In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (015) – Meeting Emma

 

June

 

James Tims had always been a contented person and altogether happy with his lot.

Though not an excessively wealthy person by any measurement, he was a successful Architect and had everything he wanted, and all was well in his world.

He had a job that he enjoyed immensely and a loving family that he loved and got along well with and lived in his own cottage in the Village.

In short, he had everything a man could want, and he was content, that was, until a few weeks after his thirty third birthday when he met Emma Daley for the first time.

 

It was a glorious Sunday morning in June, and the Village was looking particularly picturesque.

James was on his way to St Agatha’s Church in the Village, not somewhere he was completely unfamiliar with but somewhere he hadn’t been as often as he felt he should have.

Though on that particular morning he had a more pressing need to be there other than the neglect of his spiritual wellbeing, because on that morning James was to be Godfather to his nephew Nathan.

His sister Lucy was three years younger than him, and she was the baby of the family and now had a baby of her own who was about to be christened.

 

It was as he walked to the Church, preoccupied by thoughts of pride at his impending God fatherhood that his life was changed forever.

Having caught sight of Lucy on the Church steps he quickly crossed the road and was brought rudely to his senses by the blast of a car horn.

He jumped out of the way and reached the safety of the footpath and braced himself to launch a tirade of abuse at the impatient arse on the other end of the car horn, but when he turned to face the driver and was greeted by a beautiful smiling brunette, who mouthed the word “sorry” it completely disarmed him.

 

Lucy and her husband Craig were watching from the Church steps and thought it was highly amusing that he had nearly been turned into roadkill.

He turned around to give them a withering look and when he turned his attention back to the pretty vehicular assassin she had gone and that was that or so he thought.

 

It was at the end of the main service when the Reverend Virtue began the Baptism of his nephew Nathan into the faith that he saw her again.

It turned out that “Penelope Pitstop” the beautiful, if dangerous brunette, was a close friend of his sister and was also to be a Godparent to his nephew.

Following that he would have freely confessed that as proud as he was to be Godfather, he didn’t really follow proceedings as closely as he should have as his eyes were constantly drawn to the beautiful girl on the other side of the font.

But in the end, he lost sight of her in the melee as everyone decanted from the Church, and such was the effect this beautiful stranger had on him that he walked to his mum’s house full of trepidation that she was gone forever. 

“Hey James” Lucy said as he entered the kitchen “you got here safely then?”

“Very funny” he countered

“You’re obviously not safe as a pedestrian” she said and roared with laughter.

“Shut up and give me a beer smart-arse” he retorted

She went to the fridge and took out a bottle, opened it and handed it to him.

“Thanks sis,” he said, “have you got a glass?”

James didn’t like drinking from the bottle, he couldn’t stand it, and it was a bit of a joke within the family, he thought it was common.

“You are so old” Lucy said laughing

“I just have standards” He retorted pompously “Where’s Craig?”

“He’s in the lounge showing Gran the video” She replied.

Gran was 91 and quite frail and wasn’t well enough to attend the Christening so the ceremony was videoed by one of the family and it was being played back for her so she would feel included in proceeding.   

“You should go and watch it yourself” she added “as you missed most of it as you were ogling Emma”

“Emma?” he asked playing dumb

“Yes, the pretty brunette you couldn’t take your eyes off” she said

“I think you’re imagining it” he answered as he left the kitchen

“I think you’re smitten” she shouted after him and he was about to unleash a witty retort in response, but he was suddenly knocked sideways into the wall slopping his drink down his trousers.

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going” she said, and he turned around to face his assailant

“That’s…” and that was all he could say as he gazed upon the smiling face of the beautiful girl he knew to be, though they had not been introduced, Emma.

He didn’t know how long he stood there staring at her or how long he would have continued to stare had she not broken the silence.

“This is becoming a bit of a habit” She said “my name is Em…”

“Emma” he continued

“Yes” she answered “and you’re James”

And so, the introductions were complete and from the first moment they met she bought something into his world that he hadn’t even noticed he didn’t have romantic love.

James was besotted with the diminutive young woman with the immense personality and a heart as big as the moon.

He thought before that day he was quite content with his lot and had not felt his life suffered for the want of love, he had not craved it nor coveted it, he just thought it was something that was inflicted on other people and he was immune, but once he tasted it, he was hooked.

Had it not been for the fact that she had almost run him down and had fate not also decreed they both be Godparents to the same child it was unlikely he would ever have spoken to her, let alone ask her out but ask her out he did and furthermore she said yes.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (014) – Sister’s in Residence

 

June

 

Following her coronary angioplasty procedure, Sister Margaret was discharged the Pepperstock and District Hospital at midday on Saturday and was in good spirits, but it had been agreed over dinner the previous night that to journey back to the island that day might be detrimental, so Charlie suggested she stay at Beechwood for the rest of the weekend and cross to St Giles on the midday ferry on Monday.

Sister Margaret could have had Toddy’s room, and she could have gone back to the Vicarage, but he liked having her close, she he called Mrs Horne again and after apologizing for imposing on her weekend, asked if she would mind making up the fourth bedroom and explained the situation.

She couldn’t have been more obliging when she found out it was for another Nun, she thought the whole thing leant an air of respectability to Beechwood having 3 Nuns in residence, albeit one was and ex.

 

As it turned out the Sister’s stayed until Friday, Charlie thought it might be beneficial to build a relationship with the Sister’s as they were the closest thing to family that she had, so they went out on a few outings, but nothing too far or too strenuous.

On Monday they went to Sharpington, which was where Sister Lucy was from, and she took her name from St Lucy’s Church where she went as a girl, so that was one port of call because she hadn’t been back for many years, and she was amazed to find someone there that she knew from her school days.

So, Charlie and Toddy left them to reminisce and pushed Sister Margaret along the promenade to get some sea air and stopped by the pier entrance and got ice cream from Bizzoni’s before walking back to the Church to rejoin Sister Lucy, then Charlie took them all for lunch.

 

On Tuesday Charlie offered to take them to Upper Gracewood, which was where Sister Margaret was from and she also took her name from the Church where she found her faith, though she was in her twenties when she found God.

“Thank you no,” she replied “I knew no happiness there”

“Ok, is there anywhere you would like to go?” he persisted

“I’ve always wanted to go to Mornington-By-Mere and see the windmills and Teardrop Lake in Shallowfield” she replied

“That’s settled then” he said and looked at Toddy who smiled at him

 

Mornington-By-Mere was a small country Village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.

It is a quaint picturesque Village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River, a Mere, which gave the Village its name and the Mornington Windmills.

Although the Mere in Mornington was only half a mile wide and half a mile long it sits at the heart of Mornington, figuratively if not literally, and is one of three small bodies of water in the area that were all that remained of the great wetlands that at one time stretched from Mornington in the East to Childean in the west and from Shallowfield in the south to Purplemere in the north.

But over many centuries the vast majority had been drained for agriculture and part of the traditional drainage system were the Mornington Mills, of which only three had survived to the present day and even those were no longer functional, but had been restored and converted into residences, and the mills would have once pumped the excess water into the River Brooke.

 

Sister Margaret was not disappointed with the Windmills or the Village itself, in fact both exceeded her expectations, and she even felt well enough to abandon the wheelchair as they strolled around the Village and then rewarded herself with half a pint of Mornington Ale at the Old Mill Inn. 

 

It was just a short drive to Shallowfield and when they arrived Charlie pulled into the lane leading towards Teardrop Lake which ran parallel to the River Brooke, which flowed from the head of the Lake and on through Shallowfield.

They parked outside the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel, and when they got out of the car and got their first view of the lake, and they were blown away by the vista which was spectacular, although they couldn’t see it all or discern the teardrop shape that gave the lake its name.

But the view of the surrounding ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest was majestic and the lake shimmered in the June sunshine.

 

Even though it was just a modest body of water, just over two miles long and just short of a mile at its widest point, they weren’t going to attempt to walk it, especially as Sister Margaret had returned to her wheelchair, so they just walked about a mile in total and ended up back at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel.

“Lunch?” Charlie asked

“Does it come with more of that Mornington Ale?” Sister Margaret asked, and they all laughed.

 

The next day the weather was miserable, so they spent the day at home and on Thursday when the sun returned so they put together a picnic and Charlie drove them up through the Pepperstock Hills National Park which stretched from the bare, and often barren crags of Quarry Hill in the North to the dense wooded southern slopes on the fringe of the Finchbottom Vale and from Quarry Hill, and the Pits in the West to Pepperstock Bay in the East.

They had their picnic on a high rock outcrop which looked out to sea and enjoyed the natural beauty on display.

 

On Friday it was time for the Nuns to go back to the island and as they stood by the departure gate Toddy said her goodbyes to them and Sister Lucy turned to Charlie and said

“Thank you for your kindness and your hospitality”

“My pleasure” he responded then the seated Sister Margaret took his hand in both of hers and said

“As grateful as my damaged heart is for your kindness, you’d better not break hers, because we have friends in high places”

“Enough said” he responded “Her heart is safe in my hands”

Toddy held his hand as they watched as Sister Lucy pushed the wheelchair up the ramp and when she reached the top she turned and gave a wave.

 

They spent the rest of the month shopping for plants in anticipation of the Thorne girls completing the hard landscaping, but there were also periods of more intense excitement during the rest of June, such as when the Greenhouse arrived, which was particularly exciting for Toddy, and not so much for Charlie.

Then the roles were reversed the week after when the BBQ was delivered, though the arrival of the water feature was a source of joy for them both.   

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (013) – Medical Procedure

 

June 

Toddy had been on St Giles for two weeks, after learning that Sister Margaret had had a heart attack, but she and Charlie were in constant touch, using the mobile phone he bought for her, and fortunately it turned out not to have been a heart attack.

Paramedics attended her, and she was flown on the Air Ambulance to the Beaumont Manor Hospital on the neighbouring Beaumont Island where she was monitored for 48 hours.

She had already left when Toddy arrived at the retreat, where she found a very agitated Sister Lucy, who wanted to go to the hospital.  

Reverend Henry Noble who worked at the retreat, suggested they get the Water Taxi, the Ocean Breeze, from the port of Cabot Town to Spaniards Creek, and he arranged for a taxi to meet them after the Ocean Breeze moored and take them to the Beaumont Manor Hospital.

So, after leaving Cabot Town the Water Taxi passed between Cabot Head and Spaniards Point, before proceeding into the mouth of the river which led to Spaniards Creek where the taxi was waiting.

 

On one of the calls Charlie received, Toddy said that Sister Margaret needed surgery and had an appointment at Pepperstock and District Hospital in Pipershaven.

“I'll drive into Pipershaven to pick you up” he suggested

“I can’t ask you to do that” Toddy replied

“You're not asking, I’m offering” he retorted

“Thank you, Charlie,” she said

After giving him the ferry details, he said

“I’ll book three tickets for Friday, and I’ll meet you at this end”

“I can’t wait to see you” Toddy said

“I can’t wait either”

“The Sisters are really looking forward to meeting you”

She added 

“I hope they’re not disappointed” Charlie said

“You haven’t disappointed me” Toddy retorted, and he could tell, by the way her voice cracked, that she was about to cry so he said

“Until Friday then”

“Ok dear man, Bye” she responded and hung up

 

Charlie was up early on Friday morning as he had very much missed Toddy while she had been on the island and was eager to see her again.

She and the Sisters were arriving on the first ferry that morning from St Giles and he was keen to be there to meet her, so keen in fact that he was at the port half an hour early.

Which gave him far too much time to think while he waited, he had been dreaming of the moment when he could hold her and kiss her, but as much as he wanted to, he was worried he might embarrass her in front of the Sisters and that was the last thing he wanted.

However, he didn’t want to give Toddy the wrong idea either, so he was in a quandary.    

To add to his discomfiture the ferry arrived twenty minutes late, so he was in a state of agitation when the ramp was lowered, and the cars began to disembark.

He spotted the nuns straight away among the assembled crowd of foot passengers behind the rope, even in their more modern habits they were still easily identified, one was seated in a wheelchair, who he assumed to be Sister Margaret, and the tall slim Sister Lucy pushing her, and then he spotted Toddy in a floral dress, and she was scanning the area.

The steward unhooked the rope, and the passenger began filing down the walkway and Toddy was constantly looking around as they proceeded towards the quay.

He was in among a crowd himself but as they thinned out, she spotted him, and she waved and pointed him out animatedly to the Sisters.

When they were about twenty yards away, she suddenly ran headlong towards him and jumped into his waiting arms and kissed him.

So much for his worries about embarrassing her, by the time she had finished, Sister Lucy had arrived with Sister Margaret, and holding tightly on to his hand, Toddy introduced them and said

“This is Charlie”.

“I’m so pleased to meet you both, I've heard so much about you” he said

“Not I suspect, as much as we’ve heard about you” Sister Lucy said with a wry smile and when he looked at Toddy she was blushing

“Well, you can tell me more on the way to the car, it’s a bit of a yomp I'm afraid, shall I take over the donkey work?” he said and took control of the wheelchair

“You’re right, he is a gentleman” Sister Lucy said

It wasn’t as far to the car as he led them to believe so they were soon on the way to the Pepperstock and District Hospital and when he got there he pulled up at the main entrance and got Sister Margaret back in her chair.

“I’ll go and park and catch up with you inside” Charlie said and gave Toddy a quick kiss  

 

The procedure Sister Margaret was having was a coronary angioplasty and she had already gone through to a side ward for an assessment to make sure the operation was still possible after the journey.

Toddy texted him while he was on his way from the car park, so he got himself a coffee and made himself comfortable in the waiting area.

During the pre-operative assessment, they did blood tests and gave her a general health check to make sure she was well enough for surgery and then she had an angiogram to check her blood vessels before discussing their concerns with the heart specialist.

So, the cardiologist and Sister Margaret announced they were both happy to proceed so she was taken to a catheter lab equipped with X-ray equipment to allow the doctor to monitor the procedure on a screen.

 

Sister Lucy and Toddy were with her as the nurse helped Sister Margeret lay on her back on an X-ray table and linked her up to a heart monitor but had to leave before she was given the local anesthetic.

The procedure was expected to last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours, some tears were shed as they returned to the waiting area to find Charlie, who after some words of comfort suggested he take them for a hot drink and some food.

“We don’t want to go too far” Todd said 

“How about the cafeteria by the main entrance?” he suggested

“Perfect” they chorused and laughed

Despite the fact that Sister Lucy said she was too nervous to eat anything, she managed to force down 2 sausage rolls and a Danish pastry washed down with 2 Latte's.

“I'm assuming they will be keeping Sister Margaret in overnight” Charlie said 

“Yes, that’s what they said” said Toddy “Sister Lucy is going to stay at a Bed and Breakfast near to the Hospital”

“Nonsense” he said “I live alone in a 4-bedroom house, you can stay with me Sister”

“I'm not sure that would be seemly to be alone in the house with a man” she said “But thank you for the offer” 

“Well, how would you feel if Toddy stayed as well?” he asked, “Would that be more seemly?”

“That would be perfect” Toddy said

“Great I’ll phone Mrs. Horne” he said

Widow, Catherine Horne was among other things, his cleaner and it was her day to clean.

“Hi Catherine, I have two house guests tonight, could you make up two rooms please?” 

 

The coronary angioplasty procedure was a success, and the two stents were where they should be and functioning effectively, however an overnight stay at the Hospital was required even though the procedure was quite straightforward, mainly due to her age.

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.