Snippets of Downshire Life – Independence Day

 

Jon Goss and Jayne Robertson were part of the consular staff at the American Embassy in London, but they, and quite a few of their colleagues, were invited to an Independence Day party at the home of an American Business man who had a grand house that backed onto the dunes at the Northern end of Sharpington in the shadow of Whitecliffe Hill.   

Jon and Jayne travelled together as they lived in the same Apartment Block in North London, as everyone else lived south of the River it wasn’t practical to get across the City just to avail themselves of a lift.

So, they travelled separately, in his car, which suited Jayne because she wanted him all to herself.  

 

It had been a frustrating time for her, she had tried everything to get him to react to her, and she knew he fancied her because she had caught him looking at her more than once when he thought she hadn’t noticed, but he did nothing more than look, and she didn’t understand why, he was single, she was single, he fancied her, she fancied him, so what was holding him back?

 

That wasn’t the only thing that was frustrating her as they got on the M25, the weather was also conspiring to upset her plans.

Ever since she got the invitation to the party and heard about its location she had been fantasying about getting Jon alone in the sand dunes.

However, it was turning into a very frustrating day, as they drove beneath ink black skies and the rain beat down on the car roof, as thunder boomed overhead, and lightning flashed in the gloom, and she audibly sighed.

“The rain should let up by the time we get to Sharpington” he said brightly, and she smiled

“If the weather does clear” she thought to herself “I might still get him in the dunes”

 

The rain continued to hammer down all the way to the coast and Jayne thought he was being extremely optimistic about the weather clearing.

They parked on the promenade facing the sea and sat in the car waiting for a glimmer of brightness and she sighed again.

“Don’t worry” he said “it will brighten up”

But Jayne was still unconvinced and sighed again so he gave her hand a squeeze, and she thought things were brightening up already, but then he became self-conscious and took his hand away again.

 

Twenty minutes later the rain stopped, and he said

“Come on then Jayne, let’s go and find the party”

“Ok” she agreed and got out of the car

“I don’t know where it is from here” he admitted

“The email said to walk past those beach huts” she said pointing “and then follow the path through the dunes”

“Ok then” he said enthusiastically “Let’s go”

Jaynes frustration had turned to confusion after he held her hand, there had never been any physicality before, and he was embarrassed by it as if he had overstepped a mark that she was unaware of.

 

They walked to the end of the promenade and then followed the path that led past a row of brightly coloured beach huts, and half way along, encouraged by the small, yet significant, moment in the car, Jayne took decisive and drastic action.

A few paces ahead of them was garish Barbie Pink Beach Hut, which she gambled was empty, based on the fact that the door was swinging freely in the sea breeze

When they got level with it she yelled

“Oh no its starting to rain again” and pushed him into the hut

“I think its only spit…” he began but was prevented from further comment as her mouth was over his, and she kept it there for a full five minutes.

“God Jayne I wasn’t expecting that” he said and then he pushed her again the wall and gave her a taste of her own medicine.

“Wow that was some kiss” he exclaimed afterwards

“If you like it so much why has it taken so long for you to kiss me?”

She asked

“You’re my boss” he said

“Is that all?” she asked in amazement

“Yes”

“Well that’s easily remedied, I can transfer you to Wagstaff’s team”

She said “Or we can just see how it goes”

 

As they stepped out of the hut they heard someone shout

 “Oi! What do you think you’re doing?”

When they looked in the direction of the shouting they saw a red-faced man in his thirties running up the beach towards them, who they took to be the owner of the Barbie Pink Beach Hut.

“Better make a run for the dunes” she said, “What do you think?”

“Oh yes” he agreed taking her hand and they ran off giggling like children