Chapter 14

Iris took a warm cup of tea and opened the window of her living room. Everything was so calm after the storm. She looked around and sipped her tea. She always liked sitting on her window and looking at the beauty of her surroundings.

Pros of having a beautiful view from the window and no houses around. She noticed a man limping in the snow. She avoided him and continued sipping her tea. She looked at that man again.

He must be at least half a meter away. He reminded her of Hugh. Her face was suddenly gloomy. “We had plans for tonight. I wish if I could still see him. I wish it doesn't snow again.”

Iris looked away from him and looked at the trees covered under the snow. The man got closer to her house.

“Who could that be? There are no other houses around. Is he lost?” she wondered.

The man waved at her. She squinted her eyes to look at him. She recognized him. That was Hugh.

“Holy cow!” She exclaimed and kept her cup on the table. “What is he doing here?”

She ran towards the door and picked her jacket and stormed out the door. She had cleared the snow from her lawn and the road outside her house. She ran towards Hugh. He was trembling with cold.

"Hugh!" she exclaimed.

"Hey!" he whispered.

"What are doing in this crazy weather?"

Hugh looked down at his feet. He couldn't talk.

"Oh no!" She took off her jacket and put it around his shoulder. Hugh grabbed the sleeves of her jacket and clutched it tight around him. Iris wrapped her arms around his waist and dragged him slowly towards her house.

As soon as they entered, Iris made Hugh sit on the couch and started rubbing his arms. She knew it wasn't going to be sufficient.

"Wait right here," she said and went inside her bedroom.

She took some dry woods and threw them into the fireplace. Then added diesel from the can that was right next to her fireplace and took the matchbox from the top and lit the woods.

Meanwhile, she got two duvets from her bedroom and wrapped it around Hugh. He was still shivering from the cold. Iris waited for the fire to increase.

"Hugh, you are so stupid. Why did you leave your house?" she said.

Hugh looked at her and smiled softly while his lips trembled. 

"I made it." He whispered.

"What?" She pulled her eyebrows together.

"I wan..ted.. to see..y –ou.." he managed to speak.

"Oh, Hugh! You walked down three kilometers just to see me?"

He nodded.

"God, you're so stupid."

He chuckled softly.

"Don't laugh. You have scared the hell out of me." She kept rubbing his arms.

"Okay, Come on. The flames have increased."

Hugh sat in front of the fire and warmed his hands. Iris prepared tea for him.

"How are you feeling?" She asked and gave him the tea.

"Better," he croaked and took a sip.

"You could have waited for Hugh." Iris sat next to him and wrapped her hands around her knees.

Hugh nodded. "I know. But I thought it might snow again and –" he paused.

"And?"

He looked at her "I just wanted to see you."

Iris sighed. She couldn't find words to speak. She needed a moment to believe that Hugh had gone to great lengths to see her. He almost made himself sick. Why would he do that? Iris kept looking at the fire.

Hugh sipped his tea. 

Iris enjoyed this silence between them. Just his presence was enough. She liked the sound of his deep breaths.

"I hope you don't mind me being here," Hugh finally spoke. His voice still croaked.

Iris looked at him and he looked at her at the same time.

"Don't be stupid. I couldn't be happier. And look at your voice. Are you feeling feverish?" She asked.

Hugh beamed. "No, I feel fine."

"I am really happy that you are here. But you shouldn't have taken such a big risk, Hugh," Iris said in a soft voice.

"I am sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Anyway. You are here and that's all that matters. You should take some rest," said Iris.

"I have come to spend time with you, Iris."

"I'm right here. You can lie in the bed. I'll sit with you. I promise."

"Okay!" Hugh agreed.

Iris checked his palms. They weren't cold as ice anymore but weren't warm enough as well.

"Okay, so you need to stay by the fire for some more time. Take off your socks and warm your feet as well. Meanwhile, I'll prepare soup for you and once you are warm enough, I'll take you inside," Iris said.

"Don't trouble yourself, Iris. I'll be fine in a while."

"You must try my mushroom soup. Now come on, take off your socks. I'll be right back." She patted his cheek and smiled.

Hugh nodded with a grin.

Iris went inside the kitchen and started cooking the Mushroom Soup.

Hugh warmed his feet and hands. He felt warm enough to take off the duvets and a sweater. Iris came out with two bowls in her hand and placed them on the dining table.

"I see you're warm now." She said.

"Yes. I feel so much better. Thank you, Iris. I thought I was going to die freezing." He sat at the table and ate the soup. "This really is delicious." He said.

Iris smiled. "Thank you. Your voice sounds better."

"Yes. You know, we should really consider opening a restaurant. I mean look, you have the experience in hospitality, you cook well, I cook well, and this village really needs a good place where people could eat. All this village has is two cafes and a small restaurant near my place, which hardly has anything on the menu and the food is not so delicious." Hugh said.

Iris laughed. "You really are taking this seriously, aren't you?"

"Of course. It's a great idea. We might have to collect some funds but not as much as you'd need for a city."

"Yes, but it's easier said than done."

They finished eating the soup and Iris put the bowls in the sink.

"Come on, go to bed, and take some rest." She said.

"I am fine Iris, trust me." Hugh tried to protest.

"You have to lie down for a while. Get up now."

"Okay, Madame. As you say." He said with a side smile and Iris chuckled.

Hugh lied in the bed and Iris covered his legs with a blanket. He couldn't help but stare at her. Iris's simplicity, her deep eyes, her pink glossy lips, and her rosy cheeks had made Hugh's heart stutter rapidly.

Iris's care for him gave him a sense of realization that she was meant for him. He knew she was the one who could completely change his life. Her innocence had made him weak in his knees. He wanted to spend every moment with her, he wanted to hold her hands and walk on those green grass at Silbury Hill.