If not for sweet birdsong in tree and bush
How plain the spring seasons headlong rush
If not for the daffodils trumpets of gold
How sad the passage to new from old
If not for your sweet presence by my side
Spring would hold no
joy, as sadness would reside
Oh to feel loves exquisite ache
That desperate longing
That naked want
Feeling so alive in
the torment
While craving the fix
Of that heady foaming
brew
To quench the thirst
of desire
And when that
significant soul
Who holds my captive
heart
Is but a kiss away
I am dragged from
sorrows
Unfathomable depths
And bitter anguish
evaporates
Like dew in the
morning sun
And euphoria fills
every pore
And in that perfect
ecstasy
That blissful state of
love
James Ruddock was a 25
year old singleton and was what they used to call a twitcher, although nowadays
they prefer to be called birders and he was staying at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel
at the head of Teardrop Lake.
The view of the lake
from the Hotel was spectacular.
The lake was shaped
like a teardrop, hence its name, and surrounded by the ancient woodland of the
Dancingdean Forrest.
It wasn’t a huge body
of water, just over two miles long and almost a mile at its widest point.
It was beautiful and
relatively unspoilt which was the reason he chose it.
A lot of avid bird
watchers gravitated to the Finchbottom Vale and the Dancingdean Forest in
particular.
Teardrop Lake and the
surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels of
land, each with one significant dwelling on it, although there were a number of
cottages dotted around as well, some in use and some not.
It was both idyllic
and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and although the lake was
used there no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and
skiffs.
James was a bit of a
loaner so birdwatching was the perfect hobby for him.
He would have
preferred not to be such a loaner but unfortunately he was a bit socially
awkward, but the main reason he was alone was because he was shy and preferred
to go unnoticed which is difficult to do when you’re 6ft 4 with flaming red
hair.
On his fifth day by
the lake he was up bright and early and headed up into the woods around the
Lake and was heading for lover leap.
It was a rocky
promontory which was a location that had been recommended to him.
Anna at the Hotel had given him a number of popular birding sites and after
he had spent a couple of hours up at Lovers Leap including the small clearing
where a Green Woodpecker had been sited.
But what he found waiting for him in
the clearing, sitting on a blanket was Anna herself.
He moved a little
closer and was about to ask her to direct him back to the path to civilization
when she stood up and took off her dress to reveal a yellow bikini.
“Oh my” he said to
himself as he studied a most interesting scene.
“This is much better
than a Green Woodpecker” he said to himself “Much better”
It wasn’t the usual
type of bird he was spotting for but it was a rare sighting indeed.
It was his habit to
write down his more exotic sighting in his little book and he had nothing in
his book to equal Anna.
Looking beyond the figure of Anna he could see there was a well-defined
path which he thought if he followed would lead him back to Shallowfield as he
was ready for his lunch.
It had been a very pleasant diversion from birdwatching but he wasn’t
comfortable to spy on her further.
Anna was a year or two
younger than James straight brown hair and a rather plain, heavily freckled face, but
lovely blue eyes, a cute nose and a thin-lipped smile.
However he still had the problem of getting back to Shallowfield without
crossing the clearing or being seen by Anna and it was as he was pondering this
problem that Anna turned around and looked directly at him and smiled, and then
she gestured him to join her.
“I’m so sorry” he said as he approached “I didn’t mean to look”
“That’s alright you were meant to” she retorted
“Wwhat?” he stammered
“I’ve been trying to get your attention all week” she said and slithered
up to him and embraced him and when the kiss was over she said
“Now don’t you think that’s better than bird watching?”
“Oh yes definitely” he replied and leant in for another helping and
thought.
“This is definitely going in the book”
Anna was a year or two
younger than James, short in stature with long straight brown hair and
a rather plain, heavily freckled face, but lovely blue eyes, a cute nose and a
thin-lipped smile, she also had nice legs ensconced in black shabby tights and
she had tiny feet always which was a bonus for him.
The morning after Anna
had successfully lured James to the clearing in the Dancingdean Forest and they
shared an extended period of kissing he rose late and was trying to figure out
when he would get to kiss her again.
And it was with those
thoughts about kissing the girl in the yellow bikini that he decided he would
take a shower and then go in search of her.
However just as he got
midway between the bed and the bathroom the maid, receptionist, waitress and
all round dogs body Anna Hunt suddenly appeared at the door.
There followed a delightful interlude, in which she declared that she
was his girlfriend, that culminated in them making love in his bed.
The next morning he rose late again but this time however when he headed
to the shower the door didn’t suddenly open and Anna did not appear.
This time he was already in the shower and had already given himself a good
soaping before she joined him and on that morning he had no need to undress her
as Anna was already naked.
When Anna got in the
cubicle she was only wearing a broad grin so he kissed her smiling lips and
made love to her.
And after Anna’s timely arrival there followed an exhausting but
rewarding union which culminated in Anna screaming out in orgasm.
She clearly enjoyed it sufficiently that she ambushed him in his
bathroom the next morning when she again left him exhausted.
There was no repeat the following day however, as Wednesday was Anna’s
day off at the Hotel, but being a really hard worker, on her day off she had
another two jobs, one of which was as a cleaner at one of the large Houses on
Teardrop Lake, Forest Lodge.
Anna
finished at 1pm and then she went on and did another job mucking out stables on
the edge of the Forest, and that job finished at 4pm and the plan was for him
to meet her afterwards and they would go and do something together maybe just a
walk in the woods.
So he
had a quiet morning at the Hotel followed by an early lunch before he left to
go birdwatching.
But his heart wasn’t
really in it, he was really missing Anna so after about an hour he decided to
go and meet her from work.
James headed down the perimeter
road towards Forest Lodge and halfway down the road the rain came and so he
took shelter beneath a tree for five minutes and then he got going again, but
that five minute delay was enough to mean that he missed her at Forest Lodge so
he reverted to plan b, which was to catch her at the stables, but he wasn’t
really sure where it was.
But he walked in the
general direction of where he thought it was and after twenty five minutes the
rain came again only this time there were no convenient trees to shelter under.
But he did see, some thirty
yards or so ahead of him, a stable block and thought even if it wasn’t the
destination he was looking for, it was still the most likely source of shelter
so he ran in that direction.
Once he got close he
noticed that the door was a jar so he pushed on it softly.
“Hello” he called as
the door opened and inside he was surprised to find Anna in the stable mucking
out a stall wearing only a baggy sweater and wellington boots.
“Oh” she gasped “it’s
you”
“And what are you up
to exactly?” he asked as he gave her a thorough appraisal
“I’m not doing
anything wrong” she said defensively and giggled “Honestly I’m not”
“Really?” he quizzed
“I got caught in the
rain and my shirt and leggings got wet so I’m drying them on the heater and
this is the only dry thing I had to wear” she blurted out and was almost
breathless when she had finished.
“Well you look really
hot” he said
“Really?” she said
coyly and blushed deeply “I think you’re biased, I know I look like a nutter”
“A lovely nutter” he
said and kissed her
“What
are you doing here anyway?” she asked
“I
missed you” he said and kissed her again
“Well
its lovely to see you” Anna said “But I have to work, and I cant leave until
I’m finished”
“I
know but I can help you and we’ll have it done in half the time”
“Why
would you want to do that?” she said “youre on holiday”
“I’m
doing it so I can be with you” He said
“That’s
so sweet” Anna said but looked at him a bit glumly
“What’s the matter?”
he asked but she just shrugged and then tears welled up in her eyes and he
hugged her
“I’m sorry” she sobbed
“What for?” he asked
“I’ve spoiled
everything” she said
“How?”
“My period started
this morning” she howled and buried her face in his chest.
“So I guess you won’t
want to be with me now”
“When I said I wanted
to be with you, I meant I want to be with you, to be near you and to hold you”
he said “that’s the only place I want to be, with you”
“So you don’t mind
that we can’t make love?” she sobbed
“We don’t need to make
love all the time” he replied “We can just have a cuddle”
And when she looked up
at him through teary eyes he knew he was now in her heart forever.
I am transported back
To a distant place and
time
When I was only twelve
The world was changing
And I saw it with new
eyes
And I recall her sweet
face
When I first saw her in the wood
Gathering wild bluebells
Sun shinning on the
golden strands
Of her silken hair
As it danced on her
shoulders
The beautiful bluebell
girl
Moved about the wood
Then she stopped and
noticed me
Deep blue eyes smiling
at me
In the innocence of
childhood
And she captured my
heart
Though twenty years
have passed
She keeps it still
We walked together in the spring
When our love was a
new thing
And the cherry trees
were in blossom
And we thought life
was awesome
Our hearts were so
full we sighed
But that was before
love died
In the summer we
walked together
In the fine and sunny
weather
Through fields of
golden corn
When we parted we were
forlorn
We felt a burning
passion deep inside
But that was before
love died
In the autumn we
walked abroad
And our hearts were of
one accord
We wandered thought
the golden gown
And nothing could ever
get us down
We felt as one when
side by side
But that was before
love died
When winters chill
fell upon the land
We still walked
together hand in hand
We played in the snow
like children
Making snow angels
again and again
I even asked her to be
my bride
But that was before
love died
We had walked hand in
hand
As a life together we
planned
We sat beneath a leafy
oak
As of true love we
spoke
We loved laughed and
cried
But that was before
love died
Now I walk alone in
the familiar places
Where we enjoyed our
fond embraces
Where we kissed and
spoke of tomorrow
Places that now bring
me only sorrow
Her love made me feel
alive inside
But that was before love
died
Shallowfield sat on the southern edge of
the Finchbottom Vale and was bordered on the other side by the Dancingdean
forest and the town’s fortunes had always relied largely upon forestry and
agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a
shortage of work a lot of people moved away from the area and it only just
survived and the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake
were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t
were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more
than ruins.
But by the 70s however things were
beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism as a result of an increase in
leisure time.
This trend was reflected by the fact that
the previously derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young
couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was being turned into a Hotel.
From then on Shallowfield went from
strength to strength which was echoed by the fortunes of the Claremont Hotel.
It was once the home of a wealthy Downshire
family but like so many similar great houses in the county it fell into disuse
as the fortunes of the owners suffered after the Great War.
It had had many reincarnations since then,
particularly in the years between the wars and had been used for many things
over the post war years but it wasn’t until the 60s that it became The Claremont Hotel.
However things had got tough in the Hotel
trade with the success of Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express and so places like
the Claremont needed to offer something extra to attract the guests.
In the early summer a new manager was
appointed, Matthew Millward, and he was an instant hit with the locals
because
he was young, tall, dark and handsome, physically fit, well-toned and had a
reputation as a fair minded guy, which had very much preceded him.
He was 28 years old and his father owned the Millward Manor chain of
hotels and he was grooming him to one day take over the reins of his worldwide
hotel empire, the problem was that Matt had no head for business and he felt
that he was more of an artistic soul.
Which could possibly have been ignored but for the fact that he had
broken off his engagement with the granddaughter of his father’s oldest friend.
However that in itself wasn’t what had him exiled, it was Elaine’s
attempted suicide, not that his action had caused her mental meltdown, it was
rather more her mental instability being the deciding factor that forced him to
end the engagement.
So it was decided to send Matt to the Claremont Hotel where he could do
no real harm until the dust settled.
When he first found out he was being sent
to Shallowfield, Matt was very unhappy, he was a city boy, born and bred, and
he viewed being sent to the country as purgatory, but no one was more surprised
than he was when he found that he actually loved it, it was a beautiful place,
it was quiet and the air was clean and he felt immediately at home.
When he first found out he was being sent
to Shallowfield Matt was very unhappy, he was a city boy, born and bred, and he
viewed being sent to the country as purgatory, but no one was more surprised
than he was when he found that he actually loved it, it was a beautiful place,
it was quiet and the air was clean and he felt immediately at home.
After the broken engagement and the
resulting fall out Matthew Millward decided that he would not under any
circumstances get himself romantically entangled while he was on punishment
duty.
But there is a very apt saying which goes “never on your
own doorstep” which he had clearly never heard because on his first day he fell
head over heels for the Hospitality Manager, Sarah Poole, although in his
defence the feeling was mutual.
Although apart from two very passionate
kisses, the first initiated by her and the second by him, and the fact they
were hopelessly in love with each other nothing else happened.
She was five foot eight with short red
hair, in a pixie cut, mesmerizing green eyes and a cute figure with curves in
all the right places and long slender legs.
Sarah was 26 years old and wasn’t looking
for a relationship either because she was married, albeit to an alcoholic who
hadn’t had shown her any marital attention for two years but she was still
married to him nonetheless.
Sarah had worked at the hotel for since she
left school, five years in housekeeping,
five more in hospitality, and for two of those as Manager and she loved her
job.
Despite the fact that Matthew was sent to the
Claremont as a punishment and possessed no head for business he surprised his
father as well as himself by doing a very acceptable job of managing the hotel
and had grown the corporate side of the business and it was becoming a very popular
venue for functions.
This was as a result in no small measure to his decision to promote the
former Hospitality Manager Sarah Poole.
This was after Martin Tyrer tendered his resignation, he had been a
loyal employee of the Millward Manor group for ten years and had been the
Assistant Manager at the Claremont for 5 of those and when the Manager’s
vacancy came up he believed he was a shoe in for the job.
So when Matthew Millward was parachuted in over his head it was just too
much for him to take.
It left Matthew in a very difficult position as he needed someone who
knew the place inside out and Sarah Poole was the only person that really
fitted the bill so he offered her the job.
“If you’re only promoting me because we’ve kissed a couple of times then
I don’t want it” she said
“I want you because you know the hotel and the staff and you’ll be a
first rate assistant manager” he said “so are you going to take it?”
“Yes” she said
“Good” Matthew said
On her way out of his office she paused by the door and said
“There is one condition though”
“What’s that?” he asked
“That kissing isn’t absolutely off the menu” Sarah said
flirtatiously
“No problem” Matthew agreed
On her first day as assistant manager Sarah
Poole had substituted her uniform of dark blue skirt and jacket and was wearing
a turquoise green suit, a crisp white blouse and black opaque tights, but the
most noticeable thing she was wearing was an accessory, namely a smile.
She was very proud to have been promoted
and the majority of the staff were pleased for her, although one or two put it
down to her being rewarded for services rendered.
Matthew was feeling rather pleased with
himself for persuading her although it was for purely selfish reasons.
Having Sarah as assistant manager, who was
not only hard working and diligent but could also handle the guests very well,
meant he could comfortably leave her in charge while he was doing what he did
best, letting other people get on with it.
He certainly had no intention of marring
Sarah’s first day in the job he wanted her to enjoy her moment.
So it was late in the day before they had a
moment together which was in his office
“Damn” she
exclaimed
“What’s up?” he
asked
“I’ve ruined my tights, and they were new
on today” she replied
“Well you do realise that as assistant
manager you get a clothing allowance” he said
“Really” Sarah Poole said “Sweet”
And that was the full extent of their
conversation and there was no congratulatory kiss, even though they both wanted
one.
They did have another conversation the next
morning which came after Matt had overheard two of the kitchen staff discussing
what he and Sarah were probably getting up to so when they met in his office he said
“I don’t think, however much we might enjoy it, that we should indulge
ourselves, in regard to kissing”
“I agree” she said
“Good”
But truthfully not having a snog was the last thing either of them
wanted to do.
Matthews father was particularly pleased with him, there had been no
reported mishaps and he had turned around the fortunes of the hotel, and so he
invited him up to Abbottsford for the weekend for a celebratory meal but as he
was conscious that his success was due more to Sarah Poole’s efforts than his
own he dragged her along as well.
They spent a fairly uneventful day together and the meal went without a
hitch however the pledge they made when she first began as his assistant, which
was made in the cold light of day and complete sobriety, seemed but a distant
memory and they both hoped, unlikely to hold.
The likelihood of the pledge being broken was made all the more likely
because by midnight Sarah was well and truly oiled with the best part of a
bottle of wine and there was a glint in her eye and a fire in her loins which
was reaching boiling point.
So as they stood by the lift Sarah and Matthew looked at each other
lasciviously.
“I think I should escort you to your room Ms Poole” he suggested
gallantly
“I would be very grateful if you would Mr Millward” Sarah echoed
“How grateful exactly?” he asked
“You’ll find out as soon as we get upstairs” Sarah slurred and pressed
floor 9, then Matthew pressed 3, which was the floor they actually wanted.
The doors closed just in time to prevent a rather oily looking man in an
expensive suit from joining them, and the moment the doors closed Sarah pinned
him in the corner and thrust her tongue in his mouth.
Then with a “ping” the door opened again to reveal an elderly couple, so
Sarah resumed her position beside him and wiped her mouth on her sleeve.
The couple entered the lift and stood in front of them as the doors
closed again and she held his hand as the lift slowly ascended continuing its
journey, first to the 9th floor then back down to 3, by which time she had her
head on his shoulder.
When they had exited the lift they walked very slowly to her room and
his mind was in turmoil because he desperately wanted her, she was all he
thought of, but he didn’t want a drunken shag, so once they reached her room
she looked up at him and said
“You’re not coming in are you?”
“No honey” he confessed
“Why?” she said “I thought you wanted me as much as I want you”
“I do want you” he replied “I want you very much, which is why I can’t
come in”
“Trust me to fall for a gentleman” she said and smiled
“I’m sorry” he said
“But you do want me?” she asked “Just to be clear”
Matt did want her but he knew he couldn’t really have her while she was
still married, and he knew that as much as she wanted him in that moment she
would regret it in the morning.
“Yes I do” Matt said “I think of nothing else, you are the first thing I
think of in the morning and the last one I think of at night”
“Ok I believe you” she said and she loved him all the more for his
chivalry then she added “But at the very least I should get a kiss”
“My pleasure” he replied and kissed her
