Downshire is a
relatively small English county but that didn’t bother its inhabitants, the may not have been
the biggest but they were in no doubt that it was the best, and that belief was no truer than in the southern town off
Abbottsford which was Downshire’s administrative capital and the seat of the
Downshire government.
It was also a place of learning thanks to the Downshire University, it
could also boast that it was a Cathedral City, was home to Abbottsford Town football club and benefitted from the renowned Winston Churchill Hospital.
Of all the many
amenities and attractions the town had to offer, it was the hospital that had
brought Mark Weston to town, in order to visit his sister who was waiting to
undergo major heart surgery, in fact it had brought back to the country, from
sunnier climes where he had been filming his TV Show.
When he got to the hospital he went straight upstairs to the private
room he had arranged for her, and found her lying in bed with wires and tubes
coming out of her, he hadn’t seen her since Christmas and she had deteriorated severely
since then, and he had to fight back the tears.
“Blimey sis, I’ve seen, net caught tuna in better condition” he said and
he embraced his brother in law Carl before taking hold of Elaine’s hand.
“Thanks Mark, that’s just what I needed, comparing me to a dead fish”
“The fish lived” he assured her and kissed her.
She was about to utter a contradiction but then a very attractive female Doctor
entered, Dr M. M. Gardner According to her name tag, and he made a quick
appraisal, as if she were a game fish, albeit one with a pretty face, blue
eyes, and soft shoulder length brown hair.
He ascertained her to be 5t 3 or 4, early thirties, a nice figure,
everything where it should be, equally proportioned, and an exceptionally good
catch, who was emitting a very subtle yet exotic perfume every time she moved.
A brief introduction followed and then he had to leave while they did
all the medical bit.
“I’ll go and grab a coffee and come back later” he said
When he returned half an hour later there was no sign of the sweet
smelling Doctor and nor over the following two hours he was there.
Elaine had begun to tire so he said his farewell, and promised to see
her the next morning, and stay with her until the surgery which was scheduled
for midday.
He was staying at the Abbottsford Regents Hotel, which boasted an
excellent restaurant, but as he travelled a lot for his job he had eaten in
excellent restaurants in all four corners of the world, what he really craved
was something he could only get in Abbottsford, a burger from the Emperor
Burger Bar.
Having sufficiently filled the hollow with reconstituted meat, saturated
fats and carbohydrates he ambled his way to the hotel.
He could have stayed at a Hotel closer to the Hospital which wouldn’t
have been so rich for his blood, with a number of places close by for a third
of the price, but staying in Luxury hotels was a pleasure he was not prepared
to forgo.
When he reached the Hotel he found it to be very busy, and according to
the signage that was due to it being Nation Margarita Day, and there was a
related event going on in the main function room.
Mark decided on a nightcap before bed and sat at the Regents bar,
drinking a large Gin and Tonic while doing a spot of people watching, which was
when a voice broke in.
“Mark Weston?” they said and
when he turned around he saw that the voice belonged to an attractive looking
woman, pretty face, blue eyes, soft brown hair, 5t 3 or 4, early thirties,
nice figure, wearing a black evening dress and heels, whom he didn’t recognize
Clearly a woman he’d met at some function or other, an encounter so
unmemorable he instantly forgot her, which was embarrassing, but an
occupational hazard, or maybe she was some fan of the show that he had never
met and just wanted an autograph or a selfie, and then it registered.
“Dr Gardner” he replied, not a random woman he’d met and instantly
forgotten or an intrusive fan, phew she was Elaine’s Doctor.
“Do you mind if I join you?” she asked.
“Not at all” he said “please do” and gestured to the neighboring stool.
“Can I get you a drink?” Mark asked
“Thank you, yes,” she said and to the barman who had miraculously
appeared “Anything but a Margarita”
And in response to his blank expression she added “Bitter lemon please,
ice and a slice”
“And for you sir?” he asked
“I’ll have the same again please”
While they waited for their drinks she asked
“Did you enjoy the food? The restaurant here is marvelous” she said and
in response to his expression she added
“Didn’t you eat here?”
“No, I have to confess I did not” he replied sheepishly, then he went on
to explain where he had actually eaten and the reasoning behind it and she
laughed a rather delightful laugh in response to his confession.
“Well they are the best burgers in the world” she said
“Is that your medical opinion Doctor?”
“No, merely that of someone who has consumed my fair share of Emperor
Burgers” She replied “And please call me Rita, I try to play down the Doctor
bit when I’m out”
“Oh why’s that?”
“Well people have an annoying habit of telling me about their
complaints” she replied and he laughed
“Your sister told me that you’re famous” she said and qualified it by
adding “in the fishing world”
“I am”
“Well I bet when you go out and you get recognized, the worst that
happens is people ask you about bait or lures, I get shown body parts, with
lumps bumps and rashes”
And then came her delightful laugh again.
When they had both stopped laughing he said
“On your name tag earlier it said
M.M. Gardner”
“That’s correct”
“So where does Rita
come from?” he asked
And in slightly hushed tones she replied
“My name is Margarita, and I’m staying at the same Hotel where they’re
holding a National Margarita Day function”
Mark couldn’t reply as
he was sniggering
“Can you imagine if
everyone knew that I was Doctor Margarita? I wouldn’t get a moments peace” she
said and dissolved into laughter.
“So why are you
staying here anyway?” He asked and wearing your formal Emperor Burger bar
evening wear, stunning by the way”
“Thank you, well I
have been to a recital at the Cathedral and as I have an early shift tomorrow,
and I live in Shallowfield I decided it would be prudent to stay in
Abbottsford” she replied before adding conspiratorially “And I really love it
here”
“Another drink?” he asked and she checked her watch
“I would but can I be a pain and have a cup of tea?”
“Of course”
As they waited for the
drinks she asked
“Do you really have an agent?”
He nodded superciliously
“I didn’t know that fishermen needed agents”
“Well the agent is more for the media side than the fishing” he
explained
“So let me get this straight, you go fishing and they film you doing it,
and people actually watch that?”
“We all have to make a living” he said and she laughed her delicious
laugh.
“So do you not like fishing?” he asked
“I’ve never fished”
“Really?”
“No never, I wouldn’t have a clue how to do it” she said
“Well you just need a good teacher” Mark said
“Are you offering?”
“I’m game if you are” he said
“That’s a date then” Rita confirmed and then glanced at her watch
“I’m sorry but I really must get to bed, I’ll look a proper fright in
the morning”
“I find that hard to believe” he said and she blushed as she slipped off
her barstool
“Allow me to escort you” he said “In case you get attacked by infectious
Margarita fiends”
“Yes you’re right, probably for the best” she agreed so he escorted her
to her door, via the lift, and said good night and kissed her cheek.
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