Elspeth St George was
the business brain for the Mornington Estate, a role that only got busier with
the reacquisition of the Old RAF Base, Mornington Field.
She relished the extra
work however as she liked to be pushed to the limit.
Like all the St
Georges she was tall, blonde and quite striking but despite that she had no one
special in her life and to be honest she wasn’t really looking.
Her last serious boyfriend was Scott Collier
who was a local architect who did a lot of work for the estate.
They dated for a
while just after University but it didn’t really work out, he thought of her
more as a sister, and she felt the same way, as a result they were still the
best of friends but no more than that and never likely to be.
Her elder brother
Gabriel was the Lord of the Manor but she and her three sisters Tallulah,
Cordelia and Corliss all played a part in the Estates running, along with
Philomena Cruickshank better known as Aunty Phil and she and the girls were
very close.
Shortly after the death of her father, Valentine, and Gabriel had taken
over the running of the estate, her mother Persephone was taken seriously ill.
It was a bitter blow for the family and hit everyone very hard, it felt
to them like they had been knocked to floor by their father’s death and were
then being kicked while they were on the ground.
So Persephone’s younger sister Philomena moved into the Manor to help
nurse her and organize the family at the same time.
In the turbulent two year period of Persie’s decline Aunty Phil became
invaluable to the St George family, she was the glue that held the fracturing
family together, with her stoical strength and practicality and she needed
every ounce of her not inconsiderable strength of character to achieve it
because even she couldn’t prevent the inevitable.
And during that time a strong bond was formed between Philomena and the
St George Children.
The Baron, Gabriel St
George like his father before him was a man with a strong sense of history and
his stewardship of the Mornington Estate wasn’t restricted just to the land and
properties within the Finchbottom Vale.
In addition to the
Mornington Estate they also owned, either outright or in part, a number of
historically significant buildings that had been under threat from modernizers,
in Sharpington-By-Sea.
The jewels in the
crown that the St George’s had already saved from the Philistines were the
Sharpington Pier, the yacht club, the Seaview Hotel and the Fun Park as well as
a number of shops and businesses in the historic town.
They also had as part
of their portfolio a significant number of properties in Highfinch including
the
Lily Green Hollows Golf Club.
Elspeth’s job for the
Estate was to balance the books and make sure every single element of the
estate paid their way so they could continue to subsidise the village.
2014 was a very costly year for the estate,
there were phenomenal financial implications to the reacquisition of the old
airfield and the renovations, conversions and general improvements to the
infrastructure and the first business rents from Mornington Field didn’t start
repaying the not inconsiderable outlaid expenditure until January 2015.
But as Elspeth sat in the kitchen at the
Manor drinking her coffee and absentmindedly brushing sugar off her leggings
she was blissfully unaware that at that precise moment events that would change
her life forever were taking place.
Although the estate rescued the Sharpington
properties from the developers the business’s had to pay their own way.
Although as listed buildings there were some
grants available to help towards that but they weren’t enough.
Fortunately Sharpington as a town was doing
well and had steady visitor numbers.
They were blessed with a good stretch of
beach, unique and original attractions and a very business savvy chamber of
commerce.
They had a host of seasonal events, like the
St Patrick’s Day Parade in March and another on Sharpington Day on the August
Bank Holiday then there were the illumination and a Christmas Pageant as well
as summer season entertainments.
So there were a lot of reasons throughout the
year to visit the town, the trick was to get them inside the attractions and
spend their money while they were there.
However even when things were going well
there were unforeseen problem so for those eventualities there was an
extraordinary purchase fund available for the business’s to draw on when some
unforeseen expense loomed.
It was a discretionary fund for which Elspeth
was the first port of call if you wished to request help.
Which was why she got an unexpected call from
Peter Philips, who was the General Manager of the Sharpington Fun Park.
He was by profession an engineer but when he
heard the Park was under threat he took a huge pay cut to take the GM’s job.
He was from Sharpington and as a child Peter
virtually lived at the Park and he knew every ride and attraction intimately.
Which was just as well because since becoming
General Manager he spent most of his time using his engineering skills just to
keep things going.
It was the Tuesday after the Easter Weekend
and it was raining hard as she and Gabriel drove through the countryside of the
Vale to the seaside town of Sharpington.
Gabriel was driving and was unusually quiet
as he was concentrating so hard in the poor visibility.
It wasn’t a particularly pleasant drive for
the passenger either but she always enjoyed getting out of the office, she
didn’t often get the chance, and when she had spoken to Peter Philips on the
phone she found him very interesting and he sounded very nice so she was
looking forward to meeting him.
But most of all she loved going to
Sharpington, she had done since she was a little girl.
They used to all pile
into her dads classic Citroën Safari,
all seven of them and off they went, English seaside towns are not the
most sophisticated of destinations but they always had a great time by the sea,
running along the Pier, "kiss me quick” hats, amusement arcades and of
course the Sharpington Fun Park.
The Fun Park was the
first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment
of rides, like the Rotor and the Wild Mouse, The Cyclone and the Morehouse
Galloper, all very tame compared to a 21st century roller coaster
and suchlike but she and her family loved it.
Once they arrived Gabriel parked on the
promenade as close as he could get to the Fun Park.
The rain hadn’t abated a bit when they got
out of the car so Gabriel quickly locked the car and they ran across the road.
“You can drive back” he said
Gabriel and Elspeth ran across the road and
after she had shaken her umbrella dry they walked into reception and were
greeted by a middle aged balding man in a cheap suit.
“I hope that’s not him” she said to herself
more than a little disappointed.
“Good morning.” He said offering his hand
“Clifford Reed assistant manager”
“Oh good it’s not him” she thought
“Good morning, I’m Gabriel St George” he said
shaking the offered hand.
“And this is Elspeth” He said gesturing
toward her.
“Hello” She said also shaking hands.
“Pleased to meet you both” he said “Shall we
go through?”
When they were shown into the General Managers office and sat by the
desk was an immaculately dressed man of sixty.
“Good morning, Mr Philips” He said walking towards him.
“Goodness me no.” He said with a hint of a smile. “My name is Brian
Tyler”
“He’s our finance manager” Clifford elaborated and then the door opened
behind her and a tall, lean shabbily dressed man in his early thirties entered.
He had what looked like a necktie hanging from his trouser pocket and
his shirt was un-tucked.
What must once have been a clean white shirt was now smeared with grease
and dirt and his sleeves were rolled up exposing his skinny white arms which
were also smeared with dirt and his trousers were dirty and torn and he was
wiping dirt off his hands with a handkerchief.
“I’m sorry I’ve kept you waiting” He said politely “A problem with the
Galloper”
“The Galloper?” she asked
“The Morehouse Galloper” Clifford Reed explained “it’s the only carousel
still in regular use anywhere in the world”
“We are well acquainted with the Galloper” she said
“We do have maintenance people to do that” Brian Tyler said in a
fatherly way.
“He can’t help interfering” he said addressing the two St Georges
“He gets carried away sometimes”
“Nobody knows her like me” Peter said as he inspected his right hand
briefly and offered it to Gabriel to shake.
“Peter Philips” He said.
“Gabriel”
“And this is Ms St….” Clifford began
“Elspeth” She interrupted
“What a lovely name.” Peter said taking her hand and gazing at her.
“Chosen by God”
“Or consecrated by God” Elspeth said and held his gaze and his hand for
longer than was entirely necessary.
“Coffee?” Clifford suggested and broke the spell.
Peter and Elspeth broke away with a little embarrassment and they both
blushed.
“Yes a good idea” Peter answered.
“Or tea if you would prefer?” he added looking at Elspeth again.
“Coffee would be fine for me” Gabriel said
“Please sit down,” He offered with a sweeping Gesture.
“Tea would be very nice thank you Mr. Philips” Elspeth said almost
coyly.
“Please call me Peter”
“Ok Peter” She said and giggled.
She was not accustomed to showing that side of herself to strangers
though being acutely feminine and giggly was not entirely out of character.
While they drank coffee in Peter’s office the purpose for the meeting
took over the conversation.
“So we understand the Galloper is the problem” Elspeth said
“I take it that is the reason we’re here” Gabriel added
“Yes it is” he said “but The Gallopers uniqueness is part of the
problem, it’s so important to us because it’s one of the nostalgia rides, it’s
one of the attractions that no one else has, and visitors come here expecting
so see it in operation”
“So what’s the answer?” Gabriel asked
“Well I have located another Galloper” he said
“Another one?” she asked
“Yes” Peter replied
“Excellent” Elspeth said “Where is it?”
“Australia” he said
“Australia?” she repeated
“Yes it’s in Melbourne” he said “Have you ever been?”
“No I haven’t but I’ve heard it’s very lovely” she said
“Oh it really is” he agreed
“What about the Galloper?” Gabriel said reminding them they were not
alone
“Well I haven’t seen it yet” he said “And we haven’t talked money, but
he is keen to move quite quickly”
“So what do you need from us?” Gabriel asked
“Well just an agreement in principle to sanction the loan” he said
“But you don’t know how much you will need” Gabriel pointed out
“Well I don’t want to spend more the £30,000” he said
“I just don’t want to waste their time or my own for that matter if we
can’t borrow the money to fund the acquisition and the shipping”
The meeting continued for an hour with Brian Tyler detailing the Fun
Park’s financial status and the St George’s were satisfied the business was healthy.
They also discussed the practicalities of transporting a piece of
fairground hardware half way around the world.
Although he hadn’t seen the Australian Galloper Peter had a large
quantity of detailed pictures which indicated it was the real deal.
When the meeting was over the St Georges had guaranteed a loan up to the
value of £50,000”
Verification would need to be provided of its authenticity as a
Morehouse and full details of how complete it was before the funds were
transferred but Peter Philips had the loan agreed in principle.
“Well, keep us posted with your progress” Gabriel said
“Thank you Mr St George” Brian Tyler said as Gabriel stood up.
“Yes thank you” Peter Philips said and tore his attention away from
Elspeth and stood up proffering his hand.
“And thank you also Ms St George”
“Yes thank you Elspeth” Peter said taking her hand again.
“I think they need to be going now Peter” Clifford said slapping Peter
firmly on the back so he reluctantly let go of Elspeth’s hand and they both blushed
again.
“You know how to contact us” Gabriel said and handed a business card to
Peter and Elspeth handed hers to him and to Gabriel’s amazement she giggled
again.
Elspeth and Gabriel didn’t say a word on the
short walk back to the car but when she walked to the passenger side Gabriel
broke the silence.
“Oy dolly daydream.” He shouted. “You’re
driving remember”
She jumped. “Sorry Gabe I was miles away.”
“Yes I know and further more I know where you
were and who you were with”
He said and she flushed red
“Shut up and get in the car” she said
Spring had come early to Downshire and
although she was enjoying the unseasonably warm weather Elspeth had spent the
two weeks after her visit to Sharpington slightly depressed and more than a
little bewildered.
She had been awaiting, no expecting, a phone
call, from Peter Philips, she was convinced that they had hit it off, or
connected, or something and she just couldn’t understand why he hadn’t rung her
or sent her a text or even emailed her.
This was new territory for Elspeth because
normally she was not short of admirers, though not in any way inundated, and
most of them she felt complete indifference towards, but typically it was they
who did the waiting by the phone.
She was not used to wanting someone to call
and to have someone she was attracted to, fancied even, not call her.
Indeed it was something of a novelty, which
she was neither accustomed to nor would wish to become accustomed to.
She had even committed the cardinal sin,
something she had never done before or for that matter ever contemplated doing,
in fact she had never needed to consider.
Elspeth had called his office, not once, nor
twice but three times.
She was told on all three occasions that he
was not available.
Peter Philips was not available!
“Bloody cheek” She thought
Elspeth was a bit of party girl when she was
at University and was considered very good company.
She had slowed down a bit since then but she
was still popular and had a large circle of friends which she still met up with
regularly, but she hadn’t been able to enjoy herself since she met that bloody
Fun Park man.
And for the previous week she hadn’t been out
at all or met up with anyone.
All because of that bloody, bloody man.
As another week passed and May came to the
Vale Elspeth St George continued to discharge her duties in a state of anxious
bewilderment because he still hadn’t called.
What was wrong with the man? Or was it her?
Had she just misread the situation? How could she have got it so wrong?
After all she thought he was besotted with
her, he really seemed to be, she was now beginning to think it was merely
conceit on her part, to assume that he liked her.
Elspeth was certainly besotted with him and
that had never happened before, and she wasn’t sure she liked it at all.
So she took the unprecedented step of
actually going to the Fun Park, on the pretext of further discussions on the
loan, but in reality she went to see Peter Philips only to be told he was not
available.
“I have never ever been treated so shabbily”
she thought to herself indignantly and then chastised herself because she
realized she was just being given a taste of her own medicine.
“I need to talk to someone?” she said “But
who?”
“Gabriel? No that wouldn’t work, he’d laugh,
my sisters? No they would be unsympathetic, no it has to be Aunty Phil, I will
talk to Aunty Phil”
Elspeth St George was anxiously stalking
Aunty Phil through the village as she went around the parish delivering Church
magazines.
She had tried several times to approach her
at the Manor but she was frustrated by the constant interruptions, either by
someone else butting in or by the telephone ringing.
She even tried to catch her in the Manor
grounds walking her dog, biscuit, but just when she got close her fiancé the
Vicar got to her first.
Which was why after a week she was reduced to
stalking her Aunt like a criminal.
Elspeth had followed her to every house in
the village and then tracked her from shop to shop.
By the time Philomena reached Legg’s Farm
shop; Elspeth was desperate, even though she had no idea what she would
say.
When Aunty Phil was inside Legg’s, Elspeth
waited until Aunty Phil had paid for her fruit and veg and seized her chance to
make her move.
“Hi Aunty, can I help with your bags you look
a bit over loaded?”
“Hi, Thanks El, I have over done it a bit.
It’s a good job I’ve finished” she replied and Elspeth took a few of the
heavier bags from her.
“Are you heading back home now?” She asked
“Have you finished your shopping?”
“Oh yes it was lucky you ran into me I’m not
sure I would have made it back on my own” she replied
Philomena had been aware of Elspeth at the
Manor and suspected she was trying to talk to her, she had even noticed her
around the village a couple of times and looking at her pensive expression she
suddenly realized it was not a chance meeting.
“Do you know what I could do with?” Aunty
Phil said
Elspeth shook her head.
“A drink” She answered indicating the Old
Mill Inn with her eyes. “Do you fancy one?”
“Yes, I’d love one” Elspeth said and visibly
brightened.
Once they were settled at a table Elspeth sat
fiddling with a napkin and trying to think of what to say and Philomena stirred
her coffee while she looked on, rather enjoying her nieces’ discomfiture while
Elspeth tortured herself, and Philomena smiled to herself, but finally she
could stand it no longer.
“So what’s on your mind El?”
“Eh?” She exclaimed and had an expression on
her face like a rabbit caught in the headlights of an approaching car.
“Something’s bothering you, what is it?”
Elspeth took a deep breath.
“Oh Aunty Phil, I’ve been dying to talk to
someone” She said
“But I feel so silly and I don’t know where
to start.”
“At the beginning is a good place.” Philomena
said simply.
“Well you know Gabriel and I went over to the
Sharpington Fun Park a month ago?”
Aunty Phil nodded and sipped her coffee.
“Well we finished up in the General Manager’s
office and we met”
“Peter Philips” Phil interrupted.
“Yes, how did you know?” she asked
“Gabriel told me, he said you were smitten”
Aunty Phil said and smiled broadly.
“Gabriel?”
“Yes, he said he was a nice guy. So what’s
the problem?”
“He hasn’t called me. That’s the problem. I
gave him my card and he hasn’t called”
“Well that’s curious” Philomena said
“No its infuriating is what it is” Elspeth
corrected her
“Wait a minute, you did throw away all of
those misprinted cards you had? Didn’t you? The one’s with the Manor Farm phone
number on”
“Oh God I hadn’t thought of that” Elspeth
said and was horrified.
“Have you called him?”
“Yes several times, I even went there to see
him but I was told he wasn’t available” She said
“I can’t believe he wouldn’t see you or speak
to you if he was there, he seemed too nice for that.” Philomena said finishing
her coffee.
“Have you met him then?” she asked urgently.
“Not to talk to, but he was at the Manor one
day talking to Gabriel” Aunty Phil replied. “I assumed it was something to do
with the loan”
“I didn’t get a message” she said
“That doesn’t mean that he didn’t leave one”
Philomena pointed out “Have you spoken to Gabriel?”
The moment Elspeth and Aunty Phil returned to
the Manor and she had carried the bags to the kitchen, she went in search of
her brother Gabriel.
She found him in his office in conversation,
well he was on the telephone anyway in a form of conversation with her sister
Tallulah about a potential tenant up at Mornington Field.
“Ok give me a call later” he said and hung
up.
“Gabriel?” Elspeth said “Have you got a
minute?”
“What is it El?” He asked.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with Peter
Philips but I’m not having any luck, but Aunty Phil said he came here to the
Manor about a month ago and spoke to you”
“Yes he did” he replied
“Did he leave a message?” Asked Elspeth.
“A message?” he asked with a smile
“I don’t know about a message, but he left
some documents”
“What documents?” She snapped “It’s very
important.”
“They’re in your office” he replied “I put
them in the file on your desk”
“Thanks Gabe” she said rushing out the door.
She ran up the stairs and straight into her
office and when she got inside she closed the door and sat down at her desk.
She quickly searched her desk and located the
relevant file and when she opened it she located the envelope which was simply
addressed to Elspeth.
She sat at her desk for what seemed like an
hour, although it was only a few minutes in reality, staring at the envelope.
What if it was another set of photos of the
Galloper or minutes of their meeting or a basic thank you for granting the
loan.
She steeled herself, took a deep breath and
ripped open the envelope.
Inside, folded in half, was a sheet of A5
notepaper.
She took another deep breath and chastised
herself for behaving like a silly schoolgirl and unfolded the sheet of
notepaper.
On the paper was a short hand written note in
very neat style of handwriting.
And she read:
Miss Elspeth St George
I have to apologize for contacting you in this rather forward manner,
but I have been trying to speak with you for the last few days and I have tried
several times to phone you on the mobile number you provided.
This was however to no avail as all I managed to do was to get a rather
rude and abusive gentleman whose comments I could not bring myself to commit to
paper.
I understand from your brother that you are out of the office so I am
leaving this note.
I am now going to be out of the country for the next few weeks.
The reason I have been so anxious to contact you is that I would very
much like to take you to dinner, which will now have to be on my return.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope very much that you will
honor me with your company.
My very best regards.
Peter
At the bottom of the page, also in his very
neat hand, were two phone numbers and an email address.
She was up on her feet and dancing when the
door opened and Philomena walked in having been attracted by the noise and
Elspeth raced over and hugged her.
“Its good news then?” she said
“Yes, yes” was all Elspeth could manage.
“Good” Aunty Phil said “but don’t hug too
tight though because I need a wee”
Elspeth was feeling much happier with the
world, not only had she, if belatedly, received and read the letter from Peter
Philips but after doing the preliminary monthly accounts the revenues from
Mornington Field had set a new high, so she was on top of the world.
And on Friday Michelle Norman from Bizzie
Lizzies delivered a bouquet of flowers and she managed to corner Aunty Phil in
the kitchen just as she returned from walking biscuit.
“Hi Aunty these are for you” she said
“They’re lovely” she said “but what are they
for?”
“They are to say thanks for your help with
... well you know what”
“Thanks El, that’s really sweet”
It was three days since she had received and
read the letter and it was also three days since she had begun trying to
contact him on the two phone numbers and the email address he had included in
the letter.
Peter kept two mobile phones, one for
business and one for private use.
When she dialed the mobile phone numbers all
she got was the answer phone, so she left message, after message, after
message.
When that failed she emailed, several times,
but also to no avail.
So during those three days she had gone
through every emotion between elation and black despair.
Her inability to contact him caused her to
doubt the evidence contained in the letter, which had led her to believe his
interest in her was more than professional and she even began to doubt his
motives for wanting to dine with her.
She even wondered if he had actually left the
country and thought it might be a trick, why she thought that she didn’t know.
He wrote in his letter that he was going to
be out of the country, Australia obviously, but irrationally she thought he
might merely playing some kind of sadistic game with her.
But she played her part in the game by
phoning and emailing at regular intervals and she even resorted to phoning
Peters assistant Manager Clifford Reed.
He told her the last time he spoke with Peter
he was in transit to Australia but that had been over two weeks ago and he had
heard nothing since.
That was when she became even more irrational
and began to wonder if he had been killed and that was the reason nobody could
reach him.
Or maybe he was lying in a coma somewhere in
a filthy foreign hospital.
After a disturbed and restless night she
awoke early the next morning, around four o’clock, she picked up her Laptop and
went to the kitchen and made herself a hot drink.
Once her cocoa was made she sat silently at
the table and switched on her Laptop to check her emails.
As she logged on she expected to find her
mailbox empty as usual and she was right it was empty but for two pieces of
junk mail.
One was asking her if she had ever been miss
sold PPI and the second, as if to add insult on to injury, was an invitation to
join a dating site.
Which was when she cursed herself for
abandoning her carefree existence and allowing herself to be diverted by the
stupid man.
She had never sought a soul mate or a life
partner she had an abundance of friends with whom she had fun and sitting alone
in the kitchen at 4 am was not fun.
What her friends must be thinking of her she
could hardly imagine all she could do was put the previous month down as a
temporary aberration she would tell her friends she had been unwell but that
she was much better now.
Elspeth reached out and picked up her address
book and flicked through it.
It was time to put all this love nonsense
behind her, it was not for her, and now she had to get on with her life.
Finishing her drink she made herself another
mug and returned to the Laptop and was about to switch off.
But before she shut it down she heard a
distinctive ping!
She had mail.
“What this time” she said, “free books, Jesus
saves, stripper’s r us, porn, penis enhancement’s or another lonely-hearts
site”
So she ignored it and prepared to hit shut
down.
“But what if?” she said
“No! I’m not going there again” she said to
herself.
“But what if?” she repeated
“Oh enough now with the “What ifs”, no! I’ve
made my decision, it’s over, and I’m cured” she said but she hesitated, her
hand poised over the power switch.
“Shit!” She muttered as she sat down again
and opened her mailbox all the time cursing herself for weakening.
But there was a new email from an address she
didn’t recognize and so she moved it to trash without opening it.
“Why am I doing this to myself?” She said to
herself walking towards her bedroom.
“Why didn’t I just trust my own judgment in
the first place?” she asked herself and then stopped suddenly.
“AU!” she shouted, “It ended AU.”
Elspeth ran back to the kitchen and switched
on the laptop and quickly recovered the email from the trash.
Elspeth took a deep breath and opened the
email and discovered it was from Peter.
As she eagerly read the mail all her doubts
and fears dissolved away.
Peter was indeed in Australia and he had had
a series of misadventures first of all he dropped his business mobile in the
departure lounge at Heathrow Airport and then on arrival in Sydney he had the
bag containing his laptop stolen and it was only when he tried to use his
second mobile phone to report the theft of his laptop that he realized it was
also in the bag with his laptop so that was why Elspeth had been unable to
contact him.
The reason for his protracted visit was that
after he had viewed the Galloper and secured its purchase he heard that there
was another collection of vintage amusement park spares.
The only problem was that they were a few
hundred miles the other side of the back of beyond where there was no mobile
phone coverage and the internet was a little more than a dream.
However once he was back in Sydney, staying
at the home of a close friend he availed himself of his friend’s computer.
He still had a few lose ends to tie up but he
was hoping to be back in England by the end of the following week and Elspeth
was overjoyed.
She replied to the mail immediately and was
rewarded a few minutes later with a reply of her own.
The tit for tat emails continued for the next
two hours until she glanced at the clock and reluctantly dragged herself away
to get ready for work but then she realized it was Saturday so she took her
laptop up to her room.
Elspeth spent much of a bright spring
Saturday in her room dressed in “Sloppy Joes” and glued to her computer trading
emails with Peter Philips in Australia.
The general content of their correspondence
was first date stuff finding out the other’s likes and dislikes their
backgrounds and their aspirations.
This was interspersed with outrageous
flirtation and even a degree of lovemaking.
This was a new experience certainly for her
and she hoped for him also, she had not had Internet sex before, it was nice.
Even so she couldn’t wait for him to come
home.
A week later Elspeth St George’s attractive
figure trembled as she looked up at the board to see that flight BA145 from
Sydney had landed.
On Sunday Morning she had arrived at the
airport two hours before the flight was due and then the flight was delayed a
further ninety minutes.
Elspeth had spent a sleepless night and rose
early and even spending two hours getting ready hadn’t eaten into the time as
much as she thought it would so Elspeth decided she might as well waste the time
at the airport rather than at home.
But that turned out to be a big mistake.
She had thought that there would be more
distractions at a busy international airport and the time would not hang so
heavy.
The problem with that theory was that almost
everywhere she looked at the airport there was a clock or time display of some
nature.
She had bought magazines, she tried reading a
book, and she drank endless cups of coffee and made endless visits to the
toilets.
As a result Elspeth felt as though she had
been at the damned airport for days.
But when she saw on the display board that
the plane had landed she was trembling.
Elspeth turned on her heels and rushed to the
nearest toilets.
After emptying her bladder for the umpteenth
time she stood in front of the mirror and surveyed her reflection.
She was, by her own admission, a rather good
looking girl, blonde hair with rather striking features, the most stunning eyes
and even better legs.
As she stood before the mirror she combed her
shoulder length blonde hair and then touched up her makeup.
She wore a short floral dress, showing off
her legs, she liked her legs, then turned side on to admire herself in the
mirror then she stood on her tiptoes to get a better look at her legs, and then
she nodded to herself.
Having viewed herself from every possible
angle she gave herself a quick spray of perfume and put her things away in her
bag.
After stopping briefly for one last look in
the mirror and then she said out loud.
“Yes you will do very nicely”
Elspeth nodded to herself and made her way
back to the arrivals hall.
As Elspeth reached the arrivals gate the
first of the passengers were beginning to dribble through.
And as more and more passengers streamed
through the gate she began to panic.
“What if he doesn’t recognize me now I’m not
dressed in a business suit” She thought “or what if I don’t recognize him?”
When she calmed herself down she thought.
“I hope this blokes worth all this, my life’s
been a complete disaster since the moment we first met” she said to herself
She need not have worried, the moment she saw
him she knew him, and it was not the shabbily dressed man she had first met.
But the tall, lean thirty something that entered the concourse it was
unmistakable Peter Philips.
He was wearing chinos and a sweatshirt and she thought he looked great.
There was tiredness around the eyes but apart from that he looked good
enough to eat.
He paused for a moment to glance at the sea
of faces then he looked straight into her exceptional eyes, smiled and walked
toward her.
She pointed towards the exit and they began
walking that way, both on different sides of the barrier and never averting their
gaze and totally oblivious to anyone else’s presence.
When they reached the exit in the barrier
they continued walking still gazing at each other until they were out of the
main flow of travelers and they were facing each other.
“Hello” Peter said.
“Hello” She answered coyly and then they
kissed and all the panic and self-doubt she had felt, just melted away.
“This man is worth it” she thought “this man
is my soul mate”
