Downshire Diary – (16) When Opposites Attract

 

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 Martin’s.

Among the residents of Highfinch was Joe Frank, a shy 25 year old apprentice cabinet maker.

He was a tall gangly man with hazel eyes, short copper red hair and a propensity to blush at the slightest provocation.

Joe worked in Kingfisherbridge for bespoke furniture maker Farron Sutherland.

Joe was a quiet intelligent man with a dry sense of humour and was also a single man who lived contentedly in a small rented house on the Sharpington side of the village.

 

He started working for Farron straight from School when he was 16 and Farron was very pleased with Joe’s progress and although he still referred to him as his apprentice he had pretty much taught him everything he could.

Joe had gone all of his life believing he had no talent, neither hidden or on show, no special gift or endowment, no particular skill or mastery of a craft, in fact no bent, flair, ability or forte, nothing to mark him out from the common herd or to make him stand out from the crowd.

Farron Sutherland obviously had a different opinion about him and much admired the skills he had learned from him on top of his natural ability. 

Although he left school at the earliest opportunity and never once thought about further education he was not a stupid man and was in fact very intelligent.

And the reason for that was that he was a voracious reader and spent every free moment with his face buried in a book and he learned a lot.

But the learned tomes failed to teach him self-confidence or self-worth and as he had for all of his life he thought he was ordinary, mediocre and average and any knowledge he had gleaned or skill he had acquired was merely mundane and every day.

When he was praised by Farron for his marquetry and called him a genius Joe saw no hint of genius and thought he was expert only in his ordinariness but he was content in his mediocrity.

He had always been un-ambitious, he had no goals to be achieved because he never set any, he was not driven by desire, in any shape or form, some people might have said he was shiftless but he was satisfied and he was happy with his lot and Joe was happy because he never gave it any thought, he had a job that he loved and when he wasn’t working he was at home with his library of assembled friends.

It never occurred to him that he was living a half-life until he saw her smile and then his outlook changed.

 

Joe Frank loaded the dining set onto the van and then drove to the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club to pick up Farron where he had been attending the Friday Lunch club which had evolved over time from a loose collection of members of the Club, which didn’t include Joe.

Not that he minded and it wasn’t as if he could play golf anyway and he wasn’t much of a socializer, although he did have friends in the village. 

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 certainly too rich for Joe’s blood.

 

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 St George’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, that didn’t extend to Joe and his mates however.

 

Joe parked the van in the car park and waited for the lunch club to finish, but texted Farron just to let him know he was there.

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 and on that particular day it was a Monday.

 

It began with a loose collection of member’s which was slowly whittled down over time leaving the core group of usual suspects, Farron of course, Cressida van Meeuwen, 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 just 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.

 

For the rest of the lunch Petra was under the watchful eye of Julia and Vicki and when it came time to leave they hung back and as Petra was about to go through the door Julia grabbed her and pulled her backward and then Vicki said

“Come on spill the beans, what has she seen and where did she see it?”  

 

Joe looked over at the door and he saw the members of the lunch club start to emerge from the club so he got out of the van and walked towards them was slowly.

Jonathan Walters and TV presenter Nick Faulkner were the first out of the door and nods and smiles were exchanged with Joe and they were followed by Farron who was of course in close proximity of Cressida and he could see through the glass door the remainder of the group, best friends Julia Thomas and Vicki Paulding who appeared to be interrogating a third party but he couldn’t make out who.

Joe stopped and exchanged pleasantries with Cressida and Farron and then Julia and Vicki appeared having finished their interrogation and their victim followed them out although he still hadn’t got a good look at them.

“This is my sister-in-law Petra” Cressida said as the girl appeared through the crowd and Joe’s mouth fell open.

Petra van Meeuwen was a serious head turner, she was five foot eight with short bobbed brunette hair, sparkling hazel eyes and a lovely figure suitably proportioned and all underpinned, by stunning legs and he instantly committed every detail of her form to his memory.

“Petra, this is Joe” she said

“Hello Joe, Wow you’re a big boy” she said and shook his hand

“And such strong hands”

Joe was unable to verbalize a response and only managed to smile and blush.

It was only a few minutes before Farron dragged Joe back to the real world and they headed towards the van and Petra drove Cressida to her house where she was staying for a few weeks.

 

Petra was 26 years old and was staying with her sister-in-law Cressida and her twin girls.

She had divorced her brother Clifford two years earlier and she thought he was a total idiot for letting Cressie slip through his fingers.

She thought Cressida was brilliant and like everyone else she was a little bit in love with her, and she definitely had no sympathy for her brother.

 

Since leaving University with a degree in business management she had spent the intervening years working in Sharpington for the Yacht Club but after nearly four years she was ready for a change.  

 

Farron and Joe got in the van and drove the short distance to the village of Springwater in the Pepperstock Hills but both men were very quiet, Farron was lost in thoughts of Cressida and as for Joe he was besotted and in a few short minutes Petra had shaken him from his contented torpor.  

When he heard her speak his name, he was filled with new purpose, and a new vocation.

He didn’t take in everything she said, he was so mesmerized, because her voice was so soft and seductive, and due to a combination of the posh plummy tones of her soft sexy voice he was lost.

Though he had no illusions that when she smiled at him she was being anything but friendly but those few moments in her company had had a profound effect on him, her voice and her smile caused him to shed his mediocrity and cast it aside like a well-used coat.

 

When they got back to the village that evening, he was in an uncharacteristically restless mode, he would normally fill his evening by having a pint after work at the Downshire Arms and then settle down with a good book.

But not that day his thoughts were full of images of the beautiful brunette with the posh voice and the radiant smile and caused him to look deep within himself to find that dying ember of desire which he had buried years before, an almost imperceptible spark that the thought of Petra van Meeuwen breathed life into until it was white hot.

 

Petra also spent a very thoughtful evening at Cressida’s

“You had quite an effect on poor Joe Frank” she said and laughed

“I don’t know what you mean” she said innocently

“I merely said he was a big boy with strong hands”

“And you made him go crimson” Cressida added still laughing  

“I’m surprised you even noticed as you hardly took your eyes off Farron the whole time”

Petra countered and Cressida stopped laughing

“What do you mean?”

 “Oh come on, it’s obvious you fancy him like mad” Petra explained

“That’s nonsense” she protested “He’s just a friend”

“Yes but you want more” Petra added

“But…”

“You want so much more” Petra said

“Is it that obvious?” she said with resignation

“Oh yes” she said

“And you deserve to be happy, and you deserve him”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Cressida asked

“Why would I?”

“Because of Clifford” Cressida replied

“Cliff was a bloody fool to let you go” Petra replied “and he didn’t deserve you”

“That’s sweet of you to say, but I don’t think Farron’s interested in me in that way” Cressida said

“Oh yes he is” Petra corrected her “and it’s your birthday next week”

“How will that help?” she asked

“Birthday snogs obviously” was her reply

         

In the six days between their first meeting and the following Sunday they didn’t see each other, not to talk to anyway, they had caught glimpses of each other around the village but nothing more than that until a glorious Sunday at the very end of September, an unseasonably warm day 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, also much more than he was, as a result of which most of the village were there and subsequently a good deal of alcohol was consumed.

 

Joe Frank and his boss Farron 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 Joe was certainly one of them.

Petra was acting as hostess for Cressida and 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”

“We had some furniture to deliver” he said in response to Petra’s raised enquiring eyebrow and she nodded understandingly

“Do you want a drink?” she asked

“Yes please” Farron 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 she 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 hostess thing.

“We’ll see you later” Farron said

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

 

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

Because Cressida was such a popular character, the party was very well attended and he knew a lot of people that were there.

Some of them were friends and some were customers and some were just familiar faces from around the village whereas others were snobby and standoffish members.

Cressida however was not one of them she always made a point to make everyone’s acquaintance and Joe liked her very much and he knew that Farron liked her especially.

So he pretended to have spotted some friends, partly so Farron could continue the search alone and hopefully without him tagging along they might even finally get together, but mainly he wanted to sneak back and see Petra.

 

As he made his way slowly through the crowd he got to overhear snippets of conversation and when he heard any mention of Petra he would pause and eavesdrop until the conversation moved on and then so did he until he heard Julia Thomas and Vicki Paulding telling Jenna Lawton, the Vicar, the details of the Art Deco Spelter Figure they had bought for Cressida and how they had driven all around the Vale to get it because Petra had sent them to the wrong antique shop.

The three women were giggling when the story was finished and then they were joined by the Golf Club Manager, and fellow parish councilor David Pike and Julia had to tell the story again.

After the second telling Julia and Vicki wandered off and David and Jenna remained but continued to discuss Petra.

“She may not be very good at Geography” Jenna said “But she is doing an excellent job as hostess”

“I know” he agreed “And I’ve never seen the waitresses so well organized, she’s like a well-dressed General commanding her army”  

“You could do with her on the staff” Jenna said

“I was thinking that myself” he said but at that moment they became aware of Joe hovering.

“Hello Joe” Jenna said

 

After a short exchange of greetings and a one sided chat Joe moved on and Jenna said

“There’s someone else who has noticed Petra’s attributes”

“Yes” David agreed “but I don’t think he’s interested in her abilities as a hostess”

 

From what he heard when he was eaves dropping it was obvious to him and clearly visible to everyone else that she was special, though Joe thought she was probably too special for him, but it was also clear that he had to try and fan the flames of passion she had ignited in him.

He didn’t of course know how he might achieve that due to his shyness and inexperience, but he only knew he had to try, but when he tracked her down he could only watch on from a safe distance as she directed traffic and commanded her black skirted and white bloused minions to great effect. 

 

Joe Frank watched on from a safe distance as Petra van Meeuwen directed traffic and commanded her black skirted and white bloused minions to great effect until he was joined by his friend Jonathon Walters who said 

“She’s lovely, isn’t she?”

“Yes she is” Joe agreed

“So what are you doing out here” Jonathon asked

“Because she’s too lovely for someone like me” Joe replied

“So I’ll just watch from a safe distance”

“Faint heart never won fair maiden, buddy” he said and slapped him on the back “So go get her”

“What if she laughs at me?” he said

“What if she doesn’t?” Jonathon retorted

 

If only she was to endow him with the special gift of herself he would feel extraordinary and so as he walked into the lounge with his new found ambition he had one and only goal, the sole purpose of his being was to make an impression on her, no stammering, no blushing and show her the real him.

 

It was much quieter in the lounge than it had been when he was in there earlier and he panicked because despite the lack of clientele and activity, for that matter, he couldn’t see her.

His new found confidence began to ebb away and he was about to retrace his steps and skulk away but then he caught sight of the head turning Petra van Meeuwen dressed in the fabulous dress which showed off her figure to great effect standing on the threshold of the doors to the terrace with her back to him.

He knew it was her because he had committed her figure to memory so he took a deep breath before walking up behind her and said “Do you have time for that drink now?”

“Oh um well yes I think I do” she replied and their eyes fixed on each other until the spell was broken when a tray of glasses crashed to the floor.

“Go and find a seat I’ll join you in a moment” she said and smiled 

Joe sat down in the farthest corner and watched as she dealt with the problem with quiet efficiency and then walked back towards him and put the drinks down and draped herself in a comfy chair.

“Is a pint of coke alright?” she asked

“Yes thank you” he replied and then added “You did that very well, you seem to have a way with the staff”

“Thank you, they’re good girls so it’s not hard” she said “And this is only a temporary gig”

“David Pike seemed impressed” Joe mentioned

“What the Golf Club Manager?” She asked “Really?”

“Yes”

“Well that’s nice to know” she said

“He wasn’t quite so enamored with your geographical knowledge though, something to do with sending Julia and Vicki to the wrong end of the Vale” he said and laughed

“Oh God” She said “Does everyone know?”

“Almost everyone” he said and laughed and she slapped his thigh and made him blush, which was when Cressida and Farron walked into the club arm in arm and once inside the cool lounge they spotted them in the corner and walked over and joined them.

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

 

Cressida van Meeuwen, the birthday girl, and the man she wanted to be her beau, Farron Sutherland, joined Petra and Joe 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 realized what she’d said

“Um ok” retorted an equally crimson Joe.   

 

Petra and Joe loaded all the birthday presents into the back of Cressida’s Range Rover, while Farron escorted the still tipsy Cressida to her carriage where 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.

 

“So what’s in the van” Petra asked

“I’m not allowed to tell, it’s a surprise” he replied

“But you can tell me” she said and fluttered her eyelashes

“No I can’t”

“Oh come on you can trust me I won’t blab” she promised

“I know you won’t”

“So what is it?” she asked

“I know you won’t blab because I’m not telling you, you can see it later when we drop it off” Joe said

“I think I preferred it when you were tongue tied and crimson”

She said grumpily

“No you don’t” he retorted

“No I don’t, but that’s not the point” she agreed

“Are you coming to the house now?”

“Yes” he replied “Do you want to follow us, just in case you get lost”

“You’re so cheeky” she said “I may have to punish you”

 

Joe was in the driver’s seat of the van beside Farron and watched Petra driving Cressida’s Range Rover out of the car park and they followed on behind and Joe’s thoughts turned towards the object of his desire.

 

Cressida van Meeuwen lived in a large detached property that backed onto the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club and as Joe drove the van to Cressida’s house on Sunday evening he was rerunning the dialogue of his conversations with Petra through his head.

Meanwhile Farron was in pensive mood as he was beginning to have doubts about his choice of gift for the woman he loved as he fidgeted uncomfortably in the passenger seat.

 

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

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

 

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.

Which was why Farron chose the present he did, because Cressida loved Art Deco and as he was a furniture maker 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.

When Joe and Farron drove into the courtyard of Cressida home she was already out of the Range Rover and 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”

“It is lovely” Petra said as Farron and Cressida hugged beside the Writing Desk.

“Gorgeous” Joe said and Petra turned to look at him and realized he had been looking at her when he said it and blushed deeply and to cover her embarrassed she said to her sister-in-law

“Shall we take it inside?” which broke up the prolonged hug.

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

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

 

Once the perfect location was found Petra had to stop ogling Joe’s bum and suggested they have Champagne to keep him there a little longer, and so everyone had a celebratory glass, except for Joe that is, as he had to stay sober to drive Farron and the van home to Kingfisherbridge.

Two hours and 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 and when Petra saw them in their passionate embrace from the doorway she stopped Joe in his tracks.

“That looks like fun” she said and pushed Joe back against the wall and kissed him

“Wow” he said when she allowed him back up for air.

“Do you want to do it again?” she whispered and he answered by kissing her again.

Their kiss, like that of Cressida and Farron lasted for an indeterminate amount of time and was followed by a hastily arranged date for the following Friday and then Petra and Joe emerged noisily into the courtyard from the house which brought the birthday girls snog to an abrupt end.

“Well good night then” Farron said

“Oh yes, goodnight” Cressida echoed “Thank you for my lovely snog, I mean desk” 

“It was my pleasure” Farron replied

“Mine was a pleasure too” Petra said quietly and squeezed Joe’s buttock as he climbed into the van.

 

When Petra woke up the next morning she was not feeling too good due to an excess of alcohol consumed the evening before and apart from the hangover she was also embarrassed.

“I can’t believe I squeezed his arse” she said out loud as she recalled how she and Joe had parted the night before.

 

Petra was a beautiful young woman and she had been since she was a girl, not that she had used it to any great effect, she wasn’t that kind of person, but it would not have been an exaggeration to say that she had the pick of the men.

So no one was more surprised than she was to find she had fallen for the shy red faced apprentice cabinet maker, but she could not deny that fallen she most certainly had and she was looking forward to her date with Joe on Friday.

 

Joe woke up on the morning after he kissed Petra with very mixed feelings, his overwhelming emotion was of being thrilled, then there was the disbelief that it had actually happened and when he finally accepted the fact that it had actually happened he was confused about why the most beautiful bubbly outgoing girl was interested in an ordinary shy and retiring gawky cabinet maker, and an apprentice at that.

So if she really was attracted to him, he didn’t really have much to offer her, and she was after all from a posh family and would be used to a standard of living way beyond what he could provide for her.

 

So the big question was, if he was to accept the premise that she did in fact like him, could he make her truly happy, even one iota as much as she had made him.

The other question that he couldn’t answer was

“Would she love him?”

He would love her with all his heart and soul and he would dedicate himself to always loving her in fact he would love her for the rest of his life.

He was taking a big chance, and was abandoning his comfort zone but he had to do it because Petra had so rocked his world if he didn’t put his toe in the water he would never know and although he might regret trying and failing equally he might in time live to regret not trying.

The only problem was he wouldn’t be seeing her until Friday.

 

Fortunately they both had really busy weeks to keep them occupied but there was always a period of time each evening when they had time to think too much.  

 

On Thursday morning Joe and Farron had to go to Mornington to deliver a new lectern to the Vicar of St Winifred’s and before they returned to Highfinch Farron suggested a pint in the Old Mill Inn.

 

When they were seated in the corner Farron said

“You know you’ve been with me for 10 years”

“Yes, it’s amazing how time flies” Joe said

“And I know everyone, including you, refers to you as my apprentice, but the truth is you haven’t been an apprentice for several years now and to be honest I can’t teach you any more than you already know, so I think it’s time for a change” Farron concluded

“In what way?” Joe asked worriedly 

“Oh no it’s nothing bad” he said reassuringly

“I just think we need a change”

“Ok” Joe said doubtfully

“We need to look to the future” he said

“We?” Joe asked

“Of course we” Farron said “I want us to be partners”

“Partners?”

“Yes I want you to be my partner in the business and I think we need to take on a couple of Apprentices”

“I don’t know what to say” Joe said

“Just say yes”

“Ok yes” he said and shook Farron’s hand.

 

While Joe was becoming a partner in the Old Mill Inn in Mornington, Petra was dressed in a smart suit and sitting alone in the lounge of the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club waiting to have a meeting with David Pike.

 

On Thursday while Farron was offering Joe a partnership over a quiet drink in the Old Mill Inn in Mornington, Petra was dressed in a smart suit and sitting alone in the lounge of the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club waiting to have a meeting with David Pike.

 

After the meeting she focused her mind on the “date” if that was what it was.

The “date” was rather hastily arranged after she had finished snogging his face off and neither a time nor a place were mentioned.

The time was fairly easy to settle on and she arbitrarily made it 8 o’clock.

The location was a bit trickier, she didn’t really want to meet him in the village, and she was pretty sure he wouldn’t want to be under the watchful gaze of all and sundry, in which case it needed to be outside the village but not too far away, so after careful consideration she chose The Green Oak in Denmead.

Her choice met both of her main criteria firstly to be sufficient distant from Highfinch as to go unnoticed by the villagers and secondly she would need to drive thus severely limiting her alcohol consumption and more importantly if there was to be a repeat of the very acceptable kissing it would not be fueled by alcohol.

 

Having made the decision she then needed to convey her itinerary to Joe, this was a little problematic as she didn’t have a number for him so she got Farron’s phone number from Cressida and rang the land line and was all keyed up to speak to him when Farron answered instead and he told her Joe had popped out so she left a message.

“I’ll pick him up at the end of Springwater Lane at 8 o’clock”

 

The reason that Joe had popped out was to knock on the front door of Cressida’s house in order to speak to Petra because he didn’t have her number, he got no answer though because Petra was on the 13th tee with Cressida when she rang Farron.

Joe got the message however when he returned the workshop and he was nervously waiting at the end of Springwater Lane dead on 8 o’clock when Petra pulled up in her Qashqai.

 

Joe got in and kissed her cheek and then there was an awkward silence for the next five minutes as neither of them could think of an ice breaker, Joe’s new found confidence had deserted him and even Petra who wasn’t normally stuck for a word was stumped until she said

“I thought we’d go over to Denmead”

“Good idea” he concurred and that was how the conversation went for the rest of the journey until she drove into the car park of the Green Oak.

It wasn’t until they were seated inside that they began to relax.

“I had some great news yesterday” he said

“Really?”

“Yes Farron has made me his partner”

“Wow that really is good news” she said enthusiastically and squeezed his hand.

He took that as a positive sign which boosted his confidence again and decided to strike while the iron was hot and asked

“Would you go to dinner with me one night to celebrate?”

“I’d love to but…” she began and he thought here comes the brush off

“It will have to be tomorrow though because I’m going back to Sharpington on Sunday”

And Joe felt elation and despair in the same moment as she agreed to dinner and declared her intent to leave him.

“But I’ll be back in November” she added seeing the hurt on his face and leant in and kissed the sadness off his lips

“I have some good news too, I had an interview with David Pike yesterday and he’s offered me a job at the club”

After her statement the conversation dried up again but this time it was because they were kissing.