Songs for the Soul Ch. 03

Mark grinned as he watched his wife, Kate, reading to the kids at their church social. She had the children laughing at the funny faces she made and the various voices she used to dramatize the characters in the story.

He loved this gentle and caring side of her. Looking at her with the kids, he wondered how it would be if they had a baby of their own. Not bad, he decided.

He could hear the faint strains of music playing from the bandstand some little distance away, but he wasn't paying much attention.

The band changed the tune and Mark's attention was suddenly focused on the song they were playing. It was the song that Kate held dear and had insisted that it had to be played at both their engagement and wedding.

When he first heard it, it touched Mark's heart. It described their love perfectly. As he listened he went down memory lane to the time when he had been utterly without hope; to the time he first met Kate.

* * * * * * * *

I never understood before
I never knew what love was for
my heart was broke, my head was sore.

What a feeling

* * * * * * * *

"No Bryan, I'm not going out with anybody," Mark said irritably to his younger brother.

"Why not?" Bryan demanded. "This isn't still about Candice is it?"

Mark increased the volume of the TV and didn't reply. Bryan snatched the remote from him and switched the set off.

Mark sighed. "Who is it this time?" he asked wearily, knowing that he would have to go out with whoever his brother set him up with if he wanted to avoid a big argument.

"Kate." Bryan replied. "She works at the café."

Mark tried to remember her. "Wasn't she in your class at high school?"

"Yeah." Bryan replied. "She used to have a big crush on you back then."

"Oh." Mark said, trying to appear interested, but really wanting to curl up in a corner.

"I've told her you'll pick her up today at seven," Bryan said, "and take her out to a movie and dinner. She'll be under the impression that I'll be coming too, so just tell her I was sick when she asks why I didn't show up."

"And why am I to escort this lovely lady?" Mark asked, unable to keep the sarcasm from his voice.

"Because its time you started having a life again." Bryan replied curtly. "You can't let what Candice did to you spoil your whole life. She really isn't worth it."

"Yeah, right." Mark muttered under his breath as his brother stalked out of the room.

* * * * * * * *

I never saw it happening
I'd given up and given in
I just couldn't take the hurt again

What a feeling

* * * * * * * *

Mark showed up at Kate's place at seven, a box of chocolates in his hand. He rang the doorbell and waited, trying to figure out a way to end this date as quickly as possible.

The door was opened by a girl slightly shorter than his 6 foot frame. She wasn't obviously pretty, but she had a lovely engaging smile and large expressive eyes.

"Come in." she said brightly, "Where's Bryan?"

"He wasn't feeling very well." Mark said, as he handed her the box of chocolates.

"He really should try some other excuse." Kate said, taking the box from Mark and putting it away. "Thank you for the chocolates."

"No problem." Mark replied, intrigued. How did she know what Bryan was up to?

She smiled as she sensed his puzzlement, and said, "Bryan keeps doing this. He asks me to go on a double date with his girlfriend and her 'brother' and when its time for the date, he and his girlfriend decide not to show up; I'm used to it."

"And you aren't mad at him?" Mark asked, amused.

"No." Kate laughed. "He means well. He's just an inveterate matchmaker and isn't very subtle about it, that's all."

Mark laughed along with Kate, and began to feel that this might turn out to be a pleasant evening after all.

They left Kate's apartment and went to the local cinema. When they came out after two hours, they were laughing and completely at ease with each other as they discussed the movie. They then went to a small restaurant near the cinema and had a light dinner.

As it was already ten Kate and Mark decided to call it a night because Kate had an early morning ahead of her. Mark dropped Kate off at her flat. Before she got out, an invitation for another evening was issued, and gracefully accepted.

When Mark reached home that night, he was feeling good.

"So, how did it go?" Bryan asked when Marked walked in.

"Pretty good actually," Mark replied. "And yes, you should try using another excuse next time. She knows exactly what you're doing."

"Going out with her again?" Bryan asked.

"Yes." Mark said, and went up to his room, not wishing to be interrogated further.

As Bryan too made his way up to bed, he thought, "I hope Kate manages to pull Mark out of his depression. If she can't, no one else can."

* * * * * * * *

Tied up in ancient history
I didn't believe in destiny
I look up you're standing next to me
what a feeling.

* * * * * * * *

Mark and Kate went out frequently after that, enjoying each other's company. Although things seemed to be going well, Kate could sense a certain amount of hesitation on Mark's part whenever they were together, and this worried her.

She never asked anything, thinking that he would tell her when he was ready to.

One night she opened the door to find a very drunk Mark leaning against the wall. Surprised, and a little scared, she pulled him inside and got him to lie down in her bedroom.

Mark never drank much, always restricting himself to one bottle of beer or just one or two glasses of wine. Finding him like this was disturbing.

After about half an hour of drunken rambling about a girl called Candice who had broken his heart, Mark dozed off. Kate covered him up and immediately went to call Bryan.

"Hello?"

"Bryan, it's Kate; I have Mark here completely drunk, and I want to know what's going on."

"Oh no, it's that day again." Bryan groaned.

"What day?"

"The day Candice dumped him."

"Yeah, he was talking about Candice. Who is she? Care to tell me what happened?"

"It's a long story," Bryan said, hoping that she wouldn't press him to tell.

"I have lots of time."

"Fine; I guess you really should know. Mark had been going out with Candice since college. After he graduated they moved in together and they stayed together for 6 years. One day Mark went home to find Candice gone and all the money in the house was missing. She'd not left him a letter or anything, she'd just left."

"What a bitch!"

"Mark's always blamed himself; thought that he wasn't good enough for her. This is probably the reason why Mark's in such bad shape, the anniversary of being dumped. Do you want me to come and pick him up?"

"No, that's fine. I'll take care of him."

"I'm sure you will. Goodnight Kate and thanks."

"For what?"

"You'll see."

And with that cryptic comment, Bryan hung up. Sighing, Kate went back to the bedroom to check on Mark. He was fast asleep. Shaking her head, she changed and curled up beside him, hugging him to her. In moments, she was fast asleep.

* * * * * * * *

I didn't have the strength to fight
Suddenly you seemed so right
Me and you
What a feeling

* * * * * * * *

After that night, things between Mark and Kate seemed to get better. Kate understood and was there for Mark when he needed her. As for Mark, he slowly began to get over Candice. He started to see Kate in a new light. At first, it had only been casual dating; now it went much, much deeper.

Bryan watched the growing relationship between Kate and Mark with satisfaction. It was plain to see that they were made for each other. He just wondered when Mark would finally get around to asking her to marry him.

Six months later, in a small pub, Mark proposed to Kate. Kate accepted, and they were married two months later in a small church wedding.

* * * * * * * * *

Love will remain a mystery
But give me your hand and you will see
Your heart is keeping time with me

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It's brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine

* * * * * * * *

Mark got up from the tree he was sitting under and made his way to Kate through a small crowd of giggling children. Making an apologetic gesture to the kids, he said, "I'm sorry to drag my wife away from you, but this is a song to which we just have to dance."

He took Kate over to the small square in front of the bandstand where a few couples were dancing. They started dancing, swaying in time to the music. Their bodies fitted perfectly, they were made for each other.

And on that morning, anyone who saw them would certainly agree that their love was brighter than sunshine.

-----------------------

As usual, a huge thanks to my editor Ray, who sat through the whole story and edited it (a painful task, trust me).

The song I've used here is by Aqualung- Brighter than sunshine. Its an amazing song, you really should listen to it sometime.

All the credit for the lyrics goes to the band alone. I have not written them or changed them in any way.