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Photographer in the Park	By : NutsAboutHarry Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Joshua Bell Views: 1770 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not know Joshua Bell (Do you think I'd be writing fan fic about him if I did?) the following story is TOTAL FICTION the prouct of my extraordinarily overactive imagination. No profit of any kind is made from the writing and publishing of this story!

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Due to their clashing schedules Josh and Louisa’s second date didn’t happen for another two weeks. Louisa was being awfully mysterious about the date she had planned and would only tell Josh ‘wear jeans and boots’. It was now two weeks after their first date and Josh drove across the East River internally analysing the coming events. He arrived at Louisa’s house on Long Island a little before ten AM a heavy feeling if excited nervousness pooling in his stomach. He walked up the front porch steps of the enormous house and knocked on the door. Louisa’s silhouette immediately formed behind the stained glass door and moments later it opened.

‘Hey you’ Louisa said with a soft smile stepping aside to let him inside.

‘Hey beautiful’ Josh said pressing his lips to hers ‘been a while’

Louisa kissed him back.
‘It has been’ she said ‘come through tell me what you’ve been up to’

Josh followed Louisa down to the back of the house and to the kitchen that smelled alluringly of burnt chocolate.

‘You’re cooking?’ he asked sliding into one of the barstools in front of the breakfast bar.

‘Not now I was before’ Louisa said lacing her fingers through his ‘chocolate biscuits the best you’ve ever tasted. They’re part of dessert tonight’

‘Dessert? You’re cooking as well?’

‘Yup this is a proper date we’re going upstate then coming back here for homemade pizza and ice cream. All my own creation’ Louisa said with a grin ‘I do things properly you know’

‘Hmm interesting’ Josh said ‘so any clues as to where you’re taking me?’

‘Yep we’re going horse riding’ Louisa said with a grin ‘you told me on our first date you did it all the time as a kid and still do it now when you go home to Bloomington so Mel my friend from work pulled a few strings for me and booked us a trail ride at her sisters riding school in Albany. We’re getting a discount too’

‘Albany?’ Josh exclaimed incredulously ‘that’s two hours away!’

‘I know that. That’s why I’ve packed us a lunch and we’re leaving now’ Louisa said with a grin ‘did you bring a change of clothes with you like I asked? You’re going to want a hot shower after we get home’

‘Yeah in the car’

‘Come on then the sooner we leave the sooner we’ll get there’ Louisa said with a grin ‘no lazing about today Joshua this is go go go from the get go’

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Two and a half hours later Louisa turned off the road through Albany and into the more rural areas of the town past fields of crops and beef and dairy cattle.

‘Have you been where we’re going before?’ Josh asked through a extravagant yawn.

‘Nah but Mel gave me very specific instructions’ Louisa said ‘turn right at the driftwood racehorse on Equestrian Drive. We’re in Equestrian Drive now it should be just over the hill’

And as soon as they topped the rise in Equestrian Drive Josh pointed in front of them.
‘I reckon that’s it’ he said as they approached the piece of art ‘nice piece’

‘Yeah apparently Kate’s husband made it’ Louisa said turning right at the horse and passing a sign that read ‘One mile to Driftwood Riding School and Art Studios’ ‘he’s a sculptor apparently but dabbles in painting and charcoal drawing. I might look at his work while I’m here I want to get a painting for the lounge’

Five minutes later Louisa turned her utility down the driveway of the riding school and parked in front of the school office.

‘Ah the smell of horses and hay medicine for my soul’ Louisa said with a grin as they got out of the car ‘I might make a point of booking weekly lessons here I haven’t been horse riding regularly since High School’

They entered the office where an older woman wearing blue jodhpurs knee high boots and a t-shirt bearing the legend ‘Horses are proof God exists’ was tapping away at a computer.

‘Can I help ya darlin’?’ she asked brightly looking up.

‘Kate?’ Louisa said holding out her hand ‘Louisa Riminton we spoke on the phone during the week?’

Kate lit up.
‘Hiya sweetheart I’ve been expectin’ ya’ she said brightly taking Louisa’s hand and shaking it ‘who’s this?’

‘This is my very good friend Josh’ Louisa said as Josh stepped forward ‘we’ll both be riding today’

‘Howdy’ Kate said brightly ‘Louisa told me during the week you’re an experienced rider’

‘Well sort of’ Josh said ‘I rode a lot when I was growing up and I ride my sister and mothers horse whenever I go home to Indiana. I haven’t sat on a horse since Easter though’

‘What about you Louisa? Would you classify yourself as an experienced rider?’

‘Yeah thought because I’ve been travelling with work I haven’t been much recently either. I did a lot of pony club when I was growing up’

‘Rightio I know just the horses to put you on then come through to the stables and I’ll introduce you to your mounts and we’ll saddle up’

‘Shouldn’t I pay first?’ Louisa asked taking her wallet out of her pants pocket.

‘Nah luv do that when you get back’ Kate said cheerfully leading them out of the office ‘do you two have your own helmets?’

‘No’

‘Well there’s some spare ones in the tack room pick one that will fit and come through’

Louisa and Josh quickly found fitting helmets then followed Kate through to the main stabling area.

‘Josh I’ll put you on Cotton Socks I’m sure you’ll like him’ Kate said leading a stocky bay quarter horse out of his box ‘how are you with saddling up? Want some help?’

‘Nah I can manage’ Josh said.

‘And Louisa I’ll put you on Mack’ Kate said introducing Louisa to a grey thoroughbred gelding ‘careful when you do up the girth he has a habit of holding onto a breath’

‘Righto’

Within half an hour they were saddled up and out on the trail.

‘You two are going to need a hot bath tonight if it’s been several months since you were in the saddle’ Kate said in amusement as they rode through an open gate ‘I get sore if I’m out of the saddle longer than a week’

‘I know and I’ve loaded up on deep heat cream and lavender oil for the bath’ Louisa said as Mack pranced under her eager to go faster than an ambling walk ‘I might book in regular lessons after today I always lose weight when I ride regularly and it’s time I get fit again’

‘Well you’re welcome here anytime doll just make a firm booking and we’ll fit you in’ Kate said ‘we’ve been so busy lately I’m considering taking on more staff and buying more horses. Since Stampeding Glory dressage academy on he other side of the country was sold off we’ve got a lot more business and have been booked solid’

How many acres have you got?’ Josh asked.

‘A hundred and two but it’s not all horses’ Kate replied ‘we’ve got a vineyard in the south corner of the property we’ll ride by and there’s an organic vegetable farm and restaurant in the eastern corner. The riding school is in the western corner and in the northern corner is where we grow our own Lucerne and oaten hay. We’re pretty self sufficient’

‘D’you mind if we go a bit faster than a walk?’ Josh asked ten minutes later as they reached a flat stretch of ground ‘Cotton Socks is getting a bit restless he’s leaning on the bit’

‘Yeah he tends to do that a bit’ Kate said ‘trot on if you like’

Josh could almost feel Cotton Socks sigh in relief as he gave the stout gelding the signal to trot. He rose up and down to the faster paste enjoying the mid-Autumn breeze across his face. He looked across at Louisa and saw a wide grin spread across her face that almost split her round face in two.

‘Enjoying yourself?’ he called.

‘You bet this is brilliant!’

The trio trotted and cantered along the flat stretch of ground til the vineyard came into view.

‘Oh I-I’m def-intely c-coming back here that was the best fun!’ Louisa puffed when they slowed to a walk.

‘We can try a gallop on the way back if you’re up to it’ Kate said leading the group through a heavily wooded part of the trail ‘the route I’m taking you on today is a big circle’

‘God I haven’t galloped in ages’ Josh said.

‘You’ll be fine’ Kate assured him ‘you managed the cantering just fine. Socks has a great gallop it’s like a rocking chair on Red Bull’

Louisa let out a great snort of laughter.

‘All his strides feel like they’re on Red Bull’ Josh said dryly.

‘Ah well Quarter Horses are like that’ Kate said ‘and Socks used to be a racehorse so he goes about life amped up’

‘That explains a lot’

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Two hours after setting out Louisa and Josh arrived back at the stabling area. They dismounted and led their horses into the main barn.

‘God I still feel like I have a horse between my legs’ Josh groaned as he led Cotton Socks into his box ‘I think I’ve permanently injured something’

Louisa collapsed in a fit of giggles.
‘Oh suck it up Princess’ she said with a great snort of laughter ‘have a hot bath with some lavender oil in it and you’ll live’

‘I highly doubt that’

Within half an hour Josh and Louisa had settled their horses and were back on the road to Long Island.

‘I had a really good time today we ought to do that again sometime’ Josh said reaching across the console and rubbing Louisa’s knee.

‘Aw I dunno about that I’m not sure I want to hear you whining about permanent injuries and general body soreness’ Louisa said with a grin ‘I don’t cop whining Josh even with your good looks’

‘Ah it’s not that bad’ Josh said good naturedly stretching in his seat ‘I ride all the time when I go back home to visit the family though I’ve not done much this year because of the tour’

‘How often do you go back to Indiana?’

‘Quite a lot a dozen times a year maybe when I’m not touring or have any teaching commitments’ Josh replied ‘I at least go for Christmas, Easter and the birthdays of my sisters. I plan on taking the boys with me a lot now that I’m home on a more permanent basis’

‘Like for Thanksgiving?’

‘Yeah they’re the only Bell grandchildren that don’t live in Indiana I don’t want the rest of the family to lose contact with him just because his mother and I are no longer together’ Josh said ‘I have a trip loosely planned for next month if the conservatorium don’t need me’

‘The conservatorium is keeping you busy?’

‘Yeah mainly consulting work but the odd the master class too’ Josh said ‘one of my old friends from College has recently been appointed to the Orchestral Faculty and we’ve been working together so look at the curriculum’

‘He’s a violinist too?’

‘Nah he chose the viola’ Josh said ‘but he plays the violin too just prefers the mellower sound of the viola’

‘Does he give lessons outside the conservatorium?’ Louisa asked jokingly ‘I’ve thought once Paolo fixes up my viola I would start taking lessons. As in proper ones not viola 101 off YouTube’

‘I’ll ask him if he doesn’t I’m sure he could put you onto someone who does’ Josh said lazily tracing circles on her leg with his index finger ‘but he is a brilliant teacher and you could take lessons off worse people’

‘Have you performed with him?’

‘Yeah but not since College twenty years ago’ Josh said ‘we used to do a lot of Paganini and Dvorak stuff together. Once we graduated from college though he got a job with the Boston Symphony and I started my solo career’

‘You never felt the urge to do the orchestra thing?’

‘Nah my heart was always in solo or chamber work. I’m happiest when playing the great solo pieces’ Josh said the ghost of a smile drifting across his face ‘you can have more creative input as a soloist than you can when you’re one of a dozen in an orchestra. Not that I’m denigrating orchestra violinists I’m not I just prefer to do the solo thing’

‘No one’s your boss huh?’ Louisa said with a grin.

‘Something along those lines’

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Right on half past six Louisa and Josh arrived back at Long Island. As soon as they walked inside Mocha and Cookie started whining for their food.

‘I’ll feed these two gutses you go have your shower’ Louisa said to Josh ‘the bathroom is upstairs fourth door on the left. All you need is in there’

Josh kissed her on the cheek and flashed her a wink before disappearing upstairs. Louisa fed Mocha and Cookie then checked on the Irish stew in the slow cooker before heading upstairs to shower in her ensuite.

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In the shower recess of the master bathroom Josh leant against the blue and white tiles of the wall as the steaming hot pulsating water hit his aching muscles. Ever since he’s dismounted from Cotton Socks three hours previously every movement however insignificant caused him excruciating pain. When he walked it was like a lead weight was strapped to each foot and lifting his arms above his shoulders to play his violin would be impossible at least for a couple of days. He scrubbed his aching body with soap then washed his hair and spent another ten minutes standing still underneath the steaming water in an attempt to rid him of the uncomfortable aches and pains.

Josh stepped out of the shower half an hour after making his way upstairs and quickly dried off. He re-dressed then made his way downstairs at the same time Louisa left her bedroom also having just showered.

‘Feel any better?’ she asked as they made their way downstairs.

‘Nah not really’ Josh replied dropping his bag by the front door ‘my arms are killing me I don’t think I’m going to play the Strad for a few days. I would have to get assigned a horse that pulled on the bit the whole ride’

‘Aw but it was fun though wasn’t it?’ Louisa said with a grin ‘my legs are killing me’

‘My everything is killing me’ Josh said dryly as they made their way into the kitchen ‘I am going home tonight and dying’

‘Oh come on you’re not that sore’ Louisa said rolling her eyes ‘anybody would think you’ve had a leg cut off. Do the boys whine as much as you?’

Josh laughed heartily.
‘No because they know I won’t tolerate it’ He said with a grin ‘I’m not normally the whiny type only when it still feels like I’m riding a horse three hours after I dismounted’

‘Actually it does feel a bit like that doesn’t it?’ Louisa said with a grin leaning over the slow cooker and stirring the contents ‘you hungry?’

‘Starving’

‘D’you mind setting the table then? Cutlery drawer is on the other side of the bench’

‘Sure’
Josh set the table then came into the kitchen wrapping his arms around Louisa’s waist as she ladled the stew into bowl.

‘I will spill dinner and burn both if us if you keep that up’ Louisa said as Josh swept aside her hair and kissed her neck ‘you you really want to injure me? It’s only the second date Josh that would be rude’

‘But it wouldn’t be on the third date?’ Josh said with a chuckle.

‘Ha ha smartarse’

Louisa filled up two bowls and put them on a tea tray before taking the warmed dinner rolls out of the oven.

‘Grubs up gorgeous’ she said carrying the tray over to the dinner table ‘eat it all up and you get dessert’

‘And that is?’

‘Homemade cookies and cream ice cream’

‘You’ll get me fat’

‘You can work it off by coming horse riding with me again’ Louisa said with a wide grin ‘if we make it a regular occurrence you won’t constantly feel like you have a horse between your legs’

Josh laughed.
‘Alright I’ll come along with you as often as my schedule allows but we’re going somewhere closer than Albany the four hour round trip would get too wearing after a while’

‘Yeah it would, alright I’ll find somewhere closer and look into booking lessons or at the very least trail rides’ Louisa said ‘I’ll book them for me and you can join me when you’re not too busy’

‘Sounds good’

After second helpings of the Irish stew, Josh and Louisa returned to the living room where they sat down on the sofa.

‘So what’s up for you in the next couple of weeks?’ Louisa asked leaning back into his embrace.

Teaching, teaching and more teaching’ Josh said with a tired sigh resting his chin on her shoulder ‘and I might go back to Bloomington for a weekend just to see everyone I haven’t seen them since I stopped in Indiana at the beginning of my tour’

‘I’m surprised your Mum isn’t giving you the ‘who are you and how did you get my number?’ talk when you ring’

‘She is’ Josh said rolling his eyes ‘so are my sisters. I think they’re starting to forget who I am. Plus I did promise them I would come down before Thanksgiving. I think I would be disowned if I didn’t go back before then’

‘I think I’d be disowned if I didn’t ring, Skype or text someone in my immediately family at least once a week’ Louisa said ‘usually once a month we all try and do a conference Skype. Leis and Fred live in Sydney so they get together with both families and I usually get to see everyone. It keeps me sane because I don’t get much opportunity to travel and neither do they’

‘D’you think now that you have a permanent home you’ll be able to travel and vice versa?’

‘I hope so that’s why I bought such a large house so I could house all the family when they came over’ Louisa said ‘I plan on staying in the States so it made sense I buy a house I could grow into. Plus I like the space. For the past five years I’ve been living in a singular room or the RV’

‘How are the renovations going?’

‘Oh great got all the interior finished and the exterior ones are booked for the start of next week’ Louisa said with a grin ‘I’m having a bit of a run built so Cookie can experience the outdoors. I might even have a housewarming once all the work has been done’

‘Would I be invited if you did?’ Josh whispered in her ear.

‘You’d be the first one invited of course’ Louisa said shivering slightly as his warm breath tickled her neck ‘I don’t think it’d be anymore than a dinner party though I don’t know many people in the States’

‘That’ll change by the time the renovations are finished’ Josh said rubbing her arms ‘once your viola is restored you can start lessons and you’ll meet people that way. And you work at a large practice surely there are a lot of people there you get on with’

‘Yeah there are everyone’s been so welcoming’ Louisa said with a soft smile ‘and I would invite the neighbours either side of me they’ve been great. There’s Tim and Jan and their four kids next door on the left and Colin and Margaret next door on the right. Margaret came over with a baked apple pie and a casserole the first night I moved in just to welcome me to the neighbourhood. I love that sort of community feeling. We even have weekly coffee now I go over there or she comes over here’

‘I’ll look for the invite in the mail then’

Louisa turned her head sideways and kissed him.
‘That’s your invite’ she whispered ‘you don’t need a paper one’

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Finally at 10PM Josh stood to leave.
‘I better go’ he said reluctantly with a yawn ‘if I don’t go now I’ll be to tired to drive home’

Louisa walked him to the front door.
‘I’ll see you soon though?’ she said hopefully.

Josh kissed her on the bridge of her nose.
‘Of course’ he said ‘sooner than two weeks too I’ll make a point of it. Even if we just do coffee at Pieces or I visit you during your lunch hour at work. I don’t want to wait two weeks again’

‘Well things have settled down at the clinic now and your schedule seems to have sorted itself out too so we should be about to do coffee’ Louisa said walking out to his car ‘I’ll be in touch alright? You have a safe drive home’

Josh put his bag on the bonnet of his car and encircled Louisa’s waist with his arms; he then lowered his lips to her and kissed with such passion she was left lightheaded.

‘Wow that was nice’ she said dreamily ‘I’ll have sweet dreams remembering that’

‘I hope so’ Josh said with a chuckle ‘I had a good day today Louie I hope we can do it again soon’

‘So do I, text me when you get home alright? I want to know you arrived safely’

‘I will sweetheart I will’

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- 6
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Photographer in the Park