April
Simon and
Jeanette Kenny first met at the Frankfurt Book Fair, which was held in October,
and fell head over heels for each other and following a whirlwind romance they
were married in Copenhagen a few days before Christmas.
He was a
successful writer of children’s books, the Adventures of Geordie the Guardsman,
and she was an editor of nonfiction.
Their decision
to marry abroad, at short notice, was a purely selfish one, intended to avoid
the circus that surrounds weddings, they were both divorcees and had been
through the ordeal once already and had no appetite to go through it again, but
they were in love and wanted to legitimize that love before God.
However, the
good news of their union was not universally well received, especially not by
her sister Clara, with whom she was particularly close, so some work was
required to rebuild bridges.
Jeanette
thought that her sister would understand, as she was also a divorcee, but she
was clearly hurt by being excluded.
But from Simon
and Jeanette’s point of view they had to exclude everyone or no one, so it was
a no brainer.
Clara’s problem
with their wedding wasn’t solely that she felt alienated, but rather that she
felt jealous that there was no special someone in her own life, and she often
sat alone contemplating her lot, and reviewing her options.
Because she was
not without her admirers, but none of them stirred feelings within her that
might cause her to run away to Denmark to wed.
She tried not
to dwell too much on her circumstances but sometimes she just couldn’t fight it
but on one April afternoon she was stirred from her torpor by the telephone.
“Hello Clara,
Simon Kenny”
“Oh” she
responded icily
“My publisher
is staying with us at the moment and I’m cooking dinner, so we wondered if
you’d make up the four”
“Oh, I see” she
said coldly “is Jeanette with you?”
“Yes, she is”
“Put her on”
she instructed so he complied
“Hello Clara”
Jeanette said
“Can he cook?”
she asked abruptly
“Yes, he can”
she replied
“Better than he
writes I hope” Clara added
“We’ll see you
at 8 then?” Jeanette said
William Laffin
wasn’t just Simon’s publisher he was also his closest friend; they met on their
first day at University and hit it off immediately and their friendship had
become a very profitable one.
He dressed like
a successful man, in hand made suits, but he still managed to look like a
comprehensive school Geography teacher.
He and Simon
had spent much of the day going over his latest Geordie the Guardsman book and
discussing the timetable for publication and the artwork.
The latter was
a no brainer as Simon had always used the same artist, Fiona Phippen, who was
always bang on the money with her interpretation.
They continued
chatting in the kitchen while Simon got on with the dinner, he’d done most of
the preparation before William arrived.
“So, what’s
this Clara like then?” William asked
“Clara?” Simon
corrected him “She’s quite terrifying”
“And you
invited her, why?” he asked
“Because
Jeanette says she has a heart of gold” Simon replied “And we’re bridge
building”
“And does she?”
William asked
“Does she
what?”
“Have a heart
of gold” William clarified
“Well, if she
does, she certainly keeps it well hidden” Simon replied and laughed
Clara arrived
right on time and Jeanette came downstairs to let her in and Simon stood in the
kitchen doorway to greet her
“Wow you two
look lovely” he said
“Thank you”
Clara said slightly taken aback by the compliment
“Can you do the
drinks honey?” He said to Jeanette and then added as he returned to the kitchen
“William will
be down in a minute he’s just changing”
After a
satisfying kiss Jeanette returned from the kitchen carrying a tray.
She set down a
tray, with glasses and a chilled bottle of wine in a bucket and poured the wine
just as Simon and William appeared.
“Hi William”
Jeanette said and kissed his cheek “This is my sister Clara”
William was
tall and skinny, and Clara thought he looked in need of a good meal as he
brushed his sandy hair off his forehead and then she shook his hand.
“Pleased to
meet you William”
“Like wise” he
replied
As the two
sisters settled down in their seats, William whispered
“I thought you
said she was an ogre, I think she’s lovely”
“Really?” Simon
said
During the
course of the meal, with an Author, an Editor and a Publisher at the table the
subject naturally turned to writing.
“Clara prefers
Enid Blyton to modern children’s fiction” Simon said
“Me too”
William agreed
“Oh, that’s
nice” said Simon “You’re my publisher you at least should be singing my
praises”
“Sorry mate”
William said
“I still think
you’re brilliant darling” Jeanette said
“That doesn’t
count because you don’t like my books either”
“Who does
exactly?” William said unhelpfully
“Well, you need
to find out, and when you do, keep them away from these two” Simon suggested
“Well, if it’s
any consolation you cook better than Enid Blyton at least” said Clara
“High praise
indeed” Jeanette said
“Well thank
you” Simon said “For that you can have desert”
As Simon and
William were clearing the dishes to the kitchen Clara whispered to Jeanette
“You have a
good man there, but don’t you dare tell him I said that, because I have my
reputation to protect”
“Your secret is
safe with me” Jeanette said, “Now where’s that desert, it’s a boozy chocolate
tart?”
“I’ll just take
William and can of squirty cream” Clara said
“Clara!!”
“Oh, did I say
that out loud?” Clara said and blushed
Coffee and
liqueurs followed desert and then more liqueurs, and then more until the hour
got late.
Simon and
Jeanette began clearing the table and looking back from the kitchen door Simon
said
“I think
William is smitten”
“It’s mutual”
Jeanette replied and smiled
It wasn’t their
intention to match-make they just wanted to make up a pleasant foursome, the
fact they were attracted to each other was an unexpected bonus.
“We must
breathe lightly on the embers then” Simon said enigmatically
“What does that
mean Mr. Author?” Jeanette slurred
“We have to
play cupid” he replied
“Or just give
her can of squirty cream” she said and he looked puzzled
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