(Part 01)
Shallowfield lay on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and 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, to Abbottsford, Abbeyvale and beyond, and it only barely 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 things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism and an increase in leisure time.
More importantly these people had money in their pockets.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was turned into a hotel.
Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and by extension Shallowfield and one of its residents, some forty something years later, was Rafael Seeber who worked as the Manager and senior stylist at Mazzone’s.
It was the latest addition in the Mazzone chain of hairdressers and Rafael was the manager and he was so committed to making a success of it that he moved to Shallowfield and bought a house at the Childean end of the Village
After only six months in the village he had been lucky enough to get two tickets to the Lutchford’s Garden Party on the August Bank Holiday, at his home, Forest Lodge, on the southwest shore of Teardrop Lake.
Peter Lutchford had lived in Forest Lodge since he was 12, it had been the home of the Flanders family for over one hundred years and when his mother remarried it effectively became his.
A year after he moved there his sister Amanda came along, she was now Mrs Bishop.
It had become an annual event since Peter Lutchford had married local Doctor, Claire Andrews, and it had become one of the “jewel in the crown” event in Shallowfield and in particular Teardrop Lake.
He was a world renowned film director, and he had his own production company, Teardrop Productions, based at Purplemere Studios.
Because of his fame as a director and his sister’s as an actress there was always a liberal sprinkling of celebrities present at the Lutchford’s parties, so it was quite a coup to get an invite to either the Garden Party, the fancy dress party at Halloween or the other one on New Year’s Eve.
However his wife Claire always ensured the ordinary people of the community made up the majority of the guests.
His initial thought was to decline the invitation as it wasn’t really his kind of thing, plus he didn’t have anyone to take since he broke up with his girlfriend Veronica.
But despite his reservations everyone told him how difficult it was to get an invite and how envious they were so he decided to accept.
(Part 02)
It was Sunday morning, the day of the Lutchford’s Garden Party at Forest Lodge on the southwest corner of Teardrop Lake.
It had become an annual event since Peter Lutchford had married local Doctor, Claire Andrews.
It was one of the “jewel in the crown” event in Shallowfield and in particular Teardrop Lake.
The day began at first light and it looked like it was going to be a glorious day.
He had planned to sleep late, however he was awoken earlier than planned, much earlier in fact, by the rattling of crockery from the kitchen and the sound of water running, a kettle filling he presumed.
He looked at the clock and it was 5.05am and he apparently had an unexpected houseguest, he had no idea who it was and frankly it could have been anyone.
He got up and went gingerly downstairs and as he approached the kitchen he caught sight of his intruder, his twin sister Mercedes sitting on the kitchen counter eating toast.
“What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” he said and walked up to her and hugged her
“It’s the garden party today obviously” she replied
“Yes but not for another six hours” he said
Rafael and Mercedes sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee,
“What made you get here quite so early?” he said yawning
“I’ve been at Mum and Dads since Friday night” she replied “And Mum was driving me mad with the “you’re not getting any younger” speech, so I left early”
“Ah now I understand” he said
Mercedes was only 29 years old but in the culture her parents were from to have reached that age without a husband or children was almost humiliating, and even Rafael, fell victim to his mother’s wrath.
So they were both single as they rapidly approached their milestone 30th birthdays.
Although they both balked at their mothers constant haranguing about their marital status, they were not singletons out of choice and the fact they had no significant others in their lives was not for want of trying, and they had both kissed a lot of frogs in pursuit of their perfect others.
Although they weren’t identical twins they were unmistakably brother and sister, with the same facial features and the same hair, the same southern Mediterranean colouring and they were both tall and lean.
But it wasn’t just the physical characteristics that they shared, they also shared the same temperament, sense of humour, and both had kind and generous hearts.
It was just a shame that they were unable to find that special someone.
But apart from being twins and sharing so many characteristics, they also shared a profession as Mercedes was also a hairdresser and worked for Mazzone’s but the shop she worked in was in Abbottsford and she shared a flat above the shop there with three other girls, which wasn’t ideal, and was why she looked forward to getting away whenever possible, even if it was to feel the sharp edge of her mums tongue.
(Part 03)
As he was up early he decided he would cook them both a proper breakfast and then they had a leisurely morning getting ready because of a lack of any time constraints.
Rafael shaved and showered and Mercedes, perfumed and powdered herself and then they got dressed.
The Garden Party was not a baggy shorts and flip flop kind of affair and nor was it a dinner suit, cummerbund and bow tie kind of thing.
So Rafael wore a blue blazer and slacks and Mercedes a yellow dress.
As Rafael’s house was at the Childean end of the village and Teardrop Lake was at the other, and because it was a hot day, walking was not an option so Rafael suggested a cab but Mercedes had to drive home that evening because she had washing and ironing to do the next day and then work the morning after so she suggested they go in her Jazz.
“Ok let’s go” he said
“I don’t know where I’m going, so you’ll have to direct me” She replied “I can follow the signs to Teardrop Lake obviously, but I don’t know where on the Lake we’re going or which house”
“Ok I’ll direct you once we get close” he said
They drove through Shallowfield and turned into the lane that passed the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel and crossed the River Brooke as it flowed from the head of the lake and on towards Shallowfield, Mornington and beyond, and then the Lake was suddenly in front of them.
The lake was shaped like a teardrop, hence its name, and surrounded by the ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest.
It wasn’t a huge body of water, just over two miles long and almost a mile at its widest point.
But he thought it was simply beautiful and it had remained relatively un-spoilt which was what made it so special.
The lake was surrounded by a perimeter road which gave access to the 12 significant dwellings that surrounded the lake.
Peter Lutchford and his wife Claire lived at Forest Lodge on the southern side of the lake.
“Go right here” Rafe said
“Ok” she complied
“It’s the 4th House” he added
“It must be lovely to live here” she said
“Wouldn’t it just” he replied
“It’s a shame we never will” Mercedes said wistfully
“Never say never” he remarked
“That’s Forest Lodge just ahead, you’ll have to park in the lane”
Obviously they were not the only guests that needed to park in the lane so they ended more than fifty yards away from the entrance to Forest Lodge.
So once Mercedes parked the car they joined a queue of ambling guests and among them was an array of stunningly turned out women some of whom he recognised as customers at the shop and some he had seen around the village.
But none of them got his motor running, they were all a bit unremarkable and having had the benefit of talking to some of them in the shop he knew that their looks merely masked their vacuous personalities.
But all of a sudden he caught sight of a girl who was anything but unremarkable.
He couldn’t have said she was an absolute beauty because he didn’t see her face because she yomped past him at pace and he never caught her up.
(Part 04)
But all of a sudden he caught sight of a girl who was anything but unremarkable.
He couldn’t have said she was an absolute beauty because he didn’t see her face because she yomped past him at pace and he never caught her up.
But in that short few minutes she struck a chord with him, she was a small young woman with short brown hair and she was wearing a figure hugging knee length green silk dress, which fitted her like a second skin and there looked to all the world that there was nothing between second and first, he tried to pursue but Mercedes seemed distracted by something and held him back and he soon lost sight of the vision in the liquid green silk.
Once they reached the garden the first people they ran into were Ben and Dorcas Overton who ran the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel, Dorcas was one of his regulars and she was and absolute diamond and it was nice to finally meet Ben who he had heard a lot about because she was always talking about him.
After that they met their hosts’ half-sister Amanda Bishop who was a real stunner and was another of his customers and he believed she was responsible for his invite.
“Hello Amanda” he said, “can I introduce you to my sister Mercedes”
After leaving Amanda they found their hosts, the illustrious film director Peter Lutchford and his wife Claire and a rather plain looking, bespectacled stick insect of a woman called Olivia who worked with Claire at the health centre and they spent a pleasant ten minutes chatting, until a waitress appeared with a tray of drinks, and he caught sight of the small young woman again and this time he saw her face and she was an absolute beauty and she looked at him and smiled.
She was a small girl and the green silk dress really did fit her like a second skin and as she walked away there was no VPL in fact no visible lines at all and as she walked her whole body moved like it was a liquid instead of a solid,
A figure of liquid silk, moving like risen bread dough being poured from a bowl.
But then she was gone again, swallowed up by the crowd.
Well people came and went from the group which grew and shrank then grew again and when there were more people there that he didn’t know than those he knew he suggested to Mercedes that they should mingle.
But before they slipped away someone else joined the group who caused Mercedes to hesitate.
“Hello Jake” Claire said “I think you know everyone”
“Not quite” he replied looking towards Mercedes
“Have you not met Rafael Seeber?”
“Only in a professional capacity” he replied “but not his companion”
“This is my colleague Jake Alexander” Claire said introducing him to Mercedes.
“Hello please call me Mercedes”
Rafael didn’t notice her flirtatiously flicking the hair off her face as she shook Jakes hand as he had spotted the mystery girl again, he had no idea who she was and he only caught a glimpse of her and she was off again and he was eager to get after her and if he didn’t do it then he might never track her down again but when he looked back at Mercedes she appeared to have a rather soppy expression on her face.
(Part 05)
When he finally managed to drag Mercedes away from the group or more specifically Jake, there was no sign of the girl in the silk dress and they had only gone a matter of yards when he was halted in his pursuit of the girl by someone who he instantly recognised and his heart sank, she was a little blonde Cougar in a white dress, a highly unsuitable shade considering what she gets up to too with all and sundry and he had been on her radar from the moment he arrived in Shallowfield.
“Rafael Darling” she said
“Hello Mrs Braithwaite”
“I’ve told you before, you naughty boy, call me Carissa”
It didn’t help the situation that Mercedes took that precise moment to excuse herself to use the little girl’s room but the ever-dependable Claire Lutchford came to his aid
“Rafael, Rafael” she called “Come and meet the Sefton’s?”
“Oh yes I would love to, it would be a real pleasure” he replied and whispered “Thank you”
“Rafael Seeber, This is Cecil” she said and Rafael unkindly thought he looked a rather arrogant man,
“And his wife Clémence” and Rafe thought her a true example of a trophy wife.
“And this is their daughter Petra”
“Pleased to meet you all” he said shaking first Cecil’s and then Clémence’s hand and then he looked at Petra for the first time and he did a double take because it was the beauteous young brunette wearing the figure hugging green silk dress, that fitted her like a second skin that he had been getting glimpses of from the moment he arrived.
The small talk ebbed and flowed and Rafael discovered that his initial assessment of Cecil rather missed the mark he wasn’t anywhere near as arrogant as his demeanour suggested and he possessed a dry wit.
Clémence was as pleasant as she was beautiful and it was evident where Petra got her looks from.
The company was so amiable and the converse so light hearted and amusing that he barely noticed the passage of time.
It was a stroke of luck, Claire introducing him to the Sefton’s because had he gone wandering off looking for Petra he would never have got to spend such a pleasant hour with her and her amiable parents.
But as was the nature of such social events the ebb and flow of guests eventually broke them up and a moment’s lack of concentration caused him to lose track of Petra again.
Still, at least now he knew the name of his prey.
In the absence of the gorgeous Petra, Rafael turned his thoughts towards his sister and he wondered why he hadn’t seen her for more than an hour.
He wandered around the substantial gardens for the next hour or so drifting from one pleasant exchange to another without setting eyes on either the vision in silk or his sister Mercedes.
Finally, as it was a hot afternoon he decided to make his way to the water’s edge in the vain hope that there might be a breath of cool wind off the water.
But what actually happened when he stepped onto the jetty took his breath away because sitting on the end of the jetty soaking her feet in the lake was Petra Sefton.
(Part 06)
“Hello” he said “that looks refreshing”
“Oh hi” She retorted with a beaming smile “Yes it is”
“Do you mind if join you then?”
“Sure, be my guest” she said amiably
Rafael kicked off his shoes and removed his socks and after rolling up his trouser legs he sat down beside Petra on the jetty and put his feet into the cool water.
“Oh that feels good” he said
“It’s nice isn’t it?” she said with a chuckle
“My feet were so hot from chasing shadows all afternoon” he said and her cheeks flushed and then she asked.
“Isn’t that your girlfriend?”
“What?”
“Isn’t that your girlfriend on that boat?” she said as she pointed at a dinghy
“Sister” he said
“What?”
She’s not my girlfriend she’s my sister he explained wondering why she was on a boat
She’s your sister?” she said “Oh good”
They sat beside each other on the jetty for more than an hour with their feet dangling in the water and talking as they watched Mercedes out on the water.
Until the boat went out of view as the sun started to set and the temperature dropped, although he didn’t want to bring their pleasant interlude to an end so he suffered the discomfort until he noticed her shiver.
“It’s getting a bit chilly isn’t it?” he said
“Rather” she retorted, she too had been reluctant to bring preceding’s to an end but was grateful when he slipped his blazer on to her shoulders.
“Thank you” Petra said and smiled warmly to him and then lifted her feet out of the water and stood up and she was instantly standing in a puddle
“Oh dear it seemed like a good idea at the time” she said “but I hadn’t really thought it through”
Fortunately Rafael was the type of man who always carried emergency hankies, his sister was always teasing him about it, so without hesitation he handed her both handkerchiefs and said
“Here, they should get the worst of it, one for each foot”
“Oh that’s really sweet” she said and accompanied it with a dazzling smile “But what about you?”
“Oh I’m ok, I have socks remember”
“Well if you’re sure” she said and sat down on a dry part of the jetty and dried her feet and Rafael never took his eyes off her for a second.
When she was done she slipped her shoes back on her tiny feet she stood up in front of him wearing his blazer over her silk dress and said
“Hurry up slow coach” she said with a grin “let’s go and find some coffee”
“Ok I’m ready” he said and as he approached her she slipped her arm through his.
They spend the next two hours sitting in the Lutchford’s conservatory drinking coffee with their hosts and all the talk was about the goings on at the Purplemere Studios, where it transpired Petra was an assistant director which she went on to explain wasn’t as grand as the job title suggested.
And throughout the time they spent in the conservatory Petra had her arm through his and she was hugging his arm.
“That’s very encouraging” he thought to himself.
(Part 07)
They spend the next two hours sitting in the Lutchford’s conservatory drinking coffee with their hosts and all the talk was about the goings on at the Purplemere Studios, where it transpired Petra was an assistant director which she went on to explain wasn’t as grand as the job title suggested.
And throughout the time they spent in the conservatory Petra had her arm through his and she was hugging his arm.
“That’s very encouraging” he thought to himself.
As the time drifted on he was starting to flag thanks to his sister’s dawn raid on his kitchen but there was no way he was leaving without Petra.
Thankfully she noticed him stifling a yawn and she was feeling tired as well so she said
“I think it time for me to call it a night”
And she was relieved when she heard Rafe say
“I’ll walk you home”
“What about your sister?”
“Oh I think she’s abandoned me for a sailor” he replied and she laughed
She had told him earlier when they were sat on the jetty that she had a flat in one of the big houses on the lake, Dancingdean Hall, which was once the residence of the Earls of Dancingdean but that line of aristocracy had long since died out and the hall was now divided into 6 spacious family apartments, one of which, Flat D, was now home to Cecil and Clémence Sefton and more significantly their lovely daughter Petra.
They left the Lutchford’s and when they got out in the lane he could see his sister’s car was still parked where they left it that morning but there was no sign of Mercedes so they walked along the southern perimeter road and headed anticlockwise around the lake, with Petra still wearing his jacket and after about fifty yards she slipped her hand into his and he smiled to himself.
It was a slow walk in the moonlight and the conversation ebbed and flowed between them and they were both disappointed when they arrived at the entrance to Dancingdean House.
It was situated on the highest point on the cliffs above the Lake but on the opposite side to the Lutchford’s and even in the moonlight it commanded a magnificent view of Teardrop Lake.
Suddenly he panicked as the easy conversation on their perambulation dried up and he couldn’t think what to say and in the end he rather blurted out.
“Are you doing anything tomorrow?”
“I don’t know, are we?” she asked and smiled coyly
“Yes we are” he replied with new found confidence.
“I was thinking of Sharpington, it’s the parade tomorrow”
“Sounds good to me” Petra said and let go of his hand and reached into his jacket pocket and took out his phone and sent herself a text.
“There, now we both have each other’s numbers” she said and slipped the phone back in his pocket
“I will call you in the morning” he said
“You’d better” she said as they stopped walking by the front gate and paused in the darkness and shared a long sensual kiss.
(Part 08)
“I will call you in the morning” he said
“You’d better” she said as they stopped walking by the front gate and paused in the darkness and shared a long sensual kiss.
“That will do until tomorrow” she said cockily and headed towards the door.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” he called after her and she stopped in her tracks and turned towards him.
“I don’t think so, let me think, good looking guy, phone number and snog” she said counting on her fingers “no I think I’ve ticked all the boxes”
“My jacket?” he said
“Oh yes, silly me” Petra exclaimed and trotted back towards him “You can’t phone me if you don’t have your phone”
She took off the jacket and gave him one final kiss and then she was gone again.
He watched her safely to her front door where she turned and waved and then he got on his way and he thought to himself that it had been a truly remarkable garden party.
Just as Rafael stepped back out into the lane he hesitated to let a car go past and realised that it was Mercedes driving towards him.
A couple of minutes earlier and she’d have caught him snogging Petra in the moonlight.
“There you are” she said as she drew level with him “I went back to the house to find you but you weren’t there”
“So how did you find me?”
“Well they said you left with that hot girl in the green silk dress you were ogling all afternoon, and where she lived so I drove round here on the off chance”
“I’m glad you found me I didn’t fancy the long walk home” he said “and I have a big date tomorrow”
“Get in and you can tell me all about it” she said
On the drive back to his house at the Childean end of Shallowfield he filled her in on all the salient points since they separated and had just finished telling her about the goodnight kiss when she came to a halt outside his house.
“Now come on spill the beans, where did you get to? And whose boat were you in?” he asked
“As much as I would like to tell you all the nitty gritty of my day, I can’t as I have to get going”
“Nonsense you’re staying the night” he insisted
“But…” she protested
“No but’s, get inside” he said
“So what do you think of Shallowfield and Teardrop Lake?”
“I really like it” she said “I may even become a regular weekend visitor”
“Well you wouldn’t need to if you came and worked with me” he said
“What?” she exclaimed not sure she heard him right
“Come and work in Shallowfield” he said
“Are you serious?” she asked and he nodded
“That’s brilliant” she said “When can I start?”
“Whenever you want” he replied and then his phone vibrated and when he picked it up he saw it was a text from Petra
“Really looking forward to tomorrow, can’t sleep, keep thinking about today, x Pet”
“Me too” he replied and then he said to Mercedes
“Now tell me what you’ve been up to”
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