WHERE IS THE KISS
Where is the kiss?
I have craved
A kiss on ruby lips
Of brazen red
Where are those lips?
I have desired
Lips like soft petals
Slight parted
Where is that mouth?
That bears the lips
That holds the kiss
That I desire
Is it kissing another?
IF NOT FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVE
If not for you and your love
I would have no life, no existence
Beyond loneliness, if not for your love
I would have no reason to breathe
BEYOND YOU
Beyond you
I have no interest
Our courtship
Makes me complete
I waste no breath
On the mundane
I breathe only for you
Beyond you
I have no interest
I see you only,
Through laughing eyes
With my tunnel vision
I have no interest
In seeing the world
I see you alone
I SPOKE THE WORDS
I spoke the words
Though they came hard
But I could see each syllable
Cut her like a blade
Each word was a stab at her heart
The final sentence the coup de grace
A pregnant pause followed
She looked stunned
Bemused by my speech
Then the tears came
But I had no words of comfort
It hurt me to know
That I had hurt her
But I couldn’t live another minute
In a loveless void
OUR LOVE SPLINTERED
Our love splintered
Shard by shard
Almost unnoticed
Until it finally shattered
OUR LOVE UNRAVELLED
Our love unravelled
Strand by strand
Until the splicing
That bound us together
Was undone
HIGH ABOVE THE GROUND
High above the ground
The hawks of deceit are circling
As each bond of trust is consumed
To leave us cast adrift
As loves final embers die
LIKE THE IMMORTAL PHOENIX
Like the immortal phoenix
Our mortal love
Is consumed by flame
And turned to ashes
But we are reborn
As separate birds
SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL
She was beautiful
Like a Constable landscape
And she painted love
Into my dreary world
Each brushstroke
Changing me forever
HE KISSED LIFE INTO HER
He kissed life into her,
Like a prince of old
Dispelling everlasting slumber
In a Fairy story often told
When Sleeping Beauty
Woke from her trance
To gaze into the eyes of love
And then forever dance
MY HISTORY IS ONE OF SADNESS
My history is one of sadness
Lonely and loveless
No memories of joy to comfort
Only the emptiness
Of a life spent alone
Like Robinson Crusoe
On his desert island
I sit surround by the ocean
Inhospitable and deep
In my life the ocean is the world
The blue water
Its inhabitants
Washing up to my shore
But always washing away again
Tantalising and teasing
But I cannot embrace the waves
I must remain alone
On my desert island
Looking out to sea
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Snapshot
I held her picture
Posed for posterity
A picture of a young girl
In a summer dress
A “hand me down”
Pattern faded
With fraying hem
A pretty young woman
Face of innocence
Framed by brown tousled hair
Naïve and unaffected
Unsure of her beauty
And more beautiful
Because of it
Such a wonderful snapshot
Of a perfect moment
So long ago
I fell in love with her that day
My heart melted
Like the snow in spring
I love her still
And every day in between
Tears welled in my eyes
As I looked at that picture
Of naïve beauty
And they fell unchecked
As I remembered
The woman she became
And the love we shared
Until she was taken from me
Posed for posterity
A picture of a young girl
In a summer dress
A “hand me down”
Pattern faded
With fraying hem
A pretty young woman
Face of innocence
Framed by brown tousled hair
Naïve and unaffected
Unsure of her beauty
And more beautiful
Because of it
Such a wonderful snapshot
Of a perfect moment
So long ago
I fell in love with her that day
My heart melted
Like the snow in spring
I love her still
And every day in between
Tears welled in my eyes
As I looked at that picture
Of naïve beauty
And they fell unchecked
As I remembered
The woman she became
And the love we shared
Until she was taken from me
Golden Years
It was fifty years ago when I first saw her
And I fell for her beauty and her charm
And now in the autumn of our years
I’m still proud to have her on my arm
How long ago it was when we were young
When every minute we were parted
Was full of the agonies and torment
And time alone left us broken hearted
I could have composed wondrous symphonies
And written lofty ballads to her name
I could have written the sweetest love songs
And never expressed what are love became
I would have crossed the wildest seas
And walked on coals to be at her side
I would have slain the fiercest dragon
And fought duals to win her as my bride
I proclaimed my love to her as everlasting
And I told her we would always be together
Through thick and thin, good times and bad
Through calmness and through stormy weather
How my heart soared as the church bells rang
When at the alter she stood and said I do
Now after fifty summers and fifty winters
The love I proclaimed still holds true
And I fell for her beauty and her charm
And now in the autumn of our years
I’m still proud to have her on my arm
How long ago it was when we were young
When every minute we were parted
Was full of the agonies and torment
And time alone left us broken hearted
I could have composed wondrous symphonies
And written lofty ballads to her name
I could have written the sweetest love songs
And never expressed what are love became
I would have crossed the wildest seas
And walked on coals to be at her side
I would have slain the fiercest dragon
And fought duals to win her as my bride
I proclaimed my love to her as everlasting
And I told her we would always be together
Through thick and thin, good times and bad
Through calmness and through stormy weather
How my heart soared as the church bells rang
When at the alter she stood and said I do
Now after fifty summers and fifty winters
The love I proclaimed still holds true
Monday, 13 February 2017
The Love Selection # 10
FALLING IN LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING
Falling in love
Is a beautiful thing
And love does make
The world go round
Being in love
Is a beautiful thing
As long as the world
Keeps turning
Fall out of love
And the world stops
There is no beauty in
I WALKED HAND IN HAND WITH YOU
I walked hand in hand with you
Down a country lane just we two
In a land of a green and pleasant hue
Over a bridge where the kingfisher flew
Through woods full of tell-tale bells of blue
Across a field wet with morning dew
Climbed a hill amidst lamb and ewe
To a perfect spot with an unspoilt view
Where we could be alone just we two
Hold each other’s hand and bill and coo
WHEN THE SUMMER EVENING FALLS
When the summer evening falls
The melodic nightingale calls
This is also the lover’s time
And the perpetrators of crime
Then at the passing of the night
Lovers take cover criminals take flight
SILVER MOON ABOVE MOUNTAIN BLUE
Silver moon above mountain blue
Is there another looking at you?
Shooting star flashing across the sky
Is there another asking you why?
It is my love wishing on that star
I will find you wherever you are
I WANTED HER TO STAY IN MY ARMS
I wanted her
To stay in my arms
To be my girl for ever
But her feelings for me
Evaporated like mist
In the heat of the sun
Leaving only shadowy memories
Of passions passed
And i am alone
Unable to cry the tears
I just keep asking why
But in the hollow void
Of my empty heart
Only silence echoes
SKIPPING STONES ACROSS THE BLUE
Skipping stones across the blue
Sharing holiday laughter and fun
When amidst the joyful splashing
It hit me like a bullet from a gun
Why was I playing childish games?
With a girl who was built to stun
So I looked at her and smiled
Took her hand and called her Hon
Then we walked barefoot in the surf
Holding hands beneath the sun
On a day neither of us would forget
When our first love had begun
IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN # 2
It happens again and again
A simple smile and I dare to chance
That this might be the one
But alas no it’s a familiar dance
WHEN THE BURNING SUN SINKS LOW
When the burning sun sinks low
Setting the western sky aglow
And the evening shadows grow
This is the time of the amorous beau
Falling in love
Is a beautiful thing
And love does make
The world go round
Being in love
Is a beautiful thing
As long as the world
Keeps turning
Fall out of love
And the world stops
There is no beauty in
I WALKED HAND IN HAND WITH YOU
I walked hand in hand with you
Down a country lane just we two
In a land of a green and pleasant hue
Over a bridge where the kingfisher flew
Through woods full of tell-tale bells of blue
Across a field wet with morning dew
Climbed a hill amidst lamb and ewe
To a perfect spot with an unspoilt view
Where we could be alone just we two
Hold each other’s hand and bill and coo
WHEN THE SUMMER EVENING FALLS
When the summer evening falls
The melodic nightingale calls
This is also the lover’s time
And the perpetrators of crime
Then at the passing of the night
Lovers take cover criminals take flight
SILVER MOON ABOVE MOUNTAIN BLUE
Silver moon above mountain blue
Is there another looking at you?
Shooting star flashing across the sky
Is there another asking you why?
It is my love wishing on that star
I will find you wherever you are
I WANTED HER TO STAY IN MY ARMS
I wanted her
To stay in my arms
To be my girl for ever
But her feelings for me
Evaporated like mist
In the heat of the sun
Leaving only shadowy memories
Of passions passed
And i am alone
Unable to cry the tears
I just keep asking why
But in the hollow void
Of my empty heart
Only silence echoes
SKIPPING STONES ACROSS THE BLUE
Skipping stones across the blue
Sharing holiday laughter and fun
When amidst the joyful splashing
It hit me like a bullet from a gun
Why was I playing childish games?
With a girl who was built to stun
So I looked at her and smiled
Took her hand and called her Hon
Then we walked barefoot in the surf
Holding hands beneath the sun
On a day neither of us would forget
When our first love had begun
IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN # 2
It happens again and again
A simple smile and I dare to chance
That this might be the one
But alas no it’s a familiar dance
WHEN THE BURNING SUN SINKS LOW
When the burning sun sinks low
Setting the western sky aglow
And the evening shadows grow
This is the time of the amorous beau
Rainy Sunday
It’s a rainy Sunday
And I’m feeling blue
Remembering the past
And thinking of you
Do you happily look back?
Across the years
Or do you view them
Through bitter tears
Do you ever think of me?
Just once in a while
With a furrowed brow
Or rueful smile
You thought our love
Would last an eternity
But I was quite happy
Just to wait and see
I just wanted us
To enjoy the laughter
But what you wanted
Was happy ever after
I loved you so much more
Than I would ever say
When we broke up
On that rainy Sunday
When you asked me
I should have said
“I really do love you”
I just shrugged instead
I wish I could go back
To that rainy Sunday
I would get on my knees
And beg you to stay
And I’m feeling blue
Remembering the past
And thinking of you
Do you happily look back?
Across the years
Or do you view them
Through bitter tears
Do you ever think of me?
Just once in a while
With a furrowed brow
Or rueful smile
You thought our love
Would last an eternity
But I was quite happy
Just to wait and see
I just wanted us
To enjoy the laughter
But what you wanted
Was happy ever after
I loved you so much more
Than I would ever say
When we broke up
On that rainy Sunday
When you asked me
I should have said
“I really do love you”
I just shrugged instead
I wish I could go back
To that rainy Sunday
I would get on my knees
And beg you to stay
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (40) And Here's to you Mrs Robinson
(Part 01)
Nathan and Harriet Robinson lived in number 1, Folly Cottages overlooking Teardrop Lake.
Nathan was a Professor of Music at Abbottsford University and
Harriet had taken the job as Phlebotomist at the Dancingdean Health Centre in Shallowfield.
When they moved to Teardrop they had been together for over 7 years and married for 6, Harry was fast approaching her 37th birthday and she was convinced she could literally hear her biological clock ticking.
They had been trying for a family ever since they were married but it just wasn’t happening for them.
Nathan loved her very much but he didn’t feel the same time pressure that his wife did but he was desperate to make her happy.
They had undergone all the tests imaginable but there was nothing physically wrong with either of them and everything was in good working order.
And a lack of trying was also not the problem and the love making was as great as it had always been and they didn’t stint on the quantity,
But it was all to no avail, but it didn’t prevent them from trying.
They had lived there for a year and had just about come to terms with the fact they would never have a child when a week before Christmas they discovered Harry had fallen pregnant.
And following the wonderful news they had the most joyful Christmas they had ever had.
The Baby was due in July and they had been wracking their brains from the moment in December it was confirmed she was pregnant.
But they could not settle on a name, male or female.
They weren’t the sort of people who wanted to pass on their own names to their offspring and nor were they keen to inflict their parents’ names on them.
And there was no tradition in either of their families to pass down a particular name.
That was the first problem they faced as parents in waiting and as it turned out it was the least traumatic.
The second was more of a problem for Nathan than his wife.
When they first moved in to the cottage and the removal men carried in the piano Harriet said
“Oh I forgot about that”
“Don’t worry” Nathan replied
“It can go in the spare room until we need it as a nursery”
That proved sufficient to distract her with the thought of motherhood until one day in February when Harriet said suddenly
“You need to move the piano”
It was at breakfast a few weeks later when Harriet said
“You still haven’t moved the piano”
“I’m putting an ad in the Chronicle” he replied
That was the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle the editor of which, Richard Grimwood, lived on the lake.
“Here have a look” he said and handed her his tablet.
“Piano for Sale only used for Chopin” she read and rolled her eyes
“That won’t work” she said “Anyone who understands that will already own a piano”
“But it’s a Rosewood, Chappell & Co Upright Piano, I want it to go to a good home” he retorted
“I know it means a lot to you” she said sympathetically “But...”
“Don’t say that it’s only a piano” he said “I picked it up at a car boot sale of all places, of course when I say I picked it up, I didn’t actually “pick it up” as I didn’t have a car at the time, I was only just 18”
“So how did you get it home?” she asked
“Graham, the guy who was selling it agreed to drop it at my building, he even helped me get it into the flat” he said “It means a lot to me”
“So don’t sell it” Harriet said
“But we can’t keep it” he said
“Donate it to the church then” she said
“The church hall desperately needs a new one, you’ve often complained about their instrument and that way you will still get to play it”
“You know you’re quite bright for a bloodsucker” he said and kissed her.
(Part 02)
The third problem they faced that year was altogether more serious and not so easily cured.
At the end of March Harriet started getting severe headaches and blurred vision.
At first she thought it must have been a migraine, even though she’d never suffered from them before.
It was only when her feet swelled up and she started to get pain just below her ribs that she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, that was three weeks later.
“You need to take it easy from now on” Dr Lutchford said and she was put on immediate leave.
“I’ll be fine” she protested
“You’ll be fine when we get you blood pressure under control and that won’t happen with you still working” Claire said, drawing a line under the discussion once and for all.
So despite her protestations the decision was made for her to stay at home, but that was not a cure-all.
Because confining Harriet to quarters was one thing, however getting her to rest, was another proposition entirely.
Nathan was unable to get any significant time off until May so he had to make a phone call to Harriet’s younger sister Nell, or as Harry preferred to call her “Bossy knickers”.
Nellie’s real name was Hannah Helen Hanson but that was before she married Paul Rees, after the divorce she dumped the husband but kept his name.
She was 3 years younger than her sister and like Harriet she was also in the medical profession though Nellie didn’t work for the NHS.
Helen Rees was a Chiropodist and had her own practice in Purplemere.
Also like her sister she was a willowy beauty with dark brown hair, Harriet wore hers bobbed and Nellie wore hers shoulder length.
The main reason Nathan chose Helen over anyone else to babysit his wife was because she was the only person he knew who would give Harriet as good as she got.
Until the semester was over and Nathan could take care of Harry himself it was down to Nelly.
The spare room was uninhabitable as Nathan was in the middle of turning it into the nursery, plus the piano was still in there, much to Harriet’s annoyance.
She was only needed Monday to Friday as Nathan was home weekends and although she only lived in Mornington she decided to stay at the cottage.
After two nights sleeping on the sofa however she decided to book into the Shallowfield Lodge.
She would probably have stuck it out for one more night on the sofa if Harriet wasn’t being quite so difficult a patient.
She would have taken her leave almost as soon as Nathan stepped through the door but stayed for supper.
“Hi Darling” Nat said kissing Harry’s cheek “How’s your blood pressure?”
“My blood pressure would be a damn sight lower if you were to get rid of the bloody piano” she retorted
“Ok” he said and raised his eye brows in Nellies direction “Hi Nell”
Nathan helped his sister in law get the dinner ready and asked
“Has she been like that all day?”
“No” she replied “just the last couple of hours”
“I’m sorry” he said
“Don’t be silly, I’d normally take it in my stride but I’m so tired” she said
But at least she would sleep well that night.
They both understood Harriet’s ill humour, which was completely out of character for her, and it was not because she’d been ordered to rest and be “baby sat” by her baby sister.
It wasn’t even the blessed piano, Harriet’s problem was that she was scared, scared that after waiting so long to fall pregnant she was going to lose the baby.
The Shallowfield Lodge Hotel was under new management since the death of Sheryl Brown earlier in the year.
Nellie had stayed their once before with her ex-husband and even though it was more than 10 years earlier she remembered Sheryl very well.
Her replacements were Dorcas Overton and her husband Ben and the former was on reception when she checked in.
She woke up early the next morning suitably refreshed after a very good night’s sleep.
In fact she was up so early she was showered, dressed and downstairs in plenty of time to indulge herself with a full English breakfast.
(Part 03)
Nellie was in reception talking to Dorcas as she was checking out.
“I hope you enjoyed your stay” Dorcas said as a green panel van liveried with “Fox-Martin Organics” pulled up to the front door.
“Yes” she replied as she watched a tall ruggedly good looking man get out of the van and head towards the door.
“And the scenery is very pleasing to the eye”
“Yes but my brother is only visiting” Dorcas said and laughed
“Your brother?” she asked mortified “I’m so sorry”
“Don’t be” she said “he is a fairly good looking”
A second man got out of the passenger side and also headed for the door.
“Is that another brother?” Nell asked
“No” she replied “Husband”
Dorcas then went on to explain that they were completing the sale of their cottage at the end of the month and her brother Sebastian was helping Ben move the last of their stuff out.
Which was when an idea dawned on her and she asked Dorcas for a favour.
Nell was going to stay at the lodge for four nights a week for the remainder of the month which was when Nathan finished University for the summer.
After that she was going to help out one day a week to give Nathan a chance to get out of the cottage, do some shopping or just go to the woods and scream.
She couldn’t spare more than a day a week in the summer as she had to keep her own business going.
She was able to take a prolonged leave in April with the help and goodwill of her staff, who covered for her, but once the summer was upon them she had to help cover for them when they wanted time off.
Nellie had built up a very successful business and she had a good customer base, fortunately a lot of the “well healed” in the district had appalling feet.
Thankfully in the January she had taken on a new practitioner, a Canadian girl a few years younger than her called Claire Pollard, and she had proved to be invaluable and very supportive, as she possessed an immensely strong work ethic
Claire had also become one of her closest friends and she also lived in Mornington, so she was a friend and neighbour.
On Teardrop Lake it was just after 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon when there was a knock on the Cottage door.
Harriet moved to get up but Nellie just gave her a withering stare and she reluctantly sank back into the cushions wearing a scowl.
When she pulled open the door she discovered the tall rugged looking bloke from that morning and a slightly shorter man at his shoulder.
“Hi” he said “Are you Helen?”
“I am and you are?”
“Sebastian” he replied “and this is Ben, Dorcas said you had something you wanted moving”
“I have, at least the lady of the house does” she replied “come in and have a look”
After briefly introducing them to Harriet, who seemed extremely pleased to see them even before she knew why they were there and Helen took them upstairs to look at the Piano.
“Now I understand why Dorcas didn’t say what it was” Ben said
“Can you help?” Helen said looking up at Sebastian with pleading eyes “it’s only got to go to the church hall”
“Well only if you do something in return for me” Seb said
“Oh yes and what might that be?” she asked suspiciously
“Well I’ll be staying at the Lodge for a few days at the end of the month” he said “come sailing with me”
“Is that it?” she asked warily
“Yes” he replied
“Oh ok then” she agreed
“Great” he said “Now we will need another pair of hands, when is the man of the house back”
“Just after 4” a voice called from below.
“And there’s Tea and cake in the kitchen”
“Tea and cake it is then” Ben said
“I’ll kill that woman” Nell muttered under her breath as she followed the men down the stairs.
Nell wasn’t sure what to think about being asked to go sailing, it was very pleasing to have got his attention, but she would have at the very least of expected a dinner date.
Still she could just say she’d changed her mind once the piano had been moved but a deal was a deal and he was a bit of a fitty.
And at the same time it was a bit different for a first date.
So she smiled to herself because she was already hoping for a second date.
(Part 04)
Nathan arrived home to find them all sitting at the kitchen table with a plateful of crumbs where a fruit cake had once stood.
Introductions were made and after another cup of tea the three men set about getting the piano down the stairs while the two sisters stood at the bottom uttering words of encouragement.
Once the piano was on the van Helen ordered Harriet back to the sofa.
“Ok bossy knickers” she muttered
“I heard that” Helen said
“You were supposed to” she retorted and Helen smiled because the afternoon’s excitement had lifted Harry’s spirits considerably.
With the piano safely delivered to the church hall Nathan said
“I can’t thank you enough”
“Our pleasure” Seb said
“Well I can’t offer you fruit cake” Nat said “But I can offer you a pint of our finest Mornington Ale, unless you’d rather go back to the Lodge”
“No fear” Ben said “the moment we walk through the door Dorcas with give us another job to do”
“Morning Ale it is then” said Nat
They stayed for two well-earned pints while Seb took the opportunity to pump Ben for information about Nellie.
Over the three weeks following the removal of the piano Harriet’s mood lightened as she realized that the enforced rest had had a positive effect on her blood pressure.
Also the removal of the piano enabled Nathan to complete the nursery, albeit under Harriet’s critical supervision.
And then towards the end of the month, with the decorating done and the furniture in place, Nell allowed Harriet to apply the finishing touches and equip the room and fill the drawers with the baby clothes.
Although Nellie stayed at the Lodge for four nights a week throughout April she didn’t run into Sebastian again until the month was almost up.
She was really flattered when he asked her out, even if it was just to go sailing, he was a good looking man, he was a real catch.
For a normally very self-confident woman Nellies had a problem which she had always had which was that she undervalued herself, massively.
She was a catch herself but she didn’t realise it.
When she was with her husband Paul, everyone told her how lucky she was and how well she had done to get herself a 10.
When in reality she was a 10 herself or at the very least a solid 9.
Harriet knew of course and told Nell that she was being silly but she never believed it.
As the month came to an end she was beginning to think Sebastian had changed his mind, which part of her was kind of hoping was the case.
She didn’t really fancy sailing even though she did fancy him.
It was Friday morning and Nellie was in reception checking out and sharing a joke with Dorcas when she spotted him walking down the stairs.
“Helen” he said “I hope you haven’t forgotten about our date”
The use of the word date was like honey to her ears and managed to dispel her apprehension of sailing.
“No not at all” she said “But if I’m going to end my days in the icy depths of the lake I would much prefer it if you call me Nellie as I sink silently from view”
“I can’t imagine you do anything quietly Nellie” he retorted
Dorcas laughed as her mind was on an entirely different plain to the other two.
“So when are we doing it?” she asked and Dorcas snorted with laughter
“Well I have to go home tonight” Nellie said “And tomorrow is laundry day”
“Ok, Sunday afternoon then”
“Perfect” she replied “shall I see you here?”
“Yes two o’clock”
She smiled and turned away but hesitated by the door and turned around again
“Sebastian?” she called “What do I wear for sailing?”
(Part 05)
Sunday afternoon fitted in perfectly for her, it gave her all day Saturday to do her housework and laundry, and she would have time on Sunday morning to worship at St Winnifred’s, then go home for lunch before driving to the Teardrop Lake.
She arrived at one thirty at the Lodge and checked in, she had already booked a room because of the events of the following day.
The first of May was also the early May Bank Holiday and was also the day that the Coopers celebrated the matriarch Lynn’s birthday.
This was marked each year with a BBQ at Coopers Villa on the southeast corner of Teardrop Lake.
The whole of the lakeside community were invited and it was the occasion the marked the beginning of summer in the same way that the annual party at the Lodge in September had always marked its end.
When she returned downstairs half an hour later she was wearing a pale blue baggy t-shirt with white cotton clam digger shorts and a pair of converse pumps.
When she arrived at the bottom of the stairs Sebastian was already waiting for her.
He was similarly dressed though he was tanned and toned and looked altogether more comfortable in shorts the she did with her pale spindly limbs.
“Hello Nellie” he said and smiled, “you look lovely”
“Thank you” she said and blushed
“How are you feeling?” he asked
“A bit nervous to be honest” she admitted
“I’ve never sailed before”
“Just put yourself in my hands” he said
“If only” Nell said inside her head
“I’ve done this before, a lot” he continued
But for Nellie the pictures inside her head bore no relation to sailing.
They walked along the jetty and he climbed down into a small single sail Dinghy and then he took her hand and helped her in.
Nellie wasn’t altogether sure she was doing the right thing when she saw how small the Dinghy was, she imagined sailing to be done in something considerably larger.
Her disquiet obviously showed in her face because he said
“If you’re nervous you can wear this”
Seb was offering her a bright yellow buoyancy aid.
She looked at it and its unflattering shape and decided that drowning was preferable to wearing something that would give her the shape of a sumo wrestler.
Not a silhouette she would want to present to a man she had the hot’s for.
“I think I can trust you” she said and handed it back to him.
It was a beautiful bright afternoon, sunny with a light breeze.
She watched him deftly handle the boat getting the most of breeze until they were fair skimming along.
They virtually had the lake to themselves apart from a couple of others, a skiff and a canoe
She had never been sailing before and she had never been out on Teardrop Lake in any kind of vessel, the lakeside scenery was spectacular.
It was quite exhilarating with the wind blowing through her brown hair and the spray cooling her face, and of course a gorgeous man at the tiller.
She really liked the latter even though they were at opposite ends of the boat.
After about thirty minutes he called
“Are you enjoying it?”
“Yes very much”
“How would you like to have a go?” he asked
“Can I?” she replied excitedly
Although the dinghy was small it was still of sufficient size to enable both of them to sit at the stern.
This meant he could supervise her and give advice and guidance and more importantly from her point of view it meant there was some bodily contact.
When they returned to the Hotel jetty they were amazed to find they had spent two and a half hours out on the water.
Sebastian was the first one off the boat and took Nellies hand and helped her out.
“I had a really great time” she said
“Me too”
There was a moment when they were face to face in the evening sunshine when they could have kissed.
They both wanted to, but he lost his nerve and unfortunately Nellie was desperate to pee and all of a sudden the moment was gone.
(Part 06)
The following day was Bank Holiday Monday, which was another glorious day, Nellie got up late.
Which meant she missed the cooked breakfast and what would prove to be more significant she didn’t get to see Sebastian.
As she was up late she was later getting to her sisters than she planned but found Harriet in great spirits.
She was very much looking forward to the afternoon’s activities.
Sebastian had to hold down the fort at the Lodge so that Dorcas and Ben could attend the BBQ at the Coopers.
It was important for them to be there as it was the first social event of the year and of their tenure as the Hoteliers and was an ideal opportunity to introduce themselves to the locals.
Rob Brown went with them partly to do the introductions but also to say his goodbyes because he had officially signed over the lease for the Hotel that morning.
Nellie attended the party, which was one of the occasions of the year, with Nathan and Harriet primarily to ensure the latter behaved herself, she needn’t have been concerned because every woman from the Teardrop community fussed and fawned around her all afternoon like she was royalty.
The second reason was that she was almost certain Sebastian would be there and she very much wanted to see him.
When she saw the Overton’s had arrived her heart skipped a beat but subsequently sank heavily when she realized Sebastian wasn’t in attendance.
“Hi Dorcas” she said brightly and tried to sound as casual as possible “Seb not with you?”
Dorcas wasn’t fooled for a second by Nellies cool demeanour and said
“No we left him in charge of the Lodge”
Rob didn’t stay at the party for long as he found it too emotional and soon returned to the Lodge to relieve Sebastian.
He knew he was keen to attend if only to track down the beautiful girl he had been sailing with the day before.
After a couple of hours and several large glasses of wine at the Coopers, Nellie made her excuses, claiming she was going for a walk to clear her head.
Dorcas of course knew precisely in which direction she was going to be walking and what was fogging up her head.
Nellie walked briskly along the southern road all the while running through her head the brief dialog they would share before he took her in his arms and kissed her.
Just about the precise moment that Nellie walked into reception at the Shallowfield Lodge to find Sebastian wasn’t there, he was tying up the Hotel Skiff to the Coopers Jetty.
All the while she was walking along the south road running scenarios through her head he was cruising in the opposite direction in search of her.
Not realizing he had gone to fine her, she turned and left the Hotel and by the time she had reached the road again she was crying.
Sebastian left the party almost as soon as he arrived, once he had spoken to his sister.
He decided to leave the skiff and walk, fearful he would miss her again.
If she hadn’t got up late that morning they would have made a plan for the day, not that it was her fault.
He virtually yomped down the road wishing he had left her a note or asked Dorcas to give her a message, he kicked himself for his stupidly.
This was exactly the way misunderstandings began.
Of course none of this would have happened if he’d had the courage of his convictions and been more decisive the day before.
He was just cursing his cowardice under his breath when his eye was drawn to something in the woods.
(Part 07)
Nellie was crying for a variety of reasons, firstly she was crying because she’d made a fool of herself.
Because she was disappointed, because she got her hopes up, because it wasn’t supposed to have worked out that way.
She was upset at herself for opening up for the sake of a guy who looked good, even though he looked very good indeed.
“This is not why you came here” she said to herself crossly and promptly cried again
But most of all she was crying because she just wanted to be with someone and she thought he was a prime candidate.
Dorcas told her he was holding the fort and all the time he was off with some floozy.
She then descended into great gasping sobs so she took herself into the trees and sat on a log and let it all out.
Sebastian found her sitting there and the sight almost broke his heart.
“Hey what’s wrong?” He asked and sat next to her and put a reassuring arm around her shoulder.
“You weren’t there” she sobbed and buried her face in his chest
“I wasn’t where?” he asked
“At the Hotel” she said “I went to surprise you at the Hotel and you weren’t there”
“I know” Seb said “I went to the party to find you”
“You did?”
He nodded
“And I wasn’t there”
He nodded again
She stopped crying and wiped away the tears with a delicate hand.
"I'm sorry," she said
"Don't be," Seb said "It's me who should be apologizing”
Nellie just gazed up at him through tear filled eyes
“I thought you must have gotten a better offer and gone off with someone else”
“I didn’t get a better offer” she said with childish alarm “I didn’t get an offer at all, honest I didn’t”
"I was only kidding" he reassured her
“Oh” she responded and blushed which was when he kissed her for the first time.
They walked back to the Hotel first so that Nellie could attend to her tearstained face.
They could have gone to her room together and spent the afternoon together.
And it wasn’t diffidence, shyness or a lack of courage that prevented them from doing so, they both wanted to wait until the time was right.
They had both had highs and lows in relationships but they both felt the first time should be special.
Nellie particularly wanted to wait until she was less emotional, clear headed and sober.
After Nell had freshened up and restored her makeup they walked slowly back to the party hand in hand.
Inside the house, Lynn supplied them with fresh drinks and the first people they saw when they emerged outside onto the patio were Dorcas and Ben.
Dorcas immediately spotted the fact they were holding hands, she smiled and said
“You found each other then?”
Nellie looked down at their joined hands giggled and blushed before taking a generous slurp on her wine.
“Aren’t you driving home tonight?” Dorcas asked
“Ah” Nellie exclaimed looking guiltily at her glass
“Should I book you in for another night?”
“What a good idea” She concurred and took another slurp.
About half an hour later Nathan appeared
“Hey Nell, I’m going to take Harriet home she’s starting to flag”
“Is she going to be alright walking home?” Nellie asked with concern “it’s a long walk”
“We’ll just have to take it slowly”
“We can drop you at the West Cliff Jetty” Seb suggested
“Great idea” Nellie said and took the opportunity to kiss him
There were six of them in the skiff, the Robinsons, the Overton’s and Nell and Seb.
“I’d better go with them” Nellie said concerned at how drained Harriet looked
“Don’t fuss” Harry responded “I’ve had a really lovely time, I’m just a little tired”
Sebastian drew alongside the jetty and he and Ben steadied the ship as the Robinsons and Nell disembarked
“Dinner tonight?” Sebastian said looking up at Nell
“Of course” she replied and bent down and kissed him
Ben Overton was a little tipsy and when the skiff got underway He said
“Go west young man”
And stood in the prow like George Washington crossing the Potomac and added
“It’s the end with the biggest jetty”
“Don’t say that, you’ll give people Jetty envy” Sebastian said
Nathan and Nellie walked Harriet slowly up the hill to the cottage and got her straight to bed.
After a fortifying and refreshing mug of tea Nellie went back to the Hotel.
And had supper with Sebastian at the Hotel, but because they both had early starts the next day it wasn’t a late one.
(Part 08)
Once Nathan had finished at University and Nell was only helping out with Harriet one day a week she had to spend the other 5 days working with Claire Pollard ensuring all the appointments were covered while staff were on leave, so it didn’t leave much time left for dating.
Sebastian was also tied up with work it was a very busy time for him at Dulcets farm, where he had a small holding, situated between Mornington and Purplemere.
So it wasn’t until June, perfect June, or to be more precise a perfect day in June, when love bloomed between them and they made love for the first time.
Sebastian and Helen were out on the lake on another perfect June day and they had the whole lake to themselves.
In fact the only other vessel they had seen all day was Coleman Bowers on the Hotel Skiff delivering the mail.
It was a Wednesday afternoon and they both agreed it was a perfect day because that was the day Sebastian said for the first time
“I love you”
“I love you too” she replied and they kissed and the perfection of the moment was only broken by her mobile phone ringing.
This was particularly annoying because mobile phone reception around the lake had been patchy and sporadic for over a week after a falling tree had damaged the local tower.
Prompt repair had then been hampered by a bureaucratic row as to who should pay for it.
The fact that it chose to ring at the very moment they were expressing their love for each other was very vexing indeed.
“Shall I throw it overboard” she suggested
“I would check to see who it is first” he said sensibly
She kissed him as a reward for his wisdom and then looked at the caller ID which caused her expression to change
“Nathan?”
He could tell by her grave expression that it was not good news so he set the sail, there were then a succession of nods and accenting grunts until she said
“Ok” and hung up
“Harry’s gone into labour” she screamed
“And they can’t reach anyone on the phone”
“We need to get to shore as soon as possible” he mused and headed for Forest Lodge.
They were as near to their shore as any other and they had the prevailing wind at their backs plus they had seen the Lutchford’s no more than an hour earlier sitting on the bank soaking their feet in the lake and Claire Lutchford was a doctor.
The Lake community was teeming with medical professionals but at 3 o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon they were all gainfully employed and or un-contactable.
It took about 30 seconds to brief Claire who quickly got her medical bag.
Unfortunately she couldn’t take her car because the maintenance crew had chosen that precise moment to affect a repair on the damaged phone tower crew and their cherry picker was blocking the lane and the Latchford’s drive.
The engineers had asked if it would be ok and as it was Claire’s day off and her and Peter had no plans to go anywhere she said it was fine.
“They’ll be about half an hour” Peter said
“That’s no good” Claire retorted
“You take them across the lake in the skiff” Peter told Sebastian
“I’ll stay here until they’ve finished and I can get the car out”
“Ok” Seb agreed
Once they were underway Peter shouted
“When you’ve dropped them off go and ring for an ambulance”
Sebastian waved in acknowledgement and then squeezed every last ounce of speed out of the skiffs motor.
He dropped Claire and Nellie on the West jetty and turned immediately towards the Lodge.
Claire and Nellie made the journey up to the cottage in double quick time and were sweating profusely when they arrived to be greeted by an anxious Nathan.
Harriet was upstairs and in the bedroom and Claire went straight up
“I know the way” she said, which she did as she had lived there herself when she first moved to the Lake
A few moments later she appeared at the top of the stairs and called
“Come on Helen we have a baby to deliver”
“But I’m a chiropodist” Nell replied
“And I’m a doctor but today we’re both midwives” Claire said
“Come on Dad, there’s hand holding to do”
At about the same moment Sebastian reached the Hotel and ran straight to reception and dialed 999.
He then waited in the lane, where the River ran parallel to it, for the paramedics to arrive so he could direct them to the cottage.
“That’s it sweetheart just one more push” Claire said which was followed briefly by a yell and hearty baby cries.
“I think it must be that way” Sebastian said and pointed up the stairs
The paramedics, Andy Mason and Sam Liburd went upstairs and a few moments later Nellie came running down them.
“I’m an aunty” she squealed and jumped into Seb’s arms
Because of Harriet’s pre-eclampsia and the baby’s premature arrival they had to go in the ambulance to hospital but were home two weeks later with a clean bill of health and the proud parents brought Sabrina Claire Robinson home to the lake.
And a year after Nellie became Sabrina’s aunty, Sebastian became her uncle.
Nathan and Harriet Robinson lived in number 1, Folly Cottages overlooking Teardrop Lake.
Nathan was a Professor of Music at Abbottsford University and
Harriet had taken the job as Phlebotomist at the Dancingdean Health Centre in Shallowfield.
When they moved to Teardrop they had been together for over 7 years and married for 6, Harry was fast approaching her 37th birthday and she was convinced she could literally hear her biological clock ticking.
They had been trying for a family ever since they were married but it just wasn’t happening for them.
Nathan loved her very much but he didn’t feel the same time pressure that his wife did but he was desperate to make her happy.
They had undergone all the tests imaginable but there was nothing physically wrong with either of them and everything was in good working order.
And a lack of trying was also not the problem and the love making was as great as it had always been and they didn’t stint on the quantity,
But it was all to no avail, but it didn’t prevent them from trying.
They had lived there for a year and had just about come to terms with the fact they would never have a child when a week before Christmas they discovered Harry had fallen pregnant.
And following the wonderful news they had the most joyful Christmas they had ever had.
The Baby was due in July and they had been wracking their brains from the moment in December it was confirmed she was pregnant.
But they could not settle on a name, male or female.
They weren’t the sort of people who wanted to pass on their own names to their offspring and nor were they keen to inflict their parents’ names on them.
And there was no tradition in either of their families to pass down a particular name.
That was the first problem they faced as parents in waiting and as it turned out it was the least traumatic.
The second was more of a problem for Nathan than his wife.
When they first moved in to the cottage and the removal men carried in the piano Harriet said
“Oh I forgot about that”
“Don’t worry” Nathan replied
“It can go in the spare room until we need it as a nursery”
That proved sufficient to distract her with the thought of motherhood until one day in February when Harriet said suddenly
“You need to move the piano”
It was at breakfast a few weeks later when Harriet said
“You still haven’t moved the piano”
“I’m putting an ad in the Chronicle” he replied
That was the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle the editor of which, Richard Grimwood, lived on the lake.
“Here have a look” he said and handed her his tablet.
“Piano for Sale only used for Chopin” she read and rolled her eyes
“That won’t work” she said “Anyone who understands that will already own a piano”
“But it’s a Rosewood, Chappell & Co Upright Piano, I want it to go to a good home” he retorted
“I know it means a lot to you” she said sympathetically “But...”
“Don’t say that it’s only a piano” he said “I picked it up at a car boot sale of all places, of course when I say I picked it up, I didn’t actually “pick it up” as I didn’t have a car at the time, I was only just 18”
“So how did you get it home?” she asked
“Graham, the guy who was selling it agreed to drop it at my building, he even helped me get it into the flat” he said “It means a lot to me”
“So don’t sell it” Harriet said
“But we can’t keep it” he said
“Donate it to the church then” she said
“The church hall desperately needs a new one, you’ve often complained about their instrument and that way you will still get to play it”
“You know you’re quite bright for a bloodsucker” he said and kissed her.
(Part 02)
The third problem they faced that year was altogether more serious and not so easily cured.
At the end of March Harriet started getting severe headaches and blurred vision.
At first she thought it must have been a migraine, even though she’d never suffered from them before.
It was only when her feet swelled up and she started to get pain just below her ribs that she was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, that was three weeks later.
“You need to take it easy from now on” Dr Lutchford said and she was put on immediate leave.
“I’ll be fine” she protested
“You’ll be fine when we get you blood pressure under control and that won’t happen with you still working” Claire said, drawing a line under the discussion once and for all.
So despite her protestations the decision was made for her to stay at home, but that was not a cure-all.
Because confining Harriet to quarters was one thing, however getting her to rest, was another proposition entirely.
Nathan was unable to get any significant time off until May so he had to make a phone call to Harriet’s younger sister Nell, or as Harry preferred to call her “Bossy knickers”.
Nellie’s real name was Hannah Helen Hanson but that was before she married Paul Rees, after the divorce she dumped the husband but kept his name.
She was 3 years younger than her sister and like Harriet she was also in the medical profession though Nellie didn’t work for the NHS.
Helen Rees was a Chiropodist and had her own practice in Purplemere.
Also like her sister she was a willowy beauty with dark brown hair, Harriet wore hers bobbed and Nellie wore hers shoulder length.
The main reason Nathan chose Helen over anyone else to babysit his wife was because she was the only person he knew who would give Harriet as good as she got.
Until the semester was over and Nathan could take care of Harry himself it was down to Nelly.
The spare room was uninhabitable as Nathan was in the middle of turning it into the nursery, plus the piano was still in there, much to Harriet’s annoyance.
She was only needed Monday to Friday as Nathan was home weekends and although she only lived in Mornington she decided to stay at the cottage.
After two nights sleeping on the sofa however she decided to book into the Shallowfield Lodge.
She would probably have stuck it out for one more night on the sofa if Harriet wasn’t being quite so difficult a patient.
She would have taken her leave almost as soon as Nathan stepped through the door but stayed for supper.
“Hi Darling” Nat said kissing Harry’s cheek “How’s your blood pressure?”
“My blood pressure would be a damn sight lower if you were to get rid of the bloody piano” she retorted
“Ok” he said and raised his eye brows in Nellies direction “Hi Nell”
Nathan helped his sister in law get the dinner ready and asked
“Has she been like that all day?”
“No” she replied “just the last couple of hours”
“I’m sorry” he said
“Don’t be silly, I’d normally take it in my stride but I’m so tired” she said
But at least she would sleep well that night.
They both understood Harriet’s ill humour, which was completely out of character for her, and it was not because she’d been ordered to rest and be “baby sat” by her baby sister.
It wasn’t even the blessed piano, Harriet’s problem was that she was scared, scared that after waiting so long to fall pregnant she was going to lose the baby.
The Shallowfield Lodge Hotel was under new management since the death of Sheryl Brown earlier in the year.
Nellie had stayed their once before with her ex-husband and even though it was more than 10 years earlier she remembered Sheryl very well.
Her replacements were Dorcas Overton and her husband Ben and the former was on reception when she checked in.
She woke up early the next morning suitably refreshed after a very good night’s sleep.
In fact she was up so early she was showered, dressed and downstairs in plenty of time to indulge herself with a full English breakfast.
(Part 03)
Nellie was in reception talking to Dorcas as she was checking out.
“I hope you enjoyed your stay” Dorcas said as a green panel van liveried with “Fox-Martin Organics” pulled up to the front door.
“Yes” she replied as she watched a tall ruggedly good looking man get out of the van and head towards the door.
“And the scenery is very pleasing to the eye”
“Yes but my brother is only visiting” Dorcas said and laughed
“Your brother?” she asked mortified “I’m so sorry”
“Don’t be” she said “he is a fairly good looking”
A second man got out of the passenger side and also headed for the door.
“Is that another brother?” Nell asked
“No” she replied “Husband”
Dorcas then went on to explain that they were completing the sale of their cottage at the end of the month and her brother Sebastian was helping Ben move the last of their stuff out.
Which was when an idea dawned on her and she asked Dorcas for a favour.
Nell was going to stay at the lodge for four nights a week for the remainder of the month which was when Nathan finished University for the summer.
After that she was going to help out one day a week to give Nathan a chance to get out of the cottage, do some shopping or just go to the woods and scream.
She couldn’t spare more than a day a week in the summer as she had to keep her own business going.
She was able to take a prolonged leave in April with the help and goodwill of her staff, who covered for her, but once the summer was upon them she had to help cover for them when they wanted time off.
Nellie had built up a very successful business and she had a good customer base, fortunately a lot of the “well healed” in the district had appalling feet.
Thankfully in the January she had taken on a new practitioner, a Canadian girl a few years younger than her called Claire Pollard, and she had proved to be invaluable and very supportive, as she possessed an immensely strong work ethic
Claire had also become one of her closest friends and she also lived in Mornington, so she was a friend and neighbour.
On Teardrop Lake it was just after 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon when there was a knock on the Cottage door.
Harriet moved to get up but Nellie just gave her a withering stare and she reluctantly sank back into the cushions wearing a scowl.
When she pulled open the door she discovered the tall rugged looking bloke from that morning and a slightly shorter man at his shoulder.
“Hi” he said “Are you Helen?”
“I am and you are?”
“Sebastian” he replied “and this is Ben, Dorcas said you had something you wanted moving”
“I have, at least the lady of the house does” she replied “come in and have a look”
After briefly introducing them to Harriet, who seemed extremely pleased to see them even before she knew why they were there and Helen took them upstairs to look at the Piano.
“Now I understand why Dorcas didn’t say what it was” Ben said
“Can you help?” Helen said looking up at Sebastian with pleading eyes “it’s only got to go to the church hall”
“Well only if you do something in return for me” Seb said
“Oh yes and what might that be?” she asked suspiciously
“Well I’ll be staying at the Lodge for a few days at the end of the month” he said “come sailing with me”
“Is that it?” she asked warily
“Yes” he replied
“Oh ok then” she agreed
“Great” he said “Now we will need another pair of hands, when is the man of the house back”
“Just after 4” a voice called from below.
“And there’s Tea and cake in the kitchen”
“Tea and cake it is then” Ben said
“I’ll kill that woman” Nell muttered under her breath as she followed the men down the stairs.
Nell wasn’t sure what to think about being asked to go sailing, it was very pleasing to have got his attention, but she would have at the very least of expected a dinner date.
Still she could just say she’d changed her mind once the piano had been moved but a deal was a deal and he was a bit of a fitty.
And at the same time it was a bit different for a first date.
So she smiled to herself because she was already hoping for a second date.
(Part 04)
Nathan arrived home to find them all sitting at the kitchen table with a plateful of crumbs where a fruit cake had once stood.
Introductions were made and after another cup of tea the three men set about getting the piano down the stairs while the two sisters stood at the bottom uttering words of encouragement.
Once the piano was on the van Helen ordered Harriet back to the sofa.
“Ok bossy knickers” she muttered
“I heard that” Helen said
“You were supposed to” she retorted and Helen smiled because the afternoon’s excitement had lifted Harry’s spirits considerably.
With the piano safely delivered to the church hall Nathan said
“I can’t thank you enough”
“Our pleasure” Seb said
“Well I can’t offer you fruit cake” Nat said “But I can offer you a pint of our finest Mornington Ale, unless you’d rather go back to the Lodge”
“No fear” Ben said “the moment we walk through the door Dorcas with give us another job to do”
“Morning Ale it is then” said Nat
They stayed for two well-earned pints while Seb took the opportunity to pump Ben for information about Nellie.
Over the three weeks following the removal of the piano Harriet’s mood lightened as she realized that the enforced rest had had a positive effect on her blood pressure.
Also the removal of the piano enabled Nathan to complete the nursery, albeit under Harriet’s critical supervision.
And then towards the end of the month, with the decorating done and the furniture in place, Nell allowed Harriet to apply the finishing touches and equip the room and fill the drawers with the baby clothes.
Although Nellie stayed at the Lodge for four nights a week throughout April she didn’t run into Sebastian again until the month was almost up.
She was really flattered when he asked her out, even if it was just to go sailing, he was a good looking man, he was a real catch.
For a normally very self-confident woman Nellies had a problem which she had always had which was that she undervalued herself, massively.
She was a catch herself but she didn’t realise it.
When she was with her husband Paul, everyone told her how lucky she was and how well she had done to get herself a 10.
When in reality she was a 10 herself or at the very least a solid 9.
Harriet knew of course and told Nell that she was being silly but she never believed it.
As the month came to an end she was beginning to think Sebastian had changed his mind, which part of her was kind of hoping was the case.
She didn’t really fancy sailing even though she did fancy him.
It was Friday morning and Nellie was in reception checking out and sharing a joke with Dorcas when she spotted him walking down the stairs.
“Helen” he said “I hope you haven’t forgotten about our date”
The use of the word date was like honey to her ears and managed to dispel her apprehension of sailing.
“No not at all” she said “But if I’m going to end my days in the icy depths of the lake I would much prefer it if you call me Nellie as I sink silently from view”
“I can’t imagine you do anything quietly Nellie” he retorted
Dorcas laughed as her mind was on an entirely different plain to the other two.
“So when are we doing it?” she asked and Dorcas snorted with laughter
“Well I have to go home tonight” Nellie said “And tomorrow is laundry day”
“Ok, Sunday afternoon then”
“Perfect” she replied “shall I see you here?”
“Yes two o’clock”
She smiled and turned away but hesitated by the door and turned around again
“Sebastian?” she called “What do I wear for sailing?”
(Part 05)
Sunday afternoon fitted in perfectly for her, it gave her all day Saturday to do her housework and laundry, and she would have time on Sunday morning to worship at St Winnifred’s, then go home for lunch before driving to the Teardrop Lake.
She arrived at one thirty at the Lodge and checked in, she had already booked a room because of the events of the following day.
The first of May was also the early May Bank Holiday and was also the day that the Coopers celebrated the matriarch Lynn’s birthday.
This was marked each year with a BBQ at Coopers Villa on the southeast corner of Teardrop Lake.
The whole of the lakeside community were invited and it was the occasion the marked the beginning of summer in the same way that the annual party at the Lodge in September had always marked its end.
When she returned downstairs half an hour later she was wearing a pale blue baggy t-shirt with white cotton clam digger shorts and a pair of converse pumps.
When she arrived at the bottom of the stairs Sebastian was already waiting for her.
He was similarly dressed though he was tanned and toned and looked altogether more comfortable in shorts the she did with her pale spindly limbs.
“Hello Nellie” he said and smiled, “you look lovely”
“Thank you” she said and blushed
“How are you feeling?” he asked
“A bit nervous to be honest” she admitted
“I’ve never sailed before”
“Just put yourself in my hands” he said
“If only” Nell said inside her head
“I’ve done this before, a lot” he continued
But for Nellie the pictures inside her head bore no relation to sailing.
They walked along the jetty and he climbed down into a small single sail Dinghy and then he took her hand and helped her in.
Nellie wasn’t altogether sure she was doing the right thing when she saw how small the Dinghy was, she imagined sailing to be done in something considerably larger.
Her disquiet obviously showed in her face because he said
“If you’re nervous you can wear this”
Seb was offering her a bright yellow buoyancy aid.
She looked at it and its unflattering shape and decided that drowning was preferable to wearing something that would give her the shape of a sumo wrestler.
Not a silhouette she would want to present to a man she had the hot’s for.
“I think I can trust you” she said and handed it back to him.
It was a beautiful bright afternoon, sunny with a light breeze.
She watched him deftly handle the boat getting the most of breeze until they were fair skimming along.
They virtually had the lake to themselves apart from a couple of others, a skiff and a canoe
She had never been sailing before and she had never been out on Teardrop Lake in any kind of vessel, the lakeside scenery was spectacular.
It was quite exhilarating with the wind blowing through her brown hair and the spray cooling her face, and of course a gorgeous man at the tiller.
She really liked the latter even though they were at opposite ends of the boat.
After about thirty minutes he called
“Are you enjoying it?”
“Yes very much”
“How would you like to have a go?” he asked
“Can I?” she replied excitedly
Although the dinghy was small it was still of sufficient size to enable both of them to sit at the stern.
This meant he could supervise her and give advice and guidance and more importantly from her point of view it meant there was some bodily contact.
When they returned to the Hotel jetty they were amazed to find they had spent two and a half hours out on the water.
Sebastian was the first one off the boat and took Nellies hand and helped her out.
“I had a really great time” she said
“Me too”
There was a moment when they were face to face in the evening sunshine when they could have kissed.
They both wanted to, but he lost his nerve and unfortunately Nellie was desperate to pee and all of a sudden the moment was gone.
(Part 06)
The following day was Bank Holiday Monday, which was another glorious day, Nellie got up late.
Which meant she missed the cooked breakfast and what would prove to be more significant she didn’t get to see Sebastian.
As she was up late she was later getting to her sisters than she planned but found Harriet in great spirits.
She was very much looking forward to the afternoon’s activities.
Sebastian had to hold down the fort at the Lodge so that Dorcas and Ben could attend the BBQ at the Coopers.
It was important for them to be there as it was the first social event of the year and of their tenure as the Hoteliers and was an ideal opportunity to introduce themselves to the locals.
Rob Brown went with them partly to do the introductions but also to say his goodbyes because he had officially signed over the lease for the Hotel that morning.
Nellie attended the party, which was one of the occasions of the year, with Nathan and Harriet primarily to ensure the latter behaved herself, she needn’t have been concerned because every woman from the Teardrop community fussed and fawned around her all afternoon like she was royalty.
The second reason was that she was almost certain Sebastian would be there and she very much wanted to see him.
When she saw the Overton’s had arrived her heart skipped a beat but subsequently sank heavily when she realized Sebastian wasn’t in attendance.
“Hi Dorcas” she said brightly and tried to sound as casual as possible “Seb not with you?”
Dorcas wasn’t fooled for a second by Nellies cool demeanour and said
“No we left him in charge of the Lodge”
Rob didn’t stay at the party for long as he found it too emotional and soon returned to the Lodge to relieve Sebastian.
He knew he was keen to attend if only to track down the beautiful girl he had been sailing with the day before.
After a couple of hours and several large glasses of wine at the Coopers, Nellie made her excuses, claiming she was going for a walk to clear her head.
Dorcas of course knew precisely in which direction she was going to be walking and what was fogging up her head.
Nellie walked briskly along the southern road all the while running through her head the brief dialog they would share before he took her in his arms and kissed her.
Just about the precise moment that Nellie walked into reception at the Shallowfield Lodge to find Sebastian wasn’t there, he was tying up the Hotel Skiff to the Coopers Jetty.
All the while she was walking along the south road running scenarios through her head he was cruising in the opposite direction in search of her.
Not realizing he had gone to fine her, she turned and left the Hotel and by the time she had reached the road again she was crying.
Sebastian left the party almost as soon as he arrived, once he had spoken to his sister.
He decided to leave the skiff and walk, fearful he would miss her again.
If she hadn’t got up late that morning they would have made a plan for the day, not that it was her fault.
He virtually yomped down the road wishing he had left her a note or asked Dorcas to give her a message, he kicked himself for his stupidly.
This was exactly the way misunderstandings began.
Of course none of this would have happened if he’d had the courage of his convictions and been more decisive the day before.
He was just cursing his cowardice under his breath when his eye was drawn to something in the woods.
(Part 07)
Nellie was crying for a variety of reasons, firstly she was crying because she’d made a fool of herself.
Because she was disappointed, because she got her hopes up, because it wasn’t supposed to have worked out that way.
She was upset at herself for opening up for the sake of a guy who looked good, even though he looked very good indeed.
“This is not why you came here” she said to herself crossly and promptly cried again
But most of all she was crying because she just wanted to be with someone and she thought he was a prime candidate.
Dorcas told her he was holding the fort and all the time he was off with some floozy.
She then descended into great gasping sobs so she took herself into the trees and sat on a log and let it all out.
Sebastian found her sitting there and the sight almost broke his heart.
“Hey what’s wrong?” He asked and sat next to her and put a reassuring arm around her shoulder.
“You weren’t there” she sobbed and buried her face in his chest
“I wasn’t where?” he asked
“At the Hotel” she said “I went to surprise you at the Hotel and you weren’t there”
“I know” Seb said “I went to the party to find you”
“You did?”
He nodded
“And I wasn’t there”
He nodded again
She stopped crying and wiped away the tears with a delicate hand.
"I'm sorry," she said
"Don't be," Seb said "It's me who should be apologizing”
Nellie just gazed up at him through tear filled eyes
“I thought you must have gotten a better offer and gone off with someone else”
“I didn’t get a better offer” she said with childish alarm “I didn’t get an offer at all, honest I didn’t”
"I was only kidding" he reassured her
“Oh” she responded and blushed which was when he kissed her for the first time.
They walked back to the Hotel first so that Nellie could attend to her tearstained face.
They could have gone to her room together and spent the afternoon together.
And it wasn’t diffidence, shyness or a lack of courage that prevented them from doing so, they both wanted to wait until the time was right.
They had both had highs and lows in relationships but they both felt the first time should be special.
Nellie particularly wanted to wait until she was less emotional, clear headed and sober.
After Nell had freshened up and restored her makeup they walked slowly back to the party hand in hand.
Inside the house, Lynn supplied them with fresh drinks and the first people they saw when they emerged outside onto the patio were Dorcas and Ben.
Dorcas immediately spotted the fact they were holding hands, she smiled and said
“You found each other then?”
Nellie looked down at their joined hands giggled and blushed before taking a generous slurp on her wine.
“Aren’t you driving home tonight?” Dorcas asked
“Ah” Nellie exclaimed looking guiltily at her glass
“Should I book you in for another night?”
“What a good idea” She concurred and took another slurp.
About half an hour later Nathan appeared
“Hey Nell, I’m going to take Harriet home she’s starting to flag”
“Is she going to be alright walking home?” Nellie asked with concern “it’s a long walk”
“We’ll just have to take it slowly”
“We can drop you at the West Cliff Jetty” Seb suggested
“Great idea” Nellie said and took the opportunity to kiss him
There were six of them in the skiff, the Robinsons, the Overton’s and Nell and Seb.
“I’d better go with them” Nellie said concerned at how drained Harriet looked
“Don’t fuss” Harry responded “I’ve had a really lovely time, I’m just a little tired”
Sebastian drew alongside the jetty and he and Ben steadied the ship as the Robinsons and Nell disembarked
“Dinner tonight?” Sebastian said looking up at Nell
“Of course” she replied and bent down and kissed him
Ben Overton was a little tipsy and when the skiff got underway He said
“Go west young man”
And stood in the prow like George Washington crossing the Potomac and added
“It’s the end with the biggest jetty”
“Don’t say that, you’ll give people Jetty envy” Sebastian said
Nathan and Nellie walked Harriet slowly up the hill to the cottage and got her straight to bed.
After a fortifying and refreshing mug of tea Nellie went back to the Hotel.
And had supper with Sebastian at the Hotel, but because they both had early starts the next day it wasn’t a late one.
(Part 08)
Once Nathan had finished at University and Nell was only helping out with Harriet one day a week she had to spend the other 5 days working with Claire Pollard ensuring all the appointments were covered while staff were on leave, so it didn’t leave much time left for dating.
Sebastian was also tied up with work it was a very busy time for him at Dulcets farm, where he had a small holding, situated between Mornington and Purplemere.
So it wasn’t until June, perfect June, or to be more precise a perfect day in June, when love bloomed between them and they made love for the first time.
Sebastian and Helen were out on the lake on another perfect June day and they had the whole lake to themselves.
In fact the only other vessel they had seen all day was Coleman Bowers on the Hotel Skiff delivering the mail.
It was a Wednesday afternoon and they both agreed it was a perfect day because that was the day Sebastian said for the first time
“I love you”
“I love you too” she replied and they kissed and the perfection of the moment was only broken by her mobile phone ringing.
This was particularly annoying because mobile phone reception around the lake had been patchy and sporadic for over a week after a falling tree had damaged the local tower.
Prompt repair had then been hampered by a bureaucratic row as to who should pay for it.
The fact that it chose to ring at the very moment they were expressing their love for each other was very vexing indeed.
“Shall I throw it overboard” she suggested
“I would check to see who it is first” he said sensibly
She kissed him as a reward for his wisdom and then looked at the caller ID which caused her expression to change
“Nathan?”
He could tell by her grave expression that it was not good news so he set the sail, there were then a succession of nods and accenting grunts until she said
“Ok” and hung up
“Harry’s gone into labour” she screamed
“And they can’t reach anyone on the phone”
“We need to get to shore as soon as possible” he mused and headed for Forest Lodge.
They were as near to their shore as any other and they had the prevailing wind at their backs plus they had seen the Lutchford’s no more than an hour earlier sitting on the bank soaking their feet in the lake and Claire Lutchford was a doctor.
The Lake community was teeming with medical professionals but at 3 o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon they were all gainfully employed and or un-contactable.
It took about 30 seconds to brief Claire who quickly got her medical bag.
Unfortunately she couldn’t take her car because the maintenance crew had chosen that precise moment to affect a repair on the damaged phone tower crew and their cherry picker was blocking the lane and the Latchford’s drive.
The engineers had asked if it would be ok and as it was Claire’s day off and her and Peter had no plans to go anywhere she said it was fine.
“They’ll be about half an hour” Peter said
“That’s no good” Claire retorted
“You take them across the lake in the skiff” Peter told Sebastian
“I’ll stay here until they’ve finished and I can get the car out”
“Ok” Seb agreed
Once they were underway Peter shouted
“When you’ve dropped them off go and ring for an ambulance”
Sebastian waved in acknowledgement and then squeezed every last ounce of speed out of the skiffs motor.
He dropped Claire and Nellie on the West jetty and turned immediately towards the Lodge.
Claire and Nellie made the journey up to the cottage in double quick time and were sweating profusely when they arrived to be greeted by an anxious Nathan.
Harriet was upstairs and in the bedroom and Claire went straight up
“I know the way” she said, which she did as she had lived there herself when she first moved to the Lake
A few moments later she appeared at the top of the stairs and called
“Come on Helen we have a baby to deliver”
“But I’m a chiropodist” Nell replied
“And I’m a doctor but today we’re both midwives” Claire said
“Come on Dad, there’s hand holding to do”
At about the same moment Sebastian reached the Hotel and ran straight to reception and dialed 999.
He then waited in the lane, where the River ran parallel to it, for the paramedics to arrive so he could direct them to the cottage.
“That’s it sweetheart just one more push” Claire said which was followed briefly by a yell and hearty baby cries.
“I think it must be that way” Sebastian said and pointed up the stairs
The paramedics, Andy Mason and Sam Liburd went upstairs and a few moments later Nellie came running down them.
“I’m an aunty” she squealed and jumped into Seb’s arms
Because of Harriet’s pre-eclampsia and the baby’s premature arrival they had to go in the ambulance to hospital but were home two weeks later with a clean bill of health and the proud parents brought Sabrina Claire Robinson home to the lake.
And a year after Nellie became Sabrina’s aunty, Sebastian became her uncle.
Sunday, 12 February 2017
Love Collection # 2
THE GIFT
If I could, I would bring you such a gift
That would see your spirits lift
And up to heaven you would soar
So I could be with you once more
And I could tell you to let go
Let all the bitter tears flow
Like the late September rain
So that you can learn to love again
That is the gift that I would give
Because I want to see you live
WILL MY PLEA ABOVE
Will my plea above
To gladden and cheer
My ardent call for love
Fall on deafened ear
Is there not but one
Who will hear my plea
And fill me with joy
Please, please hear me
Don’t leave me all alone
Let me share my love
Please have mercy
Oh hear my plea above
Take heed of my plea
Just another soul to love
Gentle and replete
And as precious as a dove
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE
When you love someone
And you know that they love you,
When they speak your name
It no longer sounds the same
IT ISN’T LOVE
It isn’t love, when you kiss all the time
Lust is what that is
The bits in between the kissing
Now that’s where the love is
I LOVE YOU IS SOMETHING
”I love you” is something
You should only say
If you mean it
But if you mean it
When you say it
Say it all the time
In case she forgets it
THE END
I knew this time would come
I knew there would be an end
So don’t try to justify yourself
And no we can’t still be friends
LITTLE MARY
Little Mary
Neat and petite
A little angel
Short and sweet
Little Mary
Hold my hand
As we walk
Along the Strand
Little Mary
Give me a kiss
On your sweet lips
My little miss
Little Mary
Here’s my heart
Its not much
But it’s a start
Little Mary
Take my hand
Then you can wear
My wedding band
SILKEN
Beneath my fingers, Her
Skin, quivering, simpering,
Was like living silk
IS IT THE RIGHT TIME?
I’m not sure I’m ready to say it
But I know I really feel it
So I will tell you that I love you
And hope that you love me too
If I could, I would bring you such a gift
That would see your spirits lift
And up to heaven you would soar
So I could be with you once more
And I could tell you to let go
Let all the bitter tears flow
Like the late September rain
So that you can learn to love again
That is the gift that I would give
Because I want to see you live
WILL MY PLEA ABOVE
Will my plea above
To gladden and cheer
My ardent call for love
Fall on deafened ear
Is there not but one
Who will hear my plea
And fill me with joy
Please, please hear me
Don’t leave me all alone
Let me share my love
Please have mercy
Oh hear my plea above
Take heed of my plea
Just another soul to love
Gentle and replete
And as precious as a dove
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE
When you love someone
And you know that they love you,
When they speak your name
It no longer sounds the same
IT ISN’T LOVE
It isn’t love, when you kiss all the time
Lust is what that is
The bits in between the kissing
Now that’s where the love is
I LOVE YOU IS SOMETHING
”I love you” is something
You should only say
If you mean it
But if you mean it
When you say it
Say it all the time
In case she forgets it
THE END
I knew this time would come
I knew there would be an end
So don’t try to justify yourself
And no we can’t still be friends
LITTLE MARY
Little Mary
Neat and petite
A little angel
Short and sweet
Little Mary
Hold my hand
As we walk
Along the Strand
Little Mary
Give me a kiss
On your sweet lips
My little miss
Little Mary
Here’s my heart
Its not much
But it’s a start
Little Mary
Take my hand
Then you can wear
My wedding band
SILKEN
Beneath my fingers, Her
Skin, quivering, simpering,
Was like living silk
IS IT THE RIGHT TIME?
I’m not sure I’m ready to say it
But I know I really feel it
So I will tell you that I love you
And hope that you love me too
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