Downshire Diary – (11) Strategy for Love

 

The village of Highfinch sits just on the edge of the Pepperstock Hills and the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club separates the village from the Hamlet of Lily Green, and the combination of those two and Kingfisherbridge made up the parish of St Martins.

Among the residents of Highfinch was Cressida van Meeuwen, a beautiful petite woman with shortish blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes.

She had a lovely shape and her body was nicely toned and all in all she was in very good order for a woman just about to turn forty.

She was a divorcee and lived very comfortably in one of the big houses that backed onto the Lily Green Hollows Golf course where she was raising her 8 year old twin girls Lisa and Julie on her own.

Cressida was a classy lady and thanks to her father’s legacy she could afford to live well so she was always immaculately turned out.

She was also very active in village life and among other things sat on the parish council.

Cressida had lived in the village her whole live in fact she had lived in the same house all of her life and she had no intention of living anywhere else, she was not one for change, except in one way.

Since she had divorced her husband she had been lonely, not because she missed him, he was often away on business anyway and when he wasn’t he was in the members bar at the Golf club supposedly in his capacity of club captain.

It was little things that she missed, the warmth of another human being beside her, someone to hug when she was feeling down and waking up on her own every morning was hard,

 

So as Cressie was fast approaching her 40th birthday she had resolved to do something about it and live up to the old adage “Life begins at 40” and she knew very well who she wanted to live up to it with, Farron Sutherland.

Cressie really liked him and so did the girls and she thought he liked her but she had flirted with him for over a year to no effect so she wasn’t really sure.

 

Farron Sutherland was a couple of years younger than Cressida, and was a stocky well-built man with white blonde hair.

He was a craftsman, an artisan, a bespoke Furniture maker, who lived and worked in Kingfisherbridge and he did like her in fact he loved the very bones of her but that was the easy part, because who wouldn’t love her, she was perfect, beautiful inside and out.

So why would she look twice at him, a tradesman. 

She was his superior in every conceivable way, she was a lady and he was tradesman, she was as beauteous as the Venus de Milo and he was roughhewn.

She was the product of an Oxbridge education while he was a comprehensive boy.  

In fact the only thing they were equal in was their faith and it was in the congregation of St Martin’s church where he first laid eyes on her and he was besotted from the that moment on.

 

Farron Sutherland had admired Cressida van Meeuwen from afar for several years before he even really knew her, there was something about her that shone through, but he did nothing else than admire.

It was as a result of their work within St Martin’s parish that he came to know her better and then quite by chance they became part of the Friday Lunch club.

 

The Friday lunch club evolved over time from a loose collection of members of the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club.

It was a very exclusive Golf Club with a large number of grand House’s in both Highfinch and the hamlet of Lily Green backing on to it.

It was not widely known but the Golf Club and all the plush dwelling’s attached to the course all belonged to the Mornington Estate.

It came into their ownership in the late 1980’s when a developer tried to buy it to create a luxury housing estate, Gabriel’s father Valentine, who was the then Baron, stepped in and saved it.

But because it was so exclusive the membership fees were exorbitant, but they had to be because the Golf Club and all the properties that surrounded it all had to pay their own way.

Gabriel hated the fact that the club was strictly for the rich but it was a necessary evil to preserve it and protect it from the developers, however he made sure concessions were made to those among the villagers who were felt to be worthy due to their contributions to their fellow villagers and village life.

 

It was called the Friday lunch club and it took place in the club lounge but in reality it could take place on any day of the week.

The loose collection of member’s was slowly whittled down over time leaving the core group of usual suspects, Cressida and Farron of course, best friends Julia Thomas and Vicki Paulding, Local dentist Jonathan Walters and TV presenter Nick Faulkner.

The lunch club would normally be some permutation of the six but not exclusively and on the occasion ahead of Cressie’s birthday her sister in law, Petra joined their number.

Other than the fact that it was less than a week ahead of Cressie’s 40th it was a typical lunch club with lots of wine consumed as they sat around and chattered about everything and anything.

The conversation ebbed and flowed and covered a multitude of topics in fact almost every topic imaginable, except that is the elephant in the room, Cressida’s birthday but as soon as Cressida got up and went to the loo Julia said urgently.

“Ok you lot, I need help, as I haven’t got a clue what to get Cressie for her birthday.

Cressida’s 40th was only a few days away and Julia didn’t have a clue what to get her.

“I need help too” Vicki admitted but the next five minutes consisted of everyone else at the table relating the nature of their gift.

“I’ve got her tickets for England’s World Cup opener at Twickenham” Nick said

“I’ve got her a new putter” said Jonathon

“And what about you Petra” Nick asked

“A weekend Spa break at the Dancingdean Spa Hotel” she replied

“And Farron?” Jonathon enquired

“Something made of wood obviously” he said and laughed

“Yes but what can we get?” Vicki said snappily

“Well I happen to know that she has her eye on something” Petra said enigmatically, but before she could say anything Cressida returned.

 

It was a glorious day at the very end of September, unseasonably warm and the type of day that England was made for.

There was a big do on at the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club to celebrate Cressida van Meeuwen’s 40th birthday, Cressie was the club Captains ex-wife and she was a very popular character, much more than he was, and a truly likeable person, as a result of which most of the village were there and subsequently a good deal of alcohol was consumed.

 

Farron Sutherland and his apprentice Joe Frank both arrived late at the party by a couple of hours as they’d been away for a couple of days delivering and fitting a hand crafted rustic kitchen set to a client in Millmoor and as a result they were obviously a good few drinks behind everyone else so they headed straight for the bar and the first person they met was Petra van Meeuwen who was turning more than a few heads dressed in a fabulous dress which showed off her figure to great effect and as the guests, male and female alike, passed by her they took their chance to ogle her glorious body at close quarters, and not least by Joe.

She was five foot eight with short bobbed brown hair, he’d always liked a brunette, sparkling hazel eyes and a lovely figure suitably proportioned and all underpinned, by stunning legs.

And none of those details had gone unnoticed by Joe.

As she was acting as hostess for Cressida she was in the bar galvanizing a posse of girls dressed in uniforms of short black skirts and crisp white blouses, making sure everyone got well oiled.

“Hello strangers” She said smiling broadly

“I was beginning to think you two weren’t coming”

“Hi Petra” Farron replied, “We’ve only just got back from Millmoor”

 

She raised an enquiring eyebrow

“We had some furniture to deliver” he said and she nodded understandingly

“Do you want a drink?”

“Yes please” he replied looking around at his fellow guests “Make it a large one it looks like I have some catching up to do”

“What about you Joe can I get you something?” she asked and he blushed

“Oh yes please” he replied and went even redder

Petra smiled at his response as she caught a waitress’s eye

“A large Gin and Tonic with ice and a slice, for Mr Sutherland” she said “and the red faced man will have…?”

“A coke, please, pint” he said

“Are you sure?” she asked

“Oh yes I’m driving”

“And where are you driving to?” she asked quite forcefully

“We have Cressida’s present on the van” Farron said

“Oh I see” she responded and to the waitress added

“Plenty of ice in the coke, he looks a little flushed”

She smiled at the effect she had on him, and gave him a warm smile and then he asked boldly.

“Are you not having one?”

“Oh um well I’ll have one later when I can enjoy it” she replied and their eyes fixed on each other until the spell was broken when a large group of guests arrived in the lounge and she had to do her hostessing.

“We’ll see you later” Farron said

“I hope so” she replied and then they went in search of the birthday girl.

 

Farron Sutherland and his apprentice Joe Frank left Petra van Meeuwen in the lounge and went in search of her sister-in-law Cressida to wish her a Happy Birthday.

He knew a lot of people at the club, some of them were friends and some merely customers but there seemed to be more who were strangers than not and some of them were snobby and standoffish.

Cressida however was not one of them she always made a point to make everyone’s acquaintance.

Joe spotted some friends and went over to speak with them and Farron continued the search alone.

He soon found her, slightly the worse for wear sitting on the terrace surrounded by admirers, not that she realized they were admirers, she was quite naïve in that way, she thought everyone was as nice as she was.

“Happy Birthday Cressie” he called and she beamed a large lopsided grin at him, she had wondered where he was and had been looking forward to seeing him all day.

“Farron darling” she said as she shot to her feet and launched herself at him for a rather untidy embrace in which she tried to kiss his cheek and got his ear instead.

Not that she particularly wanted to kiss his cheek, what Cressida actually craved to do was to snog his face off

“I’m a bit squiffy” she slurred and fell against him and she would have been content to stay in his big strong arms forever.

But in order to preserve her reputation Farron thought discretion was the better part of valour and guided her back into her chair.

Her other admirers had all evaporated away by then because they could tell she had eyes only for him.

“Are you having a lovely birthday?” he asked

“Oh yes” she said “I am having a wonderful day, I have been treated like a queen”

“I’m glad” he said

“And I have so many wonderful presents” she enthused “Everyone has been so kind, and so generous”

She then listed all the lovely gifts she had received and who had got them for her.

Cressida laughed and cried as she told the tale of Julia and Vicki’s gift of an Art Deco Spelter Figure by Josef Lorenzl and how they had driven all around the vale to get it because Petra had sent them to the wrong antique shop.

She was wiping away a tear and giggling when she had finished.

“I haven’t given you my present yet” he said

“No you haven’t” she said with a grin hoping it might be a snog “So where is it?”

“It’s in the van” he replied

“In the van?” she exclaimed “What is it? What is it?”

“I’m not telling you it’s a surprise” he said

“But it is my birthday today”

“Yes I know”

“And it is my present” she pointed out

“Yes it is” he agreed

“So tell me” she said impatiently and stamped her feet

“No” he replied unmoved

“Please, please, please” she begged

“No you can see it later when Joe and I drop it off” Farron said

“You’re mean” she said and drained her glass

“I know, it’s a curse” he retorted

“I’m all out of drink” she said with a pout “How about another”

“How about a coffee?” He suggested

“Oooh I’d love a cup of tea” she said

“Come on then Birthday girl” he said pulling her to her feet “let’s get you a cuppa”

Once he had her upright she picked up her hand bag and put her arm through his and they walked into the club.

 

Cressida put her arm through Farron’s and they walked into the club, and once inside the cool lounge they spotted the hostess, Petra, draped in a comfy chair deep in conversation with a very red faced Joe Frank, so they walked over and joined them.

“Are you still tormenting the poor lad?” Farron asked and then she did something Cressida had never known her do, she blushed.

The birthday girl and the man she wanted to be her beau joined them on the comfy chairs and Petra ordered a large pot of tea and then they were joined in dribs and drabs by other members of the Friday Lunch club, Julia Thomas and Vicki Paulding were the first to join followed in quick succession by local dentists Jonathan Walters and his new girlfriend Lianne Martin and then TV presenter Nick Faulkner who accompanied Jenna Lawton the de facto Vicar of St Martins and the impromptu tea party lasted for an hour before people started to drift away.

“Come on big boy, I need you” Petra said to Joe and went scarlet when she realised what she’d said

“Um ok” he retorted an equally crimson Joe.   

And while Petra and Joe loaded all the birthday presents into the back of her Range Rover, Farron escorted the still tipsy Cressida to her carriage and she tried to get in the driver’s seat.

“Hold on” he said grabbing her arm “in the other side Princess” “Oh yes” she said and giggled and then tottered around to the other seat. 

 

Farron and Joe sat in the van and watched Petra driving Cressida’s Range Rover out of the car park and they followed on behind and Farron’s thoughts turned towards her birthday present. 

Cressida loved Art Deco and in the two years since her divorce she had gradually transformed her home from the blandness of mass produced Scandinavian imported furniture chosen by her ex-husband, whose favourite colour was beige, to an Art Deco paradise.

His sporting trophies and man cave paraphilia had gone and she had imposed her own tastes on her surroundings. 

It was a slow process, she could have used her credit cards and replaced everything in one go but she was very selective and wanted every piece in her house to mean something to her.

So when it came to choosing a special birthday gift for the woman he loved it was a no brainer.

Cressida loved Art Deco and he was a furniture maker so he made her a piece of Art Deco Furniture.

It wasn’t a period piece like all her others, but it was made to an original design that he got from a furniture makers catalogue and he’d crafted it authentically, from the period design and he’d worked on it for months, but as Joe drove the van to Cressida’s house on Sunday evening he began to have doubts as he fidgeted uncomfortably in the passenger seat.

“What if she hates it?” he thought to himself

“What if she looks at it and laughs”

But nothing could have been further from the truth.

 

When Farron and Joe drove into the courtyard of Cressida home she was in high spirits

“Let me see, let me see” she squealed and jumped up and down on the spot with excitement.

“Just be patient” he said in a very fatherly way but it had little or no effect. 

He opened the shutter which was out of Cressida’s line of sight so she tried to get closer.

“Stay where you are nosy and close your eyes” he instructed

“She’s peeking” Petra said

“Cover her eyes then” Joe said with uncharacteristic boldness and Petra complied.

They man handled the piece of furniture, protected with blankets and set it down about ten feet in front of her.

“Let me look” Cressie begged

“Just a minute” Farron said and removed the blankets and handed them to Joe and stood back

“Ok, open your eyes”

Petra removed her hands from her sister-in-law’s eyes but Cressida paused briefly before opening them, but when she did she gasped as she looked at the Art Deco writing desk in the style of the eminent French exponent, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann.

He had remained faithful to the original design in every way with the exception of the ivory inlay which he had to replace with vegetable ivory made from tagua nuts.

“It’s beautiful” she said “Are you sure it’s for me?”

“Of course it’s for you” Farron said “Do you like it?”

“I love it” she exclaimed “it’s gorgeous, but it’s too much”

“Nonsense” he retorted “you’re worth it”

“But I can’t believe you made this for me” she said innocently

“Well we can put it back on the van if you don’t think you deserve it” he suggested

“Don’t you dare” she said and moved between him and the desk and then she turned around and hugged him.

“Thank you so much”

But the hug became quite prolonged and only ended when it did as a result of Petra saying

“Shall we take it inside?”

“Oh yes good idea” Cressida said wanting to do anything but relinquish her hold on Farron.

So she reluctantly tottered inside with Farron and Joe following on carrying the desk and Petra bringing up the rear and they spent the next half an hour following her from room to room while she had them rearrange the furniture to accommodate her prize birthday gift.

 

Once the perfect location was found Champagne was the order of the day as everyone had a celebratory glass except for Joe who had to stay sober to drive Farron and the van home to Kingfisherbridge. 

Two bottles later the time came for them to leave and the farewells were made and in the courtyard Cressida and Farron shared a rather sloppy drunken kiss, a kiss full of promise, which went on for an indeterminate amount of time and only ended when Petra and Joe emerged noisily from the house.

“Well good night then” Farron said

“Oh yes, goodnight” she said “Thank you for my lovely snog, I mean desk” 

“It was my pleasure”

He replied

 

After her 40th birthday and that wonderful drunken kiss which was so full of promise Cressida expected her life to really begin at 40 as the old adage stated but alas it never came to anything and every day she was reminded of that night and that kiss when she looked at the hand crafted writing desk he made for her and it reminded her of her special birthday and the delicious snog that ended it.

And furthermore she was reminded that she didn’t have him in her arms and each day she resolved to bring that happy event about.

 

He also thought often of that day and he could still taste her on his lips but although Farron enjoyed holding her and kissing her he still thought she was way out of his league and that he was unworthy and her embrace was fuelled by champagne and not attraction.

 

The truth of course was that the kiss was not fuelled by alcohol and nor was it a simple kiss born out of mere attraction it was fuelled and conceived of passion and love.

She wasn’t sure why he was holding back he certainly hadn’t done during the kiss but she wondered if it might have been the village and the people in it that was preventing him acting so she began to conceive a plan to get both of them out of Highfinch and into another embrace. 

 

It was at the beginning of November when Farron walked into the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club and immediately saw Cressida and the other members of the Friday Lunch Club sitting in their customary corner.

During the course of their lunch Cressida asked if he was interested in a St Andrews Golf day.

Well of course he was he had always wanted to play The Royal and Ancient.

“When?” he asked

“Well it was going to be a week Monday obviously but not everyone could make it so it’s next Friday instead” Cressida replied

“That soon?” he said, “When do we leave?”

“We will have to leave Highfinch by 6 o’clock” Julia replied

“That will give us time to have a hearty breakfast before we tee off at 9 o’clock” Vicki chipped in

Farron was a little confused because Scotland was more than a two hour drive away, so he guessed he must have missed something, and then the penny dropped, a week on Monday was St Andrews day.

“So where are we going exactly?” he asked

“Tipton” Julia stated

 

He had heard of the Tipton Twelve Trees course, it was no St Andrew’s but it had a reputation for being a very good Golf course so once he realized that a St Andrews golf day actually meant a St Andrews Day Golf “game”, they got down to the finer details of the trip.

And by the end of lunch Cressida was feeling very pleased with herself for her cleverness. 

Her plan was set and all she had to do was spring the trap.

 

Farron was up at 4 am and had mixed feelings about the day, he was looking forward to being with Cressida all day, but it was a long way to go for a game of Golf.

When Cressida first asked him about a St Andrews Golf Day he thought it was a round of Golf at St Andrews but it turned out to be a game of Golf on St Andrews day, although even that turned out to be false.

They were going to play a course in Tipton call Twelve Trees that none of them had played before, but it was said to be an up and down affair, steep hills, long climbs and magnificent scenery, still it was always good fun playing with his friends and of course there was the added bonus of spending the day with Cressida.

He got up and had a hot shower after which he felt much better.

When he got downstairs he had half an hour to spare before his lift arrived and he would have had time for breakfast but they had agreed to have a cooked breakfast in Tipton before their game.

So he spent the time checking he had everything he needed for the day and dead on 6 o’clock there was a short sharp rap on the door and by the time he opened it the person responsible had walked back down the path and he gave her a wave and went back in for his gear.

Cressida was standing by her car, dapper as usual in a mixture of argyle knitwear and tweed.

It was still dark as he walked down the path with his bag slung over his shoulder and simultaneously on the opposite side of the village Julia Thomas, Nick Faulkner and Vicki Paulding were making similar journeys down their own paths.

 

The original plan was for Julia, Vicki and Farron to go in Cressida’s Range Rover but it had to go in the garage two days earlier and was still there, so Julia was driving Vicki in her Fiesta and Cressida was driving him in her Mini, because neither car was able to accommodate four people and all the attendant equipment.

Farron thought it was rather amusing when she first broke the news that the Range Rover was off the road, because he thought that being off the road was when they were at their best.

Julia took the news exceedingly well under the circumstances considering she didn’t really like driving, in fact she seemed quite pleased.

 

Nick left first as he was picking up Jenna Lawton from the Vicarage but by the time he had her on board Cressida’s Mini was leading the way out of the village with Julia’s Fiesta following on and they were joined down the road by Nick’s Mercedes and they travelled in convoy as far as the Motorway.

The last two of the group were some distance away because Jonathon Walters had to pick up his girlfriend Lianne Martin from Mornington and they were going to join the motorway at the other end of the vale but they all managed a clear run up the motorway and arrived at the Twelve Trees Golf Club by 8 am.

It was assumed when they left the village that Cressida had been to Tipton before, but upon their arrival Cressida said that she hadn’t.

 

Tipton Twelve Trees Golf Club was in a beautiful location in the heart of the Northern Downshire Hills and the views from the clubhouse were outstanding and they guessed that around the course they would be truly breath-taking.

“Oh look” Vicki said “a Red Kite”

They all looked to where she was pointing, and they were all expecting to see a large red paper kite on a piece of string, which of course they didn’t admit when they saw it was a bird of prey.

Just then Jonathon and Lianne appeared and then they all went into the clubhouse, which was very plush, though no more so than Lily Green Hollows.

Cressida went to register their arrival and everyone else seated themselves in the restaurant.

 

After their rather over indulgent breakfast they all waddled to the lounge and sat down on the comfy sofas and ordered more tea and coffee as they still had half an hour to spare before tee off.

There was a TV on in the lounge and just as the waitress arrived with their order the weatherman appeared

“In the afternoon the wind will strengthen from the north east blowing in some wintry showers later in the day, more persistent falls are likely overnight”

“So it might get a bit blowy later,” Julia said, “I’m glad I’m wearing my long johns”

Just at that moment Cressida handed round the scorecards with a map of the course and for the nest few minutes they sat in silence studying the map and looking at the yardages.

It wasn’t the longest 18 hole course most of them had ever played but there were two par threes that were particularly difficult, one was uphill to a concealed green the other from an elevated tee to a concealed green and when they had finished they all agreed it was going to be an interesting and challenging par 70.

As Lianne and Jenna were relatively new to the game they were to play a four ball with Jonathon and Nick while the others decided on match play pairs, four-ball format, the lowest score from each pair counting and as to teams it would be the Fiesta’s against the Mini’s and they teed off first as the others were likely to be much slower.

 

Most of the game was played in calm dry conditions under a blue sky, with the wind very light.

On the front nine Vicki and Julia were on fire and after seven holes they were up by five.

On the par 5, 8th Farron had a bit of a disaster, he hit a crisp drive from the elevated tee and it absolutely flew straight down the middle, as Bing Crosby famously sang, and it landed just short of the dog leg, kicked to the right and rolled perfectly round the turn.
“So far so good” he said and after such a great shot he felt ten feet tall as he strode down the fairway.

 

When Farron reached his ball he was about 50 yards ahead of Cressie and he found it was sitting up invitingly.

Cressida played her shot first and put it just short of the green, just a chip and a putt away.

Julia and Vicki played their shots and were also well placed.

So with an unhindered path to the green Farron had a real eagle chance.
He selected his club and addressed the ball and told himself
“Just hit it straight”

Then he swung the club towards the ball in a perfect ark but he lifted his head at the last second and there was an ugly contact and the ball sliced away in entirely the wrong direction and ended out of bounds.

Such were the highs and lows of Golf.

Luckily for the Mini’s Cressida chipped and putted to make birdie while the others only managed par.

So with the combination of Farron’s extra yardage on the long holes and Cressida putting out of her skin they were all square after the 14th

Which was when a cold wind picked up and dark grey clouds scudded across the previously blue sky.

Victoria then chipped in from the bunker to win the 15th  

Cressida sank a 40ft putt to take 16, the 17th was halved and it was all to play for on the final hole and as they stood on the fairway to play their second shots it started to snow, the light grainy kind, but by the time they had reached the green large fluffy flakes were falling and they were falling fast.

They putted out on the 18th and the honours were even and handshakes were exchanged and then they walked briskly towards the 19th for something warming.

“Wintry showers be buggered” Vicki said as they put their clubs in their respective cars and changed out of their golf shoes.

 

Once inside they found the other foursome were already inside and drinking coffee and judging by all the empty cups it wasn’t their first.

It appeared that the moment the cold wind got up Lianne’s teeth started chattering as she was the only one of their party who had neglected to wear thermals, and the thin cotton trousers were neither keeping the heat in nor the cold wind out. 

“Oh I always wear a vest and long johns Vicki announced to the assembled party and then the group was joined by the Aldridge brothers, and Vicki blushed and said  

“What a surprise seeing you two here”

“Surprise my arse” Cressida said under her breath as she knew that Vicki and Chris and Julia and Mark had been seeing each other for the most of the previous month.

Out loud she asked

“Is anyone up for staying for dinner?”

“Not us” Nick said “I need to get the Vicar back to Highfinch before it gets too bad,”

“And the four of us are heading to London to see a show” Vicki said

“And we’re off to Nettlefield” Jonathon added “I’m introducing Lianne to my brother and his wife”

“Oh ok” Cressida said “I suppose we should make a move as well then”

Making a move was just what she had in mind with Farron but along with dinner it looked as if he was off the menu.

 

Cressida had hoped to spend a bit longer with Farron after the Golf, in order for her to make an impression on him away from the village but the weather appeared to have put paid to that scheme,

So after a quick hot drink everyone made a move which was when Cressida decided to use the weather to her advantage.

 

Nick and the vicar said goodbye and Cressida shouted

“We’ll be right behind you”

They finished their drinks and Cressie excused herself to the ladies and was gone for about 20 minutes.

He didn’t have any idea what was keeping her but he put it down to some feminine hygiene issue so he wasn’t too concerned so when she returned looking a little flushed, and he took that as confirmation of his diagnosis.

Cressida then spent the next ten minutes faffing about, opening and closing her handbag putting her coat on, taking it off and then putting it back on again.

“Shall we make a move then?” Farron said finally losing patience with her uncharacteristic dithering

“Yes, yes” she replied rather less positive than her words might have suggested.

They walked to the car rather gingerly, slipping and sliding on the freshly fallen snow and when they got in the car, Cressida continued to faff

“Is everything ok?” he asked getting concerned now with her behaviour, which really was so out of character,

She was one of the most positive and dynamic people he knew.

“It’s the snow,” she said meekly

“What about it?” he asked

“I’m scared” she admitted, “If I was in the Range Rover I’d be alright”

“Do you want me to drive?” he offered

“You’re not insured” she replied quickly

“Ok let’s phone the Vicar and see what it’s like ahead of us” Farron suggested

“Good idea” Cressida said

So he phoned Jenna to ascertain the state of the roads ahead and the word from the de facto vicar was a very unchristian expletive.

“It’s worse ahead than it is here” he told her

“Oh shit,” she retorted and then after a few moments she added

“There’s a nice hotel nearby we could put up there until tomorrow”

“How do you know that?” he quizzed “I thought you hadn’t been to Tipton before”

“No I haven’t it was in the bumph the club sent me when I made the booking” she replied

“Oh ok” he relented “let’s go”

Cressida started the engine and fair sped out of the car park like Timo Mäkinen, suddenly completely oblivious to the snow.

Five miraculous minutes later they passed through the gates of the Tipton Manor Hotel and Spa.

“This will do,” she said

He was very suspicious now, Cressida had said she had never been to Tipton before, yet she knew the location of the nearest Hotel and managed to drive straight there in a blizzard.

“So while we’re held up here what’s happening about the kids?” he asked

“They’re at my mums tonight anyway” she replied

“Convenient” he thought and as Cressida opened the door he said commandingly

“Just hold on a minute Cressida van Meeuwen”

“What?” she replied meekly

“What’s going on?” he asked

“What do you mean?” she responded innocently

 

Cressida opened the car door and Farron said commandingly

“Just hold on a minute Cressida van Meeuwen”

“What?” she replied meekly

“What’s going on?” he asked

“What do you mean?” she responded innocently

“According to you, you’ve never been to Tipton before, yet you know it well enough to find the nearest Hotel, which you couldn’t have seen on the way in, and you did it in a blizzard” Cressida went to speak but he silenced her with a raised finger.

“At the Golf club you were all girly and helpless in the snow one minute and doing handbrake turns like a rally driver the next, on top of which the kids are on a sleepover” he paused briefly

“So what’s going on?” he asked again, though he knew the answer

Cressida gave him a sideways glance and blushed

“Were you planning a sleepover of your own?” he asked

“No nothing like that” she said horrified “that would make me “fast” I didn’t do it just to seduce you”

“Thank goodness for that” he thought to himself he would have thought less of her for that, but out loud he said

“So what then?”

“I just wanted us to spend time together” she continued and blushed “away from the village, were you could relax and we could get to know each other and find out once and for all if you would want to seduce me”

“Well I do anyway” he said “I always have”

“Then why haven’t you?” she asked “I thought after my birthday you wanted me but then you kept away”

“Because I’m not good enough for you” Farron explained

“But you are” she said

“No I’m not, you are a Lady, and I’m just an artisan” he retorted

“You are a good and kind man Farron Sutherland and that’s what counts, I don’t give a jot about social differences, it’s who you are that counts, and you are one of the angels” she said sharply “and that’s why I fell in love with you”

“You did?”

She nodded still blushing

“I didn’t know” he said

“Well you’re the only one in Highfinch who didn’t” she said

“But I love you too” Farron said and she beamed a smile at him and then he kissed her.

“I hoped that you did after you made me that beautiful desk” she said “and then the magical kiss, but when you didn’t follow it up in the days after I thought I must have got it wrong”

“Oh yes the kiss” he mused

“Was the kiss not special for you?” Cressida asked

“Oh yes it was, but I doubted you could feel like that about me and that the champagne was a factor”

“The champagne just made me brave” she said “and allowed me to what I’d wanted to do for two years”

“I didn’t need champagne for that” he said “I was brave enough, if I’d been worthy”

“You are worthy” Cressida said crossly

“You always have been, you just needed a change of scene to show you that”

“So was that why you suggested the golf day?” he asked

“Yes” Cressida replied “it was the only way I could think of to get us out of Highfinch and be together”

“I see”

“If it were still summer I would have suggested a beano to Sharpington” she explained

“So you’ve given it some thought and done a lot of planning then?” he asked

“Yes” she added rather smugly “which all added to the excitement and the anticipation”

“So what would you have done if it hadn’t snowed?” Farron asked

“Even Cressida van Meeuwen couldn’t conjure up a blizzard on demand”

“Car trouble” she replied

“You deceitful creature” he said and kissed her again

“So what do you want to do?” she asked

Farron took his eyes of her momentarily to check the weather and the snow was still falling fast.

“I think we should stay here tonight” he replied

“Separate rooms” Cressida pointed out

“Yes separate rooms” he agreed “and I think we should have dinner and talk some more”

 

They got out of the car and Cressida retrieved her bag from the boot, which was another clear sign of her premeditation.

“Do you think if we registered as Mr and Mrs Smith it would cause the receptionist to raise an eyebrow” Farron asked

“It would when they compared it to the name on my credit card”

Cressida said and laughed

There then followed an “I’ll pay, no I’ll pay” argument as they walked to the Hotel but finally Cressida insisted

“I should pay as it was me who lured you here”

Then she blushed the most brilliant shade of crimson when she realised she had said it out loud.

 

Once inside the Hotel they found it was deserted, the normal weekend arrivals had failed to appear because of the weather so there would be no shortage of rooms.

Cressida put down her overnight bag, and after the preamble she handed over her credit card.

They finished registering and as they walked away from the desk he asked

“Do you want to go and freshen first or shall we go and eat now?”

She would’ve liked to have freshened up but having connived and plotted to get him there she didn’t really want to let him out of her sight.

“Dinner” she replied

 

It was a very good restaurant and normally attracted a good many diners but because of the snow the usual Friday night trade failed to materialise and so they walked straight in to an empty room and chose a table by the window where Cressida could watch her snowy ally still falling steadily.

 

They talked at great length about them and what the future could be, and how people would see them if they were a couple.

“Aren’t you worried about what your family will say?” he asked

“No, my mum knows how I feel about you and so does Petra and they couldn’t be happier” she answered

“Oh? how long have they known?” he asked

“Since my birthday” she replied

“Oh” was all he could think to say and then after a moment he asked

“But what about the girls?”

He was referring to her 8 year old twin girls, Lisa and Julie, who she was now raising on her own.

“Goodness me, they’re more in love you with you than I am” she replied and laughed

“So you see there really are no obstacles to us being a couple, the only person who will be upset is my ex-husband and I really don’t care what he thinks”

 

Later as Cressida and Farron sat drinking coffee and liqueurs he asked her

“So are you pleased with the outcome of your scheming?”

“Oh yes” she said “pleased and surprised”

“Surprised?” he queried

“Yes I’ve never done anything like this before, and I’m surprised how conniving I’ve been”

“I’m glad to know you don’t make a habit of deceitfulness”

“I did arrange for you to be on the Summer Fete committee with me” she confessed

“Did you?” he asked with surprise

“Yes, but that was easy” she admitted proudly “This however took a bit more planning”

“I can imagine” Farron said

“And a bit more deceitfulness” she added and Farron was thoughtful for a minute and then he said

“So the Range Rover being in the garage?”

“Was a lie” Cressida confirmed “It is in the garage, but it’s in my garage”

“And you being scared to drive in the snow” he said

“A lie” she confirmed again though he knew that the moment she sped out of the car park like a rally driver.

“So the car insurance….”

“Was another lie” she admitted

“I’m shocked and stunned” He said “and strangely proud”

 

They were so absorbed by each other that they hadn’t realised either the lateness of the hour or the fact that they were the only customers left.

It was only some loud bangs and crashes that brought them back to the moment and it was shortly after that that they got the distinct impression the restaurant staff had had enough for the night even if they hadn’t.

The convention is that the staff is obliged to keep the bar open all the while guests are wanting a drink but in reality they had to close at some point and you could still get a drink from room service if you wanted a nightcap so they bade the long-suffering staff a good night, even though it was almost 1 am and headed, somewhat unsteadily towards their rooms.

Accompanied by raucous laughter they stumbled into the lift and Cressida made several attempts to press the button for the third floor and as she seemed incapable of completing the task of hitting the button for the floor that they actually wanted he decided to hit them all.

When they reached the third floor Cressida said

“It’s been a wonderful day”

“Yes it has” he agreed and then they kissed in the corridor outside her door and when it was over she said

“Thank you for walking me home”

“Thank you for being conniving and deceitful” he replied and she giggled as she opened her door

“Goodnight”

 

As Farron walked the short distance to his own room he thought that it had been more than just a wonderful day for him, it was a life changing day.

He went into his room and switched on the TV just as the rolling news show was starting its recap and the top story was about the snowstorm.

A spokesman from the met office admitted that a lot more snow fell than was expected.

“No shit Sherlock” he shouted at the TV “But thank you, it was much appreciated”

 

The next day they met early for breakfast and the snow was still laying thick on the ground and more showers were forecast.

So as they sat in the restaurant eating a hearty breakfast he asked

“Do you think we should risk it?”

“I’m not sure, you know how scared I am of the snow” she replied and they laughed.

So they stayed on for another night and spent every second of the day together but there was no lingering good night kiss at her door.

That night she felt the warmth of the man she loved beside her, she had her special someone to hug her if she was ever feeling down and she would never wake up on her own again because her Golf Day strategy for love meant that her life really had begun at 40.