In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (012) – The Lingerie Thief

 

May 

Cathy and Keira Smith shared a house on the east side of the Village as well as being housemates, they were also partners in their own Plumbing business, which they inherited from their father.

Catherine was the oldest at thirty-four and her sister was two years younger, Cathy was also taller, darker haired, and two dress sizes bigger.

By the beginning of May they had been housemates and partners for three years, and everything was going well, the only thing that was lacking in their lives was romance.

Working on building sites so much the only men they met on a regular basis were builders, electricians, roofers and other plumbers, and as nice as some of the guys were they really wanted significant others who were not trades.

 

On the whole they got on very well together, although they were very different characters Catherine was a neat freak and Keira was messy, but they didn’t fall out very often.

But for Cathy there was one bone of contention and that was namely articles of underwear, as nice as they might be they were very annoying when they were left hanging from the shower rail or draped over radiators, so when Keira wasn’t looking she would gather them up, in ones and two’s, and put the wet ones in the airing cupboard or the dry ones in her drawer in the bedroom.

Keira didn’t seem to notice or if she did, she didn’t say anything that is until the beginning of May when she enquired

“Have you seen my green knickers?”

“No sis,” she replied

“Are you sure?” she quizzed “I know what you’re like with your tidying”

So, she had noticed then Cathy thought and answered.

“Definitely not honey”

“I don’t understand it I’ve found the bra upstairs so I know they’re here somewhere, but I can’t find the pants anywhere”

“They’ll turn up” Cathy suggested

“That’s not very helpful” she replied

“There are some blue ones in the airing cupboard” she said helpfully

“I can’t wear blue pants with a green bra” she said crossly

“Honestly, what kind of a girl do you think I am?”

“Well, you know I haven’t had them, I couldn’t get me arse in your skinny skimpies” Cathy said, and they both laughed

Over the next few weeks her green panties didn’t turn up and it transpired they weren’t the only items to disappear.

Cathy also had some disappearing lingerie, and they went on to lose an assortment of knickers, two bras, three odd socks, a pair of tights and even Keira’s pajama shorts did a disappearing act.

They had never experienced any loss of laundry all the time they had lived there so they were at a loss to explain the disappearances and could offer nothing but Cathy’s stock answer of

“They’ll turn up”

Keira was unconvinced, as was her sister, they were sure that some kind of fetishist had a secret stash of their knickers.

However, any such suspicions they might have harbored were readily dispelled one Friday evening when they arrived home and spotted a tabby cat jumping over their garden fence with something pink and silky in its mouth and entered the cat flap of their next-door neighbour.

“Do you see that!” Keira exclaimed

“I did” Catherine replied “It had a pair of your drawers in its mouth”

“Right strike while the iron is hot” Kiera said and got out of the van and went straight to the neighbour’s door and knocked on it loudly and when the door opened by a tall good-looking man she barked

“Your cat keeps stealing our socks and knickers”

“Yes, sorry about that, she’s a…”

“Pervert”

“Rescue cat and she’s a bit…”

“Perverted”

“Insecure” he corrected her

“If it makes you feel any better, she’s not just stealing yours”

“Funnily enough, it doesn’t” she replied and turned on her heels

 

Nothing else was said until Sunday afternoon, when just after they had returned home from a walk, there was a knock on the front door.

When she opened it, Keira was faced with a very shamefaced and embarrassed neighbour, Duncan King, who was a School Teacher at the primary School in the Village and was a couple of years older than her.

He was holding a carrier bag out in front of him. 

“I think these might be yours” he said quietly thrusting the carrier bag in her direction.

“What is it?” she asked and took the bag

“Open it” he said shuffling his feet nervously and she did as he instructed and opened the bag and found inside sundry items of underwear.

“You’d better come in” she said

 

He hadn’t been in the house very long, no more than a month they had known the previous owners John and his wife Carole, for several years and they had always gotten on very well, then John got sick and died so Carol moved away.

They hadn’t had a chance to meet the new owner at that point, and things hadn’t started well.

Because of his tabby cat called Tabitha, who was a very sweet looking cat that unfortunately suffered with psychological problems.

It was a very nervous and timid creature who was very suspicious of everyone but what none of the neighbour’s suspected was that it had a darker side.

While the humans of the Village were all at work Tabitha roamed the local area, indulging in her particular passion namely stealing knickers, pants, socks, tights, handkerchiefs and the occasional bra as well as babies’ bibs and booties.

The troubled animal preyed on the unsuspecting locals stealing from washing lines, washing baskets and clothes airer’s, though thankfully even with her psychological problems she only stole clean items, nothing soiled or un-fresh.

They were all oblivious to this dastardly crime putting the loss of missing items down to mischievous house elves.

The dastardly crime only came to light when Duncan was clearing his spare room prior to decorating when he discovered a nest of other people’s underwear.

After first discovering the stash, he had found it was very funny, however after having to sort the not inconsiderable collection into bags for the prospective owners, it was less funny.

Even less so when he had to set off to return the items, which was why he was standing in the girl’s house.

 

“I have never been so embarrassed” Duncan said

“How many houses have you had to go to?” Catherine asked

“You are number 8” he said

“You poor thing” Keira said sympathetically then she looked at Catherine and they both burst out laughing.

When they had regained control of themselves, he continued

“Luckily Tabitha’s is scared of her own shadow, so she never strays more than a few houses either side of us, so it narrowed down the field”

 

After he had gone Catherine looked at the contents of the bag

“You see I said they would turn up” she said

“Pah” Keira retorted unimpressed and then there was another knock on the door, so she opened it and found Duncan King standing there again

“Um… I was wondering… um… by way of apology if I might… um … take you to dinner” he said

“Well… I wasn’t expecting that” she said

“I am encouraged, that you haven’t said no” he said

“I haven’t said yes either” she pointed out

“And will you?” he asked

“I will go to dinner with you on one condition” Keira said

 “Name it”

“You bring a friend to make up a four” she said

“Deal”

 

She closed the door and went into the lounge

“We have a dinner date on Saturday” she announced

“We do?” Cathy said, “Who with?”

“The Knicker King and a friend”

The friend was another teacher called Luke Hedger.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (011) – The Encore

 

The next day Charlie prepared a light lunch for himself and Toddy, who arrived at Beechwood at midday and was wearing a lovely floral summer dress and a beaming smile when he opened the door.  

They soon slipped back into the same companionable comfort of the night before and had a lovely, relaxed lunch together before getting more comfortable on the sofa and resuming the previous night’s embrace.

But no sooner had their lips met than his mobile phone rang, they tried to ignore it, but it was killing the moment, so he picked it up.

“It’s my sister!” he said,

“What has she got against us kissing anyway?” Toddy asked

“Impeccable timing sis” he said “What…. Oh, ok I’ll hand you over”

“She needs to talk to you” he said and handed the phone to Toddy, and he could tell by her grave expression that it was not good news.

 

She dissolved into tears when the call ended, and he spent the next ten minutes consoling her before she was able to explain what was wrong.

When she had composed herself, she was able to get the words out and explain what had upset her.

“Sister Margaret has had a heart attack”

 

When the Convent closed Sister Lucy and Sister Margaret, relocated to the retreat on St Giles Island which was the smallest of the two Bay Islands.

It was only 6 miles long and 4 miles wide and named after Giles du Cabot who died after the battle of Hastings.

It was a rugged, inhospitable and largely uninhabitable island surrounded by treacherous rocks. 

For hundreds of years, following the dissolution of the monasteries, a hardy community of Monks eked out a meagre existence before they had to share their seclusion when work on a lighthouse at Cabot point began in the middle of the 19th Century.

Three quarters of the island is now a Wildlife Sanctuary, but there is a small Meteorological Station, a small Hotel, the Seaview, the lighthouse and the Monks, who now ran St Giles’s religious retreat, which meant there was a population of between 50 and a 150 people, depending on the time of year. 

There is no Church on the Island but for those of a religious bent were always welcome at the St Giles Chapel, in the southwest corner of the island.

 

“I don’t know what to do” she blurted out and tears welled up in her eyes again.

“Do you want to go to her?” he asked

“Yes, yes” she exclaimed “But I don’t know how”

He went on his phone and checked the sailing times, “There’s a ferry at 4 o’clock, which is doable” he said and a moment later he added “And that’s booked”   

“Uh um uh” she stammered

“Come on let’s get you home” he said and kissed her

“But…” she began

“Chloe will help you pack a bag, and I’ll drive you to the ferry port” he explained

“Ok” she said meekly

 

Charlie drove her to the Vicarage and walked her in and after a moment’s explanation Chloe whisked her away to pack and then he went to Richmond’s Corner Shop and purchased a pay as you go phone and loaded it with £100 of credit.

After plugging the phone in to charge he returned to the Vicarage to find Toddy ready and waiting for him looking anxious.

“This isn’t how I thought the day would go” she said sadly as they left the village

“We will pick up from where we left off when you return” he assured her, and she smiled weekly

 

When they reached the Ferry Port, he parked the car and walked with her to the departure gate and waited with her until it was time for her to board.

While they waited, he gave her the mobile phone and said,

“There is plenty of credit and I have put mine, Chloe’s and Verity’s numbers in it so you can talk to any of us whenever you need to”    

They kissed goodbye and then he watched her board, she turned briefly and gave him a wave before disappearing from view, and he waited until the ferry departed.

He hadn’t even reached the car when his phone rang

“I miss you already” she said and hung up, so he texted her

“I miss you too x”

 

There were many more calls and texts while she was away which punctuated the time, he was working on the task to complete the project he had been working on under the radar for several months.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (010) – The First Date Propper

The waiter arrived enquiring about drink, he knew from past conversations that she was teetotal and as he was also a non-drinker, with her approval, he ordered a very pleasant bottle of alcohol free Chardonay.

She had always been teetotal whereas he hadn’t drunk since his early twenties when he realized his drinking was taking him down a path to oblivion and he never drank again.

 

During dinner Toddy explained and shared her own anxieties about the evening despite Chloe and Verity reassuring her.

“I’ve never been on a date before” she said “which was why I wasn’t even sure it was a date”

“I know what you mean” he said “I blame overthinking”

“You too?” she asked, and he nodded

“Well Chloe had no such doubts” she continued “Hence the reason I was dragged from pillar to post from one Church lady to another to get me ready”

“She is formidable”

“She is, first it was Catherine Scott who did what she called a “Mani-Pedi”, the manicure was probably wasted on me, but the pedicure was a revelation, I’m definitely doing that again” she said and laughed

“Then Emma Daley did my hair which was really nice”

“It certainly looks like time well spent” Charlie said

“Thank you, I will spare you the details of what Geri Phillips did, I will just say that there was a spatula involved” she said and giggled

“Say no more”

“Finally, it was Josephine Bell, and she actually tutted when she saw my nails” she said and laughed out loud

“But I’m very pleased with what she did” she added as she held out her hand and admired Jo Bells accomplished handiwork.

“I’m very pleased with what they all did” he said and took hold of her hand, and Toddy welcomed it and made sure he held onto it all during coffee.

 

They were the last to leave the restaurant when they reluctantly had to accept the evening was coming to an end and returned to the car.

The conversation was more sparse on the journey back to the village but not uncomfortably so, in fact the opposite was true.

Neither of them was eager to get home and both found the journey home was annoyingly short.

Charlie got out after parking the car outside the Vicarage and took Toddy’s hand before walking her slowly up to the front door where she said

“It’s been a lovely evening”

“It has” he agreed

“And made more lovely by the company”

“I had a really nice time” she said as she turned to face him, then she took a deep breath and kissed him, but not on the cheek like she had on previously occasions, this time she kissed him hesitantly on the lips, and when he responded, her hesitancy melted away and they settled into a long languorous embrace.

It was a special kiss on many levels, it was a defining moment for them both, it was the first romantic kiss for Charlie since his wife passed away ten years earlier and it was the first kiss ever for Toddy, as such neither of the parties were in any hurry for it to end.

However, even if she wanted to, it was unclear if Toddy knew how as it was so exhilarating she felt like she was on a theme park ride but come to an end it must.

It was not though by their behest, and it only came to an end when the porch light went on.

Which broke the mood and the clinch, and they stood and looked at one another.

“Do we get a round of applause now that the houselights have come up?” she asked and giggled

“I’m more interested in an encore” he replied

“Me too, but unfortunately, we’re no longer alone” she said as she noticed the curtain twitch

“That’s a shame” he said “Perhaps a different venue will solve that particular problem, lunch at mine tomorrow”

“I like the sound of that” Toddy said and kissed his cheek before opening the door and saying “Goodnight Charlie”

“Goodnight Toddy”

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (009) – The First Date Aperitif

The two days following the Hanratty’s outing seemed to pass in slow motion for Charlie, left alone with his thoughts, as he reflected on recent events.

He acknowledged he had been attracted to her since they first met back in March but as she was the first one, he’d thought of in that way since his wife had passed, he had been reluctant to go too fast, but their relationship had taken a turn, partly because the work had become a lot less frenetic.

 

Toddy had also felt something from the beginning, but she had never thought of anyone in that way in her life, her only relationship had been with God, so she had no idea how to proceed, but they were so comfortable in each other’s company it was inevitable that they should end up going on a proper date.

Which was what Chloe had envisaged all along when she put them in each other’s orbits and now the date was arranged Chloe made sure Toddy was ready for it.

So, for Toddy time didn’t hang quite so heavily as she was whisked from pillar to post in order that she should make the best of her fifty-five-year-old self.

Toddy thought they were making a fuss about going to dinner with an amiable companion, but she did enjoy all the pampering.    

 

On Friday evening a nervous Charlie drove to the Vicarage at 7.30.

The reasons he was nervous were various, firstly because he was having second thoughts, not about wanting to take her to dinner, he very much wanted that, his second thoughts were more about the nature of the evening.

For two days he was convinced it wasn't just a dinner date but an actual date, however his insecurities stemmed from the thought that for Toddy it might just be dinner.

Another reason was more far reaching, was he ready at his time of life to embark on another relationship should dinner lead to something more substantial and finally what should he wear, it was a nice restaurant so casual was inappropriate, but equally he didn't want to overdress either for the venue or more importantly to overshadow Toddy who having spent all of her adult life in a convent was unaccustomed to somewhere like the Kissing Angel, and he wondered if he should have chosen somewhere more pub grub than fine dining to put her at her ease.

He decided against a suit and settled on a Blazer and slacks and an open necked shirt, though he had a tie in his pocket if the need arose.

He knocked on the front door of the Vicarage and after a moment or two the door was opened by his sister Chloe 

“Hello Charlie” she said and kissed him then she pushed open the door “she's all ready for you”

Toddy was standing in the hallway and when she looked up, she smiled at him

“Hello” she said

“Hi” he responded “You look lovely”

She was wearing a knee-length cornflower blue dress, with blue tights and navy-blue court shoes.

“Thank you” she responded and blushed

When she was working in the garden, she had always worn dungarees or cargo pants, and on their outings and shopping expeditions she wore jeans or chinos, so he had never seen her legs, but what he saw he liked. 

It had been a dry warm day so there was no need for a coat, but Verity placed a pashmina over her shoulder and as a final touch Chloe handed her a clutch bag

“Enjoy your date” Chloe said, and Charlie and Toddy glanced at each other, and she smiled before slipping her arm through his as the door closed, and they began to walk towards the car.

He opened the passenger door for her and said:

“I couldn’t help noticing that you have legs, I didn’t realize you had legs”

“Yes, I don’t get them out very often” she replied

“You should, they’re very nice,” he said and closed the door”

As they drove through the village she suddenly asked, “Is it?”

“Is it what?”

“Chloe said “Enjoy your date” as we left, is it?”

“I was hoping it was” he replied

“Good so was I” she said and looked at him coyly

 

He had never eaten at the Kissing Angel before, but he had heard very good things and it didn’t disappoint, it was lovely and had a soothing ambiance and was cozy and intimate.

“It’s very classy” she whispered once they were settled

“It is, and it suits you very well” he said, and she blushed

“I thought it appropriate for our first date”

“Are there going to be more then?” she asked

“I hope so” he replied, and she smiled

“But we might have to downgrade to the Starlight Café” he added, and they both laughed.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (008) – The Hanratty’s Outing

May

 

The Thorne sisters were booked, and Charlie and Toddy selected the stone and instructed Georgia accordingly. 

The work was due to be completed by the end of June

So, Charlie and Toddy embarked on the expeditions. 

They found the Greenhouse they wanted in Purplemere, the shed in Finchbottom and the BBQ in Sharpington, which were the biggest purchases, everything else they could have got online but they thought “where was the fun in that”.

So with the main purchases in the bag all the other trips were just outings, which they both welcomed, because while they were waiting for the hard landscaping to be completed they had no reason to see each other every day as they had at the height of the work, they had been on a few walks ending with a pub lunch, but they couldn’t do that every day so the outings were a good reason to see more of each other.

But there was still half of the week when they didn't see one another. 

 

Toddy was particularly keen to get to Abbottsford, apart from underwear she hadn’t had any new clothes since leaving the convent at the beginning of March, the Vicars wife, Chloe Virtue, had given her a nice selection of things from the Church donations and she frequented the Charity shop every week and had got some nice things from there, but she was desperate to buy something nice and new so she didn’t feel shabby when she was with Charlie, not that she told him that.     

They left early in the morning, and headed up the Expressway, after fortifying themselves with a good breakfast at the Starlight Café.

They got to Abbottsford in good time and Charlie drove into the multistorey car park at the Phoenix Shopping Centre, and it was quite busy for a weekday midway through the month and when they reached the main concourse that was busy too.

“Oh wow” Toddy said, “It’s bigger than I remember”

“It probably is bigger” Charlie pointed out.

It was much less busy when they got to Hanratty’s Department Store.

“Aren’t we going to stay together?” she asked in a childlike voice.

“No, you need to shop without me looking over your shoulder” he said, “And you can shop at your leisure”

“How will I find you?” she asked with alarm

“I’ll meet you by the fountain at 12.30” he said

“Oh ok” she said doubtfully, took a deep breath, gave him a weak smile and walked into the store.

He watched her walk away and when she was out of sight, he headed to the Phoenix Espresso Café where he was meeting his solicitor to sign some papers.

He would have preferred to have stayed by her side all day, but the documents were of great importance, and he would not let her out of his sight for the rest of the day to make up for it.

 

He was sitting on a bench by the fountain when he spotted her coming towards him with bags in each hand and she was smiling broadly.

“You seemed to have managed ok on your own” he said as he took the bags from her

“It was fun” she retorted and laughed

“So, what would you like to do next, more shopping or a bite of lunch?”

“Lunch please” she replied before adding “and then more shopping”

 

After lunch he picked up the bags and they stepped out onto the concourse, which was less busy than it had been

“I’m very pleased with myself” she said “I would have preferred you to have been with me in Hanratty’s, like a safety net, but I was fine” she said proudly and even slipped her arm through his, which made him smile.

There were a number of shops they wanted to go to in relation to the garden and when they had ticked them all off, he said

“Were there any other shops you want to go to?”

“Yes, I want to get something for Chloe as a thank you, and Verity recommended Crazy Chocolatiers” she said “and Silk and Lace, for me”

They got the chocolates for Chloe, and he got some for Toddy and himself, then they went to Silk and Lace, which as the name suggests was a lingerie shop.

“This one I definitely don’t need you looking over my shoulder” she said and blushed

 

With all the shopping completed they returned to the car and managed to escape Abbottsford before the rush hour started and reached the Expressway unscathed.

They travelled back towards home in relative silence and when they were within a few miles of the village he asked

“Do you fancy getting dinner somewhere?”

“Oh, I would love to go to dinner with you…”  She began

“But?”

“But I’m shattered, I would probably doze off, and I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong impression”

She explained and they both laughed

“Another night then” he suggested

“How about Friday or Saturday”

“Friday would be lovely” she replied

 

He pulled up outside the vicarage and got out of the car and helped her gather her bags together and said

“I think that's everything”  

“Me too” she giggled 

“Thank you for today, it’s been fun”

“You made it fun” he said, and she kissed his cheek and waddled up the path.

 

The first thing he did when he got home was to book the restaurant, he decided on the Kissing Angel on the outskirts of Pipershaven because he thought it appropriate.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (007) – Joint Design

When the grubbing out was completed, Toddy tidied up and cleared away, and the clearance was complete.

There was a six-foot wall around the whole garden, some of which were in dire need of attention, due to their age and nature running rampant, they had general builder Reece Stead make any necessary repairs and repoint where necessary.

While that was being done, they adjourned to his study where his laptop and monitors were located.

“Pull up a chair” he said

“Can’t we use a pen and paper; I don’t understand computers”

“You luddite”, he said and laughed “pull up a chair and sit down”

“If I must” she replied grumpily, then he moved the mouse and the monitors came to life, displaying a birds eye view of the garden on one screen, taken using a drone, and a 3D rendering of it on the other with a colour key denoting the hours of sunlight in its different parts of the garden, and she was suddenly like a child on Christmas morning.

 

“You could grow apples and pears along that wall, and that area would be perfect for a greenhouse, and a water feature here”

“Well let’s put them on and we can see what we think” he suggested

“You can do that?” Toddy asked

“Of course,” he said and opened another page, with different shaped boarders, garden buildings and the like, and gave her the mouse.

“Just click on the item you want, and then click on the plan where you want it to go”

“Oh, I can’t do it” she protested

“Just have a try” he urged “See how you get on, there’s nothing to worry about, anything you do can be undone”

“I really don’t know about this” she said and closed one eye as she clicked the symbol and poked her tongue out the side of her mouth as she dragged it to its destination and released it

“I did it” she said triumphantly “Cool”

 

When they had finished and were happy with their design Charlie printed it off and said,

“Now we just need to turn this into a garden”

“I can’t do hard landscaping” she admitted

“That’s fine” he assured her “I thought that might be the case, so I’ve already spoken with Georgia Thorne at Church, she and her sisters are Landscape Gardeners and are going to quote on the work, on your plan”

“Well, that’s that then, my work is done” she said

“Not a bit of it, you agreed to turn the jungle into a garden, you’ve only done half the job,” he said “as soon as the Thorne’s have done their thing, with the slabs and the retaining walls and put in the water feature you need to do the planting”

“Ok” she said and beamed

“I just have one question” he said, “Do you want them to lay the turf?”

“I’ve never done it before, but I would quite like to have a go, if that’s ok”

“Absolutely”

“Great, so will you call me when the hard landscaping is finished?” she asked

“Why where are you going?”

“Nowhere, I just didn’t think you’d need me for a few weeks”

“No, we have shopping to do, we have to choose the slabs, the stone for the retaining walls, the water feature, the BBQ, a green house, and the shed”

“Oh ok, where will we go?”

“Well, I think we should probably use local Pepperstock stone, we just need to pick the style, but for everything else we should cast our net wide, Sharpington, Shalllowfield, Purplemere, Finchbottom even as far as Abbottsford”

“Abbottsford?”

“Yes,”

“Could we go to Hanratty’s?” she asked excitedly

“If you would like too”

“My Grandmother took me there for my birthday when I was 7” Toddy explained

“So, is that why you want to go back?” he asked

“Yes”, she replied “but I’d also like to buy some new clothes”

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (006) – Visiting the Sister’s

It was at the point when the work came to a natural hiatus that Toddy announced

“Do you mind if I take a day off tomorrow?”

“Not at all” he said, “Do you have plans?”

“I'm going to visit the Sister’s at the Convent” She replied

“Oh, I didn't realize there were any Sister’s still there”

“These are the ones for whom departure is not an option” she responded and in response to his puzzled expression she added

“I’m visiting the Convent cemetery”

“Oh, I see”

“I went for a walk over there with Verity on Saturday afternoon and weeds are beginning to take hold” she explained

“And I know it seems silly but it’s important to me that they are not neglected”

“I understand”

“Obviously the new owners, developers probably, will not want a cemetery in the middle of their housing estate or industrial park”, she added sadly

“But in the meantime, it’s something I need to do”

“I can come with you if you like, I have no plans and I think I’ve proved myself moderately useful as a gardener’s labourer”

“Moderately” she said and laughed

“Thank you, the company would be much appreciated”

 

They drove up to the Convent the next morning with an assortment of tools in the boot and her face dropped as he drove through the gates, and she noticed the FOR SALE boards had gone up.

After Toddy had shown him around St Adelaide’s and her beloved kitchen garden, they set about their task in the small graveyard.

It was a pleasant Sunny day, but cool in the fresh breeze but they found a sheltered spot out of the wind and ate their picnic lunch.

“You were happy here, weren’t you?” he said

“I was,” she replied wistfully “Very happy, but that was in the past”

“I can understand why you liked it here; it is a beautiful setting”

“I knew deep down it wasn’t sustainable” she admitted “But it is beautiful”

There was very little conversation for the rest of the day, mainly just a companiable silence as they finished the weeding.

Afterwards they loaded the tools into the car and then he drove her to the vicarage.

“Thank you so much for today” she said and kissed him on the cheek before jumping out of the car and running up the path.

 

The following week or so Toddy was grubbing the roots out with a mattock, however there were several sizable stumps that needed to be dealt with professionally and he had to employ the services of Tree Surgeon, Philip Raynes to grind them out.

While Philip was going at the tree stumps with a mechanical root grinder, Charlie and Toddy were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee when he suddenly said

“We need to settle the bill”

“What bill?”

“For your services, you still haven’t given me a figure”

“I’ll have to work out how many hours I’ve done” Toddy replied

“That’s easily done, it’s this many” he said and showed her a piece of paper

“Wow that’s a lot” she said “Let’s just say £5 per hour”

“£5 per hour?” he retorted

“Sorry is that too much?” she asked with alarm

“The National minimum wage is £12.21 per hour and you’re worth much more than that” he pointed out

“That really is too much, I’m quite happy with £5” she said “I’ve really enjoyed it, coming here every day has been fun, and some days we just went shopping, and you helped me as well”

“Ok let’s compromise” he said “£15 per hour, how would you like it, cash, cheque or bank transfer?”

“No…” she began but he gave her a look “Bank transfer please”