Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (37) Still Waters Run Deep

 

Gwen Quinton-Smith had lived in Sharpington her whole life and had no desire to live anywhere else.

Sharpington-by-Sea is a traditional seaside resort complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.

Which was the first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment of rides, like the Rotor and the Wild Mouse, The Cyclone and the Morehouse Galloper, all very tame compared to a 21st century roller coaster but it was still great fun.

It was also a popular resort for retirees and boasted a number of static caravan parks.

 

She was just the wrong side of 60 and by her own admission a rather plain looking woman, she was quite small and slim and choose to dress in the twin set and tweed style.

Her mode of dress was to most people a little old fashioned but she was always beautifully turned out.

 

Although she was of retiring age she wasn’t really retired as in truth she had no job to retire from.

She had never been employed because she had an inheritance from her grandmother which was left to her to ensure her independence and in her 30s she inherited her parents money.

But despite her unemployment she was not an idle person, in fact she worked more hours a week than most wage earners.

She did a surfeit of Charity work, fund raising, hospital volunteing, Womens Institute, Church Warden at St Lucys and she was Chairwoman of the Sharpington Day Parade committee to name but a few.

 

Gwen was imensely popular in Sharpington because she was filled with such great possitivity and she had an enormous heart.

Gwen was an only child and was also a spinster but the latter was mainly by design.

She did have a a great passion while at University but he let her down badly so she drew a line under such diversions.

 

Her decision was always a bone of contention between her and her mother and every three or four weeks she would be summoned to the family home like the prodigal daughter.

There would be a grand meal, no fatted calf, but no expense was spared, and served up as part of the meal was a totally unsuitable suitor.

This went on right up until her parents deaths and she went along with it with a happy heart because she loved her parents dearly.

The suitors, not so much, and except on very rare occasion she never saw them again.

Some of them she would meet again if it happened that they had a shared interest but not one of them inspired any romantic feelings on her part and given her plainness she always had the feeling they were trying too hard to please her because they had one eye on her monetary worth.

 

She had been raised as a Christian by her parents, but they were High Church which Gwen found a little too stiff and fussy.

So when she first stepped through the doors of St Lucy’s she felt immediately at home.

She wasn’t sure what prompted her to attend St Lucy’s rather than one of the other dozen or so churches in the town, maybe she was being guided, but whatever or whoever had influenced her compass she had never been disappointed with the chosen destination.

 

On a beautiful day in June she had an early meeting with a Council Official, David Jamieson, regarding maintenance works on the Pier as they were trying to renege on their commitments.

Fortunately the Sharpington Pier, along with the yacht club, the Fun Park and the Seaview Hotel had all been saved and protected by the Mornington Estate, the head of which was Gabriel St John.

Very refreshingly, like his father before him, Gabriel conducted all of the estates affairs in the spirit of philanthropy and he was a man of honour and he had no truck with people who behaved dishonourably.

He was also a man with a sense of history and his stewardship of the Mornington Estate wasn’t restricted just to the land and properties within the Finchbottom Vale.

So when Gwen had phoned him to inform him of what was afoot he had no hesitation in volunteering himself and the estate solicitor, Rizalina Pugay, to attend the meeting with her.

 

When they got there they found that they were not meeting with one man as David Jamieson had told her and they were actually in front of the complete Council Finance Committee with assorted other minions on the periphery.

It turned out to be a very short meeting as Gabriel and Riza tied the council committee in knots and at the end there were a lot of red faces on the Council side and they were all looking daggers at Mr Jamieson.

 

After the meeting she had coffee with Gabriel and Riza before they returned to Mornington and then she had an hour to kill before her next meeting at St Lucy’s Church so she decided to take a walk on the very Pier that had been the subject of the first and kill time until her second.

About half way along she sat down on a bench and just enjoyed the view.

“That was very impressive in there” A man said

“Excuse me?” she asked when she turned to look at the lean upright figure in front of her

“You were very impressive in front of the committee”

He said

“Were you there then?” she asked

“I watched from the gallery” he confided conspiratorially

“Why?”

“Ok let me explain, May I?” he said indicating the empty seat beside her

“Of course”

“Thank you” he said “I’m Dennis by the way”

“Pleased to meet you” she replied and added “Gwen”

“I’m a retired police Inspector” he said “and just to keep my mind alert I do a bit of Security Consultancy, and I had a meeting at the council this morning myself”

“I see”

“Well afterwards I was using the facilities when two men entered the gents taking about you” he said

“How unsavory” she said and laughed “What were they saying?”

“Well I won’t give it to you verbatim but the gist of it was that they were expecting to bully “The frumpy middle aged busy body”” he said

“Charming” Gwen said

“Their words not mine I might add” Dennis said

“I certainly didn’t see you like that when you went into the chamber”

“Oh, thank you” Gwen said

“So I thought I would sneak into the gallery and see you in action, and I wasn’t disappointed” he said proudly

“And the looks on their faces will live with me forever”

They were both laughing when Gwen suddenly stiffened on hearing the Church clock and she realized she was late.

“I’m sorry I have to go” she said and meant it “but it was very nice to have met you”

 

Gwen had really enjoyed their converse on the Pier but unfortunately Gwen had to leave for her next meeting.

It was only a short meeting but it was an important one but during it she found her mind wandering to the lean upright figure of the friendly and jovial ex police Inspector Dennis Simmons.

 

The meeting lasted about 35 minutes and when she emerged into the bright June sunshine she squinted and she was quite thoughtful and the thing that she was thinking about was primarily being referred to as a frump.

She would have to admit that she wasn’t trendy but she was stylish and she would rather be considered frumpy than be seen as mutton dressed as lamb.

She was a rather plain and middle-aged woman, the wrong side of 60, and she did generally choose to dress in the twin set and tweed style, with sensible shoes, but only because they were practical.

On that day in June she was wearing a lighter weight fabric dress and as she was quite small and slim she wore clothes well.

She was concerned however that someone had referred to her behind her back as a frump and it reminded her of a time she overheard a rival of hers for the Chair of a particular committee describe her as a prudish old spinster and then she and her friend laughed.

She was surprised that the laughter still hurt her after more than ten years.

Then with her eyes still becoming accustomed to the sunlight, she was making her way along the promenade when she was almost knocked off her feet by a figure in the glare.

“I’m so sorry” she said

“Oh that’s ok, I wasn’t watching where I was going” the man said and then added

“Oh hello again” Dennis said

“Oh hello” she said pleasantly surprised, she estimated he was a couple of years older than she was, and well turned out, a bit of a dandy in fact and she liked that.

“So are you all done?” he asked “Meeting wise”

“Oh yes”

“Perhaps we could go for a coffee then” he suggested

“That would be nice, but I’m expected at my friend’s” she said with real regret and added

“Another time though”

“I will hold you to that” Dennis said “In the meantime would you mind if I walked with you part of the way”

“Not at all” she said affably “That would be nice”

So they walked together congenially and chatted, generally about Sharpington and how much they loved it, for about 20 minutes until Dennis stopped.

“Well this is me I’m afraid” he said and pointed “My next appointment is that way”

“Oh what a shame” she said “Thank you for your company”

“It was a pleasure to accompany you and it was a pleasure meeting you” he said and kissed her hand

“How gallant” she thought

“I look forward to that coffee date you promised” he said and darted across the road.

“What a lovely man” she thought as she watched him disappear round the corner of an art deco edifice.

Not that she held any romantic notions of him, that ship had sailed long ago for her, but she did have a coffee date.

And the word “Date” caused her to blush and she was still blushing when she walked into Hemmings General Store.

 

As she was going to Leslie Maher’s for coffee she had intended to pick up some pastries from Addison’s Bakery but after meeting Dennis it completely went out of her head so as Gwen didn’t want to arrive empty handed she decided to call in at Hemmings General Store to pick up a box of prepacked cakes.

 

One of her close friends and neighbour’s David Goodman was at the counter talking to Sabr Hemming, who was running the business while her mother was ill and as she reached them David raised the question of full time or part time work for a girl called Wendy Corney with the two of them.

Gwen had heard about Wendy and how David caught her in his garage, but he was an exceptionally good judge of character and if he thought she was worth helping then she was in.

She had always held the belief that no one was beyond redemption.

“I will certainly ask around the ladies at the Women’s Institute” Gwen said “but in the mean time I do have some odd jobs about the house that desperately need doing”

“You are a saint” David said and then Sabr also promised to give Wendy a few hours in the shop while her mum was ill.

Gwen bought a pack of Bakewell Tarts said her goodbyes and set off for Leslie’s house.

Gwen chose to live at the southern end of Sharpington, which was popular with retiree’s, because it was a quiet and peaceful place to live but was close to the town.

With a large proportion of her inheritances still providing her a healthy income she could easily have afforded to live in the grander neighbourhood of Granite Hill, which in a nod to San Francisco the locals nicknamed Nob Hill.

But Gwen was not an ostentatious person and she lived in a very nice four bedroom house, which was too big for her, so she liked where she lived among her good friends and neighbours

She walked the short distance to Leslie’s house and knocked on the front door.

“Sorry I’m late” she said and brandished the cakes

“Shop bought cake! What would the Women’s Institute say?”

Leslie teased 

“Yes I’m sorry but I was distracted by a man”

Gwen said in her defence.

“Oh goody tell me everything”

 

So Gwen told her the tale of the morning’s events and was very forthcoming, but before she got to elaborate on the future coffee date they were interrupted by a knock at the door which turned out to be David Goodman, and his arrival heralded the end of her tale about Dennis as the conversation then revolved around his mornings work finding employment for Wendy Corney, not that she wasn’t interested.

 

It was a shame really because had she mentioned Dennis Simmons name in David’s presence she would have found out he was his brother in law and she would have had a way in which to contact him which would have spared her the frustration of the following month when he failed to materialise for the coffee date and over that month she repeated the mantra

“You should have got his number”

 

There was a very good reason why Gwen hadn’t seen or heard from Dennis and that was because he had been out of the country.

His oldest friend who he had known since police training school had suffered a severe stroke.

He and his wife and moved to Spain when they retired and it was in a hospital there that he spent the first two weeks and then he stayed on for the funeral.

 

During the month following her meeeting with Dennis, Gwen had put Wendy to work helping her sort out the junk that had accumulated in the 38 years she had lived in the house.

And they got on like a house on fire, Wendy was willing and hardworking and very good company and over the weeks she became like a daughter to her and by extension due to the age difference, a granddaughter.

 

Dennis’s first day back in Sharpington was a Saturday morning, the first Saturday of July and furthermore the Gods had delivered to the folk of Sharpington a very hot day, the hottest day of the year so far in fact.

And while Gwen and Wendy were sorting out one of the spare bedrooms Dennis was walking along the beach and when he looked up he saw his brother in law David standing on the Pier looking over the railings so he gave him a wave and he received a wave in return and then both men continued on their way.

 

When he left the beach he walked along the promenade for a while and looked at some of the attractions and finally decided to take a stroll along the seafront in the same direction he took with Gwen the month before.

After walking up to the point that they said goodbye he decided to go and have a pint at The Ancient Mariner across the road before he returned home.

As he walked through the beer garden he spotted his brother in law again sat alone, people watching, while enjoying a pint of Mornington Ale.

“Well bless me, I thought you were dead” he said

“You knew very well I’m not dead you saw me on the pier this morning Dennis”

“I know but you did look a bit pasty” he said

“Do you want another?”

“Yes I will, thanks” 

 

Dennis went to the bar and was surprised by the amount of people he knew in there but alas Gwen wasn’t one of them and while he waited for his order he muttered

“I wish I’d got her number”

 

As they sat quietly enjoying their beer David asked.

“Are you going to the Yacht Club Dinner Dance?”

“I wasn’t planning on it” he replied “Are you?”

“Yes, you could come as my plus one” David suggestion

“Why don’t you take a lady instead?” Dennis asked

“The lady I would choose to take is going with someone else” David explained

“Don’t tell me you’re still carrying a torch for that neighbour of yours?” Dennis asked and David nodded

“I don’t blame you though she’s a lovely woman”

“That she is” David said wistfully

“Ok” he said “I’ll be your wingman”

“Thanks mate” he said

It was no hardship he liked to dance in fact he was an exceptional dancer and there was always the chance he might see Gwen there.

 

The Yacht Club Dinner Dance was on the 18th of July and as Dennis

dried, perfumed and powdered himself  before he changed into his dinner suit, complete with cummerbund and bow tie, he was feeling rather nervous as he stood before his reflection and tied his tie for the fourth time and wished he worn a clip on.

“She probably won’t be there anyway” He said to himself “and you’re a confirmed bachelor for God’s sake”.

 

David arrived in a taxi to pick him up and they made it to the Yacht Club with minutes to spare.

The ante room was jammed with an array of stunningly turned out women but he couldn’t see Gwen anywhere.

However while he and David stood on the periphery of the throng Gwen Quinton-Smith appeared looking anything but plain and frumpy and was in fact looking very presentable indeed in a rather elegant retro fashion way.

 

Her heart skipped a beat when she first saw Dennis’s dapper upright figure walk in with David she didn’t know they knew each other.

“Hello David” She said warmly “thank you so much for finding Wendy for me, she’s been an absolute Godsend”

“I’m glad she’s been useful” he said and then he noticed she was no longer making eye contact with him but was looking at Dennis instead.

“Gwen, this is my brother in law Dennis” he said

“Hello Dennis” Gwen said

Just then a waitress arrived with a tray of drinks, Dennis took one and handed it to Gwen and then took one for himself and David grabbed a glass just in time before the waitress snatched the tray away.

And as she left Leslie joined them, looking very shapely and David’s heart skipped a beat.

“What are you lot talking about?” she said

“Gwen was just telling me what a little gem Wendy Corney is weren’t you Gwen” he said but she and Dennis appeared to be oblivious to their presence and then the waitress stepped through the crowd to offer Leslie a drink

 

Gwen and Dennis suddenly became aware they were not alone and then the small talk ebbed and flowed before they wandered over to the seating plan to find out who their dining companions were.

“Great we’re on the same table” David said

“Really?” Leslie said “how funny, who else have we got?”

They studied the plan for a few minutes and then David said

“Well that’s probably the best table in the room”

“I agree” Leslie said proudly

“So who do you think we need to thank?” he asked her

“Gwen obviously” Leslie scoffed “She always does the tables”

Then she stuck her arm through his and said

“You may escort me to my table peasant”

“Yes’m” he said tugging his forelock

 

David and Leslie were right about it being the best table in the room, they had a good mix and there was a lot of jovial banter although for the most part Dennis and Gwen were happy with only each other’s company and didn’t pick up on the tension between Leslie and her husband Frank.

Frank made no secret of the fact that he was totally bored with the whole affair and Leslie made no secret of that fact that she was displeased with him.

When the dancing started Dennis and Gwen headed straight for the dancefloor so they didn’t notice Frank Maher deserting his wife to go and drink with his mates at the bar.

Nor did they witness Leslie storming out muttering “Intolerable, completely intolerable”

They were also oblivious to David following hot on her heels.

 

At the Yacht Club Dinner Dance, Dennis and Gwen were on the dancefloor from the first dance to the last and were oblivious to what was happening around them until just after midnight David tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he and Leslie were heading off.

 

But they returned to the dancing again and he didn’t see David and Leslie leave and nor did Gwen and when the music stopped and the lights went on Gwen said

“Is it that time already?”

“It must be” he replied

“Well that’s disappointing” she said

“Yes it is”

 

Gwen and David ambled disconsolately outside into the balmy night air with the other hangers on and then Dennis said

“I’ll go and get us a taxi”

“Oh no” Gwen said

“You don’t want a Taxi?” He asked and she shook her head.

“Would you mind if we walked?” Gwen asked “I’m in no hurry to get home”

“Nor am I” he said “and it’s such a beautiful night”

They walked arm in arm along the promenade in their finery with a gentle breeze blowing off the sea and reminisced about places in the town that held special memories for them.

Dennis had his first kiss on the Pier with Katie Pomery who wore a red dress with white dots.   

Gwen had hers with Owen Collier on the Ghost Train in the Fun Park.

Sharpington Day Parades, Halloween Fright Nights, Firework displays, Candy Floss, Ice creams, chip suppers and kiss me quick hats.

But they were all individual memories of times before they met and they would have preferred to have had shared memories to talk about. 

But that night at the Yacht Club Dinner Dance dancing the night away would live long in both their memories.

But they enjoyed the slow walk home and were in no hurry for it too end.

 

As they reached The Ancient Mariner, Gwen said wistfully

“This is where you kissed my hand”

“Yes it was” he agreed “but that was in the bright glare of the sun”

“Yes it was a beautiful day” she mused

“However…” he began

“However?”

“However I think I can do better in the moonlight” he said

“Really?” Gwen said and then he kissed her and the most perfect night was made more so by the most perfect kiss.

 

When the kiss had ended they sat on the sea wall at the Southern end of the promenade with their arms around each other and watched the sunrise and they felt like teenagers again.

And that dawn was symbolic, it was a new dawn and a new beginning for a confirmed bachelor and a frumpy spinster. 

 

Reluctantly with the dawn fully broken they continued on their journey this time holding hands like a pair of school kids.  

He walked her to her front door still holding her hand

“I really enjoyed tonight” Dennis said

“Me too” she said

“I will never forget tonight, thank you”

“And nor will I” he said and he added “and I think we should make another memory” then he kissed her once again.