Downshire
is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a
lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of
Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the
Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the
beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the
Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light
infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in
the north but our story begins in the East, or more precisely, 20 miles inland
from Sharpington-By-Sea, equidistant between Finchbottom and Pepperstock Green,
in the sprawling village of Denmead.
When Robert Hunter reached the Oak Park Hotel, he checked in and went
up to his room and after freshening up he went down to the bar to wait for her.
As he sat in the bar waiting, he reflected on how much he was looking
forward to seeing Janine Knighton again.
He had missed her terribly since they broke up, even though it had
only been three months, it was the longest 12 weeks of his life.
Rob had come to realize just how lucky he was to have her in his life;
but he took her for granted, and at no point did he think he would lose her,
even after she gave him an ultimatum to change his ways.
Then out of
the blue she called him and asked to meet in Denmead, she had moved there a few
weeks after they split.
Rob jumped
at the chance and made no effort to disguise his pleasure, which kind of set
the tone for the rest of the call and he was left feeling very positive when
the call ended.
In the week
that had elapse since then his mood had swung from runaway optimism to suicidal
pessimism and every possible emotion in between.
Was the
meet up because she missed him as much as he did her or had she found another
love and just wanted to rub his nose in it.
The longer
he waited the more negative his thoughts became and the fact that she was an
hour late wasn’t helping his nerves.
When Janine Knighton finally appeared she was wearing a grey wool dress which showed off her
shape deliciously well.
“There you
are” he said “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming”
“I’ve been
here an hour” she said
“I didn’t
see you” Rob said
“I was here
nonetheless” she said and kissed his cheek “I just needed a drink first”
“Well, it’s
great to see you” he said
“You too”
she said and kissed his mouth
As they had
both been drinking alone for an hour, he suggested that they should eat
something, and she agreed so they went through to the restaurant, but during
the meal he was still none the wiser as to why exactly she needed the Dutch
courage before showing herself.
But the
conversation flowed regardless with no tangible silences and then midway
through coffee and liqueurs just after Jan had returned from the loo she leant
down and kissed him moistly on the lips
“I really
do love you Robbie,” she said
“And I
really love you too” he replied
“I hope so”
she said, with a slight slur, as she sat down and took his hold of his hand
“Because I
want us to spend Christmas together”
“I would
love that” Rob said
“Really?”
Jan asked, “You’re not just saying that?”
“No, I’m
not” he said earnestly “it would be the best Christmas present ever”
“You’d
better take me upstairs now then” she ordered “before I change my mind, I want
you so much”
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