sharply and almost stumbled over her words, as she tried to remain calm on the surface. ‘Come on Alex, you’re not a kid anymore’ she thought, and didn’t dare look in Rob’s direction. She didn’t know why suddenly his closeness affected her so strongly. She had the impulse to press her leg against his, but didn’t have the guts to actually do it. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Rob seemed to be a million miles away, and wondered what he was thinking of. ‘You’re here to work girl’ she reminded herself silently, and felt the sudden disappointment settling over her.

After a few moments, she stretched and stood up, “ok boys, I don’t know about you, but I’m knackered. I think I’ll have an early night.” Rob looked at her sceptically, “it’s not even 10 yet Alex, what’s the rush?” She tried to smile, “I still have some work to do; tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I want to have a look at those shots I did today, see if they’re ok.” He nodded but didn’t comment, and for some reason Alex wanted him to convince her to stay, but he didn’t. Instead, he looked up at her, “have a good night then, I’ll see you in the morning.” She nodded and greeted Dave and Jerry before leaving the kitchen for the sanctuary of her room.

After a hot bath with aromatherapy oils, she felt calmer and also a bit sleepy. She stood in front of the mirror while she brushed her hair, looking at her image staring back at her. “What had you gotten yourself into Alex?” she asked her image and stopped the brushing. She sighed and took a step back. “You cannot afford to get involved here; the man has too much baggage” she whispered softly, seeing Rob’s face before her. She closed her eyes and shook her head, wanting to rid herself of the images of him in her mind; Rob smiling, Rob laughing, Rob teasing her gently … She groaned loudly, turned on her heels and unceremoniously fell down on top of the bed.

She laid there for a long time, letting her mind wonder; allowing herself to dream for a while. She felt her body relax and she surrendered to the languid feeling stealing over her. Her eyes were heavy and she felt sleep claim her, whisking her away. ‘Dreams are such good friends …’ she whispered softly against the pillow before shutting out the world and all it’s complications for a while.

CHAPTER 8

The house was a hive of activity the next morning. Alex disappeared after a quick cup of coffee, her camera in hand. When Rob entered the kitchen a short while later, he looked around, “where’s Alex this morning?” and gratefully took a cup of coffee that Francesca handed him. “She took off a few minutes ago, said something about getting everything ready before the shoot this afternoon” Jerry volunteered and continued eating his breakfast. “Did she say how long she’s gonna be?” he asked and sat down at the table. Dave shook his head, “all she said was that she’ll be back in a while.” Rob nodded absently and finished his coffee in a few long swallows, and wondered why Alex didn’t wait for him.

Alex walled to a few of the locations she had chosen and frowned a little; she still wasn’t sure what exactly Rob’s purpose was with the shoot. She usually get as much information as she could beforehand so that she could work out her shots. He only mentioned that he needed some photos taken and described a few of the emotions he wanted to get across, but more than that, Alex didn’t know. She decided to speak to Rob when she got back to the house; she wanted this photo shoot to be perfect.

She walked through the back door of the kitchen and placed her camera on the counter. “Morning everybody” she greeted and sat down opposite Rob, nursing another cup of coffee. “Where did you disappear to so early? I was looking for you” Rob said jokingly. “I had to make sure that I have my locations right for the shoot this afternoon after your friend arrives” she answered and looked at him with a smile. Rob’s breath caught in his throat; she looked beautiful this morning; she wore a lovely green shirt that complimented the grey of her eyes. Alex noted his slight hesitation and wondered what was on his mind. He looked up and caught her looking at him. There was a charge of electricity between them, and neither could break eye contact, spellbound by what they could read in the depths of the other’s eyes. Jerry and Dave chose this time to excuse themselves from the table, somehow sensing the change in air. Neither one noticed the two men leaving the room; they were caught up in another world altogether.

It was Alex that looked away first; she couldn’t look at him any longer before doing or saying something stupid. She cleared her throat and traced a pattern on the tablecloth with her finger, “I need to know exactly what you aim is with the photos Rob, in order for me to get the right image and emotion across.” Her voice faltered a bit towards the end, but she maintained her calm. When he didn’t answer, she looked at him and noticed him watching her. There it was again, Alex thought, that feeling of being sucked into an abyss … of drowning in the depths of his eyes. He seemed to come out of his reverie, and smiled a lopsided grin, “sorry, my mind was far away. To answer your question … the photos is for my CD I’m releasing shortly. I wanted the sleeve to be different this time … something more visual, something the fans can relate to for a change.”

Alex listened to him talk and got the idea that he wasn’t telling the truth; his little speech sounded rehearsed. She shrugged her shoulders, “why don’t I believe you?” she asked and got up to get some breakfast. Rob watched her movements and felt like a child caught out with a lie. The truth was that he didn’t want to give away too many details; he didn’t want any speculation on the net or the newspapers. The project was a first for him, and it was something that he really wanted to be a success; it was his baby and he wanted it to be perfect. “Fine, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s ok, I understand. It’s just that I want things to be perfect; no mistakes from my side. I want to ‘feel’ the pictures and location if you understand what I mean.” He nodded, “I hear you Alex. Ok, let me be a bit more specific then. I want photos that will reflect most of the human emotions; joy, peace, melancholy, sadness, loneliness, hope, love … that is what I’d like to capture in a picture. Think you can do it?” he asked, holding his thumbs under the table for good luck. Alex nodded slowly, “yes, I think I’ll manage. Fortunately we have a few days’ grace; we could always re-shoot some of the shots if you’re not happy.” He grinned relieved, “you got yourself a deal! I think we’re gonna work well together Alex.”

The rest of the morning flew by quickly. Alex was outside in the garden, going through her schedule, when she heard the barking of the Cesare, the golden retriever of the owners, announcing the arrival of visitors. ‘Must be Rob’s friend’ she thought and packed her things away, suddenly nervous at the prospect of meeting the friend. She could never mistake the figure that walked with Rob through the door on their way to where she sat. He was a little shorter than Rob by a few inches, with dark brown hair that he combed back. His face had a few days’ stubble, speckled with a little grey here and there. His trademark tinted sunglasses hid his eyes from the sun, and Alex felt the butterflies in her stomach; heightened the feeling of anticipation.

He took off his sunglasses and smiled at Alex as Rob introduced them, “Bono, this is Alex Daly, the renowned photographer that is going to make us look good! Alex, I’m sure you know who this is” Rob said with a smile, the excitement evident in his voice. For a fleeting second Alex didn’t know what to say, but then calmness set in and she took Bono’s outstretched hand, “it’s a pleasure meeting you sir” she managed to say. He threw his head back and laughed, still holding her hand in his. “Please Alex! Don’t call me sir; that makes me feel so old! My name is Paul, or if you prefer, Bono. A pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you young lady.” Alex blushed, “I hope it’s all good” she said, trying to recover her pose. He held her hand in both of his, and looked into her eyes, “you are doing amazing work. I mean that. I’ve seen a lot of your photos in different publications, and your work impresses me. You have a wonderful gift of letting a picture touch one’s soul, speak to you in a way no words can.” Alex didn’t know what to say; Bono’s words echoed in her ears but she couldn’t believe that he was praising her work.

They sat down at the garden table where Francesca brought them some refreshments. After everyone had something to drink, the conversation quickly turned into a bit of a gossip session when Rob and Bono exchanged titbits of well-known people. “Ol’e Henry is thinking of having a huge bash on New Years’ Eve at his castle; wants to invite some big names to perform” Bono remarked with a smile. “Ah Henry …” Rob said with nostalgia, “one of my favourite places to perform, Slane Castle. There’s something huge about the place, and I don’t mean the size.” Bono nodded, “yeah, Slane is amazing. Our concert back in 2001 was absolutely magic. The Irish are special people; a breed on their own.”

Alex took a backseat in the conversation, quite content to listen and observe. She used this time to read the two men together, seeing first-hand the close bond between them. Even though they didn’t see each other often, the good friendship between them was evident. Alex felt the excitement rush through her veins; she just knew that the next few days were going to be magic. The things that were going to happen there, was going to affect them all; none of them would ever be the same

CHAPTER 9


Over a cold lunch, they discussed the project in greater detail and Rob explained to Bono his concept for the photos. He nodded, seemingly impressed, “didn’t know you were recording Rob, I thought you’ve taken a hiatus from the studio for a while” Bono remarked perplexed. Rob’s face changed colour and Alex didn’t miss that; she knew that he was up to something totally different. She was burning to find out, but knew that she would never nag; she’d wait patiently, sooner or later Rob will reveal his true motives.

They walked along the gravel road at an easy pace, chatting amongst themselves. Alex suggested that they showed Bono the places they had in mind, and also wanted to hear if he had any other suggestions. Bono looked around and admired the landscape; “I think Ali and myself should buy a house here” he remarked seriously. “This is a place you’d come to, get away from it all and get your head straight.” Rob nodded his agreement, “yeah, it’s beautiful. Restores one’s faith innit?” he said softly and smiled. They walked in silence, accompanied by the rustling of the wind in the grass, gently swinging to and fro.

Bono was impressed with their ideas and said jokingly, “don’t know why you wanted my ideas!” Rob grinned, “Because you’re my mate and I value your opinion.” Bono didn’t comment on that remark; somehow sensing that it was not necessary. He understood where Rob came from, and he could see the person so desperately trying to break free from his self-imposed chains. He recalled, fleetingly, the times when Rob was still firmly in the clutches of addiction, and how he tried to be there for him in some way. Someone once asked him why he was so concerned about Rob, and why he always looked out for him. He turned to this person and said simply, “Because it could’ve been me.” He was proud of Rob; he’d come a long way and he was sure that he would one day get to where he wants to be; all the monsters laid to rest.

The arrived at a place with rolling hills in the background, and Alex saw this as an ideal place to take a few trial pictures of Rob and Bono. “Guys, would you mind very much if I take a few pics? Just trying out a few ideas here” she said and started adjusting the camera. Bono looked at Rob with a mischievous grin and winked at Alex, “with such a pretty lady asking so nicely? What do you say Rob, shall we indulge her?” Rob caught on quickly and gave his friend a mock frown, “dunno mate … we are famous and everything … maybe she should pay us don’t you think?” When the men saw the look of surprise on Alex’s face, they burst out laughing, “gotcha!” Rob said and watched her blush in embarrassment. She had to admit, she didn’t know if they were serious or not, but she was relieved that they both had a good sense of humour. Bono looked at Alex, “do you want us to pose or anything?” he asked. She shook her head, “no, these photos are informal, pretend I’m not here.”

Alex was immediately into a zone when it came to her work. Everything else faded away, and she focussed on the two men through the lens of her camera. Bono was walking with his hands folded behind his back, his body bent slightly forward as he listened to what Rob was saying. Rob told him something funny judging by his facial expression and Alex released the shutter and caught the moment perfectly; a side profile of his face and a half smile on his lips. Bono looked at Rob and threw his head back in laughter and once again Alex captured the moment on film. The men seemed oblivious to her presence and she was grateful for that; she hated taking pictures of people if they were acutely aware of her presence. After taking a few more photos, she decided that it was enough and joined them, walking back home at a leisurely pace.

They spent the rest of the afternoon outside in the garden, and Bono asked Alex about her work and the places she visited. She found him easy to talk to, and after a while she forgot that he was a world famous rock star. He was genuinely interested and asked her in-depth questions, and discovered that Alex had been to a few places he visited. Rob was comfortable listening to the two of them talking, and made a comment now and then about something. He couldn’t believe how relaxed he felt; at peace for a little while, away from everything. He was glad Alex and Bono got on well together; it was important to him, especially where his project was concerned. He watched them talk and noticed the way Alex would tuck a string of hair behind her ear. Her hands were beautiful; the fingers were long and elegant and her nails trimmed short with a hint of pinkish nail polish. She wore a silver ring with intricate patterns, on her middle finger on her right hand, and he’d often wonder about the person who gave her the ring.

He was pulled from his reverie when he heard Bono asking him a question. “Sorry mate, been thinking about something else” he said sheepishly and avoided looking at Alex, afraid she might sense what he was thinking. Bono grunted, “You were so deep under, I thought we’d have to fish you out. I hope she was worth it.” Rob’s head snapped up at hearing the last words, and saw that his friend watch him with a sly grin. He knew then that the other man suspected who he was daydreaming about. Rob decided to change the subject, “I wonder what Francesca’s making for dinner?” he wondered out loud. Alex smiled at him, “she’s not making anything; it’s her evening off.” “Oh fuck, what are we gonna do now? And the closest take-out is probably miles away.” He looked at Alex and Bono and they started giggling at him, “what’s so funny? We’re gonna go to bed hungry!” Bono got up and smiled, “not to worry Rob, I’ll make dinner tonight. Consider it my act of goodwill.” Rob looked at him sceptically, “you can cook? Jesus, what else are you hiding mate?” The other man laughed, “I’m a man of many talents my friend,” he said and smiled, “Ali made sure I can look after myself and the kids when she’s away from home.” The laughing trio made their way to the kitchen, and Alex was amazed how quickly they all connected with each other. They were three very different people, and yet they were all the same. She was very lucky indeed; she had the honour of spending quality time with two of the most amazing human being she’d ever hoped to meet. She smiled to herself and knew that very selfdom do one meet people that will broaden your horizons beyond one’s wildest expectations, and with that, comes the gift of realising your limitless potential.

CHAPTER 10


Bono had Alex and Rob in stitches of laughter with his impersonation of the famous British chef, Jamie Oliver. He spoke with a lisp too and added authentication to the whole persona. He found an apron behind the door and tied it behind his back, “got to look the part you know” he said and grinned at Rob. “Mmmm … let me see what I can cook.” After a moment he smiled, “I think we’ll have pasta, and you Rob, can help me with the sauce. Alex will keep us company and be in charge of refreshments.” Rob looked at Bono, “I don’t really eat pasta mate; hadn’t eaten it in years.” His friend looked at him, “well Rob, then you have a slight problem. That’s all I can make that’s quick and easy; your choice.” Rob sighed dramatically, “Well, I guess I will force myself B, that gifted-horse-in-the-mouth story you know.” Bono grinned, “Beggars can’t be choosers mate. And try to relax, I’m pretty good at this; even Ali said so.” Rob mumbled, “I’m sure she just said that to keep the peace and you out of her hair.”

“Hang on!” Bono called suddenly before he started cooking, “I’ll be right back!” and disappeared through the kitchen door. Alex looked at Rob questioningly but Rob shrugged his shoulders, “don’t look at me, I have no idea what he’s up to. He gets these weird urges from time to time.” Before Alex could make a comment, Bono was back in the kitchen, smiling triumphantly. “Look what I found!” and held up a bottle of red wine from the cellars. “You’re not gonna have that are you?” Rob asked worriedly. Bono shook his head, “no, Alex and I are going to share. Would you mind?” he asked and looked at Rob. He shook his head, “you go ahead, I’ll stick to juice or espresso thanks.” Bono handed the bottle of wine to Alex, “you open it and pour us a glass please.” He turned around and busied himself in front of the stove. Alex looked a Rob, not sure if she should go ahead. He nodded at her and smiled, “Its ok” he mouthed. “Are you sure?” she whispered back, feeling like a conspirer. He have her a thumbs up and walked to the fridge to get him some juice.

“Now Rob, be careful with that knife, you don’t want to mutilate the vegetables” Bono said in a fatherly voice and showed him what to do. Alex watched from her seat at the table, shaking her head at the antics of the men. Rob quickly got the hang of things, and soon enough bragged about how good he was in the kitchen. Bono looked at him and smiled, “knew you could do this. Now that was easy wasn’t it?” The men shared some stories with Alex of being on tour and what they got up to. She found their working lives fascinating, and couldn’t hear enough. She asked questions, and they happily answered her, confiding in her how lonely it could get even surrounded by lots of people.

The next moment Bono started singing a song Alex wasn’t familiar with, and Rob fell in quickly. They looked happy and content, not a care in the world. Alex listened to the two voices, singing in harmony. Bono’s voice was a little gruff, and with Rob’s voice, they sang beautifully, sweeping her away to faraway places. The emotion in their voices was clearly audible, and Alex could feel the words, understand what they wanted to say without explaining. When they were finished, there were a few moments of silence before Alex spoke, “that was … wow … I have no words. It was … amazing! Why haven’t you guys recorded a song together?” she asked curiously. Rob grinned, “I dunno really. It would be fucking ace if we could. Bono should just write us a good song.” The other man nodded, “I think that is an idea we could explore. Maybe we can record a song for charity or something.” Alex smiled, knowing that she was in the presence of greatness, even if they didn’t realise it. And that is what she liked about both Bono and Rob; they had no airs and graces, their feet were firmly rooted on mother earth.

Alex set the table, and a few minutes later dinner was served. “This looks great” she commented, inhaling the aroma of the food. “You wouldn’t get indigestion in case you’re wondering” Bono said dryly and took his seat opposite her. She nodded and looked at Rob, curious to see if he was going to eat the food. “Thanks for dinner mate, this looks ace” he said and started eating. He nodded his head in appreciation after the first mouthful, “this is really good B, thank Ali for me; she taught you well.” He ducked just in time as the dishcloth came flying his way. “Cheeky sod!” Bono said laughingly and started eating. “You got to give me the recipe before you go” Alex said and took another bite of her food, “this is delicious.” Bono nodded and smiled, “I’m so glad I could make two people happy today. I do try and make a difference” he said teasingly and tucked in.

After dinner and washing up, Alex made them coffee and they decided to stay in the kitchen. It was warm and cosy there; it started raining earlier and there was a slight chill in the air. They talked about Rob’s project, but the exact reason was avoided very diplomatically by the man himself. The conversation changed direction, and they talked about something that was close to Bono’s heart; Africa. He spoke about the harrowing and poverty stricken conditions the people lived in, and still they never complained. He explained that he wanted to visit a few villages in Kenya where they implemented running water to the far-flung villages and he hoped to introduce it to other African countries.

Alex was spellbound by Bono’s words. She’d been to Africa on two previous occasions, and found the continent and its people fascinating her to no end. She always wanted to go back to explore it further as a tourist, take her time and get to know the people. “When are you going?” Rob asked, interested. Bono shrugged, “not too sure at this stage, but definitely before the end of this year” he answered, looking at Alex suddenly, “say … would you like to come with? You could take the photos.” She was flabbergasted and couldn’t think of anything to say. “Me?” she asked nervously. He nodded enthusiastically, “yes! I think it’d be perfect. ‘National Geographic’s doing an article on it in; highlighting the plight of under-developed countries with the UN, and they asked me to go. Say yes Alex!” She smiled and looked at him, noting his eyes shining brightly. “As far as I know I don’t have any assignments planned for the next few weeks. That of course, can change in a heartbeat. Tell you what though, when we get back home, you send me the info as well as the date you plan to go, and I can see if my schedule is clear.” He lifted his coffee cup and touched hers lightly; “to great adventures and doing good for the less fortunate” he said and smiled at her.

It was much later when Alex noticed the time, “my God, it’s after eleven already! So much for an early night” she said and got up. She put her empty cup in the sink and looked at them, “thanks for dinner Bono, it was great. I’ll see you guys early tomorrow morning.” The two men wished her a good night and watched her leave.

Bono turned to Rob, “so … she’s the one that interferes with your breathing every now and then.” Rob didn’t even try and deny it. He nodded his head, and when he looked up, his friend’s eyes were on him. “So what’s stopping you? Have you told her how you feel?” Bono asked, his voice soft but urgent. Rob sighed, “No I haven’t mate. You’re gonna laugh at me, but I’m scared.” Bono looked at him, his eyebrows raised. Rob looked down, suddenly shy, “that’s a laugh innit? Me, Rob Williams from Stoke, famous pop star … too scared to ask a woman on a date. I must be daft or something” he mumbled under his breath. “Ah ha” Bono said, “That only proves one point.” Rob looked at him, “and what point is that? That I’m delusional or stupid, or both?” Bono sighed and lowered his voice, “For someone as intelligent as you are, you can be such a bonehead at times! The point I’m trying to make is that you feel scared asking Alex because you actually give a shit if she says yes or no.” Rob looked at his friend, dumbfounded that he’d the nail on the head. “So what do I do now?” Rob asked, his voice in a whisper too. Bono bent forward slightly until his face was close to Rob’s, “you get your courage together and you talk to her, tell her how you feel. It’s all about communication. Talk to each other.” Rob looked at him and started saying something, “but what if …” Bono shook his head and interrupted him, “fuck the ‘what ifs’ Rob. Are you willing to take a chance or do you let it pass you by, again? You decide.”

CHAPTER 11

Despite being very sleepy, Alex couldn’t sleep. Her brain was way too active; images of what happened during the day kept running through her mind. Bits and pieces of conversation, flashes of images that made her smile … the figures of both larger-than-life men prominent in her face. She sighed and turned the pillows around and tried to get comfortable. She listened as the house grew silent, Rob and Bono gone to bed a few minutes earlier. She smiled in the darkness as she thought of Rob; he kept on surprising her with glimpses of the man he was, and she was grateful to him for opening up. She could see what a strong bond there was between Rob and Bono, and she found it refreshing that such well-known people could still find a common thread they could share. She admitted to herself that Bono impressed her beyond her expectations; he truly was a gifted and genuine man, wanting to make a real difference in the world.

She thought about his offer to go with him to Kenya, and she felt excitement well up in her. She would love to go on an assignment with him and learn more about his work as a humanitarian. She was honoured that he asked her, and decided to seriously consider his offer.

She glimpsed at the clock and saw that it was after 1.00am. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep; tomorrow was going to be a long day. She relaxed her body and felt sleep slowly steal over her, carry her away to oblivion for a few hours. She heard a noise in the bedroom beneath hers where Rob slept. She remained silent and waited to hear if everything was ok. She waited a few seconds, and when there was no sound, she relaxed against the pillows.

Rob couldn’t sleep either. After his and Bono’s conversation, he was positive that he would walk up to Alex the next day, and tell her how he felt. But the more he thought about it, the more urgent the feeling was to tell her immediately before his courage deserted him. He got out of bed a few times and walked to the stairway that would take him to her room. But something seem to stop him. As soon as he put his foot on the first step, he had second thoughts. He ran his rehearsed speech through his mind silently, improving on the contents as he went along. Frustrated after a few false starts, he swore under his breath, “This is fucking ridiculous! I’m going upstairs to her room right now’ he said softly and before he could think twice, he quickly climbed up the stairs; his steps sure and confident.

“Alex? Are you asleep?” he whispered urgently when he reached the top of the stairs. It was silent around him, and he could hear her breathing. “Alex?” he whispered again, this time a little louder. There was a stirring in her bed and she turned around, “Rob? Is that you? Is there anything wrong?” she asked softly and sat up. He shook his head and tip-toed to her bed, and sat down on the edge, “did I wake you?” he asked softly. She drew up her knees against her chest and shook her head, “no, I have trouble falling asleep tonight for some reason. But why are you still up? What’s your excuse?” He looked down at his hands and felt his breath quicken; it was now or never, he thought, and prayed that he was doing the right thing. “Alex, the thing is this … I … um …” She looked at him and didn’t know what to expect, “spit it our Rob, what is it?” she whispered urgently, looking in his direction.

There was pale moonlight shining into her room, and she could only make out Rob’s silhouette on her bed. He looked nervous and she couldn’t think what it was he wanted to tell her. Suddenly, he sat up straighter and turned to her, his eyes on her face. “I really like you Alex, I think you’re ace. You’re someone that I’ve never met before; someone strong and you’re a good and unselfish character. I’d really like to get to know you better, start at the beginning you know … go on dates and see where things go. What do you say?” Whatever it was that Alex was thinking, this was definitely not what she expected. Suddenly wide awake, and her emotions in a turmoil, she closed her eyes and waited for her heartbeat to slow down. “I’d like that very much Rob. I don’t know how we’re going to work around our schedules, but let’s give it a try.”

Rob expected to hear protests, and all the reasons why she didn’t think it was a good idea. Her words caught him unawares, throwing him off balance for a few seconds. “Are you serious? You’re not just saying that to …” She smiled, “you’ll find that I mean what I say Rob; I’m not a woman that will say things to make the other person feel better.” Rob felt a quick excitement in his chest, and grinned at her, “I expected you to say no, give me all kinds of excuses and stuff. But I’m really glad you said yes. We’ll take it easy I promise. I don’t want to fuck up.” She smiled and touched his hand, letting him know that she understood. He moved closer to where she sat, still holding her hand in his. “How about I kiss you now?” he whispered softly, and bent forward to capture her lips. Just before their lips touched, he heard Alex whisper, “I’d say what’s taking you so long?”

Their lips met with an explosion of lights and colour. Alex groaned softly against his lips as he took control, gently exploring the sweet warmth of her mouth. She pulled Rob closer, wanting to feel him touch her. Her hands were hesitant at first, but as she grew bolder, so did her hands. She quickly discovered that he was only dressed in a pair of shorts, and the thought of him almost naked, intoxicated her. Rob was quickly losing his sanity as Alex’s hands roamed his body. She touched his face, his torso and let her fingers linger seductively on his stomach. He held his breath, not sure what she was going to do next. Very slowly her hands moved down to the edge of his shorts, and after hesitating for a moment, slipped her fingers inside. A strangled noise escaped his mouth as he felt her fingers stroke him unhurriedly, wanting him to enjoy her touch. “Alex” he moaned hurriedly against her lips, his breath in quick gasps, “either you stop what you’re doing or I won’t be responsible for my actions.” She kissed him lingeringly, her tongue teasing his lips, “do you want me to stop?” she asked, her breath hot on his face. Rob groaned loudly, his emotions on a runaway train and there was no way he could stop it. “No” he said urgently as he kissed her lips hard, “don’t stop …”

Her fingers continued to tease him, building his excitement to a fever pitch. He could feel how everything phased out and the only thing that mattered at that moment was to possess Alex, let her feel what he was experiencing. He pushed her roughly against the pillows and his hands quickly removed her light clothing, throwing it in a heap in the corner of the room. Alex didn’t think anymore; her body had a mind of its own and she was following it like a willing slave. She felt the coolness of the air on her naked skin and she sighed contently. Her hands helped him to take off his clothing, and she couldn’t wait for their joining. He was above her, looking at her with fever in his eyes, “are you sure Alex?” he asked hoarsely. She didn’t answer him, merely nodded her consent, her eyes fastened on his face.

With one quick thrust, he made her his, feeling her heat surrounding him. “Oh Jesus Alex …” he moaned softly, his body covering hers. Her legs entwined with his, wanting to feel him closer, deeper … His face was buried in her neck, his breathing like thunder in her ears. She closed her eyes and let their emotions take control, sweeping them away to a distant place. They moved in perfect union with one another, their bodies taking control in the age-old dance of union. Alex made small noises in the back of her throat as Rob moved against her, his arms holding her tightly. Her hands were on his back, touching his naked skin, overwhelmed by her intense feelings. It was over much too quickly as they rushed blindly to their destination, not heeding the urge to stall the inevitable. Her hands dug into his back as she arched her body slightly, and with his name on her lips, she fell into the dark abyss. Rob’s mouth was on hers as he too followed her, falling over the edge into nothingness … taking Alex with him as together, they reached that place of total and utter bliss.

CHAPTER 12

The first thing that Bono noticed the next morning in the kitchen, was how relaxed and content Rob looked. His eyes were shining and he was in an upbeat mood, teasing Alex. They were enjoying a quick cup of coffee before setting out to shoot a few photos. Bono looked at her closely and saw the faint blush on her cheeks and the way she smiled dreamily. He knew then that something happened between them, and when he looked at Rob questioningly, Rob nodded slightly, wearing a satisfied smile on his face.

They left the house shortly afterwards, and walked to a nearby meadow. The sun was slowly rising amongst the mist engulfing the field in a shroud of mystery. There was an eerie silence around them; not even the chirping of a bird could be heard. Alex stopped them and asked them to stand in various poses. Their energy radiated through the lens of the camera as she looked at them, and she could almost feel the vibrancy off them. She took a few photos and smiled, satisfied that it was going so well. She felt alive this morning; there was something different in the air, and things just seemed brighter and more beautiful.

She recalled the early hours of the morning that she and Rob spent together, and felt the heat rise within her. She almost didn’t recognised herself; she was more open with him than with any other man she was involved with. After their lovemaking and when their breathing returned to normal, Rob cradled her in his arms and held her close. He kissed her brow and stroked her hair. No words were spoken because words could never convey in words what they experienced. She fell asleep wrapped in his arms, their legs tangled with the bed sheets. When she woke up when her alarm went off, she thought she’d been dreaming because she was alone in bed, but when she felt how tender her body was, did she know everything that happened, was very real. They didn’t speak, knowing that they would work things out when it presented themselves, and Alex was content with that.

She became aware of her surroundings again when she heard Bono called out to her, “how many pics more Alex? I’m starving!” She grinned and stood upright, “only a few more before you can eat all you want!” There was laughter from their side, and Alex quickly took a few pictures of Rob and Bono separately. Rob was quite specific about the pictures of Bono, and told her exactly what he wanted. It registered then that Rob was not planning a CD shoot; this was something completely different. She had a vague idea, but didn’t want to say anything; she was sure he would say something sooner or later. “Ok boys, we’re done for now. We’ll do some more shots later this afternoon” Alex called, and packed up her equipment. They headed back to the house, and decided to have breakfast outside; the day promised to be beautiful.

After breakfast, Bono and Rob decided to explore the little village. They invited Alex with, but she declined, “I have a few things I want to check and go over” she said and smiled at them. “You know what they saw about all work and no play …” Rob teased. She grinned, “Yes I know, but I do have a paying client that would be very upset if I neglect his work” she teased back and saw him grin. He turned to Bono, “guess it’s just you and me mate, the lady declined our generous offer. To think we were gonna buy her lunch” he added mischievously. Bono shook his head and looked at Alex with a smile, “I swear I dunno what got into him. He’s normally a decent bloke.” Alex caught the slight hint from him and looked down quickly, but not before he saw the answer in her eyes. When she looked up again, he was still looking at her with a secretive smile and a smug look on his face.

They left Alex behind and drove away in Bono’s rental car with the promise to be home in time for the photo shoot later that afternoon. Alex poured herself another cup of coffee and took her camera to the big table in the lounge where she could look at the photos she’d taken. She shook her head when she thought of the earlier bantering; there was a light-hearted atmosphere around that was very pleasant and welcoming. She finished her coffee and picked up her camera, adjusting the LED display, and went to the menu section to look at the pictures. She smiled at the ones taken the previous day, her trail run; they came out beautifully. She next turned her attention to the ones taken that morning, and nodded slowly as she went through them all. She stopped when she got to a picture of Rob and let out her breath. She captured the emotion perfectly; he was half-looking at the camera, and in his eyes she saw the peace that wasn’t there often. His lips were curled in a half-smile, suggesting a secret that he held close. It was a beautiful photo and she wondered if he would use it for his project. The last photo was one of Bono. He stood to the side, his arms hugging himself and his face was turned to the camera. At first glance, no emotion was evident on his face, but Alex could see the mysteries hidden in his eyes. He wore no glasses on this photo, and she sensed a certain vulnerability lurking. It was a photo that spoke volumes if you took the time to study it. That is what Alex’s photos were about; saying more the longer you looked at them.

She plugged the camera into her laptop and downloaded the pictured she’d taken. She wanted to ensure that the pictures were stored safely; she’d be horrified if anything had to happen to them. She placed them in a folder and in order so that she could keep track of the photos she took. Time flew by quickly as she used the opportunity to log in and check her e-mails. There was nothing that required her immediate attention, and she logged off, deciding to deal with them she was back in the office.

She picked up her mobile and called her office. The phone rang a few times before Megan answered, out of breath, “Alex Daly’s office good day.” Alex smiled, “Hi Meg, it’s me Alex. How are things over there?” The other girl sounded glad to hear from her, “Alex, hi! This is a nice surprise! How are you doing in sunny Tuscany? Bet you anything the sun is shining and you’re sitting somewhere, quite relaxed.” Alex laughed, “that bad there huh Meg?” The other woman sighed, “London is grey, miserable and pissing with rain. But work is fine, busy as usual. How’s the photo shoot with Robbie Williams?” she asked curiously. Alex laughed, “Anyone ever told you that you are nosey Meg?” She laughed into the phone, “tell me something I don’t’ know Alex. But seriously, is the project going well?” Alex smiled and held the phone closer, “it’s going really well Meg, better than I expected. We’ve done a few photos this morning and will be doing some more this afternoon. So far Mr. Williams seems to be happy with what I’m doing.” Megan snorted very un-ladylike, “He should be, you are the best Alex, and I’m not just saying that because you’re my boss.” Alex could just imagine her assistant’s face and grinned, “Anything there I should know about? Anything urgent?” she asked. “No, I’m taking care of that. There’s nothing that can’t wait till you get back.” Alex nodded, “that’s good. I hope I’m not swarmed by the time I’m back next week. Meg, you will never guess who is here and also involved with this whole project” she said excitedly, wanting to share the news with someone.

Megan was curious now, hardly able to contain her excitement, “who Alex? Do I know him?” Alex laughed softly, “not only do you know him Meg, you hear him quite often on radio too.” She wanted to drag out the suspense a little longer, but succumbed to Meg’s pleading. “The one and only Bono, and let me tell you, he is so much better looking in the flesh.” For a few moments there was silence on Meg’s side, and Alex thought she lost the connection. “Meg? You still there? Did you hear what …” She was interrupted by her assistant, “you are not serious Alex are you? Oh my God, I can’t believe it … you’re in the company of music’s 2 greatest men … you are so lucky! I’d give anything to meet him, he seems like such a nice guy” she said, admiration in her voice. “He is a nice person Meg, down-to-earth and absolutely wonderful. He’s just so … well … a nice guy, for the lack of a better description.” Meg sighed melodramatically on the other side, “the only way I’ll allow you to put a foot back in your office is if you bring me a sighed photograph of Bono. Please Alex, would you?” Alex couldn’t help laughing, “I will do my best Meg; I will ask him if he’d sign a photo for you. Listen, I better go. If there’s an emergency, please call me on my mobile. I’ll see you back in the office next week. Take care Meg, and thanks for everything.” “It’s my pleasure Alex, and take care. Enjoy your time there and don’t work too hard” Megan said, and replaced the phone with a broad smile.

Alex sat back in her chair satisfied, her mind on her conversation with Megan. She was very fortunate indeed; she loved the job she’s doing, and sometimes she got to spend it in the company of very special people. If it wasn’t for her love of photography, she’d never met Rob …

CHAPTER 13

One Week Later:

“Are you all set to go home then mate?” Rob asked and looked at Bono. They were in the kitchen, enjoying a last cup of coffee before he had to leave for the airport. Bono nodded, “yeah, it’s been a great few days, but now it’s homeward bound for me” he said and finished his coffee. Alex smiled at him, “I can never thank you enough for your patience Bono, I really appreciate it.” He looked up and his blue eyes smiled at her, “the pleasure is mine Alex. It was good working with someone that has vision. I look forward to see the end result.” She nodded and smiled, “you have to ask Rob about that; he’s very secretive about all this.” Rob smiled at them, “patience people, I will inform you in a few days.” Bono rolled his eyes, shook his head, and laughed, “Right. We’ll just wait then. Mind Rob, we’re not getting any younger you know.” Alex couldn’t help laughing at the look on Rob’s face. “Jesus … the way you carry on B, you’d swear I always take my time with everything” he said grudgingly. The only answer he got from Bono was a look that spoke volumes. “Yeah ok, you’re right. But I promise, you’ll know soon.”

The stood outside next to the waiting car. Rob held out his hand, “thanks B for all your trouble, you’re ace. I’ll be in contact.” Bono shook his hand and smiled, “thanks Rob for giving me the chance to hide away for a few days, I needed that. Just don’t tell Ali, she’ll skin me alive!” Rob smiled and looked at his friend of many years, and thought the he was truly a man that he could look up to. Bono turned to Alex, “think about my offer Alex, I was serious about that. I think you’d be perfect for the job.” She smiled shyly and looked up into his eyes, “I will consider it, and let you know as soon as I get back to the office. Thanks for asking me, it’s an honour.” He smiled and looked at Rob with a naughty grin, “you wouldn’t mind would you?” Before Rob could answer or comment, he stepped forward and hugged Alex quickly. “Look after him will you?” he whisper hurriedly in her ear before letting her go. She smiled and nodded, and watched him get into the rental car. He waved one last time and quickly drove away.

Rob and Alex waited until the car disappeared around the corner before walking back to the house. “He’s a great man” she remarked, looking at Rob. He nodded, “that he is. I count myself lucky to call him one of my friends” he answered and put his arm around her shoulder. They fell silent as they entered the house, making their way to the back garden. Rob stopped and held her back, his face in a grin, “now that we’re finally alone, there’s something I’ve been dying to do all morning…” His lips kissed hers softly, his arms loosely around her waist. She arched her body closer to his, her arms circling around his neck. The kiss was unhurried and tender, searching and discovering; a kiss that sealed a new beginning. She groaned softly as Rob’s fingers caressed her back slowly, setting her senses alight. She pulled him closer, deepening the kiss, wanting to touch and taste him. Her hands pulled at his t-shirt at the back of his jeans, pulling it free. Instantly, her fingers touched his skin, teasing him. Rob made a noise in his throat at Alex’s touch; it was so soft and yet so seductive, his senses reeling. He deepened the kiss, plundering her mouth with his tongue, wanting her with a need that scared him. He broke the kiss, his breathing ragged, “do you think anyone will miss us for a few hours?” he asked hoarsely. She shook her head, her eyes burning with desire and took his hand, leading him to his bedroom.

Never before had Alex experienced such overwhelming emotions with someone. She was out of control; Rob merely had to touch her, and she was clay in his hands. He made her feel wanted and needed; he brought out the woman in her, allowing her to be free. He knew exactly, almost as if he could sense what pleased her, and gave her everything, and more than what she could possible ask for. With him she could be wanton, and not feel ashamed of it. He let her experience pleasure beyond her imagination, and when all she could think off was to be at one with him, she would breathlessly beg him to take her, and he would willingly oblige, whisking her away on waves of mindless pleasure.

Much later she was cradled in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. Their legs were tangled in the sheets, their bodies lightly covered in sweat. Their breathing was audible in the darkening room, and Rob closed his eyes for a few moments. He felt Alex’s heartbeat where she lay in his arm, and smiled softly. For the first time in years he completely gave himself to another human being. He opened himself, risked his vulnerability, and gave her everything he was feeling. He hoped that in some way he could covey to her what he was experiencing. When he was with Alex, nothing else mattered; he was aware of only her. He didn’t want to be anywhere else than right there with her, resting in his arms. He was content, and prayed that it would be different this time, because he wanted this feeling to last.


CHAPTER 14

Three weeks later (First week in September)

They were in the private lounge at Heathrow airport, waiting for Alex’s flight to be announced. “Baby, are you sure you’re gonna be ok?” Rob asked worriedly. He rested his arms on her shoulders, his face inches away from hers. She looked up at him and smiled softly, “I’ll be fine Rob, I promise. Bono will meet me at the airport and drive me there himself” she said, wishing she could erase his worry. He held her close, wanting to imprint her image in his brain, “it’s just that I’m gonna miss you like crazy. I dunno what I’m gonna do without you for 3 weeks.” She touched his face, “it’s not that long baby. Before you miss me too much I’ll be back. And I will call if I can.” He sighed and just held her tighter, not wanting her to go. They have discussed this opportunity a few times, and he knew that it was part of her work; he just had to get used to the fact that she’ll be away on occasion. “You’re flying to LA in the morning to finalise your project; that will keep you busy for a few days” she said and watched him closely. He tried to smile, “yeah, at least I can drown myself in my work. But I’ll be counting the hours …” She took his face between her hands and kissed him softly on his lips, her mouth lingering on his. “Thank you for caring so much Rob. I’ll be back soon I promise” she whispered, her heart aching at leaving him behind. ‘Will all passengers on flight BA 217 for Nairobi please go to gate 16A to board your flight.’ “That’s your flight” Rob said, picking up her hand luggage and handed it to her. “I guess this is it then” he said softly. She nodded, and when she looked at Rob, her eyes were full of tears, “I’m going to miss you more than you’ll ever know” she whispered and gripped his hands tightly in hers. Rob wiped away her tears that spilled over onto her cheeks, “please don’t cry baby. Just now you’re gonna have me in tears too!” he said and tried to sound brave. She smiled at him and nodded, “ok I will. Can’t afford you to have red eyes now can we? Take care and remember that I love you” she said softly. He kissed her on the forehead, “love you too Alex. I’ll see you soon.” With a last quick hug, she took her bag, turned around and walked in the direction of the gate. Rob watched her go, his heart aching; wishing he could go with her. “Phone me if you can” he called after her, not sure if she heard him. But she did. She turned around, managed a smile and waved goodbye, and then she disappeared between the masses.

Rob watched until he lost sight of her. He turned around and slowly made his way to the closest exit where one of his bodyguards waited to escort him to his car. As the car pulled away from the curb, the rain came down in torrents. Rob grimaced and sat back against the seat, ‘Please let her be safe. Please let her return to me …’ he whispered softly, and closed his eyes.

Alex closed her eyes as the Boeing lifted from the tarmac, leaving home behind. She then allowed the tears to flow, wishing she could fast-forward the time to her return the end of the month. She was already missing Rob; his closeness, his smile, his arms holding her tightly and his whispered endearments in her ear. They had grown so close since their return from Tuscany, spending all of their free time together. They made use of the opportunity to get to know one another, and Alex learned more about his work and the song-writing process. She’d visit him after work in the recording studio, and got to experience first-hand how much hard work actually goes into recording a song until one heard the polished version on radio.

The more she got to know him, the more she fell in love with him. He was a man and a child all rolled into one; a contradiction at most times, and she’d learnt to discern between the man and the performer. A little by little he opened up to her, allowed her to come closer and discover the hidden treasures at her own leisure. In the beginning she had an overwhelming instinct to mother him; to protect him from anything negative or hurtful. He was the one however, that reminded her that only he could do that by himself; overcome his demons one by one. She knew that he was right of course, but couldn’t help feeling that she wanted to help him in some way. When she told him this, he smiled at her, “but you are Alex, by being part of my life.”

The media of course was the biggest threat to their relationship and only a few close friends of Rob’s knew about her existence. She didn’t feel comfortable telling her parents or her two close friends about their relationship either. She felt that if the relationship should develop and get more serious, she’d inform them then. The actual reason for her hesitation was that she was afraid that someone could slip up and then the paparazzi would be all over the place and make her life hell. They shared many giggles at how they managed to fool the photographers and reporters from a juicy story. There were times that Alex felt their relationship was clandestine; meeting in secret places, meeting at odd hours and being careful even then. There were one or two hints in the tabloids as to why Rob was still in London; he’d normally flee to the safety and almost obscurity of Los Angeles. Besides spending the time with Alex before she left for Kenya, he also finalised the project he was busy with.

He finally told her what his project was about, and it was something she’d never expected him to do. She knew for sure that it wasn’t a CD cover as he insisted in the beginning, and when he finally told her what it was, she was amazed at his genius. Rob, in collaboration with Simon & Schuster in London, will publish a book of poems. Or as he explained to her in greater detail, a book with poems and a song or two that have a great impact on him. He smiled when he told her why he was so insistent on her taking as many photos as possible to ensure that he had everything covered. She shook her head, “you’re bloody brilliant do you know that?” The book was at the publishers and Alex had submitted all the photographs to his office. The book would be on sale in time for Christmas. Rob decided to print a thousand copies of the book as a limited edition. The book will be leather-bound in a deep burgundy, and will be autographed by Rob himself and Bono will have the honour of writing the foreword. The proceeds of the special edition will be donated to his charity ‘Give It Sum’ and a 10% on the sales of the other books will be donated to UNICEF. Alex couldn’t contain her excitement and made Rob promise that she would receive a limited edition of the book.

She settled in her seat and decided to get some sleep; it’s been a long day, and she knew it was going to be a long time before she’d sleep in a proper bed again. With a small sigh, she closed her eyes and let thoughts of Rob calm her mind and keep her company.

CHAPTER 15


Alex had forgotten the intense heat of Africa. When she stepped off the cargo carrier at the rather primitive airport in comparison with others, the heat took her breath away. Although she was dressed in cargo pants, sneakers and a cotton t-shirt, she could feel the sweat on her body. She adjusted her hat and sunglasses before descending the stairs, her eyes in search of Bono’s familiar face. When she stepped onto the tar, she spotted him a few paces away and almost missed him. Gone was his long hair, instead he sported a very short haircut that reminded her of men in the armed forces. He wore dark glasses and was dressed in khaki pants and a camouflage t-shirt. When he saw her, his face broke out in a grin and he stepped closer, “thought you might’ve chickened out on me” he said with a laugh and kissed her cheek. “I’m not someone that shies away from a challenge B, you’ll soon learn that” she answered him with a tired smile. He took her elbow and steered her towards the building where the baggage was offloaded. “Lets get your stuff and hit the road; it’s almost a two hour’s drive from here before we get to the village.” She groaned loudly, “I just sat for almost 12 hours, by butt is numb already!” she complained. He laughed at her, “well, at least you can tell me all the latest from London; that will make the trip a little shorter. Oh and there’s beautiful scenery too” he mentioned and picked up her bags and loaded them into the battered 4 x 4. “Sorry about the transport, that’s all that’s available I’m afraid” he said apologetically as they got into the 4 x 4. She shook her head, “no worries, I’ve driven in worse, I promise you! The transport in the East is unreliable and plain dangerous” she answered and settled in for the long drive.

The chatted while they drove, and Alex brought him up to date on what’s been happening in London. She shared with him some of the important news and of course a bit of gossip. Bono’s been in Kenya for a week already, and excitedly told her about the progress that’s been made in 2 of the villages he’s been too. She listened to him talk and could hear the obvious love and passion he had for Africa. When she commented on it and asked him why Africa, he shrugged his shoulders, “I’ve got no idea Alex. Africa and its people just speak to me in a way that I can’t explain. There is something so spiritual almost, about this continent and its people; it is something I feel very strongly about. I know that there are a lot of people out there that mock my efforts, saying that I’m a rich bored rock star with nothing better to do … well, this is my something better to do. I can’t honestly think of anything else I’d rather do; this is my calling, my plight. I speak for these people because no-one really seem to give a shit about it; especially not the world leaders. I can promise you one thing Alex; I will keep on doing this until the day I die. Africa is my continent too.”

Bono’s words blew Alex away. She new that he was a huge campaigner for Africa and its plight, but she’d never heard firsthand what the place actually meant to him. She didn’t know what to say to him; words seemed so meaningless anyway.

He was right; the scenery on the way was breathtaking. Only in Africa will you experience the true beauty and generous offering of mother earth. It was mostly green where she looked; the rainy season almost upon them. She spotted some game as they made their way on a gravel road and pointed excitedly at some giraffes and wildebeest (African buffalo). They reached the village jus t as the sun was setting in the west. Alex was astounded by the richness of colours of everything around her; she’d never seen this anywhere else in the world.

Bono took her to meet the village chief. He was a man of uncertain age; his face and neck covered in wrinkles but his voice was surprisingly strong. He welcomed Alex in Swahili, one of the main languages spoken in that area. An interpreter translated his greeting for her, and she offered him some gifts of tobacco and brightly coloured scarves. When Bono looked at her in surprise, she grinned and whispered, “I did a bit of homework in preparation before I left London!” He smiled, “clever girl! I should’ve known” he whispered from the corner of his mouth. The chief thanked her profusely for the gifts and wished her a happy stay.

They were excused and Alex walked in the direction of the little hut Bono pointed out to her earlier. “It’s not the Hyatt, but I’m sure you’ll find it comfortable to African standards!” he teased her. She looked up at him and grinned, “I can’t wait to try out the bed; I’m sure anything is going to be better than the aeroplane seat. Meet you in 15 minutes? I would like to freshen up quickly.” He nodded, “I’ll meet you at the boma (enclosed space usually made of tree branches and grass) at the entrance of the village. If you’re thirsty, they have locally brewed beer, but I have to warn you, it kicks like a mule” he said and laughed. “Sounds like you really made yourself at home and got stuck right into the local customs then” she remarked and stopped in front of her hut. He shrugged nonchalantly, “when in Africa …”

A few minutes later, Alex joined Bono in the boma area and sat down on one of the home-made seats. She breathed in the warm night air and sighed contently, “I forgot how beautiful Africa can be at night. It’s almost like she saves the best for last …” she said softly and looked up in the sky. It was pitch-black and dotted with hundreds of stars that flickered like little lights. She had the sense that if she stood on tip-toe, she’d be able to touch them. They were silent for a few minutes, just enjoying the atmosphere and becoming part of the people living on the harsh and sometimes unforgiving continent. Alex felt contentment invading her body, relaxing all her senses. She closed her eyes and listened to the calls of the different night creatures coming out to play.

For a fleeting moment she wished that Rob was there with her to experience all this with her, but she didn’t even know if he’d enjoy this; it might be a bit too primitive for him. She wondered how he was, what he was doing and if he was thinking of her. Bono interrupted her deep thoughts, “can I get you one of those local brews? Willing to try it?” he asked as he got up from his chair. She nodded her thanks and watched him walk away. She smiled when she saw some of the village children running up to him and walk by his side, chatting away in their limited English. He smiled at them and said something that had them in stitches
of laughter, hanging onto his every word. What a wonderful man he was, Alex thought, and how fortunate these people are that he cared enough to do something to elevate them.


CHAPTER 16


The small village was situated somewhere between the Taita and Chyulu hills, and had a majestic view of the Kilimanjaro. The Chyulu hills were considered to be some of the youngest volcanic mountains in the world; born a mere 500 years ago. The beautiful hills are a paradise of elephant herds, plains game, cheetah, remote Masai villages and wonderful views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Not too far away, one would find Lake Jipe and Chala, fed by the snows from Kilimanjaro.

Alex was given a quick geography lesson by Bono and Sibongela, their guide from the village. They were on their way to the location of a few water wells that were erected a few months ago. Bono wanted to show Alex the progress that has been made, and talk animatedly about the future and other possible projects he would like to see happen. She was fascinated by his enthusiasm as well as his vast knowledge of the country and its people. They arrived at the spot where some wells were located and as they got out of the 4 x 4, he explained to her that planning had already started for pipelines to the villages close-by. She had her camera with her and took some photos of the women and children standing patiently in the early morning sun with buckets and bottles to get some fresh water. She saw the serenity on their faces, knowing that this is where they belonged; this was their land.

Some of the younger children hid behind their mother’s legs, peeping at the two strangers. Soon they reappeared and smiled shyly at Alex and Bono, especially when they saw the camera in her hands. Bono dug in his pockets, took out some sweets, and went down on his hunches. The kids approached tentatively at first, but when they realised that it was quite safe, they stood by his side, talking excitedly in their language. One or two of the braver kids touched his face as well as his sunglasses, smiling broadly, finding him absolutely fascinating. Bono started laughing and looked at Alex. She had her camera ready and instinctively released the shutter. When he realised that she took a photo, he pulled a face at her, “You’re supposed to be talking pictures of the children and their mothers, not my ugly muck!” She laughed, “But you are part of this whole thing, so guess what? You’re pic is included, sorry to say!” she said teasingly.

They stayed for a while longer before Bono indicated that they have one more stop to make. They drove along the gravel road that had a few deep potholes due to the hard rains a few days ago. After a half-hour, they stopped at what looked like a mini construction site; men were hurriedly working, shovelling dirt and removing it. The first thing that Alex heard was their singing; it was a beautiful sound; voices in union singing a haunting song. Sibongela, when she asked, informed her that it was a slave song hundreds of years old. The song told about captured slaves, taken far away from all they held dear, and how they longed to go home, and be with their loved ones. “It’s songs like this that should be heard by the masses and not the over-commercialised shit that’s forced down our throats” Bono remarked softly and Alex needed her agreement.

He explained what the men were busy making the trenches for the pipelines that would be done in another few days, and within as little as a month, the nearby villages could have clean drinkable water in their villages. This would eliminate dehydration as well as cholera, the dreaded disease associated with infected water. They looked around the site, and Bono made a point of talking to the workers with the aid of the guide. The workers were in good spirits and revealed how happy this will make all the people in nearby villages. They greeted the workers, with a promise to come back once the pipelines have been installed. As they walked back to the 4 x 4, Bono turned to Alex, “and some say we can't afford to help. I say we can't afford not to.”
They arrived back at their village when the morning sun was burning down fiercely, sending animal and human in a scurry for some welcome shelter. “Are you hungry?” he asked and looked at her questioningly. She nodded, “I’m starving. But what is there to eat?” Bono shrugged, “have no idea; let’s see what they have to offer” and walked in the direction of the boma. He chatted to one of the woman and smiled, indicating to Alex to come over. As she walked closer, he grinned broadly, “You’re in luck, no goat’s intestines for breakfast! Instead we’ve been offered some maize bread, freshly baked earlier this morning as well as fresh fruit. I hope that is ok.” She smiled; “when in Africa …” He laughed at her answer, and recalled his same remark the previous day when she arrived.

They sat in the shade of the boma, enjoying the light breeze. She turned to him suddenly and blurted, “The short hair suits you.” When the words left her mouth, she wanted to kick herself; whatever possessed her to say that she wondered, embarrassed. He didn’t say anything but wore a big smile on his face, “there was no way I was gonna sit with long hair in this heat. This is much better and cooler too.” She was saved from answering when their food arrived, plates stacked with fruit she’d never seen before. She was hungry enough to try anything, and tucked in. The fruit was cool and sweet on her tongue, and she savoured the taste. “This is so good” she managed between bites. He nodded, “isn’t it amazing how quickly we adapt to our circumstances? In your ordinary life, would you’ve tried this fruit?” She shook her head, wiping her mouth, “probably not no, but that is what I love about traveling to different places. If you allow yourself, you can experience the people and their culture, get really native with them.” He turned to her, “I would love to do that too, but unfortunately living in hotel rooms and out of suitcases, it not the ideal way to experience a country’s culture. Maybe when I decide to retire, I will travel more.”

Alex looked at him in alarm, “are you thinking that? Retiring I mean? That would be such a shame.” He shook his head, “not just yet. As long a there’s music in me, I guess I will keep on getting on stage.” She turned to him, “it must get lonely being on tour most of the year. You miss so much about your family and their lives …” She was thinking of Rob then; he confided in her how loneliness would assail him at various stages of a tour. Although he wasn’t married, and always surrounded by friends and his crew, loneliness always seemed to seek him out. He told her about the intense longing of waking up in your own bed; eat out of your own plates and visiting family, having true companionship.

There were a few moments of silence before he responded; “I’ve been doing it for so long now … I almost feel strange when I’m at home for a while. I start missing the adrenalin rush of going to different cities and countries, seeing thousands of faces in front of me, knowing that they were there to see us. I start missing the incredible high you get when you perform your songs and you go to that special place within to perform your songs with emotion, and the crowd loving it. The camaraderie between Larry, Edge, Adam and myself, the strive to always do better next time.” He fell silent, and stared at the horizon, lost in his thoughts. Alex remained silent; she didn’t really know what to say. She had an idea what he was talking about; she felt the same when she’s not on location somewhere, and always felt restless until she had an assignment booked.

Bono got up suddenly, “excuse me” he said hurriedly and walked away in the direction of a nearby field. Alex was too stunned to respond; she merely looked at his retreating figure, and wondered what it was that bothered him so suddenly. After a few minutes, she got up headed for her hut, deciding that she might as well do some work while she had time on her hands. Just before she entered the hut she turned around, her eyes searching for Bono. Her eyes found him standing almost in the middle of the field; his arms stretched beside him, and his face lifted to the sun, almost in silent communication with a higher force.

CHAPTER 17

Whatever it was that bothered him earlier that morning, Bono seemed to have snapped out of it. When he searched out her company late afternoon, he was the man she got to know and respect. Alex wanted to ask him about the incident, but decided against it; if he wanted to share it with her, he would. She was sitting under a big shade tree, entertaining some of the village children, and smiled when she saw him walking in her direction. He sat down beside her in the dirt and looked at her, “is that what you’ve been doing with your time; playing with the kids?” he asked with a smile. She shook her head and laughed, “I have done some work believe it or not! I’m relaxing now … can’t work too hard now can I?” she asked teasingly. He looked at her and just shook his head, “looks like we might get some rain later. Sibongela said that all the signs were there, whatever that might mean. I could use some cooling down; this heat gets to a man.” She nodded, “I forgot about this heat that can almost suffocate you … but then again, I haven’t been to Africa in years.” She got up and held out her hand, “come on, I’ll buy you a cold drink at the bar, just to help the cooling process on so long.” Alex’s eyes were twinkling as she looked at him, and he accepted her hand. He had a crazy urge to hold on to her hand, feel her comforting warmth. He froze and let go of her hand quickly, wiping his hands on his pants, “you have yourself a deal. What are we waiting for?”

Alex wanted to comment, but instinctively knew that he would probably not be honest with her. Her mind drifted back to his peculiar behaviour earlier that morning and wondered what happened. She shrugged off all the questions and decided not to let it bother her; Bono was his own man, and she didn’t know him that well for him to confide in her.

They sat in the shade of some trees close to the boma, enjoying the cool breeze coming from the mountain side. Dark clouds were also gathering and distant thunder was heard. Alex took a swallow of her beer and nodded in the direction of the gathering clouds, “seems like you were right. Hopefully the rain will be here shortly.” Bono nodded, “I can’t wait to be honest; this heat is unbearable at times. Would be nice to see the rains come down; I love looking at the rain.” Alex looked at him with a grin, “as if you don’t have enough rain where you come from!” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled; “but then the Irish were always a different breed of people. We find beauty in things that to others seem insignificant. You won’t believe me, but as inconvenient as the rain can be, I miss it when I’m in a different country. There’s just something special about the Irish rain …” His voice was soft as he spoke and Alex gathered that he may be missing home but not saying so out loud.

She tried to lighten the mood, “drink up Irish, I’ll buy you another one of these” she said and lifted her glass. He grinned, “I’m not going to say no to the offer of a free beer, even if I actually prefer red wine. But, when in Africa …” They said the last words simultaneously and burst out laughing when they saw the look of surprise on the other’s face. He finished the last of his beer and smiled, and wiped his mouth, “I think we may have been in the sun too long and this beer is going straight to our heads.” She got up and took his empty glass, “does it matter? At least we don’t have to go anywhere. I’ll be back” she said over her shoulder and walked over to the hut where the beer was kept cool. Bono watched her retreat, and smiled to himself, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you’ve got some Irish blood Alex.”

The rest of their stay in Kenya was uneventful. After another few days, they drove to 3 other villages, inspecting the progress that has been made. During this time, a journalist from ‘National Geographic’, Andrew Gardiner, joined them to write the article that would appear in the magazine. Alex faded into the background; her work was almost done and she left Bono and Andrew alone to conclude the article. She was excited about the photos she took, and instinctively knew which ones would probably be used in the article.

Alex couldn’t wait to go home; she missed Rob terribly. During her almost 3 week stay, she managed to contact him twice, using a satellite phone, and both times the conversations were less than 5 minutes. They tried to cram as much information into those few minutes, and when the calls ended, the longing was more acute. Rob sounded in good spirits and Alex was glad; she feared that he might’ve slipped into depression again, and she didn’t want that. He told her that he missed her and couldn’t wait for her to come home. Alex had to swallow the tears then; she didn’t want to upset him, and forced brightness in her voice. Just before they ended the call, Rob told her that he had a surprise for her but refused to tell her what it was. When she kept on asking, he started laughing, telling her no matter how nicely she asked, he wasn’t going to tell her. Alex smiled softly as she thought back about the conversation and couldn’t wait to see him again, to hold him close, and feel his arms around her …

It was Alex and Bono’s last night in Africa, and the villagers decided to give a party in their honour. Alex was excited and couldn’t wait to see what was in stall for them. Bono turned to her, “be prepared for lots of food and drink and some dancing. You’ll enjoy it thought.”

Later that night, they sat together with the village chief, around the fire, enjoying the festivities. There were plenty of food and drink; the women spent most of the day in the preparations of the feast. The children were playing games close by, and Alex smiled at the sight of them running around, enjoying the special night. She was fascinated by everything happening around her; there was so much to take in, to store in her memory for later analysis. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, feeling a part of these people. She caught glimpses of Bono in conversation with the chief, and could only smile at him and shake her head.

The next moment drums sounded in the dark and starry night, and Alex felt goosebumps on her arms at the sound of the primitive instruments. Some of the women got up and started a dance, dancing in a circle and then through the crowd sitting by the fire. Alex watched them and admired their grace and rhythm as they moved to the beat of the drums. A few of the women motioned for Alex to join them, and without thinking twice, she got up and joined them. She watched their steps and found it quite easy to follow, and soon enough, gave her over to the freedom of movement. Her eyes were closed as she became one with the primitive sounds of the drums, and for the first time understood completely when people talked about becoming one with a rhythm. She lost herself and experienced a feeling of weightlessness as her body and feet followed the one in front.

When she opened her eyes, she looked straight into Bono’s. He was watching her with an enigmatic smile on his lips, his face not betraying what he might be thinking. She smiled back at him, her face aglow from the flames of the fire, but also from an inner flame illuminating her spirit.

At that moment Bono realised what it was that have unsettled him for the last few days; it was the calm acknowledgement that Alex had unnoticed, slipped into his blood and he didn’t know what to do or how to react to it. In a way he was glad that they were returning to civilization the next morning. The sooner there was distance between them, the better. They might never meet again after this expedition, and that would be a good thing for both of them. Alex was returning to Rob and he was going home to Ali and the kids, and that’s the way it was going to be.


CHAPTER 18


The flight back to London was uneventful and long. Alex couldn’t sit still for long; she was too excited to be going back home to Rob. She couldn’t wait to see him and she wondered if he was looking forward seeing her again too. Bono was on the same flight, but he sat a few seats to the front, with the explanation that he needed to get a lot of words on paper before arriving home, and that he wouldn’t be good company. Alex knew that she would probably bore him with her endless chatter of going home and seeing Rob again. Instead, she used the time to do some editing on the photos and move the lesser good ones to a different folder. As she worked, she smiled often when she looked at the photos, recalling memories with each one.

When they landed at Heathrow, it was relatively quiet for the early hours of the morning. Alex got her baggage and saw Bono waiting on the far side of the carousel. She walked towards him, “and now? Aren’t you flying to Dublin?” He shook his head and smiled tiredly, “the earliest flight I could get was 6.30 this morning. I’m staying in a nearby hotel not far from the airport.” She nodded, “can I give you a lift to the hotel?” she asked, adjusting the shoulder strap of her hand luggage. He shook his head, “I have a taxi waiting outside, but thanks for the offer.” There were a few moments of silence before Alex spoke again, “I will send the photos to National Geographic and to you too; maybe you’d like to keep a few for memory sake.” He nodded, “thanks Alex, I look forward to that. And once again, thank you for going with to Kenya; I appreciate it.” His voice sounded tired and Alex wondered if he’d managed to get some sleep on the plane. “I’m the one that has to thank you for inviting me; it’s an unforgettable experience and I will always treasure it. I will look out for the NG edition for the article; I’m sure it will be amazing.” He stuck out his hand, “goodbye Alex. It was wonderful meeting you. Take good care of yourself, and if you’re ever in Dublin, give me a call.”

To Alex’s ears his words sounded rehearsed somehow, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d already retreated behind a mask. She smiled and shook his hand, “I will thank you B. But before visiting Dublin, I would much rather attend a U2 concert! Let me know when you’re in the area and I’ll come and have a blast.” He smiled slowly and nodded, “you better go Alex, it’s not getting any earlier and I think Rob is waiting on pins and needles.” Alex hesitated, experiencing an irrational feeling of staying for a while longer, but it was Bono that made up her mind for her. He took her elbow and gently steered her in the direction of the sliding doors, “come on, off you go” he said gruffly. She turned around and smiled at him as she walked off. He watched her leave and when she turned one last time before exiting the doors to wave at him, he lifted his hand in a silent salute.

Alex loaded her baggage in her car and grimaced at the amount of dust and dirt it accumulated during the time she was away. She breathed deeply to calm sudden nerves at the prospect of seeing Rob again, started her car and made her way to his flat just outside London.

She smiled when she looked at the weather outside and saw the pouring rain falling down, and realised how much she missed it while in Kenya. Alex drove carefully and took the turn-off to Rob’s flat. The shorter the time before she saw him again, the more excited she became. She couldn’t wait to hold him close, to feel his lips on hers, and to feel his breath on her face. She stopped in front of the security gates and explained to the security guard who she came to see. He recognised her from the times she visited Rob before she left for Kenya and let her in. She parked her car and got out, opening the back door to get her bag and laptop when voices caught her attention. She looked up and froze; on the opposite side of the parking area she spotted Rob with a tall leggy blonde, his arm casually around her shoulders. The blonde woman has her one arm around his waist, and laughed at something he whispered in her ear. At his car, they stopped and Rob gently pushed the blond against the car, holding her hands above her head. He started kissing her and let his hands roam her voluptuous body.

Alex couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene playing off in front of her. She watched in fascinated horror as Rob slowly undid the buttons of her shirt. The Security guards were standing close-by, their backs to the sordid scene playing off behind them. Alex’s breath was knocked from her body; her mind screamed denial at what she saw. Her survival instinct kicked in; she tore her eyes away and with shaking hands slammed the backdoor of the car. At that moment, Rob turned around at the noise and tried to see who it was. When he recognised Alex across the distance, he swore softly and pushed the blonde woman out of his way. He started walking in her direction, hurried his steps when he realised that she might drive away.

Alex watched as Rob came walking across the parking lot, and quickly got in the car and with trembling fingers, managed to start the car. She was so shocked and confused at what she saw, but she was also burning with anger. How dare he make a mockery of her feelings? Who gave him the right to belittle her affections and throw them one side? Just as Rob reached her car, she managed to drive away with squealing of tires. She caught sight of him in the rear-view mirror; throwing his hands in the air and watch as she drove away. Alex maintained her calm with sheer willpower and knew that she had to put in as much distance between her and Rob as she could.

She drove around aimlessly, not concerned where she was going. The rain has eased a little and Alex drove a little faster, deciding to go home. Just then the wall of resolve broke, and she felt the tears overwhelm her. She closed her eyes for a moment and the tears rolled down her cheeks, not really making her feel any better. Sobs escaped her lips as the images from the garage imprinted themselves in her brain. The scenes repeated themselves countless times and every time she remembered another detail. What happened back there? Who was the blonde woman? And how long has Rob been seeing her? All these questions rolled around in her mind, and Alex felt dirty. She had no idea how long this was going on or how serious this was, but she had no interest in finding out either. It was over; Rob had a chance and he screwed up badly.

Alex was deep in thought and didn’t notice the vehicle on one of the side roads that skipped the red traffic light. When she became aware of the car, her reflexes were too slow. She hit the breaks hard and tried to steer the car away, but because of the wet road conditions, her car skidded and collided with a stationary truck. She didn’t wear her seatbelt like she usually did; when she drove away in such haste from the parking area, it was the last thing on her mind. In that split second when Alex realised that she was going to collide with the truck, she could only pray that she wouldn’t be hurt too badly. The impact of her car colliding with the stationary truck, lifted her out of her side and slammed her against the opposite door and window. She heard the breaking of glass and felt cool air and something dripping from her face before she succumbed to total darkness.

CHAPTER 19

Alex became aware of heaviness slowly lifting and she fought to open her eyes but they felt too heavy, and for a moment she relaxed. “Alex? Baby it’s me … its Rob. Please open your eyes” he said almost against her ear. Alex instinctively turned her head away, and slowly opened her eyes. Rob was standing over her, still dressed in the same clothes he had on earlier. Her mind was a bit fuzzy, but then everything came rushing back; the parking area … Rob and the blonde … Rob kissing the blonde … the removal of her clothing … A sob escaped her lips and she shut her eyes tightly, “go away” she whispered brokenly; she didn’t want to speak to him. He took her hands in his, “Alex please, I can explain. She’s …” Alex pulled her hands out of his, “get out Rob. Just leave now please.” Her voice was soft and pleading, but he didn’t seem to hear her. He didn’t touch her again but stood so that he was in her field of vision. His face looked worried and once again he tried to speak to her, “Alex what you saw … it wasn’t what it seemed.”

From somewhere a nurse appeared and Alex turned to her, “please make him leave. I don’t want to see him. Please take him away.” Alex was crying softly and she turned her back to Rob, facing the opposite wall. “Mr. Williams, please leave, you’re upsetting the patient” the elderly nurse said in a no-nonsense tone. “But she is my girlfriend. She needs me here!” he said, not used to being ignored. The nurse snorted, “And I say you leave right now. My patient is upset and I will not allow it. Are you leaving or shall I call security?” she asked her hands on her hips. Rob lost his cool, “do you now who I am?” he asked and stepped closer. “I thought I recognised your face from the tabloid rags Mr. Williams. That doesn’t change anything; my patient’s welfare is my only concern.” Rob knew it was useless arguing any further and made his way to the door. Just before he walked away, he turned around, “I’ll be back Alex” he said softly and left the hospital room.

The moment she heard his retreating footsteps down the hall, Alex turned to the nurse, “please, I do not want him to come here anymore. I don’t want to see him.” Alex felt the heaviness settle over her, and felt a slight prick in her arm as the nurse gave her an injection. She arranged the bedding around Alex, “that will make you sleep. Just close your eyes and relax. I will pop in again a little later.” Alex nodded and closed her eyes and slipped away into a welcoming release of all hurt and pain, and surrendered with open arms.

He sat by her bedside and watched her breathing. He’d been there for a few hours and came as soon after he received the call from the hospital. The drive there was filled with fear that she was seriously injured but as soon as he arrived, the sister on duty assured him that Alex would be released from hospital in a day or two; she didn’t sustain serious injuries and only had some cuts and bruises from the broken glass of the window. Most of the cuts were superficial and would heal in a couple of days. He took one of her hands in his and squeezed it gently, feeling how cold they were. He got up from the chair and placed her hands under the blankets, making sure she was warm and comfortable. He stopped his movements when she groaned in her sleep. Her face had an almost pleading look, and he saw that the corners of her eyes were wet from escaped tears. Careful not to wake her, he gently wiped them away, his eyes soft as he looked at her tenderly. ‘Oh Alex, I wish I could stop your hurt …’ he said softly and sat down again, his eyes never leaving her face.

Alex wasn’t sure how long she slept before she opened her eyes slowly and noticed the grey skies outside. She turned her head slightly and noticed the man sitting next to her bed. He must’ve fallen asleep because he was turned in his chair and his hands were used as a cushion for his head. He sensed her eyes on him and sat up quickly, “you’re awake. How are you feeling? Do you have any pain?” he asked; his voice full of concern. She shook her head slightly, “I feel ok, just a bit stiff. How long have you been here?” she asked; her voice in a croak. He shrugged his shoulders, “a few hours I guess. I came as soon as they called.” He moved his chair closer and looked at her, “are you ok Alex?” His voice was soft as he waited for her to answer. He saw the inner struggle reflected on her face, and wish he could make her feel better. She nodded slowly, “I will be.” Those were the only words she said and she looked so forlorn and lost. For a few minutes neither one of them spoke. Then Alex turned to him, “I want to go away for a few days, get away from it all for a while. I can’t be in the same city as him ... I just can’t.” She didn’t call Rob by name; she wanted to create some distance between them. He nodded slowly and took her hand, “where do you want to go Alex? Any idea?” he asked softly. “Somewhere where I’ll have some peace and quiet; somewhere where I will be able to pick up the pieces and glue my life back together. A place where I can hide for a while … just a little while” she said softly and looked out the window. She looked back at him, “do you know of such a place?” she asked, her voice urgent. He nodded slowly, “I know of a place not too far away from here …”


CHAPTER 20


Malahide, or its Gaelic name Mullagh Ide, is a small vibrant seaside town situated in Fingal in North County Dublin. It is a small town that, despite being modern, had retained its unique old world charm. The community of Malahide was an active one and consisted of many diverse cultures and origins, and had a host of arts and craft shops. The town developed around Malahide Castle centuries ago as an agriculture and maritime town with fishing as one of the main industries.

The small house that Alex stayed in overlooked the Malahide Marina, one of the largest marinas in Dublin. She arrived there late afternoon a week ago, wanting to get away from London and from Rob. 2 Days after her accident, she was released from hospital with a warning from the doctor to take it easy for a few days. Alex was numb as she went through the motions; organising the repair of her car with the insurance company, submitting the pictures of Kenya to Bono and National Geographic and of course re-schedule some of her more urgent appointments. She didn’t go to her office; instead she took the easy way out and called Megan from home. When her assistant heard about her plans, she was immediately suspicious and wanted to know more, but respected Alex’s privacy. She assured Alex that she would take care of everything, and should any emergencies crop up, she’d call. Alex smiled tiredly as Megan spoke, “Meg, you’re an angel I swear. Thank you … For everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Her voice almost faltered, and Megan picked up on it immediately. “Alex, have you sent the photos and stuff to Bono and NG yet? If you haven’t, I could do that for you too.” Alex sighed, “Thanks Meg but I’ve already sent it, I didn’t want that to be late. Let me know of any developments will you?” Megan smiled, “I have everything under control. You just take it easy and get better. I’ll speak to you soon.” Alex ended the call and sighed deeply; her whole world was turned upside down. She packed the last of her clothes and called a taxi to take her to the airport. She shut all thoughts and images of Rob out of her mind; she’d have more than enough time to figure it all out.

Alex had just returned from a long walk along the beach, stopping off at a café on the marina to have a cup of coffee before returning home. She unlocked the door and took off her shoes, and walked to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. She stopped dead in her tracks when her mobile started ringing. She heard the insistent ringing and knew immediately that it was Rob. She didn’t want to talk to him yet; she wasn’t ready to do so. She hasn’t spoken to him since that night in the hospital when she told him to leave. There were a lot of things she still had to think through and when she’s ready, she’d call him. When the ringing stopped, she checked her phone and saw that it was indeed him.

She sat down in front of her laptop, wanting to keep her mind and thoughts occupied. She sorted through the photos when she opened one folder of Rob, taken in Tuscany. She inhaled sharply and felt her heartbeat accelerate. It was one of those un-posed shots that she immediately sensed could work. She remembered the moment well. It was one afternoon when they were walking in the fields bordering the farm house, talking about something. A little girl no more than 5 years old with blonde curls, came running up to them. Alex recognised her as Francesca’s grandchild, Anena that came to visit for a few days. The child ran down the gravel road, calling out to them.

Rob at that moment, turned around to see who it was. When he saw Anena running towards them, he instinctively crouched down and caught her as she flew into his arms. The photos were taken in quick succession; Rob catching her, twirling her around; his face lifted up to hers and smiling broadly. The last photo was the one that stole Alex’s heart every time she looked at it; Rob was holding Anena close, his eyes closed. Alex had managed to capture the look on his face as he was holding her; his face was serene and peaceful, and a mysterious smile hovering around his lips. Every time Alex saw the photo, she had the sense that Rob would be a wonderful father one day; he was born to be one.

Alex’s eyes were full of tears as her gaze lingered on the images, and finally, after more than a week, she allowed herself the luxury of tears. Big sobs wracked her body as she closed her eyes, trying to blot out the images in her mind. She cried for herself and for Rob; for the wonderful times they had together, for the amazing memories they shared, but most of all, she cried because of lost and broken dreams. She truly believed that their relationship was a strong one, even though things happened at the speed of lightning. She often wondered if the speed of their relationship would somehow made a difference. “Hurry home Alex, I’ll wait for you.” Those were the last whispered words in her ears before she boarded her flight to Kenya. How empty those words sounded now; how naïve of her to ever believe that she and Rob had a fair chance. She let herself cry, getting rid of some of the hurt and pain. She was tired of being strong, of holding her emotions in check.

Alex didn’t know how long she cried, but when the tears finally dried up, she felt as though she was hit by a freight train. She closed her laptop and got up, walked to the bathroom to splash her face with cold water.
She looked at her image in the bathroom mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen and the rest of her face was full of blotches. She pulled a face at her image and dried herself with a towel. She looked back in the mirror, trying to see if there was anything was wrong with her. Wasn’t she attractive enough? Wasn’t she intelligent enough? Was she such a horrible person that Rob had to blatantly cheapen their relationship that she thought was special? She sighed tiredly, knowing that with every ‘why’ she’s going to ask herself, she’d find a different answer, driving herself crazy in the process.

CHAPTER 21


Alex had fallen asleep after her mini breakdown earlier that afternoon, and groggily woke up when she heard the ringing of the phone. She groaned and wanted to ignore it, but picked it up nonetheless. She didn’t recognise the number on the display and hesitated before she answered the call. “Hello?” Her voice sounded hoarse even to her own ears and she swallowed. “Alex? Are you sick? You sound strange.” It was Bono’s voice on the other side and she sighed relieved. “Hi Irish, what time is it?” she asked and tried to look at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s almost 6.00 I think. Are you sleeping?” She stifled a yawn, “I was, but have slept too much. Whatever am I going to do tonight?” His deep laughter sounded over the phone, “Well, you could invite a friend over for a glass of wine if you like” he said, sounding casual. A smile touched Alex’s lips. Since the accident, he’d call every second day to check up on her, making sure that she was ok. “On one condition then. I will cook up something in the kitchen, no idea what though. And as long as this friend forgives the way I look” she added softly. Bono heard how hard she tried to be brave, and wanted to say something that would bring comfort, but couldn’t think of any words at that moment. “I’ll see you in about an hour, is that ok with you or …” She interrupted him softly, “that would be fine Irish, I’ll see you then.”

She had quick shower and changed into a pair of corduroy jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and flat shoes. She pulled her hair away from her face and tied it with a ribbon, away from her face. She suddenly felt a little lighter; she was going to spend some time in a friend’s company and she was looking forward to B’s visit.

She was busy in the kitchen when she heard a knock on the kitchen door, and smiled as she opened the door. He was dressed in dark cargo pants, a t-shirt and a short jacket. Blue tinted glasses adorned his face and she had to admit that he looked quite attractive in a rough kind of way. Alex stepped forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek, “you’re looking well B, come on in.” He smiled, climbed the few steps and stepped into the kitchen, “it smells great whatever it is you’re making.” She smiled, “just a very humble dish … don’t know if it will be good enough for a world famous rock star …” He looked at her and laughed, placed the bottle of wine on the counter. “I’m not fussy about what I eat, I’m an easy man” he said as he took off his jacket and hung it over the back of one of the kitchen chairs.

He sat down and looked at her, “you’re looking tired Alex, sorry to say” he said softly. She felt her cheeks redden and nodded, “I had a bit of a crying session this afternoon. I guess it was time for me to start working it out of my system.” There was silence for a few moments as he digested her words. “In your own time Alex, don’t rush yourself.” His words were just as soft as he watched her closely. She managed a smile and sat down opposite him, “tell me what you’ve been up to. I’m sure it’s much more exciting than my life at the moment.” She was good at hiding her own pain and diverted one’s attention away from it. He shook his head slightly, “well, I’m off to New York the day after tomorrow. I’m going to oversee the launch of the winter series of my clothing line Edun, at 5th Avenue. I don’t really want to go, but I know the importance of showing my face from time to time. I’ve been messing around in the studio with the guys, and we got one or two good songs together.” She listened attentively, “are you going to record a new album?” she asked curiously. He grinned, “Not at this stage no, but you never know with us. We always seem to surprise everyone. At this moment, we’re just passing the time.” She smiled, “I was hoping to add another album to my collection” she admitted shyly, not looking him in the eye. “You’re a U2 fan?” he asked sceptically. She looked at him quickly, “why wouldn’t I be? Your music is amazing; love your work, especially the earlier stuff.” He sat back and watched her with a smile, “well, you amazed me tonight. And thank you for the compliment. Shall we drink to that?” She nodded and watched him get up and pour them some wine.

They had dinner in the kitchen. Alex wanted to set the table but Bono declined, saying that he’s rather eat in the kitchen where it was more comfortable. Bono praised her cooking, saying that he’d never have thought that she could add ‘cook’ to her resume. She laughed at him, “my mom made sure her kids could take care of themselves. It helped a great deal believe me.” He nodded, “do you have a brother or a sister?” he asked interested. “I have one brother. Laurence is an IT buff and works for Microsoft © London’s offices. He’s 5 years older than me and married with his university sweetheart, no kids yet.” He heard the obvious closeness she shared with her brother, and thought about his own. They chatted about her work, and the places she’d been too; sharing with him her impressions of the many countries she visited. While they chatted, they drank the rest of the wine, and Alex felt her body relax a little.

It was after 11 o’clock that Bono got up, “I better go, it’s getting late. Tomorrow is going to be a hectic one, organising some things before I leave for New York.” Alex got up reluctantly; she’d really enjoyed his company and wished he could stay a little longer. “I can’t entice you with a last cup of coffee before you leave?” she asked and smiled at him. He nodded his head slowly, “maybe next time Alex. I really have to go, but I’ll call you soon.”

She walked with him to the door, “thank you for a lovely evening; I really enjoyed it” she said and stood to one side. “Thank you for sharing the wine and feeding me, it was nice.” He stood in front of her and looked at her, “take care of yourself Alex; promise me.” His voice was soft but with a note of urgency in it. She nodded, her eyes on his face, “I promise” she whispered softly. He nodded and put on his jacket, adjusting the collar. Alex sensed something in the air, something that she couldn’t give a name to, but it was there nonetheless. She shook her head impatiently, writing it off as her imagination. “I’ll see you soon Alex” he said gruffly as he bent forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead. Before Alex could respond, he’s stepped away from her, leaped down the stairs and disappeared into the night. She closed the door softly and locked it, a bit taken aback by Bono’s gesture. She couldn’t shake the feeing that he wanted to say something to her, but in the end decided against it. In her mind’s eye, she recalled his face as they sat in the kitchen chatting, and remembered thinking that he had the kindest eyes she’d ever seen in another man.


CHAPTER 22


Bono looked at his mobile, irritated by the soft vibrating sound. He’d just stepped out of the function at 5th Avenue’s and had a look to see who was calling him. There were 3 missed calls, all in quick succession and they were all from Rob. He frowned when he saw the name, not sure if he wanted to talk to him right now. Since he left Tuscany, he hadn’t heard anything from Rob, except a few e-mails regarding the book of poems. After the incident between Rob and Alex, he never heard from him until now. He put down his glass of wine on the balcony wall and thought about what he would say to Rob. He knew that sooner or later his friend was going to call him, and now that moment had arrived.

Alex never really told him what happened between them. All she ever said was that Rob had made a choice and didn’t need her in his life anymore. When he probed what exactly she meant, she clammed up, only saying that maybe she wasn’t Rob’s type. He felt torn. Rob was his friend for many years, and they really got along well. Alex on the other hand he hasn’t known that long, but he considered her a friend too. There was just something about her that brought out the protective side in him. She was a strong and amazing woman, and yet she had a vulnerability that was quite clear to see from time to time. She wasn’t your conventional beauty, but there was something alluring about her. She has the ability to draw you in slowly without you even realising it. She was intelligent, beautiful, compassionate and strong; things that he admired in any women, regardless their age.

He sighed and with his mind made up; he called Rob’s number and waited impatiently for the call to be connected. “Bono, hello mate” Rob said, sounding out of breath. “Hi Rob, you were looking for me? Sorry I couldn’t take your calls earlier, was at the launch of the new Edun series.” Rob was quick to assure his friend, “I’m sorry to bother you mate, it’s just … well …” There was silence for a few seconds before he continued, “I wanted to ask you if you knew how Alex was doing” Rob concluded softly. Now that he asked the question, Bono didn’t know how to respond or what to say. “B? Do you know where she is?” Rob asked impatiently. Bono sighed, “Yeah I know where she is. She’s doing ok considering …” Rob interrupted him, “where is she?” he asked. Bono sighed, “She’s safe Rob, that’s al I’m prepared to say. She’s still recovering from whatever you did to her” Bono said bitingly, surprising himself by his tone of voice. Rob could feel his hair standing on end at hearing Bono’s voice, “I don’t think it’s got anything to do with you mate, it’s a matter between Alex and me. I don’t need your interference.”

Bono held the phone away from his ear, and could not believe what he heard. His immediate urge was to end the call, but he calmed himself down. “If that is the case, then tell me why you don’t even know where she is Rob.” There was silence from Rob’s side and for a moment Bono thought that Rob had put the phone down. “What’s up with you anyway? Why can’t you just tell me where she is? If you really …” Bono felt his anger erupt, “she’s a friend Rob. And I see a young lady that was hurt badly by some stupid fool. If you care about her at all like you proclaim, you’d give her the space to work through this. Let her call you when she’s ready.” Rob listened to the words of his friend and suddenly he lost it completely, “Are you hiding her away in some love-nest Bono? Is she your mistress away from the world and Ali?” His laugh was ugly, “Fuck! My mate sleeping with my girlfriend. Imagine the headlines: “Rock god’s mistress revealed.”

His Irish forefather’s temper broke over him with a blinding intensity when he heard Rob’s words. He gripped the phone tighter and felt his heartbeat accelerate, “I never thought I’d ever say the words to a friend of mine, but fuck you Rob. Fuck you. You’ve shown exactly what you’re made off” and disconnected the call. He closed his eyes and forced himself to breath slowly. He was shaking from anger, his knuckles white. He had the impulse to punch something or someone, but controlled himself with difficulty. It took a good few minutes before he felt calm enough to go back inside.

Rob looked at the phone incredulously when he heard the loud click in his ear. “What the fuck?” he said softly, and when he realised that his friend had ended the call, he threw his mobile against the nearest wall. Not even seeing the phone break into a million pieces gave him the satisfaction he craved. “Josie!!!!!” he screamed loudly from his bedroom, pacing the room erratically. Josie came rushing from the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Rob’s face; it was murderous. “You called” she said as evenly as she possibly could. He looked at her and indicated to the wall where his phone was lying in pieces, “Get me another phone will you? The other one is royally fucked.”

It was late afternoon when Alex’s mobile phone rang. She picked up the phone and saw that it was Megan. “Hi Meg, what’s up?” she said, her voice friendly, “hi Alex, sorry to worry you, but I had to …” Alex could hear in her voice that something was wrong. “What is it Meg? Tell me!” Megan heard the urgency in Alex’s voice and was quick to reassure her, “everything is n control … we’ll almost” she said quickly. “It’s just well … I’ve had endless calls from Mr. Williams Alex. He wants to talk to you, says it’s urgent.” Meg’s voice faltered and she wasn’t sure what Alex’s reaction would be. She suspected that the reason for Alex’s hasty retreat to Ireland had something to do with Mr. Williams.

Alex sighed deeply. She knew that this was going to happen, and she also realised that she had to take care of it as soon as possible. She tried to lighten her voice, “don’t worry Meg, I’ll take care of this. I’m sorry that you had to go through this. He won’t bother you anymore.” Megan frowned, “are you sure? I could fend off as necessary.” Alex closed her eyes and wanted to smile at Meg’s dedication, “I’ve got it under control. Don’t worry about it. I’ll speak to you soon Meg, and take care.” Alex ended the call before Meg could ask any uncomfortable questions. Her hands were shaking and she wasn’t sure if it was nerves or fear. She took a deep breath before her courage deserted her, and dialled the familiar number. Just as suddenly as it appeared, the nerves disappeared and Alex was calm as she waited for the call to be answered.

CHAPTER 23


“Alex? Is that you?” Rob’s voice was breathless as he picked up the phone. Her voice caught in her throat when she heard the familiar voice; she’d forgotten how much she loved listening to his voice. “Yes Rob it’s me” she said, her voice low. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, and now that he was on the other side, the words were stuck in her throat. She didn’t know where to start first. Her thoughts were interrupted when he spoke, “are you ok baby? Where are you?” he asked, concern in his voice. Alex trembled slightly, “I’m fine Rob, how are you?” her voice calm. Rob frowned. Even though Alex’s voice is calm, he could hear the suppressed hurt and disappointment. He avoided the question, “when are you coming home baby? I miss you …” His words hung in the air, and Alex wanted to scream at him, hurt him as much as he’d hurt her. “I’m going to be away for a few weeks longer. I have no idea when I’ll go back to London.”

They sounded like 2 polite strangers having a superficial conversation. “Rob, please can you stop bombarding my office with calls? You’re making Megan’s life a bit uncomfortable and I do not appreciate that.” The longer Alex spoke to him, the calmer and more in control she felt, surprising herself. “I was just worried about you, no one wanted to tell me where you were” he answered softly. He sighed loudly, “Alex please can we please talk about this? I wanna explain …” She interrupted him quickly, “I don’t want to talk about it now Rob, I’m not ready yet to discuss this. I need time …” She fell silent, not knowing what more to say to him. “How long do you think you need?” he asked tentatively. Alex felt her anger rising, “as long as it takes Rob. I don’t know. I can’t give you a clearer answer than that.” There was an uncomfortable silence between then, the other not knowing what to say. “I’ve got to go” she said softly and didn’t say goodbye before ending the call.

Rob looked at the silent phone in his hand, shaking his head. It was the second time in a span of a few hours that someone had put the phone down on him – not good at all.

Alex stared into space for a long time after she ended the call to Rob. Her mind would be filled with images of them together, and then of him with the blonde, and finally it would be blank. She tried to block those hurtful images from her memory, but didn’t always succeed. She silently praised herself for not losing control and not resorted to a blabbering fool when she spoke to him. It would’ve been so easy to let him talk and explain; she would even have listened and probably forgiven him. But she recognised the truth then; she had given Rob more than her trust, her love and her loyalty. She had given him the most treasured possession she could’ve given him; her heart. He had made a mockery out of her naivety, and she would never allow that to ever happen again.

On the spur of the moment, Alex took her camera and decided to go for a walk to Malahide Marina, and take some pictures. Whenever she was struggling with something on her mind, she’d use photography to distract her for a few hours. After the phone call with Rob, that is exactly what she needed. It felt as though the walls of the house were closing in on her, and she needed to go out for a few hours.

The marina wasn’t very busy; there were a few sailboats anchored in the harbour and some people walking around, admiring the view. Alex breathed in the salty air and felt the tension slowly slip away. She took a few pictures of the marina and the surrounding areas, capturing a few good photos. She took her time, walking around the little town’s winding streets. She’d stop at some of the shops and admire their wares through the window, smiling when she heard some comments from foreigners close by. She stopped at an inviting little shop that served coffee and pastries. She realised that she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast that morning and her stomach was grumbling.

While she waited for her order, her eyes happened to fall on a newspaper stand nearby and she instantly recognised Rob’s face on the front page. Without thinking, she got up and took a copy and sat down. ‘Robbie’s new love?’ the headlines screamed above 3 pictures of Rob with a blonde woman. Alex felt nausea choking her throat when she thought she recognised the woman as the same one she saw Rob with that night a few weeks ago. She couldn’t take her eyes off the pictures; she was hypnotised. The pictures showed Rob and the blond woman walking out of what looked like a hotel, getting into a car and driving away. The accompanying words suggested that the blonde was the new woman in his life. For the moment she had no name until the paparazzi had done their homework. With trembling hands Alex put down the paper, her appetite gone. Just then her order arrived and she paid the waitress without touching anything, and rushed out the door.

All the way home, the pictures flashed through her mind, haunting her. She arrived back home, breathless from her efforts, and slammed the door behind her. She closed her eyes, and rested against the door, slowly sinking down to the floor. She was crying silently, tears streaming down her face, not making a sound. ‘When is it going to stop hurting? When will I be over him?’ she wondered, groping for any answers that she might find. It felt like someone ripped her heart out and was stomping on it for good measure. She felt physical pain as she sat there alone, surrounded by nothing than her own pain and despair.

Alex didn’t know how long she sat there. She became aware of her surroundings when she heard light thunder outside, and noticed that night had fallen. Feeling tired and ancient, she slowly got up and made her way to close the windows before it rained. As she made her way through the house, she switched on a few lights to chase the dark away. Alex moved through the house like a zombie, doing things automatically.

In the bathroom, she stripped off her clothing and climbed under a hot shower. She stood under the spray of water, and let the hot water wash over her. She sighed after a few minutes when she felt almost human again, and scrubbed herself vigorously until her body tingled.

Dressed in a tracksuit and slippers, she walked to the kitchen to make herself something to drink. The rain started a few minutes ago and came down in buckets. While the kettle boiled, Alex stood in front of the window, watching the water running down in little streams against the windows. The sound of the rain on the roof somehow calmed her, and a subtle numbness took control. She carried the mug of coffee to the small TV room. She was in no mood to watch television, and decided to maybe read something to while the time before going to bed.

She found a book that had an interesting looking cover and settled in to read. Her mind wondered and she couldn’t concentrate on the words; finding herself reading the same chapter repeatedly. After a few more attempts, she put down the book disgustedly. The rain continued to fall and Alex couldn’t decide if it was worth switching on the TV. She frowned when she heard knocking on the front door and glanced at the clock; it was after 10.00pm and a bit late for someone to visit. She slowly opened the door, and was surprised at who her visitor is. There in the pouring rain stood Bono, completely drenched and not seeming to mind at all.

CHAPTER 24


“Irish? What are you doing here?” Alex asked as she pulled him into the house. She had a towel close by and handed it to him to dry himself. “I wanted to make sure that you’re all right” he said above the noise of the falling rain. He wiped his face and hair and handed the towel back to Alex, “sorry about that.” She shook her head, “come to the kitchen, its warmer there. My God, you’re soaking wet. Whatever were you thinking?” she asked as they walked to the kitchen. He took a seat at the table as she switched on the kettle. He looked at her and shrugged, “I decided to take a walk from where I parked my car. I wanted to feel the rain on my skin … stupid I know.” His voice was a little hoarse and Alex got the feeling that something was on his mind.

She handed him his mug of coffee and sat on the opposite side, “you better get out of those wet clothes; you’re going to catch a cold or something.” He nodded and took a sip of his coffee, “guess you’re right. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sure I’ll find one of Garvin’s robes in the spare room. He always keeps a few items of clothing here.” Alex got up, “while you finish your coffee, I’m running you a hot bath.” There was a no-nonsense tone in her voice, and he didn’t argue. She was back a few minutes later with a dark coloured robe over her arm, “found you a robe to wear. Come on, off you go” and handed him the robe and a towel. He got up and smiled at her, “thanks Alex” and disappeared down the hall to the bathroom.

Alex busied herself in the kitchen, making them something light to eat. Her mind kept going over his unexpected arrival at the house earlier, and wondered again if checking up on her was the only reason he was out on such an unpleasant night. She sighed, the man was sure a mystery, she thought and checked on the food.

Bono joined her a little later, freshly bathed and dressed in the robe that reached his feet. She looked up and smiled, “feeling better?” she asked as she put two plates on the table. He nodded, “thanks, almost feel human again. I forgot how cold the rain could be after a while.” He sat down and started eating his omelette, nodding his head in satisfaction, “you have no idea how good this tastes. Even first-class flights don’t have food that tastes like this.” She smiled, “glad you like it. It was quick and simple, my kind of food.”

There wasn’t much talk after they finished their meal, and only after Alex poured them a glass of wine, did it seem as if relaxed a little. “How have you been Alex, holding up?” he asked, his eyes fastened on her face. She wanted to lie and nod her head, not let him worry, but she couldn’t. She looked at him and saw the kindness in his eyes, and something gave way, “I spoke to him earlier” she said softly. He raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment; waiting for her to continue. “I called to ask him to stop calling my office. Apparently he’s been phoning non-stop and my assistant didn’t know what to do anymore.” Her voice was soft, and he had to strain to hear her. She looked up again, mastering a small smile, “it wasn’t so bad really. He wanted to explain and I told him I wasn’t ready to listen, that I needed time. Then this afternoon at the marina I saw a newspaper with him on the front page …” her voice caught in her throat, and her eyes filled with tears. She remained silent and breathed deeply. When she felt more in control, she continued; “when does the hurt stop Irish?” she asked, her voice a mere whisper.

Bono looked at Alex and saw the vulnerability on her face; the eyes filled with questions that he couldn’t answer. He cursed under his breath, wishing he could strangle Rob for the hurt he’s causing her. Before he could say anything, she spoke again; “am I that unattractive? Am I not … what? Pretty enough? Good enough? Daring enough? Am I that predictable?” There was raw emotion in her voice, her eyes burning because she wanted answers; answers that would explain to her why she was treated this way. She wanted an explanation why she had to endure this unnecessary pain.

Bono’s heart was thudding in his chest as he watched her, and listened to her pleas. He feverishly wished he could make it better for her, take away the pain and toss it into the sea. But he couldn’t. He wasn’t in a position to do anything; he would compromise both of them, and he didn’t know what the consequences would be.

He focussed his attention back to Alex. She was watching him, her grey eyes looking like a raging storm. When he didn’t say anything, she bent forward slightly and grabbed his hands tightly in hers. “Tell me Irish! You’d be honest with me won’t you?”

Alex knew exactly what she was asking. She needed to hear from him that she was an attractive woman, that she had her worth. She needed him to tell her that it wasn’t her fault that Rob chose someone else, that she was worthy of a man’s love and attention. She could feel his hands in hers; his strong hands that conveyed warmth and comfort, holding hers tightly. When he hesitated to answer her, she wanted to get up and run away. She kept thinking that she’s busy making a fool of herself and wanted to retreat before she got in too deep. Suddenly he looked up, his blue eyes intense, “There is nothing wrong with you, don’t ever doubt that Lex. Rob is an idiot for what he did, you can’t blame yourself. You are a beautiful woman Alexandra, inside and out. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

His voice was a whisper in the room and Alex had a feeling that they were the only 2 people on the planet; everything else just faded away. Time was suspended, standing still for a few moments. She felt a sense of relief and something akin to joy; it was a weird sensation she couldn’t explain properly. They still looked at each other, holding hands across the table. “You think I’m beautiful?” she asked softly, a sense of wonder in her voice. He nodded lightly, “I do. I think you’re one of most unforgettable women I’ve ever met.” Silence followed his words and it wasn’t necessary for any more. Alex let go of his hands and got up. She stood behind his chair, bent down and clasped her arms around him. “Thank you Irish” she whispered in his ear, kissing his temple softly.

CHAPTER 25

Alex was lying in bed, staring out the window. She retired to bed over an hour ago and still she couldn’t sleep. She had too much on her mind; she kept on thinking about everything that happened the previous day. The newspaper. The photos of Rob and the blond. Her tears. Bono’s arrival. Her questions to him. His answers. She didn’t know what to feel and what to think. She was on a rollercoaster and she didn’t know where to or how to get off.

Her thoughts returned to Bono. He was a wonderful man that somehow hid himself in mystery. From her interactions with him, she found him a wonderful friend, a man full of compassion and empathy. Although he didn’t talk much, she felt comfortable in his company, and he allowed her to be herself. The communication between them were amazing, they seemed to be on the same wavelength on most issues. She loved exchanging ideas with him, mentally sparring with him. Through all this, she sensed that he had a vulnerable side that he kept under close wraps. When she looked at his face, she could never really guess what he was thinking, and yet … there was something about him that made her want to know more. Not much of his personal life was known. What was well known of course was his music career, his charity work throughout the world, and the causes he supported.

Alex had a crazy idea and it wouldn’t leave her alone. She tossed and turned, punching the pillows and tried to switch off her mind, and think of something else. ‘Bugger it!’ she said after some time and sat up in bed. She was at a tug-of-war with her emotions and knew what she was about to do was absolutely crazy, unheard of. And yet, she couldn’t stop herself; there was a stronger force controlling her.

Bono froze when he heard the door open and a soft click as the door was closed again. He knew Alex was in his room. The question was what the hell she was doing there? He listened and heard her footsteps on the floor, coming closer. He maintained his even breathing and opened his eyes slightly. It was dark in the room, but he could make out her figure standing next to his bed, watching him. Without a word, she climbed in beside him, and turned around, her back facing him. She snuggled closer, almost touching him. Bono was acutely aware of her lying so close to him; he could feel the heat radiating from her body. He lifted his head slightly, “Lex, you ok?” His voice was a whisper in the darkness. She lifted her head slightly, “I’m ok Irish. I just need the closeness of another human being right now” she said softly and turned around to face him.

He watched her face in the darkness, and wished he could see her eyes. Her hand gingerly touched his face and let her fingers move over the stubble on his cheeks. Bono didn’t move; he was too scared to. He held his breath as her fingers touched his face lightly, and closed his eyes, savouring her touch. The alarm bells rang loudly in his mind, threatening to deafen him. He’d been faithful to Ali for almost all of their married life together. There was the occasional flirt on and off stage of course, but nothing ever went further than a smile or a look, nothing physical ever happened. ‘God help me’ he prayed silently, feeling his resolve eroding with every passing second.

Alex was mesmerized by the idea of being here with him. She felt the stubble on his face tickle her fingers, and sighed contently. She wasn’t sure what she was doing there. All she knew was that she needed someone’s closeness tonight; for a few hours she wanted to forget the world and all it’s harshness.

Her fingers rested on his mouth, slowly tracing the outlines of his lips. It took all of his resolve not to do anything right then. He moved his head and looked at her, “Lex, you shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be doing this …” The words died on his lips when he felt her hand on the side of his face, gently pulling him closer. “Shhh, I know exactly what I’m doing …” she whispered hoarsely against his lips. “Lex … what about …” She interrupted him gently, “you talk too much Irish” before kissing him softly. Bono’s resolved evaporated when he felt Alex’s lips on his, demanding to be obeyed. With a soft curse, he gathered her in his arms, holding her close. He took command of the kiss and gently explored the sweetness of her mouth. She responded immediately, allowing him to come closer; she wanted to feel him touch her in every way. His hands slowly explored the contours of her body, gently touching her, discovering the uniqueness of her. Alex shuddered in his arms; she wanted to be closer to him, she wanted to breathe him in. Her hands explored his back, running her fingers up and down his spin. She felt him stiffen a couple of times and felt immense satisfaction. As if in a dream, he removed the rest of her clothing, kissing every bit of exposed skin. Alex spiralled out of control; she could feel waves of pleasure stealing over her body.

He stopped suddenly and looked at her, his eyes burning, “Lex … Are you sure about this? We could stop right now and things would be ok. I’m so much older than you, at least 15 years … and you’re so hurt … so vulnerable. I would hate to make it worse for you. I’ll never forgive myself.” His voice was sincere and strong, and Alex had no doubt in her heart that the words he said was true and he meant every one of them. She was also sure that after tonight things between them wouldn’t change; they could still be friends.

She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, “I’ve never been so sure in my life. Please can I stay …?” she asked, before his lips claimed hers in a kiss that was sweet and tender, a kiss of surrender. He caressed her body as if she was made of glass; he was gentle and slow with her. He kissed her tenderly quite often, almost as if he knew that after tonight, it could never happen again. This was a moment that both of them savoured; it was a time where 2 souls met fleetingly and then leave just as quietly as they arrived.

They were wrapped in each other, their bodies and souls one. Alex experienced something that she’d never experienced before. She couldn’t tell where she ended and Bono begun; their union was something special, something more binding, almost spiritual. With his arms holding her close, she felt safe. For the first time in weeks, she felt completely and utterly safe. She held on to this feeling, knowing that it could not possibly last.

Their lovemaking was unhurried; there were no time constraints or any rush. Alex felt her pleasure rushing forward, flooding her being. She closed her eyes and strained her body under his; needing the release he could give her. Bono felt the tension in her body, her hands that gripped his shoulders tightly, and knew that she was ready. His body was on fire, his senses heightened by her closeness, her warmth. His name died on her lips as he claimed her mouth in a kiss that took her breath away, as together, they tumbled over the edge into oblivious release.


CHAPTER 26


Alex found Bono in the kitchen the next morning, dressed in his clothes that dried overnight, nursing a mug of coffee. Their eyes met across the room and she smiled at him, “morning” and made herself some tea. “I was up early; I didn’t want to wake you. You needed the sleep.” She blushed at his words and looked down, keeping her hands busy. She sat on the opposite side of the table and looked at him. His face was unreadable, and she could just imagine what must be going through his mind. She expected to feel guilt this morning, but she didn’t feel that at all. What she experienced though, was gratefulness. She was immensely grateful to the man sitting across from her.

She drank her tea and watched him over the rim of her cup. She didn’t like the sudden silence between them; it felt as though it was choking her. She put a hand on his, resting on the table, willing him to look at her, “Irish, look at me.” He lifted his eyes and met her steady gaze. “Are you sorry for what happened last night? Are you ashamed?” she asked softly, silently praying that he would understand. A few moments passed before he answered, “Lex, if you want the God honest truth, I do not know what I feel. I should probably not say this, but I don’t regret anything that happened last night. It was … I don’t know … it was something deeper than just 2 people having an intimate moment. I can’t describe it properly; it was something I’ve never experienced before.” Alex heard his words and knew exactly what he was trying to say; she felt exactly the same way.

She nestled her fingers between his, “I’ve only got one favour to ask of you.” Her voice was soft with suppressed emotion. He squeezed her fingers, “anything” he said gruffly and watched her closely. She nodded slowly and had to swallow a couple of times before she could trust her voice, “please don’t shut me out. I’m still your friend … at least I hope I still am. What happened last night … the way I behaved …” before she could finish her sentence, he placed a finger on her lips, “you don’t have to say another word Lex, I understand. There’s no need for you to apologise.” His voice was soft and she had the urge to fling herself into his arms, but she didn’t. There was no need to make things more difficult than they already were. She nodded, and managed a smile, “and you Irish? Will you be ok?” He looked at her and smiled softly, “I’ll survive Lex; I’m an old man!” He tried to joke and make the atmosphere a little lighter, but didn’t succeed.

He finished the last of his coffee and got up, “I’ll be on my way then. Take care of yourself Lex; you’re stronger than you think. I’ll keep in touch.” She looked up at him and had the impending feeling that she might never see him again. She might never spend time in his company again, hear him laugh; see him get excited about something, see his eyes crinkle in merriment.
She got up from her chair and held out her hands. He took them and pulled her in a tender embrace, enfolding her in his arms. He held her tightly, wanting to remember every nuance of her, burn it into his memory. He knew that he could never see her again; not like this, not alone, because if he did … It would be so easy to loose himself in her … But he couldn’t. He closed his eyes and swallowed a couple of times. He was the one that broke the embrace, and held her at arms length. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words didn’t come.

Alex watched emotion flicker across his face, and then it shut down. She stepped forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek, “thank you Irish … for everything.” She couldn’t say anymore; she could feel her throat closing. He nodded, touched her cheek lightly, turned around and walked away. She listened to his retreating footsteps and the closing of the door behind him, and thought suddenly how final it sounded.

CHAPTER 27


One day followed the next in Malahide … and the rest of the world for that matter. Alex used this time to search her heart and soul about what she wanted to do. Was she going to give Rob the opportunity to explain and take another chance on their relationship? Would she be able to forgive him for the hurt and pain he caused her? Would she be able to look past all this; forgive and forget, and make her life with him? Is that what he wanted too? What if she made all these assumptions about her and Rob’s relationship and he wasn’t interested in settling down? He told her that he loved her and she believed him … she still believed that he did … and maybe he still does. Alex knew that she cared for Rob deeply … she loved him for the person he is, and had an idea what she let herself into. The only thing she didn’t bargain for is that something like this to happen. She got to know the real Rob … at least she think she did, and he was worlds apart from what one saw on stage. She truly believed that he allowed her to come closer because he trusted her enough to allow her to see his other side.

She knew that she should return to London; there was nothing more for her to do in Malahide. It was a temporarily hideaway to lick her wounds and come to terms with what happened. And now … now it was time to get back into the swing of things; face life and all its challenges head-on, and do the best she could.

After Bono left that morning almost 2 weeks ago, she didn’t hear from him for a few days. She was guilt-ridden about what happened between them; she didn’t want to spoil the friendship they had, but she knew that maybe it already changed that night. He called a few times, wanting to know how she was, and when she’d be returning home. The conversations were not really the same as they were before, and Alex was a fool to believe that things could stay the same between them. She realized that she put Bono in a difficult position as a man but also as her friend. It was never her intention to let things go that far. All she needed and wanted that night was for another human being’s warmth and understanding; she was torn, and wanted him to restore her faith in herself. And maybe that was selfish of her. To expect a friend, someone that she respected and cared about, to heal her, make her feel better about herself again. The worst guilt she felt, was the fact that she asked if him to break his vow … and that is something that she knew she never should’ve asked from him.

Alex knew that she’d probably be slated for what she did. She knew that in the majority of society’s eyes what she did was just not acceptable. And yet … somehow, she couldn’t really get herself to dwell on the issue to much. She didn’t regret what happened that night as such; she only regretted the fact that she asked him to do something that was most probably against his beliefs. She could never, no matter how much time goes by, forget what he did for her that night. He gave her back something that she thought she’d lost after the incident with Rob. That night, he gave her back a piece of herself. She could never look at him with the same eyes again; she’d always be reminded of that one rainy night in October when two worlds collided and became one for a few hours.

And after all she did … was it fair of her to keep Rob countable for his little mistake, his indiscretion? Who was she to judge him when she did something similar; maybe not in quite the same way as he did, but close enough? Would she tell Rob about what happened between her and Bono and break-up an old friendship? Would he understand if she explained to him? Should she tell him? If she and Rob can work out their differences, would she be able to keep the secret that will always be in her heart? Would she be able to remain silent, and pretend that everything was ok? Her mind felt like a sieve; so many question, but so few answers. Alex really didn’t know what to do, what to think and most importantly of all, what to decide.

She knew she had to return back home to London, and then decide what she was going to do. With some idea in her mind decided, she made arrangements for her return flight, and called Meg, informing her that she would be back in the office the day after.

She was up before sunrise the next morning, and decided to take a last walk around Malahide. She took her time walking around the picturesque town and took in the sights and sounds that she knew she’d miss. She returned home half hour before she was due to go to the airport, and made sure that all windows were closed and the electricity switched off. She took one last walk around the house, and smiled softly at the memories she’d take with her.

She heard the hooting of the taxi outside and quickly picked up her bags, walked to the front door, and with a final click of the lock, she walked away without looking back once.


CHAPTER 28


Alex didn’t realise how much she missed London until she was back in the city. The peace and tranquility of Malahide was a balm for her soul, but she missed the hustle and bustle of the people, all on their own mission. She stood in her office at the window, looking out over the city and smiled softly, ‘there’s nowhere like home’ she thought and just then heard the door slam, announcing Meg’s arrival.

After warm exchanges and refills of coffee, they sat down in reception. “Tell me what happened while I was away Meg. Anything interesting?” Megan snorted unladylike, “nothing exciting ever happens when I’m alone at the office Alex, only when you’re around! Everything was its usual self, no great pains. I don’t know if you saw the National Geographic edition on your desk, the one where you were in Kenya with Bono … anyway, it’s a lovely article and as always, wonderful photography Alex!” The other woman laughed, “You’re biased because I pay your salary Meg.” Megan shook her head, her face serious, “I’m not kidding. When you have a moment, have a look at it, its really good. There is one picture in there that really touched me when I saw it; it’s so fitting.” Alex arched her eyebrows, and Megan got up to fetch the magazine. She opened it on the page she was referring to and shoved it in Alex’s hands, “there, this one” she said and pointed her finger at the photo she was referring to. Alex looked at felt her heart stop beating for a few seconds. The picture in question was the one she took on the spur of the moment at the village when they went to have a look at the water wells. He was crouched down with children around him and he was laughing at something one of them said. She remembered that morning so well … she recalled him saying that she was supposed to take photos of the women and children and not him. Her eyes softened as she looked at the picture, and wondered fleetingly how he was doing. She hasn’t spoken to him since the day she told him that she’s returning to London. She knew it was better that way, especially for him, and she respected his decision.

She looked up and managed a smile, “you’re right Meg, that photo is beautiful. I was just very lucky that morning …” Alex’s voice trailed off and for a few moments silence hung in the air. Megan broke the silence, “time to get back to work. There are a few things that I need to finalize so that you go can go through it. Shout if you need anything.” Alex watched her go and made her way back to her office. She needed to work and concentrate, there were lots for her to do.

The rest of the day went by relatively quickly. Alex was buried in paperwork and constant phone calls, arranging schedules and deadlines. She reveled in her work; it was a good feeling to see all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, even though for the moment it was only on paper. Meg went out at lunch-time to get them a sandwich and hot chocolate at the corner deli, and ate at their desks. It was after 5 o’clock when Meg stuck her around the door, “I’m leaving now … unless there’s something else?” Alex looked up and smiled tiredly, “its fine Meg. I’m also leaving in a while. I just want to finish the last details on this proposal that has to be out tomorrow. Thank you for all your hard work today, I’ll see you in the morning.” Meg nodded and smiled, “don’t work too late now Alex, I know you!” Alex smiled and put up her one hand, “I promise, one hour tops!” Meg grinned and waved, “g’nite Alex” and left quietly.

Alex was totally absorbed in her work that she didn’t hear the knock the first time. After a second, more insistent knock, did she realise that it was at her office. Frowning slightly, she got up and walked to the reception front door and opened it. It was a delivery man from a courier service and he held out a parcel to her, “Alex Daly?” She nodded, and he gave her a clipboard to sign her name. When she handed back the paperwork, he touched his cap lightly, “good evening” and disappeared down the hall. She looked at the parcel, and noticed that there was no postage stamp or postmarks on it. She locked the door and walked to her office, curious to see what was inside the parcel. Before he sat down, she switched on the radio for some music and slowly removed the wrapping, not sure what to expect.

When she was finally done, she put her hand inside the jiffy bag to pull out the item. Her breath caught in her throat and she had difficulty breathing for a moment. ‘Oh my God … Rob …he remembered’ she whispered softly.

CHAPTER 29

She looked down at the deep burgundy leather-bound book in her hands and felt the tears rush to her eyes. It was Rob’s book of poems; the one he promised he’d give her a special edition copy of. Her hands were shaking when she opened the book onto the first page. She let her gaze fall on the picture of Rob; a beautiful picture that wasn’t her work, but fitted the book so perfectly. He looked down with an enigmatic smile on his face, and at the bottom right hand corner, was the title of the book, ‘Healing With Words’



She was too scared to look through the pages. She wanted to discover what touched his soul, but also hesitant to break the special moment, wanting to prolong the discovery. She slowly started paging through the book and stopped often to read some of the poems. Some of them were filled with sarcastic wit, others were touching albeit a bit sad, but a good combination of every kind of emotion. She finally understood why he was so insistent on taking so many photos.

There were 2 songs that he chose for the publication; one was his own, ‘Make Me Pure’ and the other one was ‘Peace On Earth’ of U2. The picture accompanying the last song was the one of Rob and Bono walking together, heads bent towards each other. In their faces she could see the mutual respect they had for each other. For a fleeting moment Alex experienced guilt, but forced it back to the recesses of her mind. The picture on the opposite side of ‘Make Me Pure’ was the one she discovered when she was at Malahide; the one of Rob and the little blonde haired girl. The picture that was chosen, was the one Alex loved the most; the one where Rob was holding the little girl tenderly, his face the essence of peace and utter bliss. At the bottom there was something written and Alex recognised his handwriting immediately. It simply said ‘Pure Innocence’ and it was beautiful in its simplicity.

She became aware of folded paper at the back of the book. She took it out and noticed that it was a hand-written letter, addressed to her. With her heart thumping in her chest, she unfolded the letter and started reading:

Dearest Alex,

I can keep a promise as you can see. In your hands you hold one of the special editions of the poem book.

There is so much I wanna say to you that I don’t know where to begin … I’m such an idiot as a good friend reminded me a few weeks ago, I said such vile things to him … Anyway, I’ll try and explain what happened that night when you came back from Kenya, and saw me in the arms of another woman.

The truth is Alex … as hard as it is for me to say, there is someone else … for the moment anyway. I dunno how long this one is gonna last, but does it really matter? What we had was special while it lasted and I’ll never forget our times together. You’re probably wondering why I’m so weak, and why I couldn’t wait for your return. Honestly? I don’t really have a sensible answer for you Alex as much as I feel the need to give you some explanation for all that’s happened. Maybe it’s the sense that I don’t deserve you Alex. I don’t deserve someone as good as you are. You’re probably one of the most decent, most caring women I’ve ever had the honour of knowing, and I’m just sorry that I hurt you so badly. I’m a fucked up case Alex, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to settle down for good … at this stage, I just don’t know …

You deserve someone good, someone that will love and care about you the way you deserve Alex. You are one very special lady and I wish you everything your heart desires … I’m just sorry I couldn’t or wouldn’t give you what you wanted.

Be good to yourself, and take care.

Rob



Alex read and re-read the letter a few times, her mind not comprehending what he was telling her. She couldn’t believe the words he’d put down on paper; she didn’t want to believe that it was over, irrevocably gone like last spring’s flowers. And she thought that maybe …

Finally she got up from her chair, tore Rob’s letter in small pieces and threw it in the dustbin. She watched as the bits of paper fluttered down to the floor, and thought that it was pretty much how her life was the last couple of months; torn to countless pieces. She didn’t cry. There were no tears of remorse, no hurt, nor was there any pain. She’d done her crying, said her goodbyes a long time ago. Somehow she knew subconsciously that they couldn’t make things work for them. The only sadness she felt wasn’t for her; it was for Rob. She felt sad that he still haven’t found what he so intensely searched for, and he probably never would … To go through life without the love and companionship of a good man or woman, was to die slowly every day.

She picked up the book of poems and had a long look at the picture of Rob on the inner page, trying to understand him and the reasons behind his actions. After a few minutes she sighed, closed the book and put it in the bottom drawer of her desk. ‘Go well Rob’ she whispered as she closed the drawer and slowly walked away.


CHAPTER 30



5 Months Later – Malahide, Ireland:

Alex sat on a small dune, and watched the slow moving of the water. It was overcast with heavy clouds, and a certain promise of rain in the early evening. The beach was almost empty except for a few elderly people walking their dogs all along the waterline. She shivered slightly from the cold wind coming in from the sea, and nestled her face deeper in her jacket. She let out a deep breath and was amazed how good she felt. Gone were the days that she agonized over trivial things, allow unimportant things to worry her. After receiving Rob’s letter, she was obviously thrown for a couple of days, but she refused to let it get her under. She said her goodbyes a long time ago. She was determined to carry on, to be a success, not just in her line of work, but also as a person. She spent more time in England and only accepted assignments if they really interested her. She also decided to take more time off, doing things that she always wanted to do, but never had the time for.

She smiled softly as she recalled her brother Laurence’s face when she told him that she’s not chasing after fame and glory or money anymore. From now on she’d do what feels right and comfortable for her. At first he took her a bet that she wouldn’t last very long, but had to grudgingly pay up and admit that his sis was definitely changing her ways. Jake Adams of course was shocked and upset when she told him her plans, and didn’t speak to her for a few days. Afterwards he gave her a hug and told her that she should do what her heart tells her to do. She slyly introduced Jake to Megan when he came to the office one day, and when she spoke to Meg a few days ago, she excitedly told Alex that they were going for their 3rd date in a few days. Alex grinned and shook her head; she’s glad she could do something for Meg. The woman wasn’t just her assistant, she’d also become a good and trusted friend. Her life was good, and she knew that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

The next moment Alex felt someone sit down behind her, and she sighed. “Hello Irish” she said softly and leaned back against his legs. He laughed softly, his voice a little hoarse, “you’re a devil Lex, how did you know?” She turned and looked at him with a smile, “I just knew.” He made himself comfortable and gently pulled her against his chest, his arms around her waist. His chin rested on her shoulder and she could feel his hot breath in her ear. She shivered slightly and snuggled closer. “You cold?” he asked softly and she shook her head silently. Together they sat in silence; the only audible sound was the breaking of the small waves, and a cry from a bird once in a while.

“How did you know this is where I’d be?” she said, waiting for him to answer. “I knew because this is where I lost my heart” he answered softly. She hasn’t seen him since that morning when he walked out of her life almost 7 months ago. The calls were infrequent, and it was mostly from him wanting to know if she was holding up, especially when the news broke that the blonde woman everyone speculated about, was indeed Rob’s new love interest. She assured him that she was fine and that he shouldn’t worry about her. She still saw him from time to time at some functions, but always very fleetingly. She always made sure that she left before the time; she didn’t want to create any uncomfortable situations. Every time she saw him, whether it was in person or on TV, she always felt that connection with him, even though neither of them did anything to encourage any involvement.

Then about 2 weeks ago, she had a call from him in the middle of the night. She was already in bed and was slightly annoyed at being disturbed at that late hour. “Lex, can I see you?” he said breathlessly, and she had the absurd idea that he was nervous. She didn’t ask any questions; she didn’t need to, “I’ll be at the place we met in 2 weeks Irish. I’ll see you there.”

Alex closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, and heard the steady beat of his heart. The sound soothed her and she reached out and took his hands in hers. She gently stroked the palms of his hands, enjoying the touch of his skin on hers. Bono sat completely still, enjoying the sensation her touch created, and took a deep breath. He seriously doubted his sanity the last couple of weeks, and many times he buried his emotions with work, but there was only so much one could do before it came back to haunt you.

‘Slow down my beating heart, A man dreams one day to fly, A man takes a rocket ship into the skies, He lives on a star that’s dying in the night, And follows in the trail the scatter of light, Turn it one, Turn it on, you turn me on, mmmm, mmmm yeah …Be still my beating heart, Go slowly love, Go slowly now …’ Alex shivered as he sang the words in her ear. His voice was raw with emotion, and she knew that it was his way of showing a part of himself, allowing her a glimpse of the man he was.

He held her tighter against him, “I can’t make you any promises Lex. All I can offer you is all of me when I’m with you. I can’t guarantee you anything that will have ‘forever’ stamped on it. You’re such a beautiful woman Lex with your whole life ahead of you … I feel so selfish even saying the words … But if you’re willing to accept this, and spend time with an old man …” She didn’t let him finish. She turned around to face him, her knees in the sand. She looked into his eyes and read in them what was in his heart. She gently took his face between her hands and kissed him softly on the lips, letting him know how she felt.

She tore herself away from his mouth and smiled as her eyes filled with sudden tears, “I don’t ask much Irish, I’m a simple girl. All I ask is the chance to love you. I know your situation, and I’m not asking you to change, or make me any promises that I know you could probably not keep. All I want is the opportunity to love you completely. All I want is to know is that you’re there in my life Irish. It might not be the perfect situation, but it’s good enough for me. I’m willing to take my chances” she concluded softly. Bono looked into her grey eyes; eyes where storms brewed for so long. In them he saw what she felt and suddenly he knew that he could never walk away from her again. He took her hands in his and kissed it softly, his lips lingering there. When he looked up again, Alex saw that he understood what she said; his eyes were smiling. “So you …?” he asked softly, and prayed that he wasn’t wrong. “I will Irish. My answer is yes.” She flung herself into his embrace and felt his strong arms wrap around her, holding onto her as if he’d never let her go again.

They held each other tightly, as their hearts rejoiced in the simple gift of love, in whatever form it chooses to knock on the door of your heart.




The End.


‘In a little while’ written by Bono & performed by U2
(Album: All that you can’t leave behind)