Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (48) A Man to be Trusted

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county, but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring, Tipton in the North but it’s in Nettlefield where our story begins.

 

“Take care of her?” Maria Wegener said to him as he opened the driver’s car door.

“Will do boss” Martin replied giving his passenger a wry smile as he got behind the wheel.

“I’m not a child,” Clare shouted petulantly out of the open window “and I don’t need babysitting”

It was certainly true to say that Clare Wegener was not a child, far from it.

No one who ever saw the 25 years old would ever have described her as such, childish, possibly, immature certainly, but not a child.

After all Clare stood an inch short of six feet tall which was evidence of adulthood in itself but if that didn’t convince you then her long legs, voluminous rolling hips and a 44” bust would.

No, Clare was not a child, but her mother, as mothers always do, would always see her thus. 

But Maria Wegener wasn’t merely Clare’s mother she was also her employer.

For a hundred years Wegener brothers had bought and sold Antiques and collectables, a business that Maria Logan married into and Clare was born into and the former was now the head of the family the latter was going on her first solo-buying trip, a week-long trip.

Even though technically she wasn’t going solo and it would have been her maiden trip but for the fact that Martin Bailey was sent with her as a babysitter.

Martin had been with the Wegener’s since he left school and he was greatly trusted by Maria and as he was in his early forties and unremarkable looking and was to all and sundry average in all respects she trusted there would be no shenanigans.

Suffice is to say Maria trusted her precious daughter was in safe hands with her faithful retainer Martin Bailey. 

 

They left the shop and headed south through the Pepperstock Hills National Park which stretched from the bare, and often barren crags of Oxley Ridge in the North to the dense wooded southern slopes on the fringe of the Finchbottom Vale, and from Quarry Hill, and the Pits in the West to Pepperstock Bay in the East.

The park is an area of stark contrasts and attracted a variety of visitors.

The quarry hill side of the park to the west, as the name suggests, was heavily Quarried over several hundred years, though more extensively during the industrial revolution, the Quarries had been un-worked for over fifty years and nature had reclaimed them and former pits had become lakes and were very popular with anglers and the sparse shrubbery and woodland made it popular spot with courting couples whereas the northern crags and fells were popular with climbers and more hardy folk.

To the south and east was an extensive tract of magnificent mixed forestry and was rivaled only by the ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest, but for Martin and Clare weren’t really taking it in.

 

On the journey from Northern Downshire all the way down through the Pepperstock Hills National Park on their way to Finchbottom, Clare was still berating Martin on her mother’s distrust of her.

“It’s not that she doesn’t trust you,” He said for the tenth time.

“She doesn’t seem to realise that I’m a grown woman,” she continued

“We are all aware you are a grown woman” Martin said and after pause added

“Well aware”

Clare looked at him and raised her eye brows

“So what have you noticed?” she asked with amusement and

Martin blushed to his roots under her gaze

“Nnnnothing” he stammered

“Come on Martin” she pressed

“Just that I have noticed that you are no longer a child” he replied

The rest of the journey passed largely in silence with Clare admiring the countryside while occasionally sneaking glances at her driver.

 

Clare had always been in love with Martin Bailey or at least since she became a woman, which in her case was at the age of 13.

Which coincided with Martin having the task of driving her to school adding to his list of duties.

She fell instantly and irrevocably in love with him despite the age difference, not that she did anything about it and he had always behaved like a perfect gentleman, treated her with respect and spoke to her as an equal, all of which made her love him even more.

But she continued to hold a candle for him right up to the moment he let it slip that he had noticed her, as a grown woman, and was well aware of her being a grown woman.

She took that as a sign that her feeling might after all be reciprocated, and that gave her food for thought as they approached the Finchbottom Vale.  

The Vale nestled comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north, and those who are lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns.

The Vale was once a great wetland that centuries earlier stretched from Mornington in the East to Childean in the west and from but over the many centuries the vast majority had been drained for agriculture, a feat achieved largely by the efforts of the famous Mornington Mills, of which only three had survived to the present day and even those were no longer functional and were in various states of repair, the result of the reclamation of the Vale was a large and sparsely populated area, and it was in that area that they had planned to cover on Clare’s first buying trip.

But as they drove into Finchbottom antiques and collectables were the farthest thing from her mind.

 

When she first fell for him she was grown up enough to assume it was just a crush and she would soon grow out of it, but she was wrong, her feelings did change of that there was no mistake, but they didn’t fade instead they matured as she did.    

 

On the first night of Clare’s maiden buying trip they stopped at the White Horse Inn in Finchbottom and spent the evening in the restaurant where Clare proceeded to drink more than was good for her.

Martin thought she had been in a really strange mood since the journey down and all evening she had kept looking at him in a funny way. 

But not only was Clare drinking too much, she was flirting and he had never seen her do that before, and he couldn’t let it continue.

If he did, her mother would not consider that “Taking care of her”

“Come on party girl” he said “bedtime”

“Oh goody” she said draining her glass

 

Accompanied by outrageous flirting and downright suggestive behaviour Martin steered her up the stairs

“Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire” he said and when they reached the top he headed towards her room at the end of the corridor.

When they got to her door Clare announced

“Honey! I’m home”

Martin propped her against the doorframe as he unlocked the door and she began kissing his neck.

“Behave yourself” he said and gave her a playful slap on her bum.

“Oooh are you going to spank me Martin?” she asked

“Get in there young lady” he said and guided her through the door

“I love it when you’re all masterful” Clare responded and wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to kiss him.

Martin managed to avoid her lips at the last second as the door slammed shut behind them and they performed a strange ungracious waltz into the room.

“Here we are young lady,” he said as he prepared to lower her onto the bed

“Bedfordshire” Clare said gleefully, and then her head began to spin and she passed out.

Martin managed to catch her before she hit the floor and laid her gently on the bed like a precious cargo, which to his mind she was, in he thought her the most precious thing imaginable.

He carefully slipped off her shoes and then covered her with blanket and she murmured

“I really love you Martin”

“And I love you too my angel” he replied and pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed.

 

His love for her had not begun when hers had for him, at least not romantic love, up until she was seventeen his love was a mixture of fraternal and paternal, but midway through her seventeenth year he fell for her hard and he had never recovered from that fall.

Which was why he sat in an uncomfortable armchair at the bedside of the intoxicated and intoxicating love of his life.

But as he sat there watching her sleep he reran the moment of her declaration of love in his mind over and over again and he could scarcely believe it had happened.

He had never imagined in his wildest dreams that she would ever say those words, “I really love you Martin”

Even if it was because she was drunk that she said them, she had said them.

And if the next morning she retracted her declaration and laughed it off, the fact would still remain that she had said it and in his experience thing said while in your cups were normally truthful, unguarded and indiscreet certainly, but nonetheless true.

And if things returned to the way they were for the sake of propriety he would be content because he knew his love was returned.

 

The next morning Martin woke up in the uncomfortable armchair next to Clare’s bed and stretched out his aching muscles.

He hadn’t slept well, but that wasn’t altogether the fault of the chair.

It was mainly his racing thoughts that robbed him of his rest, thoughts of love and hope.

The unexpected development of a beautiful young woman being in love with him, but then he began to question the evidence of his own ears.

“I really love you Martin” suddenly became “I really love you Martin, like a father, or “I really love you Martin as a friend”

He got up from his chair and walked across the room and switched on the kettle.

 

After making the drinks he put his coffee and her tea down on the bedside table and returned to the seat of his angst and after another five minutes of reflection he decided he should say nothing and wait to see what developed he could always broach the subject in the car if she was not forthcoming.

Before he had the opportunity to reconsider Clare began to stir.

He watched as her eyes opened and she tried to get her bearings, why was she in a strange room? And he saw her face relax as she recalled that she was in a hotel.

Then she turned her eyes towards Martin who smiled and said

“Good morning sunshine”

“Have you been there all night?” she asked groggily

“Yes”

“Why?”

“Because I was worried about you” he replied

“Oh” she said and then looked pensive

“Did I do or say anything embarrassing last night?”

“Well I don’t know, how do you define embarrassing?”

“Out of character stuff” she responded after a moment’s thought

“Well you got very drunk and passed out, that’s quite embarrassing” he replied

“Is that all?” she asked hopefully

“You were very flirtatious” he said

“Who with?” she asked from behind her hands

“Me mainly”

“What else?” she demanded

“Well you did ask me to spank you, and you wanted me to be masterful” he said with a smile “Oh and then you tried to kiss me”

“Oh God what happened?”

“You passed out” he replied

“So that was all?”

“Not quite” he replied enigmatically and finished his coffee and stood up

“I need to get ready”

“No don’t go yet…” she began and then lifted her head off the pillow “Ow”

“Oh dear” he said when he looked at the pain on her face

“Tell me what else I did” she begged

“I’ll give you a clue” he offered “it wasn’t what you did so much as what you said”

“What does that even mean?” she asked and sank down into her pillow

“I’ll see you at breakfast” Martin said and slipped out of the room

 

After a quick shower and a shave Martin and went downstairs for a full English breakfast and was on his second cup of coffee when Clare put in an appearance, looking very pale and wearing dark glasses.

“Hello sunshine” he said “do you want some breakfast?”

“Just coffee”

 

When the waitress had brought her coffee Martin asked

“Have you remembered yet?”

 “No” she confessed “what it really bad?”

“I’m not telling you” he retorted

“But why?” she asked “Oh God it was really bad wasn’t it?”

“Not necessarily” he replied enigmatically “it depends on your point of view”

“Oh please tell me” she said pathetically “Put me out of my misery”

“I’m sure it will come back to you on the journey” he said “Come on time to go”

 

Once they had checked out they had plenty of time before their first appointment so they took a leisurely drive from Finchbottom to Highfinch which Clare spent with her eyes shut although Martin wasn’t sure if it was because she was suffering or she was still embarrassed.

 

After concluding their business in Highfinch and nearby Kingfisherbridge it was close to lunchtime and as it was such a lovely day they decided to take their lunch at one of the local sights before we headed on towards the Dulcets.

They both agreed on Pepperstock Castle as it was on the way they were headed.

“I haven’t been there for years” Clare said “not since junior school”

“Nor me” Martin agreed

“Yes but they were still building it when you were at school”

Clare said and laughed raucously, a little too raucously as she winced and held her head

“That will teach you” he said 

 

Pepperstock Castle had once been an imposing sight up on its hill overlooking the eastern end of the Vale though now it was just a collection of ruins, which could still be clearly identified as having once been a Castle, but ruins nonetheless.

While they sat on the huge stones and finished eating sandwiches Clare once again pressed him for the information he refused to give her that morning.

“You can tell me now”

“Oh I don’t think so” he retorted “you need to try and remember it yourself”

“But I can’t” she snapped

“There’s no such word as cant” he replied “Come on let’s get going”

“I used to like you” she shouted after him

“Ah now that’s a clue” he said

“What?” Clare said trotting after him “what does that mean, what’s a clue?”

 

After Pepperstock Castle they took the scenic route through the densely wooden hills that formed the natural border between the Pepperstock Nation Park and the Finchbottom Vale.

Clare continued to pester him all the way to their next port of call which was Brocklington and again when they drove on to the Dulcets which were a collection of villages and hamlets comprising of Dulcet Meadow, Dulcet St Mary, Dulcet Green and Dulcet-on-Brooke, to name but a few, and of course their destination, Dulcet-on-Willow which was a large sprawling village beside the gentle shallow River Willow, which ran unhurriedly from the Pepperstock Hills to the more vibrant River Brooke.

It was an exceptionally fruitful visit and they had secured some very good items but they spent much longer in Dulcet-on-Willow than they had planned so they decided to head towards the Hotel they were booked into and then complete their business in the Dulcets on the way back.

 

Their destination after leaving the Dulcets was the Seaview Hotel in Sharpington where they would be spending the next two night.

Martin was spread any further pestering as Clare fell asleep before they even left the village.

Which gave him time to think about whether or not to tell Clare what she said to him the night before.

 

Sharpington-by-Sea is a traditional seaside resort complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.

Which was the first purpose built amusement park to open in Britain, which had an assortment of rides, like the Rotor and the Wild Mouse, The Cyclone and the Morehouse Galloper, all very tame compared to a 21^st century roller coaster but was still great fun.

Martin spent many happy summer holidays in Sharpington when he was a child when the whole family went away together.

He loved the town and he always looked forward to his visits.

 

He parked on the promenade and gently woke Clare

“Wake up sleepy head, we’ve arrived”

“Already?” she asked and yawned

“Come on get a wriggle on and I’ll buy you an ice cream” he said, he knew if anything was going to get her moving it was an ice cream, and he was right because she was out of the car like a shot.

 

He managed to park on the Southern side of the pier about a hundred yards along the promenade.

“I thought we could enjoy the sights for an hour before we check in, we’re a bit away from the pier but we can jump on the bus if you want” he suggested

“I think I’d like to walk” Clare said “I’m in no hurry”

“Nor am I” he said “and it’s such a beautiful day”

They walked along the promenade with a gentle breeze blowing off the sea and reminisced about the times they had been to the seaside when they were little and they both talked about the places in the town that held special memories for them.

The Ghost Train in the Fun Park, Sharpington Day Parades, Halloween Fright Nights, Firework displays, Candy Floss, sand castles, paddling in the sea and of course Bizzoni’s Ice Cream Parlour on the Pier.

 

A visit to Bizzoni’s Ice Cream Parlour was a must, it just wasn’t possible to go to Sharpington and not sample their homemade ices.

Clare had a rather extravagant chocabockerglory while Martin went for a more restrained Raspberry ripple.

When they had eaten their ice creams they walked along the pier and they talked all the way.

But almost inevitably the conversation turned to the events of the night before.

“You still don’t remember?” he asked as they reached the end of the pier

“No” she replied pathetically

“Oh well never mind it’s clearly not important” he said matter of factly

“It was clearly just the alcohol talking”

“No, no it is important, you have to tell me” she said with alarm “I have to know”

“Well I’m not going to tell you” he said and then halted her protest by adding “But I will try and help you remember”

“Oh ok” she said barely able to hide her disappointment

 “So what do you remember?”

“I remember a lot of wine” she said “and I may have flirted a bit”

Martin raised an eyebrow in response so she added

“Ok I flirted a lot”

“Then when the wine was almost gone you said “Come on party girl, bedtime” and I said something but I can’t remember what”

““Oh goody” was what you said and you drained your glass” he corrected her

“And then I walked up the stairs” she said

“Well actually I had to steer you up the stairs accompanied by outrageous flirting and downright suggestive behaviour” Martin pointed out

“Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire” she said “That was what you said”

“That’s right” he said “is it coming back to you?”

“Yes and I remember saying “Honey! I’m home” when we reached the door to my room”

“I had to prop you against the doorframe while I unlocked the door and you began kissing my neck” he said

“And you told me to behave and then you smacked my bum” she continued “and I asked if you were going to spank me”

“And then what?”

“You said “Get in there young lady” she said imitating his gruff voice

“I love it when you’re all masterful” Martin retaliated in a high pitched retort.

“Which was when you wrapped your arms around my neck and tried to kiss me” Martin began

“But you didn’t let me” she said with a furrowed brow “and then it gets a bit hazy”

“Well I got you into the room and you said “Bedfordshire” and passed out” he said “then I laid you on the bed, took off your shoes and covered you with a blanket and you opened your eyes and said….”

Clare was looking at him intently as he spoke and when he paused her eyes were suddenly wide open

“I said I loved you, oh God I said “I really love you Martin” she said and blushed

“I’m so sor….” She began but closed her eyes in concentration and after a few moments she opened her eyes and looked straight at him

“Wait a minute, there was more, you said that you loved me too, didn’t you”

“I did” he confirmed

“You said “And I love you too my angel”” Clare said triumphantly

“I’m your angel?”

“Always” he replied and Clare kissed him and he kissed her back.

 

The next morning they woke up together again only this time Clare wasn’t hungover and Martin hadn’t slept in an uncomfortable armchair.

They were in each other’s arms beneath the duvet in Martins bed,

“I’m not sure if this is what your mum had in mind when she said “Take care of her”” Martin said

“It’s what I had in mind” she said

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (47) Strangers on a Train

 Twenty eight year old Paul Ingram lived in the village of Forest Dean situated equidistant between Shallowfield and Childean and he worked for the Forest Ridge Golf Club.

He was a tall man in his late twenties and stood six foot three inches tall so he towered above his diminutive colleague, Jenny Lucas, as they walked along platform one at Forest Dean station.

The reason they were there was because they were boarding the 9.30 train to Abbottsford and the reason they were boarding the train was because they had both won tickets in the Golf Club draw, for the County Championship one day cricket match between Downshire and Surrey at the Abbottsfield cricket ground.

They boarded the train in the First class compartment, neither of them travelled first class normally so they quickly made them selves comfortable.

They had barely left the station before Jenny was asleep with her head on his shoulder so while she was sleeping against him 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 were two girls sat diagonally across the aisle from them, a tall willowy blonde with outstandingly stellar legs, who was very pretty, but was very well aware of the fact and she positively preened when she realized Paul was admiring her legs, but he soon lost interest when he noticed she had mutilated herself with numerous tattoos, which was a major turn off for him, it was like an ice cold shower to his lust.

He turned his attention to a quiet mousy girl sitting in the corner.

She had long straight brown hair and a rather plain, heavily freckled face, but lovely blue eyes, a cute nose and a thin-lipped smile. 

She was short, body shape undetermined due to a rather shapeless baggy sweater, so it was difficult to tell which way she was facing let alone see her figure

Her legs were nice though, ensconced in black tights and she had tiny feet, he geusstimated her age at somewhere between 18 and 25.

She ticked quite a few boxes for him and even if the contents of her sweater turned out to be a disappointment he would have been content to be with someone like her.

The leggy blonde on seeing his transfer of allegiance huffed quite loudly and flounced off to another part of the carriage.

He would probably have continued to appraise the mousy girl for the rest of the journey had his eyes not been drawn towards a woman of a very different class altogether.

The woman in that caught his eye was dressed up to the nines and looked stunning in a peach coloured suit and matching accessories and was stylishly coordinated from hat to shoes.

She was older than him by at least 10 years but she was lovely with short brown hair and hazel eyes and a delicious smile.

The lady in question was 40 year old, unhappily married, Francesca Carrington-Webber, a slim, five foot four beauty, who was also travelling to Abbottsford for the Cricket although she had no interest in the sport or the sound of leather on willow, her interest lay in the sound of champagne corks and the chinking of crystal glasses. 

As the train approached the station Paul and Jenny got up and she headed towards the door, he followed close behind, and as the train stopped he looked about the carriage for the lady in the peach suit and he spotted the diminutive beauty by the door at the other end of the carriage.

The doors opened and he kept her in view as he stepped onto the platform, and managed to keep his quarry in sight for more than fifty yards along the platform but as the passengers funneled through the gate he lost her and try as he might, even with his height advantage, he couldn’t find her again.

It was a glorious June day and there was a good crowd at the Cricket Ground and Paul Ingram and Jenny Lucas were among them as was the lovely Francesca Carrington-Webber, though due to the numbers Paul was oblivious to her presence and she to his.

Downshire were in great form and Surrey were all out for 165 with 12 overs to spare and Downshire won the match by sixty runs and the delighted fans disgorged onto the streets of Abbottsford in great spirits even before the tea interval.

Paul and Jenny decided on the walk back to the station to stop for a pint or two along the way, they made slow progress however due to the throng and bypassed the first three pubs because of the huge crowds but their perseverance paid off as the crowds began to thin out, as people started to disappear up side roads in search of their cars and they were able to lengthen their stride.

They decided on the Downshire Castle as their port of call and when they got their drinks they sat in the beer garden discussing the cricket.

After about half an hour when he had just drained his glass he caught sight of the lovely woman in the peach suit from the train, and when she saw him she waved, unfortunately he couldn’t go after her because she was sat in the back of a taxi. 

So Paul and Jenny had one more drink and then continued on their way to the station.

Abbottsford station was very busy and their train was already on the platform.

Once on the train Jenny sat opposite him and he knew that one of two things would happen, he would either fall asleep within minutes of the train departing the station or he would get some grossly overweight passenger sharing his seat.

As it turned out the moment his head touched the headrest he was asleep, however he hadn’t been asleep long, when he was rudely awakened by a newly embarked passenger who trod on his foot.

Then realising what they had done the figure turned round.

“I’m so sorry, did I tread on you?” the figure said but didn’t turn around.

Not that Paul would have noticed if they had as he was too busy looking at his foot. 

Just then the train jerked and the clumsy passenger fell into his lap but she quickly pushed back against him with her buttocks and scrambled unsteadily to her feet without him getting a look at them.

“Sorry” she said and as she did so he was able to detect the aroma of alcohol.

Then the train lurched once more and she again fell against him and again she scrambled to her feet.

“Sorry” she said once more and this time he got to look at his assailant, it was the lovely Lady I the peach suit Francesca Carrington-Webber.

Just then the train jerked and the clumsy passenger fell into his lap but she quickly pushed back against him with her buttocks and scrambled unsteadily to her feet without him getting a look at them.

“Sorry” she said and as she did so he was able to detect the aroma of alcohol.

Then the train lurched once more and she again fell against him and again she scrambled to her feet.

“Sorry” she said once more and this time he got to look at his assailant, it was the lovely Lady I the peach suit Francesca Carrington-Webber.

Not that he knew that was her name, he just knew her as the woman in the peach suit that he had seen on the train that morning. 

While Paul was admiring her at close quarters the train lurched and she fell into his lap for the third time.

This time as she scrambled up he tried to aid her ascent by pushing her up, but instead he accidently got intimate with her buttocks.

“Sorry” she said again

“For goodness sake stop apologizing” he chastised her and he sat her down on the seat beside him

“Thank you” she said with a giggle “I’m Francesca”

“Pleased to meet you” he said “I’m Paul”

Jenny was fast asleep in the seat opposite and was snoring so Paul filmed her on his phone.

“Does your girlfriend always snore?” Francesca asked

“Jenny’s not my girlfriend” he replied “She’s just a colleague”

Paul went on to explain why they were together and what they had been doing all day.

“And is she happy about just being colleagues?” she asked

“Oh yes she’s very happy” he said “Jen plays for the other team”

“Ah so where is your girlfriend then?” Francesca asked

“There isn’t one at the moment” he replied

“Really? I am surprised” she said and blushed

“So what’s a beautiful woman like you doing out on her own?”

He asked

“You shouldn’t say things like that,” she said blushing again

“Why not? It’s true,” Paul said “Someone as lovely as you must have a significant other in your life”

“An insignificant other more like” she snapped and he raised an eyebrow

“Husband” she clarified

“So where is he?” he asked in amazement because if she had been his wife he wouldn’t have let her out of his sight.

“Either playing Golf or drinking with his mates and talking about Golf” she relied matter of factly.

Paul could tell she was unhappy, so not wanting to upset her he steered the conversation back to more light hearted matters

Shortly after that the driver announced that they were approaching Forest Dean she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“That’s my stop,” 

“Mine too” he said then added, “I wish it wasn’t”

“Me too” she said “I was enjoying our chat”

He woke Jenny and introduced her and Francesca by which time the train had pulled into the station.

Francesca got unsteadily to her feet and when the doors opened he offered her his arm to help her on to the platform, but once she had hold of it she was not inclined to let it go.

After going through the barriers Jenny said good night and rushed off to the car park where her girlfriend was waiting.

Francesca had already mentioned in conversation that she was getting a cab home, so the code of chivalry dictated what he should do, so he offered to walk her to the taxi rank.

After going through the barriers Jenny said good night and rushed off to the car park where her girlfriend was waiting.

Francesca had already mentioned in conversation that she was getting a cab home, so the code of chivalry dictated what he should do, so he offered to walk her to the taxi rank.

When they reached the taxi’s Francesca was second in line and when the first cab pulled away and the next one rolled along she announced

“This is me, this is my ride”

“Allow me to open the door dear lady” he said pompously 

“You are too kind Sir Knight” she responded trying to curtsy but failing.

He helped her into the back seat and then leant in and fastened her belt.

“There you are my lady” he said and in response she kissed his cheek.

“Thank you” she said and then he closed the door and he watched as the cab drove away and took the lovely Francesca out of his life and he doubted he would ever see her again, but he was wrong.

It was six weeks later and Paul was spending the weekend in Sharpington, at the Whitecliff Hill Caravan Park, where he had a static caravan.

It had belonged to his parents since he and his sister were kids, and they had spent a lot of time there, especially in the school holidays.

His parents hadn’t used it for years as they had switched their allegiances from an English seaside caravan park to a Costa del Sol villa.

So they were going to sell up but Paul begged them to keep it on, at least for a few years, and eventually they relented, on the proviso that he used it more than once a year, so he assured them that he would and he was good to his word.

In fact he was there at least once a month, even when the weather was rubbish he would still go, just to have some quiet time, walking on the beach or catching up with his reading, 

But what took him to Sharpington in the middle of July was a wedding reception at the Palladium Ballroom on the promenade.

The wedding was between his boss at the Forest Ridge Golf Club and the daughter of the Mayor of Sharpington.

He didn’t really want to go, it wasn’t his kind of thing at all, but as he had the caravan he thought he would just put in an appearance for an hour, as it turned out he stayed for three.

He had had enough long before the three hours were up but had trouble getting away, he finally had to leave via the emergency exit.  

Once he had escaped he went for a walk along the promenade and hoped the fresh air would help with the head ache brought on by the stuffy heat and banging music at the reception.

He was in sight of the end and was preparing to cross the road and climb the steep path up to Whitecliff Hill when he spotted a small figure huddled on the bench ahead of him in some distress.

“Is everything ok?” he asked and the figure turned around to reveal the tearstained face of Francesca Carrington-Webber.

Once he had escaped he went for a walk along the promenade and hoped the fresh air would help with the head ache brought on by the stuffy heat and banging music at the reception.

He was in sight of the end and was preparing to cross the road and climb the steep path up to Whitecliff Hill when he spotted a small figure huddled on the bench ahead of him in some distress.

“Is everything ok?” he asked and the figure turned around to reveal the tearstained face of Francesca Carrington-Webber.

“Oh it’s you”  she said the moment she saw Paul and was up on her feet and rushing into his arms but was unable to speak for several minutes as Paul held her and she sobbed.

When her sobs had subsided and her breathing calmed he thought it was a good moment to ask her what he was eager to know.

“Why are you here?” he asked  

“I’ve been to the Yacht Club Dinner Dance” she replied

“No I mean why are you here? On the promenade” he explained “And why are you so upset”

“My husband” she replied and realising that that didn’t really answer his question she added

“He decided he would rather get drunk at the bar with his mates than dance with his wife”

“Well he’s a fool” Paul said

“Thank you” she said and dabbed at her cheeks and shivered.

It wasn’t a particularly cool evening, but there was a light breeze off the sea and she was wearing a backless cocktail dress.

“Here slip this on” he said and put his jacket around her shoulders.

“Thank you” she said and smiled weakly 

“You should go back in the warm” he advised

“No” she replied vehemently “I don’t want to go back in there”

“Okay then how about we go and have a coffee” he suggested

“Yes that would be nice” Francesca replied brightly

Unfortunately they were at the northern end of the promenade, which was some distance from the nearest coffee place, so he said

“Well we can either walk down to the pier, or if you don’t mind slumming it, we can go up to Whitecliff Hill and have a coffee in the caravan. 

“Oh the caravan would be lovely, I won’t have to hide my face from anyone then” she said “I must look a real fright”

“Not to me” Paul responded 

“Your very sweet to say that” she said and put her arm through his and as they walked arm in arm up the steep path up to Whitecliff Hill.

He felt really proud to have such a beautiful woman on his arm, in fact she was a stunningly beautiful looking woman, a real head turner and a really classy lady which made him even prouder.

As they walked the conversation flowed between them and was very light-hearted and the time past in an instant. 

Once they reached the caravan Paul opened the door and let her in and immediately put the kettle and made a drink and the conversation continued to flow between them during which he discovered she and her husband were staying the night at the Seaview Hotel.  

After their second cup of coffee Paul looked at his watch and was surprised at the lateness of the hour.

“My God have you seen the time?” he exclaimed “I’d better get you back to the Hotel, your husband will be wondering where you are”

“I doubt he’s even noticed” she retorted “but I agree I should get going, but there’s no need for you to escort me”

“Oh yes there is” he corrected her as he slipped his jacket back over her shoulders “there’s no way I’m letting you walk back to Sharpington at this hour on your own”

“You really are very sweet” she said and stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, but instead of peck on the cheek she kissed his mouth, and his jacket fell off her shoulders.

It was two hours later when he woke up in his bed with Francesca draped across him with her head on his chest.

His hand was resting on her hip so he caressed her from hip to buttock and he kissed the top of her head and in response she hugged his torso and sighed. 

After a few moments he said

“I really do think I should walk you back to the Hotel”

“Oh do I have to?” she replied “I don’t want to go”

“I don’t want you to go either” he said “but you should”

“You don’t want me to?” she asked with surprise

“No I don’t” Paul said and kissed her

“Well as you’re not trying to get rid of me I can leave with head held high” she said “apart from the two counts of adulterous behavior”

“I thought for a moment you’d forgotten about that” he said

“That’s not likely” she said “Now turn your back,” 

“Why?” He asked

“So I can get dressed” 

“But I’ve already seen everything” Paul said proudly

“That was when we were making love” she corrected him

“This is different”

“Oh ok” Paul said and turned his back to her

“And no peeking” she said over her shoulder

“Ok” he agreed and he thought it was rather cute that even after what they had done she was still acting shy, that was a real point scorer, not that she needed any more points, she had already out scored any woman he had ever known.

“Now you can look,” she said and when he turned around she was wearing the blue cocktail dress again and his jacket was back around her shoulders.

It was a few minute before 4am when they set off from the caravan for the walk down to Sharpington.

It was a much easier walk down from Whitecliff than it was on the upward journey.

They went arm in arm along the well-used and well-lit road and then entered Jubilee Park, which was very quiet and very dark and he was thankful that he had insisted on escorting her.

They exited the park and continued arm in arm down towards the Palladium, and when they reached the end they stopped in the shadows.

“You’d better not come any further” she said “Just in case”

Paul agreed and they shared a long lingering goodnight kiss.

“I’ll watch you all the way” he said and kissed her again and then good to his word he watched her until she reached the Hotel and climbed the steps, where she paused and smiled before going in.

Francesca had mixed feelings as she walked to the reception desk to collect her key card, predominantly feelings of guilt because she had been unfaithful to her husband, for the first time in 18 years of marriage, but she also felt rather pleased with herself for making love with a handsome, kind, caring and gentlemanly guy and she didn’t meet many of them. 

However when she reached the desk and discovered both hers and her husband’s key cards were still unclaimed her feeling of guilt melted away.

As Paul made the trek back up to Whitecliff he had to admit to himself that he had lost his heart to Francesca and hoped that that special night was the beginning of something even more special.

And he reflected on the circumstances of their burgeoning relationship which began with them meeting as strangers on a train and ended six weeks later with as lovers in a caravan.

MY LOVE # 3

 

At the retail Olympics

You’d get your blue

You will always win

The race for shoes

If shopping were a sport

You couldn’t lose

You have a winning way

But I won you

IMMEASURABLE

 

Since that first day long ago

When first I saw my angel

We have laboured hard at love

And we have both built well

We have forged this love

Which we will forever know

It will never melt away

Like the thawing of the snow

But how is it measured?

How do we quantify?

We feel it and that is proof enough
The love shared by you and I

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (46) Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

Gwen Quinton-Smith lived in Sharpington and had done all of her life and had no desire to live anywhere else.

The traditional seaside resort of Sharpington-by-Sea suited her very well with its Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.

To her mind the whole place, like her, had age and character.

Gwen was just the wrong side of 60 and by her own admission a rather plain looking woman, quite small and slim and she choose to dress in the twin set and tweed style.

Her mode of dress was to most people a little old fashioned but she was always beautifully turned out.

But to her great surprise after a night of dancing in July at the Yaght Club Dinner Dance she found love with someone who loved her back.

 

The object of her reciprocated affections was Dennis Simmons who was a couple of years older than she, equally well turned out, to the point of being a bit of a dandy, but she liked that.

He was a retired police Inspector, an upright figure, friendly and jovial and he was also a gentleman, and prior to meeting Gwen, Dennis was a confirmed bachelor.

 

Although she was of retiring age she wasn’t really retired as in truth she had no job to retire from.

She had never been employed as she had an inheritance from her grandmother which was left to her to ensure her independence and in her 30s she inherited her parents money.

But despite her unemployment she was not an idle person, in fact she worked more hours a week than most wage earners.

She did a surfeit of Charity work, fund raising, hospital volunteing, Womens Institute, Church Warden at St Lucys and she was Chairwoman of the Sharpington Day Parade committee to name but a few.

Due in part to her good works Gwen was imensely popular in Sharpington because she was filled with such great possitivity and she had an enormous heart which was now full of love for Dennis.

 

Gwen was an only child born to elderly parents and was a spinster but the latter had been mainly by design.

She did have a great passion while at University but he let her down badly so she drew a line under such diversions until that night of dancing at the yaght club.

 

Dennis had never married either and although he was a retired police Inspector he never really retired either because on the premise of keeping his mind alert he did Security Consultancy.

 

Their relationship didn’t slow either of them down on their commitments, not one iota, they still did everything they did before, they just did more things together.

 

The only bone of contention between them had been church attendance although they had both been raised as Christian’s, her parents being Anglican High Church and his being Methodists, she was a regular attendee and he was not.

 

But she managed with a little persuasion to get him through the doors of St Lucy’s on the 1st of August when their relationship was still in its first flush.

She had chosen St Lucy’s rather than her parents High Church worship but was never sure what prompted her to attend that particular church rather than one of the other dozen or so in town, maybe she was being guided, but whatever or whoever had influenced her compass she had never been disappointed with the chosen destination and she felt immediately at home and she could tell by his expression that he felt the same way on his first time.

 

The love affair between Dennis Simmons and Gwen Quinton-Smith blossomed after the Yacht Club Dinner Dance but the sweet music didn’t stop playing for them just because the band went home.

Right through the rest of July and well into August whenever their commitments allowed they were together.

Even if it was just sitting on the sea wall talking, they were happy.

But as much as she loved him she didn’t stop thinking of others and in particular her friends.

 

She arose early on Sunday morning and read the paper as she ate breakfast before getting herself ready for Church.

When she left her house she looked down the street and she could see her good friends David Goodman and Leslie Maher, he was a widowed ex school teacher and she had just separated from her worthless husband.

They lived next door to each other and it was plain for all to see that they loved each other, she had often prayed for divine intervention on their behalf but it hadn’t helped.

She set off in their direction and she smiled when she saw her slip her arm through his.

“Excellent” she said “This is your chance God, work your magic”

And no sooner had the words left her lips, than the two of them stopped and faced each other and then he kissed her.

“Oh you’re good” Gwen said looking to the heavens “You’re really good”

 

She stood her ground and looked on until the kissing had stopped and they resumed their previous course and then she set off at a trot to catch up with them.

“Wait for me” Gwen called and they stopped to look back and then waited for her to catch up.

“Hello you two” she said and then kissed and hugged them both, “I’m so pleased for you both”

“You’re a bit quick of the mark” Leslie said “It’s only just happened”

“Yes but it was only a matter of time” Gwen said

“Are you going to St Lucy’s?” David asked

“Yes I’m meeting Dennis there” Gwen said

David was feeling pleased with himself for successfully changing the subject but then Gwen said

“So where are you two love birds off to?”

“Nowhere in particular” David said

“But we’re going there together” Leslie added and squeezed his hand.

 

As they were walking along the promenade Gwen asked a question

“Did you know its Wendy’s 18th birthday soon?”

Wendy Corney lived on the Potters Lane caravan park in Sharpington with her alcoholic mother and one night at the beginning of June David caught her breaking in to his garage.

She was a tall skinny waif with short mousy blonde shaggy dog hair.

But David didn’t call the police or report her because he saw something in her and so he took it upon himself to help her which he did by co-opting friends to find work for the tomboy.

And in so doing they all took her to their hearts.

“Is it?” Leslie asked

“Yes and I think we should give her a surprise party” Gwen suggested

“What a wonderful idea” David said “I wish I’d thought of it”

“You had other things on your mind” Gwen said

“Well you can count me in” he said

“Count “us” in” Leslie corrected him

“Oh I like how that sounds” he said “us”

“Well I’ll leave you two love birds alone now” Gwen said as they approached St Lucy’s.

“I have a beau of my own to meet”

 

Gwen and Dennis enjoyed the Sunday service and said a lengthy farewell to Reverend Morris who was at the door as they left.

Outside on the pavement Leslie and David were waiting,
“Do you two need to rush off?” David said
“We don’t have any special plans” Gwen replied
“No none” Agreed Dennis
“How about lunch then? At the Ancient Mariner” David suggested “Our treat” Leslie added
“We’re in” chirped Gwen

As they walked towards the pub they met Sabr Hemmings who was walking in the same direction, she was feeling a little down because her boyfriend Adam was on duty that weekend.

Sabr ran Hemmings General Store and was another of Gwen’s circle of friends who had given Wendy Corney part time work.

“Hello where are you lot going?” she asked

“Lunch” said Gwen
“Why don’t you join us?” David suggested “At the Mariner”
she looked blank for a moment as she processed the invitation almost as if she had been asked a question in a foreign language and had to translate it in her head before she could answer.

“You know what? I would love too,” she said beaming
“I will have to meet you there though, I have to check in at the shop first”
“No problem” David said “We’ll see you shortly then”

 

Sabr rushed off towards the shop and the others ambled slowly towards the pub.

When Sabr joined them 15 minutes later she said she had got

Wendy’s to stand in for her for a few hours.

“She said I could take the whole day if I wanted” Sabr said

“She is such a sweet girl” Gwen added

And it was appropriate that the conversation began with Wendy as she was to be the main topic of conversation during lunch, and in particular the surprise party for her 18th birthday.

 

Being a retired Police Inspector Dennis was a little cynical about the girl, helping a burglar rather than punishing them went against the grain.

He understood why Gwen would help her because he knew that she had a big heart but he was amazed by the level of love that Wendy inspired amongst her friends, of course he understood once he met her for himself.

 

They had a very pleasant lunch and the company had been an absolute delight and the banter was very down to earth and very witty.

A little more alcohol than was good for them was consumed due to the fact that they were celebrating David and Leslie finally getting together but in addition a very definite plan had been put in place for a surprise birthday party.

 

As they left the pub they walked along the promenade in the pleasant afternoon sunshine of an August Sunday.

When they reached Hemmings General Store Sabr paused
“Thank you for the lunch David” she said with a slight slur “I think I will take Wendy up on her offer”

“Probably a sensible idea” David said

 

When the two couples reached their street David said

“I bet Sabr is already asleep on the sofa”

They all laughed and then Leslie looked at David and said

“I think we might well do the same”

 

The rest of August was taken up with the arrangements for the Sharpington Day Parade which took place on the August Bank Holiday.

It was a major Charity event which raised tens of thousands of pounds every year much of which was collected by volunteers rattling tins along the route and traditionally the majority of volunteers took part in fancy dress and it was that element of the Parade which made it so popular with visitors.

Gwen was the overall Chair but it was such a big event that there were a number of sub committees and for example Jayne Keeling chaired the Fundraising Committee.

So there were a lot of meetings and Gwen had to attend them all.
But despite being kept so busy she still had time to plan the party.

 

The Bank Holiday weather was beautiful and the Parade was a great success but she was quite exhausted in the week that followed so she took a few days off to recharge her batteries before the Party which was on September 6th.

 

Wendy’s 18th birthday should have been a very significant one but because of her family situation she had barely mentioned it to anyone and had no expectations.

Her mother was too hungover to know what month it was let alone that it was her daughter’s special day.

The only reason Gwen knew at all was because Sabr had opened a Post Office account for her and because of her mother’s alcohol dependency the pass book and her important documents were left with Gwen for safe keeping and among the papers was her birth certificate.

 

Gwen had organised a surprise party, complete with banners and balloons and guests.

Gwen had told Wendy that she wanted some help on Saturday tidying her garage which she said would take all afternoon at least.

Gwen had organised the surprise party, complete with banners and balloons and made sure the guests, David Goodman, Leslie Maher, Sabr Hemmings from the shop, landscape gardener Alison Williams and one other, Oliver Kingham who was David grandson, but no Dennis as he was away working.

All the guests were waiting in the lounge when there was a knock on the front door.

“Ok quiet everyone” Gwen said and went to open the door.

“Hello Wendy, right on time”  

“Hi Gwen, shall I make a start?” she said and headed towards the garage door.

“No I thought we’d have a drink first” she said “Come in”

“Oh ok”

Gwen stepped aside and let Wendy pass and then urged

“Go through”

And when Wendy pushed open the door she was greeted by a rousing

“Happy Birthday!”

There were lots of hugs and kisses of best wishes and Wendy got very tearful.

“Ok sit down sweetie” Alison said “open your presents”

“Presents?” Wendy said

“Yes, on the table” Gwen said

“They’re all for me?” she ask in disbelief and tears filled her eyes again.

“This one first” Alison said and brushed her ginger locks off her face as she knelt beside her.

Wendy couldn’t remember the last birthday present she had received and she wanted to savour the one Alison had given her so instead of ripping the paper off it so she carefully pulled the tape off one piece at a time and she was concentrating so much that she had her tongue poking out the corner of her mouth and when she finally got to the contents, they were thermal long johns.

“Brilliant” she squealed and hugged Alison

“You’re going to need them in the winter sweetie”

 

After that first gift she was less patient and opened the rest of the presents in quick succession.

Leslie bought her a wrist watch, David, a pair of converse shoes, Gwen, an MP3 player and Sabr, a hoody.

And so as not to be left out Oliver gave her a box of Crazy Chocolatiers Truffles he bought in Sharpington that morning.

“Thank you” she said and they exchanged a lingering look.

 

Gwen was delighted with Wendy’s reaction and she sighed as she watched her sitting with Oliver as she admired her presents and they admired each other.

 

When it was time to go she put her old shoes and sweater in a carrier bag and quietly said to Gwen  

“Can I leave my watch here for safe keeping?”

“Of course you can my dear” she replied  

A great deal of hugs and kisses followed and then with tears in her eyes again she headed towards the door

“I’ll walk you home Wendy” Oliver said

“You don’t have to do that” she half-heartedly protested

“I know, but I want to” he insisted

 

Following the success of the party on Saturday Gwen had a quiet evening in on her own and an early night.

The next day it was St Lucy’s as usual and was on the receiving end of a surprise herself when Dennis appeared unexpectedly halfway through the service as he wasn’t due back until the Wednesday.

It was a lovely surprise but it was only a flying visit, he had only come back to see her because he missed her and he had to leave again the next day and would be gone until Friday.

 

So she was on her own on Monday evening when there was an urgent banging on her front door and when she opened it was Leslie and her dog Trio, so called because he only had three legs.

“Hello dear” she said “is everything alright”

“No its not” she replied

“Why whatever’s the matter?” Gwen asked

“Wendy’s been beaten up” Leslie replied sombrely

“What?” she said incredulously “by who?”

“Her mother” she said

“Right where is she?” she demanded as she slipped her coat on

“I’ll kill her, I’ll give her a taste of her own medicine”

It took all Leslie’s strength to hold Gwen back and it took her ten minutes to calm her down and convince her that Wendy’s welfare was paramount.

“Well I’ll tell you this for nothing she’s not going back to her mother’s again”

“I agree,” Leslie concurred “but where can she go, she can’t stay at David’s”

“Definitely not” she said “So let’s go and see her”

 

They went across the road to David’s bungalow and knocked on the door and when it opened

Gwen asked with real concern

“How is the poor girl?” Gwen asked with real concern

“Much better” he answered, “come in”

They went into the kitchen and while Oliver finished making the hot chocolate he chatted to the ladies.

“I was beginning to wonder where you’d got to” he said

“Well, we would have been quicker but Slugger Quinton-Smith here wanted to go and smash Linda Corney’s face in”

“Seriously?” Oliver asked

Leslie nodded and Gwen blushed

“I was a bit miffed” Gwen said

“What happened?” David sked

“I persuaded her that it probably wasn’t the best course of action” Leslie relayed

“And that Wendy should be our main concern at the moment”

“Quite right” Oliver said pouring the hot milk into the waiting mug.

“Ok let’s go and see her” David suggested, “She’s in the lounge, go through”

And Ollie followed on with the hot chocolate.

But when they arrived in the lounge they found Wendy fast asleep on the sofa.

Oliver put the mug down briefly while he picked up a flowered throw and gently covered the sleeping figure.

He then picked up the hot chocolate and all four of them tiptoed from the room.

In the kitchen Leslie said

“Well that solves the problem of where she’s going to sleep”

“For tonight at least” he added

“I’ll look after her” Oliver said as Gwen appeared to be lost in thought and said nothing.

Leslie and David just exchanged a look and smiled.

 

Gwen only slept for a couple of hours that night which was a wet stormy one after the thunder rolled in and lighting flashes lit the sky, but it wasn’t that which kept her awake it was thinking about Wendy.

 

The next day Alison Williams and young Oliver had escorted Wendy to her mum’s caravan to pick up her things and afterwards she put Wendy straight to work, to keep her mind occupied.

Then David suggested that they all go over to Dulcet-on-Brooke and have lunch at The Waterside Inn and the meal was accompanied with an abundance of wine.

Those present were David, Leslie, Gwen and Oliver, who was the designated driver.

Gwen didn’t twig immediately that the meal and the wine were a means to get her to agree to take Wendy in as a lodger but as soon as the penny had dropped she decided to play along.

She had already decided in the midst of the previous night’s storm that she would ask Wendy to live with her, but she didn’t tell David and Leslie that.

It made perfect sense for her to take Wendy in as a lodger, she was fond of her and she had the space and she was lonely when Dennis was away working.

It took two hours and two bottles of wine for them to get to the point and ask her if she’d take Wendy in and then she said as David settled the bill

“I was going to suggest it myself,”

 

Gwen’s only condition was that she should tell Wendy herself.

So having phoned ahead to ensure she should be there they drove back to David’s bungalow and when he stepped through the back door, he found Wendy and Alison sitting at the kitchen table.

“At last” Alison snorted

“Well hello gardening ladies” he slurred

“Sorry I’m late but I had to go and meet Wendy's new landlady”

“Really?” Wendy asked

“Yes indeed” he replied “Would you like to meet her?”

“Yes please” she replied excitedly so he stepped aside and Gwen walked in

“Gwen” Wendy shouted and raced across the kitchen and hugged her “I’m so glad it’s you” she squealed and they both started to cry.

She moved in that night and Ollie carried her things for her.

 

Later that evening Gwen phoned Dennis and told him the whole story.

About the savage beating and her intervention in offering Wendy a home.

“That’s so typical of you” he said

“I couldn’t help it” she said “I had to take her in”

“I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t” he said

“Bless you for saying that” Gwen said and then the conversation turned to love.

 

Gwen and Wendy got on like a house on fire, Wendy was willing and hardworking and very good company and over the weeks she became like a daughter to her and by extension due to the age difference, a granddaughter.

After two weeks of washing and ironing her clothes Gwen had become aware of the meagre selection that she had and the overall quality.

With all her jobs, Wendy had accumulated a nice pot of money, Gwen knew that because she looked after her savings book, but she never did anything or went anywhere to spend it.

So Gwen suggested taking her into Abbottsford on a shopping expedition.

 

When Gwen suggested she take Wendy on a shopping trip to Abbottsford she said

“Abbottsford? Really?” she said

“Yes” Gwen replied “When was the last time you were there?”

“I’ve never been to Abbottsford before” she said “I’ve never been out of Sharpington”

“Well we had better make a day of it then” she said

 

Gwen could tell Wendy was very excited about going shopping and she heard from everyone she talked to that she talked of nothing else all week.

However she didn’t know how much money to take, she knew how much she had, and she had an idea of what she wanted to buy but she didn’t know how much cash to take.

So she asked Gwen for some guidance and she advised that she should only take about £50 in cash as she would use her credit card for most purchases and then Wendy could reimburse her later.

“But you have to let me pay” Wendy insisted

 

Come the day, the expedition was every bit as exciting as she imagined it would be.

They set off from Gwen’s at 6.30 in the morning and were in the Espresso Phoenix Coffee House in the Phoenix Centre having breakfast by 8 o’clock.

And from the moment the first shop opened they shopped till they dropped and on the return journey Wendy fell asleep in the car.

 

It was that shopping trip with Wendy that made Dennis’s mind up about something that had been occupying his mind for several weeks.

Gwen Quinton-Smith had an enormous heart and an immense spirit of generosity and she would do anything for anybody and he decide it was time that she was on the receiving end.

 

He knew that Gwen although independently wealthy had not travelled extensively he knew she’d been on city breaks around Europe with friends but she hadn’t been anywhere that he would have considered special so he planned to change all that.

 

In order for his plan to work he needed to be sneaky he wanted the whole thing to be a surprise but there were certain things he needed to do and something vital he needed to know.

 

Firstly he spoke to the secretaries of various committees that she sat on and made sure her calendar was clear between the 8th and the 18th of January.

Then she spoke to the Vicar of St Lucy’s to get someone to take on her Church Warden duties for that ten day period.

 

So with her Calendar clear he moved on to the most important element of the whole operation, if it couldn’t be verified his plan was dead in the water.

It was essential that he found out about her passport.

 

So it was on the 4th of October when he knew Gwen would be tied up all morning in committee and that Wendy would be at home alone that he walked up the path and knocked on the door.

“Hi Wendy” he said when she opened the door

“Hello Mr. Simmons” she replied suspiciously

“I need your help” he said

“What kind of help?”

“I need you to get something for me” Dennis said to Wendy

“I’m not a thief” she said defensively knowing he was an ex-policeman

“I know you’re not honey” he said

“Look I love Gwen very much”

“So do I” Wendy retorted

“I know you do” he said “Which is why I asked you to help me”

“So what do you want me to do?” she asked but still kept him on the doorstep

“I just need you to look at her passport and tell me when it expires” Dennis said

“Oh I can do that” she replied “I know where that is, Oooh are you taking her somewhere? No don’t tell me I’ll just blab” 

Once she knew that he wanted her help to do something nice for Gwen she let him in and then went and found Gwen’s passport.

Dennis took the passport from her hand and looked inside then he smiled and handed it back.

“Thanks Wendy you are a star” he said “Now I have work to do”

 

Wendy was so excited but as the weeks went by and nothing happened she began to have doubts about Dennis’s intentions.

But she needn’t have worried.

 

Dennis had everything in place but he didn’t know the best time to spring it on her.

Ideally he would have done it at the last possible moment and then whisked her away, but in reality he knew she would want a bit more notice than that.

There would be shopping to do and hairdressers and nail bars and numerous other missions to be completed and he couldn’t deny her those.

 

He didn’t want to do it at Christmas because it wasn’t a Christmas Present it was an “I love you” present and a “you deserve to be spoilt” present.

So he settled on the 18th of December a week away from Christmas but more than three weeks before departure day.

By Christmas Day the big surprise would have sunken in by the time Christmas arrived and he could surprise her all over again with the ring he had bought her.

 

On the 18th of December Dennis took her to an exclusive restaurant in Sharpington called The Diamond in the Rough.

“This is very nice” she said “I’ve never eaten here before”

“I had to book six weeks ago” he said

“Really?” Gwen said “Well it was worth it”

 

“That was a wonderful meal” Gwen said after the meal and when they were sitting drinking coffee and liqueurs Dennis reached into his pocket and took out an envelope and said 

“Well I hope you like this as much” 

“Oooh what’s this?” she asked and then opened the envelope and after she read the contents she was speechless.

“Don’t you like it?” he asked with concern

“Like it? I love it” she said “It’s the best present I’ve ever had”

“You really like it?”

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Caribbean” she said and she reread the card again.

An 8 nights cruise on the Ocean Splendour sailing from Miami via Cozumel, Belize City, Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and back to Miami.

“You’re spoiling me” she said with tears welling up in her eyes

“You deserve to be spoilt” Dennis replied and took hold of her hand

“I love you Dennis” she said