The gardening shed had all the necessary supplies. Teddy took a step back, allowing me to venture into the darkened space to examine the gardening equipment. It was an unusually large shed, with a few odd trinkets strung along the sides of the wooden wall. It was clean, a strange imitation of his ancestral home that was just outside of his shed. “You should have everything you need in here,” Teddy informed me in a clear tone of voice. “And I will leave the key on this hook.” He waited for me to turn around, allowing my eyes to follow the slow movements of his arm before he latched the key ring on a silver hook. “And you know where I will be if you are in need of me.”

“Yes,” I answered him quite breathlessly, for his visage was eclipsed in darkness from the natural lighting of the shed. He stood there motionlessly for a moment, and then swiftly turned around to make his way back towards the house again. An involuntary shudder seized me. My jaw clenched with the realization that there was something alluring about me that Teddy could not ignore.

Bent on the need for a distraction, I pulled out the wrinkled note I wrote last night. Daphne described the areas she would like me to focus on for this week, and I was ardent on following them to the letter. A long green hose was unlatched from its holder, and slowly but surely, I pulled it out to bring the nozzle to the edge of the house. I had to water the flowers first, so I thought to start at the front of the house. The water gushed from the hose, spraying over the greenery of plants that had been shielded from the drizzle of rain earlier this morning. I looked to the rugged brown door, and then the thick green vines that curled around the edges of the right side of the house. Bird songs filled the air, high enough for me to take in the clear blue sky. There were seldom any clouds now, and if I listened carefully enough, I could hear the hush roaring of the sea. The sound of fingers pressing quickly over the piano keys filled the air around the house as Teddy played his instrument. He was a talented pianist, the accuracy of his execution as he played a piece by Beethoven only proved that. The window in the living room was barely cracked open, allowing music to seep into the air and come wafting its way towards me. I listened attentively, marveled by the sheer sound that this man was able to produce.

I moved to the right more, finding the flowers had been well watered. My attention was soon focused on a small section of yellow daffodils, watching them sway to the left and right as water poured down to their very roots. The music continued to play at a quick pace, crazed and hurried as if this man was holding his very breath. The depths of his passion were portrayed in his music, a world of emotion that he tried to hold back. I moved to the corner of the house, only to find there were no flowers that needed to be watered there. There was a strange sense of regret since I had to move further away from the brick building, knowing the closest set of flower pots were at the very back of the house. The music gradually became distant, and once I was standing over a circular rocky pathway with a green hose dangling in my hand, the homeowner’s music was but a distant memory for me.

An hour and a half later I was trimming unruly hedges when I heard soft padding of shoes against the grass. My hedge scissors were lowered to my waist after I turned around to face him. He was dressed in the same apparel, though he looked more relaxed as the natural shelter of the brick wall blocked out the harsh noon day lightening. “It is almost time for you to go,” he noted. “I suppose I can’t convince you to stay.”

“I have to return to my regular job.” My arm was brought upwards to wipe sweat from my brow. I could feel my dark brown hair clinging to the side of my face, since the heat from the sun caused me to sweat profusely. “I will have to leave right at noon.”

“In another half an hour,” he noted, without ever looking at the time. He stood perfectly still, simply watching me for a moment. “I think you should come inside for a break,” he suggested. His right leg stretched forward, causing most of his weight to lean over to the left.

“I still have this to finish,” I pointed out.

“Come in for water at least.”

“Oh, alright.”

He nodded his head in contention, and then took a step backwards to create more space. I made sure the hedge scissors were safely closed. Teddy watched me lay it down on the grass, for I was intent on completing the task before I would have to leave his estate for the day.

He waited for me to take a place by his side. The movements of his feet were impeccably smooth upon the grass, almost gliding in a way while he raised his chin upwards to admire the scenery.

“Teddy?” I called out to gather his attention. “Who taught you how to play?”

“My guardian.”

“Guardian?”

“Yes,” he murmured. He gave me a look to ensure I made no further inquiries. I turned my gaze fearfully from him, allowing my eyes to take in the wall of his house that was hidden away from the bright sunlight. “Tired?”

“Oh, it is the sun,” I confided. “I should have brought a hat.”

“It would help.”

“What will you do for the rest of the afternoon?”

He shrugged his right shoulder. “Paint, I suppose.” I noticed how he kept his gaze straight ahead, almost not wanting to look in my direction anymore. “It is a fine day for it.”

“Do you ever get lonely?” I asked of him, after we turned a sharp right to strike the rocky path that led to his front door. “Living out here alone?”

“I enjoy the silence of it all.”

I believed him for some reason; Teddy did not strike me as the type of person that wanted a companion. The front door was gently pushed open, and then he instructed me to lay my boots on the designated mat that had been cleaned while I was gone. He removed his shoes as well, letting me see the large size of his feet as he stood there in dark burgundy socks. “We will go into the kitchen,” he suggested. “If you would like to go to the washroom to freshen up, it is on your right.”

“I think I will go now,” I informed him. We parted ways once we reached the end of the hall, prompting me to open the plain white door to step inside of the space. His washroom was incredibly narrow, leaving me barely enough room to breathe. I found it flawlessly clean, however, taking note of the fresh flowers he had trimmed for a tall white vase next to the sink. Lavender-scented hand soap was placed over a circular bowl in the shape of a leaf; the mirror was short and narrow to let me catch a glimpse of my wild hair. When I had first entered his house it was tied up, but now my stray brown hair had slipped out of the tie to go over the sides of my head. I had short wavy brown hair; it reached the tips of my shoulders when I let it all down. I decided to comb my fingers through it, and let my hair fall downwards and to the sides. My hands soon cupped cold water to splash it over my face, letting the salty sweat pour down my brow and go dripping into the large white sink. It took me a few more minutes to freshen up, and once I was done, I patted a carefully folded towel over my face to have me nice and dry. Soft brown eyes stared back at me in my reflection, calm and full of life as I gingerly smiled back at my reflection. My fingers did their best to push back my bangs, and with that I dropped the towel in a waste basket and left the tiny room.

Two full glasses of water were placed over a circular table. A tray of fresh fruits were arranged nicely in a cobalt blue tray. The windows were wide open to let in some fresh air; Teddy was standing in front of them to push back the drapes a little bit more. “I brought out some fruit in case you are tempted,” he said with his back to me. “I know you don’t have much time, but I thought it might be nice to have something in your stomach.”

“I might take this banana,” I mused aloud. “I could eat it on the bus ride home.”

“Bus ride home,” Teddy chuckled. “You’re not serious, are you?”

“It is the same one I took to get here.”

“Yes, but it is hot,” he said as a way of an excuse. “And I have no bus stops around here.”

“I know.” He turned around to face me now, letting his lower back lean against the edge of the counter. “I had to ask the bus driver to stop me at the bottom of your hill.”

“And you walked all the way up here?”

“Yes, but I enjoy the exercise.”

Teddy walked over to his table. A chair was pushed outwards and then he took a quiet seat next to me. “Daphne has a car,” he noted. “I can drive you somewhere.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

“I don’t think you should be lingering out there alone.” He licked at his bottom lip. “And it’s hot.”

“Yes, but it’s not summer yet.”

“And you are a woman,” he entreated. “A woman standing in the middle of nowhere alone.” Teddy reached for his glass of water, compelling me to do the same. “I will not stand for it. I was raised better than that.”

“Perhaps…”

He nodded his head, entreating me to go on. His thumb lightly stroked the outside of his glass, while he altered his gaze between the clear glass of water and myself.

“You could drop me off at the main bus terminal.”

“Yes, I could do that.”

I took a timid sip of the water, feeling like I was asking too much from him. Teddy stared at me intently, letting his eyes focus on my hair that was now down to the tops of my shoulders. “I could drive you after every shift this week,” he nervously pointed out. “And if you want… I could pick you up from the station as well.”

“No, that is too much.”

“I only care for your safety.”

I took a larger sip of my water, finding it was the best excuse to fill up the awkward pause. I thought it best to contact Daphne as soon as possible, knowing she was the only one available to shed light on this mysterious man’s behaviour.

“Time is ticking.” Teddy pointed behind him, suggesting I still need to complete the trimming to his hedges at the back. “I suggest you drink your water quickly.”

“I really don’t need you to pick me up at the station in the morning,” I entreated. “Though driving me to the station after twelve will ensure I have enough time to grab a quick lunch.”

“You could bring your lunch and eat here,” he suggested. “Or I could… I could make lunch for the both of us.”

“That really isn’t needed.”

He watched me lay down my glass of water in silent deliberation. “I would like to do that,” he voiced out to my surprise. “You will have to tell me what kind of food agrees with you-”

“-Teddy, this really isn’t necessary,” I cut in. “You are my employer and I don’t want things to get any more complicated.”

“Complicated?” He questioned me in a higher tone of voice. “How so?”

“Well, it’s just that…” His face was suddenly deadpan, hardly expressing any emotions at all. “I feel like I will owe you too much,” I lied.

“I see no harm in sharing lunch,” he fought back. “It will ensure I have something to eat. I can’t remember the amount of times I have forgotten to have a meal.” He smiled at me, the first one I had ever seen spread across his face. “I would like to do it, Sela.”

At that moment, a door in the upper levels of the house slammed shut with a violent bang, startling me so much I nearly dropped my glass of water upon the table. Teddy’s hands balled up together, and his body language displayed a certain tenseness I had never seen before. “What was that?”

“It was the wind,” he coldly replied. “Sometimes the wind blows so strong it slams the bedroom doors closed.” His fists gradually grew less tense, and soon he was laying the flats of his hands against the circular table. “But I think it is time you should go outside again.”

“Let me drink the last of this,” I pleaded. He watched me gulp down the water rapidly. I let out a short exhale once I was done and placed the glass hard down on the table. He visibly flinched at the sound, making me feel guilty for causing him so much pain. “Sorry.”

“I will take your glass,” he relinquished. The glass slid over the table to be positioned next to his own. Teddy retrieved the two empty glasses and immediately turned his large back to me. I watched him dowse it in dish soap, dedicating his time to clean the glasses out thoroughly.

“Your house is very clean,” I noted. “Do you have a maid?”

“I couldn’t afford one,” he darkly chuckled. “No, I am the one that cleans the house.”

“It is so clean! You would think it is up for sale.”

“This is my ancestral home. I have no wish to sell it.”

“Has it been in your family for long?”

“Three generations. My grandfather on my mother’s side had purchased it just after the war.”

“Which one?”

“The first world war.” The dish towel was taken up to dry the side of the glass in circular motions.

“And then you will pass on this house to your children?” I deliberated aloud. “Do you have any?”

“No.”

I pushed out my chair, deciding it was best to get on with the rest of my day. “I will be outside.” He looked over his shoulder, wearing an open expression as he truly took me in. “Is that alright?”

“I will come outside later.” He turned his head to the open window where the garden was situated. “And then I will drive you to the station.”

“Thank you for that.”

Teddy made no response to my comment, so I turned away from the table and abandoned him in his quiet kitchen.

The next time Teddy appeared around the corner of the house I knew it was time to go. A brown tweed newsboy cap rested comfortably over his head. I thought he looked like a true Englishman then, reaffirming he was born and bred on this island. He stopped some distance from me, and took his time observing my precise trimming of the top of the hedges to ensure it was perfectly straight.

“We should go.”

“One more minute,” I begged. I felt his presence encroach upon mine, and soon enough I could see his towering shadow in the corner of my eye.

“It is too high for you,” he observed, before he unhanded the large hedge shears from me. Teddy took it upon himself to cut the top of the bushes. He was most careful not to get anything on his nice suede jacket, moving back a tiny step to create some distance from the high green hedges. “I don’t know how Daphne does it. She is smaller than you.”

“I imagine she uses a ladder.”

The man beside me chuckled with amusement as he continued to snip at the prickly bushes. “It would take twice as long with that.”

“Has she ever asked you for help?”

“No, she is far too independent for that.” I crossed my arms, unsure if he was implying that I was not an independent person. Teddy must have caught my body language from the corner of his eyes, for he laughed lightly with a hint of endearment. “It bothers you that I am helping?”

“No, it is too high for me to reach.”

“I was saving you time,” he noted. “How about you clean up the rest of the gardening supplies while I finish this up?”

“Alright, I will be back.”

“I’ll meet you at the shed,” he quipped, before he continued with his attentive trimmings of the hedge.

It must say a lot about Teddy that he was willing to assist me with the gardening. He was very attentive towards me, almost intent on pleasing me in some way. It was evident he was going out of his way to make me feel more comfortable in his home, though it made me suspicious as to his motives. Was it the kindness of his heart or something more than that? And what could he possibly gain from it?

I worked hard to clear up the shed until it was nice and tidy. I knew Teddy was very particular about these things, so I had to ensure everything was to his liking. He returned to my side a few minutes later, wearing almost a smile once he caught my eyes. I watched him stride over to me with confidence, chin held high to maintain his noble position. “Are you all set?” he smoothly inquired. He leaned his body into the shed, placing the gardening tool on a small ledge where it would be perfectly safe. “Did you forget anything in the house?”

“No. I am ready.”

He plucked up a key off the hook and made sure I stood far enough away from the swinging door for him to shut it closed. I watched him lock the shed door with particular care, and then pocket the key in the inner flap of his suede jacket. “I parked my car a little further down the hill.” He took the lead, determined to show me the way. “How was your first day so far?”

I decided to take a more enthusiastic route, so I exclaimed: “It was just lovely! You have such a nice garden, and this area is so quaint and quiet.”

“Yes,” he drawled out with suspicion.

“And it is such a nice spring day,” I pointed out. “Perfect weather to go for a walk.” The man beside me nodded his head as he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. “Or to paint, as you say. The sea is not so far away, do you ever go sunbathing?”

“No,” he chuckled.

“I suppose you can’t swim in it.”

“Oh, I could,” he assured me. Teddy let his leather boots strike the hard pathway of carefully chosen stone slabs, while motioning with his hand for me to follow the exact route. “But it isn’t safe going out into the ocean alone.”

“That is true,” I mused aloud. “Why there is no one out here for miles?”

“I have no neighbours,” he conceded, after he looked over his shoulder to take in the house. “There is a lighthouse further up north along the rocky coast, but I doubt my body would stray there.” He turned his gaze to me with care. “If I should die.”

“A terrible thing to say,” I chided, which earned me a sly smirk. I shook my head at him in disapproval, and then looked straight ahead where I could see the outline of his navy-blue car. “Do I detect a hint of dark humour from you?” I lightly teased. “Or are you being completely serious?”

“I do have some darkness to me,” he responded with an easy air. “But it is nothing to worry about.” The hill became significantly steeper, forcing us to slow down our steps. The dampness of the morning rain made the grass slicker, and unfortunately for Teddy it became a perilous journey. He reached out to touch the side of my arm, hoping to have some support as he attempted to regain his balance. He was a tall man, and I could feel his immense weight leaned against my upper arm to the point that his large hand was gripping into my flesh. “Sorry,” he quickly apologized once he regained his balance. “These shoes have no grip.”

“It’s alright, Teddy,” I softly replied, which compelled him to slow down his steps. I got the sense that he was watching me, and when I turned around, he gazed into my eyes intently. I cast him a nervous smile and continued onwards, feeling the need to distance myself from him. The hill continued to go downwards, though the steepness was not as severe as before. His car was parked over a patch of dirt, and to my surprise the outside of his car was not as clean as his house. I stopped at the passenger door, letting my eyes trail over the older car that could have easily been twenty years to date. Teddy came over and walked around the vehicle to unlock the door. He slipped inside with ease, settling down into his seat before he outstretched an arm to unlatch my side of the door. I propped it open and took my place beside him. “Thank you again.”

“I must obey my conscience,” he slyly replied. The key was thrust into the ignition, signalling he was ready to leave. “And it berated me for letting you wander down the hill all alone, only to stand in a secluded spot in the hopes of waving down a bus.”

“Oh, but we do live in the country.”

The engine roared in front of us, encouraging me to put on my seatbelt. “I dare say we do,” Teddy agreed with me. “But it would not be right for a woman such as yourself, to be alone out here.”

“Will it be a long drive to the station?”

“Long enough.” He pressed down a button to put on his cassette player, an old device that I had not seen since I was a child. “I don’t mind the drive. Sometimes it is best to get out of the house.” Soft piano music came through the speakers, and then Teddy turned his attention to winding down the window with a manual device. His car was very outdated, and I wondered why a man that owned such a nice house would allow himself to be tied to this ancient car. “If I didn’t know any better,” he continued. “I spend far too much time there.”

“Do you ever throw any parties?”

“Heaven’s no!” he laughed.

“Why not?”

He reversed out of the dirt patch that made up his parking lot. “The house must be quiet,” he drawled out slowly. “Always quiet.”

“But why?”

“It has been that way from the start,” he deliberated aloud. “And it must continue that way.” The car reversed sharply to the right and then barrelled ahead to drive us down the last of the hill. “And she would disapprove of it.”

“Who?”

“Oh,” he mouthed out absentmindedly. “My conscience.” He drew a hand upwards to scratch his fingers against the side of his jawline. “A slip of the tongue.”

My voice was soft as I uttered: “I see.”

We left the last of the lonely dirt trail, and finally entered the smooth paved road that would take us back to the village. He turned the opposite direction from which I came, so I rolled down the window just a tad to gaze at the green scenery. The trees were budding, and the long stretch of green grass was decorated with vibrant blue bells that curved downwards into the low valley that Teddy’s car was speeding along. The scenery was calming, undoubtedly beautiful, and I began to love the place as if it were my own.

“You are very quiet.”

My gaze flickered over to the driver of the car, taking in his calm composure. “I was just thinking…” My gaze averted back to the sublime scenery. “You live in such a beautiful place.”

“Thank you, Sela.”

“Do you feel this way too?”

“I don’t think I could ever bear to part with it,” he said in half jest. “It has become a part of me now.”

“You have no reason to leave it?”

“The house is all paid for, but there is still the issue of maintaining the place. I am not as rich as…” He stopped himself, and for some reason there was a darkness to his eyes. “Others,” he breathed out with a look of pain.

“You don’t make enough money through painting?”

“I make just enough.”

“Can you afford Daphne?”

“I can. The house is all I have, so I must invest in it,” he calmly relayed with a wave of his hand. “At the end of the day it is my greatest asset.” He let his hand fall onto the steering wheel. “I sometimes feel it is my fate to live and die there.”

“It could be if you never leave it. Have you travelled anywhere?”

“I’ve been to France,” he rapped out happily. “Germany. I have visited the Swiss Alps.”

“You have?”

“Much of my paintings are inspired by the travels I took as a boy and well into my adolescence.” The road turned smoothly to the right, leaving the last of the towering hill behind. “I dream of seeing Italy one day,” he said with a charming ring to his voice. “Barcelona,” he added. “Spain.”

“You should go.”

“I would need an awful amount of money,” he entreated. “And when I go, I would like to spend a great deal of time there. A few months at least.”

“You could, though.”

“Maybe when I was young and carefree, but I have responsibilities now.” The outline of houses could be seen in the very distance, the pale brown roofs blinding in the sunlight. We were approaching the closest village to his home, an odd sight since I knew we would soon be parted.

“You are not old, Teddy,” I pointed out. “There is still time.”

“It would be unwise to leave my home. I must take care of it.” He gripped onto his steering wheel with more force. “But sometimes I close my eyes and dream of faraway lands. Things that I have not seen yet, and people…” His voice trailed away. “But I am a difficult person to be around, or so I’ve been told.”

“Is it because you are sensitive to sounds?”

“Yes,” he agreed with me quickly. “And the fact that I have certain peculiarities. I had them since I was a child, you see, but as I have gotten older it has become far worse. I think my life and the seclusion of my home is enough to keep me sane.”

The road dipped downwards, and I could see the outline of a bridge in the distance that stretched across an unbidden stream. I watched it stream downwards, jutting down the sleek brown rocks to descend from a small waterfall. The scenery was so calm, it was a pity Teddy could not feel the same way.

His car soon drove over a stony bridge, so I quickly rolled down the window to hear the water gushing downstream. Teddy pulled over to the side of the road and turned down his music so that I could truly hear the falls. It was a kind gesture, something I greatly appreciated, but I could not find the words to express it aloud. I sat perfectly still, listening attentively to the water, and once I felt satisfied, I turned a gaze to him. “Thank you, Teddy.”

“I will have to take you down there sometime. There are some trails you can follow, they lead naturally to the ocean.”

“Oh, but I wouldn’t have time for that.”

He arched up his right eyebrow in question. The car was put into drive, and then he pressed his foot down on the gas pedal to set his vehicle in motion.

The soft keys of the piano soon filled the air after the stereo’s volume was turned up more. Teddy kept his gaze focused on the road, following the pathway that wound left and right to take us to the low valley where a small village was situated. I glanced at the tiny houses, the modesty of the surrounding that lacked the grandeur that Teddy possessed. His car slowed down once we entered the natural traffic of the village, and without anything picturesque to look at, it felt right to start a conversation with the man beside me. “Do you come down here often?”

“To buy groceries,” he relayed with disinterest.

“Nothing else?”

“No, not really.” He stopped the car at a roundabout, waiting for his turn to enter traffic. “I see nothing of interest here.”

“Do you ever go into the shops?” I inquired. “The restaurants?”

“No, never.”

“Don’t you meet your friends down here?”

His voice was incredibly low as he answered: “No, I don’t.”

“Then they meet you up the hill? At your place?”

“I don’t really have friends,” he surmised. “Not anymore.”

“Oh?”

“You are shocked by it,” he observed. The brake pedal was pressed downwards to allow his car to slowly ease into traffic. “I thought you would be the only one to understand.”

“Why?”

“Just a thought,” he relayed softly. “Intuition.”

“I don’t have a lot of friends,” I acknowledged. “But I have one or two I can rely on. A person needs that, you know. Someone to talk to on the phone. To go out and spend some with them. Life can’t always revolve around work.”

“What would you like for lunch tomorrow?” he asked at random. “I was thinking salmon. Would that agree with you?”

“Salmon is expensive,” I countered. “And wouldn’t it be better to have that for dinner?” The man beside me was silent, though he paid extra attention to the road since he was exiting the roundabout. There was a sign up ahead to show we were approaching the bus terminal. I experienced a heart-sickening feeling at the sight of it, for I was surprisingly enjoying Teddy’s company.

“Dinner would suit it more, but I wasn’t asking you for that,” Teddy finally relayed to me, while purposefully slowing down the speed of his vehicle. “Would you like salmon?”

“I am grateful for whatever you serve me. After all, I don’t deserve it.”

“Shouldn’t I be the better judge of that?” he questioned me in an irritated voice. The terminal was right ahead of us, already crowded around by small buses that would take the people to nearby villages. “And I believe you do.”

The car was put into park at the side of the road, resting in a carpool area that was away from the bustling traffic. Teddy turned off the engine, letting his keys stay in the ignition as he slowly dropped his hands away from the steering wheel. I could feel his patient gaze on my profile, but I was too afraid to look in his direction.

“Thank you for the drive again.”

“Anytime.”

“I will try and find some way to make it up to you.”

“Tempting,” he jeered. “But I would never ask that from you. I am a gentleman after all, Sela.”

I found enough nerve to turn my head to the right of me, finally making eye contact with this strange man. It held for a long time, to the point that I felt my breath was caught in my throat from the sheer intensity of his gaze. Eventually I let my gaze focus on my lap instead as I tried to calm my nerves.

“Would you like me to walk you to the station?”

“You have done enough already,” I answered him in a shaky voice. “I can make my own way now.”

“Do you live quite far from here?”

“Southwards,” I informed him. “It would be another twenty minute drive at least.”

“I imagine the time would go by quicker if I was you,” he cleverly quipped. “Until tomorrow then.”

I nodded my head slightly. “Goodbye, Teddy.”

He waited for me to raise my gaze away from his chin, so I could take in the darkness of his rich brown eyes. “I will see you first thing in the morning. Ten o’clock sharp. Unless you want me to pick you up at the station as well?”

“No, please don’t. I couldn’t bear it!”

“Why?” he questioned me with a look of pain.

“I couldn’t ask that from you. Not when you have done so much for me already.”

He tilted his head to the left as he took in my words. “Very well,” he droned with a hint of annoyance. “Then goodbye for now.”

I let my hand rest over the door-latch, but I found it was rather difficult to leave him. Teddy was watching me, sensing my inner conflict, but I would not give way to this shadow of temptation. I pushed the car door open wide and wished him a quick goodbye before I headed towards the bus terminal as fast as I could.