THE FADING LIGHT OF THE EVENING

 

The fading light of the evening

Mirrors the slow diminishing

Of my own dwindling light

As we both head towards the night

Mornington-By-Mere – (40) Affair of the Heart

 

Bryan and Michelle Robinson boarded the train at Abbottsford Station and quickly made themselves comfortable.

But they had barely left the station before Michelle was asleep with her head on her husband’s shoulder.

It didn’t take much for her to succumb to the long blinks, the cancer saw to that.

It was so unjust 30 years old and unlikely to make old bones.

They had been up to the Winston Churchill Hospital for the second time in just under a month.

The Robinson’s lived in the village of Mornington-By-Mere which is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.

It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12^th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.

They lived in one of the Brewery Cottages in the part of the Village known as Manorside.

 

While she was sleeping against his shoulder he indulged in a spot of people watching.

The carriage was very quiet and sparsely populated and most of the passengers were at the other end.

But there was one young woman sitting diagonally across the aisle from them, a tall willowy brunette with outstandingly stellar legs.

She was very pretty and doubtless very aware of the fact and she positively preened when she realized Bryan was admiring her legs.

So she crossed her legs slowly and deliberately so he could marvel at them further but when he smiled at her she blushed.

 

The young woman’s name was Lorraine Chapman and she was a Staff Nurse at the Winston Churchill Hospital which was where they had met although she was also from Mornington.

As she worked in Abbottsford, rather than commute back and forth she shared a flat with two other Nurses, Jane Hall, and Rosie Parsons who also lived in Mornington and worked at the Churchill.

It wasn’t a huge flat and nor was it in the smartest part of town but it was perfect for them as it meant that they had a place to live that was close to work, which was ideal for them all as they worked shifts, and it meant that split between the three of them their expenses were less than their travelling would have been. 

The three of them were all single, all looking and all quite pessimistic regarding their prospects in the relationship department which was how Lorraine slipped into and adulterous affair with Bryan.

 

Bryan was her guilty pleasure because he was a married man, normally a big no-no for her, but he turned out to be the exception to her rule, which she was not entirely happy with but she seemed powerless to resist him.

The fact that his wife was terminally ill just made her feel even more wretched, and the wretchedness had lasted almost a year.

Their first get encounter was unplanned and unexpected but their second assignation was anything but.

Lorraine was a Nurse but she was not nursing Michelle so Bryan met her by chance in the coffee shop.

 

They were getting the train back to Shallowfield where the Robinsons car was parked in the long stay carpark, while Lorraine would get the bus to the quaint chocolate box English Village of Mornington-By-Mere, like the “poor relation” such as a mistress might fittingly feel.

 

As they approached the station Lorraine got up and carried her bag to the door, and Bryan followed close behind, leaving his wife asleep, then shortly before the train stopped, they shared a long succulent kiss.

He knew there was no need to rush as the train terminated at Shallowfield.

Lorraine however felt uncomfortable with Michelle only feet away on the other side of the bulkhead and curtailed it.

The doors opened and Lorraine got off so he returned to his wife and gently woke her and helped her gather her things together.

 

Lorraine was already at the bus stop when she saw Bryan help Michelle into the car like a doting husband, but it suddenly dawned on her that he wasn’t feigning being a doting husband he actually was one.

“My God, what am I doing?” she asked herself “He doesn’t love me, I’m just a bit on the side”

It hadn’t dawned on her until that moment, she imagined herself to be the love of his life, but in reality she wasn’t even close.

She thought he was only staying with Michelle out of duty because it would have been cruel to leave her, but in truth he wanted to have his cake and eat it.

“I deserve better than this” she muttered and just at that moment a car horn sounded which brought her back from her self-pitying reflections.

She looked up to see a car parked in the bus bay with the passenger window down.

“Can I give you a lift Lorraine?” The driver called.

She bent down and looked through the window and smiled broadly when she saw that the driver was Jim Todd

She had met Jim a few weeks earlier when he had to attend the Emergency Department at the Churchill.

He lived and worked up at Mornington Field, living in apartment 3 of Lancaster House, which was converted from the old Officers Mess and he worked at Topliss Engineering.

It was while he was working at Topliss that he received the injury that lead him having to visit the Winston Churchill Hospital.  

After he got a nasty cut on his hand courtesy of a jagged piece of aluminium. 

Lorraine was on duty on the day and just happened to get lucky and get the good looking engineer with a cut hand rather than a vomiting homeless man or a boil on an octogenarians arse.

 

During the hour they spent in the cubicle together she spent as much of the time looking into his blue/grey eyes as she did the wound on his hand.

But she cleaned, stitched and dressed the wound and said goodbye fully expecting to never see him again.

So no one was more surprised than she was to run into him at the Old Mill Inn one evening in the spring, but apart from exchanging smiles and half a dozen words they went their separate ways.

Which was why she was so pleased when she saw him through the car window.

“That’s ok” she said “I’m going to Mornington”

“So am I” he replied

“Oh ok then thanks” she said through the open window “As long as it’s not out of your way?”

“It’s not a problem” She said to him.

So Lorraine opened the door and got in, the door made that whirring sound as the window was raised as she belted herself in.

“Are you sure it’s not out of your way?”

“Not at all” he replied “I live there now”

“Well that’s promising” she thought

 

A week after Jim picked her up from the bus stop Lorraine was at her dad’s house in Windmill Cottages when there was a knock at the door.

She opened it to find Bryan Robinson standing on the door step.

“Hello gorgeous” he said with a smile, a smile that she used to succumb to but now she saw it for what it was, a leer.

“Hello Bryan what are you doing here?”

“Well I have half an hour to spare and I thought of you” he replied and stepped inside

“Oh how romantic” she retorted and closed the door

They were in the lounge and Lorraine could feel his eyes undressing her.

“So where does Michelle think you are?” she asked

“I told her I needed a walk to get some inspiration” he replied

“A lie then” She said bitterly

“Well I think what we do is pretty inspirational” Bryan said.

“What a characteristically glib response” Lorraine said disappointedly

 

Lorraine Chapman was a nurse and had been having an affair with Bryan Robinson for nearly ten months until she realized that he loved his wife and was just using her for sex.

She had come to the conclusion that she deserved better than him and so did his terminally ill wife Michelle.

She described to her friends that she and Bryan were dating but in truth it was never more than an affair, sordid and shameful.

Their affair had started after his wife was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour but that wasn’t why he was seeking solace, he would have done the same thing had she been in rude health.

Lorraine found the guilt over the affair was consuming her as much as the tumour was consuming Michelle’s brain.

 

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you Lorraine I thought what we had was quite memorable” Bryan said

“I’m glad you thought it was memorable because it’s over”

“What?” he exclaimed

“For you it’s never been more than guilt free sex, but I feel the guilt, and if I thought for a moment that you truly loved me then I could carry on” she said

“But you don’t so this unbearable betrayal is at an end”

“And what? You think the guilt will ease if I was to leave her?”

“Leave her?” she said

“You don’t want to leave, you’ll never leave her, and only death will induce her to leave you, but I don’t want you to leave her, we would tear each other apart within a year and every time I looked at you it would be a constant reminder of what I had done, what we had done, to an innocent woman”

“But I do love you” he said

“No you don’t” she replied “you lust for me, but that’s not the same thing is it?”

“But I thought you loved me” he said

“I thought I loved you too” Lorraine said “but I was wrong”

“So what about….” he said nodding towards the stairs

“What? A last hurrah” she retorted “I don’t think so”

He remained silent while she slipped her coat on then he said

“Then she must never know about us”

“Seriously?” Lorraine said “you really imagine that she doesn’t know?”

Just then a car horn sounded out in the lane so she picked up her bag

“I’m going out so you need to leave”

He showed him the door and then followed him out and after locking the door she opened the passenger door of Jim’s car and got in.

And as they drove out of Mornington-By-Mere, which was the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale, she looked at the man beside her and knew he was the beating heart of her life.

 

GIVE UP BABE

 

Give up babe

Forget about me

Marry him

I know you want me baby

But it’s over

Don’t call me

Don't tell me you love me

Don’t be a bunny boiler

Don't speak

Don't ask me why

I don’t want to be cruel

The sun has gone down on us

It doesn’t make me feel good

That we’ve thrown it all away

So walk away

Don’t stop

Don’t look back

Mornington-By-Mere – (39) Angela’s Mission

 

Twenty eight year old Matthew Burnham lives alone in the village of Mornington-By-Mere which is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.

It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12^th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.

But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which form the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside where Matthew lived in a small two bedroom cottage in the row of West Gate Cottages on the banks of the River Brooke.

He had only lived there for around 9 months when he moved there from Purplemere.

Matthew made the move because the company he worked for, Bespoke Furniture, had decided to up sticks, so he decided to pick up sticks along with them because it was a well-paid job and he was good at it, and he enjoyed working with his hands.

 

It was on Wednesday morning in between Christmas and New Year when the phone rang and when he viewed the caller ID he could see it was his mum.

“Hi mum” he said

“Hello Matthew darling, I can’t talk long, I have another favour to ask of you”

“Ok ask away” he said

“Could Angela stay with you again for a couple of nights before she leaves for the missions?”

Angela was an old family friend, she was actually the daughter of his mum’s best friend Sharon and she was also his first crush and she was going to be staying under his roof again.

Angela was six years older than him and he was smitten with her from the very first moment he saw her but nothing ever happened, apart from a kiss, one single solitary kiss, a kiss that blew his mind.

She had stayed with him when she first arrived in the country at the end of November when their unrequited love was finally made manifest.

So yes Angela could most certainly stay for a couple of nights under his roof.

 

His mum told him that Angela would be arriving with him some time that afternoon so he went off and made up the spare bed for her although he hoped she wouldn’t be needing it.

Unfortunately the weather had taken a turn for the worse with heavy snow moving across the country from the east.

So as he sat in his house watching the clock Matthew had no way of knowing exactly where Angela was.

 

Because he didn’t know exactly where she was coming from he couldn’t ascertain whether or not she would be effected by the snow, and he didn’t even have a phone number to contact her on.

When he began to get concerned Matthew phoned his mum, it was about seven o’clock by then, and she did have a phone number for Angela but all she could do was leave a voice mail as she wasn’t picking up.

 

In the month since Matthew heard Angela’s blessed declaration of love, words that he lad longed to hear for 12 long years and he made love with her, he had thought of nothing else.

She was literally all he could think of during every waking moment and every dream filled night.

He just hope and prayed that he had had the same effect on her as she had on him.

Angela said it was love but in their case absence may not have made the heart grow fonder.

 

About an hour after Matthew had spoken with his mum regarding Angela’s current location he had a call from Lily Mumford’s brother to say that Lily and Angela were stuck on the Pepperstock Express Way in heavy snow and would get to him just as soon as they possibly could.

They finally arrived a little after eleven o’clock with the snow falling fast again.

Due to the lateness of the hour and the treacherous road conditions he insisted that Lily stay the night as well, which meant sadly that he wouldn’t be having the kind of reunion with Angela that he had been anticipating.

 

Matthew left them both in the kitchen making a hot drink while he went upstairs to get the spare duvet.

Angela could sleep in his bed, alone unfortunately, and Lily could sleep in the spare room while he would sleep on the sofa.

Both Angela and Lily protested and volunteered to take the sofa in his stead but Matthew stood his ground.

 

Matthew found it more than a little frustrating having the expectancy all day of being reunited, however briefly, with the love of his life, for it only to be denied by the vagaries of the British winter weather and his generosity of spirit.

It was the only thing to do though so he consoled himself with that fact.

Matthew had a very disturbed night’s sleep, partly because of the uncomfortable sofa but partly because of the vivid dreams about Angela.

 

As a consequence he awoke early the next morning un-rested and as stiff as a board so he decided to get up and have a shower in an attempt to liven himself up, but although he felt clean and fresh afterwards it merely masked his fatigue.

So he slipped on his dressing gown and went downstairs and was surprised to find Lily Mumford sitting at the kitchen table nursing a mug of coffee.

“Morning” he said far more brightly than he felt “Sleep well?” 

“Good morning Matthew, yes very well thank you” she replied formally before continuing

“I hope it was ok, but I made myself breakfast”

“Yes of course it was” he replied as he looked out the window.

“It’s stopped snowing then?” he observed

“Yes” she replied, “I’m going to make a move shortly, get while the going is good as it were”

And she smiled broadly after her statement, Matt didn’t know if it was because he was feeling so washed out or not but Lily certainly appeared to be a much brighter person than he was expecting compared to the Ms. Frosty knickers that he met the last time she was in his home.

 

While Lily Mumford was outside defrosting her Morris Minor he sat at the kitchen table drinking a coffee and he was so tired that it didn’t even dawned on him what the significance of Lily’s early departure was.

 

After about twenty minutes Lily came back inside after clearing the snow off the car and warming up the engine.

“I won’t disturb Angela” she said

“She could use the rest”

“Good idea” he agreed

“Well I will see you on Saturday Matthew” she said “Bless you for your kindness”

 

Matthew watched the Morris Minor drive away and then switched on the kettle again.

He opened the cupboard and took out a second mug and then stopped as he remembered Lily’s parting words about not disturbing Angela but then he thought.

“Why not?”

So he put his mug in the sink, locked the door and ascended the stairs.

 

Matthew gently opened the bedroom door and tiptoed inside and he could see the shape of her in his bed and he could see glimpses of her blue and white pajamas above the duvet.

He slipped off his dressing gown and let it drop to the floor and then he slipped under the duvet and cuddled up close to her.

Angela was on her side with her back to him and Matt leant over her and kissed her lips but got no response so he put his arm around her and snuggled up to her warm body so close he was like her second skin and Angela murmured softly in response.

 

He woke up about an hour later and Angela was facing him.

“Hello” she said “I thought you would never get here”

“Hey” he replied “I got here as soon as I could”

“I was expecting you would come and see me last night” she said, “Why didn’t you by the way?”

“I didn’t think you’d want me to with Lily in the house just in case she heard us,” he replied

“You didn’t need to worry” Angela added, “She’s a bit deaf and she sleeps like the dead”

“Oh well never mind I got here eventually,” he said

“Mmmmm” Angela replied and kissed him

 

After making love they slept again and when they awoke they spent the rest of the day in each other’s company.

They would have been the first to admit that it was fairly mundane, Angela did her washing and ironing while he pottered around doing the housework.

However the mundanity of the day was more than compensated for by the intimate nature of their nights.

She wanted to make the most of the time they had together as well as packing for the journey, her time with him was almost up and when Angela left his house on the morning of the 30^th of December and she travelled to China he would probably never see her again.

But she left an indelible impression on him so as they lay in each other’s arms on that morning together he said

“Don’t go”

“I have to go” she replied sadly “You know that”

“But I love you Angela” he said and she gasped

“And I love you too”

“Then don’t go”

“But I have to” she said “it’s my life’s work”

“I know that” he replied “But we belong together”

Angela just lay there silently and grasped his hand in hers and put it to her lips and kissed it.

“I know you feel the same” he said “So if you can’t stay here with me then I’ll just have to come to you”

Angela looked up at him through tear filled eyes and said

“Do you mean you’ll come and visit me?”

“No I mean I will come and live with you” he said “as your husband”

“What?” she asked as she wiped away the tears from her now saucer sized eyes.

“I want to marry you and go to the missions with you” he asked and his question was met with a disbelieving silence.

“Or” he continued “I could just make it a holiday”

“No, no” she snapped “married…husband…China”

“I’m confused, does that mean you want to marry me?” he teased her

“Yes, yes, yes” she squealed “Yes please”

She wrapped herself around him like a serpent and showered him with kisses.

“Then we need to make some calls” he said

 

Matthew wanted them to be married before they left for the missions so there were a considerable number of calls to be made and favours to be asked and arms to be twisted.

The benefit of being a veteran missionary held in high regard in the Christian church was that when favours were requested they were normally granted.

 

So a special license was granted and after a brief conversation with Reverend Peter Cockcroft he agreed to marry them at St Winifred’s on New Year’s Day.

It did mean that they could no longer live under the same roof unchaperoned so his sister Fiona was sent to fill the roll and on New Year’s Eve she spent the night at the Vicarage with the Cockcroft’s.

 

The morning began with a frosty glaze decorating the rooftops and lightly dusting the evergreens and as the bells rang out to celebrate the birth of the New Year the joyous faithful arrived under a clear blue sky.

As usual St Winifred’s was well attended for the New Year’s Day service despite the bitter cold.

But that day it was even more so because of the added attraction of a New Year’s Day wedding.

 

It was a most glorious morning and Matthews’s spirits were high and as he stood at the front of the church with the sun streaming through the stained glass his mother tapped him on the shoulder and whispered

“Are you sure this is what you want?”

“I have never been more sure of anything in my life” he replied and then the music started.

He could not turn around, he dare not turn around, in case he broke the spell so he just stared straight ahead.

Until the moment she was stood beside him and he turned to look at his beautiful angel wearing her mother’s wedding dress and looking even more beautiful than he could have imagined.

 

After they left the church there was no time for a wedding breakfast and so they had a glass of Champaign at the Old Mill Inn before saying their goodbyes and getting in Lily Mumford’s Morris Minor and she drove them straight to the airport for their new life together in China.

 

 

 

AWOKEN

 

You have awoken the sleeping beast

That was my heart of black

You have awakened the feelings

That died in me a long time back

 

You have made my senses tingle

You have made my pulses race

You have filled me with a glow

And brought a smile back to my face

 

Now the sleeping beast has awoken

I just thought you should know

You have given me new life

And I will always love you so

Mornington-By-Mere – (38) On Account of a Surgeon

Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.

It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12^th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.

But Mornington-By-Mere was not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it was the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and 41 year old Rhonda Kane lived on Dulcets Road at Marigold Cottage.

She was a solicitor with Bramstock, Goodman, Crossfield and Bushe in Abbottsford.

Normally she lived alone but at that time her younger brother Brian was staying with her following his divorce.

 

Brian was a 39 years old Accountant with Brady and Clare, in Abbeyvale, although in the six months since the divorce he had been working out of the Sharpington office.

But on a bright Wednesday morning in May he had the day off and decided to take a walk into the village.

 

He walked past the brewery and then through Manor wood and then crossed the bridge into the village.

He wanted to cook his sister something special for dinner as a thank you for putting up with him.

He went to the Legg’s Farm shop first and bought some eggs and fresh vegetables, then Norman’s General Store for some wine, Boddingtons Butchers for some bacon and a nice bit of liver and finally he headed for Addison’s Bakery to get a French stick.

 

Just as he stepped inside the door he heard Chloe Addison call

“Happy Birthday Kate”

And a tall dark haired woman replied

“Thank you” and not looking where she was going she walked straight into Brian as she was leaving the shop, dropping some of her bags.

 

Kate Pottinger was a local girl and also lived in Manorside at number 5 Brooke Side Cottages with her brother Gary.

And apart from living together they also worked together as tree surgeons, who like their father and uncles before them, worked exclusively for the Mornington Estate which kept them busy enough tending to the health and welfare of upwards of 25 thousand trees.

Kate was in the village to do a bit of shopping while her brother was at the doctors and then Gary was taking her for lunch at the Old Mill Inn for her 38^th birthday.

 

“I’m so sorry” Brian said gallantly even though it wasn’t his fault

“Don’t be silly” she said to the tall, slim, good looking man with neat black hair, more than a little flustered.

“Are you ok?” he asked as she gathered herself

“I’m alright, but I think you squashed my baps”

She said and realising what she’d said she burst out laughing which set him off.

 

Kate Pottinger and Brian Kane stood outside Addison’s Bakery laughing and flirting for about 10 minutes.

Working outdoors in a physical occupation Kate was well tanned well-toned but despite that was well groomed.

She was not as tall as Brian, which she liked, she stood five foot eight, a full inch and a three quarters taller than her brother, which was something she never let him forget and always referred to him as her “little brother”.

Despite the height difference they were alike in almost every other way blue eyes, chestnut coloured hair, broad smiles and infectious laughs.

And Kate was exercising that laugh to great effect that morning.

 

She could see over Brian’s shoulders when Gary left the surgery and she could also see he was looking flushed, though at that time she didn’t know why.

Gary spotted his sister outside Addison’s Bakery where he could see she was still laughing and joking.

 

He crossed the road and approached the laughing pair.

“Hi Kate are you ready for that lunch” he said and the man looked a little crestfallen.

“Hi Gary” she said “I just need to get some stamps from Norman’s”

“This is my brother Gary” she said and the man’s expression lifted

“Gary this is…”

“Brian” he responded and shook Gary’s hand “Pleased to meet you”

“Likewise”

“Well enjoy your lunch and the rest of your birthday” Brian said and shook her hand and it was long and lingering.

“Thank you, goodbye” she said and headed towards the Post Office & General Store to buy stamps but Gary noticed she kept glancing over her shoulder.

 

Brian watched the Pottinger’s walk away although in truth it was only the taller half that he was really interested in.

He had sworn off the opposite sex when he first split with his wife and that morning was the first time he had met a woman that he wanted to do more than pass the time of day with.

And as he walked back home after buying his bread he wished that it was he that was taking her for her birthday lunch instead of going back to his sisters to make her liver and bacon.

 

 

They sat at a table in the Old Mill Inn and he said

“He seemed nice”

“He was alright I suppose” she replied coyly

“Only alright, you were flirting with him like it was an Olympic sport”

“No I wasn’t” she retorted

“And he was flirting back” Gary said

“He was not” she said “Was he?”

He smiled and made her blush and then she changed the subject

“So how did you get on at the doctors?”

“Excellent” he replied “A clean bill of health”

“That’s great news” Kate said “They must have really put you through your paces, you looked very flushed when you came out”

“Ah there’s a very good reason for that” Gary said and then he went on to tell her all about the attractive doctor and his embarrassing arousal and she roared with laughter.

 

 

Gary and Kate sat at a table in the Old Mill Inn and he said

“He seemed nice”

“He was alright I suppose” she replied coyly

“Only alright, you were flirting with him like it was an Olympic sport”

“No I wasn’t” she retorted

“And he was flirting back” Gary said

“He was not” she said “Was he?”

He smiled and made her blush and then she changed the subject

“So how did you get on at the doctors?”

“Excellent” he replied “A clean bill of health”

“That’s great news” Kate said “They must have really put you through your paces, you looked very flushed when you came out”

“Ah there’s a very good reason for that” Gary said and then he went on to tell her all about the very attractive doctor and a combination of very exotic perfume and a glimpse of expensive pink lingerie made him behave in such a way that he had experience since he was a teenager.

And the resulting arousal had been responsible for his looking flushed.

On hearing his full uncensored account of his embarrassing arousal she roared with laughter.

 

It was the first Friday in June and Kate and Gary were going up to Abbottsford for a few days.

They had a big family christening on Sunday at St Dunstan’s Church when their cousins triplets were being baptized.

So it was one not to miss, but as it was at the 9.30 service and they didn’t want the hassle of traveling up on the day so they decided to put up at the Abbottsford Regents Hotel the night before.

However Gary was then given a ticket to the Downshire versus Surrey one day match at the Abbottsfield cricket ground so he suggested going on Friday and staying two nights so they would have the whole of Saturday in town so he could go to the match and Kate could go shopping at the Phoenix Shopping Centre and she jumped at the chance, but not to spend the day at the shopping mall.

What she wanted to do was to visit the Castle Hill Museum and Art Gallery.

 

Gary and Kate were not the only Mornington residents planning a weekend away, the Goman-Smiths and the Kane’s were also going to be in Abbottsford for the whole weekend though not all for the same reasons.

So when the Pottinger’s set off after work on Friday evening their fellow villagers were already there.

 

Brian Kane travelled up to Abbottsford early on Friday with his sister, he had an important meeting with a client and then he was meeting Rhonda for lunch.

Because of the importance of the meeting he had allowed a three hour window but as it turned out it was concluded in under two.

So he went for a ridiculously expensive coffee at the Espresso Phoenix to kill some time and then made his way to Bramstock, Goodman, Crossfield and Bushe to meet his sister.

 

He walked into reception and exchanged pleasantries with Sandra, the receptionist, and then took a seat and a few minutes later Sandra delivered him a coffee.

 

He sat there about half an hour reading a magazine when he heard Rhonda’s voice which grew progressively louder as she got closer.

He looked to his left and he could see her talking to a male client who had his back to him as they shook hands

“I will be in touch in due course” she said

“Thank you Ms Kane” the man said

“Please call me Rhonda”

“Call me Rhonda?” Brian said to himself “She never lets her clients call her Rhonda, this one must be important”

But when the man turned around he saw that he knew him and said

“Daniel”

“Hello Brian, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take my sister to lunch” he replied as the two men shook hands.

“Kane, der, I didn’t make the connection”

Meanwhile Rhonda, who had turned to go back to her office turned on her heels and joined them.

“You two know each other?” she asked

“Yes we were at University together” Brian said

“Are you a bean counter as well then?” Rhonda asked with a smile

“No I’m a Doctor” he replied

The following few minutes of the conversation completely excluded Brian who just looked on in from the sidelines in amusement.

In fact it only came to an end when the receptionist, Sandra, interrupted with a message.

“Mr. Bishop phoned to say he can’t make his appointment but can you squeeze him in at 2 o’clock”

Rhonda looked at her watch and replied

“Yes that’s fine”

After Sandra had left them she said

“We will have to make it an early lunch Brian”

“That’s fine with me”

“And perhaps Daniel would like to join us” she added

“I’d love to” he replied to her

 

They had lunch at an Italian Restaurant called Roberto’s just around the corner from her office.

“So was it just Rhonda that brought you too Abbottsford?” Brian asked

“No it wasn’t, but I would have made the trip just to see her” he thought but out loud he said

“No I’m in town for the weekend, at the Regent’s, Sarah and I are going to the cricket tomorrow”

“We’re putting up at the Regents as well” Brian said

“Never mind that who the hell is Sarah?” Rhonda asked herself and then as if he had heard her internal question Brian explained

“Sarah is Daniels ex-wife, but they’re still friends, in fact they still share a house, how odd is that?”

“I think it’s quite nice” she said

 

The food at Roberto’s was excellent but the lunchtime service was very slow and unfortunately Rhonda had to excuse herself before desert.

“I’m sorry but I have to go” she said “I really love the desert’s here as well”

“Perhaps we might run into each other over the weekend” he said

“I hope so, that would be nice” she said then she said goodbye to her brother and left.

“Are you going to talk to me now?” Brian asked and laughed but Daniels thoughts were elsewhere.

After leaving the restaurant Brian and Daniel went their separate ways but arrived at the Hotel within ten minutes of each other.

 

The Pottinger’s got stuck in the Friday night traffic and finally arrived at the Hotel at 9 o’clock by which time the Kane’s and the Goman-Smiths had already gone out for the evening.

Brian and Rhonda were dining at a trendy nouvelle cuisine restaurant off Castle Street called The Wooden Slipper which served high flavour, low-calorie, and substance lacking dishes, where minor celebrities are known to dine.

The food was good, if you like tiny artistic arrangements the size of a Hors d'oeuvre, on a slab of welsh slate but there wasn’t enough to live on.

So when it was time to leave they were almost hungrier than when they arrived, so they went into town and shared a kebab.

 

The Doctors Goman-Smith meanwhile went to The Empire Theatre to watch a revival on An Inspector Calls followed by a fish supper.

But back at the hotel, Gary and Kate ordered sandwiches from room service and got an early night.

 

On Saturday morning everyone was up early and availed themselves of the full English breakfast but due to a miracle of timing all three couples managed to avoid each other.

 

Gary was ready to go far too early so left for the cricket ground on foot while the Goman-Smith’s left an hour later in a cab.

Kate who planned to spend much of the day in cultural pursuits had a measured start to the day and as she was leaving the Hotel Brian Kane was just walking into the gym with his sister Rhonda.

After a good workout he had an hours swim and she had a sauna and then she spent the rest of the day being pampered and preened, massaged, manicure, pedicure and hair in fact you name it and she had it.

Brian though had coffee and read the papers before he went out.

 

Brian Kane spent the first part of the day rummaging in bookshops and antique shops of Abbottsford’s old town district and then he indulged his penchant for ridiculously expensive coffees in the trendy coffee shops.

 

Kate spent the morning in and out of every museum in Abbottsford and had lunch in one of the same coffee shops that Brian drank in and they only missed each other by minutes and in the afternoon she headed for the Art Gallery which housed one of the best collections of artwork outside of the capital. 

The bulk of the collection was made up of pieces donated by the Trotwood Estate.

She paid deference to all the exhibits, even the cubists which she didn’t really like, she was really just filling the time until she got to the section she wanted to see the most, The French Impressionists.

She loved them all Camille Pissarro, Emile Schuffenecker, Eugène Boudin, the Bracquemond’s, Caillebotte, Cézanne, Forain, Stanislas Lépine, Georges Seurat, Paul Signac and her personal favorite Frédéric Bazille.

 

It was when she was sitting on a bench studying a lesser piece of Bazille’s when a tall, slim, good looking man with neat black hair sat down next to her.

“Do you like Bazille?” he asked

“Very much” she replied and turned to look and a smile spread across her face as she recognized his face.

“Hello Brian” she said all at once unable to return her eyes to the art

“What a lovely surprise”

“For me too Kate” he said

 

They spent the rest of the afternoon together, enjoying the art and each other’s company in equal measure and even revisited the exhibits she’d already seen on her own and as they stood in front of a magnificent renaissance canvas he said  

“Are you free for dinner tonight?”

“I can be” she replied without hesitation and then she added

“Could I choose the restaurant?”

“Of course”

 

At the end of the afternoon Kate and Brian went back to the Hotel to change and met downstairs in reception again an hour later where Brian made a phone call and Kate left a message at reception.

 

She chose the Pig and Whistle in Little Trottwood and afterwards they took a walk in the countryside.

They left the village and headed towards Trottwood Manor and they paused before crossing the bridge and turned to look across the lake and they were amazed at how natural the scene was when considering that little more than a 100 years earlier it was a boggy field.

That was before a Victorian industrialist named Josiah Tiplady, who, having made his fortune amongst the smoking factory chimneys of Lancashire, was seeking a country retreat in which to enjoy his fortune as well as the considerably fresher air, so he purchased the old Trottwood Manor.

He famously said he chose the Trottwood Estate as it had everything he was looking for, but not apparently a lake complete with fountains and an island bird sanctuary.

But as they viewed the scene on that glorious June evening it was clearly money well spent.

“This is really beautiful” she said

He agreed and then they turned and continued onto the bridge and halfway across Brian paused and turned to face Kate and kissed her.

“And now it’s even more beautiful”  

 

THE GIFT

 

If I could, I would bring you such a gift

That would see your spirit’s lift

And up to heaven you would soar

So, I could be with you once more

And I could tell you to let go

Let all the bitter tears flow

Like the late September rain

So that you can learn to love again

That is the gift that I would give

Because I want to see you live