Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (25) A Very Christmas Romance

Tommy Weir’s cab arrived back at the Tipton Country Park Hotel in the North Downshire village of Tipton just as the snow began to fall again.

He paid the driver and then he and Danny walked into the plush panelled lobby of the hotel.

It had been a really nice evening out, a phenomenal meal and good company.

There were forty of them at the restaurant, colleagues from all over Europe some of them were strangers, some were close friends and some of them more so.

“Night cap?” Tommy asked

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

Tommy looked at his watch and saw it was already morning.

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

Tom was definitely up for one, so he headed for the bar.

There were only a handful of people in there at that hour and as he caught the night porter’s eye he said “Southern Comfort please, a large one”

“Make that two” a voice said from behind him.

He recognised the voice immediately, those wonderful plummy tones were acutely familiar to him, perfect English, each vowel dripping with sexuality, so he said to the barman “Two”

Then he turned around and looked at the woman who had been the object of his lust for nine months and an unrequited love for three of those and very much requited for another three of them.

Justine Khan was his older woman, his cougar to use the modern parlance.

She was a few months on the wrong side of fifty but still beautiful in his eyes even though he was fifteen years younger.

Justine and Tommy had shared an office at Brocklington Broadcast International for over a year, and at first he loathed her, he thought she was vain, overbearing and manipulative and her opinion of him was much the same.

They even lived in the same village, Dulcet St Mary and attended the same church, St Mary of Bethany.

They sang in the same choir and sat on the same committees so there was no escape for him from the bloody woman.

 

But as the weeks changed into months his feelings for her changed with them.

Justine had an Egyptian father and an English mother which left her with a dark complexion and western features.

She was an exotic looking woman with jet black hair and large brown eyes.

Justine was a tall woman, slender and very well endowed with legs to die for.

He 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 his eyes would stray to her gaping blouse and the treasures contained within.

But it wasn’t until a grey overcast day in June, on an office beano to Epsom Downs that they showed each other in no uncertain terms how they felt, when as the Derby favourites thundered towards the finish line Justine and Tommy, away from prying eyes, kissed for the first time.

And as they kissed he unzipped her leather jacket and slipped his hands inside her shirt to caress her naked skin.

 

Over the weeks that followed that first kiss on the racecourse, so did more sensual moments of intimacy, but they were really only tasters of what the two of them truly desired.

 

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

One such opportunity was a three day trip to visit suppliers, which they got rubber stamped by management and booked appointments and hotels and they were feeling very pleased with themselves for their lustful scheming.       

However an unseen hand dealt them a bitter blow when Justine went down with laryngitis.

Afterwards they tried to just arrange a simple dirty weekend away, Abbotsford, Abbeyvale, Applesford and even other places that didn’t begin with the letter A.

They even devised an intricate scenario for the benefit of Justine’s husband, Sammi, which he swallowed hook, line and sinker but then that failed at the eleventh hour when Tommy broke his wrist.

However even though it seemed like the fates were against them they decided they should have one last role of the dice.

 

So it was at the Brocklington Broadcast International Christmas Party weekend in Tipton that they planned to finally consummate their lust.

They had been out to a restaurant in Roespring called The Old School House and they had spent the evening sitting at the same table during the dinner, discreetly holding hands under the table, but as they left at the end of the evening they got separated and ended up in different cabs.

Tommy obviously thought that fate had interceded once again and their last chance had gone.

He supposed that it would be more devastating to him than to her because although he was single man, Justine was a married woman, which meant that for her there was some guilt involved, even if her husband Sammi was a complete waste of space.

But despite any perceived guilt Tommy was delighted to find Justine was waiting for him in the bar when he got back to the hotel.

He hadn’t taken into account that she would want it as bad as he did.

They sat in the corner of the bar and finished their drink.

“Another?” he asked

“I don’t think so” Justine said sharply and stood up, took his hand and dragged him to his feet.

“Let’s have the next one in my room” she said and led him by the hand through the plush reception area, with its brass fittings and oak wood paneling and green leather upholstery, up to the reception desk and collected their room keys.

With the key cards in hand Justine hurried him along the corridor and her wonderful plummy tones accompanied him all the way down the corridor until they finally arrived at their destination which was Justine’s room where they stood in the corridor and kissed.

 

At first it was the usual semi controlled kissing they had done so many times before but it quickly became hot and passionate as his hand sought out her breast, which was when she broke away and opened the door.

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

“God yes” Justine replied and pulled him into the room.

 

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

Justine however put a stop to things and said

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

“Sorry” he responded not quite sure what “just so” was.

But he needn’t have worried as it seemed that she wanted to amongst other things get the lighting right.

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

He wasn’t concerned with that what he felt for her had gone way beyond simple physical attraction so she really didn’t have to worry.

 

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

However such a natural function normally simply rendered, is much more complicated when you are seriously aroused.

It necessitates adopting the posture of a ski jumper and even then it’s not always successful.

When he left the bathroom he found the room lighting very subdued and Justine wearing only a smile and a pair of white lace knickers showing in stark contrast against the gorgeous dark flesh.

“Are you disappointed?” She asked

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

Justine had one arm draped across her breasts

“Good answer” she said as she walked towards him and lowered her arm at the last second and he got his first long lingering look at her large round breast that he had only previously dreamed of and then she was in his arms and began undressing him.

 

As they lay entwined in the afterglow, still breathing hard from their exertions.

Justine rested her head on his chest and sighed as he reflected that making love with her was everything he had hoped it would be and more and then they drifted off into a sweet post coital sleep.

 

After a short sleep he was awoken by Justine tenderly kissing his neck as her hand strove to awaken the rest of him and when all of him was fully awake they made love again.

 

The next day when the rest of their colleagues returned to their homes or in some cases their home countries Justine and Tommy put into effect their plan to stay on for another night and repeated the joyful pleasure of each other again and again.

 

Tommy would have gladly continued their unions well into the New Year but alas before the protracted Christmas break Justine dropped a bombshell on him when she took him to one side and to his great surprise ended the affair.

“But I love you” he said

“And I love you” Justine concurred

“Then why?” Tommy asked

“It has to end, not because I don’t love you” she said “But because despite everything I still love my husband, and I can’t cheat on him anymore”

  

He didn’t take the news well and for the week between Justine dropping her bombshell and the office closing for Christmas he barely spoke a word to her and when the office closed for the Christmas break he left without saying goodbye, it was just too painful for him.

On Christmas Eve he spent the day laying on the sofa watching sentimental movies and eating comfort food.

However come the evening he snapped out of his torpor and walked through the snow to church.

As usual St Mary of Bethany was well attended for Midnight Mass, despite the bitter cold and everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the service.

After the mass was over everyone gathered at the rear of the church and shared the peace which was when he saw her.

Tommy tried to get to the door but Justine anticipated his move and intercepted him.

“Happy Christmas Tommy” she said and then hugged him.

“I miss you” she whispered

“Me too” he replied as he hugged her.

After the hug Justine turned to leave and Tommy said

“Happy Christmas Justine”

She smiled and went home, to her husband and he went home alone.

         

Christmas morning began with a frosty glaze decorating the rooftops and lightly dusting the evergreens and then as the bells rang out to celebrate the birth of the Lord the joyous faithful arrived under a clear blue sky and the winter sun glistened on the layer of frost coating the previous day’s snow.

It was a most glorious Christmas morning and Tommy’s spirits were high.

Much higher than they had been for over a week.

He met Justine outside St Mary’s which raised his spirits even higher and he kissed her on each cheek in the sunshine before they went inside to join the rest of the congregation.

It was an excellent service with the Vicar at his very best.

 

Afterwards it took some while for the Church to empty as everyone wanted to share their best wishes with the Vicar and he was clearly getting over come with all the attention.

After he left the church and said his goodbyes he smiled at Justine and watched her walk away and then he spent the rest of the day missing her.

 

In the days preceding Christmas, Tommy had been inundated with invitations to share Christmas dinner and as usual he was quite overwhelmed by people’s kindness.

 

In the end he accepted his next door neighbour’s, the Daly’s,  invitation and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas lunch with Victoria and Owen, where he ate too much, drank too much and left just before he over stayed his welcome and returned home very late that evening.

And although he was full of spirits from the Daly’s drinks cabinet his spirits were quiet low as he was alone.

And all that night his dreams were full of Justine and she was saying

“We have to end it”

“But I love you” he said

“And I love you” Justine concurred “But I can’t cheat on him anymore”

 

On Boxing Day he spent much of the day in the Cross Keys and when he eventually got himself home it was dark.

He went in and switched the lights on and he had been home for about half an hour before he fell asleep in his armchair and was woken about an hour later by a loud banging on the front door.

So he dragged himself up from his comfortable chair and dragged himself to the door and opened it.

“Hello Tommy” Justine said

“Hi” he said groggily, not really believing it was her.

“Can I come in?” she asked with a shiver

“Of course, sorry, come in” he said

She pulled off her gloves and stuffed them in her pocket before slipping her boots off and then handed him her hat, coat and scarf.

Justine sat down on the sofa as far from his chair as it was possible to get and perched herself on the edge of the seat nervously.

She wasn’t glammed up like usual, there were no designer clothes, no silk blouse, no tailored skirt or expensive patterned tights and overpriced shoes.

She had wellingtons on her feet when she stepped in the house and as she sat on his sofa she had Tigger socks on her feet and wore loose fitting trousers and a baggy sweater.

“Do you love me?” she said suddenly

“You know that I do” he replied

“Yes but do you really love me, or is it just an infatuation?” She asked

“Do you love me, warts and all, and not just in a sympathetically lit hotel room, or when I’m dressed up to the nines, would you love me looking like this?”

“I love you with all my heart” he replied

“But only enough to have an affair with me” she said coldly

“That was all that was on offer” he pointed out

“But you would be content to continue with that though wouldn’t you?” she asked

“Only if it was that or nothing” he said

“I thought so” she retorted

“No you don’t understand, I want us to be together” he said “All the time, not just when we can connive and scheme for a stolen hour together or a dirty weekend”

“What do you mean?” Justine asked

“I want you to leave Sammi and be with me”

“Do you really mean that?” she asked with tears welling up in her eyes “You’re not just saying it, to get me into bed?”

“No of course not” he said and knelt beside her and held her hands.

“What about the age difference?” she asked “I was fifteen years of age when you were born, you are a young man” 

“You say that like its news to me” she replied “I know you’re 15 years older me and I don’t care”

Tommy put his arms around her and just held her for the next five minutes.

“You may not still think that when you hear what I have to tell you” she said as she straightened up and looked at his face.

“Nothing you could possibly say could change the way I feel” he said confidently

“Don’t be so sure” Justine retorted

“I mean what I say” Tommy reiterated and then he watched the woman he loved take a deep breath before she spoke.

“I have left him” she said and his face immediately betrayed his true feelings for her and she gasped when she saw the look of joy on his face.

“You really do love me, for me” she said

 

By New Year’s Day everyone in the village knew they were a couple and they were a cause célèbre for a while but once Sammi had moved away and her house was sold things settled down and by the following Christmas no one gave them a second thought, which suited them down to the ground.

The Christmas after that they celebrated as a married couple. 

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (23) Another Highfinch Curate

Since leaving the Army in January, Brian Lawton had been coasting along without any real purpose or goal that was until mid-October when he made one of his infrequent phone calls to touch base with his sister Jenna who was the de facto Vicar of St Martins in Highfinch while the Reverend Mortimer was recovering from a heart attack.

The village of Highfinch sat just on the edge of the Pepperstock Hills and Lily Green Hollows Golf Club separated the village from the Hamlet of Lily Green, which made up her parish.

“So how are you sis?” he asked jovially and she burst into tears.

Unable to get any sense out of her over the phone he said

“Ok I’m on my way”

Fortunately he wasn’t a million miles away as he and another ex-soldier were doing some security work in Sharpington and it was his day off.

Brian was 33 years old and had been medically discharged from the Downshire Light Infantry due to injuries sustained in Afghanistan when he lost most of his left foot.

It was a severe blow to him as Soldiering was the only thing he had ever wanted to do and he suspected he wasn’t equipped for much else. 

But one thing he definitely could do was be there for his big sister.

 

He pulled up outside the Vicarage and immediately decamped and ran as best he could up the path and when she opened the door she wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.

When he had consoled her she told him that she had fallen head of heels in love with a recent incumbent to the village, Nick Faulkner.

“What? “The” Nick Faulkner, the sports presenter?” he said

“Yes” she replied with her head in her hands

“And?”

“And what?” she asked

“And does he feel the same?” Brian asked

“I don’t know”

“Well, have you told him how you feel?”  

“Of course not” she said with alarm

“So what have you done about it?” he asked

“We had lunch together, twice, although one of those was in a group” she explained “and he invited me out to dinner”

“He did?”

“Yes” she replied

“So what’s the problem?” Brian asked her

“He’s doing the Rugby World Cup coverage and won’t be back until next month”

“Ok now I understand”

The World Cup ran from the 18^th of September until the 31^st of October so he could easily understand why she would be missing him.

“Well it’s only two weeks away now” he said

“Yes but that’s not the problem” she said and began crying again.

When he had calmed her down she went on to explain that she had been summoned to Abbottsford to see the Bishop the following day.

“Did he say what it was about?” he asked

“No, but it will be about Reverend Mortimer” Jenna said

“He’s going to replace him and transfer me to another parish”

“You don’t know that” Brian said reassuringly

“What else could it be?” she asked

“You’re just thinking of the worst case scenario” he pointed out

“That doesn’t mean it won’t happen” she retorted

“Nick is going to return to Highfinch and I will have been transferred to Carlisle or Skegness” she said bitterly

“You really have it bad don’t you?” he said and hugged his sister

“What am I going to do?” she sobbed

“Would you like me to go with you tomorrow?” he asked

“Could you?”

“Yes and I can stay for a few days?” he said

“That would be lovely” she said and kissed him

 “I can help you pack” he said and for the first time since he arrived she laughed

 

Brian and Jenna left the Vicarage just after 9 o’clock and walked to his car.

Although there was a four year gap in their ages and they were different genders anyone who saw Brian and Jenna together couldn’t fail to spot that they were siblings.

He was as handsome as she was attractive, they had the same open manner, the same brunette hair differing only in length, and they also shared intelligent green laughing eyes, broad toothy smiles, and pleasant demeanours.

 

Jenna was clearly very nervous and spoke hardly a word all the way to Abbottsford and when she did it was only in single syllables.

So Brian did most of the talking, however she didn’t really take in what he was saying.

 

He pulled into the carpark of the Bishop of Downshire’s Palace and Jenna got out.

“Good luck” Brian said as he hugged her then he watched her walk towards the heavy oaken doors with her head down and shoulders slumped.

Brian then got back in the car and waited until she reappeared two hours later.

From the moment she emerged from the large oak doors he could tell just from her gait alone that all was well.

“Well?” he asked as she got in the car

“I need you to help me pack” she said

“What? How can that be?” he asked in disbelief

“You can help me pack up Reverend Mortimer’s stuff” she said “I’m the new Vicar”

“That’s fantastic” he said and hugged her “I knew it was good news”

“And I’m getting a new curate”

 

Over the following weeks Brian helped Jenna pack all of Reverend Mortimer’s possessions into boxes and then decorate his old bedroom so that Jenna could move into it and then he did the same to her old room in readiness for the new curate who was arriving at the beginning of November.

 

Jenna enjoyed the busyness that had ensued after meeting with the Bishop as it kept her mind occupied and gave her less time to brood over Nick.

 

In between his labour’s at the Vicarage he was driving over to Sharpington for work but he knew he couldn’t keep that up for long and that he would soon have to leave his big sis to fend for herself.

However when the new Curates room was finished and the furniture was all in place Jenna said something that surprised him.

“Why don’t you decorate the attic room next” she said

“What for?” He asked  

“So you can live in it” she replied

“What live here?” he asked

“Yes” she said “I’m a very reasonable landlady and the rents cheap”

“It’s a bit of a commute for work though”

“Get a job closer to home” she suggested “the Golf club are always looking for new staff”

“What even crippled ex-soldiers?” he said bitterly

“No one else sees you like that, only you, think about it” she said “I’d love to stay”

“Well I do like it here” he admitted

 

She had no doubts that they would welcome him with open arms at the Lily Green Hollows Golf Club because the manager David Pike was on the parish council and she had already broached the subject with him.

 

Jenna got her answer after evensong the next day when she found Brian up in the attic room stripping wallpaper.

 

On the 2nd of November Jenna woke up with butterflies in her stomach because she knew that Nick was due back in Highfinch.

In fact her butterflies were so bad she had to forgo breakfast.

In addition to that anxiety she was also nervous because Brian had an interview at Lily Green Hollows.

 

“Good luck” she said and kissed Brian on the cheek and watched him drive off.

When she got back inside the phone was ringing and she knew from the caller ID that it was Julia Thomas who sat on the parish council with her and more significantly was Nick Faulkner’s next door neighbour.

“Jenna darling” Julia said “Nicks back”

“What?” she asked “Are you sure?”

“Yes I can see him now standing on his drive”

“Thanks Julia” she said and hung up then after a quick look in the mirror she ran out of the Vicarage.

She was in such a hurry to get to see him that she rushed headlong round a corner and met Nick coming the other way and they both ended up on their backsides on the cold pavement.

“I’m so sorry” He said getting quickly to his feet and proffering a hand to the prostrated Jenna which she took.

“Nonsense” she replied, “I wasn’t looking where I was going, my mind was elsewhere”.

“Mine too” he said “are you ok? Are you hurt?”

“No only my pride” she replied

They dusted themselves off and there was a brief moment of awkwardness as they finally looked at each other properly.

“Anyway” she said “Duties to perform”

“Yes” he agreed “things to do”

And then much to her surprise and delight he kissed her which she graciously welcomed 

“How clever of you to know where my mind was” she said and returned the compliment.

 

Suddenly conscious of making a spectacle of themselves in the street they walked back to the Vicarage where she made them coffee and they talked about the events that had occurred in his absence.

Before they knew it they had talked the morning away and they still hadn’t settled on a restaurant to go to for dinner.

“I know” she said “I have a brilliant idea”

“Tell me more”

“There’s a big bonfire night display at Sharpinghead” she said

“The fireworks are spectacular”

“And you would rather do that than have a meal?” he asked

“No, as well as” Jenna said

“As well as?”

“Oh yes I thought I would let you buy me a hotdog at the fireworks and then we have all week to decide where you’re going to take me for dinner at the weekend” she explained

“I can see you have it all planned” he said

“Well I do now”

“That’s a date then” he said

“Two dates actually” she corrected him “And there are still three day where we have nothing planned”

“Well we can’t have that then can we?” he said “let’s go for lunch”

“I like your thinking” she said and kissed him

“I like yours better” he said and kissed her back

 

Brian was interviewed by David Pike for an assistant green keeper’s position and even though he had no experience such was the regard David had for the new Vicar, Brian was offered the job.

 

Jenna and Nick’s first proper date to the bonfire night party at Sharpinghead was a great success although they didn’t spend much time watching the pyrotechnics.

They had eyes only for each other and had it not been for the hot dogs they could have been almost anywhere for all the notice they took of where they were.

They did at least settle on the location for their Saturday night dinner date, the Runcible Spoon in Purplemere.

 

On the same night as Nick and Jenna’s first date Brian was on the way home from Sharpington after his final security shift and he was driving along a lonely stretch of road in the Pepperstock Hills when he came upon a car on the side of the road with the hazard lights flashing.

It was the worst possible spot for anyone to break down and it was probably the most remote place on the entire road as there was no civilization for at least 2 miles in any direction.

He drove slowly past the stricken vehicle and could see a figure inside that appeared to be female so he pulled up in front of it.

Then he got out and walked back and as he did so he heard the tell-tale sound of the central locking which made perfect sense, after all a woman alone at night miles from anywhere was very vulnerable.

He walked up to the driver’s side where the occupant had wound the window down about an inch so asked loudly

“Is everything ok?”

“I have a flat tyre” she replied

“Do you have a spare?”

“Yes I do”

“Good, pop the boot then” Brian said

“But it’s also flat” she said sheepishly

“That’s not so good” he pointed out

“Do you have a mobile phone I can borrow?” she asked “Mine isn’t working”

“It’s not your phone that’s the problem” he said “Coverage is a bit patchy up here”

“Oh” she said looking downcast

“Well we have a couple of options, I can either go ahead, and send help back, which I’m not really comfortable with” he said “or I can give you a lift, I’m going as far as Highfinch”

“Oh really” she said brightening a bit “so am I”

“Well that a bit of luck then” he said “I’m Brian by the way”

“Rosie” she replied and unlocked the car.

 

He helped Rosie transfer her bags from her car to his and when she had locked it they set off down the road.

After a few minutes he said

“It was fortunate that I came along” He said “it’s not a particularly busy road at this time of year especially after dark”

“Yes it was very providential” she agreed

“So whereabouts in the Village are you going?” he asked

“The Vicarage” she replied

“Seriously?”

“Yes, is it so shocking that I would be going there?” she asked thinking he must be an atheist or a humanist or just a cynic

“Not at all” Brian replied “I’m guessing you must be the new Curate”

“Yes I am” she said with surprise “but how did you know that?”

“Well I could tell you that Highfinch is a small village and everyone knows everyone else’s business” he said

“But actually it’s because the Vicar is my sister”

“Oh well that’s very providential indeed” she said and laughed

 

Once inside the house he got his first proper look at the new Curate and he wasn’t disappointed, he thought she was a very pretty girl a few years younger than him he figured late twenties possibly 30.

She was wearing her shoulder length brunette hair down so it danced around her nape of her neck as she walked into the hall and when she slipped off her coat she was wearing a green dress that hugged her figure, well what figure she had.

Rosie was a tall girl, stick thin, with no visible bust line at all, nor did she have any hips to speak of and she had an arse like a boy, but very nice legs though and overall Brian liked what he saw.

 

Jenna had returned after her date at the fireworks and was in the lounge, so he took Rosie in and introduced the two of them and they greeted each other like they were long lost friends.

“I’ll take your bags up to your room” he said

“Thank you” they both said and he left the two of them chattering incessantly.

 

On Saturday night Jenna was dressed up to the nines for her big date with Nick.

“Wow sis” Brian said when he saw her “Not at all bad for an old bird”

“Don’t be so cheeky” Rosie said and punched his arm

“You look absolutely stunning” she said to Jenna

“Did you see that savage attack?” Brian said rubbing his arm

“She’s only been here two day and I’m already being brutalized”

“Stop whining” Jenna said unsympathetically

“I was actually worried about leaving her in your care for the evening but I can see who will really be in charge”

 

After Nick had picked Jenna up and Brian and Rosie watched them drive off there was a brief awkward silence between them until Brian said

“Listen I can’t offer you the sumptuous delights of the Runcible Spoon but I can run to a pretty decent pizza”

“On one condition” she replied

“What’s that?”

“That we can watch Dr Who while we eat it”

“I can see you are a girl after my own heart, it a deal” he said “I’ll get the menu”

 

So while Nick and Jenna were enjoying the culinary delights at The Runcible Spoon, Brian and Rosie ate pepperoni Pizza and watched Dr Who after which he said.

“We could go over to the Downshire Arms if you like”

“I’m not a big pub person” she replied hesitantly

“There’s a quiz on” he added

“Well I do like a quiz” she “Ok, as long as it’s not too rowdy”

“I promise” he said “Highfinch doesn’t do rowdy”

 

The pub was quite busy but not rowdy and not having been in the village that long he didn’t know that many people so he made a bee line for the only familiar faces he recognized, one of which was his new boss David Pike who was sitting at the same table as fellow parish councillors Julia Thomas and Vicki Paulding none of whom had yet met the new curate.

 

They had a fun evening and their improvised team battled bravely to a very creditable second place.

As he was taking his outdoor shoes off Rosie noticed the abnormality as he took his left foot out of his shoe and quickly slipped it into his slipper.

“What happened to your foot” she asked

“A road side bomb” he replied “In Afghanistan”

“I didn’t know you were in the army”

“Yes but not anymore though” he said sadly

“Do you get any pain?”

“No not really, not anymore” he said

“It just looks a bit freaky so I’m a bit self-conscious about it”

“I used to be a nurse so I’m sure I’ve seen worse” she said

“I don’t think we know each other well enough yet” he said “But thanks”

 

Nick and Jenna had a lovely meal in Purplemere and found that the Runcible Spoon certainly didn’t disappoint and they would both have agreed that neither did the company.

The next day Jenna was in a wonderful mood and it didn’t take an expert to know why and Brian was very pleased to see she was looking much more like her old self again and seemed to have fully recovered from the malady of despondency that had afflicted her.

Jenna was also on very good form in the pulpit and delivered a very inspiring and enlightening sermon and afterwards back at the Vicarage she turned her attention on Brian.

“Brother Dearest” she said

“What?” he responded suspiciously?

“I have a task for you”

“And what’s that?” Brian asked

“I need you to help out at the Christmas Bazaar” she said

“Oh ok yes I can do that” Brian said a little relieved to get off so lightly

“Excellent” she said “We just need to get the ladies to alter the costume” 

“Hold on what costume?” Brian said “I don’t remember agreeing to a costume”

“The Santa costume obviously” Jenna said

“I am not going to dress up and Santa” he said adamantly

“But you have to, you can’t sit in Santa’s grotto in your ordinary clothes” Jenna insisted

“What grotto?” he asked

“You’ll make a wonderful Santa” Rosie added

“That’s not fair, you’re ganging up” he said indignantly “ganging up isn’t fair”

“I’ll let you know when you’re needed for the first fitting” Jenna said as she left the room

“But Jenna?” he called

“Can’t talk, I’m going to lunch with my boyfriend”

A moment later her head appeared around the door and she added

“I rather like the way that sounds”

Brian spent the next five minutes trying to fathom how she had managed to rope him into playing Santa at the St Martin’s School Christmas Bazaar without him even realising what he had agreed to and in fact he was left with the impression that he actually volunteered.

A local man called Henry Gold normally played Santa and had done for many years but since his sad demise earlier that year it had proved difficult to replace him.

“You really will make a marvellous Santa” Rosie said and went out to make lunch.

 

Later that week his sister volunteered him for something else but on this occasion he offered no resistance.

As the winter was beginning to bite there had been a call out to church groups in the area for volunteers for the soup kitchens in Purplemere or Finchbottom.

As soon as the request came through Rosie signed up without a seconds hesitation which prompted Jenna to suggest Brian do the same to look after her.

 

But what began as a simple babysitting exercise turned out to be one of the most rewarding things he had ever done, a real eye-opening experience plus he got to spend time with Rosie which was becoming more of a pleasure every time they went out.

 

Brian was replacing Henry Gold as Santa at St Martin’s School Christmas Bazaar due to the latter’s sad demise earlier in the year and as Henry was a much bigger man than Brian was so some significant adjustments to the suit and the padding were necessary.

So on the Monday morning before the Bazaar in the church Hall the Vicar and a small team of ladies were on hand to affect alterations, well the team of ladies obviously did all the work and Jenna looked on, but Brian noticed she was wearing a worried frown.

 

He didn’t want to broach the subject in front of the ladies so he waited until they were on their own back at the Vicarage that evening.

“What’s the matter sis?”

“Christmas is the matter” she replied

“But you love Christmas” he reminded her

“Yes but It’s such a busy time, there is so much going on, Advent, Christingle, Carol Concert  and the Bazaar and everyone is watching me to see if I screw up”

“But you’ve been here for ten years” he said “this is hardly your first Christmas”

“Yes but it’s my first Christmas as the Vicar” she said worriedly

“Look you’ve already ticked off the first Sunday of advent and the Bazaar is totally covered, so stop worrying” he reassured her.

 

For Reverend Jenna Lawton the run up to the second weekend of advent was a test of endurance and the success of the first weekend of Advent under her belt she still approached the Second weekend with little confidence despite her brother’s words of comfort.

 

On Friday lunchtime Brian was required at the Church Hall for his final fitting, so he walked over from the Golf Course in his meal break.

But before he could get in the door of the Church Hall his sister the Vicar burst out of it. 

“It’s a total disaster” Jenna blurted out “Trevor Gurney has appendicitis”

“Oh no” Brian said “is he ok?”

“What?” she said as if confused by the question

“Trevor” he clarified “is he ok?”

“Oh shit,” the Vicar exclaimed, “I never thought to ask”

“So what’s the disaster then?” He enquired

“Trevor is the chief Elf to your Santa,” she explained

“So what’s the problem?” he said “can’t we just find someone to fill his shoes?”

“It’s not his shoes that are the problem” Jenna explained

“He’s a six foot stick insect with a bum like a twelve year old boy”

“Oh” Brian said unhelpfully

“We can’t get anyone else with their own costume at this late stage” she went on

Brian went to speak but she was in full flow and cut him off

“No! We can’t hire a costume they’re all gone, and if we put one of the volunteers in Trevor’s costume they will just look ridiculous”

“Don’t you think a six foot Elf is ridiculous anyway?” Brian remarked

“He’s a very good Elf” Jenna said indignantly “and he supplied his own costume”

“So let me get this straight we need someone six feet tall, stick thin with an arse like a 12 year old boy” he asked

“Yes” Jenna replied crossly, “That’s why it’s a disaster”

“I know just the person,” he said

“Really?” she asked doubtfully

“Really” he said and taking out his mobile phone he got up his contacts list, scrolled down and hit call.

“Rosie? Where are you?”

“I’m here” she said suddenly emerging from the Church Hall

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked and put his phone away.

The Vicar paced up and down like an expectant father while looking her Curate up and down.

“I don’t believe it, the solution was right under my nose all the time” she said 

“Will you do it?” She asked eventually

“Do what?” Rosie asked

“Be the chief Elf to my Santa” he said “You are uniquely qualified”

“Ok” Rosie agreed

“Sorted” Brian replied

“Thank you God” Jenna said looking to the heavens and crossing herself “and thank you Brian”

“You’re perfect Rosie, I can’t believe I didn’t see it” she said

“You obviously don’t spend as much time looking at her as I do” Brian said and then blushed at the realization that he’d said it out loud.

Jenna didn’t notice but Rosie did and she was smiling as she went back inside.

Jenna just kissed his cheek before going off to belatedly enquire about Trevor’s state of health.

Brian followed her into the hall where the ladies swarmed around him like they were preparing Cinderella for the ball.

He tried on the suit and measurements were taken by women muttering to one another with their mouths full of pins and it was agreed it would be ready by Friday without fail and after the ladies had finished doing their thing, he returned to work in a good frame of mind and very much looking forward to the big day.

 

On Saturday morning Brian rose very early and to his surprise Jenna and Rosie had already left the house.

Although he was press ganged into the job and he was a bit nervous, well in truth he was terrified, he was pleased that he would not be enduring the ordeal alone and would be sharing the experience with Curate Rosie Coulter.

He treated himself to an extra close shave, a much closer one than usual in order to accommodate the beard and as a result when he applied the aftershave it stung like hell.

He arrived at St Martin’s school smelling sweetly and red-faced at about 11.00am to find his sister the Vicar fussing around like a mother hen, uncharacteristically wanting things just so.

“Hey sis” he said

“You’re cutting it fine” Jenna said crossly

“There’s plenty of time” he said

“There’s still so much to do” she retorted

“Ok just calm down” Brian said “it’s all in hand”

“Look it’s not just a Christmas Bazaar you know we’re making Christmas memories” Jenna said “it’s important for the children so it’s got to be done right”

Just then Rosie came through the door behind him

“Hello Santa” she said brightly

“Hi Rosie” he said “Hey why aren’t you in costume?”

“Some of us have had a very busy morning Grouchy Clause” Rosie said

“Come on Rosie your costume is through there” said Jenna and lead her away to one of the offices, but she paused by the doorway and let Rosie go ahead of her gave her an appraising look and declared to her brother.

“You were right bro she does have a bum like a twelve year old boy”

“Yes she’s perfect” he said absentmindedly

Jenna smiled and left him with the drama teacher Cherry Overton-Brown who showed him in to the grotto.

“I’m your dresser, Brian” she said “I’m going to help you with your wig and beard”

“Ok” he said

“I’m in amateur dramatics you know” she continued pompously

“No I didn’t know that” he replied disinterestedly  

 

The grotto was in one of the classrooms, though he wasn’t sure what subject as all the walls were hidden behind red velvet drapes, decorated with tinsel and coloured lights.

The huge throne was in the furthest corner surrounded by Christmas parcels.

Leading to the throne was a snow covered path and on one side of it was a festive tableau of snowmen and reindeer and on the other side Santa’s sleigh was parked.

 

He was fully regaled in the red velvet suit and as he sat on his throne, Cherry applied the finishing touches to his beard and placed the hat on his head and pinned it to the wig.

Just as she stepped away to admire her handiwork Rosie appeared, and being tall and flat chested she was dressed as Bernard the Elf, from The Santa Clause movies, wearing Trevor Gurney’s costume, and it was a perfect fit.

Which consisted of a rather expensive looking fitted tunic, in brown and green with gold brocade decorating the front and back, thick deep red tights on her skinny legs and pixie boots with turned up toes.

Rosie’s hair was tied up and hidden under a matching hat and to all intents and purposes she looked like a boy, and he still found her staggeringly sexy.

 

To get to the grotto you had to enter via an adjoining classroom, also festively decked out which acted as an ante room where a small number of children and their accompanying parents waited their turn, and where Cherry Overton-Brown, who for some reason was dressed as Robin Hood, kept order, and beyond the anteroom in the corridor there was a sizable queue of expectant children.

 

The grotto opened to the first child at 1 pm and there was pretty constant stream almost non-stop until 4 o’clock.

Rosie escorted the excited or apprehensive child in from the ante chamber, who would then climb upon Santa’s lap, the child not Rosie, much to Brian’s disappointed.

Santa would then have a quick chat with them and give them their gift, and then Tom Rowlands, the Verger, would take a photo.

Rosie then escorted the happy child back out to their parents and this well-oiled machine kept operating like that for 3 hours and when Rosie escorted the final child back to their waiting parents the Verger followed them out.

Leaving Brian shattered and alone on his throne and suffering from the seasonal condition of “Santa’s lap”.

He was gagging for a drink he had nits in his beard and a damp patch on his trousers.

But despite his apprehension at his debut as Santa he had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hoped he had done his predecessor proud.

 

When Rosie returned from showing the last of the little darlings out of the door she came over to him and said

“That’s definitely the last of them”

“Excellent” he sighed

“But there is just one more customer for Santa” She said and sat on his knee.

“I don’t think I have a present for you little girl” Santa said “I’m almost certain that you’re on the naughty list”

“I think I’m probably on the nice and naughty list” Rosie said and giggled

“But I really don’t think I have any presents left” he said

“Then I will have to have a kiss instead” she said and kissed him.

 

As the resident celebrity of Highfinch, and the Vicars boyfriend, Nick Faulkner, was both the guest of honour and the raffle prize draw master.

But with the draw complete he went in search of his own prize draw, namely the Reverend Lawton and he caught up with her in the ante room to Santa’s grotto.

She was peering through a gap in the door to the grotto.

“What are you looking at nosy?” Nick said

“Shush” she said and put her finger to her lips “Come and have a look”

He tiptoed across the room and also peaked through the crack in the door and could see Rosie the Elf snogging Santa Claus.

“Well, well” he said “Just wait until Mrs Claus finds out about this”

“Oh I think she already knows” Jenna said      

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (009) The Avuncular and the Christmas Stocking

 

Three months had passed since Hannah Castle and I had made love in my room at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel and two days short of three months since she said she wasn’t sure we could be together.

Not that she didn’t love me or enjoy being with me, and I can say without being boastful that it wasn’t because she didn’t enjoy making love with me.

Nor did she think that was a mistake, a moment of madness or because she had drunk too much.

“I don’t regret it for a second” she said as we lay entwined beneath the duvet “I just have doubts”

Hannah just wasn’t sure if she could or should give over her heart, soul and life to a man 12 years older than herself.

I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed and I wasn’t happy about it but nor was I angry with her, in fact I agreed with her to a point, and I wanted her to be sure as much as she did.

After all I had no words to convince a 29 year old woman to give her life to a man the wrong side of 40, and nor would I have wished to use them if they were in my possession.

 

“I love you Tom, but I just have to be certain sure” she said the moment before she drove away it was heart-breaking to watch her drive away because I had no such doubts.

For me that first night together was the blissful culmination of eight years of hope and desire, not just the love making but to hear my declaration of love returned in word and delicious deed.

It had been pretty much love at first sight for me, but then she was a beautiful sight to behold, but for her it was a more gradual falling and one that she desperately fought against tooth and claw whereas I simply surrendered to her.

 

Even before our chance meeting at the Hotel Hannah had agreed to take a three month secondment in Milford Haven where she could be close to her sister and the twins, so she suggested they take that time to think, and in that time she would either get over me or know for certain sure I was the one.

 

While she was away I convinced myself almost on a daily basis that it was over, and rightly so I thought at times.

If the worst came to the worst I consoled myself with the thought that I would always have the memory of that wonderful weekend when my love for her was finally validated.

In my darkest moments I did question if it was a moment of madness that brought Hannah to my bed, but I was glad for that madness if that’s what it was.

Though if Hannah did resolve that it was a mistake and it was over I would at least have the memory of that wonderful weekend to sustain me forever.

Personally I prefer to think it was fate that brought us together on that wonderful weekend.

 

I would have liked to have exchanged the occasional text or email with her, but Hannah had asked for total separation.

All I could do was throw myself into my work totally and fill my every waking moment with thoughts of anything and everything that wasn’t her.

Impossible of course, but if in the unlikely event that I could exclude her from my thoughts I couldn’t stop her invading my dreams, and when I slept I dared to dream, so in the small hours of the sleepless night I resorted to the only thing that prevented me from being driven insane.

I wrote in a diary, I called it a dream diary, it was where I wrote every detail, every thought that filled my troubled sleep nightly,   thoughts of love for the girl of my dreams, and the closer the end of the three months got, the more intense the dreams became and evermore vivid with each passing day.

 

It was the day before Christmas Eve when I got the long awaited phone call, and I took a deep breath and hit the button.

“Hello, Tom Flood” I said

“Hey Tom” she said

“Hannah?” I asked “God it’s good to hear your voice”

“Ditto” Hannah replied, “Where are you?”

“I’m in London” I replied, “Are you still in Milford Haven?”

“No, I’m back home” she replied, “When are you back?”

“Tonight” I replied

“Can we meet?” Hannah asked

“Yes, of course” I said, “Have you made a decision?”

“Yes, I have” she replied

“And?” I enquired trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice

“I don’t want to say on the phone” she answered “I want to do it face to face”

“Ok” I said not knowing if that meant it would be good or bad

“Come to the house tonight” I said

“What time?” she asked

“Around seven” I replied “Let yourself in if I’m late; you know where the key is”

“Ok, I’ll see you tonight then Tommy” she said

“Ok, bye”

 

The journey out of London was an absolute mare and consequently I was late getting home and it was nearly 8 o’clock when I drove onto the drive.

Since her phone call my stomach had been in absolute knots and arriving home late didn’t untangle it in the least.

The lights were on in the house so Hannah had let herself in I only hoped she was still there and hadn’t got tired of waiting.

As I sat in the pre-Christmas traffic I tried to ring her to warn her of my delay but my phone died.

So I sat on the drive trying to summon up the courage to go in, I was so desperate to know her answer but equally terrified of what it might be, yes or no.

“Yes” meaning she was sure, and she would give all of herself to me unreservedly

Or “No” and we would never be together.

I reran the earlier conversation in my head over and over again and tried to read between the lines to find some hidden meaning or some indication as to her decision, but I was none the wiser. 

I slowly opened the front door and stepped in.

“Hi Hannah” I called “I’m sorry I’m late, traffic was hell”

No answer, so I supposed she must have got fed up of waiting after all.

“Shit” I exclaimed and took off my coat, but as I hung it on the peg in the hall, I noticed an unfamiliar coat already hanging there.

“She is here” I said, but where? Where was she exactly?

I hung my coat and walked into the lounge and that’s when I knew.

I knew because I saw the black stockings hanging from the mantel anchored beneath a Christmas candle so I knew where to find her, and stood on the mantel next to the candle was a Christmas card; I opened it and read the words

“Happy Christmas Tommy

All my love

Hannah”

Beneath her signature there appeared to be an abundance of the obligatory small x’s but on closer examination each kiss was in fact the word “Yes” and so I had my answer and my dreams were fulfilled.

MY CHRISTMAS WISH

Dear Santa Claus its that time once again

And not for the first time I have to complain

Last Christmas you once again failed miserably

In securing that one simple gift for me

Every Christmas I write and beg and plead

And I’ve been good, not perfect though I’ll concede

This is not the first complaint you’ve had from me

I’ve written since I was four and now I’m forty three

So once again I’m sending you my Christmas list

And ask you to fulfill my one and only wish

Please send me my own special red-hot lover

Or at the very least my own significant other 

OH MY CHRISTMAS ANGEL

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Won’t you here my plea

Oh Christmas Angel

Spend Christmas with me

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Surely heaven sent

Oh Christmas Angel

Be my Christmas present

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Wont you here my plea

Let me un-wrap you

Beneath the Christmas tree

 

Oh my Christmas Angel

Oh please hear me do?

Oh Christmas angel

Let me make a devil out of you