Uncanny Christmas Tales – (010) A Christmas Affair

 

My cab arrived back at the Carlton Hotel just as the snow began to fall again, I paid the driver and Danny and I walked into the lobby of the airport Hotel.

It had been a nice evening out, a lovely meal and good company, there were forty of us at the restaurant, colleagues from all over Europe, some of them close friends and some of them more so.

“Night cap?” I asked

“No thanks’ mate I’m on the red eye in the morning” Danny replied.

I looked at my watch and saw it was already morning.

“I’ll say goodnight then” I said and we shook hands and Danny headed for the desk.

I was definitely up for one more drink, so I headed for the bar, there were only a handful of people in there at that hour and as I caught the night porter’s eye.

“Jameson’s” I said “a large one”

“Make that two” She said from behind me

I recognised the voice and said to the barman “Two”

I turned around and looked at the woman who had been the object of my lust for nine months and an unrequited love for three of those.

Gail Nichols was my older woman, my cougar if you like, she was four years the wrong side of fifty but still beautiful in my eyes even though I was nineteen years younger.

Gail and I had shared an office for over a year, and at first I loathed her, I thought she was vain, overbearing and manipulative, and her opinion of me was much the same.

However, as the weeks changed into months my feelings for her changed with them.

Gail had an English father and a Burmese mother, which left her with brown skin and western features, an exotic looking beauty with jet black hair and large brown eyes.

She was tall, slender and very well endowed, and with legs to die for.

I would surreptitiously watch her move around the office on her shapely legs admiring the tightness of her skirt around her hips and buttocks as she bent, and when she was sat at her desk my eyes would stray to her gaping blouse and the treasures contained within.

However it wasn’t until a grey overcast day in June, on an office beano to Epsom Derby that we showed each other in no uncertain terms how we felt.

It happened as the Derby favourites thundered towards the finish line when Gail and I, away from prying eyes, kissed for the first time, and as we kissed I unzipped her leather jacket and slipped by hands inside her shirt to caress her naked skin.

Over the weeks that followed, so did more sensually intimate moments, but they were only tasters of what the two of us really desired.

 

We had tried on several occasions to engineer an opportunity to take our burgeoning relationship to the next level.

One such chance was a three day trip to visit suppliers, which we got rubber stamped by management and booked appointments and Hotels and we were feeling very pleased with ourselves for our lustful scheming, however an unseen hand dealt us a blow when Gail went down with laryngitis.

Afterwards we tried to just arrange a simple dirty weekend away, Brighton, Bognor, Blackpool and other places that didn’t even begin with the letter B.

We even devised an intricate scenario for the benefit of Gail’s husband, which he swallowed hook line and sinker but then that failed at the eleventh hour when I broke my wrist.

 

 

We decided we should have one last role of the dice, which was at the Christmas Party weekend in Dublin, where we planned to finally consummate our lust.

We had been out to a restaurant in Swords called The Old School House and had spent the evening sitting at the same table for the dinner, discreetly holding hands under the table, but as we left at the end of the evening we got separated and ended up in different cabs so I thought fate had interceded once again and our chance had gone.

I blamed fate because although I was single at the time, Gail was a married woman, which meant there was some guilt involved, even if her husband Peter was a complete waste of space.

However despite any perceived guilt I was delighted to find Gail was waiting for me in the bar when I got back to the Hotel, I hadn’t taken into account that she would want it as bad as I did.

 

We sat in the corner of the bar and finished our drink.

“Another?” I asked

“I don’t think so” Gail said and stood up, took my hand and dragged me to my feet.

We walked arm in arm to the desk and collected our keys and with keys in hand Gail hurried me along the corridor until we reached her room where we stood in the corridor and kissed.

At first it was the usual semi controlled kissing we had done so many times before but it quickly became hot and passionate as my hand sought out her breast.

She broke away and opened the door.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked

“God yes” she replied and pulled me into the room.

Once inside the room I was eager to get started again and immediately tried to get inside her clothes.

Gail however put a stop to things and said

“Not so fast, I want everything to be just so”

“Sorry” I responded not quite sure what “just so” was, but I needn’t have worried it seemed that she wanted to, amongst other things get the lighting right.

She was conscious of the age difference and didn’t want me to be disappointed with what she had to offer, because as a much younger man I would have been more used to firmer flesh.

She needn’t have worried.

While she set the scene I was sent into the bathroom and as I was in there I thought it prudent to relieve myself while I had the opportunity.

However such a natural function, normally simply rendered is greatly complicated when you are seriously aroused, and it necessitates adopting the posture of a ski jumper and even then it’s not always successful.

When I left the bathroom I found the room lighting very subdued and Gail wearing only a smile and a pair of White lace knickers showing in stark contrast to the gorgeous brown flesh.

“Are you disappointed?” She asked

“You’re even more gorgeous than I had hoped” I replied

“Good answer” she said,

From the first moment I emerged from the bathroom she had one arm draped across her breasts but as she walked towards me she slowly lowered her arm and at the last second I got my first long lingering look at her large round breast that I had only previously dreamed of, topped with glorious chocolate coloured nipples, and then she was in my arms and began undressing me.

 

As we lay entwined in the afterglow, still breathing hard from our exertions, Gail rested her head on my chest and sighed as I reflected that making love with her was everything I had hoped it would be and more and then we drifted into a sweet post coital sleep.

After a short sleep I was awoken by Gail tenderly kissing my neck as her hand strove to awaken the rest of me, and when all of me was fully awake we made love again.

The next day when the rest of our colleagues returned to their home countries Gail and I put into effect our plan to stay on for another night and repeated the joyful pleasure of each other again and again.

I would have gladly continued our unions well into the New Year but alas after the protracted Christmas break Gail took me to one side and to my great surprise ended the affair.

“But I love you” I said

“And I love you” Gail concurred

“Then why?” I asked

“It has to end, not because I don’t love you” she said “But because despite everything I love my husband”

 

     

  

         

         

 

 

Snippets of Downshire Life – Feast of the Immaculate Conception

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but that didn’t bother its inhabitants, the may not have been the biggest, but they were in no doubt that it was the best and that belief was no truer than in the southern town off Abbottsford, which was Downshire’s administrative capital and the seat of the Downshire government.

It was also a place that benefitted from the renowned Winston Churchill Hospital, it could also boast that it was a Cathedral City, was home to Abbottsford Town football club and was a seat of learning thanks to the Downshire University.

Sweet Jessica Delapina walked into the party with a delicate air and she entered his life like a breath of spring, enlivening him and her sweet refreshing presence altered everything in his world for ever.

Heads turned to watch the maiden, a vision of pulchritude, as she moved like liquid lust, but she had eyes for him and him alone.

She was lithe limbed, gracile, and coquettish in the extreme and had but one desire which was to win his heart and soul because Jessica was hopelessly in love with him.

But until that day she had been invisible to him, all through the first year they were at University she was just another college girl on campus, but for her he was her universe and every night he was in her head and in her dreams.

She was not invisible to other boys on campus, but she wasn’t interested in any of them, she had set her cap, and she would brook no substitute.

However, on that day she was not invisible, on that day he could see her, and he instantly ached for her, but he wasn’t going to get her, not that day.

She didn’t want to be just another conquest for a college boy, she wanted him, but she would deny herself the pleasure of him until he wanted her more.

Dressed as she was in a figure-hugging dress which left nothing to the imagination, she would win his love along with his lust.

She had his attention now and with him hooked she would lead him like a bull by the nose until she was certain she had his heart, his soul, and his love as certain sure as she could have had the rest of him right there and then.

Only when he professed his love to her, and she was sure of his sincerity would she surrender her virginity to him.

That surrender came on the night of their wedding on the 8^th of December, in the Wedding Suite of the Abbottsford Regents Hotel and their union was perfectly blessed.

Snippets of Downshire Life – Bumper Edition

 The village of Brocklington was on the River Brooke about six miles downstream from Sharping St Mary in the Finchbottom Vale, which was once a great wetland that centuries earlier stretched from Mornington in the East to Childean in the west and from Shallowfield in the south to Purplemere in the north, but there were only three small bodies of water left in the Vale now one in Mornington, one in Childean and third of course was Purplemere, which was where Brockington’s most recent newcomer had arrived from.

His name was Mark Diamond and he worked for Brocklington Broadcast International, who were based in the village for more than five years and had waited for four years for a suitable property in the village to come on to the market, and it was a life changing move especially when he met his next-door neighbour, Molly Ford.

 

Molly was a divorcee and immediately lost her heart to him but was reluctant to do anything about it and thought that any search for a meaningful love with someone of a like mind would be a fruitless exercise as she had been let down before.

She was a striking looking woman, not model beautiful but very lovely with dark hypnotic eyes.

Though the woman that stared back at her from the bedroom mirror each day thought she was far from lovely.

She stood 5 feet 4 inches tall in her stocking feet and was a stone heavier than she should have been which was thanks to her own baking.

She wasn’t though disappointed with everything she saw in the mirror she liked her legs which she thought were quite shapely and her hair which she thought of as her crowning glory, which was long and straight and was of a brown so dark that it looked black.

 

However, Molly didn’t think that nice legs and beautiful hair was sufficient to win the love of her new neighbor Mark Diamond, she valued herself so little, which was why she held no expectation in his regard.

He for his part had shown no interested in her nor given any indication that he thought of her in anyway other than as a friend and neighbor, and her dilemma was that if she did tell him of her feelings for him and he didn’t feel the same about her it would create an unbearable awkwardness, with him living next door.

So that was why she decided it was best not to upset the Status Quo, and to just remain as friends.

After all friendship was better than nothing and that had been her opinion for nine long months.

Molly had not however gone unnoticed by Mark, but he too had decided discretion was the better part of valour and also opted for the Status Quo option.

 

His role at BBI was as a middle management strategist but that year, due to a sudden heart attack striking down the woman who organized the Christmas entertainment for the company, Mark was given a new project, cater the Christmas office party from scratch in 10 days.

 

Maureen had her heart attack in October and he wasn’t given the poisoned chalice until well into December by which time all the venues were fully booked, including The Mulberry Tree in the village, and no one could cater it at such short notice.

The venue wasn’t so much of an issue as they could hold the party at BBI, but catering was, because the staff were going to expect more that Pork Scratching’s and cheese footballs.

So, his thought returned to his beautiful buxom neighbor Molly, because apart from the fact he thought she was gorgeous, he also knew that she was a brilliant baker, and she was also the manager of Addison’s Bakery in the village, so she had the wherewithal to get the job done and get him out of a hole, provided she wasn’t already over committed.

 

What he didn’t know was that there was a great deal of completion within Addison’s and Brockington were neck and neck with their nearest rivals in Dulcet St Mary at the end of November and a huge catering order would push them over the line, which would mean both the kudos and a nice bonus for Molly’s shop.

  

He got up late on Monday morning, so when he knocked on Molly’s front door he got no answer, so he took a walk into the village and wandered aimlessly down the road with no particular purpose and found himself walking past Stephenson’s corner store, and as he’d used the last of the milk in his morning coffee, he decided to pop in and get some.

And as soon as he walked in, his eye was drawn to a large stack of magazines. the Radio Times to be precise, and the bumper Christmas edition at that.

He knew that it was a bit sad, but he really looked forward to getting the Bumper Christmas Edition of the Radio Times, (other TV Guides are available).

It was one of the highlights of the season for him, and he would have gladly acknowledged that it did indeed sound really sad, but he didn’t care, it was part of Christmas for him, but to make it even sadder, he bought two copies.

The magazine reminded him of his childhood when the family would mark the programs they didn’t want to miss in coloured pen.

At that time, you had to buy a Radio Times for the BBC channels and a TV Times for the commercial stations.

 

After leaving Stephenson’s with the Bumper Edition of his magazine he headed towards Addison’s to see his other favourite bumper bundle, Molly, and on arrival went inside.

“Hello Mark” Molly said, her face blushing slightly

“Hi Molly, I missed you at the house this morning” he said, and she completely coloured up

“Oh? How can I help?” she asked conscious that her colleagues were watching her every move

“I’m hoping you can save my life, I’ve been lumbered with organizing the Christmas party” he said fishing inside his coat and bringing out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her

“At the last minute to boot, can you cater for one hundred, in a week?”

Molly said nothing, just read the list so he added

“I’ve listed a few things that are a must, but the rest is up to you and money is no object”

Molly smiled and handed the list to her colleagues and gave him a bear hug almost crushing his Radio Times

“You are my hero” she announced and kissed his cheek several times, and then as they stood face to face smiling at each other they kissed, and it was a long slow and deliberate kiss.

“Do we get one of those now” Karen asked from behind the counter when they had finished.

“No, you certainly don’t” Molly replied

“It’s one of the perks of management” she added, and she kissed him again

 

When they had finished a queue had formed so she blushed and said

“Well thank you for your order Mr Diamond”

“Here if I order something do I get one of those?” and elderly customer asked, prompting a peel of laughter

“I’m sorry Mr Oakley” she said “Special customers only”

 

As a result of their exchange in the shop BBI got their Christmas Party, Addison’s staff got their bonus, Molly got her man and Christmas for Mark was a special Bumper Edition.

The Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa – The Second Sunday of Advent Matinée

 

The beautiful Downshire village of Clerembeax St Giles was situated to the west of Abbeyvale located between Grace Hill and Bushy Down and on the outskirts was the Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa and when staffing the Hotel, they wanted to employ from the village populous where possible, and that was how the Ward girls came to work at the Palace.

Felicity was the second oldest at twenty-three and the tallest at 5ft 8, but she was also the least confident, and was oblivious to how attractive she was, with her willowy figure and long brown hair.

Unlike her siblings she was painfully shy, and was a quiet studious girl, who never went out, preferring to immerse herself in books, in fact she only ever left the farm for work and church, and she hadn’t left the village since she left school.

but the one thing that she shared with her sisters was her work ethic.

Life changed for her however at the beginning of November when Stephen Shepherd arrived as Hospitality Manager.

He was in his mid-twenties, tall, with a military bearing, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that melted Felicity’s heart the first time she saw him.

In fact, she liked him so much that she volunteered to help him with the linens and it soon became clear to everyone that there was more to their relationship than Hospitality Manager and Housekeeping girl, but it didn’t become evident to the two of them until the Second Sunday of Advent.

 

The Ward Family had always been churchgoers and not out of a sense of duty, the whole family had very strong faiths, and they only missed in exceptional circumstances, and the same was true of Olive Ward’s family Sunday Lunch.

But after Stephen offered to take Felicity Christmas shopping in Abbottsford that afternoon, Olive excused her.

 

Stephen and Felicity sat together during the service and then afterwards Stephen walked back to his Cottage to pick up his car while Felicity returned to the farm with the rest of the family, where she hurriedly changed so she was ready when Stephen arrived to pick her up.

 

It had been a long, long time since Felicity had been out of the village, and she normally did all her Christmas shopping on line.

But this time she would be shopping for real, not that she had to buy presents for many people, just her family, and now an additional gift for someone special.

Stephen drove her to the Phoenix Shopping Centre in Abbottsford which had been dressed for Christmas in tinsel and foil and twinkling lights almost since the beginning of October.

“My Goodness” Felicity said “It’s enormous, much bigger than I remember”

“It is rather” Stephen agreed “When was the last time you were here?”

“Ten years”

“That is a long time” he said

 

Before they got started he took her to the food court and bought her the promised lunch.

“So, have a good look around and remember where you are, and we will meet back here in an hour and a half” Stephen said

“Can’t we go around together?” Felicity asked, sounding very small

“Well not really” he said “as I need to buy for someone special, and it’s supposed to be a surprise”

“Oh yes I see what you mean” she said “me too”

Which was when he took hold of her hand, gave it a squeeze and kissed her, just a simple kiss, to reassure, which gave her strength.

“Ok then back here at 3 o’clock” he said, and they went their separate ways.

 

Stephen knew exactly where he was going first, he knew exactly what special present to get for her, he’d been planning it for weeks, so that wasn’t a problem, it was the little extras, the stocking fillers that took the time, those little things that made Christmas morning extra special.

 

For Felicity it was a little more difficult firstly because it was unexpected, hoped for, but unexpected, she thought it was just another ordinary Sunday when she got up that morning, but instead she was on a date, and that was a new experience.

She was determined to enjoy it, and she did, she embraced everything that was new, fresh and wonderful.

So, having never done Christmas shopping before, buying presents and treats for real rather than on line was totally alien to her and she didn’t know where to start, until she passed a dazzling shop window that held her entranced.

“That’s absolutely perfect” she said, and her eyes fixed on the prize.

 

They were to meet back where they had started at 3 o’clock, Stephen was there first, and Felicity trotted up about five minutes later.

“I thought I’d lost you” he said

“Sorry, I lost track of time” she said, “It’s very exciting isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is” he replied and smiled at the lovely girl loaded with bags.

“Once I got started I didn’t know how to stop” she said and giggled

“You’re really lovely” Stephen said and kissed her, but this time there was nothing simple about it.

The Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa – The Second Sunday of Advent

 

The beautiful Downshire village of Clerembeax St Giles was situated to the west of Abbeyvale located between Grace Hill and Bushy Down and on the outskirts was the Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa and when Yvonne Labuschagne inherited it from her cousin, the last remaining Clerembeax, she undertook the task of modernizing the Palace and opening a Hotel and Spa offering, fitness classes, gym, rock sauna, infra-red sauna, aroma steam room, ice fountain, drench showers, Jacuzzi, a Romanesque pool, Reflexology, Raki, facials, scalp massage, hand massage, Manicure and Pedicure, while also providing accommodation, meeting and function rooms, a superior restaurant and whatever temptation might attract potential visitors.

She was by profession a masseuse and had worked for many years along with her late husband at the Dancingdean Spa Hotel in Childean.

Staffing the Hotel and Spa was crucial, and Yvonne used her contacts in the Spa world to find the right specialist people in her field of expertise’s and employed Hannah Morgan to fill the remainder of the roles, on the understanding that she employ from the village populous where possible, and that was how the Ward girls came to work at the Palace.

 

The Ward family had a small holding on the North side of the village, parents Jack and Olive, and daughters Donna, Felicity, Josephine, and Maxine.

It was a profitable concern and gave them all a modest living but when the Palace opened, it gave them a chance to supplement their incomes without having to travel to Abbeyvale.

They were all hard-working girls and didn’t care what work they did so Hannah Morgan didn’t hesitate to offer them all housekeeping jobs.

Felicity was the second oldest at twenty-three and the tallest at 5ft 8, but she was also the least confident, and was oblivious to how attractive she was, with her willowy figure and long brown hair.

Unlike her siblings she was painfully shy, and was a quiet studious girl, who never went out, preferring to immerse herself in books, in fact she only ever left the farm for work and church, and she hadn’t left the village since she left school.

but the one thing that she shared with her sisters was her work ethic.

 

At the beginning of November Stephen Shepherd arrived as Hospitality manager.

He was in his mid-twenties, tall, with a military bearing, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that melted Felicity’s heart the first time she saw it, and if that alone hadn’t been enough to catch her eye, Stephen was also an immaculate dresser, Blazer, Slacks, collar and tie, finished off with tie pin and cufflinks.

 

As the Palace was doing so well, with the Spa, Hotel and hospitality out performing expectations, Hannah Morgan was stretched to breaking point, so Yvonne decided she should bring someone else in to share the burden, so at the beginning of November Stephen Shepherd arrived as Hospitality manager.

He was in his mid-twenties, tall, with a military bearing, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that melted Felicity’s heart the first time she saw it, and if that alone hadn’t been enough to catch her eye, Stephen was also an immaculate dresser, Blazer, Slacks, collar and tie, finished off with tie pin and cufflinks.

Some of the girls in housekeeping thought his “uniform” was odd and made fun of him behind his back, but Flis liked it.

 

After about a week in the job he asked Hannah if he could have the assistance of someone from housekeeping to assist him with the linens, table cloths and napkins etc.

Hannah had no problem with his request and was about to assign someone when much to hers, and everyone else’s surprise, Felicity volunteered.

“Ok then off you go” Hannah said with a smile.

 

“Hi, I’m Stephen” he said, rather pleased that his helper was the attractive girl he’d seen busying around everywhere.

“Felicity” she said

“That’s a lovely name” he said, “Doesn’t it mean Happy or is it lucky?”

“Good fortune, or happy” she replied

“Much more interesting than mine” he said “I’ve always thought Stephen was rather a dull name”

“Nonsense it’s a great name, which means “garland, crown”” she explained

“Really? I didn’t know that” he responded and chastised himself for thinking that just because she worked in housekeeping she wouldn’t be very bright, having spoken to her for only a few minutes it was clear he was in error.

“I’ve seen you quite a lot, busying around the place” he said

“That’s right” Felicity said “There’s not much going on at the farm at present, so my sisters and I have increased our hours up here”

 

Felicity worked with him on and off all that week and in the weeks that followed whenever he needed help he asked for her, and every time they talked she surprised him anew.

But although it was clear to everyone that there was more to their relationship than Hospitality Manager and Housekeeping girl, it didn’t become evident to the two of them until

The Second Sunday of Advent.

 

The Ward family had always been churchgoers and not out of a sense of duty, the whole family had very strong faiths, and they only missed in exceptional circumstances, and the same was true of Olive Ward’s family Sunday Lunch.

 

The family arrived at St Giles’ en masse and milled around at the back of the church chatting to some of the other congregants, although Felicity tended to just hover until it was time to take their seats.

But after only a few minutes of shuffling around staring at her feet, she was interrupted.

“Hello Lucky” a voice said and when she looked up it was Stephen

“Oh hello” she responded “I’ve never seen you here before”

“No, I normally work on Sundays” he replied

“Yes, I know, I thought that was because you didn’t do church” she said

“No, I do it so people with family can get the most from the day” he explained “Then I come to the evening service”

“Oh, I see” Felicity said, “So why not this week?”

“I need to go and do my Christmas shopping” he said “I’m going to Abbottsford straight after the service”

“Oh”

“Why don’t you come with me?” he asked

“Me?”

“Yes” he said

“We always have a big lunch on Sunday” she said

“I’ll buy you lunch”

“Mum wouldn’t like it” she said resignedly

“What wouldn’t mum like?” Olive Ward asked, having seen her daughter with her head up talking to a man, so she had to investigate.

“Stephen just asked if I wanted to go Christmas Shopping in Abbottsford” Felicity explained “But I said you didn’t like us to miss lunch”

“Nonsense” Olive said “Of course you can go, as long as Stephen promises to feed and water you”

“Absolutely” he assured her and then Olive nodded and left them alone, and as she joined her husband she was wearing a broad grin.

“So that’s settled then” he said “You can go home and get what you need, and I’ll pick you up from the Farm, agreed”

“That’s a date then” she said and then got flustered

“I mean…sorry… I didn’t mean date”

“Really?” Stephen said “I did”

Snippets of Downshire Life – St Nicholas’ Day

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the north but our story takes place in the southern town off Abbottsford which was the biggest in Downshire, its administrative capital and the seat of the Downshire government.

It was also a place of learning thanks to the Downshire University and was a Cathedral City and was also home to Abbottsford Town football club.

Abbottsford was also the location of the Abbottsford’s Phoenix Shopping Centre and Hanratty’s Department Store therein.

It was at Hanratty’s where lifelong friends, Kristine Perrin and Lily Parsons, worked.

Krissy was the eldest of the pair by two weeks and was a very slim, very pretty girl with dark brown pixie cut hair, while Lily was a small skinny girl with long curly chestnut hair.

Neither of them had particularly happy home lives so they were naturally drawn to each other from an early age.

So, they did everything together and were seldom ever home as they were always off on some adventure or other.

 

They spent all their spare time together and when they were at school and college they also worked together, evenings and weekends at Stephenson’s Supermarket.

Most of their adventurous escapades were during the holidays and they chalked up a lot of happy times and their friendship was their most precious possession and they loved each other, and they complimented each other.

 

Although there were similarities between them, they were both pretty for a start, their likes and dislikes, their sense of humour, but really as individuals they couldn’t be more different.

Kristine had no fear whereas Lily would tremble in the shadows on her own.

Krissy was an extrovert, confident, self-assured and brave, though not cocky in any way.

Lily on the other hand, was shy and she lacked self-confidence but being with Krissy made her feel more confident, daring to do things she would never have done alone, such as leaving Northchapel and moving to Abbottsford.

 

Abbottsford was a place of particular significance to the girls because it was on one of their adventures, to see the Mardis Gras Parade, where they both declared that the unquenchable love they felt for each other was not one of sorority or friendship. 

 

When they had finished college, life at home for Krissy became intolerable so she left, and because of the love they shared, Lily left too.

Luckily Lily had a maternal Grandmother living in Abbottsford who had also fallen out with the family, so they went there, and Grandma Alice was hesitant, from past experience, to get involved but she reluctantly agreed they could stay for a couple of weeks, it was only sleeping bags in the spare room, but they didn’t mind that, they had had plenty of experience of sleeping bags.

Staying with her was conditional upon them getting work, and paying their way, but that didn’t bother them as they had always been hard workers.

Despite the two-week limitation they were still there six months later, because her worst fears were not realised.

Initially the girls got work at Stephenson’s because they had a history with the stores and a couple of phone calls to Northchapel had them vouched for. 

On the other hand, Alice Parsons, worked for Hanratty’s Department Store, and had done for more than twenty years and once she knew how reliable they were she was able to get them jobs at the store, which gave them full time hours, and Hanratty’s paid better than Stephenson’s.

 

Hanratty’s Department store and the Abbottsford’s Phoenix Shopping Centre had been dressed in tinselled Christmas garb and twinkling lights almost from the beginning of October and the girls found it very exciting as it was a constant reminder of the fact that they were heading for their first Christmas as a couple.

 

On the evening of the sixth of December there was a party in the staff canteen, with a first-class buffet and plenty of booze, in fact too much of the latter for lightweight Lily who Krissy had to escort to the ladies.

“Is she ok?” Alice asked

“She will be” Krissy replied “But I think I’d better take her home”

“Ok love” Alice said and returned to the party

 

Krissy took her into the disabled toilet, as it was more spacious, and knelt Lily down in front of the bowl, but she wasn’t sick she just fell asleep and as Krissy sat and watched so did she.

 

Krissy was woken up by the sound of Lily’s phone going off, so Krissy took it out of her pocket and answered it.

“Hello”

“Lily! thank God, where are you?”

“It’s not Lily, its Krissy Grandma” she said, she always called her grandma even though she was no relation

“Why? where’s Lily?”

“She’s asleep” she said and opened the toilet door “We both fell asleep, and now everywhere is dark, and I think were locked in Grandma”

“Well at least your safe” she said, audibly releived

“What should we do?” Krissy asked

“Well just sleep there tonight” she said, “What floor are you on?”

“Six”

“Good, just go through soft furnishings and sleep on one of the beds” she said “just avoid the main thoroughfares and you won’t appear on the CCTV”

“I’m sorry Grandma” Krissy said

“Don’t be silly” she said “you’re safe, that’s the main thing, look after Lily and I’ll bring fresh clothes with me in the morning”

“Thanks Grandma”

 

“Come on sleepy” she said as she tried to get Lily on her feet

“I’m tired” she protested

“So am I honey, so the sooner we get going the sooner we can lay down on a nice soft bed”

“A real bed?” Lily asked sleepily

“Yes”

“Oooh lovely”

 

Even with the incentive of a comfy bed and the fact that she was a skinny little thing it was difficult for Krissy to steer her comfortably to their destination without appearing on the cameras, but she managed it, and dumped Lily on the first bed they came to.

Then she grabbed some pillows off a nearby display and a throw off an adjacent chair and after arranging the pillows and Lily, she covered her with the throw and the slipped under it with her.

 

Krissy had had the presence of mind to set an alarm on her phone, so they could be up and hidden away before the early staff started to arrive, and the contented couple slept soundly all night and the alarm was an unwelcome sound when it went off.

“Wake up Lily” she said and kissed the top of her head as she lay with it on her chest

“Wake up Lily” she said

“What?” she said sleepily

“Wake up” she said “We need to move”

“What! Why what time is it?” Lily retorted

“Late” Krissy retorted

“That was a lovely sleep” Lily said as she lifted her head to look at her

“It was nice wasn’t it” Krissy agreed

“But how did we get here?” Lily asked

“I’ll tell you later but for now we need to get moving”

“No, we need to have our good morning kiss first” Lily pointed out

“You can have your morning kiss when we are safely hidden from the security guard” Krissy said

“Ok” she said and reluctantly slipped out of bed, and Krissy put the pillows back where she got them, even the one Lily had drooled on, and folded the throw and put it back on the chair, and once she was sure they hadn’t left anything behind they made their way stealthily back to the disabled loo.

 

Once they were safely hidden Krissy filled her in on the events of the previous night and explained about Grandma bringing them clean clothes and then just after 8 o’clock Lily got a text message

“Where are you?”

She looked quizzically at Krissy, who raised her eye brows and took the phone from her and typed: 

“Disabled toilet 6^th floor”

“On my way up”

 

“I’m starving” Lily said as they waited

“You’re always hungry” her girlfriend pointed out just as there was a light knocking on the door and Krissy got up and unlocked the door.

“Grandma” they both exclaimed, and she rushed in and hugged them both.

“Oh, girls I’m so glad to see” she said as they hugged “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to either of you”

 

When the group hug broke up she said

“There are clean clothes, fresh underwear and toiletries in the bag there”

“Thank you” they said

“And there are bacon rolls in here” she said holding up a white paper bag

“Breakfast!” Lily shouted

“I love you grandma” Krissy said and kissed her

“Me too” Lily said having already taken a bite out of her roll

“I love you both as well” she said “Very much”

Snippets of Downshire Life – Feast of St Nicholas

 

The traditional seaside resort of Sharpington-by-Sea with its Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, 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 and it was in the grand neighbourhood of Granite Hill, which in a nod to San Francisco, the locals had nicknamed Nob Hill where Church Warden of St Lucy’s, Henry Appleby, was attending a dinner on St Andrew’s Day, at the home of a local celebrity, children’s author, Alesha Khan.

Henry was a popular figure in Sharpington society who dedicated all of his free time to the church and good works, so it would have been of little surprise to find him on the guest list, but he on the other hand was surprised at some of the other guests.

In addition to the hostess Alesha, was Kim Labuschagne, an illustrator, who was an old school friend of hers, and she also assisted in the kitchen, Alesha’s brother artist Zach, Curate of St Lucy’s, Russell Glavin, Literary agents, Jayson and Kathryn Mercer, Actresses Kerry Freeborn and Sharon Blackburn and Tim Street who was a Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch, but his interest was overwhelmingly in Kathryn.

Henry had known Kathryn since she was a girl, he was an old family friend, but it wasn’t friendship that he felt for her, but he had not shared his feelings with her, because he thought it would have been a betrayal of her parents trust, but following their deaths in a car accident, but he said nothing then because he had to fulfill more of an avuncular role, and then she married so he resigned himself to the fact that there could never be any other role for him in her life.

 

When the time came for them to take their seats Henry found that he was seated oposite Alesha and next to Kathryn, and he could tell by the look on the formers face that she had put them beside eachother by design, hoping that her change in circumstances would move things along between them.

 

Kathryn had divorced from her husband Jayson the year before, but it was a completely amicable split because after eight years of marriage they both realised it wasn’t really working, they loved each other, and still did, but they were not in love.

In fact, they still lived under the same roof, in the same house, after the split, and planned to sell the house, or buy the other one out, if and when their personal circumstances changed.

So domestic life for them wasn’t really very different to when they were married, and it really should have been if they belonged together as a couple, so they knew they had made the right decision, and even after the divorce they were still best friends, and of course they still worked together at the Literary Agency they founded, Mercer and associates.

 

The conversation between Henry and Kathryn during dinner was as easy and relaxed as it always had been, so much so that it actually felt like they were a couple, but they wernt.

Over coffee Kathryn said

“I’ve been asked to organise the St Nicholas gifts this year”

“Really? I did them for a couple of years” he said “before I became Church Warden”

“Yes I remember” she said “Which is why…”

“Why what?”

“Which is why I could use your help” she replied

“Of course I’ll help” he said

“We could meet tomorrow”

“Perfect” she said

 

They met the next day at his house after Church and over coffee they compiled a long list of items she needed to get from the cash and carry and afterwards they walked along the promenade to Albies Coffee Shop and Café where they had lunch.

“Thanks for your help Henry” she sadi

“My pleasure Kathryn, you just need to drive over to Purplemere and pick it up”

“I might need your help again with that” she said “I’ll never get that lot in my car”

“Why? You’ll easily get it all into your SUV”

“Erm… Its in the garage until Wednesday, so I’ve only got the Mini”

“What about Jayson’s car?”

“He’s gone to Millmoor, and won’t be back for a fortnight” she replied

“Well in that case we can go in mine” he said

 

They couldn’t go on Sunday afternoon as it was the first Sunday of Advent and as he was Church Warden and she was the Verger they needed to be on hand for the evening service, so he picked her up early on Monday morning and drove her over to the cash and carry.

 

It was an amazing place, and they were very impressed even though they had both been to one before, it was like an Aladdin’s cave of Christmas goodies, and they soon filled their trolley.

But Kathryn seemed to be in no particular hurry to leave because although they had everything that was on the list she kept Henry there for another hour wandering up and down the aisles but added nothing to the trolley before she accepted they had finished the shopping and went to the checkout.

Henry and Kathryn loaded the shopping into his car and then they exited the car park with the sound of thunder in the distance.

On the way out of the gate it started to rain, and as he turned onto the Sharpington road the sky had grown really dark and the thunder cracks grew closer and the rain fell harder.

Twenty minutes later the rain was falling ever harder until the wipers could barely cope.

As luck would have it they were just approaching a lay-by, so Henry turned into it to wait for the rain to abate.

He had barely applied the handbrake when there was a clap thunder above that shook the car and Kathrine screamed and launched herself at Henry.

“Hold me” she begged “the thunder frightens me”

 

“Don’t worry honey” he said putting his arm around her “I’ve got you”

 

The thunder storm went on for almost half an hour before it moved away, and the rain eased off and Henry said

“I think it’s safe to go now”

“Are you sure?” she said “it might come back”

“No, it’s moved away now” he said and released his hold on her and he thought he heard her sigh.

 

When they got back to Sharpington they went back to her house and unloaded the car.

“So where do you want them?” he asked as he walked in carrying two boxes

“In the Dining room” she replied “I’ll make a start on them after lunch”

And then almost as an afterthought she added

“You’ll stay for lunch of course? “

“That would be lovely, I can stay and help after” he suggested

“Really? Would you?

“Of course,” he replied “and I’m free tomorrow so I can help you box them up and deliver them” 

 

The St Nicholas Day gifts could come in different forms but were almost always presented in boots or shoes.

The ones that St Lucy’s Church were giving out consisted of a small red plastic Santa Boot, complete with white fur trim and filled with chocolates and candy.

Each one contained Chocolate Coins, Candy Canes, Bonbons, Fudge, Chocolate Santa, a small toy and a puzzle.

So, after lunch they set up a production line and when the Boot was filled the whole thing was completed by putting the filled Boot inside a cellophane bag tied at the top with a red ribbon.

working together right through until 10 o’clock, only stopping for pizza, they got them all filled, bagged and tied, but left the packing of them until the next morning.

 

Henry arrived at Kathryn’s just after ten the next morning and they packed the gifts in boxes for the various destinations, and then they loaded the car, before making the deliveries.

Jubilee Primary School, Whitecliffe Hill Primary, St Lucy’s Church, for the Sunday School, and Sharpington Library for the reading club and then back to Kathryn’s.

“I can’t thank you enough Henry” she said

“It was my pleasure” he said “I enjoyed it”

“Nonetheless I’m very grateful” he said “Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night as a thank you, L'uccello Canto”

“That’s my favourite restaurant”

“I know it is” she said, “so is that a yes?”

 

It was a lovely meal and the conversation was easy, witty and stimulating but Henry drank more than he probably should have but he was having such a good time.

“A perfect end to a perfect evening” she said when the liqueurs arrived

“Your perfect” he said, and then he realized he had said it out loud, and he glanced at her and she was smiling, but not in a derisory way, so he decided, aided by all the wine, to tell her how he felt.

“I’ve always thought you were perfect, in everyway”

“Before you go any further I have a confession to make” she said

“You don’t have to say anything, I just need to say how I feel” he replied

“But I really do” she insisted

“Ok” Henry replied, a little concerned at what might follow and then

Kathryn took a deep breath and blurted out

“I planned all of this”

“All what?”

“Everything in order to get you here tonight” she said, and Henry thought for a moment and then said

“Did you arrange for me to be sitting next to you at the Dinner Party?” He asked

“Yes, but that was the easy bit” she confessed “because I had an ally in Alesha, but after that, it was up to me to take advantage of the situation”

“Which of course you did” he said

“Indeed, I did” she admitted, “The rest however took a bit more planning”

“And a bit more deceitfulness” she continued, and Henry took a moment to think before he said

“You didn’t need my help with the planning, did you?”

“No” she confessed

“And the SUV being in the garage?”

“Was a lie” Kathryn confirmed

“And your being scared of the thunder?”

“Also, a lie” she confirmed again “I just wanted to hug you”

“So why?”

“So that I could be close to you and hopefully pluck up the courage to tell you how special you are to me”

“So, does that mean what I think it means?” he asked

“If that’s what you want now that you know that I’m he not perfect” she said

“I do” he said and held her hand

“You don’t think less of me?” she asked

“I’m shocked and stunned” he said “but only that you want me”

“I’ve always wanted you” she said and kissed his hand

 

As he walked her home arm in arm he asked

“So, are you pleased with the outcome of your scheming?”

“Oh yes” she said “pleased and surprised”

“Surprised?” he queried

“Yes, I’ve never done anything like it before, and I’m surprised how conniving I’ve been” she said

“Well you’ve got me now” he said

“Yes, and that’s perfect” Kathryn said