Swinging back the door, Helen nearly took it off it’s hinges as she stalked into the lounge. “Isn’t that just typical” she fumed “We come on holiday and have the biggest argument of our lives ...... typical!”

Walking over to the bed, she sat down and slipped her shoes off and thought back over the evening. It had all started so lovely, walking along the beach hand in hand and barefoot to get to the restaurant that Nikki had chosen for them that evening. Helen had had it all planned from the moment she had booked the holiday, a nice romantic getaway for a nice romantic gesture. Tonight was the night Helen had planned for the last six months. Carefully choosing the idyllic island with the glorious beaches and fantastic restaurants. Keeping it all a secret from Nikki, even going so far as to let her choose the setting for this evening knowing that she couldn’t help but choose a romantic location as that was what this island was all about. She had patiently waited through their starters and main dishes, not wanting to rush it now at this final stage when they had been interrupted by none other than Shaun, her ex. Out of the corner of her eye she had seen him coming and had quickly hidden the ring box she had just been about to raise. Standing she had greeted him warmly, accepting his kiss on the cheek.

They had chatted for a while before he had left them both to their meals, kissing Helen once again on the cheek and smiling at Nikki as he walked off. Looking back at Nikki Helen had smiled saying what a small world it was. Nikki had just grunted in answer. Sensing that the mood was gone Helen had put the box back into her handbag and asked for the bill hoping that getting Nikki away from Shaun would help to lighten the mood again. They had gone onto a bar up the beach and everything had once again been fantastic. They had been dancing in each others arms when Helen had felt Nikki stiffen, turning she had seen that Shaun had just arrived. Before Helen had even turned back Nikki had started to walk off out of the bar and back to their apartment. Catching up with her on the beach she had demanded to know what was the matter.

“You and him that’s what’s the matter!”

“What?”

“All this time you’ve been with me you’ve been with him as well”

“Nikki your out of your mind! Why would I?”

“You’ve never really accepted that you could love me have you? Sure your all lovey dovey when we’re at home, but if I so much as reach for your hand in public you snatch it away as if you’ve been burnt. I thought things had changed between us lately. Especially when we came away together, but no, your still with him and this is just some game to you isn’t it?!!” Helen’s anger grew as she listened to Nikki rant and rave in front of her.

“Finished yet? First off I have not been “seeing” Shaun while we have been together, unlike you and Trisha I might add. Secondly .....” but she was unable to finish as Nikki cut in.

“Me and Trish? There’s nothing going on between me and Trish, we’re just friends and business partners.”

“Hah!” Helen spat before walking down the beach away from Nikki, her shoulders rigid, steps stilted and anger emanating in waves from her.

“Hah? There’s no hah here! It’s true!” Nikki shouted before chasing after her. Once she reached Helen, Nikki pulled her round to face her, ducking just in time to miss the swinging arm aimed for her head. Both woman stopped and stared at each other, both were breathing heavily. “You know Helen I think you were right a few minutes ago. We are finished” Nikki said softly and so low that Helen nearly didn’t hear her. With tears streaming down her face Helen just turned and walked back towards their apartment leaving Nikki stood there on the sand, with the surf crashing against the shore and her own tears flowing quietly down her cheeks.

Thinking of how the evening had ended Helen once again felt the tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She still couldn’t believe that Nikki had meant it when she said they were over. There was no way she would believe that, not after everything they had been through. Kneeling on the bed she reached for her handbag from the centre of the mattress where she had thrown it when she stormed into the room and took out the small velvet box. Swinging the lid back on the hinge Helen took out the single solitaire diamond ring she had bought six months ago. Taking it from it’s soft bed she held it between her thumb and forefinger and sat staring at it thinking of Nikki and all they had been through. Nikki kissing her in her cell for the first time. Nikki on her front door step the night she had escaped. Nikki rushing out of the club the day she had been released from prison. Nikki standing proudly in front of her van the first day she had started her landscaping business. Nikki asking her if she wanted to start a family. And finally Nikki last night as she had held her in her arms and told her how much she loved her.

“Oh Nikki” Helen sobbed before lying down on the bed with her knees tucked up under her chin and tears falling into the duvet.

Nikki slammed the glass onto the bar and leaned her head on her arms, while the liqueur burned it’s way down her throat. ‘What the hell had happened?’ she thought. One moment they had been enjoying a delicious meal and then that letch had been pawing Helen!! Scowling at the barman Nikki asked for another shot of Vodka, not even waiting for the barman to finish pouring it into the glass before once again slugging it down.

“Another?” The barman asked.

Shaking her head in the negative Nikki struggled up off the stool and walked out of the bar and over the road to the beach. Sinking onto the sand she wrapped her arms around her knees and stared out at the sea and thought back over what had happened earlier. Things had been going great till that bastard of an ex had turned up, but the sight of Helen excepting his kiss on the cheek had for some reason flicked a switch in Nikki and before she knew it she was accusing Helen of never loving her and telling her that it was all over.

She had been looking forward to this holiday from the moment Helen had suggested it. It was going to be special because what with Helen starting her new job as a lecturer at Larkhall Uni and the starting up of Wade Landscaping there hadn’t been much time for more than the odd weekend in the Lake District. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the tiny velvet pouch with the tie strings and thought of the other reason it was going to be special. Opening the ties and spilling the contents into her palm she held the ring up to the moonlight and examined the way the emerald sparkled in the mooted light, reminding her of Helen’s eye’s when they danced with happiness.

Stifling the sob on her palm Nikki thought back on her life with Helen. Helen in the art room at Larkhall telling her she wanted children one day. Helen stood outside the club the day she had been released. Helen ripping the paper off her new briefcase that Nikki had given her the first day of Uni. Helen last night, staring up at her with love in her eyes.

“Oh Helen!” she sobbed, before burying her head in her arms and crying silently into her sleeve.

She didn’t know how long had passed before the sound of laughter filtered through her tears and she lifted her head to find the source of the joviality. In the distance Nikki could just about make out the image of two people happily chasing each other through the surf. Playfully scooping water into their hands and splashing the other, until the man caught the lady and pulled her into his arms kissing her until their bodies became intertwined and as if one. Nikki smiled at the obvious love that was portrayed by the couple. That’s how it was for Helen and her, so happy and so in love that friends laughingly said it was sickening. Smile fading Nikki stood and made her way speedily down the beach towards their apartment, there was no way she was going to let this end. As she drew near to the couple she once again smiled at the picture they made, standing there in the moonlight, holding hands and staring intently into each other’s eyes.

Helen stirred, rubbing the salt rimmed eyes where the tears had dried. Sitting up on the edge of the bed she strained her ears and listened carefully. ‘What was that?’ she thought standing and making her way towards the balcony. Opening the shutters just a bit she carefully looked out onto the beach below, gasping at the sight that presented itself to her. There in front of the building was Nikki and a local man with a guitar. Not wanting to be discovered, she quickly shut the louvered door a little and watched in amazement as Nikki and the man stopped talking and faced the building looking up at the windows. Suddenly the man started to strum on his guitar and Nikki softly began to sing to the apparently empty balconies.

I was waiting for so long
For a miracle to come
Everyone told me to be strong Hold on and don’t shed a tear

So, through darkness and good times
I knew I’d make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you

Hush now
I see a light in the sky
Oh it’s almost blinding me
I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel
with love

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun
A new day has come

Where it was dark now there is light
Where there was pain, now there’s joy
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
All in the eyes of a girl

Hush now
I see a light in the sky
Oh it’s almost blinding me
I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel
With love

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun
A new day has

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun
A new day has come

Hush now
I see a light in your eyes
Oh in the eyes of a girl
I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel
With love
I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel
With love **

The last note was strummed and with it Helen’s resolve grumbled. Flinging the doors open she stepped onto the balcony and smilingly called down to the beautiful woman below. “Hey lover girl”.

Nikki, who hadn’t taken her eyes off the balcony throughout her performance, looked in the direction of the soft Scottish voice. Looking between the two balconies facing her Nikki ruefully made her way over to her left where Helen was stood on the balcony next to the one she had been serenading. “I’m sorry” she said simply.

“Me too sweetheart” Helen answered with meaning.

“I don’t want it to be over Helen. I love you.” Nikki shouted the last bit, forgetting all about the man behind her gently strumming a nameless tune on his guitar.

“Come up here and say that”

Smiling Nikki ran over to the steps and taking them two at a time raced to join Helen on the balcony, immediately taking the other woman into her arms and claiming her lips.

Leaning back but keeping each other close both woman looked deep into the others eyes before saying in one voice “I love you” and leaning in to kiss each other passionately.

When they finally stopped Nikki led Helen over to the lounger and they both sat down still holding one another and looking into each others eyes.

“I believe that’s my new favourite song” Helen laughed

“So you enjoyed it?” Nikki enquired.

“Yeah very Romeo and Juliet esque”

Laughing Nikki rubbed her nose softly against Helen’s “I told you before Juliet and Juliet’s more my cup of tea.”

“Mine too” Helen said seriously, and both woman knew that she was referring to their earlier argument about Shaun.

Leaning in they gently kissed before Nikki broke away, Helen protesting with a little moan. Lifting her finger Nikki placed it against Helen’s lips. “Hold that thought” before getting off the lounger and kneeling in front of her. Reaching into her pocket she carefully pulled the emerald ring from it’s pouch. Presenting it to Helen she asked. “Helen Stewart will you marry me?”

Gasping Helen reached for the emerald, looking back and forth between the ring and Nikki’s eye, before reaching into her pocket and holding the emerald in a parody of Nikki’s stance, “Only if you’ll marry me?”.

Leaning forward Nikki placed the ring carefully on Helen’s ring finger before accepting the diamond ring on hers then pulled Helen once again into her arms. “You can take that as a YES!” she laughed before placing her lips against Helens in a kiss that started off softly but soon the passion overtook them.