September
Jane Loveridge
was a 39-year-old widow, who tragically lost her husband when she was only 26
and there had only been her and her daughter, Sally, since her bereavement, but
now Sally had someone special in her life, so Jane was feeling unloved, at
least until she met widower Alexander Lynn.
They got on
very well and really enjoyed each other’s company but for homemaker Jane, who
had been so long without a significant other in her life, she didn’t know how
to be a girlfriend.
It was easier
for Alexander, he was a successful businessman, semi-retired and comfortable in
his own skin, and he had only been on his own for three years, but he did his
best to tease her out of herself, while remaining patient.
They lived in
St Pierre on Beaumont Island and one afternoon, as Sally and her boyfriend Mark
had gone to Pipershaven for the day, so Alexander kept Jane company in the
kitchen while she prepared the evening meal.
“It’s a shame
we didn’t go to Pipershaven with the others” He said
“I know” she
agreed “We could have made a day of it”
“Perhaps we
could go another time” he suggested
“That would be
nice” She said
“How about we
do something for your birthday” he continued “I could get us tickets for “The
end of summer ball” and we could stay over at the Mablethorpe Spa”
“We can’t” she
replied urgently “it’s only next week so you’ll never get tickets”
“I get sent a
pair of tickets every year, which I normally give-away”
“Besides I
think Sally has something planned for that day” she protested
“I’m sure she
won’t mind” he pointed out
“It’s not that
simple” she said “its tradition”
He said no more
on the subject and thought he might need reinforcements to persuade her, so he
would enlist the help of Sally.
So Alexander
made a call to Sally and relayed the content of the conversation and the next
morning, sat at the breakfast table, she asked
“Why can’t you
go to the “End of Summer Ball”?”
“Because we
always go out for dinner on my birthday” She replied stubbornly
“We’ll do lunch
instead” Sally suggested and then a further 20 minutes followed of Jane putting
up an obstacle and Sally knocking it down until she eventually said
“Ok I give in”
Next week, on
her birthday Jane was pacing up and down nervously in the hall
“I’m not sure
about staying overnight” she said to her daughter
“Relax,
Alexander has booked two rooms at the Hotel” Sally said “Nothing has to happen
unless you want it too”
“Sally!!” she
scolded, and her daughter just gave her a look and Jane sat down heavily on a
chair.
“I wouldn’t
know what to do anyway” she said “There hasn’t been anyone since your Father,
in fact there wasn’t anyone before your Father”
“You’ll be
fine” Sally said reassuringly
“I’m not sure I
should go at all” she said “I’ll call him and cancel”
“Nonsense”
Sally said sternly “Alexander really likes you, and I mean “really” likes you”
“Ok” she said
meekly
“Just relax and
enjoy your birthday treat” Sally said and hugged her Mum “Then if you feel like
a special birthday treat you will know what to do when the time comes”
“You’re
incorrigible” Jane said, and they were both laughing when Sally’s boyfriend
Mark walked in
“Your carriage
has arrived madam”
“Oh ok” she
said and took a deep breath before adding “Ready”
Then she
reached out to take her case and Sally stopped her.
“We have men
for that kind of thing” she said, and her Mum laughed
“Hey peasant”
she called to Mark “Take the bag for the Lady”
“Yes em” he
replied and tugged his forelock and then followed a respectable distance
behind.
As she left the
front door she got her first look at the transportation.
“Oh my God”
Jane said, “is that for me?”
It was a
gleaming Vintage Rolls Royce Silver Cloud complete with chauffeur.
“Happy
birthday” Alexander said as he stood by the open door, and Jane ran towards him
and hugged and kissed him to within an inch of his life.
“There will
definitely be a special treat” Sally said
“What was that
milady?” Mark asked
“Nothing
peasant, just a family joke”
No comments:
Post a Comment