Monday, 19 May 2025

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (026) – The Afterglow

 

October

 

Charlie and Toddy lay in his bed in the afterglow lit by the pale light of the bedside lamp, Toddy was lying with her head on his chest, and he smiled.

“You have to marry me now that you’ve seduced me” he said and laughed

“I didn’t have to try very hard” she retorted

“What do you mean?”

“You were a push over” Toddy said lifting her head to look at him

“The cheek of the woman” he retorted, and she laughed as she settled her head back on his chest.

 

After ten minutes or so she yawned and said

“I need to go now, I’m getting sleepy”

“You could stay” he suggested

“No, I can’t” she said firmly

“Why?”  

“Because although you’ve already sullied me, I don’t want to have my reputation sullied around the Village” she replied

“That’s a valid point” he agreed

“Quite, so you need to turn your back,” she insisted

“Why exactly?” he asked

“Because you took all my clothes off, and I’m naked” she replied

“So, you need to turn your back so I can get dressed”

“But I’ve already seen you naked” he pointed out

“But that was when we were…. um…. you know….um”

“Making love”

“Yes, making love” she repeated and smiled

“But this is different”

“Ok” he said and rolled over and turned his back on her

“And no peeking”

“Ok”

 

He was lying on his side listening to her dress and thinking how much he liked that she was shy, when she said  

“Now you can look,”

When he rolled over, she was fully dressed in her knee-length cornflower blue dress, and blue tights.

“Thank you” she responded and blushed as she stood by the door smiling.

“You look beautifully unsullied” Charlie said,

“Thankfully looks can be deceiving” she said and blushed again

“I’ll see you downstairs”

 

He quickly redressed and followed her down and he found her sitting in the kitchen putting her navy-blue court shoes on, so he walked up behind and placed a hand on each shoulder.

“Happy Birthday by the way” he said, bending down to kiss her cheek

“Do you want your present now?”

When Toddy asked him not to drop her at home, he had thought that he could present her with her birthday gift, but events overtook them so it would have to be the next day.

“I thought I’d had it already” she replied

“My goodness I hope we’re going to do it more than once a year”

“I didn’t mean that” she exclaimed and blushed scarlet after adding

“But I hope that as well”

“Good” he said and squeezed her shoulder

“I meant this” she said pointing at the solitaire ring

“No, you wearing that ring is a gift to me” he corrected her, and she put her hand on his and stroked it.

“You say the loveliest things” Toddy said and turned and kissed him

“But presents are lovelier”

Toddy got a fit of the giggles which Charlie always found adorable, so he just wrapped his arms around her until they passed after which she said.

“Would you mind if we left it until later? I’m a bit drained after your ungentlemanly behaviour”

“I don’t mind, I’ll do anything to make you happy” he said and kissed her

“Get your coat on darling and I’ll get my car keys”

“Then can you walk me home instead?” she asked

“If that’s what you want” he said

“It is, thank you”

“Any particular reason?”

“So, people can see me on the arm of my fiancé” Toddy said proudly as he opened the door

“That’s very sweet, but I’m not sure how many Villagers will get to see us at half past one in the morning”     

“Nonetheless, what’s mine is mine, and I want everyone to know it” she said and put her arm through his.

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