Mornington-By-Mere – (49) The Whitsun Picnic

 

Eric Vineyard’s Uncle George ran a clock restoration business which moved from Purplemere to Mornington Field.

“Time and Time Again”, as it was now called, was the latest manifestation of the family business that had been at the same premises in Purplemere for over a hundred years and the Vineyards had been in Purplemere since before the Civil War, almost as long as the St Georges had been at Mornington Manor.

But things were changing in the county and the only place left in Downshire that had any respect or deference to tradition was Mornington and that was thanks to the St George family so when the opportunity presented itself he didn’t give it a second thought.

 

When the Old RAF Base became defunct and the land returned to the stewardship of the Mornington Estate plans were set in motion to convert the old Ministry of Defence buildings into commercial or residential properties.

Time and Time Again moved into the former and the Vineyard Family moved into one of the latter, namely number 17 Military Row on the 18^th of December 2014.

And at the end of the following January “Time and Time Again”, moved into what used to be the old West Guard House.

 

Eric Vineyard was 26 years old, tall, lean and olive skinned with thick black curly hair, and was really not happy when his mother Rebecca made the decision to move to the country.

He was a townie and he seriously considered giving up his job working with his Uncle and staying in Purplemere, but then he was racked with guilt about letting his mum down, so he decided he would give it a try.

He loved his job and he soon found that he loved Mornington as well.

 

The Whitsun Picnic was held every year in the grounds of the Mornington Manor on the edge of the Mere and the picnic was well attended by the villagers and it was a real family affair with all the generations represented.

Young boys with dirty knees and footballs at their feet, giggling girls with pigtails and plats, teenage boys awkwardly trying to interact, teenage girls learning to be women, old men trying to remember how to be young, old women like mutton dressed as lamb.

In fact every age group was represented and the different social groups mixed effortlessly.

Being new to the area it was the first Whitsun picnic that the Vineyards had been to and they were determined to enjoy it.

Eric walked into the Mornington Estate with his mother Rebecca his younger siblings, Donna and Edward, and as they walked towards the picnic area, situated between the Mere and Manor Wood and Eric was admiring some of the attractive girls in attendance.

A girl in a figure hugging red dress, and he admired it as the fabric hugged her young curves and her straight honey coloured hair caressed her neck as she walked ahead of him until she stopped to talk with a friend.

His attention was then drawn to the friend who had a curious hair style with her brown hair worn short on one side and long on one, and she had a silk scarf around her throat which he assumed was probable covering a love bite as it was a warm day, it was certainly too warm for a scarf.

His eyes were then drawn to an absolute stunner in a floral dress and flat shoes who was peering at him from beneath her straw covered fringe.     

They were then overtaken by two middle aged women who clearly didn’t understand the picnic dress code, one was wearing a smart jacket and a pleated skirt and the other had on a Red sparkling dress with long lace sleeves but as attractive as the assembled ladies were they didn’t hold his attention long, because none of them “rang his bell” and he doubted he would see anyone in Mornington that would.

But that all changed when he and his family settled on a blanket.

 

As soon as the Vineyards sat down Eric was struck by the look of the girl with no bra who walked up and sat down on the neighbouring picnic blanket.

And it wasn’t just that she was braless beneath her blue vest top.

Nor was it just that she was beautiful, and she was very definitely that, with a seductive smile, and fine soft brown hair with flyaway strands which were turned gold by the summer sun.

It wasn’t even her short floral skirt and the remarkable legs that descended from it.

The combination of all of those attributes certainly blew him away but it was the way in which she looked at him and then averted her gaze with a coy smile and a blush, when he caught her, that was what made her so very alluring.

 

Eric found out from his mother, Rebecca, that the girl was called Stephanie Richardson, and she lived and worked at the Corner House Guest House and that she was 23 years old, and most importantly of all that she was unattached.

 

After the food was consumed and everything was cleared away all the children went off to play and small groups formed among the adults.

And Eric noticed Stephanie, the braless beauty wandered off alone into the woods.

 

It was the hottest part of the afternoon and apart from anything else Steph was hoping to find a little cool respite beneath the dense canopy and she was not disappointed.

 

A few minutes had passed before Eric realised she had gone and after surveying the picnic area and not being able to see her he panicked and muttered under his breath.

Rebecca saw his discomfort she smiled and said

“She’s gone to cool off in Manor Wood”

A moment or two later Eric ambled off in the same direction Stephanie had taken.

He followed the well-worn path into the wood and he found they were cool and refreshing but he couldn’t see Stephanie anywhere.

But then it occurred to him that he didn’t actually know what he was going to say to her even if he did find her, he had never been very good with that kind of thing.

So he stopped and turned around and began walking back the way he came but then he stopped again and said out loud

“For God’s sake you’ll just have to wing it”

Despite the fact that Eric had never winged anything in his life he turned around again and resumed his original course.

After venturing thirty yards deeper into the wood he could hear someone cursing and muttering in the near distance but couldn’t at that point see the source of the cursing as well as hear it.

So he walked closer towards the sound and when he found the cause of the commotion he also found Stephanie, he knew it was her even though she had her back to him because of what she was wearing, a blue vest top and a short floral skirt and of course he recognised the remarkable legs that descended from her skirt.

Stephanie was on the edge of a clearing and the reason for the cursing and the muttering appeared to be because she had unfortunately got herself snagged on some brambles and was struggling to release herself.

“Anything I can help you with?” he offered

“Oh” she exclaimed as she glanced over her shoulder.

“Yes please”

“Right, where exactly are you hooked?” he asked as he got closer

“There’s one on my skirt and another on my top” she said

“Every time I free myself from one I get hooked on another”

It was a fairly large clearing with a fallen oak to one side but she had managed to catch herself on the only hazard in the clearing.

“What possessed you to get so close to the brambles?” he asked

“Well its quite thick undergrowth and I was looking for some privacy” she replied

“Privacy?” he asked

“Yes”

“Privacy for wha….?” He began but then the penny dropped as he realised that she was looking for somewhere away from prying eyes because she needed to pee.

“Ok got that now” he said and began tackling her impediments

The one on her skirt had caught on the hem and had lifted it upwards exposing the full length of her thigh and Eric feasted his eyes on it, which didn’t go unnoticed, Stephanie was flattered at first but she suddenly became self-conscious under his gaze, almost at the precise moment that he realised what he was doing.

“Sorry” he said and blushed and quickly released the hem of her skirt.

With her modesty restored Eric turned his attention to the remaining snag which was on the side of her vest top just behind her left shoulder and was well embedded in the lace trim of her neckline which he tackled as he stood behind her.

It was a bit of a fiddle and it took him a minute or so to get the thorn out without ruining her top.

“Ok, got it” he said and held the thorny stem upwards

“Now step backwards slowly”

Stephanie complied and when she was out of reach of any other stems he released the one he was holding and stepped backwards as well but because Steph was wearing flip flops her foot came adrift of her footwear and she stumbled.

Fortunately Eric was on hand and he reached out one of his long limbs and scooped her up in his arms and the moment they were face to face her mouth sought out his and she rewarded him for his chivalry and kissed him, but it was not merely a thank you kiss it was much more passionate than that and it was just as she imagined it would be when she couldn’t take her eyes off him at the picnic.

When the kiss was over Stephanie smiled at him coyly and said

“I’m sorry, but I have to go”

“What? No don’t go yet” he implored her

“But I have to “go”” she repeated and shuffled her weight from foot to foot.

“Ah ok you have to “go”” he said and she nodded her head  

“I will see you later then” he said and Steph gave him a quick peck and ran off

“Stay away from the brambles” he called after her

 

“I hope she comes back” he thought to himself as he exited the wood and sat back down on the blanket in the space he had vacated and then he glanced around to see where the rest of his family were.

But he hadn’t spotted them during the five minutes that elapsed before Stephanie reappeared into the sunlight from the woods and quickly crossed the field and sat down, but not where she sat during the picnic, but on his blanket, opposite him and after they exchanged a smile she took hold of his hand and he kissed her.