In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (062) – The Newlyweds Return

 March

 

Newlyweds Charlie and Toddy Phelps had a wonderful honeymoon in Rome enjoying the culture, history and romance of the city, seeing all the sites, and because of her religious background, albeit as a Church of England Nun, they couldn't leave the city without a visit to the Vatican.

They didn't however restrict their time to Rome, they had two days in Naple's primarily to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum, and from Naples they flew to Israel in time for Christmas and saw the sites of Jerusalem , because it is a city of great significance for Christians, so they saw the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, and the Via Dolorosa before flying back to Rome for the New Year.

On returning to the village, she moved into Beechwood officially and as they had returned to Pepperstock Green in the grip of winter they didn’t venture out much for the first few days and addressed some domestic issues.

With the exception of his study and the kitchen, which were the rooms he inhabited the most, he hadn't really made his mark on the house in terms of decor, so now he had a new wife he thought it was appropriate timing to impose their personalities on the place and turn the house into a home, this obviously required them, after the weather improved, to go off on several of their famous outings.  

One of the first things they bought was her own desk so they could share the study, and the only other major item was a new sofa, the rest of their shopping expeditions were for soft furnishings, cushions, and curtains, then there were lamps and shades, anything else they would get once they realized they needed it.

So, with the garden in good order and the home furnishings dealt with they paid a visit up to St Adelaide’s for a site meeting and were very pleased with what they saw and were given completion dates for the various parts of the project. 

With the work proceeding at pace up at the site of St Adelaide’s Reflection and Healing Retreat it was time for Charlie and Toddy to begin interviewing.

It was perhaps appropriate that they began on St Davids Day as the first two interviewees were Welsh, Candice and Anna Roberts.

The interviews were going to be held very informally at Beechwood, followed by a tour of St Adelaide’s, if they made a good impression and the interviews went well, but the Roberts girls almost didn’t make it to Pepperstock Green.

In fact, they very nearly didn’t make it out of Abbottsford at all after a fender bender with a taxi.

But a couple of knights in shining armour came to their rescue.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (061) – World Book Day

 February

 

The newest member of staff at the Pipershaven Public Library was Collette Kane and when she joined, she was a breath of fresh air around the place, she was a University graduate and openly admitted that she had only taken the job at the Library until she decided what she wanted to do with her life.

Collette was the antithesis of Chief Librarian Abbie Beach, for a start she did not dress in the subdued manner that Abbie did, she was an explosion of colours and styles, and her hair seldom stayed the same colour more than a week at a time, nor was she mousy or private, she was loud and proud, and you always knew when she was around.

The one thing they did have in common though was their love of the printed word, they were both well read and shared an encyclopedic knowledge of books, so despite the differences of age style and demeanour, they formed a rather unlikely friendship, a friendship the deepened immensely after she managed to play match maker between Abbie and her uncle Carl.

 

As a result, Abbie and Carl, decided to return the favour and she had just the candidate.

Jamie Collier was a Teacher at St Agatha’s Primary School in Pepperstock Green and he was a regular visitor to the Library, and it didn’t take too long for Chief Librarian, Abbie Beach to figure out that it wasn’t just the books that were attracting him, and Collette always seemed particularly attentive to him above all other patrons.

 

It was after she had received a letter from the Council announcing a number of joint initiatives between the council and other public and private bodies, one of which was the local education authority who wanted to do something between a local school and the Library for World Book Day.

It was something that had been marked by the Schools for a number of years and the Library also had a special program of events for the occasion.

But this year it was proposed that they should do something together, which Abbie thought was a great idea, especially provided she could get the correct Schools involved.

Abbie took it upon herself to arrange for St Agatha’s Primary to be nominated, and as the Headteacher was her next-door neighbour it wasn’t too difficult, once that was arranged, she then suggested that Jamie Collier could liaise with the Library staff on the planning as he was already a regular visitor and was well known by all the Librarians.

With that agreed all that was left to do was persuade Collette to be the Library’s representative.

“You want me to do it?” she asked

“Yes” Abbie replied

“But I’ve never done anything like that before, and I’ve not been here for long, what will the Librarians with more experience than me think about it” she pointed out “No, no I can’t do it”

“I know you haven’t done anything like it before, but then none of the staff have, so no one has more or indeed less experience for the task than you do” Abbie said “and you are a human dynamo with more natural enthusiasm than anyone I have ever known”       

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure” Abbie assured her “And you won’t be alone, Jamie Collier from St Agatha’s Primary will work closely with you on the arrangements, and there will be no shortage of help when you need it”

 

After being persuaded Collette worked very closely with Jamie, who was not asked if he would do it, he was given no choice, which he was unhappy about until he realised who he was going to be liaising with.

 

On the morning of World Book Day Jamie rose very early and although he was pleased to have been entrusted with the job, he was more than a little nervous, well in truth he was terrified, and he was pleased that he would not be enduring the ordeal alone and would be sharing the experience with Librarian Collette Kane.

He treated himself to an extra close shave, a much closer one than usual in order to accommodate the beard, and as a result when he applied the aftershave it stung so much that he thought his face was on fire.

 

He arrived at the Library, red faced but sweet smelling to find Collette fussing around uncharacteristically.

She was already in her Snow-White costume, and he thought she looked gorgeous.

“Hey” he said

“You’re cutting it fine” Collette said crossly

“There’s plenty of time” he retorted

“There’s still so much to do” she barked

He was going to say “Ok just calm down” but when he saw the look on her face he thought better of it and instead, he said

“Everything is in hand”

“Look Mr. Collier, it’s not just another day you know, we’re doing something really special” she said “it’s important for the children so it’s got to be done right”

Just then the Chief Librarian came through the door behind him

“Hello Professor” she said brightly

“Hi Abbie” he said, “Hey why aren’t you in costume?”

“Some of us have had a very busy morning setting up” Abbie replied

“Talking of costumes, go and get into yours” Collette said sharply

“This way” Abbie said and led him away to one of the offices

“I never realized that Snow White was so grumpy” he said

Abbie paused by the doorway and let Jamie go ahead of her and said

“She just wants everything to be perfect”

“Yes, she would because she is perfect” he said absentmindedly, and Abbie smiled and then left him in the office with the drama teacher from his school, Georgie Devereaux, who handed him his costume.

“Get this on and then I’ll help with your wig and beard, and do you face a bit”

 “Ok” he said hesitantly

“Don’t worry I do this for the amateur dramatics group” she reassured him

He didn’t vocalize it, but he didn’t find the “Amateur” in her statement to be particularly reassuring.

 

But he needn’t have been worried as he looked very convincing as Professor Dumbledore when he returned to the library proper, he saw Abbie again and this time she was in costume, and he did a double take.

Abbie Beach was the very epitome of the archetypal Librarian.

Her dark greying hair was pulled back severely into a bun arrangement; she wore heavy framed spectacles and dressed in black pinafore dress over a long-sleeved blouse and black tights and wore sensible shoes.

She dressed like that all year round, whatever the weather, the only variety being the addition of a black or grey cardigan, in the depths of winter.

So, to see her dressed as Wanda from Where’s Wally, took him a back.

Abbie was a riot of red, white and blue with not a square inch of black on the whole outfit.

“Wow” he said “Liking the outfit”

“Me too” a voice from behind him said, and when he turned around, he saw it was Postman Pat, or more precisely Carl Fernandes, who was Abbie’s love interest.

“Hi Carl” he said, “Are you wondering where the black outfit has gone too?”

“No, I was wondering whether Wanda is wearing stockings or tights” he replied

“Behave yourself” Abbie said

“On that note I’ll go and track down Snow White” he said

 

The whole Library had been decorated with coloured drapes festooned with images of literary figures and the main area had been subdivided into a number of reading circles, where the Librarian’s and Teachers would read stories, one was dedicated to Harry Potter, another to Disney and another to Roald Dahl and so on. 

 

There was a final meeting of costumed Librarian’s, Teachers and volunteers to run through the schedule one last time, but Jamie wasn’t really paying attention as his mind had wandered, as his eyes wandered over Collette dressed as Snow White and he found her staggeringly sexy.

 

They finished all the last-minute preparations and half the Children from Jubilee Primary School arrived at 10 o’clock, and they looked amazing dressed as characters from their favourite books.

Then they all went off to the reading circle of their choice where someone would read to them dressed as one of the characters, as Jamie was dressed as Dumbledore he read from Harry Potter and Collette (Snow White) read from a Disney story book.

About an hour into the event they had a surprise visit from Actress Louise Sexton, who was performing at the Heartstone Theatre in town, and caused a great deal of excitement, and then she relieved Jamie and read in his place.

 

After Lunch it was the turn of the other half of the School children to join the fun, and they were treated to a live reading from local Children’s Writer Chania Campbell who read from her latest book “Wiccan Wendy”.

 

At the end of the school day the parents began to arrive to collect the children and the teachers returned to the school,

When Jamie had escorted the last of his charges to the door and handed him over to his parents he returned to the Disney reading circle where Snow White was tidying up and asked

“Is that definitely the last of them?”

“I think so, I’ve checked under all the cushions” she replied and laughed

“But I suppose we should check the stacks”

“Ok lead on” he said

 

They wandered up and down the rows of books and when they reached the end of the last stack she said

“That’s definitely all of them then”

“Excellent” he sighed “I’m shattered”

“Me too” she said and leant against him

“It’s been a great day though”

“It has” he agreed

“In fact, there is just one thing that would make it better”

“Oh, what’s that?” she asked looking up at him

“This” he said as he leant down and kissed her expectant lips

 

After the dispersal of the schoolchildren Abbie and Carl both needed to spend a penny and when Carl exited the gents, he spotted the red and white striped legs of his girlfriend by one of the stacks, and as he got closer, he saw that she was peering through a gap between the reference books on one of the stacks.

“What are you looking at, have you found Wally?” he asked

“Shush” she said and put her finger to her lips “Come and have a look”

He tiptoed up behind her and also peeked through the gap between the books and could see Snow White snogging Dumbledore.

“Well, well” he said “Just wait until her Prince Charming finds out about this”

“Oh, I think he already knows” Abbie said

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (060) – Old Times

 February

 

New to the village was writer Steve Eaton, who moved to the village for a new start after he and his long term girlfriend split up acrimoniously, he chose Pepperstock Green because he had never heard of it, and if it was unfamiliar to him it would certainly be to her, and that suited him very well indeed as he never wanted to run into her again unless it was in a car and he was driving.

 

He kept very much to himself for the first year and diverted himself by burying himself in his work and poured all his bile and anger into his novel.

He never went out and everything he needed he ordered online and had delivered to the cottage.

When the book was nearly completed, he relaxed a little and allowed himself a few solitary walks around the village and its environs but restricted his constitutionals to early morning before the rest of the village were awake.

He kept that up for another couple of months and then he was ready to re-join the world and put in an appearance at St Agatha’s and caused something of a stir, as he had been much talked about since his arrival in the village, admittedly as much for his reclusiveness as his reputation as a writer.

 

Following a few appearances at St Agatha’s and a couple at the Black Wolf he thought it time to make his intentions known by showing that the village was to be part of his long term future, a visit to Richmond’s General Store well and truly ticked that box when he went in and ordered his papers and magazines to be delivered, after that were some more grown up destinations.

 

It was his first visit to the Dentalcare surgery, but he wasn’t there as a patient on that occasion, he wanted to register with them and his next port of call after them was the Doctors.

He should have done it when he first arrived in the village almost 18 months earlier, but he wasn’t in the right frame of mind for that at the time.

His plan was to register so that they could get his records from Abbottsford well before his first appointment.

The reason for that was that his history wasn’t quite as routine as the average patient.

When he was 18 he was involved in a serious car accident that left the driver dead and he required major surgery on a smashed jaw, and fractures on his cheekbone and eye socket.

There were several orthopedic surgeries and another for orthodontic implants, so he was not a run of the mill patient.

 

On arriving at the surgery, he was informed that his appointment was with Practice Manager Amy Jellicoe, and the name was vaguely familiar, but he didn’t know why, so he sat down and grabbed the top magazine off the stack and turned the page, and it was a full-page advert for a healthy breakfast cereal, featuring a girl in her underwear.

Next page was an advert for toothpaste with a girl in skimpy nightie, the next page was a double page spread for mascara with several near naked girls in matching underwear.

He threw the magazine back down where he got it and sat back, and found himself trying to picture who Amy Jellicoe was, but found instead he was thinking about underwear models in skimpy dental nurse outfits.

His name was called after about ten minutes and he walked down the corridor and through the open door and was greeted by a very attractive woman exuding a very exotic perfume, and he again had the same vague sense of familiarity.

She had a pretty face, blue eyes, soft shoulder length brown hair, 5t 6 or 7, early thirties, nice figure, everything where it should be, and perfectly proportioned, with neat hips and a beautifully round derriere.

“Good morning Mr. Eaton” she said as she perused the form he had filled in the day before “Please take a seat”

“Morning” he replied as he sat “Thank you”

“So, I see you were previously a patient at Smithson’s in Abbottsford” “That’s right” he replied

“My first job after leaving school was at Smithson’s” she said and smiled before she continued to peruse his form and he was again struck with the feeling that he knew her, and that smile, and then he was distracted by the appearance of a little bit of pale pink bra strap, and a glimpse of lace edging inside her sweater, as she leant forward, and then his head was full of images of her in her scanties advertising dental floss.

In an effort to get his mind back on tackling where he knew her from he started thinking about cricket, that normally worked to purge his mind of lewd thoughts, but then it was women’s cricket and they were all naked save for their shoes, gloves, hats and pads, but then she came to his rescue, she had put the forms down and asked.

“Did you live in Abbottsford for long?”

“Erm, yes, born and raised” he replied “until I moved here”

“Oh” and then there was a long pause before she added

“But you didn’t always live at Pine Ridge” she stated

“No, I’m from….” He began

“Castleside?” She said and smiled broadly “You’re Stevie”

“I am…” he said hesitantly “and you’re little Amy”

“I haven’t been called “Little Amy” for a very long time”

“It was very apt at the time” he said “That or little sis but I seem to remember you didn’t like that”

“That was because I didn’t want to be you sister” she pointed out but instantly regretted her frankness and changed the subject

“I’m a bit confused by something, where did the Eaton come from?”

“It was after we moved away, which was because my parents were divorcing, and after the divorce my mum went back to her maiden name and changed mine at the same time”

“Was that before the accident?” she asked

“Yes, not long before though” he replied

“I heard you had been hurt, when I was in sixth form, but I didn’t know how badly” she said “I did try to find out more details, but I couldn’t be too pushy”

“In case your friends found out about your crush?” he asked

“Something like that” she admitted coyly and then resumed reading his notes and when she finished she said

“Well that all looks fine, do you have any discomfort from your jaw?”

“Occasionally in the cold weather” he replied “But mostly no”

“Sadly, that happens to us up here, you’ll have to get used to Pepperstock Winters if you’re going to stick around” she said and smiled

“Well, that is definitely my plan” he added

“I’m very happy to hear that” she said, and her cheeks flushed, and she shuffled her papers and added

“Well, that’s all good, if you go to reception they can now book you your first appointment”

“That’s great, thanks” he said as he got up to leave

“So, is that the official bit done now?”

“Yes, unless you have any questions” she said

“I do as it happens, in a manner of speaking” he replied

“Oh? To do with an appointment?”

“Again, in a manner of speaking” he replied enigmatically

“I don’t understand” she said

“Well, my question would be in regard to an appointment with you for dinner” he said

“Oh, I see, um well yes that would be very nice” she replied

“Obviously you will have to choose the where, and the when” he said “But anytime is good for me”

“The Kissing Angel in Pipershaven is very good” she suggested “And would tonight be too soon?”

“That would be perfect” Steve said

 

They were both feeling very pleased with themselves as her office door closed but Steve was a little more so, at his handling of the discourse and his taking advantage of the situation

“I couldn’t have written that any better” he thought to himself as he headed to reception with a spring in his step.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (059) – The Squeaky Mouse

February

 

Student Nurse Rosario Conceicao resided in a flat in Caxton Court which she shared with her older sister Sophie in Pepperstock Green.

She was 25 years old, four years younger than her sister, with short mousy hair, which was appropriate as she was a bit of a timid mouse, unlike Sophie who was a real “burning the candle at both ends” type of girl and was a “tox her socks off” kind of party girl, she was also taller and slimmer than her sister as Rosario was five foot two in her stocking feet, and possessed a fuller figure than she would have liked.

She worked at the Pepperstock and District Hospital in Pipershaven, and because she was a student she was being rotated through different department to gain as much practical experience as possible, and at the end of February she started a short stint in the pharmacy where she was to shadow one of the experienced Nurses, Margaret Beck, who was bold and brash and from the first moment she met mousy little Rosario she was determined to bring her out of herself.

“What do you want me to do first Margaret?”

“Well first of all you can call me Maggie, only my mum calls me Margaret, and only when I’m naughty.”

“Sorry”

“That’s ok, my advice to you is, be bright, be cheerful and be confident” Maggie said and opened the shutter to find a porter stood waiting.

“Morning Mark” Maggie said brightly and then realized he was not alone; there was someone else with him who had also caught Rosario’s attention.

“This is….” Mark began.

“Calum Paul” Rosario exclaimed.

She hadn’t seen Calum for five years, which was when her sister Sophie dumped him.

Rosario was heartbroken because she had it bad for him, but she was too timid to let him know.

“Rosario!” Calum said, “Wow it’s great to see you again.”

“For the benefit of those who haven’t met before.”

Mark said, “My new colleague Calum Paul, Nurse Maggie Beck.”

“Pleased to meet you” Calum said.

“Likewise,” she responded and shook his hand.

 

When they had finished for the morning they closed the shutter and made their way down the stairs to get some lunch to where the crowd formed into a queue.

“Rosario!” a voice called, and she recognized it immediately as it was like sweet music to her ears, so she stopped and turned to face Calum Paul.

“Yes” she squeaked.

“I was wondering if you might like to go to the St Patrick’s Day Party next month.”

“Me?” she asked in surprise.

“Yes, if you’re free” he said.

 

The conversation wasn’t really progressing as fast as Maggie would have liked as they were holding up the queue, so she interceded.

“Unlock your phone and give it to me” she instructed Calum.

“Um ok” he responded hesitantly but handed it over anyway because he thought she had the look of someone you didn’t say no to.

Maggie took the phone and handed it to Rosario.

“Put your number in there.”

Rosario said nothing but did as she was asked and handed it back, Maggie then gave the phone to Calum and said.

“Right now, you have her number, call her tonight, after 7.”

 

The queue began to move again, and Rosario gave Calum a wave as they moved forward.

“So, tell me all about Calum” Maggie demanded “Particularly why he makes your voice go squeaky.”

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (058) – Coffee for Two

 February

 

Rich Beetlestone was a modest, well mannered, well-groomed and good-natured man, knocking loudly on the door of his fiftieth birthday.

Although he lived in Pepperstock Green, he owned and managed a coffee house in Pipershaven, a nice one, called Rich’s Roast, it was not one of the chains, in fact it was a very swanky establishment, with prices to match, which attracted the discerning punter and deterred the riff raff.

Rich was a single man, not that he was opposed to the idea of marriage, far from it, unfortunately the one he would gladly have made his wife was in fact already married, so he thought if he couldn’t have her, he was not prepared to settle for second best.

So, he remained unmarried and was content with his life, until the day the recently widowed Kelly Barnaby walked into his coffee shop and back into his life.

 

After her first “out of the blue” appearance in Rich’s Roast she became a regular and whenever she walked in, he would drop everything and spend as much time with her as possible.

However, on one occasion in February when she entered and beamed a smile at him, he was unable to leave his position behind the counter as he was short staffed due to a flu epidemic, unperturbed Kelly proclaimed.

“Not to worry, if Mohammed can’t come to the mountain, then the mountain must come to Mohammed” and then she gracefully climbed up onto one of the stools at the counter.

“Excellent, as soon as the cavalry arrive, we can go and sit somewhere more comfortable” he said although he liked her where she was as he had a wonderful view of her legs.

 

While Rich made her coffee, Kelly rummaged in her handbag and took out a flyer for the upcoming St Patrick’s Day Party at the Mablethorpe Spa Hotel and laid it on the counter.

“Ah it’s that time again already” he said gesturing towards the flyer.

“Are you going?”

“No” she said.

“Oh! Why not? I’d have thought it was your kind of thing.”

“It is yes” she replied, “and I do normally go.”

“But?”

“But I don’t want to go on my own” she replied, and he looked at her with puzzlement.

“Why not?” he asked, “You’re not exactly lacking in confidence.”

“I know I’m not” she replied and smiled.

This made her blush and avert her gaze, then after a few moments she looked back at him.

“And you won’t be among strangers either” he pointed out.

“I know, but when my husband was alive, he was an arm to hold on to and I didn’t need confidence” she said, “now I’m alone so it’s a case of no escort, no Party.”

“What about your brother, he’s unattached” Rich suggested.

“Well, he would do it if I asked him because he loves me, but I know he can’t abide crowds, and he thinks dancing is an abomination.”

“Ok I see how that might be a problem” he said, and they both laughed before she said. 

“I have had offers though.”

“I don’t doubt that for a moment” he said, “you are a catch.”

“You are too kind” Kelly said and bowed.

“So, who is in the running?” Rich asked.

“My sister’s new man Michael suggested his brother as an escort.”

“Really? I’ve met him” he said brightly “he’s very nice.”

“Yes” she agreed, “I like Michael.”

“Yes, so do I, but what I meant was that I’d met his brother, Steve” he responded.

“How do you know them?” she asked

“They’re regular customers” he replied, “and they’re nice guys.”

“That’s as maybe, but...” she began but left the sentence unfinished.

“But what?” he asked.

“I’m a bit old for blind dates” she replied, “And I haven’t been on a date of any kind for so many years.”

“Is that all that’s holding you back?” Rich asked.

“Well partly”

“So, what else is worrying you?”

“Well, I’m not sure I want a stranger knowing where I live” she admitted.

“Ok, if you don’t want him to pick you up at your house you could always go with Anna and Michael and meet Steve at the Hotel.”

She sat quietly for a few moments drinking her coffee and he judged that she was not altogether convinced by his argument and then a thought occurred to him, and he said.

“If you’re still not sure there is a very simple solution you know.”

“What’s that?” she asked vaguely.

“You could go with me instead” he said.

She didn’t speak but was considering the merits of his suggestion in silence, so he pressed on.

“I’m quite partial to Dancing, I can tolerate crowds, and I already know where you live.”

Again, there was silence until he added.

“So, what do you think?”

“I think No, if you’re only asking because you feel sorry for me?” she said.

“Of course, not” Rich recoiled.

“Really? So, you actually want to take me?” she asked, and he began to panic because the truth was that he thought of nothing else but being with her, but he had held back because he was unsure of his ground, but he was now in a catch 22 situation, so he walked around the counter and replied

“Yes, I do”

“Promise?” she asked.

“Promise”

“Very well you can pick me up at 7 o’clock” she said and slid effortlessly off the stool and then reached up and kissed his cheek.

And as she left the coffee house she smiled and said to herself.

“Well played Kelly, very well played indeed.”

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (057) – Catch of the Day

February

 

In the small but thriving English county of Downshire people go about the tasks of their everyday existence in ways that range from the mundane to the extraordinary as their forebears had done for centuries before them.

Living in the varied and diverse landscape, from the ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, to the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and the short but beautiful coastline to the east.

But it is in Pepperstock Green where Paramedic Sophie Conceicao resided in a flat in Caxton Court that she shares with her younger sister Rosario.

She was 29 years old, four years older than her sister, with raven black hair, which was appropriate because she was wild like a gypsy.

The very epitome of a party girl, and what a party girl she had become, a real “burning the candle at both ends” type of girl and was a “tox her socks off” kind of party girl and was the complete opposite of her timid sister Rosario.

But after 12 years of high octane living, she was beginning to tire of it, and she had developed a bit of a crush on her new partner, Adam Smith, and no one was more surprised than her to discover it, because on the surface they were like chalk and cheese.

Adam was tall, sandy haired, polite, and quietly spoken, and she was feisty.

Despite that, however she still had a crush on him, and it began on the first day they met at the ambulance station.

“Adam” he said and held out his hand to shake, which she took, his handshake was firm, his handsome face was warm and open, and his voice was like honey on her ears, and she responded.

“Sophie”

The pair only released each other’s hands when a door slammed, and the moment was broken.

 

Despite her undoubted crush, she didn’t do anything about it for three months and when she did it almost happened by accident as they were returning to the station after a shout.

“What are you doing on your day off?” she asked.  

“Well, as we are fast approaching the end of the fishing season, and the weather is set fair, I’m going fishing” he replied.

“You’re going to waste your day off sitting on a riverbank” she said mockingly.

“Lake,” he corrected her.

“What?”

“I prefer Lakes to Rivers.”

“Ooooh Mr. pedantic” she teased, “It’s still a waste.”

Before he had a chance to respond, a call came over the radio, about a man who was found semi-conscious in the bin store of Stephenson’s Supermarket in Pipershaven.

 

Having been diverted to attend the call they received an update while on route, and the unconscious man was known to them and his name was Peter Laing, a long-time alcoholic.

“Oh no not stinky Pete” Sophie whined, and Adam laughed because it was her turn to take the lead, which meant she would be up close and personal.

“It’s not funny, it’s going to ruin my days off, I’m going to have that smell in my nostrils for two days” she continued which made him laugh even harder. 

“Please swap with me” she begged.

“Why would I want to do that?” Adam asked.

“Because you are the kindest person I know” she groveled.

“That’s true enough” he agreed.

“So, you’ll swap then?”

“No”

“Oh, please Adam” she begged “I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?”

“Yes anything” she agreed before adding “Within reason.”

After a few moments he said.

“I will do a deal with you.”

“What kind of deal?” she asked suspiciously.

“I will swap with you; on one condition” Adam said.

“What condition?”

“That I can take you fishing” he explained.

“Fishing?” she retorted.

“Yes, fishing”

“I would rather go to the pictures” Sophie responded, “How about dinner, or dancing maybe.”

“No, it’s stinky Pete or Fishing.”

“I’d rather go fishing” she said and sighed.

“So, we have a deal?”

“Yes, we have a deal” she said with resignation.

 

By the time they had dealt with the patient and delivered him to the Pepperstock and District Hospital their shift was at an end, so they returned to the station.

“Thank goodness that’s over” she said.

“So” Adam responded, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.”

“Seven?” she said, “What! in the morning?”

“Yes of course in the morning” he asserted.

“Oh, ok what should I wear?” she asked unenthusiastically.

“It doesn’t matter you’ll look great whatever you wear” Adam replied, “But no heels.”

 

There were only three small bodies of water left in the Vale by the 21st Century, one in Mornington, one in Childean and the third of course was in Purplemere, and his favourite of the Mere’s was Purplemere, and that was often the one he would head for on his days off, and he always fished from his favourite pitch there.

But this time was special, so he decided to take Sophie up to one of the manmade lakes up in the Pepperstock National Park.

 

It was at the beginning of February, the day before Candlemas Day, which officially marked the end of Christmas, and it was an unseasonably mild sunny day, and they were sheltered from the wind in the former gravel pit.

He set up the folding chairs on a little peninsula where they could fish beneath the shade of a mature oak tree.

Once they had set up, Adam showed her the basic principle of casting and let her have a few practice casts before he said.

“Come and stand in front of me and look towards the water.”

Sophie did as she was told, and he stood behind her holding the rod in his right hand but before he could show her anymore, she turned around and kissed him and after a full minute she said.

“Look what I caught.”

In response Adam dropped his rod and wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (056) – The Escape

 January

 

After Craig Russell and Jade Kimberley left the Barnabus Manor Hotel the morning after the Burns Night Supper and escaped to Sharpington they spent the night in a caravan on the Potters Lane Caravan Park and the next day while eating breakfast in a greasy spoon café they arranged to meet Jade’s mother and stepfather at midday, by the entrance of the Sharpington Fun Park.

 

While “Bella Donna” and the chinless wonder were out of the Hotel Craig’s cousin Angus’ wife Sally, bluffed her way into Jade’s room and packed her an overnight bag, comprising mainly of the contents of her underwear draw, her jewelry box, a few items off her dressing table and of course her passport. 

Meanwhile Craig phoned to settle his bill and Angus collected his things from Clifford, the concierge.

 

The park was closed as it was out of season but the arcades on the prom were open and a few gift shops.

Jade went into one of the arcades but remained out of sight and kept her mother and stepfather in view while Russell waited at the entrance of the pier and he kept looking at his watch and was beginning to get anxious and then the phone rang.

“Hello!” he said.

“Mission accomplished” Angus said.

“Really?” he said.

“Yes” Angus confirmed, “Now get your ass over to Pipershaven.”

“Ok, see you soon” he said and hung up.

He crossed the road and went to find Jade, which wasn’t difficult as she was a rubbish spy, he found her wearing a kiss me quick hat and hiding in the arcade.

The hat was superfluous to her disguise because she was wearing uncharacteristically garish colours, and her hair was in pigtails so they would never have recognized her.

She was staring out of the window and giggling, as she watched her mother and stepfather arguing. 

Craig crept up behind her and goosed her and she let out a yelp, so loud there was a very real danger her quarry may have heard so he took her hand, and they ran for the caravan park as if the devil was on their heels and loaded up the car.

 

They parked up in the ferry port car park and met up with Angus and Sally and when hugs and handshakes had been shared, he said.

“We will never forget this.”

“It’s a pleasure” Sally said, “I was beginning to think you would never fall in love.”

“Well, it’s happened,” he admitted.

“You didn’t tell me that” Jade said and punched him playfully.

“It’s been a busy day” he said feebly and kissed her.

“Here are your bags” Angus said, “Now get a move on.”

They said their goodbyes before they got on the Expressway and drove towards London.

 

On the way they stopped at his flat in Northchapel where he packed a suitcase and once in London, they stopped at his Newspaper and submitted his Russian article before Jade took him to the family home in Mayfair and they spent the night there, making love in her mother’s bed.

Early next morning Jade packed a suitcase of her own and he drove to Heathrow.

Craig parked his car in the short stay car park from where Angus would collect it later.

But plans changed after they walked into the terminal only to discover Bella Donna and Max patrolling the concourse so they turned tail and returned to the car, thankfully unseen, and after a few minutes had an alternative plan and drove back down the Expressway to Pipershaven where they got on the first ferry to France and after driving to Paris they took a plane to New York and his next assignment on American Football.

 

Over the next few years, they got to travel all around America, moving from motel to motel, watching all kinds of sport, it wasn’t the kind of accommodation she was used to but if she was unhappy about it, she never mentioned it or complained about it, in truth she loved it.

Her knowledge of sport was quite astounding, and not for a woman either, and apart from the fact he was in love with her she was also invaluable to him as an editor, a critic and a sounding board.

She also managed their finances and kept them solvent.

Their American journey came to an end after 3 years culminating with the Super Bowl where he proposed to Jade.

 

On the back of their work in America he was offered a job with the New York Times to cover whatever sports he wanted, and they continued to travel, but he insisted on giving her a writing credit.

They did, however, return to Downshire and they got married while they were there, with Angus and Sally in attendance obviously and they spent their wedding night at the Barnabus Manor Hotel.

Bella Donna was invited but she declined, she never forgave her daughter for disobeying her wishes and Jade never forgave her mother for not being at her daughter’s wedding.

 

Over the years Jade travelled with him around the world from event to event, World Cups, Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Rugby, Cricket, Ice Hockey, Field Hockey and Horse Racing and he never lost interest in her underthing’s.