Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (42) A Kind Heart Reawakened

 

It was the time of the biannual St Johns Church getaway when a kind heart was reawakened.

St John’s Church in Purplemere was an evangelical church and the getaway was organized for the members of the congregation to examine and develop their faith and each such event normally had a theme, and the one in 2017 was no exception and was named "Footsteps" as in walking in the footsteps of Christ and it was all about the individual and collective spiritual journey or journeys.

It was a week-long residential event which provided seminars, workshops, meditation, prayer and worship.

In addition to the spiritual itinerary there was also a host of fun activities, with something for everyone. 

The 2017 event was held in Clayton in the Finchbottom Vale which nestles comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north, those who are lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns.

The Vale was once a great wetland that centuries earlier stretched from Mornington in the East to Childean in the west and from Shallowfield in the south to Purplemere in the north.

But over the many centuries the vast majority had been drained for agriculture, a feat achieved largely by the efforts of famous Mornington Mills, of which only three had survived to the present day and even those were no longer functional and were in various states of repair.  

There were only three small bodies of water left in the Vale now one in Mornington, one in Childean and third of course was Purplemere.

Throughout its history the Finchbottom Vale was largely dependent on agriculture and so it remained into the 21st century and the village of Clayton was no different.

It was a small village in the North East corner of the Finchbottom Vale, with a large nucleus of substantial dwellings and a greater number of more humble homes and of the those inhabitants who needed to work for a living the largest employer in the area was the Clayton Manor Hotel.

And it was at Clayton Manor, with its conference facilities, and old country manor, which housed meeting rooms and the more select accommodations, fine dining and bars, which played host to “Footsteps”.

 

To the north of the Vale, in the lee of Pepperstock Hills, lay the modest town of Purplemere and on the western side of the town was the residential area known as Hill Side, and in one of its many quiet roads, called Oakham Crescent was Appleyard House the home of Keith Hartley.

Keith was also attending the week away after having reluctantly caved in to pressure from members of the congregation.

And the reason for his reluctance was the fact that he had lost his wife Glenda since the last getaway and as a result he hadn’t participated much in church life over the previous year, but although he wouldn’t admit it to those pressurising him, he knew in his heart of hearts that it was time.

 

Keith Hartley was in his mid-forties, a tall and upright man with greying and receding hair and he checked into the Clayton Manor Hotel late on Friday afternoon and was met with embraces from everyone he met and to be perfectly honest he was rather overwhelmed by it.

Having lost his wife Glenda since the last getaway he had as a result not participated much in church life over the previous year and his friends had missed him.

In fact after finally caving into the pressure from friends to attend he planned to use the week away to attempt to reconnect with God after his bereavement.

He found the first evening rather exhausting, with all the hand shaking and hugging and constant questioning and Saturday morning was almost as bad though he was flattered that so many people cared about him.

After breakfast the morning was full of seminars which kept him busy however later after lunch there was a free period when people could either relax or participate in one of the many activities that the hotel boasted.  

Keith knew precisely what he wanted to do with his free time and he was on his way to the plush residents lounge in the old manor house where he thought he would use his two hours of free time to enjoy a pint or two of Guinness in the residents bar while he read a few chapters of his book.

 

As he walked purposefully down the gloomy mahogany panelled corridors he passed numerous likewise panelled doors that led to modern furnished meeting rooms, leather chaired reading rooms and comfortable bars while some room doors were unmarked and were of a more mysterious use.

His route also took him through the occasional intersection where another corridor running from the front steps to the rear terrace crossed his path.

It was along one of these intersecting corridors from which he heard the plaintive sound of a sobbing girl.

His first instinct, he would have been ashamed to admit, was to ignore it and hurry on to the bar and a welcoming pint of the black stuff.

He even got a yard beyond the intersection, but he was not that man, he never had been, so he stopped and turned back because he was kind hearted so naturally in the end he could not ignore her.

He took a deep breath and walked along the corridor to investigate the source of the uncontrollable sobbing.

When he had tracked down the precise area the sobbing had emanated from he discovered a girl was pressed into the corner of a recessed doorway.

He didn’t recognise her, he just saw a small wailing creature with her shoulders shaking in unison with the heart-breaking noise she was making.

He placed a hand on one of her shaking shoulders and said

“What on earth is the matter? Are you ok?”

Her immediate response to his gentle enquiry was for her to turn around abruptly which was when he first realised who the girl was, and her complete and utter embarrassment was clearly apparent.

When the crying girl turned he was surprised to see it was Louise Burrell, a particularly close friend of his deceased wife and by extension of him as well.

 

Louise Burrell was a friend of his, though she had not been such a close friend of his as much as she was of his wife because she was 9 years his junior.

He had known her for quite a few years however as she had sat on numerous committees with his wife Glenda.

He had however got to know her better during his wife’s illness, and to his mind she had been an absolute godsend to him when Glenda passed and was an absolute rock in the months that followed the funeral.

She was such a strong young woman, confident and together so he couldn’t imagine what could have happened to have reduced her to such a wretched state.

 

As he had not participated much in church life over the last year he subsequently had not seen much of her.

He had always really liked her, she was funny and quirky and she always had a smile on her face and was always full of beans.

Which is why it was such a surprise for him to find her crying her heart out.

He had never once seen her down in all the years’ he’d known her and she was universally loved.

It had always amazed him how she had remained single, she was such an attractive brunette with a pretty face, a nice figure and a bubbly personality, but he had never once seen her with a man.

He had supposed at one time that she might be gay as she shared a flat with a large mono browed woman called Deidre.

But then he heard that Deidre was engaged to a man from a neighbouring church so that squashed that theory.

 

Her second response to his discovering her crying was to apologize to him.

“I’m sorry” she sobbed and tried to push passed him “I’m so sorry”

“Don’t be silly Louise” Keith said and blocked her exit “Tell me what’s wrong” 

Louise looked up at him through tear filled green eyes and then buried her face in his chest and she sobbed her heart out for a full five minutes and Keith just held her and made all the appropriate sympathetic noises he thought she would expect to hear.

His head was filled with scenarios that may have brought her to the state that he found her in.

For example had she been attacked? Had there been an accident? Had someone died? His imagination ran wild with possibilities.

When she had calmed down a little she lifted her head up from his chest and said through the deep sobs 

“I’ve got….your shirt….wet”

“That’s ok” he assured her

“And snotty” Louise added

“That’s ok too” he said with a chuckle and fished a hanky from his pocket so she could dry her eyes and blow her nose.

Further along that corridor there was a small lounge filled with an assortment of leather chairs and comfy sofas, at the back of the building that looked onto, but could not be accessed from, the terrace.

Which meant it was more private and therefore there was less chance someone would be witness should she break down again.

“Let’s go in there” he said “and you can tell me what’s wrong”

“It’s ok” she said wiping her eyes “I’ll be fine now”

“Nonsense” he said in his best avuncular tone “you’re far from ok”

“Really” she insisted but she could not disguise the catch in her throat, he just gave her a knowing look and so she conceded.

 

They sat in the small lounge on a big leather sofa in silence for about 5 minutes while Louise composed herself before she took a deep breath and began

“I’m fine when there’s lots going on and it’s all busy, busy, busy” she said 

“But “free time” when everyone goes off with their families or partners, well that’s when it hits me”

“What does?” he asked

“Loneliness” she replied and her eyes filled with tears again.

“I’m just so lonely”

“I didn’t know” he admitted, and he was no stranger to loneliness himself in the 18 months since his wife died, but he had come to terms with it, more or less anyway.

He was surprised that Louise hadn’t, after all she was such a great organizer, a natural organiser in fact, which is why the Church events were always such a great success.

But ironically it seemed as if she organised everything so well that she had forgot to organise herself a life.

“But you have so many friends, and everyone loves you” he said “You must know that?”

She nodded

“I know and I could easily tag along and not one of them would mind” she said “and quite often I do”

She paused and then added

“But that’s not the same as having someone”

“So is it always like this for you?” he asked

“Yes” she admitted “but I normally do it in my room”

“But this time you didn’t make it” Keith said

“My room is so bloody far away” she said

“I’d blame the organiser” he said and she laughed

“But I thought I was sufficiently hidden away” she concluded

“Well this won’t do” he said “this won’t do at all”

“What do you mean?” she asked

“This is only the first “free time” of the week, I’m not having you running off to your room for a cry two or three times a day while everyone else is having fun”

“But” she interrupted

“You and I are going to sign up for every event we can cram in so you won’t have time to be lonely and you’ll be too exhausted to cry”

“You don’t have to do that” she said

“Nonsense” he said “you will be helping me out”

“How?” She asked

“Well I’m a lonely widower after all”

“But”

“But nothing, you will be preventing me from just “tagging along”” Keith said and brooked no further protest

“We can be company for each other”

“Ok, ok” she submitted

“Right then, how about a walk” said the kind hearted avuncular

“Fine” she said without enthusiasm

So that was how they began the quest, with the kind hearted and caring avuncular, helping the reluctant lonely young woman in order to leave her no time for loneliness and subsequently no time for tears.

Every free session or lull in activities, he took control and filled every moment with every activity imaginable, or at least every activity that the organizer arranged, so if it was on the list Keith signed them up for it and despite her protests, they did it.

 

The first afternoon most of the group activities had already started so they just walked around the grounds in an uncomfortable silence, Louise just wanted to go to her room but Keith knew she would just break down again if he let her.

So they carried on walking, with her tolerating his well-meaning interference and he tolerated the angry silence until they reached the climbing wall.

“Do you fancy a climb?” Keith asked “or the tree walk”

“What I fancy is going back to my room” she replied angrily

Keith thought for a moment and then suggested a contest

“Ok I’ll make a deal with you” he said

“What deal?” Louise replied suspiciously

“If you can beat me to the top of the climbing wall” he said “I’ll leave you alone and you can go to your room”

“As simple as that?” she said suspiciously

“Yes as simple as that” Keith confirmed

“You’re on” Louise agreed but what he failed to tell her was that he was no stranger to a climbing wall, but even taking that into consideration he didn’t beat her by much having not taken into account her hitherto unappreciated competitive streak.

 

After beating her by a whisker on the climbing wall she seemed to have burnt off some of her hostility towards his interference as she suggested they do the tree walk.

Despite harbouring the suspicion that she only suggested it so she could shove him off, he agreed and she seemed to be in a much brighter frame of mind.

That evening there was a busy schedule of events, however he was concerned she might regress the next day.

Sunday had more free time than any other day so he thought he might use her competitive nature to his advantage, so when they got back to the Hotel he said

“Tennis or Golf tomorrow?”

“Oh I think I can manage from now on, thank you Keith” she replied 

“Oh ok” he said “I understand”

“You understand what?” Louise asked suspiciously

“Well having lost to the old man on the climbing wall” he said “I can understand why you don’t want to lose to me at anything else”

“What utter conceit” she exclaimed

“I’m sorry if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick” Keith said innocently

“Well “old man”” Louise said defiantly “let’s make it Tennis and Golf tomorrow”

Before Keith could respond Louise had gone through the door to the lobby so he walked slowly towards his own room with a wry smile on his face.

Well come the next day he had to go and find her and thought she may have had a change of heart but she was already waiting for him at the pro shop.

“Good afternoon Louise” he said

She was standing scorecards in hand, with a determined look on her face.

“Hello” she replied in a tone suggesting they get straight on with it and the wry smile returned to his face when he saw how fired up she was.

He had sowed the wind, he was now about to reap the whirlwind.

 

Because she had elected to play Golf and Tennis on the same day they only had time for nine holes.

But after three holes the wry smile had gone from his face and he was wondering if he had bitten off more than he could chew as she was destroying him.

At the end of the nine holes her victory was comprehensive.

“Now we’re even” she said

“Well played Louise” Keith said “let’s have a drink”

“Oh no” She answered “Tennis now”

“Oh shit” he thought “she’s got her dander up now”

“Ok” he said out loud “Tennis first, then a drink”

He could tell by the look on her face that she would do to him on the Tennis court what she’d done on the links.

As luck would have it there was only one court left and the Vicar, Donald Cox and his wife Hannah, had been waiting to play all afternoon.

So Louise reluctantly agreed to play mixed doubles instead in a less adversarial match.

After dinner Louise had threatened to take the contest to the games room, but when he suggested that he could do with an early night he was pleased to see a look of relief spread across her face.

As he slipped beneath the covers he reflected on what he had set out to achieve and he could certainly vouch for the fact there was no time to be lonely and by the end of that day he was certainly too exhausted to cry, he hoped the same for Louise.

 

The next day Louise’s competitive edge had returned though her aggressive edge had been somewhat tempered, but she completely dominated him on the Croquet lawn.

After which she showed her more compassionate side when she allowed him to level the contest playing Crazy Golf.

On Monday evening, having had a less gruelling day, they did manage a couple of games of Pool and a couple of drinks before fatigue set in, and by the end of the evening Louise was 3-2 up.

“I’ll give you a chance with something less energetic tomorrow”

Louise said “Something more befitting to a man of advanced years”

“What do you suggest?” Keith asked “Child”

“Archery and Shooting” she replied

“Oh taking pity on me are you” he asked

“Something like that” she replied and kissed his cheek “Goodnight”

 

On Tuesday morning Louise was hovering outside the restaurant as Keith arrived.

“Hello Keith” she said

“Hi Louise” he replied “Have you eaten already?” 

“No, no” she replied “I just got here”

“Well perhaps we could eat together” Keith suggested

“If you like” she replied indifferently, so they went into breakfast together.

Unusually after breakfast they remained together for the worship and both discussion sessions, normally she would go and sit with her friends and him with his, but on that day they sat together.

 

After the Tuesday morning sessions were over they went off to their respective rooms to change before lunch, but agreed to meet at the top of the stairs and have lunch together.

 

Louise was waiting for him again when Keith started up the stairs and when he looked up he could see her pacing back and forth and because Keith was late it looked to all the world like she was angry so when he got there he said

“I’m sorry Louise, I couldn’t decide what to wear for today, tweeds or Lincoln green”

“That’s ok” she said with a laugh “Although I’d like to see you in tights”

“Really?” Keith said and Louise blushed, and then turned and walked briskly into the restaurant.

The restaurant was a self-service buffet affair, so they queued up and

Louise was very chatty and animated throughout, even during lunch as they both ate a very palatable Mushroom Stroganoff.

“So are you going to be gentle with me today?” he asked as they finished their desert.

“I’m always gentle” she replied and blushed again then to change the subject, she added quickly

“You should do ok today”

“You mean in events more suitable for a man of my advanced years” he said and chuckled

“Something like that” she replied and giggled

 

As Louise predicted Keith beat her at both the target disciplines so he now held the advantage but he suspected she wasn’t really trying as if she had lost her competitive streak.

So he suggested that they fit in a round of Forest Laser quest.

Louise was at first reluctant but she was easily persuaded in the end and then Keith let her win to square the contest at 4 each.

As they walked back to the Hotel Louise said

“I think we should call it quits now”

“What? No more activities?” Keith asked

“Oh no” she said with alarm “I didn’t mean that”

“What then?” he said

“No more contest” she replied 

“Ok” Keith said “I agree”

 

On Wednesday the weather took a distinct turn for the worst, in fact the rain was lashing down, so after a long and painfully dull seminar on dealing with mental health issues, they looked outside and shared a look which said

“I am not going out there” so they had to amuse themselves inside which they did firstly in the Gym and then swimming in the pool.

By Wednesday evening however the rain did clear away so they went for a walk around the grounds again and discussed their plan for the next day.

 

In stark contrast to the previous day, Thursday was a glorious day so after their meetings they spent the afternoon on the river punting, which led to them both falling in, although on separate occasions and they laughed like children as they squelched all the way back to the Hotel.

 

That evening as he relaxed in the bath before dinner he thought a lot about the week in which he’d begun the quest in the kind hearted spirit of the avuncular.

There was a very positive side effect for him, spending the week as he did in endless activity and that was that he had not had the time to miss his wife, however the down side was that he’d fallen in love with Louise and he had absolutely no idea what to do about it.

 

On Friday morning there were no activities planned and the final program of the “Footsteps” events was a session worship and a wrap up meeting.

Things would conclude by midday, and they would be checking out after lunch.

So, at the start of the final day Keith and Louise planned to have breakfast together again.

When Keith arrived Louise was once again waiting outside the restaurant for him and when Keith started up the stairs and he looked up he could see her pacing back and forth but because he wasn’t late for once he knew he wasn’t in trouble a fact that was confirmed when he was greeted with a broad smile when she turned around and saw him.

 

Louise wasn’t as chatty as she normally was, in fact her silence was reminiscent of the long silent walk they took together the previous Saturday.

He wasn’t altogether sure why she was so quiet, he hadn’t been late so he knew it wasn’t that, it wasn’t a bad mood because her smile of greeting had been radiant so he was at a loss to explain it.

So as she put down her knife and fork he asked

“Well did I succeed?”

“With what?” she replied

“Banishing the loneliness” he said

“In a way” she answered enigmatically

“Oh?”

She sighed and in a rather gruff mannered response she said

“You have filled every spare moment with companionable fun and I’ve really enjoyed every minute of it”

“But?” he asked sensing there was one

“But we go home today” she retorted

“And you think that you’ll have too much time on your hands once you leave here, Is that it?”

“No” she shouted at him “that isn’t it at all you silly man”

And with that she got up from the table and before leaving, added

“You haven’t got a bloody clue”

“Oh shit” he thought to himself as she blundered out of the dining room “What have I done?”

He quickly got up from the table to follow her, spilling his coffee in the process, and headed for the door but a table of 12 stood up to leave just as he was approaching so that by the time he got outside she was already at the bottom of the stairs.

“I have got a clue” he shouted from the balcony and everyone stopped and turned around to look.

“Really?” she barked “I don’t think you do, because YOU think I will go to pieces if you’re not there to hold my hand”

“No” he replied as he descended the stairs

“Because I know that I’ll go to pieces without you to hold mine”

“What?” she asked hesitantly

“I wasn’t lying when I said “everybody” loved you” he said “Everybody loves you”

“Huh?” she uttered as he reached the bottom of the stairs

“But in particular, I love you” he continued “and I need you in my life”

There were tears welling up in her eyes as he said it and then she ran to him and hugged him and then they kissed and were totally oblivious to the spontaneous applause and cheers that erupted around them.