January
After Craig
Russell and Jade Kimberley left the Barnabus Manor Hotel the morning after the
Burns Night Supper and escaped to Sharpington they spent the night in a caravan
on the Potters Lane Caravan Park and the next day while eating breakfast in a
greasy spoon café they arranged to meet Jade’s mother and stepfather at midday,
by the entrance of the Sharpington Fun Park.
While “Bella
Donna” and the chinless wonder were out of the Hotel Craig’s cousin Angus’ wife
Sally, bluffed her way into Jade’s room and packed her an overnight bag,
comprising mainly of the contents of her underwear draw, her jewelry box, a few
items off her dressing table and of course her passport.
Meanwhile Craig
phoned to settle his bill and Angus collected his things from Clifford, the concierge.
The park was
closed as it was out of season but the arcades on the prom were open and a few
gift shops.
Jade went into
one of the arcades but remained out of sight and kept her mother and stepfather
in view while Russell waited at the entrance of the pier and he kept looking at
his watch and was beginning to get anxious and then the phone rang.
“Hello!” he said.
“Mission
accomplished” Angus said.
“Really?” he said.
“Yes” Angus
confirmed, “Now get your ass over to Pipershaven.”
“Ok, see you
soon” he said and hung up.
He crossed the
road and went to find Jade, which wasn’t difficult as she was a rubbish spy, he
found her wearing a kiss me quick hat and hiding in the arcade.
The hat was
superfluous to her disguise because she was wearing uncharacteristically garish
colours, and her hair was in pigtails so they would never have recognized her.
She was staring
out of the window and giggling, as she watched her mother and stepfather
arguing.
Craig crept up
behind her and goosed her and she let out a yelp, so loud there was a very real
danger her quarry may have heard so he took her hand, and they ran for the
caravan park as if the devil was on their heels and loaded up the car.
They parked up
in the ferry port car park and met up with Angus and Sally and when hugs and
handshakes had been shared, he said.
“We will never
forget this.”
“It’s a
pleasure” Sally said, “I was beginning to think you would never fall in love.”
“Well, it’s
happened,” he admitted.
“You didn’t
tell me that” Jade said and punched him playfully.
“It’s been a
busy day” he said feebly and kissed her.
“Here are your
bags” Angus said, “Now get a move on.”
They said their
goodbyes before they got on the Expressway and drove towards London.
On the way they
stopped at his flat in Northchapel where he packed a suitcase and once in
London, they stopped at his Newspaper and submitted his Russian article before
Jade took him to the family home in Mayfair and they spent the night there,
making love in her mother’s bed.
Early next
morning Jade packed a suitcase of her own and he drove to Heathrow.
Craig parked
his car in the short stay car park from where Angus would collect it later.
But plans
changed after they walked into the terminal only to discover Bella Donna and
Max patrolling the concourse so they turned tail and returned to the car,
thankfully unseen, and after a few minutes had an alternative plan and drove
back down the Expressway to Pipershaven where they got on the first ferry to
France and after driving to Paris they took a plane to New York and his next
assignment on American Football.
Over the next
few years, they got to travel all around America, moving from motel to motel,
watching all kinds of sport, it wasn’t the kind of accommodation she was used
to but if she was unhappy about it, she never mentioned it or complained about
it, in truth she loved it.
Her knowledge
of sport was quite astounding, and not for a woman either, and apart from the
fact he was in love with her she was also invaluable to him as an editor, a
critic and a sounding board.
She also
managed their finances and kept them solvent.
Their American
journey came to an end after 3 years culminating with the Super Bowl where he
proposed to Jade.
On the back of
their work in America he was offered a job with the New York Times to cover
whatever sports he wanted, and they continued to travel, but he insisted on
giving her a writing credit.
They did,
however, return to Downshire and they got married while they were there, with
Angus and Sally in attendance obviously and they spent their wedding night at the Barnabus Manor Hotel.
Bella Donna was
invited but she declined, she never forgave her daughter for disobeying her
wishes and Jade never forgave her mother for not being at her daughter’s
wedding.
Over the years
Jade travelled with him around the world from event to event, World Cups,
Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Rugby, Cricket, Ice Hockey, Field Hockey and
Horse Racing and he never lost interest in her underthing’s.
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