The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (093) Repatriation

 

Sir Avery Arnold’s coffin arrived at London Heathrow at Midday on Saturday and after being cleared through customs it was released to Hemmings and Son Funeral Directors and driven to Pipershaven.

 

The following day Molly’s visitors flew to the UK and George met them at the airport and delivered them to the Beaumont Manor that afternoon.

So on Sunday night there was a tearful reunion dinner at the Orangery, with Molly, Danny, George and Katie joining, the household staff from Colorado, Elisa Ghelardoni, Rebecca and Ross Clarke and Victoria Pullen.

 

On Monday Sir Avery continued his journey when he was transferred to the Hemmings funeral parlour in St Pierre and then the funeral cortege drove to Spaniards Creek on Tuesday.

 

Sir Avery passed away in the early hours of the morning of May 16th, so the Reinterment was on the first anniversary of his Death and although it had been many years since he was last on the island, there were still a lot of people who knew him and wanted to pay their respects.

It was a very emotional day for Molly, but she was fulfilling  her grandfather’s wishes by laying him to rest with her   parents, Charlotte and John Barrington, and her Grandmother Bella Arnold.

Having her “family” from America with her was a tremendous comfort to her, as much as she loved Danny and as caring as he was, they understood how she was feeling much better than he did. 

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (092) Bucklebury and Brandywine

 

Amelia Williamson was in Spaniards Creek on Monday morning, but she was on the eastern side of the Spanish River at Number 1, The Old Mill, which was the newly refurbished offices of Bucklebury and Brandywine Property Management.

She was quite excited setting up the new office from scratch, but she was even more excited because Clive Crossfield from Bramstock, Goodman, Crossfield, and Bushe in Abbottsford, who were the Barrington’s Solicitors, was arriving on the early ferry to help her set up.

They had been in communication since she was first offered the job and had met via Teams calls on many occasions, but they had never met in person, but that was going to change very soon, and she was looking forward to that.

They had officially taken over the building the week before, but there were things to do internally, before she could move in.

 

Since Franci Liebenberg pinned Adam Jandrell down in his office chair and aggressively snogged him, she was no longer his right hand “man”, she was now his assistant project manager and his significant other.

It was Franci who was co-ordinating the floorer’s, electrician’s, Alarm system engineers, phone and internet  installers, CCTV and the signage fitters, for the new tenants.

So for the first week of May Amelia stayed away and let them get on with it.  

 

Clive Crossfield’s first port of call when he arrived in Spaniards Creek was to meet with Molly Barrington.

“Hi Clive” she said when she opened the door “Welcome to the island”

“Hello Molly, thank you”

The reason for the meeting was the impending repatriation of Sir Avery Arnold and he explained that all the arrangements were complete, the disinterment was set for Thursday and all the transportation and flights were booked.

Over the next hour they went through all the arrangements in fine detail, just to make sure nothing had been overlooked, then Molly said.  

“Well, I won’t keep you any longer I’m sure you’re as eager to see Amelia as she is to see you” Molly said

“Oh, erm I don’t…” he burbled,

“Just go get her and we’ll talk later” Molly said and giggled, because she’d never seen him get flustered before.

 

When Clive had gone Molly picked up her phone and called the Beaumont Manor Hotel and booked 4 rooms for some special visitors to the island, then she rejoined Danny in the conservatory.

 

Clive parked outside the Old Mill and walked into number 1, and found the slender brunette, Amelia, talking to a wiry well-tanned Franci Liebenberg with tousled blonde hair about the positioning of power points. 

“Hi Amelia” he said and when she turned around and saw him, she blushed

“Ccclive” she stammered and then an awkward few moments ensued when they couldn’t decide whether to shake hands, hug, air kiss, or fist bump, in the end they clumsily hugged, and Franci said

“I’ll come back later”

 

Over the next few days they worked very closely to set up the office with the new furniture, shelving and office equipment and then began sorting through the archive boxes that had been stored at Beacon Farm. 

When they weren’t working, they spent time at the Galleon or Philips Folly, but they never managed to express what was on their minds.

 

On Thursday 4,700 miles away from the island, in Colorado Springs, Sir Avery Arnold’s body was disinterment at St Savior’s crypt and placed in a special coffin for transportation by the undertakers and delivered to the airport for shipping.

 

The next day when Amelia arrived at the Old Mill, he found Clive and Franci deep in conversation in the carpark and stopped when they saw her approaching.

When they were on their own inside the building Amelia asked suspiciously

“What was Franci talking to you about?”

“Your friend asked me a question” he replied enigmatically

“What question?” she enquired

“I don’t know that I should tell you, nosey” he replied

“Tell me “She begged

“Well, if you must know” Clive said “She asked me if I loved you”

“And what did you say?” she asked coyly looking at the ground

“I said I couldn’t love you more if my life depended on it” he replied, and she gasped

“I love you too” Amelia said and wrapped her slender arms around his neck and kissed him.

After a few moments she uncoiled herself and said sadly

“But you’re leaving today”

“Ah, I meant to talk to you about that” he replied

“What?” she asked urgently “What?”

“I thought I might stay on for another week” he said and then they kissed again.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (089) Future Plans

 

May

On the first of May, Harry Archer arrived on the island to sign the leases on the Old Grain Store, which was to be the Archers Ornamental premises on the island and one of the two-bedroom flats in the Old Barn conversion.

So his first port of call was the Galleon Coffee Shop where he met with Amelia Williamson where he signed the paperwork and picked up the keys. 

His sister Pandora had already made all the arrangements with the utility companies, and that was all happening the next day.

Once he had finished with Amelia, he had other fish to fry so he hurried towards the quayside.

 

Arielle Nicolas had been standing on the quayside for about ten minutes, she was always early, when she saw Harry approaching and her heart soared.

When he reached her, they embraced and only the sound of

Phil Holgate starting the engines of the Ocean Breeze brought them back to the moment, so they smiled and got aboard, and then the Water Taxi moved off down the Spanish River towards the open water and it was a smooth ride across the dead calm sea.

 

The Shaw Brothers ferry, the Empress Victoria, was on the jetty at Cabot Town, and Phil brought the launch to a halt beside the small quayside.

Cabot Town itself was actually just a hamlet, with a café, and a General Store/Post Office, from there Arielle and Harry went South to the farthest end of Broad Beach Sands, then they walked back up the full length of the beach and back up the rocky path to the lane past the Seaview Hotel which led to the meteorological station and then they walked inland to Hastings Lake to have their picnic lunch.

 

They ate their picnic sat on a tartan rug in the spot beside the Lake where they shared their first kiss.

When they had finished Harry refilled their glasses with champagne and as he raised his glass in a toast he said  

“Arielle Nicholas, will you marry me?”

“You want to marry me?” she asked quietly

“Yes” he said “I love you and I want to marry you”

“I love you too” she said “Of course I’ll marry you”

 

As soon as they returned to Spaniards Creek they went straight to Cliff Haven 

“We wanted you to be the first to know” Arielle said and fidgeted excitedly

 on the spot, then blurted out

“We are engaged”

“That’s wonderful news” Molly said and kissed her

“Congratulations” Danny added

“Are you up for a celebratory dinner?” Molly asked

 

The day after Harry proposed he was nursing a hangover when he was at the new premises and the flat, while amongst other things, carpets were being laid, the phones were being installed and the signage was being affixed, but he was feeling better by the time Arielle joined him for lunch.

 

Harry’s brother Sam arrived on Wednesday in a Luton van loaded to the gunwales with equipment and Matt Deighton was in the passenger seat.

All of the staff in Sharpington were canvassed to see if any of them wanted to transfer to the new building but only Matt was interested.

Which suited Harry because he liked Matt, and they worked well together.

Sam returned to Sharpington that night, but Matt stayed on the island, then he returned the next day with another load, and repeated the cycle on Friday but brought Pandora with him who then returned to the mainland with the empty van and Sam stayed on.

 

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (088) Civil Engineering

 

The civil engineer, recommended by Carolyn Livingston, Sam Richardson, had done his part and Adam Jandrell had submitted the plans for the foot bridge to the parish council and on the last Monday of April the council were meeting, and the foot bridge plans were on the agenda.

 

The committee was comprised of Church Warden Howard Nelson who was Chair, the Vicar Arielle Nicholas, Primary School Headmistress Margaret Johnson, Katie Harrison from Beacon Farm, and Rachel Hanson from the Galleon Coffee shop, who was also the Verger.

“Do we really think we need a foot bridge?” Margaret asked

“It’s been at least 20 years since the last one was struck by lightning, and we’ve managed without it”

“Well I think as there is no cost to us, we’d be foolish not to take advantage of it” Rachel responded “And I remember as kids we used the old bridge as a short cut to the beach”

“I agree,” said Katie. “What about you Vicar?”

“Well, Acts 20:35 says a person is more blessed by giving, but in order for this to happen, someone must be willing to be blessed by receiving, so let’s allow ourselves to be blessed” 

“We’re not used to investment in Spaniards Creek” Howard said “So I’m in favour, but we should put it to the vote”

 

After the Parish Council voted unanimously in favour of the bridge proposal the night before, it ticked another box for Molly and put another task on the list for Adam and his team.

 

They were on the final push to finish on the East side of the Spanish River and the nerves were fraying with the long hours and the fast-approaching deadline.

So on Friday when Franci Liebenberg walked into the site cabin and heard Adam Jandrell talking on the phone.

“Of course” Adam said “My right hand “man” will take care of that”

Something inside Franci snapped and she snatched the phone from his hand and ended the call, then she pushed his chair back, so the headrest was touching the wall and barked

“I don’t want to be your bloody right-hand “man”, I am not your right-hand “man” I am a woman, and do you know why I do not want to be your right-hand “man”?” she asked

“NNNNo” he stammered

“I want to be your woman” she replied and then she kissed him very aggressively

 

It was a mixed bag of weather over the last weekend in April with a very wet Saturday and a glorious Sunday, and it was Deborah Woodward’s weekend off, so she and Stuart Cameron got to go shopping on the wet day and walked together in the sunshine, but they still hadn’t progressed any further than friendship.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (087) Holy Weekend

 

Maundy Thursday is the day when Christians remember the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples before being betrayed and arrested in the garden of Gethsemane.

When Molly last met with the solicitors, she discussed the good causes fund that her grandfather set up on her behalf and she thought it was appropriate to make her first donations on Maundy Thursday. 

 

To commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, a special service was held throughout the Christian World on Good Friday, and St Clara’s was no exception, and it was a special day for Arielle, and Molly was ever present. 

 

Molly had a difficult and emotional week as she had been completing the paperwork on her grandfather’s repatriation, so on Holy Saturday Molly attended the vigil and spent the time in God’s presence to clear her mind.

 

Easter Sunday or Easter Day is the most important day of the year for Christians  when they celebrate “the Resurrection”, when after being killed on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead, and defeated evil forever, there are no bigger days in the Christian calendar.

Arielle captivated the large congregation on her most important service of the year with a spellbinding sermon.

 

Spiritually refreshed after the Holy weekend Danny and Molly spent a miserably wet Easter Monday enjoying a movie marathon.

Because on Tuesday it was “putting pen to paper” time again.

 

After their lazy and vegetative Bank Holiday Monday they rose bright and early on Tuesday morning and after breakfast they started work.

Since they completed the last book, they had both been making independent notes and suggestions for the new Sharon Jacques book, so first on the agenda was comparing notes.

They had both had similar thoughts on plot, but they had also both gone off on different tangents and the whole process of bouncing off each other, meant that before they knew it, it was the weekend again. 

 

Kevin Holland and Marion Monaghan had put a stop to their respective cradle snatching relationships and put their hopes in something more age appropriate and eventually their wishes were answered.

That weekend was the first one Kevin had off since January and now he had found Marion he was going to make the most of it.

 

Also making the most of the weekend were fifty-three-year-old Audiologist Anna Turnbull and fifty-five-year-old farmer Duncan Wilson who were sharing an intimate time on Roman Water Farm, before his parents returned from their holiday and his children arrived home from university.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (086) Caring

Palm Sunday was the first service of the new incarnation of St Clara’s and despite the congregation being on the whole unaware of the significance of the day there was an incredible atmosphere that morning.

Molly thought to herself that it was like the Church itself was expressing its approval.

Arielle rose to the occasion and so many of the congregants commented on the quality of the service in general and her sermon in particular, which was clearly aided by Harry sitting in the front pew.

 

Molly began the week in a good frame of mind, after the success of the Palm Sunday service and the seamless transition from Church of England control, and it meant that she could proceed to the next level.

 

For Arielle getting through her first service was a great relief and having Harry there at her side had lightened her load.

As Monday was her day off, she and Harry took the Water Taxi to Cabot Town on St Giles, which was where they had their first kiss, and they had a very pleasant day and cosy evening until he had to get the early ferry back to the mainland on Tuesday morning.

The remainder of the week was to keep her very busy, but Harry had given her great strength.

 

School Teacher, Marion Monaghan, hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the thoughtful and kind Nurse, Kevin Holland, after he had driven her home following her accident.

When she was at the hospital, he said she had “stunning and shapely legs”, well in truth he only mentioned the one leg, but she thought properly attired he would like the other one just as well.

She hoped he might also think the rest of her up to snuff, so Marion thought she would just have to make sure she used her assets and her legs to maximum effect.

So on the day she was going to the Bellevue she had on a brand-new pair of silky smooth 70 denier black tights, with her shortest skirt and highest heels.

 

Kevin had been looking forward to seeing her again and he hoped he was on shift when she came back in to have her stitches out, there was no guarantee though, so he thought he would call round to her flat after Easter to enquire if he did miss her.

 

When she arrived at the hospital, she caught sight of Kevin while she was booking in with Heather Edwards so when she was ushered into a cubicle by a Nursing Assistant, she sat on the bed with her legs displayed to their fullest effect in time for his arrival.

“Hello Marion” he said very professionally

“So you’ve come to get your stitches out” he added although he knew very well why she was there.

“Yes please” she replied

“Do you want me to cut your tights off again?” He asked

“What? No, why?” she asked with alarm

“Because I can’t take the stiches out through the fabric” he said

“Ah I hadn’t thought about that” she said and giggled.

As she slithered off the bed, she forgot she was wearing heels and stumbled violently, luckily, she fell in Kevin’s direction and he caught her, and she was still giggling when she ended up face to face with the Nurse, so she stopped giggling and kissed him, and they were completely lost in the blissful embrace, but they were almost caught by the doctor and a jovial porter.

Fortunately, they were loud and boisterous which they gave the kissing couple time to separate unnoticed.

After giving her some privacy to remove her tights, he checked the wound and then took the stitches out, and they resumed their embrace later that evening in the privacy of her flat. 

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (085) Birthday Treat

 

Molly had so enjoyed their “research” trip to Paris that he persuaded him to extend it until Friday.

Which meant that they didn’t get back to the island until Friday evening, had Saturday not been so significant to her they would definitely have stayed longer. 

 

Lazarus of Bethany is a figure within the Christian Bible, whose life was restored by Jesus four days after his death. This is seen by Christians as one of the miracles of Jesus.

In the Catholic and Orthodox Church Lazarus is venerated, but in the Church of England, not so much.

But in Spaniards Creek the day would be forever remembered by those in Molly’s inner circle as the day St Clara’s Church was risen from the dead.

It was also the Saturday before Holy Week, which is the sixth and final week of Lent, beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday, and it’s the most significant week of the Christian calendar.

For the Vicar Arielle Nicholas it very much felt like she was starting at the beginning, and she was immensely grateful to Molly for having faith in her.

 

Johnny Lemon lived in a narrow boat moored in Spaniards Creek quite near to where the renovations were near completion.

He was originally from Finchbottom, and he was working as a supply teacher across the Finchbottom Vale but was offered a twelve-month contract covering the Deputy Head teachers maternity leave in St Pierre.

He didn’t normally do that length of time but he had never been to Beaumont Island before so he thought he would give it a go.

That had been five years earlier, and when the teacher he was covering for elected not to return, he was offered the position permanently, and after three years the Head retired, and he was promoted.

His accommodation aboard the “Island Rose” was only supposed to be temporary to cover his 12 months substitute stint but something unexpected happened, he loved it, so hence why he had been afloat for 5 years.

He met Rachel Hanson soon after he’d taken the permanent position at the school when he started to frequent the Galleon Coffee shop, and a friendship developed.

She had also managed to get him to set foot in Church again after many years absence because she was the Verger at St Clara’s.

However after four years he was no longer interested solely in her friendship, but if he made a romantic approach and she wasn’t interested he could screw up what they had.

 

He needn’t have worried because Rachel Hanson felt the same about him, but she was also in a similar mindset.

However she had set her heart on being his birthday treat, so she dressed accordingly.

She could have gone full body Lycra, which would fit her like a second skin, taut and seamless leaving every contour revealed, but she was thinking something a little more subtle, so she went for a bra top and fitted shorts.

 

So on Saturday morning Johnny Lemon was up early for his 40^th Birthday and was at the Galleon half an hour later.

“Happy Birthday!” she exclaimed when he walked in and gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.

“Do you want to get going straight away?” she asked

“No I need sustenance” he replied

“I thought you’d say that” she said and put two bacon baps on the table in front of him.

“You are an angel” he said, “is this my birthday present?”

“No you can unwrap your present later” she said

 

After he finished both bacon baps and had drunk two coffees, he was ready to go, which coincided with Rachel arriving with a Cooler Backpack.

“I hope you are feeling refreshed after your breakfast because you’re carrying the pack” 

“There is always a price to pay” he said sagely

 

They set off on their bike ride and headed up the St Pierre road it was  supposed to a quiet relaxion cycle in the countryside, just a spot of fresh air and some exercise, and a picnic, and that’s what it was until Rachel over took him, but didn’t she didn’t try to leave him in her wake, she just kept perfect pace with him and that was a problem, because her shorts which fitted her like a glove, and that was all he saw, none of the countryside scenery or pastoral views, just the perfect curves and contours of her taut firm buttocks, and when she stood up in the saddle and the landscape changed he could think of nothing else.

When they left the St Pierre road and onto Halfway Lane she set off at breakneck speed and if he wanted to keep her buttocks in view, he needed to match her speed, which he did with some effort.

 

Rachel was feeling very pleased with herself when they stopped up on the crags for their picnic, he had kept his eye on the prize all the way.

“Well that was a good ride” she said “Great views”

“Really great views” he agreed

But she realised it was going to take much more than “great views” to get him in her arms, so a bit of sneaky subterfuge was in order.

 

They spent a very pleasant hour or so up on the crags eating their picnic and while they were eating lunch the solution came to her and she smiled to herself.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked

“Nothing” she replied “I’m just happy”

 

Gentler pace on a different route down off the crag and down to where the Beacon and Spanish rivers met and crossed over on the wide rocky shallows.

Then they negotiated the streams and rivulets on the outskirts of the woods before following the Spanish River all the way back to the village.

Eventually they ended up on the tow path that led to where the Island Rose was moored, and he came to a stop, from behind him he heard Rachel loudly exclaim.

“Oww!”

“What’s the matter?” he asked as he quickly dismounted and shed the backpack

“I think I’ve torn my calf muscle” she said

“Ok put your arms around my neck, and I’ll help you” he said and as soon as her arms locked around his neck, she took control of the situation and forced him backwards until they fell into the long grass where she snogged him.

Then almost as quickly as it had started, she disengaged her assault.

“Very acceptable” she said as she got to her feet, then she ran to her bike and cycled off and shouted over her shoulder

“Pick me up at 8”

And as he sat in the grass, she was racing down the tow path laughing her head off.

 

On the Eve of Palm Sunday Molly phoned the Vicar and invited her round for the evening, the next day was very significant for Arielle because it was her first service without the weight of the whole Church of England behind her and Molly knew that she was very nervous.

It was just after 6.30 when she knocked on the door and Danny opened it.

“Hello Vicar” he said, “Come in.”

“Thank you,” she replied a little forlornly

“Hi Arielle” Molly said “We thought you might need some moral support”

“I’m fine really” Arielle said

“Oh ok, so you won’t want to see our guest” Molly said and nodded to the door behind her, and when she turned around, she saw Harry Archer standing there and she ran into his arms. 

 

The Galleon was closed when Johnny arrived at 8 o’clock, so he went  and knocked on the back door and he only had to wait a few moments before it opened, and he saw Rachel standing there dressed up to the nines.

“Wow” he said as she stepped backwards to let him inside.

“That was very sneaky behaviour earlier” he said

“I was left with no alternative, I’ve been waiting ages for you to make your move, so I had to take matters into my own hands” she retorted and kissed him.

After the nerve tingling kiss ended, he said

“We’d better make a move”

“Not until after you’ve unwrapped your present” she replied and bolted the door.