The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (221) Under a Watchful Gaze

 

September

 

A year after they kissed during a thunderstorm when James and Ada were on Beaumont Island for a family wedding, they were to be married themselves though their nuptials were to be in Pipershaven, but they did intend to honeymoon on Beaumont Island.

They bought a house together in the suburbs of the town and James moved in a month before the wedding but because Ava’s mother was a very strict Christian they weren’t allowed to live there together until after the wedding, and it was a dictate that they found difficult to ignore as her Aunty had a house in the same cul-de-sac, and she was a very nosy woman and Ava was not a favourite of hers, so reluctantly they had to honour it, for the most part at any rate.

 

It was early in the morning when Ava arrived at the house, parking her car in a lane nearby and walking the rest of the way, safe in the knowledge that she would reach the door unseen, as she had seen her Aunt and Uncle leave in their car, to go shopping.

 

Once inside they embraced and one thing led to another and they spent most of the day in bed in fact they would have been there longer had they not been woken by lightning strikes and thunder claps, but they cuddled closer and the lightning strikes got brighter and brighter and the thunder clapped louder and louder and grew nearer and nearer until it was directly overhead and the thunder shook the very fabric of the house, but they were making love again by then.

 

They would have happily spent the rest of the day and the night together but alas she had to go, however the problem was how to get her out of the house in broad daylight without being seen, because her Aunt and Uncle were home again, and eagle-eyed Aunt Mary would be casting a watchful eye in their direction.

By the time Ava redressed, and they got downstairs it was early evening and although the thunder and lightning had abated it was raining hard, but not just rain, it was an absolute deluge.

“Crappy weather” Ava cursed

“It’s excellent” he said

“What?” she exclaimed, “But it’s horrible”

“It’s perfect, is what it is” he said and went into the utility and came out with a set of waterproofs and a Golfing umbrella.

“If Aunt Mary sees you in these, she’ll think you’re me” James said

“Is that the umbrella we had our first kiss under?” she asked

“It is” he replied “so don’t lose it because it’s special”

“It’s special to me too” she said and kissed him

 

Having provided Ava with the appropriate clothing they immediately hit upon a snag, because the trousers didn’t fit over the skirts of her mid-dress, as it bunched up under the waterproofs and made it look like she had a bustle.

“Well, you don’t look much like me with a bum that big” he said

“Cheeky sod”, she retorted and punched his arm, and he was laughing as he left the room.

 

When he came back, he was carrying her decorating clothes, which consisted of a pair of paint spattered leggings and a T-shirt.

“Oh, good thinking” she said “You’re a sneaky man”

“I know but it’s the least I can do in return for an afternoon of sin”

He declared and she blushed crimson red, and then she removed the waterproof trousers and then had to take her dress off.

“Don’t get any ideas,” she said when she noticed him looking at her in her bra, pants and tights.

“Well, you could stay a bit longer” he suggested

“It’s not that I don’t want to” she said quickly pulling on the leggings, “Another four weeks and then it will be every night”

“I can’t wait” he said as he watched her put on the T-shirt, then she pulled on the waterproof trousers again they were a little on the large side and the waistband sat just below her bust line.

Then she pulled on the top over her head before slipping on her shoes.

“That’s going to work” he said

“Is it ok?” she asked

“Yes” He replied “Now put your hood up”

She did as he said, and it immediately obscured most of her face

“Perfect, you look gorgeous”

“I will hurt you” she threatened

 

After he had kissed her goodbye he said

“Text me when you get to the car”

“Ok” she responded and kissed him again, then he turned the light off and she let herself out into the rain, put the umbrella up, and off she went.

 

Meanwhile, with the house in darkness, he went into the backroom and put the TV on, then after five minutes he got a text

“Made it,” it read “Love you”

James smiled and typed a response

“I love you too”

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (220) Reacquaintance

 

September

 

On the morning of the Wedding James decided to escape the madness surrounding his family and go for a long walk, so he left the hotel early, it was bright and sunny when he left, but it had rained heavily in the night and there was more in the forecast, so he took an umbrella with him just in case.

There was a road across from the Hotel called Halfway Lane which dissected the heavily wooded centre of the island with High Lake Copse on the left and Bellevue Woods on the right.

He was about thirty minutes into his walk and was approaching the crags when two things happened, firstly the skies darkened, and secondly a young woman in a summer dress stepped into the Lane about ten yards ahead of him, and she really caught his eye, the wiggle of her hips, the swirl of her skirts and he had just begun to admire her legs when the heavens opened.

He immediately deployed the umbrella and as the girl ahead of him was improperly dressed for the conditions the code of gallantry dictated that he comes to her aid, so he jogged towards her.

“Here under here” he called

“Oh thanks, that came from nowhere” she said

“And it’s brutal too” he added and then she looked up for the first time 

“Oh hello, its James, isn’t it?”

“Hi Ava, what are you doing here?” he asked

“Family wedding, my sister Toni…”

“Is marrying my cousin Liam” he continued

“That’s spooky” she said and then there was a lightning flash and thunder rumbled very close by, and she stiffened and squeezed in close to him and buried her face in his shoulder   

“Are you ok” he asked

“Yes” came a muffled response “I don’t like thunder”

“But thunder won’t hurt you” he said and chuckled

“Don’t laugh” she said laughing herself “thunder frightens me”

“Come on wimpy I’ll walk you home” he said, “Where are you staying anyway?”

“The Beaumont Manor”

“Me too”

 

The rain had virtually stopped by the time they reached the hotel, but he kept the umbrella up in order to keep her close but inevitably they reached their destination.

“Thanks” Ava said “I would have been soaked to the skin if you hadn’t been on hand”

“My pleasure” he said as he shook his umbrella dry

“I’ll see you later at the wedding” she said and smiled before she went inside.

 

The wedding was a nice affair, and the wedding Gods were kind enough to restrict the rain to when it didn’t matter but they were not as kind to James who was frustrated at every turn in his efforts to get close to Ava again, that was until he managed to get one dance with her.

“How long are staying here?” he asked as they danced along to the strains of Harry Nilsson’s “Without You”

“We’re here until Monday”

“Come sailing with me tomorrow then” he suggested “we can have a picnic out on the Roman Lake”

“Ok, that would be nice”

 

They had the lake to themselves, and they spent about an hour sailing and then he lowered the sail in the middle of the lake, and they started their picnic, with James sat in the stern and Ava midships.

They sat and chatted, ate sandwiches, drank beer and laughed until the skies began to darken and the far away rumbles of thunder wiped the smile off her face.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe” he said, and the smile returned but then large raindrops began to fall

“Oh no! Our picnic” she exclaimed

“Don’t panic” he said and reached under his seat and retrieved an umbrella

“My hero” she said and moved to the stern to sit beside him and they sat and chatted, ate sandwiches, drank beer and laughed as the rain fell around them, and then when the picnic was done, they kissed, and she was so totally absorbed by it that she wasn’t even aware of the thunder rumbling overhead.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (219) Love at First Sight

 

September

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but that didn’t bother its inhabitants, they may not have been the biggest, but they were in no doubt that it was the best, and that belief was no truer than on the eastern extreme of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, at the end of the Finchbottom Expressway, namely the deepwater seaport of Pipershaven, on the edge of Pepperstock Bay.

It was first established as a garrison town by the Romans during the reign of Vespasian in 70 A.D. as Piperis Stirpe Praesidio.

In the 21st century none of its Roman origins are any longer in evidence as the town had expanded far beyond the ancient confines and the busy docks would have been the envy of the Roman world.

However apart from being a remarkably busy commercial port with a substantial dockside, it was also home to the cross-channel ferry port, the RNLI Lifeboat Station, a substantial fishing fleet and small ferry service covering the two miles to the bay islands, Beaumont, and St Giles, running a daily schedule, weather permitting.

It was also the home of Merriweather’s Preserves an old family business established in 1879 by Sebastian Josiah Merriweather and currently run by his Great-Great Grandson Oliver.

The company had moved to their present location in Pipershaven in 1928, to the broad white building which was a prime example of the Art Deco style, with its angles, curves and symmetry, which was a stylish façade that did not go unappreciated by James Osbourne, one of Merriweather’s long established employee’s, but it was the curves and symmetry of another staff member that interested him more.

 

It all began, when James was just 22 years old, when he met Ava Adderley for the first time.

It was a cold grey Monday morning, so grey and dismal that it was clear rain wasn’t far away.

He was starting at Merriweather’s that morning and he had just stepped off the bus when the girl in front of him dropped her umbrella.

James bent down and picked it up and when he stood up again, she had turned around and he was staring into the eyes of an angel whose brunette hair framed the classical beauty of her face.

“Thank you” She said and smiled at him, and he was instantly besotted.

But as taken with her as he was, he was completely struck dumb and all he could do was return her smile and hand her the umbrella and that would probably have been that, had it not been for the fact that she was heading for the same building as he was.

Although he had never met her before it turned out that they were both new starters.

As a result they went through induction together, which took up most of their first day, but even given that amount of exposure, and countless opportunities to speak to with her, he still found himself tongue tied, so he missed his chance, because she was bound for accounts on the 3rd floor and he was destined for the production floor.

 

Their paths seldom crossed after that in fact, and when they did, it was always from a distance, until the summer of the following year when James was on Beaumont Island for a family wedding and was staying at the Beaumont Manor Hotel.  

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (218) The End of Summer Ball

 

September

 

Jane Loveridge was a 39-year-old widow, who tragically lost her husband when she was only 26 and there had only been her and her daughter, Sally, since her bereavement, but now Sally had someone special in her life, so Jane was feeling unloved, at least until she met widower Alexander Lynn.

They got on very well and really enjoyed each other’s company but for homemaker Jane, who had been so long without a significant other in her life, she didn’t know how to be a girlfriend.

It was easier for Alexander, he was a successful businessman, semi-retired and comfortable in his own skin, and he had only been on his own for three years, but he did his best to tease her out of herself, while remaining patient.

 

They lived in St Pierre on Beaumont Island and one afternoon, as Sally and her boyfriend Mark had gone to Pipershaven for the day, so Alexander kept Jane company in the kitchen while she prepared the evening meal.

“It’s a shame we didn’t go to Pipershaven with the others” He said

“I know” she agreed “We could have made a day of it”

“Perhaps we could go another time” he suggested

“That would be nice” She said

“How about we do something for your birthday” he continued “I could get us tickets for “The end of summer ball” and we could stay over at the Mablethorpe Spa”

“We can’t” she replied urgently “it’s only next week so you’ll never get tickets”

“I get sent a pair of tickets every year, which I normally give-away”

“Besides I think Sally has something planned for that day” she protested

“I’m sure she won’t mind” he pointed out

“It’s not that simple” she said “its tradition”

He said no more on the subject and thought he might need reinforcements to persuade her, so he would enlist the help of Sally.

 

So Alexander made a call to Sally and relayed the content of the conversation and the next morning, sat at the breakfast table, she asked

“Why can’t you go to the “End of Summer Ball”?”

“Because we always go out for dinner on my birthday” She replied stubbornly

“We’ll do lunch instead” Sally suggested and then a further 20 minutes followed of Jane putting up an obstacle and Sally knocking it down until she eventually said

“Ok I give in”

 

Next week, on her birthday Jane was pacing up and down nervously in the hall

“I’m not sure about staying overnight” she said to her daughter

“Relax, Alexander has booked two rooms at the Hotel” Sally said “Nothing has to happen unless you want it too”

“Sally!!” she scolded, and her daughter just gave her a look and Jane sat down heavily on a chair.

“I wouldn’t know what to do anyway” she said “There hasn’t been anyone since your Father, in fact there wasn’t anyone before your Father”

“You’ll be fine” Sally said reassuringly

“I’m not sure I should go at all” she said “I’ll call him and cancel”

“Nonsense” Sally said sternly “Alexander really likes you, and I mean “really” likes you”

“Ok” she said meekly

“Just relax and enjoy your birthday treat” Sally said and hugged her Mum “Then if you feel like a special birthday treat you will know what to do when the time comes”

“You’re incorrigible” Jane said, and they were both laughing when Sally’s boyfriend Mark walked in

“Your carriage has arrived madam”

“Oh ok” she said and took a deep breath before adding “Ready”

Then she reached out to take her case and Sally stopped her.

“We have men for that kind of thing” she said, and her Mum laughed

“Hey peasant” she called to Mark “Take the bag for the Lady”

“Yes em” he replied and tugged his forelock and then followed a respectable distance behind.

 

As she left the front door she got her first look at the transportation.

“Oh my God” Jane said, “is that for me?”

It was a gleaming Vintage Rolls Royce Silver Cloud complete with chauffeur.

“Happy birthday” Alexander said as he stood by the open door, and Jane ran towards him and hugged and kissed him to within an inch of his life.

“There will definitely be a special treat” Sally said

“What was that milady?” Mark asked

“Nothing peasant, just a family joke”  

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (217) Michaelmas

 

September

 

It was at the Bellevue Cottage Hospital where Michelle MacArthur worked and on Michaelmas, she felt that all the planets were in alignment for her, and she felt it quite appropriate.

It was after all the Feast of Saint Michael and all angels, and she was a Michael of sorts, as well as being an Angel, well an Angel of mercy at any rate, in the nursing sense.

She had just earned herself a big promotion and there was only one person in the world she would want to share her news with that was the love of her life, Michael Lucking, who was her cousin.

 

The Lucking’s and the MacArthur’s had lived on Beaumont Island for generations and since they were merged by marriage the families became very close and often Holidayed together.

There was a particular closeness between Michael and Michelle because they had grown up together having been born only two days apart.

Michael Lucking was also in the medical profession, only he chose to become a Paramedic rather than a nurse, which wasn’t the best paid career either, but he loved it regardless, but it did mean that he was still living in the old family home.

On Michaelmas Sunday he was at home alone and got up late, because he had been on the late shift the night before, and then he started to think about having a leisurely late lunch on his own as his parents were lunching out with his Aunt and Uncle.

 

It was just before 3 o’clock when Michelle walked through the front door and called

“Hi cuz”

“Hi Michelle” he responded, “I’m in the kitchen”

When she walked in the kitchen, she was dressed in a dark blue uniform that he hadn’t seen before.

“What’s this then, new uniform?” he asked

“New job” she replied proudly and gave him a twirl “Ward Sister”

“Well done” he said and hugged her, and her uniform was all crisp and new and still had that fresh laundered smell, and she smelt pretty good herself.

“Do you have time to celebrate?” he asked hopefully

“Why do you think I’m here?” she replied and then hugged him again

“I was about to have a rather unappealing sandwich” he said, “I’ll treat you to lunch, where would you like to go?”

“Here will suffice” she replied

“Here?”

“Yes, I have everything my heart desires right here” Michelle said, and kissed him

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” he asked between kisses

“It’s all I’ve ever wanted” she replied and then there were no further questions.

They were married the following spring and as they got together on Michaelmas, they named their first-born daughter Daisy.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (216) August Days

 

August

 

Olivia Carter, the new locum Vicar at St Clara’s had, at the behest of Vicar Arielle Archer, accommodated Danny Nightingale and Molly Barrington by fitting them in at short notice.

 

It was a glorious August day with not a cloud in the sky when Danny and the wedding party arrived at St Clara’s, he had spent the previous night with his best man George Wood, and the Harrison’s at Beacon Farm.

Molly and her Matron of Honour Arielle Archer and bridesmaids Nicola Harrison and Hayley Stock got ready at Cliff Haven cottage and rode to St Clara’s in a horse drawn carriage.

 

It was a beautiful ceremony, very moving and was well attended and when they left, they were seen off by all the well-wishers as Molly and Danny left the village in the carriage which took them to the reception at the Beaumont Manor Hotel and Molly felt like a princess.

 

At the same time Danny and Molly were tying the knot, a group of friends from Spaniards Creek were on the golden sands of Norman Beach where they were enjoying the hot weather, and among them were brothers Paul and Ryan Parkin and Ryan’s girlfriend Ellie Watson.

But despite the blue skies there was a black cloud hanging over the day because Paul knew that his brother was going to dump Ellie and he was not happy with what Ryan was going to do, because he was doing it so he could make a play for someone else.

 

About an hour after seeing Ryan and Ellie in a heated exchange by the cliffs, Paul was walking along the beach towards the steps when he saw Ryan kissing someone else.

He climbed the steps up to the cliff path and found Ellie behind one of the trees and he could tell by the movement of her shoulders that she was crying, so he closed the distance between them.

“Are you ok Ellie?” he asked when he reached her and as she turned to face him, he could discern that her eyes bore the evidence of crying, and then before he knew what was happening, she had buried her tearstained face in his chest and began to cry anew.

“I’m sorry” he said

They stood in the shade of an oak tree in that embrace for ten minutes as she cried, until the pattern of her breathing changed and he could feel feather light kisses from her soft lips on his naked chest, before her lips journeyed upwards until they reached his and she kissed him, a deeply passionate and electric kiss, but he curtailed it.

“We shouldn’t be doing this” he said

“But it’s what I want” she retorted and tried again to connect her lips to his.

“But you were crying for Ryan ten minutes ago” he pointed out

“No, no, you mustn’t think that” she said with alarm

“I wasn’t crying because we broke up, I was glad, I was distraught because I didn’t think I would see you again”

And then the kissed again.

 

On the August Bank Holiday, on a hot sultry Sunday afternoon in the Hamlet of Saxvirdan and Samantha Lucas was as hot and sultry as the weather, and the children running in and out of the house every five minutes either bickering or telling tales or saying, “Can I have?” was not cooling her down in the slightest.

So, she just carried on watching TV with her husband Eddie and tried to think happy thoughts, which was proving very difficult. 

“Thank God” She exclaimed when she heard the tell-tale chimes of the ice cream van playing “I wish I was in Dixie” in a neighbouring road.

“Nothing says come and get an ice-cream more than a jolly racist tune” Eddie said as the children came running in from the garden
“Ice cream, Ice cream” they called
“Just a minute kids, Dad will give you some money” Samantha shouted to them and he dug around in his shorts pocket and brought out a couple of two pound coins which he handed over to the children and they were out the front door in ten seconds flat, and the moment the door closed Eddie took hold of her hand and pulled her onto his lap.
“Behave Eddie” she protested “it’s too hot”

“Just give me a kiss” he said

“That’s not going to cool me down, that will just make me hotter” she said but kissed him anyway.

“Well, if it’s cooling down you need then I can help with that too” he said

 

Ten minutes later when the children returned with their ice cream, they found their mum and dad in the back garden where Eddie was spraying their mum with the hose pipe.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (215) Lookie-likie

 

August

 

30 something Anelita Gordon lived and worked at the Seaview Hotel where she was the Hotel cook.

Although she had no man in her life she had some very good friends, and they did a lot together, but her three closest friends, sisters Rebecca and Sally Root and Cordelia Caldwell, had all recently found themselves partners, and to her immortal shame she was jealous, but she didn’t tell them that or even let it show, because her girlfriends were very important to her, and she would never do anything to jeopardize that.

One of their regular meeting places was the Hotel Kitchen for coffee and chat.

Three of them were sitting at the table eating ice cream while Anelita was standing at the sink and someone caught her eye.

“It can’t be” she suddenly exclaimed “it’s just not possible.”

“Why can’t it?” Cordelia asked.

“Why isn’t it possible?” Rebecca added.

“Never mind all that” Sally retorted “what the hell are you all talking about?”

“I’ve no idea” Cordelia replied.

“Um” Rebecca said.

“Very helpful” Sally said and turned her attention to Anelita “Well?”

“I just saw Jason Bagg” she replied vaguely.

“But he went to Canada” Cordelia pointed out.

“That’s what I thought” Anelita said.

“It can’t have been him” Rebecca said.

“Lookie-likie” Cordelia exclaimed.

“Do what?” Rebecca asked, “Have you got brain freeze or something.”

“He must be a lookie-likie, you know a dopple thingy” she explained.

“You mean a doppelgänger” Anelita said.

“Yes” Cordelia said and smiled.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out” Sally said and stood up.

“What are you doing?” Anelita asked.

“We’re going to find out if it’s Jason or not” she replied.

“Oh, I don’t know about that” Anelita protested.

“We’ve got to, he was the love of your life after all” Sally insisted.

“That was a very long time ago” Anelita said.

“I know but just the possibility that it was him has made you glow” Sally said, “and that’s just on the outside, I wouldn’t like to speculate what’s going on the inside.”

“Stop it” Anelita said and blushed and the other three laughed dirtily.

“Oh, ok then” she conceded “You’re not going to shut up until we do.”

“Good decision” she said, and they headed towards the door, all except Cordelia who was still sitting at the table eating her ice cream.

“Come on hoover-head” Rebecca called.

“I haven’t finished my ice cream” she retorted and shoveled down the last three spoonful’s before getting up.

 

“Ok, which way did he go?” Sally asked.

“That away” Anelita replied and pointed towards the lighthouse.

“What’s he wearing?” Rebecca enquired.

“A green barber jacket and black trousers” Anelita said.

“Seriously? Everyone at the sanctuary is dressed like that” Sally said, “we need more than that to go on.”

“Well, he’s 6ft 5” with bright red hair if that helps” she retorted.

“Yes, that’s definitely better” Sally said, “right Rebecca shin up the lamp post and see if you can spot him.” 

 

“Well?” Anelita asked after a couple of minutes had passed.

“No, nothing yet… hold on though I think that might be our man, yes, yes that’s him” she announced triumphantly and began her descent.

“Are you going to share?” Anelita asked impatiently.

“Yes, he’s down by the Wildlife HQ” she replied smugly and then Anelita rushed passed her and they were off.

 

Jason Bagg was indeed the love of Anelita’s life, the one that got away, the one she let get away, but equally she was his lost love.

They began dating at college and were together all through University but after graduation he was offered a job in Toronto, it was a great opportunity that he felt he couldn’t pass it up, and he was thrilled at the prospect, and he thought she would be too, but he was wrong.

Anelita didn’t want to leave Downshire, all the people she loved most in the world were there, and she knew no one in Canada.

So, she said she didn’t want to go, she thought that if he loved her as much as she loved him he would stay, while he thought that if she loved him as much as he loved her, she would go with him.

But they both miscalculated neither would give ground, and angry words were exchanged which served to entrench them further, up to the point that they stopped talking, and he left Downshire a month later, and she hadn’t seen him since, until he walked past the Hotel.

 

The girls made their way quickly along the path past the cottages but by the time they got to the Wildlife HQ he was nowhere to be seen.

“Right Rebecca shin up the lamp post again and see if you can spot him.”

“Oh ok” she sighed and started climbing and thirty seconds later she was back on terra firma and said.

“Hastings Lake”

 

Jason liked Hastings Lake, it held great memories for him, and he had thought of it often when he was away, it was one of his favourite places in the whole world and although he hadn’t been there for years it hadn’t changed a bit from when he used to fish there.

 

The girls soon tracked him down and followed at a safe distance.

Anelita wasn’t entirely convinced that it was in fact Jason Bagg that they were following and secretly feared that they would feel extremely foolish when they realized they were stalking some random lanky ginger.

But her fears were allayed when he paused by the water’s edge and scanned his surroundings and she and the others got a proper look at his face.

“That’s him” Rebecca said.

“Without a doubt” Sally confirmed.

“Oh yes” Cordelia agreed.

“It is him” Anelita said quietly.

“Well come on then let’s go and say hello” Sally said.

“That’s ok I’ve got it from here” Anelita said “You lot wait here.”

 

On that warm sunny August day by Hastings Lake Jason made a bee line for his favourite spot on a little peninsula beneath the shade of a familiar old oak tree and he was just gazing across the lake and was enjoying the gentle breeze off the water when a soft voice from behind him said

“Hello”

He turned around to see that the voice belonged to an attractive looking woman, pretty face, blue eyes, short brown hair, 5ft 5 or 6, early thirties, nice figure, wearing a t-shirt, knee length shorts, and flip flops, whom he recognized, though that recognition left him speechless.

“I’m sorry” she said and began to walk away “You clearly don’t remember me.”

“That wouldn’t be very flattering” he said, “Especially after we shared our first kiss beneath this very tree.”

“Ah so you do remember me” she said.

“How could I forget Anelita Gordon” Jason said.

 

Sally, Rebecca, and Cordelia were watching events from a safe distance, but their view was obscured after the arrival of a delivery van.

“Damn it” Sally exclaimed.

“Get up the tree Rebecca and have a look.”

“Why do I have to do all the climbing?” she protested.

“Because you look like a monkey” her sister said unsympathetically, and Cordelia giggled “So climb.”

Once she had clambered to a sufficient height her sister called up

“Can you see anything?”

“Yes, I can see them now” she replied.

“And?” Sally snapped.

“Oh my” Rebecca exclaimed.

“Oh my?” Sally retorted “What does that mean?”

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting that” Rebecca added.

“What? What weren’t you expecting?” Sally shouted.

“Kissing” Rebecca replied.

“What kind of kiss?” her sister asked.

“What do you mean what kind of kiss?”

“Well, was it an air kiss, a peck on the cheek, both cheeks or full on the lips” Sally explained.

“Oh, I see what you mean” Rebecca acknowledged.

“Definitely lips”

“And?” Sally snapped.

“Well, I think it would be best described as a pash” she replied.

“Wicked” Cordelia said.

“And it’s still going on” Rebecca called.