WARM HANDS PART 16

It had been fifteen days since they had arrived in Keswick.During the month of June, the days in the town were long and the nights were cool.The sunrises began with a hazy blue, and at noon the sky shone like clear water.This small northern town, surrounded by mountains, was like a painting with its stone streets and windows decorated with flowers.

Jun and Levi started to live in a small stone house on the outskirts of the town, on a hill running down to the hill.The house was on one floor.The simple stone walls were beginning to be covered with ivy.The pigeons on the roof were enough to wake them up in the mornings.The smell of lavender and mint came in through the open window of the kitchen. The house had separate rooms for the two adults - a good choice to keep out the prying eyes of the town.In Levi's room, with Thomas's help, they had placed the new medical books that had just arrived, and on the small table there were many notes, and a small bag containing the treatment tools was right next to the table. Jun's room was empty except for a bed and a desk.The desk was right in front of the window, from where you could watch the trees dance in the backyard.

Garden... The stone path at the entrance was lined with daisy shoots that had just started to grow out of the stones. There were a few fruit trees at the back.The house had only been unused for a few months, so the garden was well-kept.Jun had made a habit of walking barefoot in the garden for a few minutes in the morning since the day they came here.Levi always found him in the garden when he woke up, watching him from the window, then putting the kettle on the stove, going out into the garden to call Jun and saying a big 'good morning' to each other as if it was the most important thing in their lives.

After that night in Redmarsh they had got used to understanding without many words, talking with looks, taking refuge in each other with little touches.

The townsfolk were slowly getting to know them. Levi was trying to fill in the gaps at the clinic. People seemed to like his reassuring aloofness and calm demeanour. Levi had registered Jun as his assistant as soon as he arrived in town. 

' He also sent an informative fax to the Community Clinics Organisation. All that remained was to improve Jun's literacy.

Jun did most of the housework, fixing a few things that needed repairing, going to the market to buy the necessities for the house.

A few times they went out for a walk in the town together, couples walking side by side in the crowd held hands, they walked without touching hands but with their hearts intertwined.Maybe they couldn't touch each other openly, but the looks they shared, the smiles hidden behind a word said it all.The town thought they were a doctor and his assistant, two close friends, two roommates, but they knew the truth.

After settling into their new home, they invited Thomas to dinner to thank him for his help.

The meal consisted of broth soup, fresh crusty bread, baked chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, cider and blueberry tarts.Jun and Levi made it all together and then carried the tablecloth, plates and other necessary things to the gazebo in the backyard.Meanwhile, Thomas entered the house by calling from the front yard.When everything was ready, they sat down at the table and started eating.

-'Thanks for your help,' said Levi. 'We wouldn't have settled in so fast without you.

-'Not at all, it's good to see you again,' Thomas replied.

-'But Levi,' Thomas continued, 'I just don't understand. You were doing so well in Norbury, what made you suddenly decide to come so far north?'

The question was bound to come up sooner or later but neither of them knew how to answer it.Jun just took a sip of his wine.It was up to Levi to answer:

-'I' Levi said.'I mean we...' he continued after a short silence.'It took a lot of courage to explain that,' he continued.'We weren't safe in Norbury, things came to light and...' before he could finish his sentence he averted his eyes and fell silent.

Jun was looking at him, afraid of Thomas's reaction, maybe Thomas would regret helping them or maybe he would tell everyone their secret.

-'Hmm' Thomas said and continued 'good for you, people are cruel and I'm glad you're not a coward like me' he said with a smile but sadness passed through his eyes:

-'You know Edgar and I, I wish we were different but I didn't dare and Edgar, who knows where he is now' said Thomas.

-'He's fine, he came round to Norbury and told us to be careful, maybe he'll come here,' Levi said.

Thomas sighed deeply, poured the cider into his glass and downed it all before looking intently at Levi and Jun and saying:

-'Edgar will never come here because he knows I'm here and I let him down and he's become a perpetual traveller with no ties to anywhere while I'm here tying my roots here with trade, I wish I had the courage like you but I don't, and as for you the townsfolk no matter how nice they are won't approve of this relationship between two men so be careful, I'm always here to help you.'said Thomas.

-'Thank you,' Jun said. He was relieved.

 After the meal was over Thomas excused himself to go home.Jun and Levi cleared the table, washed the dishes and when they were done Jun lay down on the sofa in the living room.He was thinking about Thomas and Edgar.I wonder what had happened between them.While Jun was thinking about this Levi entered the room and curled up next to Jun.Jun took him in his arms.

-'Do Thomas and Edgar know each other?' Jun asked.

-'Yes, Thomas is a year older than us. We met at the university. Me and Edgar graduated from the medical academy, but Thomas dropped out of the academy and went into business. They know each other from then,' said Levi.

-Jun said, 'What happened between them?

-'They loved each other but they knew it wouldn't be accepted in the medical academy or in society.Edgar asked Thomas if they could go and live together in another country.Thomas said no.It was a difficult decision.So Edgar became a travelling doctor, he has no home anywhere, he never stays anywhere for long.Thomas has been here for years, I don't know if they've seen each other again.'said Levi.

-'Thomas, he looked so remorseful. And it's been years since that decision, but he still can't get over it,' Jun said.

-'They loved each other so much, they were always side by side. It must be so hard for them to be apart now. I would have regretted it too if I hadn't come after you that day.'said Levi.

-'I'd regret it too if I hadn't come with you,' Jun said, planting a kiss on Levi's forehead.

They were approaching the end of June. Birds, flowers and nature were becoming more and more alive.