The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (072) Just What the Doctor’s Ordered

 

At 7 o’clock on Friday Morning forty-year-old GP Stuart Cameron drove into the Bellevue Hospital carpark.

After parking in a reserved space he got out and walked toward the entrance when his jovial neighbour and fellow Dr. Deborah Woodward, was leaving.

“Ah, its Dr Samaritan” she said

“Oh hhhhello,” he stammered

“It’s nice to see you again” she said, “Just starting your day?”

“I am, yes” 

“Well I’m at the other end of mine, so I’m off to my bed” she said “Nice running into you again though”

“And you” he said and watched her walk away

with her abundant brunette hair spilling beneath her woolly hat.

 

Deborah did have a car, but she preferred to walk to and from the hospital, unless the weather was particularly nasty, but that day was sunny, though cold, and she enjoyed the walk, she also enjoyed seeing Stuart again.

 

Stuart would also have enjoyed the walk, but he needed his car for moving between surgeries and for house calls, he would also have liked to have spent more time conversing with Deborah, and that thought scared him.

 

On Saturday Molly received some power point presentations from Carolyn Livingston of her designs for the properties down by the river, and she and Danny spent a large chunk of the day reviewing them and making notes about the bits she was unsure about and emailed those back to her. 

 

Deborah Woodward was unmarried, unfiancéd and completely unattached, she had not even come close to the first two and had been long reconciled with the latter.

Not that there had not been fancies and dalliances, but no one she wanted to be coupled with long term, so it was just her and her cat Murphy.

Oh, and a brother in Sharpington, who was in a similar situation to her, without a medical degree or a cat, and was the owner of the Bluebird Theatre.

 

After she left her house on Sunday morning, carrying a backpack, she caught sight of Dr Cameron ahead of her who had just stepped out of his front gate.

“Hi Stuart! are you going somewhere nice?” She called.

“I was just going to explore” he replied

“Me too” she said, “I’ve only been here since January, so I haven’t done much, what about you?”

“Six months and less than you I suspect” he replied

“Have you not fancied it up to now?”

“Something like that” he replied

“Well why don’t we explore together” she suggested

“Or get lost together” he retorted

“That might well be a possibility” she replied, and they laughed

 

“So where have you been so far” she asked

“I just went up to Bellevue Woods and did a bit of a circuit and came back via the beach.” He replied.

“So where do you want to go first?”

“The Crag” she replied, put on her backpack and strode off,

Stuart was already wearing his and broke into a trot to catch up with her.

It was a nice bright morning, and they could feel the sun on their faces, as they walked briskly down the path and across the St Pierre road and into the Halfway Lane.

They followed the lane up the hill in between Bellevue Woods and High Lake Copse and passed High Lake, and on until they reached the Crag.

When they reached the Zenith of the road, they stopped to catch their breath and have a drink before they followed a path up the Crag itself on the Southern side of the road, and after they yomped up to the top, they stopped to admire the view across to the east and down to the south.

“You get a different perspective altogether from up here” he said.

“It’s not bad, is it?” she responded

“We’re so lucky to live here”

“That we are” he agreed

They had a drink and then sat and soaked in the view until they got their second wind and then they made their way off the Crag, following a different path down to High Lake and the path shadowed a gentle waterfall, not grand or spectacular, but nice enough, as the water tumbled slowly and spilling over the rocks, gathering briefly in deep pools and then tumbling down again to the next pool, until it finally disappeared under ground.

The track then skirted the northern bank of High Lake and into the woods.

The day was unseasonably warm for March, and they had both shed their jackets by the time they entered the High Lake Woods, and they instantly felt the coolness of the shade, but even with the drop in temperature they were still sweating.

They recrossed the St Pierre Road and stopped above Manor Cliff Beach and Deborah checked her watch

“My goodness, I think I’ll give the Beach a miss today” she said

“I can’t believe it’s that time already”

“Nor me” Stuart agreed, and they headed for home.

 

“Thank you” Deborah said when they got back to Manor Row

“For what?” he asked

“For your company” she explained

“No need for thanks” he said “I enjoyed it too”

Then they returned to their respective homes and soaked away their aches and pains in a hot bath.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (071) Job Offers

 Reverend Arrielle Nicholas was invited for Sunday lunch again, ariving at the house after Church and enjoyed another very acceptable meal.

The reason for the invite was to further discuss her remaining as Vicar of St Clara’s.

There were some contractual formalities to be completed over the coming week and they needed to go to the Solicitors to sort out the paperwork, they just needed the Vicar to tell them when it was convenient.

“Well, I have been ordered to the Bishop’s Palace on Wednesday” she said, “Could we combine it with that?”

“Yes, that would work” Molly said.

“What time is your appointment?” Danny asked.

“3 o’clock” Arielle replied, “I’m getting the early ferry and then the train.”

“Road trip then” Danny added.

“My thoughts exactly” Molly added.

“We’ll drive you to Abbottsford and meet the solicitors in the morning then we can go and annoy Max Parsons while you’re with the Bishop” Danny suggested.

“Then we have the option of staying overnight in Abbottsford or Sharpington” Molly mused.

“Sharpington!” Arielle exclaimed.

“Sharpington it is then” Danny said and smiled.

 

The next day they wanted to talk to Amelia Williamson but had no contact details for her so Molly phoned her friend Franci Liebenberg.

“Hi Franci” she said “I need a favour”

“What do you need?”

“I’m looking for Amelia” Molly said

“She’s working the morning shift at the Galleon” Franci replied

 

Molly and Danny walked down the hill into the village to the Coffee Shop and found Amelia serving behind the counter of the Galleon.

“Hello, you two” she said, “What can I get you?”

“A latte and an Americano, please” Danny said

“And a few words in private” Molly added quietly looking around at the other patrons

“I could pop round to the house this afternoon” she replied in a whisper

“If you want to take a seat, I’ll bring them over”

 

It was about 3 o’clock when Amelia arrived at the cottage and Molly got quickly down to business.

“I’d like to offer you a job”

“Really?”

“If you’re interested” Danny added

“Of course, I’m interested” She replied but went on to explain her circumstances and how she was picking up shifts as a barista at the Galleon and behind the bar at Philips Folly so she could be at home to help her mum nurse her dad.

“You can do whatever hour’s you want to fit in around your other commitments” Molly said

“At the moment we don’t even have an office for you” 

“Where will the office be?” she asked

“In the village” Molly replied, and in answer to the next question, she added “We have no other details on that as yet”

“If you give me your email address, I’ll get the solicitors so send the offer letter, you can then reply with your CV and bank details” Molly said

“Ok” Amelia said “Thank you”

 

The next day was a lazy pre road trip movie binge day then on Wednesday they were up early to pick up the Vicar in the Range Rover and catch the early ferry.

Once on the mainland they got on the Expressway and drove nonstop to Abbottsford and when they got to the Solicitors Molly and Arielle went straight to the ladies.

Once they had spent a penny, they all met with Clive Crossfield.

Firstly there was a one to one between Arielle and Clive to discuss her employment and contract details, while Danny and Molly drank coffee, then they swapped.

“Has Amelia Williamson been in touch yet?” Molly asked

“Oh yes” Clive replied and laughed “it took her all of 8 minutes”

 

After leaving the solicitors they took Arielle for lunch at an Italian Restaurant called Roberto’s before dropping her outside the Bishops Palace.

Next stop was Publisher Max Parsons, and when they were sitting comfortably in his office Danny said  

“We have a present for you”

“Oh good I like presents” he said, and Molly opened her bag and handed him a folder

“That’s the final six chapters” Danny said

“It’s finished?” Max said “Already?”

“Ahead of schedule” Molly said

“You are the best thing that ever happened him” Max said and kissed her

“That’s what I keep telling him” she said

 

After leaving a very happy Max Parsons they went to pick up the Vicar who was already outside the Palace standing on the pavement.

“Well how did it go?” Danny asked

“His Grace was not very graceful” she replied

“He didn’t take it well then?” Molly asked

“I told him I was leaving, and he wished me well, but when I told him I was staying on as Vicar of St Clara’s his mood changed” She explained

“And his face went as purple as his robes.” 

 

They got to Sharpington and went straight to the Seaview Hotel and after checking in Molly said

“Are you joining us for dinner, or do you have other plans?”

“I definitely have other plans” she replied and blushed

 

They were in no hurry to leave on Thursday because Molly and Danny loved Sharpington and Arielle just wasn’t in any rush to leave Harry.

So they left it as late as they dare in order to catch the last ferry.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (070) Changes

 

Friday was a remarkable day at Cliff Haven because for the first time in weeks, nothing of any consequence happened.

There was just Molly and Danny, with no deadline to meet, no visitors and no documentation to read.

So they completed watching the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.

It was the last such day for several months.

 

GP Stuart Cameron had lived a life, and he had something of a reputation as a womaniser in his younger days, which he tried rather unsuccessfully to live down, on the mainland.

It was a deserved reputation, which he would be the first to acknowledge, but he changed after a near miss at a party with an underage girl.  

It has to be said, it may have been a spine growing moment or at the very least developing a conscience.
He did not kid himself that he possessed any high principles, he did hold certain standards and preferences but they were at best flexible.
He had begun, despite his penchant for all things crumpet, tried to avoid fishing in someone else’s pond, no matter how attractive the body of water might be, but he had abandoned that after failing to meet his exceptionally low standards and repeated his failures on numerous times afterwards.
So although he did possess some scruples he showed by his behaviour that they can be overcome, as his many peccadilloes testified to.

It was at a fancy dress party where he met his Waterloo.

He didn’t know why he didn’t accept the girl’s overt invitation; it certainly wasn’t through a lack of attraction or even what she was wearing, he liked uniforms and outfits.

He had rummaged his way into a Vicar’s vestments at one time, so that certainly didn’t put him off.

It was one of his fondest memories, probably because she was a Vicar, although had she been in any other occupation he would probably have jumped her bones in a second anyway.

The whole prospect of defrocking a Vicar, in costume, aroused him greatly, it was probably a combination of the fact that she was a woman of the cloth, and his distaste for the Church, that sweetened the experience.

His epiphany with the young girl took him by surprise, the girl was acting under the influence of two much wine on an empty stomach, but for that to stop him would have been totally out of character, but something did stop him.
What scared him was if she had offered it to him on another day he might not have been so strong.
It became a turning point in his life, but he couldn’t shake off his past,

his reputation always got in his way, and no one would accept that he had turned over a new leaf, so he decided to go somewhere that he was unknown, change his career and become a GP.

It suited him because the likelihood of meeting anyone he knew or one of his past conquests was very unlikely.

 

There was a large surgery at the Bellevue and smaller ones on the Saxvirdan side of St Pierre and another in Spaniards Creek and he divided his time between the three, as well as doing house calls when necessary.

He wasn’t the only GP on the island, but he was the youngest by some distance, but he wasn’t the youngest Doctor.

The job also came with a two-bedroom cottage in Manor Row, overlooking Manor Cliff beach where he could hide away and reflect on past mistakes.

 

He had been on the island for six months and kept himself to himself, he didn’t socialise with work colleagues or frequent pubs, coffee shops or any form of social gatherings, he just worked or stayed home.

However, one Saturday he was getting a bit stir crazy and when there was a break in the weather, and the sun actually put in an appearance, he decided to take a stroll up to Bellevue Woods.

As soon as he stepped out of his front door and felt the sun on his face, he thought it would be nice to see another human being as he walked briskly down the path and across the St Pierre road and into the Halfway Lane.

After three hours of walking in the countryside, through the woods, skirting High Lake and ending up at Manor Cliff Beach he felt refreshed of spirit and cleansed of mind, but he didn’t see a single solitary soul until he’d climbed back up to Manor Cliff turned the final corner towards his house when she saw a figure appear carrying some shopping bags and then almost immediately disappeared again, and then there was an exclamation of “oh bugger”.

He pressed on round the corner and found a woman sitting on the wet ground, legs akimbo, surrounded by her shopping, and she was laughing.

“Are you ok?” he asked with concern

“I fell on my arse” she said and laughed again

“I’m serious, I’m a Doctor”

“So am I” she said and laughed again even harder

 

When she had gotten herself under control, he finally got her to her feet.

“Now can you tell if you are you ok?”

“I’m fine” she said “I’m not so sure about my eggs though”

Stuart helped her pick up her shopping and carried the bags to the house for her.

“Thank you” she said “I’m Deborah by the way”

“I’m Stuart” he replied

“Can I offer you a cuppa? It’s the least I can do” she suggested

“I won’t thank you” he said “I’m already running late” 

“Ok, another time perhaps” she called after him

 

They both lived in Manor Row, which was made up of a dozen, one- and two-bedroom cottages, for the exclusive use of essential hospital staff.

Deborah lived at number 6 he lived only a few doors away at number 10.

She was disappointed that her good Samaritan hadn’t accepted her offer of refreshment, she liked the look of him.

 

Stuart liked the tall jovial Doctor, with her abundance of brunette hair and an infectious laugh, and he really wanted to stay for a drink, but he was strong and resisted the temptation thankfully, when he got  home, he slept away the afternoon on his sofa.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (069) Roman Water Farm Romance

 

Duncan picked Anna up from the Beaumont Manor Hotel in the Range Rover after breakfast and drove her straight to Roman Water Farm.

After settling her into the guest room and making her coffee he said

“I need to go off and do some farmer type stuff for a few hours, but you have free range of the place, and I’ll be back as soon as I can”

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll make use of the time making myself desirable” she said and blushed

 

Anna had high hopes of Duncan Wilson, and she was hopeful he might fill the hole in her life, and she spent five hours getting ready for the evening, which involved applying endless lotions, potions, creams and balms, as well as applying wax, and all the time she was dressing she was imagining Duncan undressing her.

 

He was later in the fields than he intended so when he got back, he was left with less time to get ready than he intended, which was probably just as well as it left him with less time to think.

He hadn’t been intimate, with a woman since his divorce, he had dated once or twice but that was all, and it had been several years since those.

She had intimated when they were having dinner that his advances would not be unwelcome, but at fifty-five he had reached the point where gravity had become his enemy and a mirror had becomes something to avoid.

 

Duncan really liked Anna and he was hopeful that his feelings would be reciprocated, and he was confident he could leave her satisfied, if he got that far with her he was sure she wouldn’t regret it but his great fear was that he would leave her disappointed with his natural appearance, she might have a more refined palette, she was a couple of years younger, but he really wanted to reach a level of intimacy with the very attractive divorcée Anna Turnbull.

 

She slipped on her expensive, purposely purchased silk undergarments, and completed the look with stockings and suspenders.

No one had seen her dressed like that since her husband, nor had anyone seen her naked.

Finally, she got into her cocktail dress and deemed herself satisfied with the final look; she just hoped it would suffice for him.

Then she slipped on her heels, and when she looked at the final result of her efforts in the mirror, she had no doubts at that moment the Duncan would get her into the bedroom, but with everything removed she was worried he might not want to go back for seconds.

After a final squirt of her most expensive perfume, she picked up her handbag and walked downstairs to meet him.

 

Neither of them should have been worried, because they were a match made in heaven.

Duncan cooked them a wonderful dinner, however they were making love before desert and slept exceptionally late the next morning.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (068) Bucklebury and Brandywine

 

After reading through Amelia Williamson’s thoroughly put together dossier on the Church Lane properties they scanned the documents to her solicitors, Bramstock, Goodman, Crossfield, and Bushe, and then Molly phoned Clive Crossfield, who handled her affairs.  

The conversation lasted an hour, and he said he would have the agents’ invoices checked to see if they had been billing for work that hadn’t been done, with a view to prosecution.

“Obviously we don’t want to use them going forward” she said

“But alternatives are in short supply, so I think we should set up our own”

“Great idea” Clive said “I can set that up for you, but you’ll need a name”

“Well, we’ve been thinking about that, and we like

“Bucklebury and Brandywine”“ Molly said

They picked that because they had watched Lord of the Rings the night before, so they took the name from the Bucklebury Ferry and the  Brandywine Bridge.

“Good name” Clive said, “What about the registered address?”

“Number 1, The Old Mill, St Pierre Road, Spaniards Creek, 

“Ok I’ll get things in motion, and be in touch” Clive said and hung up

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (067) The Dinner Date

 

While he was shaving, fifty-five-year-old Duncan paused to look at his reflexion and thought his face had stood the test of time, and his body wasn’t too bad for a man at his time of life, he was still physically fit despite being a little softer around the middle, but when he was dressed in a smart suit, he was genuinely quite presentable for his age.

 

In her room at the Beaumont Manor Anna had been having a similar internal discussion as she stood before her own mirror, the only difference was that she had been doing it for a few hours longer.

At fifty-three her figure was in quite good shape, she kept fit and hadn’t given birth or had a hysterectomy, so her body had not reached the level of decline that some of her contemporary’s had.

 

Duncan was very nervous as he drove to the Beaumont Manor that evening because he felt very much that after their previous date things had quickly moved to a whole new level, and although he was very comfortable with that.

His nerves stemmed from a fear that he might blow it.

It had been a while that he'd felt that way about someone and he didn't want to lose her now he'd found her.

 

Anna was also nervous, she had fallen head over heels for Duncan, and that wasn’t what she expected would happen, and was out of character for her.

She just thought she had found someone companionable to share a meal with, now the stakes were much higher, so she dressed in her most flattering dress.

 

Suffice is to say he for one was very pleased with the way she looked, and they had a great evening, good food, good company and good conversation. 

When they got to the coffee stage he asked

“So back to the mainland tomorrow?”

“I’m afraid so” she replied “Which is a shame because I’m not back to work until Monday”

“Can’t you stay extra night at least” Duncan asked

“No, I can’t get away with another night at the trusts expense” Anna replied sadly

“You can always stay at the farm” he suggested

His parents were away on holiday, they were the reason he was unable to meet her on Monday as he was dropping them off at the airport, and his children, Derek and Emily, were away at university, so they’d have the place to themselves.

“However, I just have to say in the interests of full disclosure I can’t promise that my intentions will be truly honourable”

“Then I’m afraid the answer is yes” Anna said

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (066) Coffee Date

 

Debbie Wilson had only recently turned fifty and had been a widow for eight years and thought that it was time to put some romance back in her life, whether out of desperation or loneliness, and dip her toe back in the water and begin dating.

She did think about dating apps, but her heart was never really in it.

But after she had a providential coming together with another car in the Stephenson’s Supermarket car park, she thought she might try something more spontaneous.

So about 90 minutes after the event she phoned the number on the business card that he gave her.

“Daryn Goldsmith” he said

“Hi Daryn, its Debbie Wilson from this morning”

“Oh hello, is everything alright?” he asked

“Yes, yes, everything is fine” she said, feeling like she was 14 again

“I still feel bad about this morning”

“There really is no need” he retorted

“Please allow me to buy you a coffee by way of an apology” Debbie said

“There really is no need” He repeated

“It would make me feel better” she added

“Well, ok” he agreed “But I’m in Spaniards Creek for the day”

“That’s ok, there’s a Coffee shop there called the Galleon, I can meet you there at one o’clock” she suggested

“One thirty would be better” He said

 

Daryn got to the Galleon a few minutes late and Debbie was already seated at a table facing the door, drinking a coffee, and she smiled when he walked in.

He joined her at the table where she ordered him a coffee and he asked.

“Are you from the village?”

“No, I’m from the north, but I spent a lot of time here because I keep my boat moored here” she replied.

“What kind of boat?”

“A 30ft Masthead Sloop, called “The Sea Nymph”” She replied.

“What hull type?”

“Fin keel and skeg-hung rudder.”

“Made from?” he asked.

“Wood, built on the island in 1934” Debbie replied proudly.

“Nice”

“Do you sail?” She asked.

“Yes, but not since before my wife got sick.”  

“I’m sorry to hear that” she said, “I lost my husband 8 years ago.”

He too had suffered a bereavement but his had only been two years ago, so still felt fresh at times.

“Its two for me”

“Perhaps you’d like to come out on her one day” She asked.

“I would like that, thank you” Daryn replied.

“Would you like to see her?” she asked hopefully.

“Very much so, yes”

“Come on then” she said draining her coffee cup

 

They walked from the Galleon and over the bridge where they turned right and followed the tow path to the moorings.

“Here she is” Debbie said proudly “The Sea Nymph”

“What a beauty” he said

“Come aboard” Debbie said and gave him a full tour finishing in the cabin

“I’m very impressed” Daryn said

“I sleep aboard sometimes, when I’ve been working on her” She said

“I look forward to seeing her in action” he said     

“I look forward to showing you what she can do” Debbie stated

“And I look forward to seeing you again” Daryn added

“Likewise,” she said