The Secret Lake

Seb had found the perfect place to relax . . .

AMY scythed through the water, revelling in the stillness all around her. The only sounds were the lapping of water and birdsong.

She smelled the acrid mossiness of the wet earth and the scent of wild roses which tumbled down to the water’s edge.

Whenever she came to the lake she felt a sense of calm; it was her secret place, a haven from the world.

At this time of the day it was just perfect, with the sun beginning to sink below the tree line, staining the sky gold, and the flies hovering above the surface of the lake like a shifting, shimmering veil.

Amy suddenly became aware of movement on the far side of the lake. At first she thought it might be a woodland animal, but then a figure appeared out of the bushes and she stifled a gasp as she saw it was a young man.

Her first reaction was anger that someone had found her own private lake, quickly followed by concern because she was a woman alone in a lonely place.

The lake was big so he hadn’t seen her. Nearby, she knew there was a shelf of land, almost like a step just beneath the water, where she could slip out while he was distracted.

Amy moved as quietly as she could through the reeds, their edges prickling her skin, then gently eased herself on to the shore.

She shivered in the bushes as she watched the man discovering the lake for the first time.

He went down on his knees and tested the temperature before shaking droplets of water off his hand.

Then he stood up and looked around before stripping down to his underwear.

He dived into the water. As he surfaced, he turned over on to his back to swim, as if he wanted to take in the beauty of the surroundings, the way she had done the first time she’d come here.

She wondered whether she should reveal herself, but decided against it. She slunk away, leaving him to the lake. She would come back another day.

Seb eased himself out of the water. He lay back on the cool grass and stared up at the sky where a lone fluffy cloud in the shape of an angel’s wings drifted slowly across the blue.

He was all alone – at least, he thought he was, though for a moment when he’d been ploughing through the water he’d sensed the presence of someone else.

There was no sign of anyone, though, and who would be here anyway, halfway up a hill and through dense woodland?

Even he wasn’t sure how he’d found the place.

Everything was getting on top of him and he’d had to get away from the school where he taught, so he’d started walking and this was where he’d ended up.

Harrison Morse, the headmaster, had called him into his office at lunchtime and told him he was expecting him to take responsibility for the after-school eco club.

“I’m already doing football and hockey,” Seb had said. “That’s two nights a week after school and Saturdays.”

“Well, Deirdre can’t handle it any more and I think you’re the best man for the job.”

One didn’t argue with Harrison Morse. Since he’d been appointed as headmaster the whole mood of the school had changed.

He was on a mission to improve standards, though standards were fine. He was just a tyrant who wanted to prove a point.

Cara was already annoyed that he didn’t see enough of her as it was.

“Not another Saturday!” she’d complained the last time he’d said he had a football match.

“You could come and watch.”

She’d pulled a face. “It’s not that I’d hate to spend a couple of hours watching kids run around a football pitch, it’s the principle. I never see you. School is everything.”

She was right to a certain extent and she wasn’t being unreasonable.

He knew she was hoping for a marriage proposal and he wanted to propose, but now he was wondering how

things were going to pan out. Cara would go spare when she found out what Morse had committed him to.

But he didn’t have to tell her yet. He watched the cloud’s shape begin to dissipate, its underside tinged pink as the sun sank lower.

“I could spend my life here,” he murmured.

But that wasn’t realistic. It was just the cry of a soul longing to escape from too much pressure.

He sighed and closed his eyes. He could smell the perfume of the roses all around.

Eventually the deepening shadows and the cooling air told him it was time to leave. He got up, dressed, and started out for home.

“I’ll be back,” he said to the lake.

These were golden summer days, like the ones Amy remembered.

The lake looked like an illustration from a children’s book, with vibrant colours and possibilities beyond the skyline.

Amy was looking forward to a swim, but as she approached through the bushes she found she was not alone. The man was back.

He sat at the water’s edge muttering to himself and she moved closer to listen.

“Seb, you’re a grown man in charge of thirty kids every day. You need to work this out.” He ran fingers through his wet hair. “Are you going to propose? You know you love her. This stress isn’t Cara’s fault.”

He suddenly stopped talking, sat up straight, then glanced towards where Amy stood, hidden by a rhododendron bush. “Who’s there?” he called. Amy stepped out. The man squinted against the sun, putting up a hand to shield the glare.

Suddenly Amy wasn’t afraid of him.

“I’m Amy,” she said. “I thought I was the only one who knew about this place.”

“I found it yesterday by accident,” he said.

“I know.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m Seb.”

“You look as if you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Amy commented.

“Maybe, but this place has a calming effect.”

“Yes, it does.” Amy looked out over the water.

“Do you come here often?” Seb asked.

“I come here every day.” Not wanting to share any more with this stranger, she got up and dived into the water, striking out for the far shore.

She heard a splash as he followed her, as she’d known he would. It reminded her of swimming with Will. She missed it.

But this man wasn’t Will, though it was nice to imagine, just for a moment, that the past had come back to life.

She got out of the water first. She watched him for a while then turned to leave.

It was a few days before Seb had the chance to go back to the lake. He wondered if he’d see the woman again.

Sure enough, there she was, ploughing through the water to meet him.

“This is my favourite time of the day to swim,” she explained as she greeted him.

He stripped off and dived into the lake, letting the cool water soothe him. Then he swam until his limbs ached and he’d exercised away all the pressures of the school day.

He joined Amy on the warm grass.

“I heard you mention your girlfriend the other day,” Amy said. “Are you going to bring her here?”

“Not yet.” He shook his head. “I need space. What about you? Do you have anyone?”

“I had Will,” Amy said sadly. “But we’re not together any more. I come here for peace. Are things not good?”

He found himself pouring out all his stresses about school and about letting Cara down because of the demands on his time. He felt sorry for Amy having to listen to it, but he couldn’t help himself.

“Do you love her?” she asked when he’d finished. “Yes.”

“Then she has to come first. Do something brave. Love should be everything.”

For a moment he wondered if she was trying to make him fall in love with her, but it was Cara he loved. They sat in companionable silence, watching the dragonflies hover over the water.

He kept returning to the lake and she was always there. He reminded her of Will in many ways and she wondered if she could fall in love with him, but the way he spoke of his girlfriend told her it wouldn’t happen.

She listened, she offered advice, and she saw him working through his problems and working out his priorities.

“It’s not your girlfriend who’s pressurising you, it’s work. You need to do something about that,” she suggested. “Jobs come and go, but love doesn’t. You should hold on to it if you’re lucky enough to have it.”

“You’re a good friend, Amy,” he said. “We ought to meet for coffee.”

“I don’t think Cara would be happy to know that you’ve been seeing someone else, even if it’s platonic.” She laughed.

“Maybe you’re right. Perhaps I’ll bring her here.”

Amy felt sad. Their private place would soon be private no longer.

The letter was waiting when he got home from school. Seb tore it open and smiled.

He rang Cara.

“I have to see you. I’ve booked a table for eight o’clock at our favourite restaurant.”

His heart leapt when he saw her – glorious dark hair and eyes, the complete opposite of Amy. Amy was right. Love was everything.

“What is it?” Cara said as they sat down at the table. “We don’t usually go out midweek.”

“I’ve had the offer of a job as a lecturer,” he said. “The pay is better and we’ll have more time together.”

“Oh, Seb!” Cara cried happily. “I’ve been worried that I’ve been putting too much pressure on you. I thought I was driving you away.”

“Never,” he said. “In fact . . .”

He produced a small box from his pocket and her face lit up.

“I want us to be together for ever. Will you marry me?”

It was a mellow evening as Seb led Cara into the clearing. The glassy lake whispered a welcome.

“I’ve been coming here to swim to clear my head,” Seb explained. “And somebody else has, too. There she is.”

Amy was standing at the water’s edge in her green swimsuit. She waved and smiled.

“Who are you waving to?” Cara said.

“Amy.” He pointed. “There’s no-one there.” “Of course there is.” He felt Cara’s grip on his hand tighten.

“You don’t know about this place, do you?” she said quietly. “A woman drowned here years ago.

“Her fiancé was killed in the war and she came up here to commit suicide. I remember hearing about it when I was a child. That’s why we never come here. It’s meant to be haunted.”

“No.” Seb laughed awkwardly. “She’s there.”

Then he watched as Amy dived into the lake. He waited for her to emerge again and start swimming, but there was nothing but the breeze and the shimmer of water.

“Let’s go,” Cara said, her voice shaking.

He couldn’t be scared. Amy had been there for him. She’d wanted to see love triumph and it had.

“I hope you find peace,” he whispered, then he turned and walked away, hand in hand with his fiancée. n