(Part 01)
Twenty eight year old Paul Ingram was involved with an older woman, a forty year old woman to be precise, who was a beautiful unhappily married, Carrington Chase educated woman called, Francesca Carrington-Webber.
Paul and Francesca both lived in the village of Forest Dean situated equidistant between Shallowfield and Childean, she lived in a huge house that backed onto the The Forest Ridge Golf Club, and coincidentally Paul worked for the Golf Club.
They became involved after three chance meetings, two on a train and the third more significant one was on the Promenade in Sharpington, where he came upon her small huddled figure on the bench ahead of him in some distress and after some tender moments of consolation lead to them making love in his caravan.
Since that night they had had a non-physical relationship and on the rare occasions that they managed to get to spend some time together they always made the most of it, sometimes they had to create opportunities and sometimes they just happened and sometimes one of them managed to surprise the other but the biggest surprise came on the Halloween weekend.
Francesca had been invited to the Lutchford’s Annual Halloween party up at their home, Forest Lodge, on Teardrop Lake.
Peter Lutchford was a renowned film director and producer and had his own production company, Teardrop Productions, and his wife Claire was the senior partner at The Dancingdean Health Centre.
It was a great privilege to get an invite to the Lutchford’s and so no one ever turned it down.
So with little chance of grabbing even five minutes with Francesca Paul decided to spend the Halloween weekend in Sharpington in his caravan at Whitecliff Hill.
He wasn’t big on Halloween, it was not his favourite holiday time.
He would have preferred to have spent the evening with the love of his life but that wasn’t an option.
So he spent part of the day in Sharpington and then as darkness fell the temperature dropped like a stone he returned to the caravan with a fish and chip supper and once inside he drew the curtains and turned on the fire.
Then he settled down with his supper on his lap and watched TV.
When he’d finished eating and cleared away he found he wasn’t getting any warmer so he decided to have a hot shower.
It was about an hour later as he was coming out of the bedroom wearing his fleecy dressing gown that there was a knock on the door.
He had no idea who it might be, he certainly wasn’t expecting anyone, he just hoped it wasn’t trick or treaters.
When he opened the door his heart sank and his worse fears were realised when he saw a woman dressed as a witch, but on closer inspection he was surprised to see it was Francesca standing on his doorstep.
“Hello” he said with genuine surprise
“Hello Darling” Francesca said, “Can I come in? It’s bloody freezing”
(Part 02)
“Hello” he said with genuine surprise
“Hello Darling” Francesca said, “Can I come in? It’s bloody freezing”
“Of course” he said fussily “come in, come in”
Francesca stepped inside and he closed the door behind her and he watched her walk by and he thought she looked absolutely gorgeous in her witch’s outfit, all black except for the white stripes on her socks and the red laces in her high-heeled ankle boots.
“Have you come to give me a trick or a treat?”
“Well you’ll have to be the judge of that” she replied and took off her witch’s hat and threw it on the floor before the little witch kissed him and he took her in his arms.
“This is a nice surprise” he said “I thought you were going to the fancy dress party”
“I know” Francesca said as she sat down “I was going to the party but…”
“But?” he asked
“I couldn’t face everyone quizzing me about David”
“About what?” he asked and Francesca took a deep breath
“I’ve asked for a divorce, and he’s gone” she replied, “And I don’t want him back because I’m moving on”
“I’m sorry,” he said inadequately, although inside he wasn’t sorry at all
“I’m not” she said surprisingly “though it’s your fault”
“Then I should be sorry,” he admitted
“No you shouldn’t, you opened my eyes and showed me that I’m still an attractive woman, still a sexy woman, David didn’t appreciate that, and I need to be with someone who sees me the way that you do”
“Am I allowed to be pleased?” he asked hopefully
“Yes” she replied “but that doesn’t mean I’m going to shack up with you, even though that would be nice, but I have to think of the children”
“I understand” Paul said
“So that’s why I couldn’t face the party” Francesca said and smiled
“Well you’re more than welcome to while away the evening here” he said
“Well thank you kind sir” Francesca said “I could murder a drink”
Paul walked to the kitchen are and opened the fridge and took out an open bottle of wine.
“Is wine ok?” he asked
“Yes please” she replied
So he took two large wine glasses from the cupboard and filled them both with wine.
When he walked back to the seating area Francesca stood up and walked towards him.
He expected her to take a wine glass from his hand but instead she walked between his outstretched hands and kissed him.
As they were in the middle of the room he couldn’t put the drinks down so he could wrap his arms around her.
He was quite happy to be stood in the middle of the room being passionately kissed but he was interested to know where it was going so when she came up for air he asked
“So what exactly does your divorce mean for us?”
“Well” she replied as she took the glasses from him and put them on the table
“It means you can buy me breakfast in the morning”
And before he could respond she was kissing him again.
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