Mornington-By-Mere was
not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it was the beating heart of the
Finchbottom Vale.
And although the
village was the hub it was the surrounding farms and hamlets that were its life
blood.
One such Farm was
Mereside on the Southern side of the village.
The Hoddinott family
had farmed the land at Mereside Farm for five generation and with fair winds and following seas they would do so for the next five.
The head of the Hoddinott’s
was Clive, at least that was what his wife Suzanne allowed him think.
But they were in their
mid-fifties and were looking forward to be able to hand the reins’ on to their
offspring.
There were three
children the eldest was Robert Hoddinott 27 who they knew they could safely
rely on to take over the running of the farm to such an extent that the
handover would be seamless but they were less sure he would pass on the family
name, as he appeared to have no inclination in finding himself a wife.
The second child was
Amy who was 24 years old and had no interest whatsoever in becoming a farmer or
a farmer’s wife for that matter, not that she hated the farm or indeed farming
but she just loved her chosen path more which was teaching and she was a
Teacher at the village school, and the youngest was 21 year old April who
wasn’t a natural farmer but she had other strengths and she was recently
married to Calvin Chance and was carrying the first of the next generation of
farmers.
Aprils mother Suzanne
was surprised that she was the first to settle and if the truth be told she was
a little relieved because she feared her tomboy daughter would never find
someone.
On the farm there was
a two bedroom cottage that had been renovated earlier that year by April and
the man that became her husband and the cottage was advertised for holiday
lets.
The first guest took
up residence in the cottage at the beginning of May and following the initial
guest there were back to back bookings right through the summer.
It was quite fortuitous that there were a limited number of cottage lets
in the Mornington area.
So they had a little gold mine in the cottage, the Finchbottom Vale was a
very popular destination during the summer months as well as out of season, for
rambling, birding or fishing.
The village itself as well as the surrounding country side proved to be a
popular attraction.
Everyone on the farm had to do their bit and Amy was no exception, and
the kind of tasks she had to perform were far removed from her professional
life as a teacher but she never complained and although she would never admit
it to her parents or siblings she sometimes welcomed the time she spent working
on the farm to think.
One of the tasks which fell to Amy more often than not was the management
of the cottage, advertising, bookings and when necessary the housekeeping.
And it was when she
was cleaning the cottage after a two week long let to a newlywed couple that
Amy got her first pangs of regret at having no one special in her life, her
tomboy sister had manage to get herself a man, eventually, so why couldn’t she.
The cottage having
already brought April and Calvin together was destined to prove the catalyst of
other relationships when the cottage
worked its magic for the Hoddinott’s once again in October when the new tenant,
Mike Tooke, arrived at the farm
and he and Amy were simultaneously struck by cupid’s arrow.
He was there for a change of scene and instead he met a girl that changed
his life.
He was a few years older than Amy was with a rugged face and thick dark
curly hair.
He was a few inches over six feet, which Amy liked because she liked
tall, and he was big, not fat but solid, she liked well-made men as well because
they were big and cuddly.
He was only there for a couple of weeks and was by profession an LED
Lighting specialist and worked for the family business “Light and Day” along
with his older sister Maggie, and part of the reason he chose Mornington for his
sojourn was Mornington Field.
The lease was due to expire on one of their premises in Pepperstock so the
following year he was going to have to move his workshop and he wanted to know
if Mornington was a viable option for relocation.
He hadn’t bargained on falling in love but from the moment she kissed him
on the bank of the River Brooke they were bound for life.
The Hoddinott women all had the same look as Twenty four year old Amy and
her younger sister April, although three years apart, could easily have passed
for twins and their mum was just an older version of them.
Though they didn’t resemble their brother Robert in the slightest he was
his father’s son and they took after their mum.
They were smaller than their brother, leaner and wiry.
Like their mum they had the fine strawberry blonde hair that all of their
mums side of the family possessed, as well as her cool blue eyes.
The Hoddinott men on the other hand were cut from different cloth and
Clive was a great bear of a man in his mid-fifties
with curtly black hair that was greying at the temples and his son Robert was a
chip off the old block.
Roberts’s parents supposed that the reason he was still single and
unattached was that he was disinclined to
find himself a wife but nothing could have been farther from the truth.
He would have loved to
find someone and it was entirely untrue that he hadn’t been looking, he most
certainly had, he just hadn’t found anyone suitable.
Robert Hoddinott was a
farmer and he loved being a farmer and he never saw a time in his future when
he would cease to be a farmer.
Unfortunately it was
not a lifestyle that appealed to everyone and young girls, even from a rural
community were not always enamoured by farming or the prospect of being a
farmer’s wife.
The other problem was
even if he could find someone who didn’t mind farming they didn’t necessarily
fit his criteria.
He was wasn’t
interested in the lacy bits of fluffiness who spent more on their hair,
eyebrows and nails than he did on his car and the amount they spent on clothing
was shameful.
So that was the reason he was single was that he hadn’t found anyone to
fit the bill.
The Tooke’s company
“Light and Day manufactured and sold LED Lighting products in their many forms,
from Christmas Tree lights to Studio and Theatre spotlights.
Mike Tooke was not a
salesman or a marketer, the Tooke’s employed people to fill those roll’s Mike’s
love was converting older lighting products to LED and there was a healthy
profit in doing that.
His older sister Maggie was fast approaching 30 years of age and her role
in the business was as Finance Director and she was very good at it despite
having to get there the hard way.
When she was 19 and Mike was only 16 their parents died in a car accident
and she had to give up University to be guardian to her brother.
She threw all of her efforts into looking after Mike and ensuring the
business stayed on track, which involved the transition to LED, which was the future.
She had no family of her own or even had an enduring relationship because
although she wasn’t conscious of it she was waiting until Mike settled down
first, which she suspected would never happen so she concentrated on work.
But when he told her he had met someone while he was staying in
Mornington she couldn’t wait to meet her because when she spoke to him on the
phone all she got was Amy this and Amy that she had never known him so smitten.
As he was staying at the cottage for 2 weeks the plan was always for her
to drive down on Saturday morning of the middle weekend and stay with him until
Sunday.
Which after speaking with him on the phone she was looking forward to it even
more.
When Saturday came she set off straight after breakfast and drove through
the autumn mist and arrived at the farm just after ten o’clock.
She spotted her brothers car and parked next to it and got out but
couldn’t see the cottage so she took out her phone.
“Are you Mike’s sister?” a voice said
When she turned around there was an attractive middle-aged woman with
faded strawberry blonde hair leading a horse.
“I hope that’s not her” she thought to her self
“Yes I’m Maggie” she replied
“I thought so, you have the look of your brother” she said “I’m Suzanne
Hoddinott, Amy’s mum”
“Pleased to meet you” Maggie said
“The cottage is just through the trees” Suzanne said pointing the way.
“Thank you”
“No problem” She said “see you later”
Maggie was pleased that Suzanne had recognised Mike in her.
She was tall like him just a few inches shorter and she had the thick
dark curls, but beyond that he had rugged features and hers were a bit
indistinct but clearly there was enough of a likeness to be identified.
“Unless she thinks I look like a man” She said to herself “That’s a bit
worrying”
She reached the cottage and knocked on the door and a few moments later
it opened and Mike was standing there smiling broadly.
“Hello sis” he said and hugged her.
Amy had to go to
Abbottsford that morning with a friend of her’s who was getting married so she
was going to be gone most of the day so mike took Maggie up to Mornington Field
and discussed the possibilities of moving the workshop over there.
“It’s all down to
cost” she said “But I agree in principle”
“Good we have an
appointment with Victoria Johnson
Higham on Monday morning to look at plans and discuss rents”
“I didn’t bring any
business clothes with me” she said
“That’s ok the meeting
is in that hangar” Mike said “So its wellies and hard hats”
“Lovely” she said “any
other bombshells?”
“No I don’t think so”
he said “unless you count dinner with the Hoddinott’s tonight”
“Oh do we have to?” she pleaded “Can’t we just go and eat at a gastro
pub, just the two of us?”
“Yes we have to go” he said “What are you worried about? They’re really
nice people”
“I sure they are but…”
“And they might become our in-laws” he added
“Yes but…” she began “What do you mean in-laws?”
“You know, mother in law, father in law, brother in law”
“I know what in laws are, idiot boy” she said slapping his arm “Are you
that serious about Amy?”
“Yes I am” he confessed
“I am so pleased for you” she said and hugged him so tightly
“You haven’t even met
her yet”
“I met her mum this
morning” she said and giggled “and I thought that was her”
“You thought I’d
fallen in love with Mrs H?” he said and laughed until his sides hurt.
Mike and Maggie left
the cottage together, both wearing jeans and casual tops.
“Are you sure we don’t
need to dress up?” Maggie asked
“Of course not” Mike
replied
“You should have
warned me we were invited to dinner and I’d have had the chance to dress up a
bit”
“I understand you want
to look your best” Mike said “But don’t worry about it, they’re good people”
“I’m sure they are but
I’m wearing jeans” she added and as they approached the farmhouse Maggie was
dreading spending the evening with a bunch of strangers.
Mike had come
accustomed to using the kitchen door over the previous week but he knew the
kitchen would be chaotic at best so he gave that one a miss and went to the
front door instead.
When they reached it Mike
knocked lightly on the door and went straight in.
“Hello” he called
Mike had come
accustomed to using the kitchen door over the previous week but he knew the
kitchen would be chaotic at best so he gave that one a miss and went to the
front door instead.
When they reached it
Mike knocked lightly on the door and went straight in.
“Hello” he called
“Come in Mike” a voice
instructed
“Here we go” Maggie
thought “Smile through the pain”
Mike led the way down
the hall and Maggie followed.
“Hi everyone” he said
and Amy emerged from the kitchen and kissed Mike then he introduced Maggie to
her and she returned to the kitchen to help her mum and left him to complete
the introductions and last one was Robert.
“This is Rob….” Mike
began
“Oh hello!” she
interrupted “I’m Maggie”
During the meal,
Robert and Maggie monopolised each other and paid only passing interest in the
rest of conversation.
At the other end of
the table Mike was sitting between Amy and her mum and whispered
“I think Maggie is
smitten”
“I think it’s mutual”
Suzanne replied and smiled
“I haven’t seen him look like that since the
time we got the new cows”
“Did you just liken my sister to a cow?” Mike said and after thirty
seconds all three of them started laughing hysterically.
Desert was followed by
Coffee and liqueurs and the conversation got onto birthdays or to be more
precise Maggie’s up coming.
“It’s Mag’s birthday on
Wednesday” Mike said “A significant birthday no less”
“Oh really?” Robert
said “Which one?”
“The big three zero” Maggie
confessed
“Well don’t look at it that you’re going to be 30, think of it more as
turning twenty ten” Robert said and touched her hand and a look passed between
them.
“Well I think I know what my sister wants for her Birthday” Mike said
“Yes but how is she going to get her present if he is on the farm and
she’s in Pepperstock?” Amy asked
“I don’t know but I have never seen her so mesmerized” Mike replied
“Why don’t the four of you do something together tomorrow afternoon”
Suzanne suggested “Maybe that would give her a reason not to go home on Monday”
“We were going fishing?” Amy said
“You don’t fish” her mum pointed out “But Robert does, what about Maggie,
does she like to fish?”
“Not a bit” he replied
“We could just go for a walk along the river bank and up to the woods beyond
Hill Top Farm” Amy offered
“Well it’s better than nothing” her Mum agreed
“Well whatever we do,
we mustn’t let the embers cool” Mum said
“That’s very poetic
way of saying we have to play cupid mother” Amy said
“What can I say I have
hidden talents” she retorted
“Well that wasn’t so bad was it?” he said as they walked back to the
cottage.
“I admit it was much more enjoyable than I was expecting” she agreed
“And Robert?” he asked
“Oh yes he was very nice” she said and qualified her statement “For a
farmer”
Before the meal on
Saturday Night it wasn’t anyone’s intention to match-make it was just meant to
be a pleasant meal for everyone to get to know each other, the fact that she
and Robert were clearly attracted to each other was an unexpected bonus.
“So you didn’t think he was anything special then?” he asked
“He was pleasant enough” she replied coyly
“So you won’t want to go for a walk after lunch tomorrow with me, Amy and
the farmer?
“Well I wouldn’t want to be unsociable” Maggie said and grinned
Sunday morning and the Hoddinott’s, the Chances and the Tooke’s assembled
in the farmyard with the notable exception of Robert who was tending to another
sick cow with the vet.
Maggie got a bit panicky and was anxiously looking around when Suzanne
noticed her discomfort and announced to the crowd.
“Robert is with the vet and will follow us down shortly”
Inside St Winifred’s Maggie sat on the aisle and kept darting glances
over her shoulder like a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain hoping to see
Robert appear which he did eventually halfway through the final hymn, but
instead of coming to sit beside her in the place she had saved for him he stood
at the back of the church until the service ended.
But when the service was over and they began filing out he walked up to
her immediately.
“Hello” he said and she inexplicably blushed and then they walked back up
to the farm together.
After lunch was done
and dusted Amy and Maggie helped Suzanne clear away and then they joined Robert
and Mike and the four of them went outside.
The Hoddinott’s
planned to show their guests the delights of the village and its environs.
When the walk began
the four of them exchanged small talk as they walked unhurriedly out through
the gate and onto Windmill Lane.
They continued down the lane when it bore to the right and continued
along it passing the four Windmill Cottages on the left with the Old East Mill
ahead of them.
The walk took them
along the familiar path Amy and Mike had taken down to the River the week
before but instead of turning left by the East Bridge they turned right to follow
the River upstream toward Shallowfield.
But no sooner had they
set foot on the river side path than the heavens opened.
Fortunately Scott
Collier and his girlfriend Chloe Addison were working inside the derelict
Windmill and happened to see the four of them out in the rain.
“Hey Robert! Over
here” Scott called
“Come in and shelter”
Chloe added
Once inside Robert did
the introductions and they took shelter from the rain for half an hour until it
eased a little and they took their chance to get back home before the next
deluge arrived.
As soon as they got
back to the farm Amy said
“Let’s go and dry off”
But Robert had
different ideas
“I’m going to check on
Juliet”
“Can I come too?”
Maggie asked
“Oh yes” he said
“Lovely”
Once inside the
farmhouse Amy’s mum said
“You didn’t get very
far then”
“No, only as far as
the Old East Mill” Amy replied shedding her coat
“Where are the other
two?” Suzanne asked
“They’re in the cow shed” Mike replied “checking on Juliet”
“What on earth did he take her in there for?” Suzanne said crossly
“I think he’s showing her the competition” Amy said and they all dissolved
into laughter.
On Monday Mike and
Maggie went up to Mornington Field
For their Meeting with
Victoria Johnson Higham and afterwards as they walked back to the farm he asked
“What do you think?”
“Well I think we’re
not going to get a better price per square foot anywhere” she said “I might
even work form here too”
“So you think we
should proceed?”
“Yes” she said
“Excellent” he said
“Do you want to grab lunch before you head off?”
“You can buy me lunch
by all means but I thought I might stay around for a few days” she said “at
least until after my birthday”
“Did you?”
“Yes I did, so as I
need a few things, like knickers and stuff why don’t we drive to Shallowfield
and have lunch there”
So that’s what they
did and as Robert and his Dad were away from the farm all day as they had taken
some calf’s to market she was in no hurry to get back.
So they had a long
leisurely lunch at the Woodcutters and then she left Mike sitting in the pub
while she went and bought some new underwear and a couple of tops.
On Tuesday Robert and
his Dad were again away from the farm as they were driving up to Millmoor in
the north of the county to pick up some second hand farm equipment.
So Maggie caught up
with some work back at the cottage and Mike spent the day fishing.
On Wednesday it was
Maggie’s 30th birthday so Mike booked a table for 8 at the Old Mill
Inn in the village, which was in part to thank the Hoddinott’s for the
hospitality as well as to celebrate his sisters 30th.
Because he had decided
to stay on in Mornington she had to spend most of the day working and skyping
her office.
Mike and Maggie walked
up to the farmhouse at 7.30 and knocked lightly on the door and went in.
“Hello!” he called and
just as they reached the lounge they were assailed with a hearty
“Happy Birthday”
Followed by kisses
from everyone with Robert being the last and after a tentative birthday kiss
the couple became acutely aware that everyone was watching them.
Mike and Maggie walked
up to the farmhouse at 7.30 and knocked lightly on the door and went in.
“Hello!” he called and
just as they reached the lounge they were assailed with a hearty
“Happy Birthday”
Followed by kisses
from everyone with Robert being the last and after a tentative birthday kiss
the couple became acutely aware that everyone was watching them and then Amy
emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray with a chilled bottle of Champagne in
a bucket and the wine glasses.
She set down the tray
and poured the wine and everyone wished Maggie a happy birthday again.
When they had polished
off the champagne they all got their coats on in preparation of the walk to the
village but they realised the birthday girl and Robert were missing.
“Where’s Robert?”
Suzanne asked
“I don’t know” April
replied “but Maggie’s gone as well”
“They’re in the cow shed” Amy informed them “I just saw them go in”
“Why on earth does he keep taking her in there?” His mum said “I really despair
of that boy”
“It’s alright I’ll go and get them” Mike said “then we need to get going”
Mike rushed across the yard and opened the cowshed door far enough for
him to squeeze in and he was about to call out to them but then he caught sight
of them in the throes of a very passionate birthday kiss.
“Are they coming?” Amy said from behind him.
“Shhsh” he whispered and then guided her through the door so she was
standing in front of him so she had a front row seat at the show.
“Wow” she said quietly “We did it”
“I don’t think we had anything to do with it” he said as they sneaked back
out through the door.
“Are they in there?” Suzanne asked
“Oh yes and they’re snogging” Amy said
“Hallelujah” she said and grabbed her husband’s arm “They’re snogging”
“As long as they’re not snogging the cows” Clive said and laughed
“Are you sure it wasn’t just a birthday kiss?” she asked
“Oh no it was very definitely a snog” Amy said
“Hello!” Mike shouted outside the door “Hello!”
“We’re in the cowshed” Robert shouted back
“Ok we’re heading off to the pub now” Mike said
“We’re nearly done here” Robert replied “Don’t wait, we’ll catch you up”
“Alright”
“It would appear there is more snogging to be done” Amy said
“That’s my boy” his dad, Clive said proudly
“If I’d realised all it took was the ambience of a cowshed I wouldn’t
have bothered booking the table and I
could have saved a fortune” Mike said as they walked along the lane at the rear
of the group
“Yes but there are
other rewards for your generosity” Amy said
“And what do you mean
by that” he said stopping and taking her in his arms
“Well it may not just
be the birthday girl who gets the present” she said and then they kissed
Suzanne glanced over
her shoulder at the kissing couple and said
“Oh look, isn’t that
lovely?”
“Then when she looked
ahead of them April and Calvin were also exchanging a kiss
“Look even they’re at
it now” she said
“Well if you can’t
beat them join them” her husband said and kissed her.
