Chapter 6

Joanne had not heard from Ross for the next three weeks, and then it was his twenty sixth birthday. She did not know what to do. She wanted to see him but was afraid of rejection. She confided in her closest friend who is also her cousin. Ema's father was a very wealthy man who dealt with furnitures and she was about to get married to a young barrister whose parents were equally rich.

"You mean he left you because aunt and uncle said he has to work in their firm and live in your place?" Ema asked, after Joanne had told her the whole story.

"Yes," Joanne nodded.

"What's wrong with that?" What has he got to be proud of anyway? Ema wanted to know.

"It's not like that, I mean..." Joanne began uncertainly.

"And Joanne, how in earth did you get involved with someone who lives in Sherbrooke? Sherbrooke! The things I hear about that place!" Ema shuddered and continued, "You won't catch me dead there. Do you actually go there, Joanne?"

"Of course I go. I go to see him and..."

"You go to Sherbrooke? Oh Joanne, what's so special about this boy?"

"Nothing, Ema, I love him very much and I want to marry him."

"You mean you actually love someone who is so poor and lives in Sherbrooke?" Ema was dumbfounded.

"He is from a poor family that does not mean Ross will be poor. He has a degree and will do well for himself."

"Hmmph!" Ema snorted. "An unemployed graduate!"

"Ema are you going to tell me that if Megan wasn't rich, you would not marry him?" Joanne asked.

"I wouldn't even give him attention. Joanne, let's be serious. Money is very important in life. You are used to it and you will need it when you are married and start having babies," Ema advised Joanne. "You don't know how to be poor."

Joanne did not gain anything from her conversation with Ema. She had heard it all before from her mother. She would probably have given the same advice a few months ago, before she started going out with Ross. Ema did not know better, Joanne decided, and she was not going to take her advice. She knew she had to see him, and decided to go to his house, since he would be at home. She could leave a message with his aunt If he still did not want to see her. She bought a navy blue silk shirt, and his favourite after shave lotion. Eau sauvage and a card, all of which she wrapped in a blue wrapping paper. Then he went to his house, feeling as nervous as a little girl going to school for the first time.

Mrs Hayden, Ross's aunt, opened the door. "Hello Joanne! How are you? What a long time since we saw you," she continued, dragging Joanne inside the house.

"Oh no, Auntie, don't wake him up. I'll just leave his present and go," Joanne said quickly.

"Why? You can't come all the way here, and go without seeing him. Just like that! Even if you are quarrelling today, you must see him and make up," said Mrs Hayden and walked briskly into the room Ross shared with Ferdinand, before Joanne could protest further. Despite her anxiety about the love affair, Mrs Hayden had found herself very find of Joanne. She knew Joanne and Ross had not been on good terms lately but she did not interfere since Ross would say nothing. She woke him, told him Joanne was there to see him and walked out before Ross had even gotten what she said fully.

"Joanne?" Wondered Ross. "What on earth does she want?" He put on his shirt slowly and went into the sitting room. As soon as he saw her, he knew how much he had missed her. Did he think he could ever live without her? He was fooling himself. He would want to spend the rest of his life making up for this lost time, come what may.

Joanne, on the other hand, could not keep herself steady. Her heart was beating very fast. She had this crazy urge to run into his arms, just as she had done the first time he came to her house.

"Happy birthday, Ross," she said quietly.

"Oh, so it's the 15th today? I forgot and so did everyone in this house," he said easily. " We're all busy waiting for the 17th we forgot the 15th has to come first. Hello, Joanne. How are you? Thanks for remembering my birthday."

"I'm fine, Ross, this is for you," Joanne said, handling him the parcel shyly. Ross started opening it but Joanne hurriedly announced her departure.

"So early? Won't you stay and have lunch with us?" Asked Ross's aunt when Ross called to her that Joanne was leaving.

"No. Thank you. My grandmother is coming and we are all supposed to be in for Lunch."

Ross saw her off to the corner where she'd parked her car. When they got there, he went inside with her and sat on the passenger seat by her side. He caught hold of her hands, before she could start the car. Joanne tried to avoid his eyes, and instinctively lowered her lashes.

"Joanne, thank you very much for coming and for the present. I want you to know that I'm very sorry about how things have turned out. I love you and I miss you very much. I'm from a low life family but, I can't accept your parents conditions. It would be most unfair to me to ask you to marry me, under the circumstances. God knows, I'd give my right hand to have it otherwise," Ross said.

"Oh Ross!" Was all Joanne said, her long lashes glistening with the unleashed years in her eyes. Then, why are you waiting for the 17th?"

"The results are going to be released," he murmured, putting a hand on her cheek.

"Call me... Please"

"I promise." He said goodbye and came out of the car.

She gave him a smile, all sunshine and raindrops that made his heart turn over. He stood gazing after the car. What had his aunt said, something about Joanne loving him more than he loved her? I don't think that is true anymore. If it ever was," he told himself.

* * * * * * * *

On the 17th, Joanne hardly moved a step away from the telephone. The time crawled by. She was seldom busy in the office and that morning, there seemed nothing to do but wait and worry and answer telephone calls for other people. When she had almost given up hope, Ross came on the line.

"What are you doing this evening?" He asked brightly.

"What am I doing this evening then? You tell me."

"You're celebrating. We're both celebrating at the Chase!"

"At the Chase, we must have something marvelous to celebrate."

"We have?"

"Yes, we do." Ross said immediately.

"Then tell me," she implored. "I can't bear it.

"Joanne, I got a first," he said, "I can't believe it."

"I can," she said confidently.

"Oh, I love you!" Ross exclaimed. "What a wonderful thing to say. 8 o'clock then?"

"8 o'clock. I'll pick you up." She waited until he had hung up before she put down the receiver and began to count the hours until 8 o'clock.

They went out to celebrate at a very posh restaurant. Ross insisting that he could now afford to be extravagant in special occasion like this.

They were drinking China tea, unwilling to end a fabulous evening when Joanne suddenly remembered. "What about your posting? Isn't that out too?"

Ross looked uneasy. "Yes, it is. I'm sorry, Joanne. That's not such good news."

"Where are they posting you?"

"Australia."

"Australia! Australia!" She repeated. "How could they do this to us?"

"Look." Ross begged, "don't cry here. The manger will never let me inside again. No more sweet and sour drink."

"Let's go." Ross paid the bill, then led the way to Joanne's car.

"Shall I drive?"

"Please." She sat silently until he said, "please, don't take it so hard. I think get delighted in upsetting people's plans."

"I think so too," she said.

When they got back to Ross's house, his aunt and uncle were out and so was Ferd. It was the first time Joanne and Ross had been all alone in the house and she went with him to the room he shared with Ferd. She sat on the bed, and he sat by her and put his arms around her.

"Don't take it so hard," he said again. "If someone has done this on purpose, they won't achieve anything. Many waters cannot quench love."

She agreed, then began to cry. Ross kissed away her tears, then suddenly he was kissing the nape of her neck, her face, and her mouth with a new urgency.

Joanne was startled. He had never kissed her like this before. His breathing was rapid and the expression in his eyes was a novelty to her. She was no fool. She knew this only meant one thing. "But I suppose it has to happen some time. I love Ross so much. I'm sure I shan't regret giving myself to him." She told herself as she allowed herself to be carried away on the waves of passion.

Afterwards, Joanne was so shy that she could hardly face Ross. His expression, when she stole a look at him, was a mixture of love and remorse. He insisted on following her home on his uncle's bike to make sure she reached home safely.

At the gate he kissed her again while the tactful night guards looked the other way. "No regrets," he begged her. "Don't be upset if you don't hear from me for a few weeks."

"No regrets," she repeated and tore herself away. In the shadow of the driveway, she listened to the receding sound of the bike. Then slowly made her way indoors.