The village of Clarence is in the Finchbottom
Vale, a
mile or so from Purplemere.
Fifty percent of the village was full of posh houses and posh people and
as it was a village everyone knew each other’s business, but that didn’t mean
that there weren’t still secrets.
Josh Aldridge was walking along the bridle path in the summer sunshine, lost in thought
and totally oblivious to the glorious scenery surrounding him in the glorious
woodland.
He wasn’t even aware how long he’d been walking such was the burden he
was carrying.
“Hello Mr Aldridge” a voice said bringing him back to the present and he
looked round to see Daphne Reed trotting past and giving him a radiant smile.
“Hello Daphne” he said as she trotted off down the path on her horse, her
pert little bottom bouncing on the saddle, rhythmically rising and falling in
synchrony with the beast below her and he instantly felt guilty.
It was the guilt of a grieving husband, daring to look upon the loveliness
of another woman, and in those moments he felt really alive.
He had nursed his dying wife from the moment they found out she was terminally
ill right up till the end, which thankfully had been mercifully quick.
Daphne Reed had been her palliative care nurse, and he really liked her, but there
had been no infidelity, he loved her far too much to betray her in that way, it
would never even have occurred to him to cheat on a dying woman.
In fact not only that but he kept Daphne at arm’s length and was cold and
aloof and never let his true disposition show through, but the guilt he had
felt since, took none of that into account.
But that day was different, he had no cause to feel guilty, because on
that morning, six months after his beloved wife Ellen passed, he received a
letter from his solicitors, Curtis, Mitchel and Lovegood, which he supposed to
be some final loose ends to be tied, which in a way it was.
Because when he opened it he discovered another letter, this time from
his wife Ellen, which the solicitor’s letter informed him, was being delivered
to him in accordance with his late wife’s wishes.
He sat down and his hands were shaking as he opened the envelope which at
once exuded the essence of her favourite fragrance, which he took several
minutes to enjoy, with her scent in his nostrils it was like she was there with
him, which he surmised was probably the point.
He was in tears when he read the letter, one particular part he read
several times and each time he cried afresh.
“If you are reading this then it means that six months have passed since
I left you, and that means that, if you haven’t done so as yet, it’s time for
you to get on with your life, you’ve grieved long enough.
I know that you and Daphne “connected” while you were both nursing me,
although you did your best to hide that fact from each other, though not from
me, and I also know that you’re far too honourable to have done anything about
it, either then or now, which is why I’ve also written to Daphne.
So live your life to the full, our chapter is over now, and it made very
good reading, but it’s time to write the next one with Daphne”.
She had given him permission to pursue another woman, but he wasn’t
anywhere near as sure as she was that Daphne had even the merest interest in
him and then he rounded a bend in the bridal path where he saw Daphne stood
beside her horse, which was tied to a stile.
“What kept you?” she called
“Were you expecting me then?” he asked
“I was told you were coming” she replied and held up Ellen’s letter as
she walked towards him
“No need to hold back now” she said as she faced him
“No” he agreed and then he kissed her, guilt free
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