The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (102) Wedding Plans

 

Reverend Henry Noble arrived in Spaniards Creek on Friday afternoon and there was a tearful reunion between him, and Arielle and they talked into the wee small hours.

 

Stuart Cameron spent his weekend walking well-worn and familiar paths while Deborah was in Sharpington visiting her brother.

There were walks to different parts of the island he wanted to explore but he wanted to save them for when Deborah was back, it was always more enjoyable with her, shopping on his own at Stephenson’s wasn’t as enjoyable on his own either.

When he wasn’t out walking, he was at work on the irregular shaped piece of Perspex they found on one of their walks.

 

Because the wedding was much sooner than Arielle and Harry originally planned there was a lot of “last minute” thinking.

Her dress was not one of the after thoughts however, as she was wearing the same silk wedding dress that her mother and grandmother wore, which was currently in the hands of Lily Nunthorpe in St Pierre who owned a vintage clothes shop, “Then for Now” and specialised in repairing and rejuvenating old garments, as well as stocking a large quantity of Vintage wear.

However there were other things that she didn’t have in her bottom draw, including some very unecclesiastical underclothes.

So following the traditional Barrington Sunday lunch after Church, the ladies of the wedding party Molly, Arielle, Katie, Nikki and Rachel were leaving on a shopping trip to Abbotsford.

“I’m going to miss you” Molly said

“I’m going to miss you too” Danny said and kissed her 

“We’ve never been properly apart before” she said “Not more than a few hours”

“Then this is our test” Danny said

“A test of what?” she asked

“The strength of our love” he said, and they embraced

 

Henry Noble wasn’t just officiating at the wedding he was covering all off her ecclesiastical and parochial duties for the week either side of the wedding and was staying at the vicarage.

 

Elisa Ghelardoni had worked for Sir Avery Arnold for thirty years and although she had lived in America since she was twenty five she was not an America in fact she was a Devonian and after her employer passed she decided to move back to the land of her birth, but as of that moment she had not decided where and all her worldly goods were now in storage awaiting the destination of her choice, wherever that might be.

 

She was a spinster, and by her own admission a bit of a plain Jane, but despite having a difficult start being raised in the care system, she had had an amazing life, and although she has no family, she has a wealth of friends.

She could easily feel sorry for herself, because she had never known romantic love and knew she would never have children, but she was cut from different cloth, she was a “cup half full” type of person.

 

On Monday afternoon she was walking down by the River looking out across the water and the opposite bank beyond bathed in June sunshine when a voice said

“It’s very picturesque isn’t it”

“Oh hello Vicar, yes, it is, its very charming” she replied

“In fact everything here is, on the Island I mean”

“I agree,” he said “I felt it the moment I set foot here”

“I’m going to explore a bit more of the charm along the riverside” she said “Would you care to join me”

“I would” he said and the spent a very pleasant hour or so walking and talking until he had to get back to the church.

 

While the ladies were in Abbottsford shopping Danny George and Sam where sorting out the wedding vehicles, which was why they took the ferry to the mainland on Tuesday to look at some suitable candidates.

 

Headteacher of the village school, Margaret Johnson, was organizing the bouquet, buttonholes and sprays, as well as the flowers for the church, and Church Warden Howard Nelson was organizing the ladies of the parish to decorate the church with them.

 

Victoria was surprised how quick and easy it was to liquidate her existence in a City that had been her home for more than a decade, and the only fly in the ointment was her having to pay three months’ rent in order to terminate the lease early.

Perhaps because she had lived such a nomadic life her entire existence was represented by two suitcases and a dozen boxes, which the shipping agent collected from her appartment.

With water and electricity disconnected she spent her last night on American soil in an airport hotel then eight days after leaving the island Victoria flew home, and that was what convinced her that she was doing the right thing, because it felt like home.

When Victoria caught the early ferry on Thursday she was surprised to find Molly, Arielle, Katie, Nikki and Rachel on the ferry as well.

That evening all the principles met at Molly’s for wine and pizza.

And the next day was hair, facials and nails day and all the ladies travelled to St Pierre for their pampering, and afterwards they picked up Arielle’s wedding dress.  

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (101) Decision’s

 

Bank Holiday Monday was Molly and Danny’s last full day before their guests returned so they made the most of it, it was an inclement day, so they put all their effort into enjoying the day and enjoying each other.

As it turned out they got to do it all again on Tuesday because for a variety of reasons they weren’t going to get the ferry until Wednesday morning and the rest of that day was taken up with Victoria and Elisa telling them every detail of their trip which Molly and Danny enjoyed immensely but the following day in complete contrast, they were very quiet and restful.

 

Friday was Victoria’s 40^th birthday and they were taking her to the Orangery at the Beaumont Manor for dinner and they were being joined by Katie and Nikki Harrison, George Wood, the Vicar, Arielle Nicholas and Harry and Sam Archer.

But just after lunch Harold Jardine paid her a visit and after being invited in, he said   

“I know you're busy tonight, but I just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday and give you a little gift”

Victoria smiled at his embarrassed fidgeting as she unwrapped the present,

“Oh how thoughtful,” she said, “they’re my favourites”.

“I know, I had help” he said, and their eyes met for the first time

“I hope you enjoy them”

And as he turned to walk away it was her turn to blush.

“Thank you” she said and kissed his cheek

“Well I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of the day and I’ll see you tomorrow”

“Ok bye Harold”

 

“Tomorrow?” Molly asked after he’d gone

“Yes, he’s taking me to dinner tomorrow night” she replied

“For a birthday meal”

“And I suppose it isn’t a date” Elisa commented

“Oh no this one is definitely a date” Victoria replied

 

On Saturday evening Harold knocked on the door of Cliff Haven and then he and Victoria got in the waiting taxi and travelled to St Pierre, and once they got out, he said

“I booked a table at The Gondolier”

“Is that ok?”

“Absolutely” she replied

 

During dinner she told Harold about the job offer at the Bellevue

“You might stay on Beaumont?” he asked hopefully

“Possibly, I’m not sure” she replied undecidedly

“Have you done the pros and cons?”

“I have” Victoria confirmed

“And?”

“Nearly all pros”

“What are the cons?” Harold asked

“Well firstly, I have a life in Colorado, which isn’t a deal breaker, but I have an apartment, such as it is” she explained “And the other one is I don’t have anywhere to live, I can’t stay at Molly’s long term”

“Well I can’t help to resolve the first, but the second one is a different matter, I have a flat over the shop in Spaniards Creek that you could rent” he said   

 

Straight after the Sunday service at St Clara’s and the third reading of the banns, Victoria changed her clothes and shoes and took herself off for walk to clear her mind and think about her future.

Victoria’s favourite walk was beside the Spanish River, but she was not alone in that, but that day she needed to be alone, so she walked in the direction of Beacon Rock so she could think.

Although she had an apartment in Colorado Springs, she had no roots put down anywhere, no family or close friends, no husband or lover, and no contracts to fulfil, so she was free to make the move almost immediately.

Since she’d been on the island, she had experienced feelings she had never had before, she actually felt part of the place, she felt like she belonged, but was she suffering a delusion.

She sat down on a rock beside a stream and as she listened to the babbling of the water she said

“Doctor Woodward said the hospital have accommodation available, Molly said I can have one of the renovated properties and Harold said I can rent the flat above his shop, so I’m not deluded, they really want me to stay.”

 

The next day Victoria phoned Chief of Medicine, Deborah Woodward and said that she was interested in working for her, and later that day they had a formal interview, which lasted several hours.

As a result she was booked on a flight back to Colorado on Wednesday to clear out her apartment and to arrange for her belongings to be shipped to the UK.

She rented a furnished apartment and because of the nature of her work she didn’t have a lot of belongings, there were some items she had inherited from her parents and a few precious items that had been gifted to her from her patient’s grateful family members.

She spent a day sorting through her drawers and closets donating the majority of them to Goodwill and packed the rest into suitcases.

Molly had recommended Here, There & Everywhere Domestic and Business Removals as she had used them when they were leaving the states, so she contacted them before she left and they gave her the details of their US agent, so that was who she used.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (100) The Broken Hearted

 

Twenty-three-year-old Lisa Scott was a stable girl at Woodside farm who had a yearlong affair with Nurse Kevin Holland who worked at the Bellevue Hospital.

He was twelve years older than she was and it was her first serious relationship, and it broke her heart when he ended it and she missed him, and the sex, Lisa was fairly inexperienced when they met, not a virgin but not “fluent” so the sex was amazing.

In her lonely moments she was often out walking alone, and Sunday afternoon was no exception, but this time she was even sadder than usual because she had just found out that Kevin was seeing someone else, a schoolteacher.

 

It was starting to get dusky as she hurried through Bellevue Woods and she was hurrying because, although she wouldn’t admit it, she was a bit scared of the woods at that time of day as they were very thick, and because she was lost in thought she didn’t really have a clue where she was going.

All of a sudden, a bird took flight from the undergrowth and startled her, and she instinctively turned her head in the direction of the sound while hurrying along on her way, which was when she twisted her ankle.

As luck would have it a cyclist appeared out of the gloom as she sat on the path rubbing her ankle and feeling sorry for herself.

“Are you ok?” he asked

“I’ve twisted my ankle” she replied, and he dismounted and asked

“Can you stand?”

“I don’t know” Lisa replied

As he helped her to her feet, she was assessing him, she thought he was very good looking even sweaty and spattered with mud.

“Can you put your weight on it?” he asked, and she tried but winced with pain

“Ok just lean on me for a moment” he suggested, and she dutifully obliged

“Where were you headed?” he asked

“Woodside Farm”

“Ok let’s sit you on the bike and I’ll wheel you to the farm” he suggested

“Are you sure? That’s very kind of you” Lisa said

“No problem” he said

“Do you work there?”

“Yes” she replied

“What do you do?” he asked

“I work with the Horses” she replied

“What about you?”

“I’m a farmer from Roman Water Farm” he said “I’ve just finished University”

When they got to the farm, he helped her off the bike and supported her as he walked her slowly to the stables.

“I think I’ll be fine from here” she said stoically

“If you’re quite sure” he said

She nodded her acquiescence

“Ok then” he said in response to her nod “take care of that ankle”

“Yes, I will …., I’m sorry I don’t know your name”

“It’s Derek” 

“Well thank you Derek, I’m Lisa”

“Well you take care Lisa”

His full name was Derek Wilson, and unbeknown to her he too was nursing a broken heart for the same reason she was.

He had a torrid Summer romance with a woman twelve years older and a hundred years more experienced, Marion Monaghan, and he had returned from University hoping to rekindle their relationship only to find that she had moved on.

Ironically his older woman Marion was now dating Lisa’s older man Kevin.

 

Lisa watched him walk back to his bike and she thought he looked as good from behind as he did from the front, and she smiled.

He mounted his bike and then he turned and gave her a wave before saying

“I’ll pop by tomorrow to see how you are”

Then she watched him peddle away and when he was gone, she limped to her room and put ice on her sprain.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (099) Houseguests

 

June

Molly and Danny were enjoying having houseguests, but with all the activity around the opening of the office, building work and Church renovations, the reinterment and the excitement of the Vicars engagement they were pooped, and it was unlikely to get less busy before the end of June.

So when they had the house to themselves, they took the opportunity for some well-earned sofa hogging and a spot of guiltless canoodling.

But on Tuesday they had to knuckle down to the book which with recent events they had got seriously behind, and it took the rest of the week to get back on track . 

 

On the first Saturday in June Harold Jardine knocked on the door enquiring after Victoria.

“I'm sorry Harold, but she’s not back yet, they’ve decided to extend their stay in London for a few more days” Molly said

“Oh ok”

“She’ll be back in time for her birthday though” she assured him 

“Her birthday?”

“Yes, it’s her 40^th on Friday”

“Oh I didn’t know that I must get her a gift, any suggestions?”

“She would appreciate that I’m sure” Molly concurred

“She likes truffles”

“Chocolate of fungi?” he asked, and she laughed

“Chocolate” she said “I can see now why she likes you”

“Thanks Molly”

 

After the second reading of the banns on Sunday Arielle and Harry discussed the wedding plans, who they would invite, the order of service, Katie would be Matron of honour bridesmaid’s, were to be Molly Barrington, Nikki Harrison and the verger, Rachel Hanson , Sam Archer was best man, and George Wood would give her away, as she had no family.

 

Their Honeymoon was to a short one after the wedding, because Harry had to get the business back on track after the move, they would have a proper honeymoon the following year.

Molly was giving them the reception and the bridal suite at the Beaumont manor as a wedding present.

 

That just left them with the problem of who would officiate at ceremony.

If they had still been a Church of England Church a locum would have been supplied but they weren’t, so they had to make other arrangements.

So she thought of Henry Noble, Arielle had been his curate for several years, although he was still only 58, he left the church to look after his sick wife.

She had passed two years earlier but hadn’t felt ready to pick up the mantel again.

But when Arielle asked him to marry her, he really couldn’t refuse.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (098) Doctor, Doctor

 

Dr Stewart Cameron was in his car, halfway between Manor Row and the hospital when it started to rain, and about fifty yards ahead of him he spotted the distinctive figure of Deborah Woodward walking without a coat.

He pulled up beside her and wound down the window.

“Can I give you a lift Doctor?” he said

“Oh yes please” she said and got in

“It was such a nice morning, I decided to walk, and then this happened”

“That’s April showers for you” he said

“Indeed” she agreed “But its May”

“Comme ci Comme ça” he retorted

That pretty much set the tone of the conversation and for the duration of the short trip to the hospital, they discussed the inclemency of the weather.

“Thank you, Stuart,” she said as they pulled up outside the entrance “Are you not coming in?”

“No I’m going to the Saxvirdan surgery” he replied

“Ok, see you later” she said “Bye”

Before he pulled away, he called after her

“If it’s raining when you finish give a call and I’ll pick you up”

“Bless you Stuart”

 

Despite their best efforts for their meal in St Pierre not to be a date, they enjoyed each other’s company enough to want to do it again.

However on Monday afternoon Victoria and Elisa left the island as George and Katie were taking them on a sightseeing tour for a week, so dinner at the Gondolier would have to wait a while.

 

It was raining when Deborah finished her shift, so she took Stuart up on his offer and phoned him and then after he picked her up, they had supper together.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (097) The Beaumont’s BBQ

 

Victoria Pullen had more to drink than she really should have the night after dinner with Harold and decided to forgo breakfast, she’d just have to double up the next day when she wouldn’t be hung over.

Harold on the other hand rose bright and early to open the shop, although the brightness was turned down a bit.

 

At St Clara’s the Banns were read for Arielle and Harry’s wedding.

Banns need to be read in the parish where each of them lives as well as the Church in which you are to be married, in their case both locations were the same, and Banns must be read out in Church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding.

 

The Beaumont family had once owned the whole island but after three successive heirs were killed in action during the Great War the accumulated death duties forced the only surviving Beamont, George, to sell off the estate in 1920, auctioning off the buildings, the port, and parcels of land.

Fortunately, the sale managed to raise enough to pay off the taxman, while being able to keep Woodside Farm and retain a Beaumont family presence on the island.

 

It was that event that was celebrated on the last weekend in May every year.

There was a dinner party on Saturday night with a few houseguests and a BBQ on the Sunday for about twenty additional guests and amongst those were Molly and Danny, who took along Victoria and Elisa.

 

Woodside was the largest of the five farms on the island covering the whole of the southeast corner, a large wedge-shaped parcel of land bordered by Halfway Lane to the north, Spanish River and the Eagles Crag in the west and the rugged coastline from Manor Cliff Beach to Armada Head to the east.

 

During the BBQ Elisa Ghelardoni chatted with one of the stable girls, Lisa Scott, and expressed her love of horses and Lisa kindly offered to give her a tour of the stables.

While Victoria struck up a conversation with Deborah Woodward and the conversation inevitably turned toward medical matters.

Although she was working in Colorado Springs when she began caring for Sir Avery Arnold she was born in Denver, and had nursed all over the state, and she talked at length about her Nursing career.

“We could really use someone with your skill set  at Bellevue”  Deborah said

“I’ve never worked outside the States” Victoria said

“That’s not a problem”

“Do you think I’d have a chance?” Victoria asked

“Well speaking as Chief of Medicine” she replied “I think you might, pop in and see me and I’ll show you around”

“It sounds interesting, but where would I live? I can’t impose on Molly indefinitely” she said

“Well there is accommodation available for staff who need it” Deborah replied

“That’s food for thought” she said “But I’m going to be away for the next week”

“Well think about it while you’re away and if you’re interested give me a call” she said and wrote her number on a scrap of paper from her bag.

“Thank you” Victoria said

 

“What was that all about?” Molly asked

“I think she just offered me a job” Victoria replied

“Wow that’s great”

“I didn’t come here looking for a job” She said “And I don’t live here, I don’t have anywhere to live here, it’s a nonstarter”

“Somewhere to live isn’t an issue” Molly pointed out

“I can’t be living with you and getting in yours and Danny’s way” Victoria said forcefully

“I was thinking of one of the newly renovated places” Molly explained

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (096) Solution’s and Thank You’s

 

On Thursday Molly got word from Adam Jandrell that work would begin on the Church Lane Cottages at the end of June and St Clara's the first week in July and the scaffolding would go up the week before and the work was expected to be finished before Christmas but that was dependent on what the found once they got started.

Molly then phoned Arielle because she knew that the news might affect her personal plans, and she was right because the moment she hung up the call with Molly she phoned Harry and told him the news and then she started crying.

Harry rushed straight round to the vicarage and found her sitting in her armchair sobbing.

“What’s the matter?”

“The photos will be ruined” she replied and broke down again.

The gist of the problem was that they had been talking about a September wedding, and now the Church was going to covered with scaffolding and the grounds would look like a building site.

“Well the solution is perfectly simple” he said

“What is it?”

“We get married before the scaff goes up”

“And you would be ok with that?” she asked “Getting married before September”

“Of course” he replied “I'd marry you today if it was possible”

Arielle threw her arms around him a cried happy tear.

 

On Friday Molly and Elisa went to St Pierre to get Victorias hair done.

“I don’t need my hair doing” she protested

“You need to look your best for your date” Elisa said

“It’s not a date”

“It really is” Molly retorted

“It’s just a thank you dinner” Victoria insisted

“Date” Molly retorted

“She might have a point” Elisa said

“How’s that?”

“Well I know it’s been a while for me, but aren’t you supposed to have the date first and then see them naked?”

 

The Vicar meanwhile was in the Church checking the diary for a suitable date in June for the wedding, but the only available Saturday was the 24^th and that could be cutting it a little fine, so she left the Church and made her way down to the Spanish River and had a conversation with Adam Jandrell, and he reassured her that the scaffolding would not be erected before Monday the 26^th.

 

Victoria was walking along the quayside on Saturday afternoon just as the passengers were disembarking from the Water Taxi and one of them was Harold Jardine she said

“Hello Mr Jardine”

“Oh hello” he said as he met her gaze,

“But we should be on first name terms, after all you’ve seen me naked”

“Well I’ve seen a lot of men naked” she said

“Oh dear, that didn’t come out right”

They both laughed and agreed on Harold and Victoria before they went their separate ways.

 

Victoria made her way back to Cliff Haven and thought they would have a very pleasant evening, but she was not thinking it was a date.

She wasn’t looking for a relationship because she didn’t know if she’d be on the island in a weeks’ time, but she was happy enough to have dinner with someone with a sense of humour.

 

Harrold was also looking forward to the evening and he didn’t think of it as anything more than dinner to show his gratitude to a good Samaritan.

He certainly had no thought of dating, he was in his early forties and thought of his dating days well and truly in the past, but he had no other expectations than that.       

 

Later that evening he knocked on the door of Cliff Haven and then he and Victoria got in the waiting taxi and travelled to St Pierre, and once they got out, he asked

“The Cherry Blossom or The Gondolier?”

“Is that some sort of code?” she asked

“Chinese or Italian?”

“Well I like both” she replied “But I’m really in the mood for Chinese”

“Chinese it is then” he said and smiled

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (095) Saying it with Flowers

 

Harold Jardine left the Hospital and went straight to the Hotel; he had spoken to them earlier and said he would stay another night.

He walked up to the desk and said

“Hello, I’m Harold Jardine”

“Are yes Mr Jardine, how are you?” Julie Wilman said, “Fully recovered?”

“Just about yes, thanks to my saving angel”

“Is it true you had never met before?” she asked

“Yes, Though technically I still haven’t met her” he said, and Julie looked at him blankly

“I have no recollection of it at all, I only know of it by what the nurses told me, which the paramedics had told them” he clarified

“Didn’t I hear that she visited you at the hospital?” she queried

“Yes, twice” he said “but I was sleeping on both occasions”

“Oh I see” she said

“I am very grateful for everything she did though, perhaps I could leave a note for her” he suggested

“I’m sorry but she checked out” Julie said

“Oh what a shame, I would have really liked to have thanked her, thank you anyway” he said and took his room key off the desk and turned away.

“She’s still on the island though” she said, and he brightened then she added

“She’s staying with friends in Spaniards Creek”

Which deflated him again, it was a small village, but he couldn’t go door to door asking if she was staying with them.

“I have the address” Julie said and smiled

 

The next morning he packed his bag and went down to reception where the tall willowy Julie Willman was standing.

“Good morning, Mr Jardine”

“Good morning” he said “I’d like to check out please”

 

When he had settled his bill, he took an envelope from his pocket and put it on the desk and said

“Can you please make sure this gets to the members of staff who had to clean up after me”

“That really isn’t necessary” Julie said “they were only doing their jobs”

“Nonsense,” he insisted

“I will see that it gets to the right people” Julie said “Thank you”  

 

Harold Jardine owned and ran the Cabot Town General Store/Post Office on St Giles du Cabot Island, but he also owned the shop in Spaniards Creek, which was where he stopped first when he reached the village, but his first port of call was St Pierre.

 

After leaving the General Store he walked up Cliff Top Road to Cliff Haven.

He knocked on the door and as the door opened, he took a deep breath and did a double take when it was opened by author Danny Nightingale.

“Oh erm I was looking for Victoria Pullen” Harold said

“Well you’d better come in than” Danny said stepping aside “She’s in the lounge”

 

“Oh hello” Victoria said “it’s nice to see you fully recovered”

Then added “I almost didn’t recognise you with your clothes on”

There was a peel of laughter and then he said 

“I can’t express how grateful I am”

“It was nothing” she retorted

“I have to disagree on that,” he said almost forcefully “I would just like to give you these flowers as a token of my gratitude”

“Oh” she said “How lovely”

“It’s really quite inadequate under the circumstances” he said.

“Perhaps I could take you to dinner one night, to thank you properly, Saturday perhaps”

“Yes, that would be lovely” she replied

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (094) The Good Samaritan

 

Victoria Pullen was fast approaching 40, and it was she who nursed Sir Avery until the end of his life.

Working as a private nurse in palliative care meant that she led a very nomadic life, but with the lump sum left to her by Sir Avery gave her options, so she had decided she had had enough of being a nomad and had been looking for something more permanent since getting her windfall but hadn’t as yet found somewhere to put down roots.

She was enjoying her time on the island though, and the Hotel was excellent, but on Saturday Night she was on her way back to her room after Dinner with Elisa when they heard someone being violently sick but had no idea where it was coming from.

So they carried on down the hall and the next door they passed was slightly ajar, and they exchanged a look, and Victoria pushed open the door.

“Hello!!” she called “Is everything ok?”

There was no response, but she could hear vomiting coming from the bathroom.

“Hello!!” she called again as the sound got louder and as she looked in the bathroom she asked

“Are you ok?”

There was a naked man slumped over in the bath, who was pale and pasty, covered in vomit and he had soiled himself.

At first glance he looked like a drunk but despite his appearance and his incoherence she was not prepared to take it at face value and after a cursory examination she concluded he was not a drunk.

“I’m just going to clean you up a bit” she said and turned on the shower and he threw up again.

The smell in the bathroom was quite extraordinary and she had to step out into the hall to catch her breath where she asked Elisa to call for an ambulance and call down to reception.

She glanced into the room and saw vomit and Diarrhoea on the bed, then she grabbed a towelling dressing that was laying on a chair.

After she finished hosing him down in the shower and managed to wrap him in the dressing gown and just hoped he wouldn’t soil himself again before the ambulance arrived.

She sat him on the toilet and went back out to the hall just as the manager arrived and Victoria explained the situation, and he told her his name was Harold Jardine.

When the ambulance arrived, she relayed all the symptoms to them and that she suspected seafood poisoning.

“Ok thanks” the paramedic said as they got the man into a wheelchair and took him out to the ambulance.

 

On Sunday Victoria called in at the hospital to see how Mr Jardine was and explained the circumstances, and she was told it was indeed seafood poisoning and he was already on the ward receiving intravenous fluids and would stay in hospital for 24 hours until his fluids were normalised, and satisfied all was well she went back to the hotel.

 

That afternoon Rebecca and Ross Clarke returned to the states but Elisa and Victoria decided to stay on the island a little longer so Molly said they could stay at Cliff Haven for as long as they liked.

 

On Monday, George picked them up from the Hotel and drove them to Molly’s.

“Do you mind if we stop at the Hospital on the way George?”

“Of course, is everything alright?”

“Yes, I just want to check up on the patient” she replied

 

So George dropped her by the entrance, and she wasn’t gone for long as she managed to speak to the sister and she was told they kept him in for a second night, but he was asleep again, so she thanked the sister and was about to leave when the sister asked.

“If you leave your name, I’ll tell him you stopped by”

“It’s Victoria Pullen” 

“Ok I’ll let him know” She said, and Victoria began to walk away

“It’s a lovely little hospital you have here”

 

Harold Jardine was a Beaumont Islander but living and working on St Giles du Cabot Island where he ran the General Store/Post Office and was only staying at the Beaumont Hotel for the weekend because of a family wedding which was when he started feeling ill.

So he went up to his room for a lay down and that was the last thing he remembered .    

 

As he sat on his hospital bed waiting to be discharged, he felt ashamed, but he was both immensely grateful to the lady who found him but also acutely embarrassed at the circumstances in which she found him.

He was at least thankful that she was a complete stranger, which was embarrassing enough, but he was mortified to have been found by a member of the opposite sex while he was in a state of undress and degradation, had it been someone who knew him it would have increased his embarrassment exponentially.

But he was grateful, firstly for finding him and then for cleaning him up before the ambulance arrived.  

He decided that his gratitude should outweigh his embarrassment and that he should try to find the lady and show his appreciation in some way.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (093) Repatriation

 

Sir Avery Arnold’s coffin arrived at London Heathrow at Midday on Saturday and after being cleared through customs it was released to Hemmings and Son Funeral Directors and driven to Pipershaven.

 

The following day Molly’s visitors flew to the UK and George met them at the airport and delivered them to the Beaumont Manor that afternoon.

So on Sunday night there was a tearful reunion dinner at the Orangery, with Molly, Danny, George and Katie joining, the household staff from Colorado, Elisa Ghelardoni, Rebecca and Ross Clarke and Victoria Pullen.

 

On Monday Sir Avery continued his journey when he was transferred to the Hemmings funeral parlour in St Pierre and then the funeral cortege drove to Spaniards Creek on Tuesday.

 

Sir Avery passed away in the early hours of the morning of May 16th, so the Reinterment was on the first anniversary of his Death and although it had been many years since he was last on the island, there were still a lot of people who knew him and wanted to pay their respects.

It was a very emotional day for Molly, but she was fulfilling  her grandfather’s wishes by laying him to rest with her   parents, Charlotte and John Barrington, and her Grandmother Bella Arnold.

Having her “family” from America with her was a tremendous comfort to her, as much as she loved Danny and as caring as he was, they understood how she was feeling much better than he did. 

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (092) Bucklebury and Brandywine

 

Amelia Williamson was in Spaniards Creek on Monday morning, but she was on the eastern side of the Spanish River at Number 1, The Old Mill, which was the newly refurbished offices of Bucklebury and Brandywine Property Management.

She was quite excited setting up the new office from scratch, but she was even more excited because Clive Crossfield from Bramstock, Goodman, Crossfield, and Bushe in Abbottsford, who were the Barrington’s Solicitors, was arriving on the early ferry to help her set up.

They had been in communication since she was first offered the job and had met via Teams calls on many occasions, but they had never met in person, but that was going to change very soon, and she was looking forward to that.

They had officially taken over the building the week before, but there were things to do internally, before she could move in.

 

Since Franci Liebenberg pinned Adam Jandrell down in his office chair and aggressively snogged him, she was no longer his right hand “man”, she was now his assistant project manager and his significant other.

It was Franci who was co-ordinating the floorer’s, electrician’s, Alarm system engineers, phone and internet  installers, CCTV and the signage fitters, for the new tenants.

So for the first week of May Amelia stayed away and let them get on with it.  

 

Clive Crossfield’s first port of call when he arrived in Spaniards Creek was to meet with Molly Barrington.

“Hi Clive” she said when she opened the door “Welcome to the island”

“Hello Molly, thank you”

The reason for the meeting was the impending repatriation of Sir Avery Arnold and he explained that all the arrangements were complete, the disinterment was set for Thursday and all the transportation and flights were booked.

Over the next hour they went through all the arrangements in fine detail, just to make sure nothing had been overlooked, then Molly said.  

“Well, I won’t keep you any longer I’m sure you’re as eager to see Amelia as she is to see you” Molly said

“Oh, erm I don’t…” he burbled,

“Just go get her and we’ll talk later” Molly said and giggled, because she’d never seen him get flustered before.

 

When Clive had gone Molly picked up her phone and called the Beaumont Manor Hotel and booked 4 rooms for some special visitors to the island, then she rejoined Danny in the conservatory.

 

Clive parked outside the Old Mill and walked into number 1, and found the slender brunette, Amelia, talking to a wiry well-tanned Franci Liebenberg with tousled blonde hair about the positioning of power points. 

“Hi Amelia” he said and when she turned around and saw him, she blushed

“Ccclive” she stammered and then an awkward few moments ensued when they couldn’t decide whether to shake hands, hug, air kiss, or fist bump, in the end they clumsily hugged, and Franci said

“I’ll come back later”

 

Over the next few days they worked very closely to set up the office with the new furniture, shelving and office equipment and then began sorting through the archive boxes that had been stored at Beacon Farm. 

When they weren’t working, they spent time at the Galleon or Philips Folly, but they never managed to express what was on their minds.

 

On Thursday 4,700 miles away from the island, in Colorado Springs, Sir Avery Arnold’s body was disinterment at St Savior’s crypt and placed in a special coffin for transportation by the undertakers and delivered to the airport for shipping.

 

The next day when Amelia arrived at the Old Mill, he found Clive and Franci deep in conversation in the carpark and stopped when they saw her approaching.

When they were on their own inside the building Amelia asked suspiciously

“What was Franci talking to you about?”

“Your friend asked me a question” he replied enigmatically

“What question?” she enquired

“I don’t know that I should tell you, nosey” he replied

“Tell me “She begged

“Well, if you must know” Clive said “She asked me if I loved you”

“And what did you say?” she asked coyly looking at the ground

“I said I couldn’t love you more if my life depended on it” he replied, and she gasped

“I love you too” Amelia said and wrapped her slender arms around his neck and kissed him.

After a few moments she uncoiled herself and said sadly

“But you’re leaving today”

“Ah, I meant to talk to you about that” he replied

“What?” she asked urgently “What?”

“I thought I might stay on for another week” he said and then they kissed again.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (089) Future Plans

 

May

On the first of May, Harry Archer arrived on the island to sign the leases on the Old Grain Store, which was to be the Archers Ornamental premises on the island and one of the two-bedroom flats in the Old Barn conversion.

So his first port of call was the Galleon Coffee Shop where he met with Amelia Williamson where he signed the paperwork and picked up the keys. 

His sister Pandora had already made all the arrangements with the utility companies, and that was all happening the next day.

Once he had finished with Amelia, he had other fish to fry so he hurried towards the quayside.

 

Arielle Nicolas had been standing on the quayside for about ten minutes, she was always early, when she saw Harry approaching and her heart soared.

When he reached her, they embraced and only the sound of

Phil Holgate starting the engines of the Ocean Breeze brought them back to the moment, so they smiled and got aboard, and then the Water Taxi moved off down the Spanish River towards the open water and it was a smooth ride across the dead calm sea.

 

The Shaw Brothers ferry, the Empress Victoria, was on the jetty at Cabot Town, and Phil brought the launch to a halt beside the small quayside.

Cabot Town itself was actually just a hamlet, with a café, and a General Store/Post Office, from there Arielle and Harry went South to the farthest end of Broad Beach Sands, then they walked back up the full length of the beach and back up the rocky path to the lane past the Seaview Hotel which led to the meteorological station and then they walked inland to Hastings Lake to have their picnic lunch.

 

They ate their picnic sat on a tartan rug in the spot beside the Lake where they shared their first kiss.

When they had finished Harry refilled their glasses with champagne and as he raised his glass in a toast he said  

“Arielle Nicholas, will you marry me?”

“You want to marry me?” she asked quietly

“Yes” he said “I love you and I want to marry you”

“I love you too” she said “Of course I’ll marry you”

 

As soon as they returned to Spaniards Creek they went straight to Cliff Haven 

“We wanted you to be the first to know” Arielle said and fidgeted excitedly

 on the spot, then blurted out

“We are engaged”

“That’s wonderful news” Molly said and kissed her

“Congratulations” Danny added

“Are you up for a celebratory dinner?” Molly asked

 

The day after Harry proposed he was nursing a hangover when he was at the new premises and the flat, while amongst other things, carpets were being laid, the phones were being installed and the signage was being affixed, but he was feeling better by the time Arielle joined him for lunch.

 

Harry’s brother Sam arrived on Wednesday in a Luton van loaded to the gunwales with equipment and Matt Deighton was in the passenger seat.

All of the staff in Sharpington were canvassed to see if any of them wanted to transfer to the new building but only Matt was interested.

Which suited Harry because he liked Matt, and they worked well together.

Sam returned to Sharpington that night, but Matt stayed on the island, then he returned the next day with another load, and repeated the cycle on Friday but brought Pandora with him who then returned to the mainland with the empty van and Sam stayed on.

 

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (088) Civil Engineering

 

The civil engineer, recommended by Carolyn Livingston, Sam Richardson, had done his part and Adam Jandrell had submitted the plans for the foot bridge to the parish council and on the last Monday of April the council were meeting, and the foot bridge plans were on the agenda.

 

The committee was comprised of Church Warden Howard Nelson who was Chair, the Vicar Arielle Nicholas, Primary School Headmistress Margaret Johnson, Katie Harrison from Beacon Farm, and Rachel Hanson from the Galleon Coffee shop, who was also the Verger.

“Do we really think we need a foot bridge?” Margaret asked

“It’s been at least 20 years since the last one was struck by lightning, and we’ve managed without it”

“Well I think as there is no cost to us, we’d be foolish not to take advantage of it” Rachel responded “And I remember as kids we used the old bridge as a short cut to the beach”

“I agree,” said Katie. “What about you Vicar?”

“Well, Acts 20:35 says a person is more blessed by giving, but in order for this to happen, someone must be willing to be blessed by receiving, so let’s allow ourselves to be blessed” 

“We’re not used to investment in Spaniards Creek” Howard said “So I’m in favour, but we should put it to the vote”

 

After the Parish Council voted unanimously in favour of the bridge proposal the night before, it ticked another box for Molly and put another task on the list for Adam and his team.

 

They were on the final push to finish on the East side of the Spanish River and the nerves were fraying with the long hours and the fast-approaching deadline.

So on Friday when Franci Liebenberg walked into the site cabin and heard Adam Jandrell talking on the phone.

“Of course” Adam said “My right hand “man” will take care of that”

Something inside Franci snapped and she snatched the phone from his hand and ended the call, then she pushed his chair back, so the headrest was touching the wall and barked

“I don’t want to be your bloody right-hand “man”, I am not your right-hand “man” I am a woman, and do you know why I do not want to be your right-hand “man”?” she asked

“NNNNo” he stammered

“I want to be your woman” she replied and then she kissed him very aggressively

 

It was a mixed bag of weather over the last weekend in April with a very wet Saturday and a glorious Sunday, and it was Deborah Woodward’s weekend off, so she and Stuart Cameron got to go shopping on the wet day and walked together in the sunshine, but they still hadn’t progressed any further than friendship.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (087) Holy Weekend

 

Maundy Thursday is the day when Christians remember the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples before being betrayed and arrested in the garden of Gethsemane.

When Molly last met with the solicitors, she discussed the good causes fund that her grandfather set up on her behalf and she thought it was appropriate to make her first donations on Maundy Thursday. 

 

To commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, a special service was held throughout the Christian World on Good Friday, and St Clara’s was no exception, and it was a special day for Arielle, and Molly was ever present. 

 

Molly had a difficult and emotional week as she had been completing the paperwork on her grandfather’s repatriation, so on Holy Saturday Molly attended the vigil and spent the time in God’s presence to clear her mind.

 

Easter Sunday or Easter Day is the most important day of the year for Christians  when they celebrate “the Resurrection”, when after being killed on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead, and defeated evil forever, there are no bigger days in the Christian calendar.

Arielle captivated the large congregation on her most important service of the year with a spellbinding sermon.

 

Spiritually refreshed after the Holy weekend Danny and Molly spent a miserably wet Easter Monday enjoying a movie marathon.

Because on Tuesday it was “putting pen to paper” time again.

 

After their lazy and vegetative Bank Holiday Monday they rose bright and early on Tuesday morning and after breakfast they started work.

Since they completed the last book, they had both been making independent notes and suggestions for the new Sharon Jacques book, so first on the agenda was comparing notes.

They had both had similar thoughts on plot, but they had also both gone off on different tangents and the whole process of bouncing off each other, meant that before they knew it, it was the weekend again. 

 

Kevin Holland and Marion Monaghan had put a stop to their respective cradle snatching relationships and put their hopes in something more age appropriate and eventually their wishes were answered.

That weekend was the first one Kevin had off since January and now he had found Marion he was going to make the most of it.

 

Also making the most of the weekend were fifty-three-year-old Audiologist Anna Turnbull and fifty-five-year-old farmer Duncan Wilson who were sharing an intimate time on Roman Water Farm, before his parents returned from their holiday and his children arrived home from university.