Page 58 of Wild Swimming at Croftwood Lake
Nora threw her arms around his neck. ‘Thank you.’
There was a substantial log pile around the side of the cabin. Archie carried an armful inside. There was a basket of kindling next to the chimney breast and a fancy jar of matches. He laid the kindling in the grate and took a match to it. It lit easily, so he piled some of the smaller logs on top, staring into the flames and enjoying the feeling of warmth that seeped into the cabin. Once the kindling was glowing, he placed several of the smaller logs on top and was satisfied that the fire was lit.
‘Come on then. Let’s go,’ he said.
The shingle shore sloped away from the cabin, and it was only about twenty metres to the water’s edge. Once they got there, Archie could see how clear the water was. Since it was a still day and there were no real waves, the bottom was visible for as far as he could see. Very different to the lake at home and, he realised, part of the reason he didn’t find it appealing. This was much better. At least you could see what you were getting into.
He grabbed her hand and before he talked himself out of it ran into the water.
‘Good grief!’ The water was colder than he could have imagined and it literally took his breath away.
‘Stop!’ Nora said. ‘You need to go slower to let your body adjust.’
‘My body is never going to adjust to this,’ he gasped.
‘It will.’
Nora looked entirely at ease in the freezing water, which was up to their thighs. Archie wasn’t sure he could even feel his thighs anymore.
‘Okay?’
He nodded, noticing that his breathing was back to normal.
‘Ready to go a bit further?’
He rolled his eyes and laughed. ‘At what point is it supposed to feel as wonderful as you make it out to be?’
‘Not yet. This is the hard part.’
‘You’re telling me.’
Holding hands still, they waded further in, Archie continuing to gasp as the cold water rose up his body, until they were almost chest deep.
‘Right, let’s dunk our shoulders in,’ Nora said.
Thinking it was best to get it over with, to get to the point of it being wonderful as quickly as possible, Archie dunked in.
‘Yes! You’ve done it!’
Swimming helped. It almost felt as if he was swimming away from the cold, and after a minute or so, he actually felt warmer.
‘You’re enjoying yourself,’ Nora said, grinning at him.
‘I am.’ He felt stupidly pleased with himself. Almost euphoric. And he wondered what had been holding him back from doing it before.
Late that evening after they’d eaten, and after Archie had made love to her, Nora lay in his arms.
‘I love you,’ he murmured into her ear.
Nora turned to face him.
‘It’s too soon isn’t it,’ he said, looking wounded.
‘No, it isn’t. I love you too.’
‘It scares me that I can’t imagine my life without you. Already.’
Nora cupped his cheek with her hand. ‘I feel like that too. I missed you last night. It took me by surprise.’
