(Part 01)
Shallowfield’s fortunes had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away from the area and it only just survived.
And the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s however things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism as a result of an increase in leisure time.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the previously derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was being turned into a Hotel.
It was 1972 when newlyweds Rob and Sheryl Brown inherited Shallowfield Lodge.
It was in a terribly dilapidated state, there was barely a window that wasn’t smashed, the roof was unsound and there was almost as much flora inside the building as there was outside of it.
But with their joint savings and a sizable bank loan underwritten by their parents they managed to renovate the building and on May 8th 1974 the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel opened for business.
They immediately became part of the community and their kind affability won them a lot of friends.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Brown’s single handedly put Teardrop back on the map.
Many a visitor to the Lodge, because of the friendly treatments by Rob and Sheryl, returned time and time again.
The September of 1974 was the first of the annual wedding Anniversary Party’s to which everyone on the lake was invited and that no one wanted to miss.
The only thing missing from their lives were children but they were not blessed in that way but in every other way than that they were blissfully happy.
Then on the morning of the 8th of January, after 43 years on the Lake and 41 as the friendly face of the Lodge Sheryl Brown suffered a massive heart attack and died in her room at the place where she had been so happy.
Even her final act was done in such a way as not to upset the guests.
Friends immediately rallied around Rob, Penny Pellegrino and India Spreadborough who had both worked for the Brown’s since before they were married stepped in to run things as Rob was unable to function such was his totally devastation at losing his wife, friend and soul mate.
The funeral was arranged for January 10th and friends and family came from far and wide.
The vast number of well-wishers bore testament to her popularity and the level of love people had for her.
Among the family in attendance were Ben and Dorcas Overton who were distant cousins.
Though not strangers, they were distant only in the genealogy sense, Sheryl Brown nee Cush was Ben’s Mum, Eleanor’s, first Cousin.
But though distant in genealogy terms they were very close in actuality.
Ben and his siblings had spent many summer holidays with the Brown’s.
Surrogate children in a sense but both parties loved it.
And there were many other Cush’s and Overton’s among the mourners.
But only Ben and Dorcas stayed on beyond the funeral.
Ben was 33 and Dorcas was 3 years younger, they had been married for four years.
They fell in love at first sight, well almost at first sight.
Because the first time they laid eyes on each it was through a car windscreen of the car Dorcas was driving that had almost run him down.
Ben was on his way to Church where he was to be a Godparent to his sister Helens child, he was daydreaming as he did so and as he quickly crossed Church Lane he was brought rudely to his senses by the blast of a car horn.
He jumped out of the way and reached the safety of the footpath and was braced to launch a tirade od abuse in the direction of the impatient shit on the other end of the car horn, but when he turned to look at his assailant he was greeted by a beautiful smiling brunette, who mouthed the word “sorry” which completely disarmed him.
(Part 02)
It was at the end of the main service when the Reverend Hunter began the Baptism of Ben’s nephew Connor Innes into the faith that he saw again.
It turned out that “Penelope Pitstop” the beautiful, if dangerous brunette, was a close friend of his sister Helen and was also to be a Godparent to Connor.
So it was actually love at second sight when his eyes were constantly drawn to the beautiful girl on the other side of the font and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.
So that was how it began, dreamily gazing across the font, which lead to a first date, then another and another.
Which led inexorably on to a marriage proposal.
So everything in their garden was rosy, until the wedding plans threatened to suffocate them.
In order to escape the intensifying family pressure they decided they had to getaway, somewhere out of reach, to preserve their sanity.
But their December getaway turned into an elopement and a winter wedding in Berlin.
And for the vast majority of their short marriage they had been very happy indeed, however dark clouds were looming large.
They had both been very lucky in their working life and the two of them had always enjoyed their jobs and never looked on them as burdensome but forces beyond their control were conspiring against them.
Both of their companies were suffering the effects of Takeovers, restructuring and rationalization.
And that added to the effects of the recession the combination had managed to suck all the joy out of their working lives.
And along with it some of the joy from their marriage as a result.
They were most definitely not as happy as they had once been.
With the benefit of some strategic placed annual leave days they managed to take a long 13 day break at Christmas and New Year and then locked themselves away so there was only them and it seemed to work and they had made a special reconnection.
But as soon as the holidays were over and they returned to work the dark clouds returned and a gulf opened up between them again.
In a perverse way Sheryl’s funeral had been a welcome distraction for them, it got them away from the poisonous atmosphere of work once more.
Ben was terrified that he and Dorcas were drifting apart and that he seemed powerless to prevent it.
He thought that staying on at the Lodge for a few days might give him time to think of a way out.
Not a way out of the marriage but a way out of their malaise.
One afternoon Ben was in the Hotel lounge talking with Rob when the idea first dawned on him.
“If I’d gone first” Rob said “Sheryl would have coped much better on her own than I will”
“You’ll be fine” Auntie Vi said
“Sheryl was the heart and soul of this place” he retorted
Just then Dorcas appeared, she had slept in late due to a late session the night before, and she was in an ill humour.
“You’re just in time for “The Sound of Music”” Auntie Vi said
“Oh pray control my beating heart” she said
“What’s the matter Hun?” Ben asked
“I wonder” she retorted and left the room
“Oh dear” Rob said and raised his eyebrows
“Well get after her then”
“I’m here for you Rob” Ben said
“I’ve got Vi and Julie Andrews” he said “Now get going”
Reluctantly he left Rob and Vi and went in search of his unhappy wife.
On his way to reception he passed Penny
“Have you seen Dorcas?”
“Yes, she went out” Pen said
“Outside out” he asked
“I’m afraid so”
He went upstairs and changed into something suitable for going outside in the January murk and then went in search of his wife.
(Part 03)
He found her sitting on a rocky outcrop up at the top of East Cliff overlooking the lake
“There you are” he said
“What are you doing here?” she snapped
“Well I didn't just come out for a walk to avoid watching “The Sound of Music” with Auntie Vi” Ben teased
“So why did you come?”
“I was actually looking for you. I asked at the Lodge and Penny said you had gone for a walk”
“How did you know I’d be up here?”
“Just a guess” he said “Because this is where I would have come, this is my favorite spot he said gesturing with his hand”
On the day of the funeral her brother Sebastian had stashed a whisky flask in her coat pocket, which she had since forgotten about but when she thrust her hand in to retrieve a tissue she found the flask and had a sip before replacing it, actually it was more of a slug.
“So why are you here?” Ben asked “Is it me?”
“No, no it’s not you, and it’s not me” she replied making no sense
“Thing are just different”
“Is it Teardrop Lake then?”
“No I love it here” she said “I’m jealous that it knows you better than me, but I love it”
Dorcas took the hip flask back out of her pocket and took another slug before handing it to Ben.
“Here” she said “Have a swig it’ll warm you up”
He took the flask from her and took a long swallow.
Dorcas took it back and did the same.
“Oooh I’m feeling quite light headed” she said
“That’s drinking whisky on and empty stomach” he said sagely and she giggled.
“What's so funny?” He asked her
“Nothing” she said still giggling but he didn't believe her so he pressed her for an answer.
“It's just” She started “Drinking whisky on an empty stomach makes you sound really pompous”
And then she ran away laughing loudly.
“Right” he said and chased after her
He caught her in no time and she giggled when he grabbed her.
A combination of the exertion, cold and the whisky had put a blush on her cheeks.
And as he looked at her he was overcome with love for her again, just as he had been when he first met her.
She must have felt the same way because she said
“I really love you Ben” and she kissed him and he tasted her whisky tongue
“I love you too” he said as she pulled herself away from him and looked deep into his eyes.
“What are we going to do” she asked
“I can feel us drifting apart”
“I won’t let that happen” he told her
“Promise me” she said and tilted her head to one side
“I promise you with all my heart” he said.
“Thank you” she said and hugged him so tightly
As they walked back towards the hotel with an arm around each other he asked
“Do you really like it here?”
“Oh yes very much” she said
“And what about your job?”
“What about it?”
“Would you miss it?”
“Not for a second, some of the people yes, but not the job” she replied
“Why?”
“I’ve had an idea” he said
“The last time you had an idea we ended up eloping to Germany”
She said and they both laughed
“It was a corker of an idea though” he said
“Yes it was” she agreed
As they reached the bottom of the hill they met a couple coming the other way.
“Ben? Dorcas? Is that you?” the woman said
“Hello Dr Andrews?” Ben said
“Its Dr Lutchford now” she said proudly looking at the man on her arm
“Congratulations” Dorcas said
“Are you staying at the Lodge?” Peter Lutchford asked and Ben nodded
“How is Rob?” Claire asked
“He’s still very low” Dorcas confirmed
“How long are you staying on?” Claire asked
“That’s a good question” Ben replied
Ben needed to have a serious conversation with Rob Brown but didn’t know quite how or when to broach the subject.
But that night the decision was taken out of his hands when they were sitting in the Hotel bar and Rob announced
“I’m giving up the Lodge”
“What do you mean?” Ben said
“I’m going to go and live with Vi in Sharpington”
“What’s going to happen to this place?” Ben asked
“Well that rather depends on you two” he replied
“What do you mean?” Dorcas asked
“This place needs someone with fresh energy” he said
“I still don’t understand” she said
“A young couple who can put their heart, souls and love into the place” he explained but Dorcas still wore a puzzled expression
“I still don….” She began and then suddenly the penny dropped
“You mean us?”
“Yes” he replied
“This is what you were talking about this afternoon” she said to Ben
“Yes but I didn’t say anything” he replied
“I can only hand it on to someone in the family and you two are the obvious choices” Rob said
“So what’s the answer?”
“Yes, absolutely yes” Dorcas said
They returned home to Bushy Down the next day and back to work the day after and handed in their notice and then put the cottage on the market.
They took up residence at the Lodge midway through February and the sale of the cottage went through 2 Months later.
Rob stayed on until May to show them the ropes and then he signed over the lease and then their long tenure began.
They never looked back and their love for each other never wavered again.
Ben was in his element as an Hotelier and the beautiful diminutive Dorcas with the immense personality and a heart as big as the moon was the perfect replacement for Sheryl.
By the time Rob Brown had left his replacements at the Lodge, Dorcas was already growing hers and Bens.
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