In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (094) – Natural Hobbies

 July

 

Throughout Downshire and the Finchbottom Vale there is an abundance of quaint and picturesque villages and hamlets, but Pepperstock Green is particularly picturesque, with evidence of the thousand years since it was first settled everywhere.

Notably its 12th century Church, two Tudor Inn’s, a Victorian Schoolhouse and Cottages representing every era, spread almost haphazardly, amidst the craggy woodland, around the green that gives the village its name and at the center of the large rambling village, both geographically and spiritually, is St Agatha’s Church where Tara Eggleton, amongst other things published the Parish Magazine, but she was also a Chorister like her cousin Roger.

However all the time she spent working for the Church was unpaid, so she had to work as well.

She was fortunate enough to have found a job at Burbage Farm, or more precisely the Burbage Barns which were both large and numerous, too numerous for the needs of the farm, so many of them had been converted into storage spaces, popular with companies wishing to house their archives off site, theatrical and film companies storing sets and costumes, and St Agatha’s church who stored a variety of things there, Santa’s Grotto, all the stalls for Fete’s and Bazaars, processional items, the nativity scene and costumes of all shapes sizes and uses.

 

Had she not had her faith she would just have thought herself fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time, but as it was, she was sure that a divine hand had been at work.

She had travelled the four miles from the village with her cousin Roger, and Sandra Emmett in the latter’s car, in order to locate the St Agatha’s props and paraphernalia which were required in order to prepare for the Church’s Community Event over the following week.

It was not her first time there, but it was the first occasion on which she met Jed Burbage, and she was instantly smitten.

He was about five years older than her, tall, blond, and tanned, and Tara thought he was a six-foot-tall hunk of gorgeousness.  

 

Jed managed the storage side of the farms business, and he only had one full time employee to assist him, and he had just quit, he led them to the appropriate barn and unlocked the door.

“You’ll have to manage on your own today” he said

“Why? Are you short staffed?” Sandra asked

“No, I’m no staffed as on twenty minutes ago”

“I’m looking for a job” Tara blurted out

“Do you live in Pepperstock Green?” he asked

“Yes”

“So did the last person and he was always late” Jed stated

“Well, I can vouch for the fact that she’s annoyingly punctual”, Roger said “in fact she is punctual to the point of obsession”

“She will never ever be late” Sandra added “Because she is half an hour early for everything”

“I am still here you know” Tara said and blushed

“And what can you do when you get here?” he asked with a smile

“Whatever she’s asked to” Sandra answered

“Thanks mum” Tara said

“Ok come and see me before you leave and we can have a chat” Jed said and headed back to the office.

Sandra, who had another motive for being at the barns, namely ensnaring Roger, had just entered the barn when a thought occurred to her, which was that getting Roger alone in the barn might give her the chance she had been looking for, so she said

“Tara! Why don’t you go and talk to Jed now?”

She opened her mouth to protest but Sandra quickly continued

“Strike while the irons hot, I’m sure Roger and I can manage to locate the bits we need while you’re busy with Jed”

“Oh ok, if you’re sure” Tara said

“Absolutely” Sandra assured her

 

Tara was feeling apprehensive and excited in equal measure as she walked across the yard, she knew only too well why Sandra had urged her to go and find Jed and it wasn’t to help her get a job.

But then she wasn’t entirely sure if that was her primary reason for it either.

When she left Pepperstock Green that morning she had no expectations about the trip other than to assist with Church business.

But when she first laid eyes on Jed Burbage, who she thought was gorgeous, she quickly forgot the reason she was there, which was why she remarked impulsively that she was looking for a job.

Not that she thought that she had any chance with him, after all he was buff and she was just ordinary, and she was five years younger and less worldly wise.

She was in truth however looking for another job, as her part time position at Stephenson’s Supermarket wasn’t paying enough, but on the plus side the shop was only a five-minute walk from her home, whereas Burbage Farm would be a four-mile bike ride.

 

He asked her about her work experience, qualifications and other skills she might have, and he seemed happy with her replies and nodded as he took notes.

“So how are you going to get here every day?”

“By bike” she replied

“Oh that might be a problem, the job does involve some driving”

He said

“Oh I can drive” she said

“I just can’t afford to run a car”

“Good that’s another box ticked then”

“I can see straight away that you’re really fit” he said “I mean, in good shape”

He flushed and took a drink before continuing

“What I meant to say was that you are clearly physically capable of doing the manual work, but Paperwork and good record keeping are key to what we do here”

“I understand” she said and smiled, she thought it was cute when he got all flustered, and it made her like him even more.

“Right well I’ll explain to you the basics on the documentation and then you can do the transaction with St Agatha’s so I can see if you’ve grasped the essentials”

“Ok” she replied brightly

 

After checking and logging the reference numbers on the advice note, one for the box that Sandra had returned and one for the boxes they were taking with them, she handed it to Sandra for signature, and when she got it back, she tore off a copy for Sandra and handed the other one to Jed.

After perusing the paperwork he nodded and said

“When can you start?”

 

Sandra sat in the car while Roger loaded the boxes into the back and Tara was finalising the details with Jed.

When she emerged from the office, she said goodbye over her shoulder as she got back into the car, and she was feeling very pleased with herself on the drive back to the village.

 

Tara liked working at Burbage Barns and over the weeks that followed she enjoyed it more and more, but she also found herself falling deeper and deeper in love with Jed with each passing day.

But the one thing that didn’t alter with the passing of time was her belief that she had any kind of chance with him, after all what would a buff, intelligent and worldly older man, possibly see in a nerdy girl on the geeky side of ordinary who spent most of her spare time out in the wilds of Downshire photographing wildlife, as far as she could see they had absolutely nothing going for them and nothing in common.

 

In the middle of June as they neared the summer solstice the days were longer and the evenings brighter with twilight pushed back to 10 o’clock so when the weekend arrived she was up before first light on Saturday and set off on her bike, she already had her backpack ready, with everything in it she needed to last her the day, her camera, food and drink, while the wooded slopes of the Pepperstock Hills would provide the rest.

She cycled about two miles and secured her bike to tree and proceeded into the woods on foot.

The Pepperstock Hills National Park stretches from the bare, and often barren crags of Oxley Ridge in the North to the dense wooded southern slopes on the fringe of the Finchbottom Vale and from Quarry Hill, and the Pits in the West to Pepperstock Bay in the East.

It is an area of stark contrasts and attracts a variety of visitors who, thanks to its closeness to the Finchbottom Expressway and the park was open to everyone for a variety of recreational pursuits but there were certain designated areas did not permit vehicles of any kind and even horses were restricted and dog walkers had to keep their pets on a lead within the confines of those areas.

She really liked the fact that all but those interested in the flora and fauna of the woods were permitted free access to them, as her greatest passions were Wildlife and Photography.

Within the reserve there were a good number of hides which enabled, with a combination of time, patience and a good camera, those who possessed all three virtues to capture perfect images.

The hides were many and various, some were at ground level while others were high beneath the canopy and other that were somewhere in between.

The differences in locations were such because of the differences in the people who used them, if you were primarily interested in birds, then the high hides best suited your needs, while if you favoured large mammals then the low ones were for you, but for Tara she had no preference and she had used them all at some time or other, she was interested in all Wildlife, large or small, furry or feathered.

She switched from hide to hide, depending on the time of year, or the conditions or just a whim, it was the latter on that Saturday, and she chose the one sat on the top of a low hill and was a medium height location offering a view across a large meadow and the tops of the trees that surrounded it.

The hide was buried under a grassy bank, which always reminded her of the Teletubbies, which made her smile, but she knew even on a hot day it would be cool in there, she just hoped that she would have it to herself.

She didn’t want to have to engage in conversation with anyone, she was just there to indulge her passion for Wildlife and Photography.

She quietly opened the door and stepped inside and closed the door behind her and then she turned around and her heart sank, as someone had got there before her, but then her fortunes changed as her companion turned their eyes on her and she was surprised to see it was Jed Burbage, and when he recognised her, he smiled.

So, it seemed that they did have something in common after all and so

It appeared she would be enjoying all three of her passions on one glorious day.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (093) – The Community Event

July

 

Throughout Downshire and the Finchbottom Vale there is an abundance of quaint and picturesque villages and hamlets, but Pepperstock Green is particularly picturesque, with evidence of the thousand years since it was first settled everywhere.

Notably its 12th century Church, two Tudor Inn’s, a Victorian Schoolhouse and Cottages representing every era, spread almost haphazardly, amidst the craggy woodland, around the green that gives the village its name and at the center of the large rambling village, both geographically and spiritually, is St Agatha’s Church where Sandra Emmett worked in the office, and she had an admirer in the shape of Chorister Roger Eggleton.

Sandra was a bright bubbly girl with a delightful giggle, at least in Roger’s opinion, he however was neither bright nor bubbly, he was shy and withdrawn, apart from when he was with his closest friends, or when he was singing in the choir where he would come alive and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

If only he was able to come alive when he wasn’t singing just long enough to ask her out.

 

Sandra was a busy beaver around the church and was heavily involved in all aspects of Church life and was always the first to volunteer for everything.

So, it was not an exaggeration to say that the church was her life, and its people were her family.

There were of course some people she liked more than others and although she was on the face of it the bright bubbly girl, she was in reality a quivering jelly beneath her confident façade, and one of the things that made her quiver was Roger Eggleton.

So, when the time came to prepare for the St Agatha’s community event, she had no hesitation in co-opting Roger on board to help her with the task.

The first was to go to Burbage Farm, or more precisely the Burbage Barns which were both large and numerous, too numerous for the needs of the farm so many of them had been converted into storage spaces, popular with companies wishing to house their archives off site, theatrical and film companies storing sets and costumes, and St Agatha’s church who stored a variety of things there, Santa’s Grotto, all the stalls for Fete’s and Bazaars, processional items, the nativity scene and costumes of all shapes sizes and uses.

So, they travelled in her car, the four miles from the village, with Roger and his cousin Tara, in order to locate the St Agatha’s props and paraphernalia which was required in order to prepare for the Church’s community event over the following week.

 

Before they left Roger noticed Sandra was wearing heels and a skirt, which was unusual, he didn’t know the reason why, but he liked it.

He may not have cared why she wasn’t wearing her usual flats and trousers but Sandra’s reason for the change was to show off her legs, with the intention of getting Roger’s attention.

It was beginning to rain, so she walked fast, but in her heels, it made her lean forward from the waist and consequently it made her thrust her buttocks backwards as she moved.

But when she reached the car, she turned and saw the look on his face, and she knew she had him.

Sandra was two years old than he was and more experienced with the opposite sex, but that counted for nothing.

She found it infuriating that she could flirt with people she wasn’t attracted to, but not with him, so she would have to try a different tack

 

When they reached their destination they met Jed Burbage, who managed the storage side of the farms business and he only had one full-time employee to assist him and he had just quit, so he led them to the appropriate barn and unlocked the door.

“You’ll have to manage on your own today” he said

“Why? Are you short staffed?” Sandra asked

“No, I’m no staffed as of twenty minutes ago”

“I’m looking for a job” Tara blurted out

“Do you live in Pepperstock Green?” he asked

“Yes”

“So, did the last person and he was always late” Jed stated

“Well, I can vouch for the fact that she’s annoyingly punctual”, Roger said “in fact she is punctual to the point of obsession”

“She will never ever be late” Sandra added “Because she is half an hour early for everything”

“I am still here you know” Tara said and blushed

“And what can you do when you get here?” he asked with a smile

“Whatever she’s asked to” Sandra answered

“Thanks mum” Tara said

“Ok come and see me before you leave, and we can have a chat” Jed said and headed back to the office.

Sandra had just entered the barn when a thought occurred to her, which was that getting Roger alone in the barn might give her the chance she had been looking for, so she said

“Tara! Why don’t you go and talk to Jed now?”

She opened her mouth to protest but Sandra quickly continued

“Strike while the irons hot, I’m sure Roger and I can manage to locate the bits we need while you’re busy with Jed”

“Oh ok, if you’re sure” Tara said

“Absolutely” Sandra assured her

 

While Sandra was busily getting Tara out of the way Roger had located the mobile steps and was wheeling them down the appropriate aisle.

“Do you want to go up and hand the boxes down to me or vice versa?” he asked

“Well as I’m wearing a skirt and heels, I think in order to preserve my modesty and dignity I should stay down here” she said

“Yes, good point” Roger agreed and made his way up the steps and very quickly located the two dozen boxes they had come for, and began handing them down to her, none of them were particularly heavy, but some of them were awkward sizes.

They were making steady progress between the two of them, but Sandra knew that if she was going to do something it had to be soon, or Tara would be back, and the chance would be gone.

“The weight of this one is a bit lopsided” Roger said as he handed it to her

“Ok I’ve got it” she said and watched him as he turned to get the next box.

“Ahhhh!” she exclaimed and when Roger turned to look, he saw Sandra lying prone on the floor with the box on top of her.

“Sandra! Oh my God Sandra” he shouted and rushed down the steps

“Are you ok?”

He removed the box and cast it aside and knelt beside her and asked

“Are you hurt?”

There was no response to his question, she just lay there.

“Even unconscious you look gorgeous” he thought but then grave dark thoughts filled his mind about how he might lose her before he got the chance to tell her how he felt about her, so Roger took her hand in his hands and said

“Darling Sandra, please don’t leave me, I don’t….”

“Did you call me darling?” she asked, and he gasped

“Yes, I did”

“I like the sound of that” she said

“Are you ok?” Roger asked with concern still holding her hand

“I like this too” she said and squeezed his hand.

“Are you hurt?” he asked

“I’m fine, but why are you holding my hand and calling me darling?” Sandra asked

Roger was really concerned that she was delirious and might lose consciousness again at any moment and he didn’t want to lose her without telling her what was in his heart

“Because I love you, Sandra Emmett” he said “I have loved you since the first moment I saw you, and I always will”

“Good” she said “Now help me up”

“No, you might collapse again” he said

“I didn’t fall to the floor” she confessed and giggled “I arranged myself seductively, so help me up off this cold floor, and then you can kiss me”

“There’s no need for you to get up for that” he said and kissed her where she lay.

 

So, the trip from the village to Burbage Farm was a very fruitful one, St Agatha got the Community Event decorations, Tara Eggleton got a job and Sandra and Roger got each other. 

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (092) – The Summer Solstice

June

 

Throughout Downshire and the Finchbottom Vale there is an abundance of quaint and picturesque villages and hamlets, but Pepperstock Green is particularly picturesque, with evidence of the thousand years since it was first settled everywhere.

Notably its 12th century Church, two Tudor Inn’s, a Victorian Schoolhouse and Cottages representing every era, spread almost haphazardly, amidst the craggy woodland, around the green that gives the village its name and running through the center of the large rambling village was the River Oxley.

The river, like so many in Downshire, was the life blood of the Vale and as such it had particular significance to the spiritual well-being of the land and its people.

Because of that, for generations the Wiccan community had held a secret ceremony at the time of the Summer Solstice, where they would make offerings to the river goddess, chant incantations and then bathe naked in the waters.

By the 21st century however they were no longer having to perform the ceremonies in secret, as a result the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat played host to a small group of visiting Wiccans, even though they weren’t officially open until July 1st, and they were joined by some locals.

Afterwards when the sun had set on the longest day, 28-year-old Gillian Lawrence had to rush home and change as she was expected to attend her Cousin Sara’s 21st Birthday Party at the Village Hall.

She didn’t particularly want to go, it wasn’t her kind of thing, and as she was unattached, and content to be so, she didn’t really think there was much point, but her mother wouldn’t have let her hear the end of it if she’d stayed away.

When she finally arrived at the party she was instantly urged to get up on the dance floor, which was where her life changed forever.

Gillian had never been the most coordinated girl, in fact she was inclined to be clumsy, so it was no surprise to anyone that after a matter of minutes she had tripped over her own two feet.

As a result, she fell headlong into the arms of Scott Newman, at which point her flailing arms instantly went round the neck of her saviour like a sprung trap and then she kissed him wetly on the mouth, which he reciprocated, and that was a surprise to all assembled including the couple themselves.

From that moment on they were inseparable, and they danced the night away and when the night was over he walked her home, and they shared a passionate good night kiss on the doorstep.

 

The following year Gillian didn’t participate in the Wiccan ceremony in the River Oxley as they had a different kind of ceremony to attend when they were married at St Agatha’s Church.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (091) – Good Intentions

June

 

Diminutive blonde, Taryn Milner was a makeup artist, primarily at the Heartstone Theatre in Pipershaven, but she also did private clients for special occasions, like weddings.

 

As a former pupil of Barnabus school she also made herself available, when possible, to help with the make up for school productions. 

Which was what she had been doing one summer evening at the end of June when she had been helping out at the dress rehearsals.

She left before the end and began walking home a little after 8.30pm, and she was apprehensive about walking along the quiet lanes at dusk, but she was late for another appointment, so she didn’t feel she really had a choice.

Her brisk pace was as a result, in equal measure, of her tardiness and her growing unease.

The appointment she was rushing to the village for was a book club with friends.

 

Claudio Cappelletti was heading in the opposite direction to Taryn on his way to the school to pick up his niece and couldn’t help but notice the girl in the pink shorts, he always noticed pretty girls, especially blondes. 

As he passed her in the lane she reached into her bag for her mobile phone and as she pulled it out, she also pulled out a small manila envelope with it, which fell silently to the floor.

As Taryn strolled purposely on, totally oblivious of her loss, Claudio hurried to the point where he had seen the envelope fall.

He picked it up and saw it was addressed to Miss Taryn Milner, 15 Church Lane, Pepperstock Green.

“That’s interesting”, he thought, as she only lived one street away from him.

He didn’t look at the contents of the envelope but thought quite understandingly that if she was carrying it in her handbag, it must be of some importance, so he set off to close the distance that had opened up between them.

 

She was a small young woman, but she covered the ground quite quickly regardless, Claudio was a foot taller with longer legs and yet he was still struggling to catch her.

Taryn had noticed the man as they passed by, and she thought him quite handsome, and was at the time disappointed they weren’t going the same way, but as soon as she noticed that he was following her she didn’t think him so handsome anymore. 

As pretty as she was from the front, Claudio had to say she had a very nice rear aspect and those busy little legs of hers were really very attractive.

As she walked faster so did he, but she was walking as fast as her little legs could carry her and she thought she would easily reach the end of the lane before he caught up with her, but then her legs began to tire and it was like she was walking through treacle, and he was gaining on her with every stride.

Claudio called after her as he got closer but she had earpieces in so she couldn’t hear him and when she glanced over her shoulder she was alarmed to see he was muttering to himself as he got closer.

Taryn was in sight of the lane, just as Claudio got close enough to put a hand on her shoulder and she turned around and maced him.

“Get away you pervert” she screamed.

“What the fuck did you do that for?” he shouted as the spray began to burn his eyes. 

“Because you’re a pervert” she said.

Claudio was rubbing his eyes while still clasping the envelope.

“I was trying to give you this” he said waiving it in her direction “It fell out of your bag.”

“What?” she exclaimed and snatched the envelope from his hand; she quickly read the address and then the full realization dawned on her.

“Oh God” she said “I’m so sorry I thought you were…”

“A pervert?” he said, “yes you did mention it.”

“Don’t rub them you’ll just make them worse” she advised and then produced a small bottle of water from her bag.

“This will help” she said and splashed water in his enflamed eyes “It also helps if you blink a lot.”

“What helps most of all is not getting sprayed in the first place” he corrected her.

“Yes, sorry again” she said, “but I was scared, it looked like you were chasing me, and I’m a defenseless female.”

“I had to chase you; you were like a whippet” he said, “And defenseless you most certainly are not.”

Taryn pulled a face and then said defensively.

“And you were muttering to yourself.”

“I wasn’t muttering to myself” Claudio said “I was trying to speak to you, but you had earphones in.”

“Oh dear” she said, “I really did get it wrong, didn’t I?”

“That will teach me to mind my own business in future” he said.

“Oh, don’t say that” she implored “It was really sweet of you to try.”

And then she gave him the most dazzling smile which made up to him in part for the discomfiture.

“Let me make it up to you” she said, “let me buy you a drink.”

“I can’t go to the pub” he said, “Not looking like this.”

“Well, that’s true” she said with a giggle.

“And I’ve got to pick up my niece from the school.”

“We’d better make it tomorrow instead then” she suggested.

“Ok I’ll meet you outside the Squirrel tomorrow at 8” he said, “I’ll be the one with the pink eyes.”

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (090) – Soulmates United

 

June

 

On the moonlight walk back to the chalet Kenny and Chloe were holding hands and drinking in the heady atmosphere of the night, not wishing to forget a single second of it, and when they reached the door they kissed for the first time and it was a kiss that made the hairs stand up on the back of their necks and their skin tingled from head to toe.

“That was a first kiss to remember” Chloe said and giggled.

“Let’s try number two” Kenny suggested, and she obliged.

“Wow” Chloe said after kiss number two.

“I think we should sit down for a minute.”

“I think so too” Kenny said.

Chloe walked a few feet and sat on the wall and Kenny sat next to her, she immediately leant into him and rested her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her.

So, they sat there quietly in the moonlight, their hearts filled with a newfound love and their minds awash with previously undreamt-of possibilities.

Chloe kissed Kenny once more and it was the equal of its predecessors.

But as much as they wanted each other in that moment they resisted the desire until their minds were clear, and their desires not fueled by wine and Gin and tonics.

So, they reluctantly said goodnight and slept alone, though neither of them actually slept.

 

Kenny and Chloe were both up and about early next morning and both had made independent decisions on their futures.

The quandary was, had they both made the same one.

There were three possibilities, two of which could cost them their friendship.

Kenny was sitting on the terrace outside the chalet drinking his coffee when Chloe appeared.

Kenny smiled and stood up to greet her but remained frozen to the spot, she returned his smile and said. 

“Hello soulmate”

The relief Kenny felt at that moment was palpable.

He found he was able to move again, and he stepped forward and scooped her up in his arms and said.

“Hello, my perfect other half” 

And then he kissed her as he had the night before and the feeling was just the same.

 

Their complete and utter surrender to each other came that afternoon when they made love for the first time.

When love’s consummated passions reached the ecstatic heights of fulfilment.

 

To the untrained eye the remainder of the holiday appeared to go much the same way as the days before their epiphany.

Kenny and Chloe still appeared as if they were a couple as they behaved like a couple, a happily married couple.

Every evening the pair dined together, happy in each other’s company, but now unknown to everyone they did sleep together.

Kenny and Chloe had gone to Sharpington in search of love and romance, and it turned out they had actually taken it with them.

 

All too soon they were on the train heading away from the sunny seaside town, and looked back at the promenade and the pier, bathing in warm sunshine, the hills above, and the generous depth of sand, golden in the sun and glinting on the blue sea.

But most of all they would miss it because it would be forever the place where they fell in love.

Kenny and Chloe stood at the window, for one last look before it disappeared from view.

“Will we come back” Chloe asked with a tear in her eye.

“Oh yes” Kenny replied, “many times, but especially on our honeymoon.”

A smiling Chloe turned towards Kenny, and she kissed him.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (089) – Finding Soulmates

 

June

 

The sultry air was heavy in the middle of their second week in Sharpington, and as the sun was setting, Kenny and Chloe, sat on the terrace of the Ancient Mariner pub accompanied by the familiar symphony of evening birdsong.

“It’s been another lovely day” Chloe said.

They had ordered their dinner and were just enjoying an aperitif; the cracking of ice cubes was clearly audible in their Gin and tonics.

“It really has” he said, and they chinked glasses.

 

After dinner, and the best part of two bottles of wine, and a hilarious reliving of the afternoons crazy golf tournament, the subject of the conversation took a familiar turn.

“Of course, there is one thing that could have made today even better” Chloe said.

“And what’s that?” Kenny asked before draining his glass.

“Our perfect partners” she replied.

“Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that” he said.

“Of course, it would help if we could recognize them if we saw them.”

“Well yes that would help” Chloe concurred.

Kenny thought she looked lovely that night and he was particularly pleased to see she was wearing the gold crucifix he had bought her for Christmas.

“Ok then” he said, “do you have a pen?”

He already knew the answer; Chloe always had at least one pen in her bag, so she fished in her bag and produced one.

“So, what is your ideal?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” she replied with a puzzled expression.

“What would you want in a partner?” he elaborated.

“Tell me what qualities you are looking for and we’ll make a check list.”

“Oh, I see, ok” she said, “Well the usual I suppose.”

“Let’s write them down then” Kenny said and using a napkin he headed the list “The perfect other half.”

“Someone I can trust” she said.

“Dependable” he wrote followed by “trustworthy.”

“Someone who shares my values and my faith” she added.

Kenny wrote “Moral compass.”

“Someone who makes me laugh and laughs with me” Chloe said.

“Good sense of humour” he wrote.

“Someone who loves me and will cherish me” she said.

He wrote “Romantic.”

“Someone who will be there for me” she said, “whenever I need them.”

“A friend,” he put.

“Someone who listens to me and understands me” she added.

“And who values me.”

Kenny thought for a moment before writing.

“A confidant, a kindred spirit” and for good measure “Open and honest”

“Someone I can grow old with” she said, “who will want to grow old with me.”

Kenny wrote “Soulmate.”

Chloe was silent for a moment as she gave it some more thought and then said.

“That will do I think.”

Kenny took another drink and then read down the list and his brow furrowed.

He read each item and mused over it, added the occasional word to it, and muttered under his breath as he studied it and, in the end, after what seemed to Chloe like an age, nodded his assent. 

“Are you ok?” she asked with concern.

“I agree with every single one of those” he said.

“Good” she replied.

“And furthermore, I know the person who has all of those qualities and more” he added.

“Really?” she said open mouthed.

“Who?”

“You Chloe” Kenny said.

“What?” she asked.

“It’s you” he said, “you tick every single box on this list; you are my perfect other half.”

“Don’t be daft” she said.

He didn’t say anymore but handed her the napkin.

Chloe took it from him and started reading down the list of her suggestions and his additions and was very thoughtful for a few moments and then she went down the list in front of her again.

“You’re right” she said finally “you are the perfect other half of me.”

Knowing smiles were exchanged and then they sat in silence as a confused turmoil raged inside them and thoughts raced in and out of focus.

“More wine sir?” the waiter asked breaking in on their silent deliberations.

“Absolutely” Chloe said and returned to her thoughts.

Both of them shared the same thoughts and were afraid, afraid to take a chance, afraid of being wrong, afraid of getting hurt but most of all afraid of losing their best friend.

The wine came and they drank in silence as they continued their internal struggle, until in a moment of perfect clarity Chloe looked at Kenny and smiled as it dawned on her that they had come to Sharpington looking for love but the romance they had searched for wasn’t in the town at all, they had brought it with them.

And when Kenny saw her smiling countenance, he was immediately entranced and all his doubts melted away and the deep passion for her that he had always harboured subconsciously, stirred within him and rose to the surface.

Her inner beauty exposed, Kenny reached his hand across the table and Chloe took it.

“All this time I was looking for Miss Right and she was there right under my nose.”

Kenny mused.

“Living next door” She added.

“Living in my spare room even” Kenny corrected her.

It was a miracle finding their heart’s desire so close at hand.

“How could we have been so blind?” Chloe asked as she caressed his hand.

“Love is blind” Kenny replied.

“Yes” she agreed “yes, it is.”

Neither of them could understand how it was possible they were both so short-sighted.

He had always thought she was lovely but now Kenny’s feelings for her were of love for his soulmate who lived in his spare room.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (088) – The King’s Birthday Parade

June

 

The Parker’s and the Wells’s had lived in Pepperstock Green for many generations and both families had been well represented in the Downshire Light Infantry over the years, and the latest were Sgt Joe Herriot and Lance Corporal Jade Wells.

The pair were not entirely unknown to each other, even though they were in different battalions and there were more than four years difference in their ages, because Joe had briefly dated her older sister, who was also in the Downshire’s, but Joe and Jade hadn’t seen each other since they broke up, until the day of the King’s Birthday Parade.

 

The parade was held on the same day as the Trooping of the Colour by the Household Guards, and it was held at the home of the Downshire Light Infantry in Nettlefield.

It was performed with less pageantry and was less grand than its London cousin, but was nonetheless as important, especially to the Downshire’s. 

 

On the day Joe was dressed in his best regalia complete with gleaming sword as he was part of the Honour Guard for the Colours, the Guard being formed by members of his own battalion, but the flag bearers were not, and they were late, well late by his standards at any rate, so he went to hurry them up.

He passed two of the bearers leaving the block as he went in.

“Come on get a move on you lot” he barked “Where’s the other one?”

“Still inside Sergeant” one of them replied

He went deeper inside the block without breaking stride and burst into the room and then stopped in his tracks. 

Jade was four years older than she had been the last time he saw her, but he recognized her instantly, she was always an absolute stunner with a lovely figure, but now she was even better.

She was beautiful like her sister but taller with longer, shapelier legs, but that wasn’t what caught his eye, it was the fact that Jade was only partially dressed, she was wearing her blouse and a tie, and underwear and tights and nothing else.

Joe stood staring at Jade’s lovely semi-dressed figure far longer than he should have but he struggled to draw his eyes away.

Until he realized she was just standing there smiling at him, then he went pillar box red and blurted out,

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think, I’ll wait outside”

 

He was outside in the corridor muttering to himself when the door opened suddenly and Jade stepped out immaculately dressed in tailored skirt and tunic, brass buttons and polished belt, peaked cap and regulation tights.

“I’m…” he started to say, but she put a finger up to her lips gesturing

him to silence.

“Don’t apologize I’m pleased I’ve finally got you to notice me”

“You are?”

“Oh yes” she replied and before he could speak again, she took her cap off and kissed him.

It was only a brief kiss, as they had important duties to perform and were not able to follow up on it afterwards because she went off on a training exercise with the 3rd Battalion while he remained at Regimental HQ.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (087) – Searching for a Soulmate in Sharpington

 

June

 

Best friends, 32-year-old Kenny Barnhill and 29 years old Chloe Bulman, had moved in together and were saving hard to fund their dream holiday in Greece where they were hoping to find their soulmates.

Alas when they were ready to book, they found they had insufficient funds for a Grecian holiday so had to settle for two weeks in Sharpington.

They would have liked to stay at the Seaview Hotel for the two weeks, but they needed to strike a balance between comfortable accommodation and adequate spending money, so they decided on sharing a family Chalet on the Whitecliff Hill Caravan Park.

 

It was on the first of June when the successful candidates started their new positions at the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat.

It was also in the first week of June, with their bags packed, Kenny and Chloe splashed out on a taxi to Pipershaven and from there they took the train to Sharpington. 

 

As they walked into their chalet, they had travelled for a total of 4 hours door to door, but they enjoyed every minute and thought it would all be worth it when they met the person of their dreams.

 

The Chalet was very comfortable, and they quickly unpacked and on that afternoon, there was an informal get together of new arrivals, a kind of orientation meeting covering all the do’s and don’ts and a member of staff handed out information on places of interest, transport timetables, day trips and local entertainment.    

However, the two of them were less interested in the information than they were in their fellow guests as they were looking for romance on their holiday.

But as they scanned each and every face in the assembly they noticed there appeared to be no singles present.

Although Kenny and Chloe both noticed independently, they chose to keep it to themselves.

However, over the next 24 hours they both came to the conclusion that they had come to the wrong resort for romance because the visitors were all, without exception, already paired up.

 

Over an Al fresco breakfast next morning on the seafront, as they sat in the fresh morning air at a promenade café it was Chloe who broached the subject.

“Have you noticed they’re all couples?” she said.

“Yes” he replied.

“We’re not going to find them here, are we?” she asked and by “Them” she meant their soulmates, their perfect other halves, Mr. or Miss Right.

“I’m afraid not” he agreed.

“So, what now?” Chloe asked glumly.

“Now we just have fun” Kenny said.

So, they resigned themselves to the fact that they were not going to find who they were looking for and decided they should just enjoy every minute of their holiday instead.

Their search for love over, they spent a lot of time on the beach or in the water, or on a boat or in bars and arcades, and they filled every possible moment.

Walking the beach together, playing in the waves, swimming in the Lido, playing crazy golf and having fun, before finding a quiet sheltered spot or the pier to siesta under.

They took day trips to see the seals and took coach trips to several of the local places of interest.

 

Evening entertainments included cocktails at what had become their favourite bar, enjoying jazz at the Tainted Angel, dining at The Angels Tears or L'uccello canto, nightcaps at the Sandcastle Arms, dancing at the Palladium Ballroom, entertainment at the Bluebird theatre, and Beach BBQ’s

But most of all they spent their time during the day was in or near the water.

 

As the holiday drifted amiably into the second week, any casual onlookers could have been forgiven for thinking that Kenny and Chloe were a couple, they behaved like a couple and a happily married couple at that.

Every evening the pair dined together, and they were happy in each other’s company but unknown to everyone they slept alone.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (086) – Getting Noticed

June

 

In the village was the Shady Glade Guesthouse owned and run by divorcee Debbie Barrington.

She was a native of the village, as was her husband, and they started the Guesthouse together, but he did not share her passion for it, but he did have passions, but those were mainly for the female guests and it was with one of them that he chose to leave Pepperstock Green and Debbie, undeterred divorced him and continued to run Shady Glade alone and as she approached her forty seventh birthday she had been doing so for twenty years.

There had been men in her life over those twenty years, but none were worthy of her because they didn’t share her interest in the Guesthouse or have the same work ethic as she did.

But there was one man who she hoped might fit the bill, Civil Engineer Sam Richardson, who had been a regular guest while the work was going on at the old St Adelaide’s Convent, but he was splitting his time between the village and Beaumont Island where there were some other projects going on.

She really liked him, really liked him, he was a gentle goodlooking man, who was sadly widowed the year before, he was also a kind man who helped her out went he was staying, with repairs and maintenance.

The problem was that he was a little backwards in coming forward on the personal front, and she hadn’t been able to get his attention.

 

One morning in June she had to call on him for help because the shower in her ensuite bathroom wasn’t working, and there was a dripping tap in one of the rooms, which he was happy to do, but he was his usual bashful self, so she went on about her morning, dealing with the guest’s breakfasts, which kept her busy for the next two hours and at the end of it she noticed Sam coming down the stairs, so she went to intercept him.

“All done?” she asked brightly

“I’m afraid not” he replied “I just need to go and get a new pump”

“Oh, you don’t need to do that, I’ll get the plumber to do it” she said

“Nonsense, it’s no problem” he replied

“Oh, ok I’ll see you later then?” Debbie said

“Yes, I shouldn’t be too long” he replied and went out the door.

 

When the guesthouse was busy, which was pretty much all the time, Debbie employed two local girls to clean the rooms and the common areas, so with them gainfully employed, breakfast finished with and Sam off at the plumber’s merchants she had a couple of hours to spare before she had to think about lunch, so she decided to go and have a bath in the guest bathroom as her own was out of commission.

She had told the girls what she was doing so she knew she wouldn’t be disturbed, and she had a long hot soak in the tub.

She really enjoyed it, but she knew she couldn’t stay in there forever, so she pulled the plug out and got to her feet, before stepping out and wrapping a fluffy white bath sheet around herself and wrapping a smaller one around her head.

 

Once she was dry, perfumed and powdered she wiped the steam off the full-length mirror and then loosened the towel wrapped around her and stood with her arms outstretched and the towel stretched behind her like a victory flag and admired herself in the mirror

“Not bad for an old bird” she said to her reflection, “Not too bad at all”

And then the door opened and startled her, and she turned towards the door, still with her arms outstretched with her full nakedness on display, to find Sam Richardson standing in the doorway with his mouth open.

Debbie was not as surprised as he was, and she knew she should probably have covered herself, but he just stood staring at her and was clearly struggling to draw his eyes away, and she liked that.

“I appeared to have got his attention at last” she thought and then he said,

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t think, washer… tap… drip…”

And then he closed the door and headed hurriedly across the landing, so she covered herself and opened the door and could hear him repeating

“Sorry, sorry, I’m so sorry” Until he reached the sanctuary of her bedroom, and by extension her ensuite.

 

Debbie replaced her towel with a toweling bath robe and crossed the landing and was smiling broadly to herself.

She slowly opened the door and stepped in and found the room empty, but she could hear muttering and what she assumed was the sound of him putting his tools away, so she just stood her ground and waited, and she didn’t have to wait long.

He stepped through the door from her ensuite and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her.

 “IIIII’m…” he started to say but she put a finger up to her lips gesturing him to silence, and then she undid the belt of her robe, and it fell open briefly before she dropped the toweling dressing gown to the floor revealing her dry, perfumed and powdered nakedness, before she walked towards him and kissed him, and he made no protest.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (085) – Whit Monday

 June

 

July 1st marked the official reincarnation of the former St Adelaide’s Convent with the opening of the St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat, although it wasn’t expected to be fully up and running until the beginning of August.

Over the month prior to its opening new employees came on board and one of them was Jake Cox who was taken on as one of the gardening team, but he didn’t join until after the Whitsun Bank holiday.

The reason for that was that he and a group of University friends were on holiday at the traditional seaside resort of Sharpington-by-Sea.

Which was a popular destination for visitors with its Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, and has all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.

They were staying in a Caravan Park up at Whitecliffe Hill for a week ending on the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend and were blessed with warm clement weather, which brought many more visitors to enjoy all the seaside fun.

He and a couple of friends got there a day and a half before the rest of them arrived and among them was his sister India and her best friend Cheryl Leman.

Jake had fancied her for years, but she had always given him the cold shoulder, but suddenly they were both at the same resort, at the same time and with no romantic attachments, so he thought he would chance his arm one more time.

It took the best part of three days, but she eventually weakened and agreed to go to the Palladium Ballroom with him to see an ABBA tribute band.

It was a great night, they sang and danced and cheered, and afterwards they went to the bar and drank and talked for a couple of hours, before they walked along the beach together, hand in hand in the moonlight.

The beach was deserted and silent but for the gentle breaking of the waves on the shore.

When they reached the pier, she stopped and turned toward him and smiled and a moment later their mouths met in a kiss that was a delicious taste of tender passion.

It was a kiss he had dreamt of for years, but the reality of it far surpassed his wildest imaginings, but for Cheryl it was a revelation, an unexpected delight, and her senses were heightened, her perception altered, as the kiss had opened her eyes and her heart.

“Wow, it looks like you finally got me” Cheryl said with her head on his shoulder

“I was beginning to think it would never happen” Jake admitted

“I was certain it wouldn’t” she replied “But what do I know”

She added and giggled and then she kissed him again before she ran to the water’s edge where she began splashing in the breaking waves.

“I was wrong” she shouted to the moon “I was wrong”

Then she ran back up the beach giggling to where Jake was standing

“I was wrong” she said quietly and hugged him “All these years I was wrong”

Jake was speechless as he held her, and he prayed that it wasn’t just a vivid dream and then she whispered.

“But I’m not wrong anymore”