The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (105) Good Company

 

Elisa Ghelardoni had always been an early riser, so she showered and dressed and after a solitary coffee in the conservatory she set off for a walk down the hill to the river.

She liked the early morning walks, whatever the weather, but even more so on a bright morning while the rest of the world were still in their beds. 

Spaniards Creek was such an idyllic spot and starting out from Cliff Haven she was really spoilt for choice when it came to pleasant walks.

She strode purposefully down the hill her salt and pepper hair dancing about her Swan neck.

 

Once she was on the quayside, she watched the fishing boats heading out to sea and then strolled on towards the bridge from where she followed the riverbank, and continue beyond the village, and just as she left the village behind her, she saw Reverend Henry Noble standing by the bend in the river gazing out across the water.

“You’re up early Vicar” she called but got no response, so called louder

“Morning Vicar!”

But still got no response, so she tapped him on the shoulder

“Morning” she said again, and he jumped and went as white as a sheet.

“Good God” he exclaimed “I nearly had a heart attack”

And then he roared with laughter, a laugh which was so infectious Elisa was soon laughing along with him and their hearty laughter echoed across the water.

“I’m sorry” she said “But I did callout”

“Vaughan Williams” he retorted

“Excuse me?”

“The Lark Ascending” he explained and removed his ear pods

“Oh I see” she said, and they laughed again, then he said

“I’ve really missed this”

“I beg your pardon?” Elisa said

“I haven’t laughed like this since before ….” he began

“I understand” she said

 

They decided to continue their early morning walk together and they were an unlikely looking pair, Victoria possessed an inherent elegance about her, she may have been plain looking, and she spent little or no time on her appearance, she always looked more than presentable.

In stark contrast Henry Noble was a big man, well over six feet tall and built like a rugby player, and he looked as unlike a clergyman as it was possible to get, but he was very eloquent and in Elisa’s humble opinion he had a very cultured voice.

Which she heard a lot over the next half an hour as he spoke at length about his wife’s death and the emptiness he had felt.

“But today when I got up this morning, I felt alive, for the first time since Linda died, I actually felt alive” he said “And that’s why I’m out so early enjoying the beauty in the world, and here we are sharing this wonderful countryside together”

“Beautifully expressed” She remarked and took his arm.

 

When she finally got back to Cliff Haven the household had stirred.

Danny had already got the coffee on, and Molly was in the kitchen boiling eggs and making toast.

“Hi Elisa” she said brightly “Did you have a good walk?”

“Yes, I did”

“You’ve been a long time” Victoria said

“I know it was such a beautiful morning we got a bit carried away” Elisa replied

“We?” Molly asked

“Yes, I bumped into the Vicar” she said

“Really?” Molly said, “How much bumping was involved?”

“Don’t be dirty dear” Elisa said “He’s a man of the cloth”

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (104) Finding a Home

 

On Monday morning the scaffolding went up around the Church and the twelve Church Lane Cottages and Molly felt a great sense of relief.

Which meant she could return to working with Danny on the book with a great weight lifted from her shoulders.

 

Doctor Woodward said the hospital had accommodation available, but that was up near the Hospital, so Victoria ruled that out as she really wanted to stay close to her friendship base in Spaniards Creek.

Harold had suggested she rent the flat above his shop, which was nice and it was fully furnished but she ruled that out as well for two reasons, firstly because it felt a bit like the apartment’s she had in the states, and the second reason was she didn’t really want her boyfriend to be her landlord, and what if their relationship didn’t last, that could lead to awkwardness, and she didn’t want that. 

So she took Molly up on her offer to have one of the renovated properties, so she directed her to Amelia Williamson, and she took one of the stable cottages which had a lovely riverside view.

The only problem was she couldn’t move in until Saturday but Amelia asked Franci Liebenberg to let her in so she could take measurements for curtains and nets etc.

Franci supplied her with a floor plan with dimensions so she could figure out what furniture she could fit in.

“If you want curtain tracks, blinds, towel rails, or kitchen gadgets, fitting get them to me by Friday and I’ll put them up for you” Franci said

“That would be amazing, thank you” Victoria replied

“My pleasure”   

 

She didn’t need to buy much in the way of furniture, the bedroom had built-in wardrobes, dressing table and drawer units, so she just needed a Bed, bedside tables and a chair, and downstairs she had a kitchen/diner/lounge, so a small folding dining table and chairs, either a sofa or two armchairs, a coffee table and a sideboard/dresser.

 

She was able to get most of the things she needed on the island, bedding, towels, curtain rails, curtains, cutlery, China, glass, tablecloths, kitchen bits and bobs, but the bigger items she needed to go further afield.

Harold made regular trips to the mainland in his van to go to the cash and carry to restock the shops, so it was no hardship to offer to do another trip to help her out.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (103) The Wedding

 

Arielle stayed the night at Cliff Haven and got ready for  the wedding there and when it was time to go, Molly entered the room and said excitedly

“Your carriage has arrived”

Arielle hurriedly left the room and as soon as she got outside, she gasped

“It’s beautiful!” Arielle said

“It’s absolutely gorgeous”

“Isn’t it” agreed Molly

The thing they were so enraptured by was a small two-wheeled horse-drawn cart with a small tub body decorated with flowers and inside were two opposite inward-facing seats, it was known as a Governess Cart, Danny had borrowed from Woodside Farm.

It was pulled by a heavy-set white horse and by the horse’s head was stable girl Lisa Scott wearing a tweed hacking jacket and jodhpurs and riding boots.  

“Climb aboard” Lisa said

There was a small, hinged door at the back with a step below George opened the door and Arielle got in first, then Molly and finally George himself.

“We’ll see you there” Danny said and closed the door and then nodded to Lisa.

“Walk on boy” she said, and the horse and cart moved off.

 

It took less than ten minutes for Lisa to lead the Horse and Trap down the hill and along Church Lane to the Church.

George and Molly were chattering away the whole trip, but Arielle didn’t hear a word as she was lost in the magic of it all, she was so happy.

When they reached St Clara’s Lisa halted the cart where the other bridesmaids were waiting.

 

The church was full to overflowing, such was her popularity not merely in the village but across the island and it was a wonderful ceremony and afterwards, even those who didn’t attend the Church waved her off as she and Harry left the Church in a 1930 Bentley Speed Six.

 

The reception was being held at the Beaumont Manor, which was Molly’s wedding present to them along with the wedding night in the Bridal Suite, the Bentley was Danny’s contribution.

 

One of the Wedding Guests was Max Parsons and in order to prevent him from pestering them about the latest chapters, which were well overdue, Molly made sure they were seated out of earshot, so he was as far away as possible and was seated next to St Clara’s Headteacher Margaret Johnson and the striking thirty eight year old redhead kept his attention throughout the reception and beyond, because Danny and Molly saw him sheepishly leaving her room the next morning as they were heading to the restaurant for breakfast.

 

They were laughing as they headed downstairs because they had seen him, but he hadn’t seen them, then Molly suddenly stopped and said with alarm.

“If they become a thing, he might come to the island more often”

“Yes, but he’ll be coming to see the busty redhead, not us” he reassured her, and suitably comforted she thoroughly enjoyed her full English.

 

They stayed at the Hotel long enough to see Arielle and Harry off then they drove home with their wedding clothes and got back just in time to hear Henry Noble deliver his first sermon, then after lunch they both dozed off in front of the TV.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (102) Wedding Plans

 

Reverend Henry Noble arrived in Spaniards Creek on Friday afternoon and there was a tearful reunion between him, and Arielle and they talked into the wee small hours.

 

Stuart Cameron spent his weekend walking well-worn and familiar paths while Deborah was in Sharpington visiting her brother.

There were walks to different parts of the island he wanted to explore but he wanted to save them for when Deborah was back, it was always more enjoyable with her, shopping on his own at Stephenson’s wasn’t as enjoyable on his own either.

When he wasn’t out walking, he was at work on the irregular shaped piece of Perspex they found on one of their walks.

 

Because the wedding was much sooner than Arielle and Harry originally planned there was a lot of “last minute” thinking.

Her dress was not one of the after thoughts however, as she was wearing the same silk wedding dress that her mother and grandmother wore, which was currently in the hands of Lily Nunthorpe in St Pierre who owned a vintage clothes shop, “Then for Now” and specialised in repairing and rejuvenating old garments, as well as stocking a large quantity of Vintage wear.

However there were other things that she didn’t have in her bottom draw, including some very unecclesiastical underclothes.

So following the traditional Barrington Sunday lunch after Church, the ladies of the wedding party Molly, Arielle, Katie, Nikki and Rachel were leaving on a shopping trip to Abbotsford.

“I’m going to miss you” Molly said

“I’m going to miss you too” Danny said and kissed her 

“We’ve never been properly apart before” she said “Not more than a few hours”

“Then this is our test” Danny said

“A test of what?” she asked

“The strength of our love” he said, and they embraced

 

Henry Noble wasn’t just officiating at the wedding he was covering all off her ecclesiastical and parochial duties for the week either side of the wedding and was staying at the vicarage.

 

Elisa Ghelardoni had worked for Sir Avery Arnold for thirty years and although she had lived in America since she was twenty five she was not an America in fact she was a Devonian and after her employer passed she decided to move back to the land of her birth, but as of that moment she had not decided where and all her worldly goods were now in storage awaiting the destination of her choice, wherever that might be.

 

She was a spinster, and by her own admission a bit of a plain Jane, but despite having a difficult start being raised in the care system, she had had an amazing life, and although she has no family, she has a wealth of friends.

She could easily feel sorry for herself, because she had never known romantic love and knew she would never have children, but she was cut from different cloth, she was a “cup half full” type of person.

 

On Monday afternoon she was walking down by the River looking out across the water and the opposite bank beyond bathed in June sunshine when a voice said

“It’s very picturesque isn’t it”

“Oh hello Vicar, yes, it is, its very charming” she replied

“In fact everything here is, on the Island I mean”

“I agree,” he said “I felt it the moment I set foot here”

“I’m going to explore a bit more of the charm along the riverside” she said “Would you care to join me”

“I would” he said and the spent a very pleasant hour or so walking and talking until he had to get back to the church.

 

While the ladies were in Abbottsford shopping Danny George and Sam where sorting out the wedding vehicles, which was why they took the ferry to the mainland on Tuesday to look at some suitable candidates.

 

Headteacher of the village school, Margaret Johnson, was organizing the bouquet, buttonholes and sprays, as well as the flowers for the church, and Church Warden Howard Nelson was organizing the ladies of the parish to decorate the church with them.

 

Victoria was surprised how quick and easy it was to liquidate her existence in a City that had been her home for more than a decade, and the only fly in the ointment was her having to pay three months’ rent in order to terminate the lease early.

Perhaps because she had lived such a nomadic life her entire existence was represented by two suitcases and a dozen boxes, which the shipping agent collected from her appartment.

With water and electricity disconnected she spent her last night on American soil in an airport hotel then eight days after leaving the island Victoria flew home, and that was what convinced her that she was doing the right thing, because it felt like home.

When Victoria caught the early ferry on Thursday she was surprised to find Molly, Arielle, Katie, Nikki and Rachel on the ferry as well.

That evening all the principles met at Molly’s for wine and pizza.

And the next day was hair, facials and nails day and all the ladies travelled to St Pierre for their pampering, and afterwards they picked up Arielle’s wedding dress.  

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (101) Decision’s

 

Bank Holiday Monday was Molly and Danny’s last full day before their guests returned so they made the most of it, it was an inclement day, so they put all their effort into enjoying the day and enjoying each other.

As it turned out they got to do it all again on Tuesday because for a variety of reasons they weren’t going to get the ferry until Wednesday morning and the rest of that day was taken up with Victoria and Elisa telling them every detail of their trip which Molly and Danny enjoyed immensely but the following day in complete contrast, they were very quiet and restful.

 

Friday was Victoria’s 40^th birthday and they were taking her to the Orangery at the Beaumont Manor for dinner and they were being joined by Katie and Nikki Harrison, George Wood, the Vicar, Arielle Nicholas and Harry and Sam Archer.

But just after lunch Harold Jardine paid her a visit and after being invited in, he said   

“I know you're busy tonight, but I just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday and give you a little gift”

Victoria smiled at his embarrassed fidgeting as she unwrapped the present,

“Oh how thoughtful,” she said, “they’re my favourites”.

“I know, I had help” he said, and their eyes met for the first time

“I hope you enjoy them”

And as he turned to walk away it was her turn to blush.

“Thank you” she said and kissed his cheek

“Well I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of the day and I’ll see you tomorrow”

“Ok bye Harold”

 

“Tomorrow?” Molly asked after he’d gone

“Yes, he’s taking me to dinner tomorrow night” she replied

“For a birthday meal”

“And I suppose it isn’t a date” Elisa commented

“Oh no this one is definitely a date” Victoria replied

 

On Saturday evening Harold knocked on the door of Cliff Haven and then he and Victoria got in the waiting taxi and travelled to St Pierre, and once they got out, he said

“I booked a table at The Gondolier”

“Is that ok?”

“Absolutely” she replied

 

During dinner she told Harold about the job offer at the Bellevue

“You might stay on Beaumont?” he asked hopefully

“Possibly, I’m not sure” she replied undecidedly

“Have you done the pros and cons?”

“I have” Victoria confirmed

“And?”

“Nearly all pros”

“What are the cons?” Harold asked

“Well firstly, I have a life in Colorado, which isn’t a deal breaker, but I have an apartment, such as it is” she explained “And the other one is I don’t have anywhere to live, I can’t stay at Molly’s long term”

“Well I can’t help to resolve the first, but the second one is a different matter, I have a flat over the shop in Spaniards Creek that you could rent” he said   

 

Straight after the Sunday service at St Clara’s and the third reading of the banns, Victoria changed her clothes and shoes and took herself off for walk to clear her mind and think about her future.

Victoria’s favourite walk was beside the Spanish River, but she was not alone in that, but that day she needed to be alone, so she walked in the direction of Beacon Rock so she could think.

Although she had an apartment in Colorado Springs, she had no roots put down anywhere, no family or close friends, no husband or lover, and no contracts to fulfil, so she was free to make the move almost immediately.

Since she’d been on the island, she had experienced feelings she had never had before, she actually felt part of the place, she felt like she belonged, but was she suffering a delusion.

She sat down on a rock beside a stream and as she listened to the babbling of the water she said

“Doctor Woodward said the hospital have accommodation available, Molly said I can have one of the renovated properties and Harold said I can rent the flat above his shop, so I’m not deluded, they really want me to stay.”

 

The next day Victoria phoned Chief of Medicine, Deborah Woodward and said that she was interested in working for her, and later that day they had a formal interview, which lasted several hours.

As a result she was booked on a flight back to Colorado on Wednesday to clear out her apartment and to arrange for her belongings to be shipped to the UK.

She rented a furnished apartment and because of the nature of her work she didn’t have a lot of belongings, there were some items she had inherited from her parents and a few precious items that had been gifted to her from her patient’s grateful family members.

She spent a day sorting through her drawers and closets donating the majority of them to Goodwill and packed the rest into suitcases.

Molly had recommended Here, There & Everywhere Domestic and Business Removals as she had used them when they were leaving the states, so she contacted them before she left and they gave her the details of their US agent, so that was who she used.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (100) The Broken Hearted

 

Twenty-three-year-old Lisa Scott was a stable girl at Woodside farm who had a yearlong affair with Nurse Kevin Holland who worked at the Bellevue Hospital.

He was twelve years older than she was and it was her first serious relationship, and it broke her heart when he ended it and she missed him, and the sex, Lisa was fairly inexperienced when they met, not a virgin but not “fluent” so the sex was amazing.

In her lonely moments she was often out walking alone, and Sunday afternoon was no exception, but this time she was even sadder than usual because she had just found out that Kevin was seeing someone else, a schoolteacher.

 

It was starting to get dusky as she hurried through Bellevue Woods and she was hurrying because, although she wouldn’t admit it, she was a bit scared of the woods at that time of day as they were very thick, and because she was lost in thought she didn’t really have a clue where she was going.

All of a sudden, a bird took flight from the undergrowth and startled her, and she instinctively turned her head in the direction of the sound while hurrying along on her way, which was when she twisted her ankle.

As luck would have it a cyclist appeared out of the gloom as she sat on the path rubbing her ankle and feeling sorry for herself.

“Are you ok?” he asked

“I’ve twisted my ankle” she replied, and he dismounted and asked

“Can you stand?”

“I don’t know” Lisa replied

As he helped her to her feet, she was assessing him, she thought he was very good looking even sweaty and spattered with mud.

“Can you put your weight on it?” he asked, and she tried but winced with pain

“Ok just lean on me for a moment” he suggested, and she dutifully obliged

“Where were you headed?” he asked

“Woodside Farm”

“Ok let’s sit you on the bike and I’ll wheel you to the farm” he suggested

“Are you sure? That’s very kind of you” Lisa said

“No problem” he said

“Do you work there?”

“Yes” she replied

“What do you do?” he asked

“I work with the Horses” she replied

“What about you?”

“I’m a farmer from Roman Water Farm” he said “I’ve just finished University”

When they got to the farm, he helped her off the bike and supported her as he walked her slowly to the stables.

“I think I’ll be fine from here” she said stoically

“If you’re quite sure” he said

She nodded her acquiescence

“Ok then” he said in response to her nod “take care of that ankle”

“Yes, I will …., I’m sorry I don’t know your name”

“It’s Derek” 

“Well thank you Derek, I’m Lisa”

“Well you take care Lisa”

His full name was Derek Wilson, and unbeknown to her he too was nursing a broken heart for the same reason she was.

He had a torrid Summer romance with a woman twelve years older and a hundred years more experienced, Marion Monaghan, and he had returned from University hoping to rekindle their relationship only to find that she had moved on.

Ironically his older woman Marion was now dating Lisa’s older man Kevin.

 

Lisa watched him walk back to his bike and she thought he looked as good from behind as he did from the front, and she smiled.

He mounted his bike and then he turned and gave her a wave before saying

“I’ll pop by tomorrow to see how you are”

Then she watched him peddle away and when he was gone, she limped to her room and put ice on her sprain.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (099) Houseguests

 

June

Molly and Danny were enjoying having houseguests, but with all the activity around the opening of the office, building work and Church renovations, the reinterment and the excitement of the Vicars engagement they were pooped, and it was unlikely to get less busy before the end of June.

So when they had the house to themselves, they took the opportunity for some well-earned sofa hogging and a spot of guiltless canoodling.

But on Tuesday they had to knuckle down to the book which with recent events they had got seriously behind, and it took the rest of the week to get back on track . 

 

On the first Saturday in June Harold Jardine knocked on the door enquiring after Victoria.

“I'm sorry Harold, but she’s not back yet, they’ve decided to extend their stay in London for a few more days” Molly said

“Oh ok”

“She’ll be back in time for her birthday though” she assured him 

“Her birthday?”

“Yes, it’s her 40^th on Friday”

“Oh I didn’t know that I must get her a gift, any suggestions?”

“She would appreciate that I’m sure” Molly concurred

“She likes truffles”

“Chocolate of fungi?” he asked, and she laughed

“Chocolate” she said “I can see now why she likes you”

“Thanks Molly”

 

After the second reading of the banns on Sunday Arielle and Harry discussed the wedding plans, who they would invite, the order of service, Katie would be Matron of honour bridesmaid’s, were to be Molly Barrington, Nikki Harrison and the verger, Rachel Hanson , Sam Archer was best man, and George Wood would give her away, as she had no family.

 

Their Honeymoon was to a short one after the wedding, because Harry had to get the business back on track after the move, they would have a proper honeymoon the following year.

Molly was giving them the reception and the bridal suite at the Beaumont manor as a wedding present.

 

That just left them with the problem of who would officiate at ceremony.

If they had still been a Church of England Church a locum would have been supplied but they weren’t, so they had to make other arrangements.

So she thought of Henry Noble, Arielle had been his curate for several years, although he was still only 58, he left the church to look after his sick wife.

She had passed two years earlier but hadn’t felt ready to pick up the mantel again.

But when Arielle asked him to marry her, he really couldn’t refuse.