(Part 01)
Karen Cooper thought of herself as a plump girl but in reality she was just a couple of dress sizes bigger than her older sisters.
In every other respect she was clearly a Cooper, the looks were unmistakable.
All the Cooper girls had Auburn hair and an abundance of freckle.
And each one of the sisters thought their siblings were much more attractive than they were, whereas in reality they were all very pretty.
Karen was a tall girl like Jane and facially she favoured Kath.
Although she wasn’t born by the lake she was only two when she moved to Coopers Villa and she had no memory of living anywhere else.
Karen also took the credit for being responsible for them being on the lake in the first place.
Because when she was a baby she contracted meningitis and had to be rushed to hospital, and it was her illness that brought about the reconciliation between her Dad, Paul, and Granddad Harry.
Apart from the Auburn hair and abundant freckles, another trait she shared with her sister was that they all possessed a propensity towards hard work, clearly inherited from their parents.
Whatever she wanted she would get because she was a hard worker, it had helped her through her education and it would help her in her chosen profession.
But there were limitation though even for a strong work ethic, for example hard work was not going to get her anywhere with Chris O’Neil.
She was convinced he didn’t even know she existed and she had been in love with Chris since she was 12 years old and she was now 18.
The Cooper girls may have been late comers to Teardrop Lake but the O’Neil boys were all Lakesider’s born and bred and whereas all the Cooper girls had Auburn hair and freckles all the O’Neil Boys had black hair and wild gypsy eyes.
Chris was 22 years old and worked as a paramedic.
He was the best looking of the O’Neil brothers and was as a result very popular with the girls, but the sort of girls who kept throwing themselves at him were not the type of girl he was looking for.
Like his elder brother Terry, what Chris was looking for was a girl he could settle down with, and a girl like that hadn’t yet thrown herself at his feet.
However Francis, the youngest of the O’Neil’s, who was 19 and was in his second year at University, studying English had other ideas.
Unlike his brothers he had no interest in a long term relationship, or settling down.
His plan was to get his degree and then travel the world with no burdens and no responsibilities to way him down.
Dakota Harris was 17 year old and she was the pretty girl of Teardrop Lake and she lived at Shoe Buckle House on the northwest side of the Lake, and she was a tall and slender girl with long dark hair.
She was on the outside at least ultra-confident and ultra-popular with the boys who she kept dancing on strings but they were only boys.
She was always immaculately turned out, painted, perfumed and powdered and ready to impress Mr Right.
But apparently he was never looking her way, whoever he might be.
But for all her big talk and bravado she was fast approaching 18 and hadn’t even been kissed.
Even her tomboy big sister was engaged to a gorgeous man, and an army Captain at that.
Because she was pretty and because she knew she was pretty, Dakota always talked big when it came to the opposite sex, and her friends bought into it.
But it was all bravado, if one of the men she flirted with actually came on to her she would have run a mile.
Outside she was sexy and confident but inside she was a shy and dowdy little mouse.
Karen Cooper’s hard work took the form of working multiple shifts waitressing at the Brown Windsor restaurant where her sister Jane was the Sous Chef.
But that was just in her spare time, the rest of the time she was serving an apprenticeship at the Purplemere Film Studios where she was training to be a makeup artist.
Peter Lutchford the renowned film director who also lived on the lake got her the position.
She also help her sister Jane with her home dining engagements as well as doing makeovers to the inhabitants.
That was how she first got to know Dakota Harris and they soon became good friends because of it and Dak let Karen practice her make up skills on her.
(Part 02)
Dakota was convinced she was never going to be kissed and especially not before she reached her 18th birthday.
She could quite easily get a kiss in time if she acted like a tart but she wasn’t a tart and she wanted her first kiss to be romantic, not desperate.
Meanwhile Karen was still dreaming of a romantic affair with her prince charming Chris Cooper but was resigned to the fact it would never happen.
On the Saturday before Christmas Karen had a rare night off and was around at Dakota’s house,
Dak’s parents were out to dinner and her older sister, India, was meeting her friend Penny at the airport.
So they had the house to themselves and Karen out did herself with Dakota’s makeover.
“Wow” she said “I look really hot”
“Not bad eh?” Karen said admiring her handiwork
“I look about 20” Dak said “Don’t you think?”
“21 maybe” Karen added
“Let’s go to the pub then” she suggested
Karen thought about it for a moment and said
“I don’t know” she said “I look rubbish”
“You can borrow something of Indie’s and I’ll do your make up” Dakota said
Karen reluctantly agreed so half an hour later they were laughing and joking and on their way to The Woodcutters Arms in Shallowfield.
At the same time Dakota was doing Karen’s makeup Chris and his brother Fran were just leaving Lakeside Villa bound for the same destination.
It was Chris’s first weekend off for a month and Francis had only got home from University that day.
The pair of them hadn’t been out for a beer together for almost a year so they thought a few jars at the pub might just fit the bill.
There were three pubs at the Teardrop Lake end of Shallowfield, The Woodman’s Axe, The Woodcutters Arms and The Foresters.
Ant the names clearly reflected Shallowfield’s dependence on forestry over the centuries, the pubs at the other end of town had more of an agricultural flavour in their naming, The Wheatsheaf, the Plough and the Farmers Tavern.
But all of those were too far to walk to so they decided very definitely to restrict their choices to the forest end.
Chris had drunk in all three at one time or another so he didn’t really have a preference and Fran didn’t care which one they went to as long as Chris was paying so they went to the closest the Woodcutters.
Dakota hadn’t been to the pub before and although she looked old enough to be in there after the makeover she had no ID so Dak went and found a table and Karen bought the drinks.
The girls were sat at a corner table facing back towards the bar.
“Look who’s just come in” Dakota said and Karen looked up and saw the O’Neil brothers standing at the bar.
As soon as she saw them Karen got all flustered and her cheeks flushed.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dakota asked
“Nothing” she said trying to look anywhere but at the bar.
“You fancy one of them don’t you?” Dakota probed “Which one?”
“Chris” she reluctantly replied
“How long have you fancied him?” Dak quizzed
“Since I was 12” she replied
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked
“Because nothing will ever come of it” Karen said definitively and took a drink then she glanced at the bar just as Chris looked across at them and smiled
“He’s looking over here” Dakota whispered
They both smiled back at him and then Karen said
“Well he’s not looking at me is he?”
“Well he’s too old for me” she said “I like Fran”
Karen spent the next 20 minutes sneaking glances at Chris as he laughed and joked with his brother, every now and then he would throw a glance at her and she would look away.
There were a number of girls who approached them but whatever they were after they left without it.
Dakota suddenly got up and announced she was going to the loo and almost as soon as she left there was movement at the bar at Chris started walking towards her.
“Hi Karen” he said
“Hello” she replied “Dakota’s gone to the loo”
“I know I saw her go” he said “it was you I wanted to talk to”
“Me?” she said incredulously
“Yes you” he replied
“Why?” she asked
“Blimey you don’t make it easy for a bloke” he said
“I don’t understand” she said
“I wanted to ask you something while Dakota was in the ladies” he explained
“Oh I see” Karen said with a sigh “you want her phone number I suppose”
“No” Chris replied with surprise “Why would I want her number?”
“Sorry”
“I wanted to ask you out” he explained
“Me?” she said incredulously
“Oh no not again, yes you” he replied
“I’ve been wanting to ask you out for ages but you’re always working somewhere or other and I never get a look in”
“Seriously?” she asked
“Yes” he replied “So?”
“Yes” she said
“Now was that a question or an answer?”
“Definitely an answer” she said and grinned like a Cheshire cat.
“Good” he said “now can I get you a drink?”
(Part 03)
Chris walked to the bar just as Dakota returned from the toilet and Fran joined his brother at the bar.
When he first walked to the bar and saw Karen sitting at the corner table he congratulated himself on his choice of venue and hoped Christmas had arrived early and seemed he was not to be disappointed.
“Well?” Dakota asked when she returned to the table.
“Well what?” she replied
“Did he ask you?” Dakota asked
“Yes” she said excitedly and they hugged
“But how did you know?”
“Fran told me” she replied
“But how did he know?”
“Chris told him?” Dakota said
“Oh”
“Anyway Fran told me” she said “and then he kissed me”
“Where?” asked Karen, wide eyed with curiosity
“On the lips stupid”
“No I mean, Where?” she explained “Where were you when he kissed you”
“Oh outside” Dakota clarified
“What were you doing outside?” Karen asked “Apart from being kissed”
“Well I went to the loo” Dakota explained “and when I came out Fran was there waiting for me and he told me no to go back to the table because Chris was asking you out”
She paused for breath
“Which was taking forever by the way, and we were blocking the door so he suggested we went outside and that was when he kissed me, in the moonlight, it was very romantic”
“Wow” Karen responded “And did he ask you out as well?
“Yes” she said excitedly and they hugged again
“Who’d of thought it, I have a date with an O’Neil”
Karen said
“Me too” Dakota squealed just as the boys and the drinks arrived.
As they reached the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel on the way home from the pub they split up.
Fran took the left fork so he could walk Dakota home and romantically kiss her in the moonlight once more.
Chris and Karen took the right fork and walked slowly hand in hand in the moonlight, they were in no rush to get home.
“Fancy that, Chubby Karen is walking hand in hand with Chris O’Neil” she said inside her head
While Chris was thinking to himself how lucky he was.
“Was that romantic enough for you?” Fran asked moments after his lips left hers
“It was acceptable” she said
“Perhaps I should have another go” he suggested
“Definitely worth a try” Dakota said obligingly
Francis O’Neil felt ten feet tall as he headed for home despite the fact that the evening had not gone as planned.
It was just supposed to be a few pints with his brother Romantic kissing was certainly not part of his plan at all but as soon as he saw Dakota Harris sitting in the bar trying to look all grown up, he was smitten.
Hook, line and sinker, smitten.
And this from the man who had no interest in a long term relationship.
His plan to get his degree and travel the world with no burdens and no responsibilities to weight him down was in tatters.
But then maybe he could take her around the world with him, she wouldn’t be too burdensome.
Chris and Karen still hadn’t reached either of the Villa’s by the time Fran came running along the road
“Don’t mind me” he shouted as he sprinted past.
When they got to the top of the path that led down to her house they came to a halt and he turned to face her and he kissed her soft lips, in a long and sensual kiss.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to do that” Karen said
“Me too” he concurred
“How long?” she asked
“A couple of years, almost three to be precise” he confessed
“I was 12” she admitted “when I first noticed you like that”
“Was it worth the wait?” he asked
“It was for me” she said
And then her kissed her again which she took to mean “me too”
Friday, 27 January 2017
Thursday, 26 January 2017
The Abbottsford Police Chronicles – The Man From Cricklewood
(Part One)
Detective Sergeant Boris Katarski ran Team Three in the Abbottsford CID under DCI Bill Overend.
He was an ambitious officer who would go far but not at the expense of anyone else, his next target was Inspector but not at any cost.
Along with Inspector Tom Adamson he was one of Bill Overend first appointments to the squad he inherited from George Tiplady and Overend would not be at all surprised if one day he were working for Boris.
Despite his ambition he was also the joker of the pack and got results from his team with a laugh rather than a sharp word.
When he first met Tom Adamson, Tom asked.
“Katarski where the hell does that come from”
“Cricklewood Serge” he answered walking way.
“Ask a stupid question” Adamson muttered to himself.
He was a tall muscular thirty-four year old with Jet Black hair and wild gypsy eyes.
He was a single man who despite his bravado had absolutely no success with women at all.
He desperately wanted a wife and family but he had no idea how to full fill his wish.
This might explain why he often seemed so driven.
On his team were Detective Constable Frank Chute was also thirty-four years old.
Very much a “steady eddy” on the team and the “Little Flower” Detective Constable Jenny Hack who was pregnant.
His humor could sometimes be on the dark side such as when Tony Conway met his end.
There was a great deal of raucous laughter and gallows humour flying about in the squad room that day which turned to a chorus of cheers as DCI Overend entered.
The reason for the jollity was the news that morning of the demise of a local career criminal Tony Conway, who had inadvertently set himself alight while syphoning fuel from a van.
“Great news eh Guv, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person” Boris said Brandishing an A3 colour photo of the spare rib formerly known as Conway.
DI Tom Adamson had obviously imparted the news of Conway’s demise ahead of his arrival.
“Every copper in the station must have pulled him at one time
Or another” said Tilly Donnally “He was like a training tool for probationers to practice on. He will be greatly missed”
“He certainly got his fingers burned this time,” added Boris.
“Well I’m pleased to see that the death of a fellow human being
Is the cause of such amusement” Bill said sternly
Everyone went silent and lowered their eyes.
“Especially when this particular human being did us the great service of setting fire to himself” Bill finished and laughed.
Everyone else joined in the laughter.
(Part Two)
They returned to the station from the “George” after an example of heavy handed policing and zero tolerance and felt bloody marvelous.
Four officers, all above the rank of Sergeant apprehended and read the riot act to a miscreant cyclist.
Adamson and Boris went through the door first and were buzzed in through the security door by the desk Sergeant, George Frank.
A more miserable, hard faced, moaning Minnie you would be hard pressed to find on God’s green earth.
He even made DC Clubley seem charming and affable.
People were never quite sure if he became that way because he’d spent so much time on the front desk, or whether he was put there to deter all but the thickest skinned of the public whiners and whinger’s.
Also in reception, though on the public side of the counter was PC Richard Deacon.
Dickie Deacon was the new boy, a bright, almost intelligent, and keen as mustard, eager to learn young man.
He was also and apparently totally impervious to the bile and poisons he was exposed to on a daily basis while working in such close proximity to the foul and odious Sergeant Frank.
He was twenty-three years old six feet tall and pencil thin. So thin in fact he was known as the stick insect.
But despite all this it was difficult not to like him and you can bet your life that people did try.
On this particular day, just as Adamson and Katarski, returned from lunch, he was rearranging the notice board.
He had in his hand’s a large poster advertising a big charity summer event.
“Any suggestions for “Help a Local Child,”” Deacon said holding up the poster.
The two men stopped briefly and looked at the poster, then they looked at each other.
“Kill a social worker.” Retorted Katarski.
The two Detective’s walked away laughing.
“I’m not sure that’s quite what they have in mind.” Said Deacon almost to himself.
(Part Three)
It wasn’t quite a normal Tuesday morning in the squad room as due to the foul weather almost everyone was late.
Detective Chief Inspector Bill Overend stood in the middle of the large open planned office in front of the assembled members of the squad.
Katarski, at the back of the room, was talking to Jimmy Pidd and Frank Chute.
The subject of their discussion was Constable Richard Deacon, the pencil thin over enthusiastic, but none the less likable young PC.
“I saw Sticky Deacon at the Cavalier Club on Saturday night with a woman.” Said Katarski.
“I find that difficult to believe.” Responded Pidd. “Unless it was his sister.”
“Well there was a lot of hand holding and kissing.” Katarski offered.
“It could still be his sister.” Said Frank Chute laughing.
“Was she a good looker?” Asked Pidd.
“No, she had definitely fallen from the ugly tree.” Replied Boris pulling a face. “And she must have hit every branch on the way down.”
The three men laughed loudly.
“Beauty is only skin deep.” Said little Jenny Hack joining the group.
“Then she had her skin on inside out.” Said Boris and they laughed again.
“You’re a horrible man Boris Katarski.” Jenny said smiling in spite of herself.
“Ok quiet down now.” Interrupted Overend. “I’m sorry we’re late getting started and as we need to get on I will make this as brief as possible.”
Bill Overend was having to assign the two new appointee’s and the three secondments to the squad.
“We have two new officers joining the squad today, firstly DC Louise Tunstall”
She was late twenties of afro Caribbean decent, two stone overweight with a facial expression that would sour milk.
“Louise will join your team Boris.” Bill paused while nods and smiles were exchanged. “And secondly DC Ali Khan”
He was of Middle Eastern extraction, thirty years old ex-cavalry.
“Ali will join your team Tom.”
“Hi ho silver.” Shouted Boris.
Bill assumed word had obviously already circulated about Khan’s military past.
“Thank you Boris.” Said Overend over the laughter. “And posse.”
“In addition we have acquired the services of three more familiar faces on temporary secondment, Marty Griffin is another one for Tom Adamson’s team.
Philippa Mead will be with Tilly Donnally’s team and lastly Dave Webster
I’m afraid you’re stuck with Boris, Dave.”
“Oh no guv now we’re going to need to fit bay window in the motor to accommodate his jug ears.”
The laughter was interrupted by the telephone ringing in the Chief Inspectors office and Tom Adamson went in and answered it.
“Sir” he put his head round the door and caught Bills attention. “It’s the CAD room.”
Bill nodded.
“Ok take ten minutes for introductions and such like then back here for assignments.” He turned and walked into his office.
After what seemed to be only a matter of seconds Overend reappeared looking grave.
“Ok can I have some attention please?” Overend shouted.
“There’s been an armed robbery in Millmoor.”
He now had their attention.
“Tilly?”
“Sir” DS Donnally responded.
“Tilly, you Khan and Griffin get over to big Cyril’s betting shop in Millmoor and take statements. DI Adamson and I will follow.”
“Yes sir.” They chorused and left.
“Boris and Frank you head over too Roespring village and interview Mrs. Curtis, she was held at gunpoint while they made big Cyril open the safe.”
“Ok sir.” Responded Katarski.
“Guv.” Said DC Chute.
(Part Four)
DS Boris Katarski was the joker of the squad and he was always cracking jokes in an effort to be popular and to mask his insecurity, if he only knew that everyone liked him anyway, they couldn’t help themselves.
No one ever stayed mad with Boris for long not even Tilly.
On a filthy morning as they drove through the English countryside towards Roespring village DC Frank Chute was a captive audience for his wit.
“So remember Frank, when you have your prostate checked make sure when the doctor is stood behind that you he hasn’t got a hand on each shoulder,”
Frank had a rich deep fruity laugh and his whole body shook.
“Enough Boris.” Frank said gripping his sides. “Enough I can’t take anymore.”
Boris smiled broadly and returned his attention to the road.
Once Frank had got his breath back and he had composed himself he said.
“Boris?”
“Yes mate.”
“Norma and I would really like you to be Godfather to Jevan.”
“Really?” Boris turned to look at Frank.
Frank nodded.
“I’m not much of a church goer “Hatches, matches and dispatches”
Is about my lot.”
“We didn’t chose you for your religious convictions Boris.”
“Me and Norma will provide religious guidance.” Said Frank sincerely. “And you will protect him from evil.”
Boris looked doubtful.
“Failing that you can just make him laugh.” Frank smiled broadly.
“You Bastard.” Boris said
“Is that a yes then?”
(Part Five)
PC Richard Deacon was on his way down the corridor heading back to reception from his meal break when he met DS Katarski and DC Chute coming the other way.
“Hello Sticky.” Boris said enthusiastically.
PC Deacon liked to be called Dickie rather than Richard but because of his Stick thin physique he was called Sticky Deacon by pretty much everyone.
“Hello Serge.” Sticky answered.
As they passed by each other Boris turned and spoke very earnestly to PC Deacon.
“Richard perhaps you could help us settle an argument.”
“If I can Serge.” He said suspicious as Boris was not in the habit of calling him Richard.
“Good, Good.” Said Boris
“Now just suppose you went camping with your mates Ok?” Deacon nodded.
“And one night you get totally rat arsed and crash out Ok?” He nodded again.
“But when you wake up next morning you find a used condom hanging from your arse”
Boris said
“Would you tell anyone?”
Dickie Deacon thought for a moment and then says. “Absolutely not.”
“Ok thanks Sticky.” Said Boris and he and Frank Chute continued down the corridor.
After they had walked about ten feet Frank Chute turned back.
“Sticky?” He called.
“Yes Mr. Chute.”
“Do you want to go camping?”
(Part Six)
It wasn’t all laughter and gallivanting around the countryside quite a lot of their time was spent behind a desk.
For example as part of the inquiry into Olympic security Inspector Adamson and Sergeant Katarski supervised and assisted the rest of the team to complete the mammoth task of collating and analyzing the vast amount of documents from Olympic Security.
They were presently collating the results to see if the deceased security guard Tony Conway, burnt to death at Dawson's recycling plant, had been placed at Olympic for the purpose of gathering information for potential robbery targets.
What they had found was that Conway had worked for two weeks at Clifford’s Biscuits who had been recently burgled.
And when Tom Adamson jetted off somewhere warm and sunny for two weeks, on holiday, Bill turned his mind to the minor problem of who was to ride shot gun for him in Tom’s absence.
After due consideration Bill decided on DS Boris Katarski, it was a no brainer really.
Boris’s normal sidekick DC Frank Chute could partner DS Tilly Donnally, he might act as a calming influence on her.
At twelve o’clock Bill decided he would take an early lunch and was on his way out of his office door when his phone rang.
His first impulse was to ignore it, because if he answered it and it was another misdial he would just get angry, but if he ignored it and it was something important.
So he answered it.
“Overend?”
He sat down and picked up his pen.
“Yes, I know it, it’s near Quarry Hill.”
“Ok thanks.”
He put down the phone and headed out of the office.
“Boris? Tilly?” He shouted.
They both emerged almost simultaneously from opposite directions.
“Sir?”
“We have a body in the Pepperstock Pits. Boris you’re with me. Tilly you take Frank.” Bill instructed.
“Oh, Tilly let Frank drive. The body’s dead so there’s no need for the infamous Donnally Warp speed.”
“Oh come on Guv?” She pleaded.
(Part Seven)
Jenny Hack was going on maternity leave and was being presented with her gifts
“Thank you Bill, firstly, I would like to thank Jenny for her valuable contribution to force and obviously look forward to her return.”
“So with gratitude and congratulations please accept these gifts as a token of our affection”
A procession of gifts were paraded to her by willing hands and they quickly piled up beside her and were in danger of dwarfing her, there were twelve in all and they arrived in such quick succession that she had no time to open them.
When the last gift had been presented Tiplady spoke again.
“Finally from DCI Overend and myself.” He announced and gave a theatrical sweep of his arm.
A beautiful brunette stepped through the crowd with the huge bouquet.
Boris thought she was stunning.
The bouquet was so large Jenny couldn’t see who was holding it until the very last second.
After a few moments it sank in and she realized who it was and she burst into tears.
“What are you doing here?” Jenny sobbed
Jenny and the brunette were chatting animatedly but Boris couldn’t make out what they were saying, but equally he couldn’t take his eyes off Jenny’s friend.
He found a place to stand were he could be on the periphery of the conversation with his mates but keep her in view, she was gorgeous.
He was brought back down to earth by a loud shout from the DCI
“Boris!”
“Guv.” Boris said as he appeared from behind a pillar.
“Can you organize some labour to get Jenny’s stuff down to her car?”
“That’s alright sir I’ll do it later.” Jenny said.
“Nonsense you are going to have an enjoyable lunch and then you are going home"
Jenny started to speak again.
Bill wagged a finger in her direction.
“Ok sir.” She answered feebly.
As Bill walked off towards his office Boris glanced over his shoulder and saw the brunette leant in close to Jenny and whisper something.
(Part Eight)
DCI Overend and Chief Superintendent Tiplady stood at the bar dispensing drinks Jenny and the girl he now knew to be Lizzie Bird settled themselves in the corner.
And one by one, drinks in hand, his colleagues joined them and Boris skillfully managed to end up sitting next to Lizzie.
There was a lot of general chatter during lunch and Boris spent most of it hanging on Lizzies every word, he was sure that she was flirting with him and when he noticed Jenny watching, Boris got quite embarrassed.
After the food was consumed, and Superintendent Tiplady settled the bill, people began to drift back to work taking it in turns to say goodbye to a tearful Jenny who was a little merry.
Before DCI Overend left he said.
“I think we need to get you a lift home Flower.”
“I’ll drive her home Bill.” Said Lizzie.
“Thanks Lizzie.” He replied.
“What about my car?” asked Jenny.
“Boris can drive your car home and Frank can follow on and bring Boris back.”
“That’s alright I can drive Boris back to the station.” Offered Lizzie.
“Are you sure that’s ok?”
“No problem.”
“There is a God” Boris said to himself
Boris had been to the toilet and we he returned to the bar they gathered Jenny and her belongings together and ushered her outside.
An hour later Jenny was safely at home in the care of her husband Bob.
Boris parked her car on their drive before he and Lizzie helped Bob unload the gifts and flowers by the time they had finished Jenny was fast asleep on the sofa.
(Part Nine)
On the journey back to Abbottsford Boris desperately searched for the right words to ask Lizzie out.
He fought the same old battle inside as he always did when in close proximity to someone he was attracted to.
Under normal circumstances he could engage anyone in conversation on a wide variety of subjects without a second thought.
Anyone and everyone that knew him would describe him as a chatty person to the point of verbal diarrhea.
But in the company of someone he fancied he just dried up.
If he didn’t hurry up he would be back at the station and his chance would be gone.
They were ten minutes into the journey before he managed to say anything.
“You’re not married then?” He blurted out.
“No, I’m a widow.” She replied
“Oh God I’m so sorry.” He said hoping he hadn’t blown it already
“That’s ok you weren’t to know.” She reassured him
“How long has it been?” he asked
“Over two years now.” She replied
They were now in the Police station car park and time was definitely running out.
“You haven’t met anyone else then?” he asked hopefully
Lizzie gave him a sideways glance but with the hint of a smile.
“Well Boris men are like parking spaces, the good ones are taken, and the rest are handicapped.”
He laughed nervously as Lizzie finally found a space to park.
She pulled the car into the space and stopped.
“There you go.” She said
“Thanks Lizzie.” He replied
He paused and was about to speak but stopped short, he wanted to ask her out but he lost his nerve.
He opened the door and got out, then he leant down.
“Thanks again bye.” He said
“Bye Boris.”
He shut the door and walked slowly towards the building.
He cursed himself under his breath and shook his head several times and then the sound of a car horn made him jump.
He turned sharply and was about to unleash a torrent of abuse when he saw Lizzie’s laughing face through the car window.
He smiled back at her as she wound down the window.
“If you’re interested I’m free tomorrow night.” She asked.
“Right um yes.” He stuttered
“There’s a film on in town at the Tivoli I really want to see.” She said.
“Um great yes.” He stuttered again
“I’ll meet you in the foyer at 7.30. Ok?”
Boris nodded.
“Bye Boris.” She shouted as she drove off.
He continued into the station feeling 10 feet tall.
(Part Ten)
The Tivoli theatre was an old cinema originally built in the twenties.
At that time it was the only cinema for twenty miles in any direction so Abbottsford was the envy of the district.
By the late seventies however films had gone out of fashion and the theatre was closed. It was in disuse for more than ten years, it was however spared the indignity of becoming a bingo hall as many a fine picture house had.
When the cinema revival happened, Chris Bourne, a local man made good, who like many had fond memories of the Tivoli, mainly associated with courting, restored the theatre to its former glory.
Ironically it was the advent of satellite television and video rental, supposed to give us all so much choice of home viewing, which seemed to spark the revival.
It was feared for a while that the renovations would be in vain as a new multiplex cinema was opened in the new Phoenix shopping center development only three miles away.
But Chris Bourne was unperturbed and decided that the Tivoli should specialize in classic movies and retrospectives.
As a result people traveled from miles around, as they did in the twenties and thirties.
The theatre was located in the older part of town in what used to be the high street.
There were no longer any shops in the high street they had long since moved into the Phoenix center.
When the Abbottsford ring road was opened the High street was pedestrianized and this had inadvertently created a sort of leisure haven.
Where once the road had run were now benches, planters, ornamental lights and even a fountain.
The vacant shops had for some time now been occupied by a collection of restaurants, fast food outlet's, bars, café’s and wine bars.
The only premises not connected to food or drink were charity shops, craft shops, second hand book shops, two art galleries and of course the Tivoli Theatre.
(Part Eleven)
Boris was early, by an hour.
He lived in Abbottsford, very close to the town center, so it was a very short walk for him.
This though was not the reason he was early.
In truth he still couldn’t believe his luck.
No one had ever asked him out before let alone a good looker like Lizzie.
His stomach had been turning somersaults all day and the longer the day went on the worse they got to the point that he couldn’t eat.
The problem was that he felt no better now that he was there than he did when he was pacing the floor at home.
It was 6.45 and he had already walked the length of the high street and back.
As it was a fine May evening he decided to sit outside of Luigi’s, one of the Café’s which was located opposite the Tivoli.
He had the foresight to buy an evening paper when he walked into town so when he had ordered a drink he settled down to read the paper perhaps that would kill a little time.
After ten minutes he found his mind kept wandering and when he had read the same paragraph six times he gave up on the paper.
Gazing across at the Tivoli for the first time he discovered the name of the film he and Lizzie were going to watch.
Previously it hadn’t occurred to him to inquire the name of the movie he was just delighted at the prospect of spending the evening in the company of an attractive young woman.
It was Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a wonderful life” starring James Stewart and Donna Reed.
James Stewart was one of his idols as an actor and this film in particular was his all-time favorite.
Feeling encouraged for the first time about the date, because they now had some common ground on which he could discuss with some confidence, he relaxed a little.
Looking at his watch he tensed up again when he realized he still had another thirty minutes to wait.
His sanity was saved by the appearance of Inspector Holt and his wife Mary.
“Hello Boris.” John Holt said.
“Hello sir.” Answered Boris.
“It’s John when were off duty Boris, This is my wife Mary.” John said proudly and then he turned towards her.
“Mary this is Boris.”
Boris stood and shook her hand.
“I've heard a lot about you Boris.” Mary said smiling.
“Do you mind if we join you?”
“Please do” Boris gestured to an empty chair and John Holt attended the chair for his wife until she was settled and then he sat himself.
“Are you meeting someone?” Mary asked.
“Yes.” Boris answered and then he elaborated. “It’s our first date so I’m a little nervous.”
“Same for us in a manner of speaking” John said and then he and Mary smiled knowingly to each other.
John ordered the drinks.
“Where are you taking her?” They asked in unison and then giggled.
“To the Tiv.” Boris nodded in the direction of the theatre.
“Oh us too.” Said Mary.
“It’s a great film isn’t it?” Boris said
“We’ve never seen it.” John replied
“Really? You’ve never seen it?” Boris was amazed.
“You seem surprised?” said John.
“Well it’s just that’s it’s a bit of a classic.” Boris replied
Just then he noticed someone at his shoulder, a waitress he presumed, he turned to dismiss her and found Lizzie instead.
“Hi.” She said smiling broadly. “You’re early.”
He stood up.
“Hi.”
He gazed at her and was transfixed, and then he suddenly realized he was staring.
“Um this is Mary and John and this is Lizzie.” He paused briefly for the introductions.
“John is an Inspector at my station.” He explained.
“Yes I know John.” Both men looked surprised.
“The match on Wednesday.” She explained.
“Of course I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
“Well I have scrubbed up a bit.” Lizzie said.
“You can say that again.” Boris said and then blushed to his roots when he realized he’d said it out loud.
Once settled and the introductions were out of the way Boris, to his and Lizzie's surprise, began the conversation.
“John and Mary are going to the Tiv as well. But they’ve never seen the film before.”
“Really?” she said in a tone suggesting they must be from another planet.
“What made you decide to see it now?”
“Well we have decided to have something of a life change” John said holding Mary’s hand tightly and gazing into her eyes.
Boris and Lizzie looked a little puzzled.
“And “It’s a wonderful life” seemed like an appropriate place to start”
Boris and Lizzie looked even more puzzled though John and Mary barely noticed.
After a few minutes Boris suggested that he went to buy the tickets while Lizzie finished her drink.
“That’s a good idea” She said and suggested that John should join him.
Her curiosity was getting the better of her and she wanted an opportunity to speak to Mary.
The men returned with the tickets just in time as the girls had just finished their drinks.
So they stood by the table while the girls went to the toilets.
When they returned Mary took John’s hand and to Boris’s surprise Lizzie slipped her hand into his and they all made their way to the theatre.
Detective Sergeant Boris Katarski ran Team Three in the Abbottsford CID under DCI Bill Overend.
He was an ambitious officer who would go far but not at the expense of anyone else, his next target was Inspector but not at any cost.
Along with Inspector Tom Adamson he was one of Bill Overend first appointments to the squad he inherited from George Tiplady and Overend would not be at all surprised if one day he were working for Boris.
Despite his ambition he was also the joker of the pack and got results from his team with a laugh rather than a sharp word.
When he first met Tom Adamson, Tom asked.
“Katarski where the hell does that come from”
“Cricklewood Serge” he answered walking way.
“Ask a stupid question” Adamson muttered to himself.
He was a tall muscular thirty-four year old with Jet Black hair and wild gypsy eyes.
He was a single man who despite his bravado had absolutely no success with women at all.
He desperately wanted a wife and family but he had no idea how to full fill his wish.
This might explain why he often seemed so driven.
On his team were Detective Constable Frank Chute was also thirty-four years old.
Very much a “steady eddy” on the team and the “Little Flower” Detective Constable Jenny Hack who was pregnant.
His humor could sometimes be on the dark side such as when Tony Conway met his end.
There was a great deal of raucous laughter and gallows humour flying about in the squad room that day which turned to a chorus of cheers as DCI Overend entered.
The reason for the jollity was the news that morning of the demise of a local career criminal Tony Conway, who had inadvertently set himself alight while syphoning fuel from a van.
“Great news eh Guv, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person” Boris said Brandishing an A3 colour photo of the spare rib formerly known as Conway.
DI Tom Adamson had obviously imparted the news of Conway’s demise ahead of his arrival.
“Every copper in the station must have pulled him at one time
Or another” said Tilly Donnally “He was like a training tool for probationers to practice on. He will be greatly missed”
“He certainly got his fingers burned this time,” added Boris.
“Well I’m pleased to see that the death of a fellow human being
Is the cause of such amusement” Bill said sternly
Everyone went silent and lowered their eyes.
“Especially when this particular human being did us the great service of setting fire to himself” Bill finished and laughed.
Everyone else joined in the laughter.
(Part Two)
They returned to the station from the “George” after an example of heavy handed policing and zero tolerance and felt bloody marvelous.
Four officers, all above the rank of Sergeant apprehended and read the riot act to a miscreant cyclist.
Adamson and Boris went through the door first and were buzzed in through the security door by the desk Sergeant, George Frank.
A more miserable, hard faced, moaning Minnie you would be hard pressed to find on God’s green earth.
He even made DC Clubley seem charming and affable.
People were never quite sure if he became that way because he’d spent so much time on the front desk, or whether he was put there to deter all but the thickest skinned of the public whiners and whinger’s.
Also in reception, though on the public side of the counter was PC Richard Deacon.
Dickie Deacon was the new boy, a bright, almost intelligent, and keen as mustard, eager to learn young man.
He was also and apparently totally impervious to the bile and poisons he was exposed to on a daily basis while working in such close proximity to the foul and odious Sergeant Frank.
He was twenty-three years old six feet tall and pencil thin. So thin in fact he was known as the stick insect.
But despite all this it was difficult not to like him and you can bet your life that people did try.
On this particular day, just as Adamson and Katarski, returned from lunch, he was rearranging the notice board.
He had in his hand’s a large poster advertising a big charity summer event.
“Any suggestions for “Help a Local Child,”” Deacon said holding up the poster.
The two men stopped briefly and looked at the poster, then they looked at each other.
“Kill a social worker.” Retorted Katarski.
The two Detective’s walked away laughing.
“I’m not sure that’s quite what they have in mind.” Said Deacon almost to himself.
(Part Three)
It wasn’t quite a normal Tuesday morning in the squad room as due to the foul weather almost everyone was late.
Detective Chief Inspector Bill Overend stood in the middle of the large open planned office in front of the assembled members of the squad.
Katarski, at the back of the room, was talking to Jimmy Pidd and Frank Chute.
The subject of their discussion was Constable Richard Deacon, the pencil thin over enthusiastic, but none the less likable young PC.
“I saw Sticky Deacon at the Cavalier Club on Saturday night with a woman.” Said Katarski.
“I find that difficult to believe.” Responded Pidd. “Unless it was his sister.”
“Well there was a lot of hand holding and kissing.” Katarski offered.
“It could still be his sister.” Said Frank Chute laughing.
“Was she a good looker?” Asked Pidd.
“No, she had definitely fallen from the ugly tree.” Replied Boris pulling a face. “And she must have hit every branch on the way down.”
The three men laughed loudly.
“Beauty is only skin deep.” Said little Jenny Hack joining the group.
“Then she had her skin on inside out.” Said Boris and they laughed again.
“You’re a horrible man Boris Katarski.” Jenny said smiling in spite of herself.
“Ok quiet down now.” Interrupted Overend. “I’m sorry we’re late getting started and as we need to get on I will make this as brief as possible.”
Bill Overend was having to assign the two new appointee’s and the three secondments to the squad.
“We have two new officers joining the squad today, firstly DC Louise Tunstall”
She was late twenties of afro Caribbean decent, two stone overweight with a facial expression that would sour milk.
“Louise will join your team Boris.” Bill paused while nods and smiles were exchanged. “And secondly DC Ali Khan”
He was of Middle Eastern extraction, thirty years old ex-cavalry.
“Ali will join your team Tom.”
“Hi ho silver.” Shouted Boris.
Bill assumed word had obviously already circulated about Khan’s military past.
“Thank you Boris.” Said Overend over the laughter. “And posse.”
“In addition we have acquired the services of three more familiar faces on temporary secondment, Marty Griffin is another one for Tom Adamson’s team.
Philippa Mead will be with Tilly Donnally’s team and lastly Dave Webster
I’m afraid you’re stuck with Boris, Dave.”
“Oh no guv now we’re going to need to fit bay window in the motor to accommodate his jug ears.”
The laughter was interrupted by the telephone ringing in the Chief Inspectors office and Tom Adamson went in and answered it.
“Sir” he put his head round the door and caught Bills attention. “It’s the CAD room.”
Bill nodded.
“Ok take ten minutes for introductions and such like then back here for assignments.” He turned and walked into his office.
After what seemed to be only a matter of seconds Overend reappeared looking grave.
“Ok can I have some attention please?” Overend shouted.
“There’s been an armed robbery in Millmoor.”
He now had their attention.
“Tilly?”
“Sir” DS Donnally responded.
“Tilly, you Khan and Griffin get over to big Cyril’s betting shop in Millmoor and take statements. DI Adamson and I will follow.”
“Yes sir.” They chorused and left.
“Boris and Frank you head over too Roespring village and interview Mrs. Curtis, she was held at gunpoint while they made big Cyril open the safe.”
“Ok sir.” Responded Katarski.
“Guv.” Said DC Chute.
(Part Four)
DS Boris Katarski was the joker of the squad and he was always cracking jokes in an effort to be popular and to mask his insecurity, if he only knew that everyone liked him anyway, they couldn’t help themselves.
No one ever stayed mad with Boris for long not even Tilly.
On a filthy morning as they drove through the English countryside towards Roespring village DC Frank Chute was a captive audience for his wit.
“So remember Frank, when you have your prostate checked make sure when the doctor is stood behind that you he hasn’t got a hand on each shoulder,”
Frank had a rich deep fruity laugh and his whole body shook.
“Enough Boris.” Frank said gripping his sides. “Enough I can’t take anymore.”
Boris smiled broadly and returned his attention to the road.
Once Frank had got his breath back and he had composed himself he said.
“Boris?”
“Yes mate.”
“Norma and I would really like you to be Godfather to Jevan.”
“Really?” Boris turned to look at Frank.
Frank nodded.
“I’m not much of a church goer “Hatches, matches and dispatches”
Is about my lot.”
“We didn’t chose you for your religious convictions Boris.”
“Me and Norma will provide religious guidance.” Said Frank sincerely. “And you will protect him from evil.”
Boris looked doubtful.
“Failing that you can just make him laugh.” Frank smiled broadly.
“You Bastard.” Boris said
“Is that a yes then?”
(Part Five)
PC Richard Deacon was on his way down the corridor heading back to reception from his meal break when he met DS Katarski and DC Chute coming the other way.
“Hello Sticky.” Boris said enthusiastically.
PC Deacon liked to be called Dickie rather than Richard but because of his Stick thin physique he was called Sticky Deacon by pretty much everyone.
“Hello Serge.” Sticky answered.
As they passed by each other Boris turned and spoke very earnestly to PC Deacon.
“Richard perhaps you could help us settle an argument.”
“If I can Serge.” He said suspicious as Boris was not in the habit of calling him Richard.
“Good, Good.” Said Boris
“Now just suppose you went camping with your mates Ok?” Deacon nodded.
“And one night you get totally rat arsed and crash out Ok?” He nodded again.
“But when you wake up next morning you find a used condom hanging from your arse”
Boris said
“Would you tell anyone?”
Dickie Deacon thought for a moment and then says. “Absolutely not.”
“Ok thanks Sticky.” Said Boris and he and Frank Chute continued down the corridor.
After they had walked about ten feet Frank Chute turned back.
“Sticky?” He called.
“Yes Mr. Chute.”
“Do you want to go camping?”
(Part Six)
It wasn’t all laughter and gallivanting around the countryside quite a lot of their time was spent behind a desk.
For example as part of the inquiry into Olympic security Inspector Adamson and Sergeant Katarski supervised and assisted the rest of the team to complete the mammoth task of collating and analyzing the vast amount of documents from Olympic Security.
They were presently collating the results to see if the deceased security guard Tony Conway, burnt to death at Dawson's recycling plant, had been placed at Olympic for the purpose of gathering information for potential robbery targets.
What they had found was that Conway had worked for two weeks at Clifford’s Biscuits who had been recently burgled.
And when Tom Adamson jetted off somewhere warm and sunny for two weeks, on holiday, Bill turned his mind to the minor problem of who was to ride shot gun for him in Tom’s absence.
After due consideration Bill decided on DS Boris Katarski, it was a no brainer really.
Boris’s normal sidekick DC Frank Chute could partner DS Tilly Donnally, he might act as a calming influence on her.
At twelve o’clock Bill decided he would take an early lunch and was on his way out of his office door when his phone rang.
His first impulse was to ignore it, because if he answered it and it was another misdial he would just get angry, but if he ignored it and it was something important.
So he answered it.
“Overend?”
He sat down and picked up his pen.
“Yes, I know it, it’s near Quarry Hill.”
“Ok thanks.”
He put down the phone and headed out of the office.
“Boris? Tilly?” He shouted.
They both emerged almost simultaneously from opposite directions.
“Sir?”
“We have a body in the Pepperstock Pits. Boris you’re with me. Tilly you take Frank.” Bill instructed.
“Oh, Tilly let Frank drive. The body’s dead so there’s no need for the infamous Donnally Warp speed.”
“Oh come on Guv?” She pleaded.
(Part Seven)
Jenny Hack was going on maternity leave and was being presented with her gifts
“Thank you Bill, firstly, I would like to thank Jenny for her valuable contribution to force and obviously look forward to her return.”
“So with gratitude and congratulations please accept these gifts as a token of our affection”
A procession of gifts were paraded to her by willing hands and they quickly piled up beside her and were in danger of dwarfing her, there were twelve in all and they arrived in such quick succession that she had no time to open them.
When the last gift had been presented Tiplady spoke again.
“Finally from DCI Overend and myself.” He announced and gave a theatrical sweep of his arm.
A beautiful brunette stepped through the crowd with the huge bouquet.
Boris thought she was stunning.
The bouquet was so large Jenny couldn’t see who was holding it until the very last second.
After a few moments it sank in and she realized who it was and she burst into tears.
“What are you doing here?” Jenny sobbed
Jenny and the brunette were chatting animatedly but Boris couldn’t make out what they were saying, but equally he couldn’t take his eyes off Jenny’s friend.
He found a place to stand were he could be on the periphery of the conversation with his mates but keep her in view, she was gorgeous.
He was brought back down to earth by a loud shout from the DCI
“Boris!”
“Guv.” Boris said as he appeared from behind a pillar.
“Can you organize some labour to get Jenny’s stuff down to her car?”
“That’s alright sir I’ll do it later.” Jenny said.
“Nonsense you are going to have an enjoyable lunch and then you are going home"
Jenny started to speak again.
Bill wagged a finger in her direction.
“Ok sir.” She answered feebly.
As Bill walked off towards his office Boris glanced over his shoulder and saw the brunette leant in close to Jenny and whisper something.
(Part Eight)
DCI Overend and Chief Superintendent Tiplady stood at the bar dispensing drinks Jenny and the girl he now knew to be Lizzie Bird settled themselves in the corner.
And one by one, drinks in hand, his colleagues joined them and Boris skillfully managed to end up sitting next to Lizzie.
There was a lot of general chatter during lunch and Boris spent most of it hanging on Lizzies every word, he was sure that she was flirting with him and when he noticed Jenny watching, Boris got quite embarrassed.
After the food was consumed, and Superintendent Tiplady settled the bill, people began to drift back to work taking it in turns to say goodbye to a tearful Jenny who was a little merry.
Before DCI Overend left he said.
“I think we need to get you a lift home Flower.”
“I’ll drive her home Bill.” Said Lizzie.
“Thanks Lizzie.” He replied.
“What about my car?” asked Jenny.
“Boris can drive your car home and Frank can follow on and bring Boris back.”
“That’s alright I can drive Boris back to the station.” Offered Lizzie.
“Are you sure that’s ok?”
“No problem.”
“There is a God” Boris said to himself
Boris had been to the toilet and we he returned to the bar they gathered Jenny and her belongings together and ushered her outside.
An hour later Jenny was safely at home in the care of her husband Bob.
Boris parked her car on their drive before he and Lizzie helped Bob unload the gifts and flowers by the time they had finished Jenny was fast asleep on the sofa.
(Part Nine)
On the journey back to Abbottsford Boris desperately searched for the right words to ask Lizzie out.
He fought the same old battle inside as he always did when in close proximity to someone he was attracted to.
Under normal circumstances he could engage anyone in conversation on a wide variety of subjects without a second thought.
Anyone and everyone that knew him would describe him as a chatty person to the point of verbal diarrhea.
But in the company of someone he fancied he just dried up.
If he didn’t hurry up he would be back at the station and his chance would be gone.
They were ten minutes into the journey before he managed to say anything.
“You’re not married then?” He blurted out.
“No, I’m a widow.” She replied
“Oh God I’m so sorry.” He said hoping he hadn’t blown it already
“That’s ok you weren’t to know.” She reassured him
“How long has it been?” he asked
“Over two years now.” She replied
They were now in the Police station car park and time was definitely running out.
“You haven’t met anyone else then?” he asked hopefully
Lizzie gave him a sideways glance but with the hint of a smile.
“Well Boris men are like parking spaces, the good ones are taken, and the rest are handicapped.”
He laughed nervously as Lizzie finally found a space to park.
She pulled the car into the space and stopped.
“There you go.” She said
“Thanks Lizzie.” He replied
He paused and was about to speak but stopped short, he wanted to ask her out but he lost his nerve.
He opened the door and got out, then he leant down.
“Thanks again bye.” He said
“Bye Boris.”
He shut the door and walked slowly towards the building.
He cursed himself under his breath and shook his head several times and then the sound of a car horn made him jump.
He turned sharply and was about to unleash a torrent of abuse when he saw Lizzie’s laughing face through the car window.
He smiled back at her as she wound down the window.
“If you’re interested I’m free tomorrow night.” She asked.
“Right um yes.” He stuttered
“There’s a film on in town at the Tivoli I really want to see.” She said.
“Um great yes.” He stuttered again
“I’ll meet you in the foyer at 7.30. Ok?”
Boris nodded.
“Bye Boris.” She shouted as she drove off.
He continued into the station feeling 10 feet tall.
(Part Ten)
The Tivoli theatre was an old cinema originally built in the twenties.
At that time it was the only cinema for twenty miles in any direction so Abbottsford was the envy of the district.
By the late seventies however films had gone out of fashion and the theatre was closed. It was in disuse for more than ten years, it was however spared the indignity of becoming a bingo hall as many a fine picture house had.
When the cinema revival happened, Chris Bourne, a local man made good, who like many had fond memories of the Tivoli, mainly associated with courting, restored the theatre to its former glory.
Ironically it was the advent of satellite television and video rental, supposed to give us all so much choice of home viewing, which seemed to spark the revival.
It was feared for a while that the renovations would be in vain as a new multiplex cinema was opened in the new Phoenix shopping center development only three miles away.
But Chris Bourne was unperturbed and decided that the Tivoli should specialize in classic movies and retrospectives.
As a result people traveled from miles around, as they did in the twenties and thirties.
The theatre was located in the older part of town in what used to be the high street.
There were no longer any shops in the high street they had long since moved into the Phoenix center.
When the Abbottsford ring road was opened the High street was pedestrianized and this had inadvertently created a sort of leisure haven.
Where once the road had run were now benches, planters, ornamental lights and even a fountain.
The vacant shops had for some time now been occupied by a collection of restaurants, fast food outlet's, bars, café’s and wine bars.
The only premises not connected to food or drink were charity shops, craft shops, second hand book shops, two art galleries and of course the Tivoli Theatre.
(Part Eleven)
Boris was early, by an hour.
He lived in Abbottsford, very close to the town center, so it was a very short walk for him.
This though was not the reason he was early.
In truth he still couldn’t believe his luck.
No one had ever asked him out before let alone a good looker like Lizzie.
His stomach had been turning somersaults all day and the longer the day went on the worse they got to the point that he couldn’t eat.
The problem was that he felt no better now that he was there than he did when he was pacing the floor at home.
It was 6.45 and he had already walked the length of the high street and back.
As it was a fine May evening he decided to sit outside of Luigi’s, one of the Café’s which was located opposite the Tivoli.
He had the foresight to buy an evening paper when he walked into town so when he had ordered a drink he settled down to read the paper perhaps that would kill a little time.
After ten minutes he found his mind kept wandering and when he had read the same paragraph six times he gave up on the paper.
Gazing across at the Tivoli for the first time he discovered the name of the film he and Lizzie were going to watch.
Previously it hadn’t occurred to him to inquire the name of the movie he was just delighted at the prospect of spending the evening in the company of an attractive young woman.
It was Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a wonderful life” starring James Stewart and Donna Reed.
James Stewart was one of his idols as an actor and this film in particular was his all-time favorite.
Feeling encouraged for the first time about the date, because they now had some common ground on which he could discuss with some confidence, he relaxed a little.
Looking at his watch he tensed up again when he realized he still had another thirty minutes to wait.
His sanity was saved by the appearance of Inspector Holt and his wife Mary.
“Hello Boris.” John Holt said.
“Hello sir.” Answered Boris.
“It’s John when were off duty Boris, This is my wife Mary.” John said proudly and then he turned towards her.
“Mary this is Boris.”
Boris stood and shook her hand.
“I've heard a lot about you Boris.” Mary said smiling.
“Do you mind if we join you?”
“Please do” Boris gestured to an empty chair and John Holt attended the chair for his wife until she was settled and then he sat himself.
“Are you meeting someone?” Mary asked.
“Yes.” Boris answered and then he elaborated. “It’s our first date so I’m a little nervous.”
“Same for us in a manner of speaking” John said and then he and Mary smiled knowingly to each other.
John ordered the drinks.
“Where are you taking her?” They asked in unison and then giggled.
“To the Tiv.” Boris nodded in the direction of the theatre.
“Oh us too.” Said Mary.
“It’s a great film isn’t it?” Boris said
“We’ve never seen it.” John replied
“Really? You’ve never seen it?” Boris was amazed.
“You seem surprised?” said John.
“Well it’s just that’s it’s a bit of a classic.” Boris replied
Just then he noticed someone at his shoulder, a waitress he presumed, he turned to dismiss her and found Lizzie instead.
“Hi.” She said smiling broadly. “You’re early.”
He stood up.
“Hi.”
He gazed at her and was transfixed, and then he suddenly realized he was staring.
“Um this is Mary and John and this is Lizzie.” He paused briefly for the introductions.
“John is an Inspector at my station.” He explained.
“Yes I know John.” Both men looked surprised.
“The match on Wednesday.” She explained.
“Of course I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
“Well I have scrubbed up a bit.” Lizzie said.
“You can say that again.” Boris said and then blushed to his roots when he realized he’d said it out loud.
Once settled and the introductions were out of the way Boris, to his and Lizzie's surprise, began the conversation.
“John and Mary are going to the Tiv as well. But they’ve never seen the film before.”
“Really?” she said in a tone suggesting they must be from another planet.
“What made you decide to see it now?”
“Well we have decided to have something of a life change” John said holding Mary’s hand tightly and gazing into her eyes.
Boris and Lizzie looked a little puzzled.
“And “It’s a wonderful life” seemed like an appropriate place to start”
Boris and Lizzie looked even more puzzled though John and Mary barely noticed.
After a few minutes Boris suggested that he went to buy the tickets while Lizzie finished her drink.
“That’s a good idea” She said and suggested that John should join him.
Her curiosity was getting the better of her and she wanted an opportunity to speak to Mary.
The men returned with the tickets just in time as the girls had just finished their drinks.
So they stood by the table while the girls went to the toilets.
When they returned Mary took John’s hand and to Boris’s surprise Lizzie slipped her hand into his and they all made their way to the theatre.
The Girl in the Turquoise Dress
“Hi I’m Hannah” the girl in the Turquoise dress announced
“Can I borrow a screwdriver?”
She had just moved in to the house next door.
Strictly speaking calling her a girl was perhaps stretching a point.
I found out subsequently that Hannah Knott was forty nine years old and had 4 grown up children but she was a girl in comparison to me, who was knocking loudly on the door of my sixth decade.
“Of course you can” I replied “Come in a minute”
“Thank you” she said
“I’m Harry by the way”
She had a pleasant face, but had sad eyes, not sad like a puppy dog, more the kind of sad that went deep and left a tell-tale impression on her face.
She had a nice figure, even taking into consideration the fact she was in her late-forties and had given birth 4 times.
There was no instant mutual attraction, no flash of lightning nor cascade of Mantovani’s violins.
I thought she was a “fit” woman but I’d always needed more than just physical attraction to light my fire.
I had to know the person, like them and preferably love them for true sexual attraction.
Apart from noticing the obvious facts that she was very attractive and didn’t own a screwdriver I also divined that Hannah was Jewish as she wore a gold Star of David around her neck.
The turquoise dress in question was a long flowing affair that fitted well around her ample bosom and then hung loosely to the floor
Which left a lot to the imagination which was fine because I have a very vivid imagination.
I soon ascertained what task she was doing and what type of screwdriver she required to do it and got one from the tool shed but after having coffee with her I volunteered to do it for her.
I was retired and lived alone, my wife had died two years earlier and my two sons had families of their own so I had time on my hands.
So we became friends from the first day that I helped her assembling flat pack furniture and I enjoyed it so much that I helped her on subsequent days.
So that was how I came to spend the summer helping her to decorate her house.
It kept me busy and made me feel useful which gave me fresh energy and a renewed purpose.
I wasn’t aware at the time that Hannah liked it too, but for her it was because she was lonely, she missed her boys and felt unneeded since the youngest one left to join the army.
It had occurred to me very early on that I had been lonely too I just hadn’t realised it until I met her.
While we worked together we got to know each other and I got to find the reason for the sadness in her eyes.
She hadn’t given birth to 4 babies as I first thought she had given birth to 5.
Her youngest child was a girl named Ruth who at the age of 8 was struck by a hit and run driver and killed.
“My baby girl was gone” she sobbed “my beautiful baby girl”
I didn’t know what to say, what can you say?
What empty words can console someone who has lost a child?
No parent should have to bury their children.
All I could do was to take her in my arms and let her cry on my shoulder.
I couldn’t take the pain away or stem the flow of tears all I could do was hold her and afterwards listen while she unburdened herself.
In addition to losing her daughter she also lost her husband who decided he could best help his grieving wife by shagging the next door neighbour.
“That’s shit” I said
It was little wonder she was sad and lonely.
As the summer wore on and we completed room after room we were both secretly dreading finishing the job.
We had done the garden already and the exterior painting was complete.
What would we do? What would fill our days? What excuse would I have to be with her?
It wasn’t until the end of the summer as it turned slowly to autumn when all the work was done, we found that amidst the polyfilla and the paint fumes that we had fallen in love.
And we realised there were ways for us to pass the time together that didn’t involve a screwdriver or a paintbrush.
“Can I borrow a screwdriver?”
She had just moved in to the house next door.
Strictly speaking calling her a girl was perhaps stretching a point.
I found out subsequently that Hannah Knott was forty nine years old and had 4 grown up children but she was a girl in comparison to me, who was knocking loudly on the door of my sixth decade.
“Of course you can” I replied “Come in a minute”
“Thank you” she said
“I’m Harry by the way”
She had a pleasant face, but had sad eyes, not sad like a puppy dog, more the kind of sad that went deep and left a tell-tale impression on her face.
She had a nice figure, even taking into consideration the fact she was in her late-forties and had given birth 4 times.
There was no instant mutual attraction, no flash of lightning nor cascade of Mantovani’s violins.
I thought she was a “fit” woman but I’d always needed more than just physical attraction to light my fire.
I had to know the person, like them and preferably love them for true sexual attraction.
Apart from noticing the obvious facts that she was very attractive and didn’t own a screwdriver I also divined that Hannah was Jewish as she wore a gold Star of David around her neck.
The turquoise dress in question was a long flowing affair that fitted well around her ample bosom and then hung loosely to the floor
Which left a lot to the imagination which was fine because I have a very vivid imagination.
I soon ascertained what task she was doing and what type of screwdriver she required to do it and got one from the tool shed but after having coffee with her I volunteered to do it for her.
I was retired and lived alone, my wife had died two years earlier and my two sons had families of their own so I had time on my hands.
So we became friends from the first day that I helped her assembling flat pack furniture and I enjoyed it so much that I helped her on subsequent days.
So that was how I came to spend the summer helping her to decorate her house.
It kept me busy and made me feel useful which gave me fresh energy and a renewed purpose.
I wasn’t aware at the time that Hannah liked it too, but for her it was because she was lonely, she missed her boys and felt unneeded since the youngest one left to join the army.
It had occurred to me very early on that I had been lonely too I just hadn’t realised it until I met her.
While we worked together we got to know each other and I got to find the reason for the sadness in her eyes.
She hadn’t given birth to 4 babies as I first thought she had given birth to 5.
Her youngest child was a girl named Ruth who at the age of 8 was struck by a hit and run driver and killed.
“My baby girl was gone” she sobbed “my beautiful baby girl”
I didn’t know what to say, what can you say?
What empty words can console someone who has lost a child?
No parent should have to bury their children.
All I could do was to take her in my arms and let her cry on my shoulder.
I couldn’t take the pain away or stem the flow of tears all I could do was hold her and afterwards listen while she unburdened herself.
In addition to losing her daughter she also lost her husband who decided he could best help his grieving wife by shagging the next door neighbour.
“That’s shit” I said
It was little wonder she was sad and lonely.
As the summer wore on and we completed room after room we were both secretly dreading finishing the job.
We had done the garden already and the exterior painting was complete.
What would we do? What would fill our days? What excuse would I have to be with her?
It wasn’t until the end of the summer as it turned slowly to autumn when all the work was done, we found that amidst the polyfilla and the paint fumes that we had fallen in love.
And we realised there were ways for us to pass the time together that didn’t involve a screwdriver or a paintbrush.
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (22) I’ve Never Seen “It’s a Wonderful Life”
(Part 01)
In November, Megan Thomas moved into Flat 4 of East Cliff Lodge, after it was hastily vacated by Emily Waugh who was reconciled with her ex-husband, and moved back in with him.
Megan was an only child and had spent all of her adult life nursing her invalid mother.
It was a thankless task, for her mother Edith was a bitter and demanding woman who put her timid daughter through the proverbial ringer.
When Edith finally shuffled off this mortal coil the overwhelming feeling that Megan had was one of relief.
At the funeral she looked every bit like a mournful daughter, but she was not grieving, it was just that life with Edith had drained her with the result that she was pale and drawn and she looked five years older than her 47 years.
Not that she ever had a lot of flesh on her bones, the years of being her mother’s skivvy had kept her thin and left her with a gaunt expression.
After the funeral and the reading of Edith’s last will and testament, Megan decided it was time for her to take stock of her life.
Although her mother had left her comfortably off in the financial sense but she was left with no family, no friends, no profession and most of all with no discernible purpose.
It took Megan several weeks to come to terms with her situation and to decide what path she should follow with her new found freedom.
Her mother Edith was a tyrant who imposed all of her draconian rules and Victorian prejudices on her dutiful brow beaten daughter.
Her mother hated the country so they lived in the city, Edith hated dogs so Megan wasn’t allowed a dog, and she didn’t like Television so TV’s weren’t allowed in the house.
She decided what books she shouldn’t read, what clothes she should wear, and what thoughts should occupy her mind.
And over the years of her servitude there were a million other petty little dictates and prejudices Megan had to adhere to and Edith revelled in them.
One of Edith’s prejudices was driving, Megan didn’t drive, because her mother thought car drivers in general were vulgar, and for women she didn’t think it was ladylike.
The day after the funeral Megan had her first driving lesson.
Finally three months after she had buried her mother Megan made a life changing decision, the first of many, the house that Edith called home and Megan called a prison was put on the market.
It sold within a week.
Megan’s next decision was to fulfil a lifelong dream of living in the country but she lacked the knowledge of how to proceed, her new found freedom was in the hands of someone not equipped to use it, yet.
So she spoke to the family solicitors, Stanislas, Boivin and Champeaux and instructed them to find her somewhere to live in the country.
As luck would have it her Solicitors also administered the Lakeside estate, in Shallowfield and the Dancingdean Forest which was how Megan Thomas came to move to Teardrop Lake.
Once she had moved in to her new home, her first action was to buy a dog.
She didn’t know what sort of dog she wanted other than the size.
The dog couldn’t be so big that it took her for a walk and nor could it be one of those ridiculous creatures that celebrities carried around in their handbags, other than that she was open to anything.
She read through the advertisement in the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle and there were a number of dogs for sale but the one that caught her eye was placed by Erica Pritchard, an elderly lady who lived in a bungalow on the Childean Road in Shallowfield.
The advert stated that the lady was not looking to sell the dog but she did have to meet the potential recipients before she let him go.
When she realised it was an elderly lady it did put her off somewhat.
She had had enough of cranky old women to last her a life time.
But Megan phoned the number anyway and arranged a mutually convenient time for her to go round.
(Part 02)
Even though Megan could now drive she decided she would walk to Mrs Pritchard’s bungalow, which took her about 35 minutes.
Any misgivings she may have had about elderly ladies were immediately dispelled when she met Erica.
She couldn’t have been any more different to her cantankerous mother.
Erica was lovely and so was the dog, it was a honey coloured American Cocker Spaniel called Skipper, wagged his stump of a tail frantically as Megan made a fuss of him.
“Well I can see he’s made up his mind about you already”
“He’s adorable” Megan said “How can you bare to part with him”
“Well I have to admit it’s not through choice” she replied
“I’ve reached the point where I’m struggling to look after myself let alone that little fella” she explained
“So I’m moving into sheltered accommodation, and unfortunately he’s not allowed”
“That’s really sad” Megan said
Erica made up her mind within a few minutes that Megan was the right person to take on Skipper.
But they still sat talking for over an hour before Megan took her leave.
Megan wrote down her phone number and handed it to Erica
“If you let me know your address I can bring him to visit you”
“Would you dear?” Erica said “That would be lovely”
Megan thought Erica was crying as she waved them off but she just returned her wave and carried on.
The next thing she got herself was a Television, but she didn’t like it, a lot of the programs were quite distasteful and the language was appalling.
Her Mother Edith didn’t like Television, and Megan had to admit she had a point.
Edith also thought everyone on TV was a degenerate but Megan thought that was stretching the point.
Over the years of her servitude her only friends were the books she read because although her mother sanctioned what books she could read she was unable to actually influence her choices.
Megan just got whatever books from the library she fancied.
Those books and there wonderful characters would always be her friends and when she discovered something called a Kindle her circle of friends grew exponentially.
So after she moved into her flat that was how she filled her days reading books and taking Skipper for long walks in the woods.
And the effect on her was startling, she had lost her unhealthy pallor and gaunt appearance and her skin had a healthy lustre to it.
And even her copper coloured hair had body and vitality, her new life on Teardrop Lake certainly seemed to agree with her.
It was on one such walk on a cold and damp November morning two weeks or so after her life began, that Megan and Skipper went up to Coopers Folly.
According to Wikipedia there were two Folly’s in the area around the Lake the first one was built in the early 19th century by the local Nobleman, the 8th Earl of Dancingdean who had it built for himself, in the style of a Castle Keep.
He was an exceptionally vain man and so he had the an area of Forest cleared on top of a hill and had the Folly built there and then so everyone around the lake would know whose it was he hoisted his standard high above the turret.
Wikipedia went on to say that second was erected as an act of retaliation by Ezekiel Cooper who lived on the opposite side of the Lake.
Ezekiel was not of the nobility, he was a self-made man and he made his money in the cotton Mills of Lancashire, and he despised the Nobles and the way they looked down on him.
So in response to the Earl’s construction he had built an even gaudier Folly of his own in the Victorian Gothic style.
Like his noble adversary he built his atop a deforested hill and had his standard flying.
Megan took Skipper to see the latter building, she hadn’t seen it before and she wasn’t sure she liked what she saw.
“It’s hideous isn’t it?” a voice behind her said
Megan turned around to see a tall slim woman close to her own age with Slavic features.
“It is rather” Megan agreed
“I am Angelika” the woman said with the hint of an accent
“And this fellow is Paris”
Paris was a chocolate coloured Labrador
“Megan” she said and shook her hand “and this is Skipper”
“That’s a lovely name” She said
“It’s short for “Golden Skipper Delight”” Megan said and Angelika roared with laughter
“No I meant Megan is a lovely name”
“Oh I see” she said and laughed “I always thought it was rather a dull name”
“Nonsense it’s an Anglo Saxon name which means “Little Pearl”” Angelika explained
“Really? I didn’t know that” Megan responded
“I have seen you before from a distance I think” Angelika said
“That’s right” Megan said “but I haven’t been up here before, we’re new so we are still exploring”
“There is a lot to explore” Angelika agreed “perhaps we will meet again sometime on one of your explorations”
“I hope so” Megan said and then they went their separate ways
(Part 03)
Angelika Schmeltz was not, like Megan, a newcomer to Teardrop Lake she had lived in Coopers Hill Cottage, on a hill high above the Southern Perimeter road, just a stone’s throw from the Folly, for 30 years.
She was only 18 when she left her native Netherlands and moved in with her lover and she had never regretted it for a moment but death visited them five years earlier and she still hurt.
She was an elegant looking woman with striking looks and mesmeric green eyes full of sadness.
Her short strawberry blonde hair was now streaked with grey.
Like Megan, Angelika had also been left comfortable after her bereavement but unlike Megan she did grieve and still grieved.
She filled her days reading old detective fiction, watching old movies, doing jigsaw puzzles and missing Charlie.
Angelika was not made to live alone, she needed company, but nor was she a natural mixer and she didn’t form attachments easily.
Her first impression of the lady at the Folly was a favourable one and she hoped she might bump into her again.
A mutually beneficial friendship might well develop if they could find some common ground.
They were both soppy about their dogs so that was a start.
The next morning Megan went to St Mary’s Church in Shallowfield.
A strong Christian faith was the only common ground between her and her mother and they maintained a regular attendance.
She was a little nervous as she walked in, she was quite self-conscious being the newcomer, but she was made very welcome, firstly by the Ben Shenton, the vicar, and then by his wife Olivia, who took her under her wing and introduced her to some of the congregation.
During the service Megan looked around to see if the lady with the chocolate Lab was there but she couldn’t see her.
And there was a very good reason why Megan couldn’t see Angelika at St Marys because Angelika hadn’t been to Church since Charlie passed.
She was angry with God for taking the love of her life and she was very unforgiving.
It was a week after their first meeting, on a crisp frosty autumn morning, when they met again.
The sky was a brilliant blue and the leaves crunched underfoot and the air was the freshest she had ever known.
It was the dogs who spotted each other first.
Megan and Skipper had just left East Cliff Lodge and were on the road about to head down the hill,
Angelika and Paris were coming the other way the latter considerable faster than the former.
“Good morning” Megan called brightly, she was hoping to run into her again at some time.
“Morning” Angelika said breathlessly “That dog will be the death of me”
“He’s hardly panting at all” Megan pointed out and laughed
Angelika would have laughed if she’d had the breath for it she just about had enough breath to say
“Well he’s a lot younger than me”
When she had completely got her wind back she asked
“So where are you off to?”
“Nowhere special we’re still exploring” Megan replied
“We’re off to Lovers Leap” she said
“Lovers Leap?” Megan repeated “I didn’t know there was one”
“Yes it’s a rocky outcrop above the cliffs, on a day like today the view is spectacular” she enthused
“Would you mind if we tagged along?” Megan asked hopefully
“Not at all, I would appreciate the company” Angelika replied and smiled
The cliffs that Angelika mentioned were an extension of those that formed part of the northern side of Teardrop Lake and formed the natural border between the Teardrop estate and the Dancingdean Forest proper.
Lovers Leap was so called because it was where desperate and broken hearted lovers would leap to their deaths although there was no evidence that anyone actually had but it made a good story.
(Part 04)
It wasn’t a long walk from where they met but it wasn’t an easy one either.
The dogs reached the top first and then Angelika and some distance behind was Megan who was extremely out of breath.
“I thought you had decided not to come” Angelika said jovially
“You must have the constitution of a mounting goat” Megan retorted
“The legs certainly” she agreed and laughed
By the time they reached Lovers Leap Megan was panting worse than the dogs and as she walked onto the shelf that was “Lovers Leap” and took in the vista it took away what little breath she had remaining.
“Wow” she said as she looked out across the russet hues of the deciduous Dancingdean Forest stretching into the distance and they sat down on the rocky shelf.
“This is my favourite place” Angelika said “Charlie and me used to come here often”
“I can see why” Megan said
Angelika almost cried but managed to stop herself.
“It’s different every time I come here, but it’s always special”
The walk back down wasn’t much easier on the legs than the one up was.
And when they reached the road Megan said
“Gosh I’m pooped, I could do with a cup of tea”
Megan was unaccustomed to social etiquette so she just added
“Why don’t you join me?”
“I’d love to” Angelika said pleased that she appeared to have found the friend she was looking for.
Megan on the other hand hadn’t had a friend since she left school so she was particularly pleased to have found a kindred spirit.
The yomp up to Lovers Leap was the first of many walks the four of them took in the forest, all of them ending in Tea or Coffee at whoever’s home they finished up nearest to.
On the first of December they had walked up to the Tower which was at the Southwest corner of the Lake.
The Watch Tower was reputed to date back to the time of the Armada but the truth of that had been disputed and in truth nobody actually knew even Wikipedia was vague on the subject.
But when they got there Megan found it a bit disappointing, it was not dissimilar to the towers you see dotted all over the Mediterranean, not that she’d ever seen one other than in a book.
While they were there the heavens opened so they beat a hasty retreat back to Coopers Hill Cottage.
Angelica opened the door and they both kicked off their boots in the lobby and discarded their coats.
And when they went deeper inside Megan was staggered to see the difference in the place since her last visit two day earlier.
There were coloured lights, garlands and baubles everywhere.
“Goodness me” she exclaimed
“Charlie always went overboard with the decks at Christmas so I’ve kept up the tradition” she said wistfully
“Have you not put yours up yet then?”
“I don’t have any” Megan confessed “Mother didn’t like decorations”
“Well “mother” can’t spoil your fun anymore” Angelika said “So tomorrow morning I’m going to take you to Shallowfield Garden Centre, they really know how to do Christmas”
Angelika would accept no argument and picked her up in her old Mondeo Estate and drove her to the Garden Centre.
Once inside Megan was like a child in a sweetshop at the end of rationing.
She didn’t know where to look first, Angelika had to rein her in a bit at times otherwise she would have bought the whole shop.
By mid-afternoon with Angelika’s help Megan’s flat was every bit as generously decorated as Angelika’s Cottage was.
Megan was absolutely thrilled, her mother would have hated it.
She had never done Christmas to any degree, other than the religious aspect.
There were never any festivities, no decorations, no presents, not even Christmas cards and very definitely no fun.
So this new experience made her tingle all over and with Angelika she felt a real sense of family.
(Part 05)
Over the next week or so the walks were foreshortened by the weather which was not conducive to prolonged country walks, but the dogs had to be exercised so some exposure to the elements was necessary.
When there was finally a break in the weather the dogs were given a thorough walking and at the end of it the four of them where shattered.
As they were on the south side of the lake Angelika said
“Let’s go back to mine for lunch and then we can watch “It’s a Wonderful Life””
“What’s that?” Megan asked
“What’s what?” Angelika replied
“It’s a wonderful something” she said
“It’s a Wonderful Life?” Asked Angelika
“Yes?”
“It’s a Classic” Angelika said
“A Classic what?”
“Movie, James Stewart, Donna Reed, Clarence the angel?” Angelika said but Megan looked at her blankly and responded
“I’ve never seen “It’s a Wonderful Life””
“Then you my dear are in for an absolute treat” she said and put her arm through Megan’s and they pressed on to the cottage.
At the end of the film both women were in tears
“That was brilliant” Megan said dabbing at her eyes with her hankie
“I can’t believe you’ve never seen it before” Angelika stated
“I’ve never seen a film before” she said
“Not one film?” Angelika asked incredulously
“No”
“Well you’ve started with a corker” she said
“I will have to introduce you to some more films”
“Will they be as good as that one?” Megan asked
“Some of them will be even better” Angelika replied
“Then I can’t wait” she admitted
After that they spent every afternoon in either the flat or the cottage watching classic movies, and Megan loved them all.
For Angelika watching Megan experiencing Clarke Gable and Claudette Colbert in “It happened one night” or James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan in “Shop around the Corner” was almost as special as the movies.
One day when she was on her way home from Angelika’s, Megan had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming that she was happy or that she was just remembering the plot of book she once enjoyed, because she was enjoying her new life and her new friendship so much.
Megan had been so unhappy for so long she didn’t realise just how unhappy she was until it was over.
It was only six months since her mother Edith had passed away but it seemed like a lifetime and in those six short months she had begun to live.
She never in her wildest dreams imagined she could ever be happier than she was at that moment.
A few days after they watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” together Megan and Skipper were just leaving Angelika’s to go home and as she was planning to go to the Carol Service at St Mary’s that night so she decided to ask Angelika if she’d go with her and her response surprised her.
“No, no” Angelika said adamantly “I haven’t set foot inside a Church since Charlie passed”
“But it’s only Carols” Megan said
“No! I am still too angry with God for taking my Charlie” she said
“Well if you’re sure” Megan said brightly
“Quite sure”
“Ok then I’ll see you tomorrow” she said and left it at that, Megan didn’t want to push her too hard because she didn’t want to risk upsetting her, their friendship was too important to her than that.
And as Angelika closed the cottage door she hoped she hadn’t been too blunt with her, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Megan in anyway, but she wasn’t ready yet to forgive God.
Megan went to the Carol service alone and thoroughly enjoyed it and she went to the Sunday service a few days later but she didn’t ask Angelika on that occasion though she hadn’t given up on her, she would bide her time.
The day after it was a foggy day, one of those days when the fog clung on all day.
They took the dogs out in the morning but the freezing fog got into their bones so they cut the walk short and went back to the cottage.
Just before lunchtime Coleman Bowers knocked loudly on the door.
He was a proper old country boy in his late fifties with white receding hair and a matching wiry beard.
He worked at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel as an odd job/handyman and part of his duties was to take his Skiff around the lake twice a week delivering the mail and small parcels.
But that day he was in a van because he was delivering Door Wreathes, Holly boughs and sprigs of Mistletoe.
The Shallowfield Lodge Hotel took advance orders for them and then Coleman delivered them on his rounds.
“I’ve already delivered your’n to the flat” he said to Megan
“Thanks Coleman” she replied
“Can you hang this sprig on that nail?” Angelika asked pointing up at the beam.
“Yes’m” he replied and adopted a broad stance before reaching up.
At which point they both kissed him beneath the mistletoe, just a peck on each cheek, but that was enough to make him turn beetroot red, and leave the cottage unceremoniously.
Both of them fell about laughing at his reaction and then Angelika held the mistletoe above Megan’s head as she adopted Coleman’s distinct stance and she kissed her, but unlike with Coleman it didn’t stop at a peck, in fact it didn’t stop at all, and the recipient didn’t run away red faced into the fog.
In November, Megan Thomas moved into Flat 4 of East Cliff Lodge, after it was hastily vacated by Emily Waugh who was reconciled with her ex-husband, and moved back in with him.
Megan was an only child and had spent all of her adult life nursing her invalid mother.
It was a thankless task, for her mother Edith was a bitter and demanding woman who put her timid daughter through the proverbial ringer.
When Edith finally shuffled off this mortal coil the overwhelming feeling that Megan had was one of relief.
At the funeral she looked every bit like a mournful daughter, but she was not grieving, it was just that life with Edith had drained her with the result that she was pale and drawn and she looked five years older than her 47 years.
Not that she ever had a lot of flesh on her bones, the years of being her mother’s skivvy had kept her thin and left her with a gaunt expression.
After the funeral and the reading of Edith’s last will and testament, Megan decided it was time for her to take stock of her life.
Although her mother had left her comfortably off in the financial sense but she was left with no family, no friends, no profession and most of all with no discernible purpose.
It took Megan several weeks to come to terms with her situation and to decide what path she should follow with her new found freedom.
Her mother Edith was a tyrant who imposed all of her draconian rules and Victorian prejudices on her dutiful brow beaten daughter.
Her mother hated the country so they lived in the city, Edith hated dogs so Megan wasn’t allowed a dog, and she didn’t like Television so TV’s weren’t allowed in the house.
She decided what books she shouldn’t read, what clothes she should wear, and what thoughts should occupy her mind.
And over the years of her servitude there were a million other petty little dictates and prejudices Megan had to adhere to and Edith revelled in them.
One of Edith’s prejudices was driving, Megan didn’t drive, because her mother thought car drivers in general were vulgar, and for women she didn’t think it was ladylike.
The day after the funeral Megan had her first driving lesson.
Finally three months after she had buried her mother Megan made a life changing decision, the first of many, the house that Edith called home and Megan called a prison was put on the market.
It sold within a week.
Megan’s next decision was to fulfil a lifelong dream of living in the country but she lacked the knowledge of how to proceed, her new found freedom was in the hands of someone not equipped to use it, yet.
So she spoke to the family solicitors, Stanislas, Boivin and Champeaux and instructed them to find her somewhere to live in the country.
As luck would have it her Solicitors also administered the Lakeside estate, in Shallowfield and the Dancingdean Forest which was how Megan Thomas came to move to Teardrop Lake.
Once she had moved in to her new home, her first action was to buy a dog.
She didn’t know what sort of dog she wanted other than the size.
The dog couldn’t be so big that it took her for a walk and nor could it be one of those ridiculous creatures that celebrities carried around in their handbags, other than that she was open to anything.
She read through the advertisement in the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle and there were a number of dogs for sale but the one that caught her eye was placed by Erica Pritchard, an elderly lady who lived in a bungalow on the Childean Road in Shallowfield.
The advert stated that the lady was not looking to sell the dog but she did have to meet the potential recipients before she let him go.
When she realised it was an elderly lady it did put her off somewhat.
She had had enough of cranky old women to last her a life time.
But Megan phoned the number anyway and arranged a mutually convenient time for her to go round.
(Part 02)
Even though Megan could now drive she decided she would walk to Mrs Pritchard’s bungalow, which took her about 35 minutes.
Any misgivings she may have had about elderly ladies were immediately dispelled when she met Erica.
She couldn’t have been any more different to her cantankerous mother.
Erica was lovely and so was the dog, it was a honey coloured American Cocker Spaniel called Skipper, wagged his stump of a tail frantically as Megan made a fuss of him.
“Well I can see he’s made up his mind about you already”
“He’s adorable” Megan said “How can you bare to part with him”
“Well I have to admit it’s not through choice” she replied
“I’ve reached the point where I’m struggling to look after myself let alone that little fella” she explained
“So I’m moving into sheltered accommodation, and unfortunately he’s not allowed”
“That’s really sad” Megan said
Erica made up her mind within a few minutes that Megan was the right person to take on Skipper.
But they still sat talking for over an hour before Megan took her leave.
Megan wrote down her phone number and handed it to Erica
“If you let me know your address I can bring him to visit you”
“Would you dear?” Erica said “That would be lovely”
Megan thought Erica was crying as she waved them off but she just returned her wave and carried on.
The next thing she got herself was a Television, but she didn’t like it, a lot of the programs were quite distasteful and the language was appalling.
Her Mother Edith didn’t like Television, and Megan had to admit she had a point.
Edith also thought everyone on TV was a degenerate but Megan thought that was stretching the point.
Over the years of her servitude her only friends were the books she read because although her mother sanctioned what books she could read she was unable to actually influence her choices.
Megan just got whatever books from the library she fancied.
Those books and there wonderful characters would always be her friends and when she discovered something called a Kindle her circle of friends grew exponentially.
So after she moved into her flat that was how she filled her days reading books and taking Skipper for long walks in the woods.
And the effect on her was startling, she had lost her unhealthy pallor and gaunt appearance and her skin had a healthy lustre to it.
And even her copper coloured hair had body and vitality, her new life on Teardrop Lake certainly seemed to agree with her.
It was on one such walk on a cold and damp November morning two weeks or so after her life began, that Megan and Skipper went up to Coopers Folly.
According to Wikipedia there were two Folly’s in the area around the Lake the first one was built in the early 19th century by the local Nobleman, the 8th Earl of Dancingdean who had it built for himself, in the style of a Castle Keep.
He was an exceptionally vain man and so he had the an area of Forest cleared on top of a hill and had the Folly built there and then so everyone around the lake would know whose it was he hoisted his standard high above the turret.
Wikipedia went on to say that second was erected as an act of retaliation by Ezekiel Cooper who lived on the opposite side of the Lake.
Ezekiel was not of the nobility, he was a self-made man and he made his money in the cotton Mills of Lancashire, and he despised the Nobles and the way they looked down on him.
So in response to the Earl’s construction he had built an even gaudier Folly of his own in the Victorian Gothic style.
Like his noble adversary he built his atop a deforested hill and had his standard flying.
Megan took Skipper to see the latter building, she hadn’t seen it before and she wasn’t sure she liked what she saw.
“It’s hideous isn’t it?” a voice behind her said
Megan turned around to see a tall slim woman close to her own age with Slavic features.
“It is rather” Megan agreed
“I am Angelika” the woman said with the hint of an accent
“And this fellow is Paris”
Paris was a chocolate coloured Labrador
“Megan” she said and shook her hand “and this is Skipper”
“That’s a lovely name” She said
“It’s short for “Golden Skipper Delight”” Megan said and Angelika roared with laughter
“No I meant Megan is a lovely name”
“Oh I see” she said and laughed “I always thought it was rather a dull name”
“Nonsense it’s an Anglo Saxon name which means “Little Pearl”” Angelika explained
“Really? I didn’t know that” Megan responded
“I have seen you before from a distance I think” Angelika said
“That’s right” Megan said “but I haven’t been up here before, we’re new so we are still exploring”
“There is a lot to explore” Angelika agreed “perhaps we will meet again sometime on one of your explorations”
“I hope so” Megan said and then they went their separate ways
(Part 03)
Angelika Schmeltz was not, like Megan, a newcomer to Teardrop Lake she had lived in Coopers Hill Cottage, on a hill high above the Southern Perimeter road, just a stone’s throw from the Folly, for 30 years.
She was only 18 when she left her native Netherlands and moved in with her lover and she had never regretted it for a moment but death visited them five years earlier and she still hurt.
She was an elegant looking woman with striking looks and mesmeric green eyes full of sadness.
Her short strawberry blonde hair was now streaked with grey.
Like Megan, Angelika had also been left comfortable after her bereavement but unlike Megan she did grieve and still grieved.
She filled her days reading old detective fiction, watching old movies, doing jigsaw puzzles and missing Charlie.
Angelika was not made to live alone, she needed company, but nor was she a natural mixer and she didn’t form attachments easily.
Her first impression of the lady at the Folly was a favourable one and she hoped she might bump into her again.
A mutually beneficial friendship might well develop if they could find some common ground.
They were both soppy about their dogs so that was a start.
The next morning Megan went to St Mary’s Church in Shallowfield.
A strong Christian faith was the only common ground between her and her mother and they maintained a regular attendance.
She was a little nervous as she walked in, she was quite self-conscious being the newcomer, but she was made very welcome, firstly by the Ben Shenton, the vicar, and then by his wife Olivia, who took her under her wing and introduced her to some of the congregation.
During the service Megan looked around to see if the lady with the chocolate Lab was there but she couldn’t see her.
And there was a very good reason why Megan couldn’t see Angelika at St Marys because Angelika hadn’t been to Church since Charlie passed.
She was angry with God for taking the love of her life and she was very unforgiving.
It was a week after their first meeting, on a crisp frosty autumn morning, when they met again.
The sky was a brilliant blue and the leaves crunched underfoot and the air was the freshest she had ever known.
It was the dogs who spotted each other first.
Megan and Skipper had just left East Cliff Lodge and were on the road about to head down the hill,
Angelika and Paris were coming the other way the latter considerable faster than the former.
“Good morning” Megan called brightly, she was hoping to run into her again at some time.
“Morning” Angelika said breathlessly “That dog will be the death of me”
“He’s hardly panting at all” Megan pointed out and laughed
Angelika would have laughed if she’d had the breath for it she just about had enough breath to say
“Well he’s a lot younger than me”
When she had completely got her wind back she asked
“So where are you off to?”
“Nowhere special we’re still exploring” Megan replied
“We’re off to Lovers Leap” she said
“Lovers Leap?” Megan repeated “I didn’t know there was one”
“Yes it’s a rocky outcrop above the cliffs, on a day like today the view is spectacular” she enthused
“Would you mind if we tagged along?” Megan asked hopefully
“Not at all, I would appreciate the company” Angelika replied and smiled
The cliffs that Angelika mentioned were an extension of those that formed part of the northern side of Teardrop Lake and formed the natural border between the Teardrop estate and the Dancingdean Forest proper.
Lovers Leap was so called because it was where desperate and broken hearted lovers would leap to their deaths although there was no evidence that anyone actually had but it made a good story.
(Part 04)
It wasn’t a long walk from where they met but it wasn’t an easy one either.
The dogs reached the top first and then Angelika and some distance behind was Megan who was extremely out of breath.
“I thought you had decided not to come” Angelika said jovially
“You must have the constitution of a mounting goat” Megan retorted
“The legs certainly” she agreed and laughed
By the time they reached Lovers Leap Megan was panting worse than the dogs and as she walked onto the shelf that was “Lovers Leap” and took in the vista it took away what little breath she had remaining.
“Wow” she said as she looked out across the russet hues of the deciduous Dancingdean Forest stretching into the distance and they sat down on the rocky shelf.
“This is my favourite place” Angelika said “Charlie and me used to come here often”
“I can see why” Megan said
Angelika almost cried but managed to stop herself.
“It’s different every time I come here, but it’s always special”
The walk back down wasn’t much easier on the legs than the one up was.
And when they reached the road Megan said
“Gosh I’m pooped, I could do with a cup of tea”
Megan was unaccustomed to social etiquette so she just added
“Why don’t you join me?”
“I’d love to” Angelika said pleased that she appeared to have found the friend she was looking for.
Megan on the other hand hadn’t had a friend since she left school so she was particularly pleased to have found a kindred spirit.
The yomp up to Lovers Leap was the first of many walks the four of them took in the forest, all of them ending in Tea or Coffee at whoever’s home they finished up nearest to.
On the first of December they had walked up to the Tower which was at the Southwest corner of the Lake.
The Watch Tower was reputed to date back to the time of the Armada but the truth of that had been disputed and in truth nobody actually knew even Wikipedia was vague on the subject.
But when they got there Megan found it a bit disappointing, it was not dissimilar to the towers you see dotted all over the Mediterranean, not that she’d ever seen one other than in a book.
While they were there the heavens opened so they beat a hasty retreat back to Coopers Hill Cottage.
Angelica opened the door and they both kicked off their boots in the lobby and discarded their coats.
And when they went deeper inside Megan was staggered to see the difference in the place since her last visit two day earlier.
There were coloured lights, garlands and baubles everywhere.
“Goodness me” she exclaimed
“Charlie always went overboard with the decks at Christmas so I’ve kept up the tradition” she said wistfully
“Have you not put yours up yet then?”
“I don’t have any” Megan confessed “Mother didn’t like decorations”
“Well “mother” can’t spoil your fun anymore” Angelika said “So tomorrow morning I’m going to take you to Shallowfield Garden Centre, they really know how to do Christmas”
Angelika would accept no argument and picked her up in her old Mondeo Estate and drove her to the Garden Centre.
Once inside Megan was like a child in a sweetshop at the end of rationing.
She didn’t know where to look first, Angelika had to rein her in a bit at times otherwise she would have bought the whole shop.
By mid-afternoon with Angelika’s help Megan’s flat was every bit as generously decorated as Angelika’s Cottage was.
Megan was absolutely thrilled, her mother would have hated it.
She had never done Christmas to any degree, other than the religious aspect.
There were never any festivities, no decorations, no presents, not even Christmas cards and very definitely no fun.
So this new experience made her tingle all over and with Angelika she felt a real sense of family.
(Part 05)
Over the next week or so the walks were foreshortened by the weather which was not conducive to prolonged country walks, but the dogs had to be exercised so some exposure to the elements was necessary.
When there was finally a break in the weather the dogs were given a thorough walking and at the end of it the four of them where shattered.
As they were on the south side of the lake Angelika said
“Let’s go back to mine for lunch and then we can watch “It’s a Wonderful Life””
“What’s that?” Megan asked
“What’s what?” Angelika replied
“It’s a wonderful something” she said
“It’s a Wonderful Life?” Asked Angelika
“Yes?”
“It’s a Classic” Angelika said
“A Classic what?”
“Movie, James Stewart, Donna Reed, Clarence the angel?” Angelika said but Megan looked at her blankly and responded
“I’ve never seen “It’s a Wonderful Life””
“Then you my dear are in for an absolute treat” she said and put her arm through Megan’s and they pressed on to the cottage.
At the end of the film both women were in tears
“That was brilliant” Megan said dabbing at her eyes with her hankie
“I can’t believe you’ve never seen it before” Angelika stated
“I’ve never seen a film before” she said
“Not one film?” Angelika asked incredulously
“No”
“Well you’ve started with a corker” she said
“I will have to introduce you to some more films”
“Will they be as good as that one?” Megan asked
“Some of them will be even better” Angelika replied
“Then I can’t wait” she admitted
After that they spent every afternoon in either the flat or the cottage watching classic movies, and Megan loved them all.
For Angelika watching Megan experiencing Clarke Gable and Claudette Colbert in “It happened one night” or James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan in “Shop around the Corner” was almost as special as the movies.
One day when she was on her way home from Angelika’s, Megan had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming that she was happy or that she was just remembering the plot of book she once enjoyed, because she was enjoying her new life and her new friendship so much.
Megan had been so unhappy for so long she didn’t realise just how unhappy she was until it was over.
It was only six months since her mother Edith had passed away but it seemed like a lifetime and in those six short months she had begun to live.
She never in her wildest dreams imagined she could ever be happier than she was at that moment.
A few days after they watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” together Megan and Skipper were just leaving Angelika’s to go home and as she was planning to go to the Carol Service at St Mary’s that night so she decided to ask Angelika if she’d go with her and her response surprised her.
“No, no” Angelika said adamantly “I haven’t set foot inside a Church since Charlie passed”
“But it’s only Carols” Megan said
“No! I am still too angry with God for taking my Charlie” she said
“Well if you’re sure” Megan said brightly
“Quite sure”
“Ok then I’ll see you tomorrow” she said and left it at that, Megan didn’t want to push her too hard because she didn’t want to risk upsetting her, their friendship was too important to her than that.
And as Angelika closed the cottage door she hoped she hadn’t been too blunt with her, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt Megan in anyway, but she wasn’t ready yet to forgive God.
Megan went to the Carol service alone and thoroughly enjoyed it and she went to the Sunday service a few days later but she didn’t ask Angelika on that occasion though she hadn’t given up on her, she would bide her time.
The day after it was a foggy day, one of those days when the fog clung on all day.
They took the dogs out in the morning but the freezing fog got into their bones so they cut the walk short and went back to the cottage.
Just before lunchtime Coleman Bowers knocked loudly on the door.
He was a proper old country boy in his late fifties with white receding hair and a matching wiry beard.
He worked at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel as an odd job/handyman and part of his duties was to take his Skiff around the lake twice a week delivering the mail and small parcels.
But that day he was in a van because he was delivering Door Wreathes, Holly boughs and sprigs of Mistletoe.
The Shallowfield Lodge Hotel took advance orders for them and then Coleman delivered them on his rounds.
“I’ve already delivered your’n to the flat” he said to Megan
“Thanks Coleman” she replied
“Can you hang this sprig on that nail?” Angelika asked pointing up at the beam.
“Yes’m” he replied and adopted a broad stance before reaching up.
At which point they both kissed him beneath the mistletoe, just a peck on each cheek, but that was enough to make him turn beetroot red, and leave the cottage unceremoniously.
Both of them fell about laughing at his reaction and then Angelika held the mistletoe above Megan’s head as she adopted Coleman’s distinct stance and she kissed her, but unlike with Coleman it didn’t stop at a peck, in fact it didn’t stop at all, and the recipient didn’t run away red faced into the fog.
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
The Girl in the Pink Dress
Cathy Meardon entered Victoria Park a little after 8.30pm, she was apprehensive about walking through the park at dusk but she was late for an appointment so she had no real choice.
Her brisk pace was as a result of her tardiness and her unease.
Her appointment was with friends at the Pink Parasol, a trendy pub that had the gimmick of only allowing patrons to enter if they wear pink, the more pink the better.
Which is why Cathy was wearing a pink dress, pink shoes and carried a pink handbag.
Ken Smith was heading in the opposite direction to Cathy on his way home from work and couldn’t help but notice the girl in the pink dress.
He always noticed pretty girls, especially blondes, and he knew from the dresses colour where she was headed.
As he passed her on a parallel path she reached into her bag for her mobile phone and as she pulled it out she also pulled out a small manila envelope with it which fell silently to the floor.
As Cathy strolled purposely on totally oblivious of her loss Ken hurried to the point where he had seen the envelope fall.
He picked it up and saw it was addressed to Miss Catherine Meardon, 59 Carrington Avenue, Abbottsford.
That’s interesting, he thought, she only lived one street away from him.
He didn’t look at the contents of the envelope but thought quite understandingly that if she was carrying it in her handbag it must be of some importance.
So he set off to close the distance that had opened up between them.
She was a small woman but she covered the ground quite quickly regardless, Ken was a foot taller with longer legs and yet he was still struggling to catch her.
Cathy had noticed the man as they passed by, and she thought him quite handsome, and was at the time disappointed they weren’t going the same way.
But now she had noticed that he was following her and she didn’t think him so handsome.
As pretty as she was from the front he had to say she had a very nice rear aspect and those busy little legs of hers were really very attractive.
As she walked faster so did he and she was walking as fast as her little legs could carry her and she thought she would easily reach the exit from the park before he caught her.
But then her legs began to tire and it was like she was walking through treacle and he was gaining on her with every stride
Luke called after her as he got closer but she had earpieces in so she couldn’t hear him.
She glanced over her shoulder and was alarmed to see he was muttering to himself as he got closer.
Cathy was in sight of the gate just as Ken got close enough to put a hand on her shoulder and she turned around and maced him.
“Get away you pervert” she screamed
“What the fuck did you do that for?” he shouted as the spray began to burn his eyes
“Because you’re a pervert” she said
Ken was rubbing his eyes while still clasping the envelope.
“I was trying to give you this” he said waiving it in her direction “it fell out of your bag”
“What?” she exclaimed and snatched the envelope from his hand, she quickly read the address and then the full realisation dawned on her
“Oh god” she said “I’m so sorry I thought you were…”
“A pervert” he said “you did mention it”
“Don’t rub them you’ll just make them worse” she advised and then produced a small bottle of water from her bag
“This will help” she said and splashed water in his enflamed eyes “it also helps if you blink a lot”
“What helps it not getting sprayed in the first place” he corrected her
“Yes, sorry again” she said “but I was scared it looked like you were chasing me”
“I had to chase you, you were like a whippet” he said
“And you were muttering to yourself” she said defensively
“I wasn’t muttering to myself” Ken said “I was trying to speak to you but you had earphones in”
“Oh dear” she said “I really did get it wrong didn’t I?”
“That will teach me to mind my own business in future” he said
“Oh don’t say that” she implored “It was really sweet of you to try”
And she gave him the most dazzling smile which made up to him in part for the discomfiture.
“Let me make it up to you” she said “let me buy you a drink
“I’m won’t be able to get in the Pink Parasol” he said “I’m not wearing anything pink”
“Well that’s not strictly true” She said with a giggle “You haven’t seen your eyes”
Her brisk pace was as a result of her tardiness and her unease.
Her appointment was with friends at the Pink Parasol, a trendy pub that had the gimmick of only allowing patrons to enter if they wear pink, the more pink the better.
Which is why Cathy was wearing a pink dress, pink shoes and carried a pink handbag.
Ken Smith was heading in the opposite direction to Cathy on his way home from work and couldn’t help but notice the girl in the pink dress.
He always noticed pretty girls, especially blondes, and he knew from the dresses colour where she was headed.
As he passed her on a parallel path she reached into her bag for her mobile phone and as she pulled it out she also pulled out a small manila envelope with it which fell silently to the floor.
As Cathy strolled purposely on totally oblivious of her loss Ken hurried to the point where he had seen the envelope fall.
He picked it up and saw it was addressed to Miss Catherine Meardon, 59 Carrington Avenue, Abbottsford.
That’s interesting, he thought, she only lived one street away from him.
He didn’t look at the contents of the envelope but thought quite understandingly that if she was carrying it in her handbag it must be of some importance.
So he set off to close the distance that had opened up between them.
She was a small woman but she covered the ground quite quickly regardless, Ken was a foot taller with longer legs and yet he was still struggling to catch her.
Cathy had noticed the man as they passed by, and she thought him quite handsome, and was at the time disappointed they weren’t going the same way.
But now she had noticed that he was following her and she didn’t think him so handsome.
As pretty as she was from the front he had to say she had a very nice rear aspect and those busy little legs of hers were really very attractive.
As she walked faster so did he and she was walking as fast as her little legs could carry her and she thought she would easily reach the exit from the park before he caught her.
But then her legs began to tire and it was like she was walking through treacle and he was gaining on her with every stride
Luke called after her as he got closer but she had earpieces in so she couldn’t hear him.
She glanced over her shoulder and was alarmed to see he was muttering to himself as he got closer.
Cathy was in sight of the gate just as Ken got close enough to put a hand on her shoulder and she turned around and maced him.
“Get away you pervert” she screamed
“What the fuck did you do that for?” he shouted as the spray began to burn his eyes
“Because you’re a pervert” she said
Ken was rubbing his eyes while still clasping the envelope.
“I was trying to give you this” he said waiving it in her direction “it fell out of your bag”
“What?” she exclaimed and snatched the envelope from his hand, she quickly read the address and then the full realisation dawned on her
“Oh god” she said “I’m so sorry I thought you were…”
“A pervert” he said “you did mention it”
“Don’t rub them you’ll just make them worse” she advised and then produced a small bottle of water from her bag
“This will help” she said and splashed water in his enflamed eyes “it also helps if you blink a lot”
“What helps it not getting sprayed in the first place” he corrected her
“Yes, sorry again” she said “but I was scared it looked like you were chasing me”
“I had to chase you, you were like a whippet” he said
“And you were muttering to yourself” she said defensively
“I wasn’t muttering to myself” Ken said “I was trying to speak to you but you had earphones in”
“Oh dear” she said “I really did get it wrong didn’t I?”
“That will teach me to mind my own business in future” he said
“Oh don’t say that” she implored “It was really sweet of you to try”
And she gave him the most dazzling smile which made up to him in part for the discomfiture.
“Let me make it up to you” she said “let me buy you a drink
“I’m won’t be able to get in the Pink Parasol” he said “I’m not wearing anything pink”
“Well that’s not strictly true” She said with a giggle “You haven’t seen your eyes”
Tales of Love # 1
WE WERE ONCE INSEPARABLE # 1
We were once inseparable
Soul mates incarnate
Held by an eternal bond
As strong as tungsten
Yet soft as pure silk
I thought our union
Would last for ever
Even to the end of eternity
But the bonds that held us
Have disappeared
Like tears in the rain
I WAS LEFT DIMINISHED
I was left diminished
When your light went out
It left a shadow on my soul
And my heart was left
As an empty vessel
By your absence
You now walk
In heavens light
Surrounded by Gods love
With angels song
On the scented air
As I sit cold and alone
In the home we shared
A place full of memories
Where once I felt so at home
Now I wish to be there no more
Reminded every waking moment
Of my cruel loss
So I sit alone and crave
The moment of my own passing
So our souls will be reunited
And we can be together once more
IN THIS AMPHITHEATRE OF HOPE
In this amphitheatre of hope
I've made a life for me
With the woman of my dreams
Made manifest for all to see
Like an object and its shadow
She is every bit a part of me
Our souls as one element
Infinitely joined for all to see
I SEE THE BRIGHT STARS HIGH ABOVE ME
I see the bright stars high above me
I almost feel they are a part of me
But as each one sparkles like a gem
I know one day I will be part of them
I HAD A VIVID DREAM
I had a vivid dream
And you were there
Lovely as the day we met.
I smelt your perfume
It was heavenly
A fragrance so evocative
I was intoxicated
It was blessed Euphoria.
I felt your caress
Tender like the first time
It was so real
My flesh tingled
The hairs on my neck stood up.
I kissed your lips
Like I did so many times
And my heart missed a beat
Just as it always did.
I would have stayed with you
Forever in your embrace
I wanted to stay
But I was dragged away
To awake in the real world
Where you no longer reside
And I was once again alone
But for a short time
I had you back
Even if it was just a dream
But what a special dream
A priceless dream
A dream, that if I could
I would dream again and again
SHE WAS A TAXI DANCER
She was a Taxi dancer
10 cents a dance
He was a patron
And they were dance partners
Each night he would be there
A pocket full of tickets
Each night he looked for her
And they danced all night
He lived for the dances
All day he watched the clock
All night he danced with her
He thought she was special
He hoped he was too
But she was a Taxi dancer
10 cents a dance
She liked to dance
But she liked her commission more
He was just a pocketful of tickets
Nothing more than a cash cow
Who lost his heart
To a dime-a-dance girl
GRACILE
Moving Gracefully
Like a snow white swan
On a glassy lake.
You came into my life
Like an angel
Descending from heaven
On pure white wings
You changed me forever
But your gracile elegance
Mesmerized me
And blinkered me
To your true nature
Because hidden from me
Beneath the surface
And belying the grace
You were no angel
SETTING SAIL
Though you have been
A fair wind
Billowing my sails
My heart still craves
New shores
To beach my skiff upon
And it aches
For fresh new lands
Beneath my feet
So I must go
For you deserve better
And it would not
Be fair on you
If I were to settle
For my first port of call
IT WAS MORE THAN THAT
It wasn’t the sugar sweet
Words of love
From your mouth
That made me love you
It was more than that
It wasn’t the honey coated
Sensual kisses
From your sultry lips
That kept me loving you
It was more than that
It wasn’t the wonderful
Toe curling joy of sex
That cemented
My endless love for you
It was more than that
It was then and is now
The essence that is you
Shining from within
That won my heart
BENEATH THE STAR FILLED SKY
Beneath the star filled sky
Moonlight bathed the sand
As we danced barefoot
Around the camp fire
With sand between our toes
And romance in our hearts
We were once inseparable
Soul mates incarnate
Held by an eternal bond
As strong as tungsten
Yet soft as pure silk
I thought our union
Would last for ever
Even to the end of eternity
But the bonds that held us
Have disappeared
Like tears in the rain
I WAS LEFT DIMINISHED
I was left diminished
When your light went out
It left a shadow on my soul
And my heart was left
As an empty vessel
By your absence
You now walk
In heavens light
Surrounded by Gods love
With angels song
On the scented air
As I sit cold and alone
In the home we shared
A place full of memories
Where once I felt so at home
Now I wish to be there no more
Reminded every waking moment
Of my cruel loss
So I sit alone and crave
The moment of my own passing
So our souls will be reunited
And we can be together once more
IN THIS AMPHITHEATRE OF HOPE
In this amphitheatre of hope
I've made a life for me
With the woman of my dreams
Made manifest for all to see
Like an object and its shadow
She is every bit a part of me
Our souls as one element
Infinitely joined for all to see
I SEE THE BRIGHT STARS HIGH ABOVE ME
I see the bright stars high above me
I almost feel they are a part of me
But as each one sparkles like a gem
I know one day I will be part of them
I HAD A VIVID DREAM
I had a vivid dream
And you were there
Lovely as the day we met.
I smelt your perfume
It was heavenly
A fragrance so evocative
I was intoxicated
It was blessed Euphoria.
I felt your caress
Tender like the first time
It was so real
My flesh tingled
The hairs on my neck stood up.
I kissed your lips
Like I did so many times
And my heart missed a beat
Just as it always did.
I would have stayed with you
Forever in your embrace
I wanted to stay
But I was dragged away
To awake in the real world
Where you no longer reside
And I was once again alone
But for a short time
I had you back
Even if it was just a dream
But what a special dream
A priceless dream
A dream, that if I could
I would dream again and again
SHE WAS A TAXI DANCER
She was a Taxi dancer
10 cents a dance
He was a patron
And they were dance partners
Each night he would be there
A pocket full of tickets
Each night he looked for her
And they danced all night
He lived for the dances
All day he watched the clock
All night he danced with her
He thought she was special
He hoped he was too
But she was a Taxi dancer
10 cents a dance
She liked to dance
But she liked her commission more
He was just a pocketful of tickets
Nothing more than a cash cow
Who lost his heart
To a dime-a-dance girl
GRACILE
Moving Gracefully
Like a snow white swan
On a glassy lake.
You came into my life
Like an angel
Descending from heaven
On pure white wings
You changed me forever
But your gracile elegance
Mesmerized me
And blinkered me
To your true nature
Because hidden from me
Beneath the surface
And belying the grace
You were no angel
SETTING SAIL
Though you have been
A fair wind
Billowing my sails
My heart still craves
New shores
To beach my skiff upon
And it aches
For fresh new lands
Beneath my feet
So I must go
For you deserve better
And it would not
Be fair on you
If I were to settle
For my first port of call
IT WAS MORE THAN THAT
It wasn’t the sugar sweet
Words of love
From your mouth
That made me love you
It was more than that
It wasn’t the honey coated
Sensual kisses
From your sultry lips
That kept me loving you
It was more than that
It wasn’t the wonderful
Toe curling joy of sex
That cemented
My endless love for you
It was more than that
It was then and is now
The essence that is you
Shining from within
That won my heart
BENEATH THE STAR FILLED SKY
Beneath the star filled sky
Moonlight bathed the sand
As we danced barefoot
Around the camp fire
With sand between our toes
And romance in our hearts
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (21) A Phoenix from the Flames
(Part 01)
It was on New Year’s Eve that Jane Cooper’s life changed for ever, although she was totally oblivious to it at the time.
She had gone to bed as the year came to an end she reflected on the events of the year and congratulated herself quite smugly on her achievements, and the growing restaurant fund she had been working on and she looked forward to the future.
She was 8 years old when she and her family moved into Coopers Villa after her father Paul became reconciled with his estranged father Harry.
She had been very happy living there but almost from the day she moved in she attracted the attention of her new neighbour Terry O’Neil.
He was a persistent lad and he pursued Jane for sixteen years before he finally wore her down.
Jane was a person with a goal in life which she had had since she was very young.
And she had been literally working towards it since she left college.
It was been hard work, but she wasn’t afraid of that.
She worked every job she could which was all grist to the mill, every penny she earned went into the Restaurant fund.
Because that was her goal, to be chef de cuisine in her own kitchen in her own restaurant.
It was a big goal, she had set the bar high, but she figured if you’re going to have a dream you might as well dream big.
She had never had anything personally against Terry, and he was a good looking fella just like his brothers.
The three O’Neil Boys were all good looking and had black hair and wild gypsy eyes.
Whereas all the Cooper girls, of which there were also three, all had Auburn hair and freckles all.
The truth was Jane didn’t really do time off and she certainly didn’t do dating which was why at the age of 24 she was still a virgin.
When Jane got up on the morning of New Year’s Day she went downstairs and was met with very grave expressions.
“Blimey! How much did you lot drink last night?” Jane asked and gave a little chuckle.
Just then her father walked in wearing his uniform and no one was laughing.
“I thought you were off today” she said
“I was” he replied then he kissed Lynn
“I’ll see you later love”
“What’s happened?” Jane asked but no one spoke
“What’s happened?” she repeated “Where’s dad gone?”
“Someone’s been hurt” Lynn replied
Jane knew by the atmosphere that it was someone they knew, but she didn’t know who it could be.
And as if to pre-empt Jane’s next question Lynn said
“It’s Terry O’Neil”
And Jane felt like she’d been punched in the stomach.
And the next thing she knew she was being helped up from the floor.
PC Terry O’Neil was on duty on New Year’s Eve with another PC, Georgina Devereaux, when there was an armed robbery at a wholesale jewellers in Finchbottom.
Georgina was driving when they took the call and spun the car around as Terry responded on the radio.
Two other cars were in pursuit of the bandit car from Finchbottom and O’Neil and Devereaux were heading straight for them to intercept.
As Georgina took the roundabout, the bandit car went the wrong side of the island as a shortcut to the motorway and hit them head on.
Devereaux and two of the bandits died at the scene and a third in the ambulance, only Terry survived and he was only hanging on.
“Oh my darling” Lynn said as she helped Jane onto a chair
“I didn’t know”
“What am going to do mum?” she said and wept
Terry had pursued Jane from the age of eight when she and her family first moved to the lake but Jane had always given him the cold shoulder.
However a couple of months before the accident she began to see him in a different light and they had their first proper date.
And it went so well they planned more but Terry didn’t home again for any significant amount of time for the rest of the year buy they spoke on the phone a few times and they did meet briefly at St Mary’s on Christmas morning.
And then the accident happened.
(Part 02)
As soon as he reached the Winston Churchill Hospital, Terry was rushed into theatre and after several hours of surgery he was transferred to intensive care minus one leg.
Jane was like a zombie in the days following the bad news.
Her mum and dad kept her updated on his progress, Lynn through her contacts in the medical profession and her father as a high ranking police officer.
But all she really knew was that he was off the critical list and his police career was over.
And that wasn’t enough, so she had to adopt unconventional methods.
She borrowed granddad Harrys binoculars and from a suitable vantage point, her sister Karen’s Bedroom window, spied on the comings and goings at Lakeside Villa.
Although it might have seemed unorthodox, or even creepy to the untrained eye, but she wanted to be sure Kay O’Neil was at home when she called round.
So it was all in a good cause and after all she didn’t spy on them all the time, she still had to work for a living.
All the time Terry was in the ICU someone was at his bedside, talking to him, holding his hand, sharing their news and their love, either one of his parents or one of his brothers.
So their comings and goings at Lakeside Villa were very irregular.
It was twenty minutes into her third morning of espionage when Jane got her reward, when she saw Kay’s car pull onto the drive.
Kay worked at a nursing home in Childean and was obviously returning home after a night shift.
Kay O’Neil was a kindly woman and a good neighbour.
Jane waited until she was sure Mrs O’Neil was in the house before she raced downstairs and out the front door.
And then a few minutes later she was knocking on the O'Neil’s front door.
“Hello Kay” Jane said when the door opened
“Jane! How lovely” she said still wearing her nursing uniform “Come in dear”
“How is Terry?” she asked as she stepped over the threshold.
“He’s stable, but they have him in a medical induced coma” she said “I’m off to sit with him for a couple of hours”
Jane was thoughtful in response and then asked
“Are you going on your own?”
“Yes I’m afraid so” she replied “The others are at work”
“I could keep you company if you like” Jane said
“Would you? That would be nice” Kay replied “I’m leaving in half an hour”
As she drove them to the Winston Churchill Hospital it was Kay who broke the silence
“Terry has loved you since primary school you know?”
“I know” she replied and added a moment later
“And I only realised quite recently that the feeling was mutual”
Kay reached across and squeezed her hand.
Kay always envisaged that they would get together eventually but she didn’t think it would take quite as long as it had.
When they reached the hospital they went straight up in the lift.
Terry was in the High Dependency unit and Jane was shocked when she saw him lying there.
Apart from numerous fractures, sternum, ribs, collar bone and wrist, he had also lost his right leg below the knee and the road to recovery was going to be a long one.
He was a mass of bruises and abrasions and there were tubes coming out of every orifice.
And there was a frame keeping the covers from where his leg would have been.
She felt that same blow to her stomach she had felt on New Year’s Day when she first heard the news, and she felt queasy and light headed and for a moment she thought she might end up on the floor again, but Jane took a series of deep breaths.
“Hi Baby” Kay called “Mums here, and I’ve brought Jane too”
Kay kissed his forehead and added
“Sit down and talk to him while I’ll get us a coffee”
“What should I say?” Jane asked
“Just chat to him” Kay said
“Let him hear your voice dear”
Jane nodded and sat on the chair by the bed as Kay left and after a few moments she said
“Well Terry O’Neil, You finally got my full attention”
And she took hold of his hand and cried.
(Part 03)
Jane felt so much better after she had seen Terry, even though he was in a coma.
And she was much more relaxed on the journey home and her and Kay even laughed and joked.
Jane visited him whenever she could after that, sometimes with Kay, sometimes with his brothers and sometimes on her own, it depended on when or whether she was working.
Her visiting went on like that for more than a week with her sat by his bed holding his hand and baring her soul.
But that came to an end one lunchtime when she was working at the Brown Windsor Restaurant.
It was just after the last of the mains had gone to the pass that she received a text from Kay.
“He’s awake x”
Her first reaction was to go outside by the wheelie bins and cried her eyes out.
But as soon as the service was concluded and the kitchen cleaned down she went across the road to the surgery.
“Hello love” Lynn said “everything ok?”
“Can I borrow the car mum?” Jane asked
“Any particular reason?” Lynn asked
“Terry’s awake” she said
Lynn just smiled and tossed her the car keys.
Jane didn’t realise as she ran down the path towards the car park that there were a number of smiling faces pressed up against the windows watching her.
When she reached the car, she dropped the car keys on the tarmac, twice.
And when managed to unlock the car and get in she couldn’t find the ignition.
But eventually she started the car and drove off.
Although Jane had held a full licence since she was 18 she was not an experienced driver by any stretch of the imagination, which was perhaps fortunate as it forced her to be more cautious than she otherwise might have been under the circumstances.
And it was as a consequence of her caution that she reached the hospital in safety.
So she parked the car and then rode up in the lift, when the lift doors opened she paused and took a deep breath before stepping out.
She had only taken a few steps before she heard a familiar voice.
“Jane dear!” Kay said and hugged her.
“Hello Kay” she said and hugged her back
“Come and sit” she instructed “The doctors are with him at the moment”
So they sat in the visitor’s room and held hands as Kay explained the details of his reawakening.
In Kay O’Neil’s eyes Jane was already one of the family and she was convinced that her being at her son’s bedside had definitely hastened his recovery.
Which was why Jane was the first person she contacted when Terry woke up.
“You can go back in now Mrs O’Neil” A doctor said
“Thanks Doctor” Kay said
“You’d better go in first” she said to Jane
“Me?” she replied
“Yes, I told him you were coming” Kay said
“Oh goodness” Jane said “I don’t know what to say”
“You say exactly what you’ve been saying dear” she replied and squeezed her hand.
Jane stood up and immediately had that queasy feeling again but Kay was still holding her hand and she gave it another encouraging squeeze and a warm smile and she felt fine.
As she approached his bed his eyes were closed so she sat in her normal chair and waited.
But she didn’t have to wait for long, however she was looking the other way at the time, and didn’t see his eyes open.
He focused on the figure in the chair and licked his lips before he spoke.
“Now I know what I have to do to get you to come and see me”
“Well text time just ask, you have my number” she said “And my heart”
The following months after her declaration were very difficult ones.
Apart from the cuts, bruises, broken bones and the loss of his leg, Terry’s greatest injury was the loss of his career as a police officer, and worst of all the recurring nightmare of watching the life ebb away from his partner Georgina.
In the plus column after 16 years of trying he had finally won Jane Cooper’s heart.
But he felt the greatest gain in his life was more a result of pity which he heaped on to the already considerable pile of self-pity he already felt.
(Part 04)
However Jane Cooper was having no truck with that nonsense and after three weeks of listening to his self-indulgent whining she snapped.
It happened after he had just launched into one of his well-worn routines.
“It’s a shame you didn’t pay me as much attention before I was crippled” he whined
She had listened to the same old record play day after day and she said nothing but she was growing very tired of it, in fact she was very tired so when he started reciting it again she let him have it with both barrels.
“That’s quite enough of that rubbish” she barked stopping him mid flow
“Let me tell you something Terry O’Neil, I if were merely here out of pity I would at least be able to function in the world when I’m not here, and I can tell you that I most certainly am not.
Last week I put sugar in the cheese sauce, and salt in the meringue and I haven’t managed a successful soufflé for weeks.
These are simple task for me which I am capable of doing in my sleep, and I am consistently failing to complete them.
So don’t you lie there wallowing in a piteous mire and tell me I’m only here out of pity”
“But...” he began
“Be quiet I haven’t finished yet” She yelled
“I’ll tell you precisely what I do pity you for, and that is that you have chased me since I was eight years old with pigtails and now that you have me heart and soul you are pushing me away, for that I most heartily pity you”
And she picked up her coat and left and as she passed the visitors room Kay said
“Good girl”
“I’m sorry Kay” she said “I just lost my temper, I didn’t sleep well again last night”
“No need to apologise” Kay said “It’s just what the silly bugger needs”
Then Kay gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek
“You’re doing wonders with him, don’t give up”
“Ok” she said “I’ll just go and get some air”
When she stepped out of the lift and into the lobby she walked straight out the main entrance and filled her lungs with fresh air and as she slowly exhaled she received a text message.
She saw who it was from and opened it.
The message read;
“Sorry, T xx”
Jane put her phone away and did an about face and got back upstairs she and Terry had a good long talk.
“What was it like?” she asked him
“I don't remember that much really” Terry told her
“Not about the crash itself, it all happened so fast”
He remembered nothing about the accident other than being trapped waiting for the fire brigade to cut him free.
“You watched her die didn't you?”
“It was terrible watching her life just ebb away, I still have nightmares about it”
“Do you blame her?”
“I was always telling her that she drove too fast but she never
listened, so I suppose I do a little”
Jane just let him talk and listened
“But I feel guilty, because I survived and she didn't”
“Even though it was inevitable” he continued “it was always going to happen”
“What do you mean?” Jane asked
“She always took too many risks, I don’t think Georgina ever got over losing her husband”
Georgie’s husband, Danny had only gone out to get a bottle of wine to celebrate their two month wedding anniversary.
When he came out of the off license a fight had kicked off between some of the local winos and Danny tried to be the peace maker and got a knife if his kidney for his trouble.
He died before the paramedics reached him and Georgina’s world fell apart.
“I don’t think she cared if she lived or died” he concluded
Their long talk really cleared the air and during the following weeks, Terry made steady progress, his bruises had all but faded his bones had knitted so the physiotherapy could begin and the wound around his stump had completely healed so he was able to have his first fitting of his artificial leg.
He wasn’t looking forward to the session at all and he hadn’t kept his feelings to himself
“Stop making such a fuss” Jane said
“But it’s a big deal” he said
“Last year I saw a man in the Commonwealth games with no arms playing green bowls with his foot” she said
“And he won a medal”
“Are you going to bully me every time I don’t want to do something?”
“Yes probably”
“I think I preferred you when you didn’t want to go out with me” he said and stopped wheeling his chair
“Me too” she replied and carried on walking
“What if I end up with a peg leg like Long John Silver” he called after her
“Then I’ll buy you a parrot” she replied
“Very helpful”
(Part 05)
He may have worried about getting a peg but what he got couldn’t have been further from it.
He loved it his prosthetic leg it had a natural foot action with a microprocessor controlling the movement making walking more efficient and reducing the risk of falls.
Although the physio began very gently and he thought it was going to be a breeze and then they built up and up until they were working him really hard.
When he was returned to his room after a particularly gruelling session he had to be helped into bed and he said to Jane
“Can I start to feel sorry for myself yet?”
But before she could answer he was asleep.
Jane couldn’t see him on Valentine’s Day because it was one of the busiest days of the year in the restaurant, but she did drive over to the Winston Churchill at the end of the night with a card for him, but he was asleep so she left it on his table and kissed his forehead.
As she drove home she reflected on their first Valentine’s Day together, in fact it was her first ever Valentine’s day on which she had a vested interest, and she deemed it something of an anti-climax, not that she was expecting anything much from him, but a card would have been nice.
“Never mind” she thought “there was always next year”
It was quite late when she got home and the house was in total darkness so she took off her coat and went straight up to her room.
Jane opened the door and switched on the light and she started to cry, and she stood stock still with tears rolling down her freckled cheeks.
In the middle of the bed were a large heart shaped box of handmade chocolates, from Crazy Chocolatiers in Abbottsford’s, her absolute favourites.
A huge bouquet of flowers and a cuddly stuffed bear wearing a chef’s hat and an apron with Jane embroidered on it.
And finally a valentines card, not in an envelope but in its own box.
“You didn’t forget” she said as she hugged the bear.
Jane lay in her bed cuddling the chef bear and she wondered what he would do for her birthday which was less than a week away.
Well she would never have guessed it but for her birthday Jane got the best present ever, Terry was discharged from hospital.
And on the day of his discharge, Jane had been to Mazzone’s in Childean and had her Auburn hair cut, washed and blow dried before she travelled over to the Winston Churchill with Kay to pick him up.
As he stepped outside for the first time the March wind blew through his black hair and he walked with a defiant look in his wild gypsy eyes as he walked arm in arm with his mum and Jane.
Later that day she got her real 25th Birthday present, Terry had bought her a gold charm bracelet, with charms that meant something to them both, amongst them was a heart, a teddy bear and a bowling ball.
He would be able to add more for each future special day.
Terry was so pleased to be back home but he was confined to barracks so to speak but with having him next door it meant she didn’t have to do all the travelling to see him so it meant she could actually spend more time with him.
He still had to do physiotherapy three times a week but he was able to do that at the Shallowfield surgery.
Alma Fuentes was a tiny Spanish woman who looked like a breath of wind would blow her a way but Terry found out looks could be very deceptive as she was quite brutal.
In addition to the physio he had to go back to the hospital once a month just to check on his prosthetic and more importantly his stump.
But after three months he was completely discharged and only had to go back once a year.
By the time Easter came around Terry O’Neil was no longer a serving police officer.
He could have stayed on in an admin role, shuffling paperwork, or data entry, but that wasn’t why he joined the police in the first place, so instead he took a medical discharge.
This was problematic, firstly as it left him unemployed and secondly he had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do.
The police service was his dream and that dream was over.
(Part 06)
On the first weekend in May it was open house as usual for Lynn Cooper’s birthday and everyone on the lake was there, well almost everyone.
There were two notable exceptions because while everyone was enjoying the food, drink and warm sunshine Jane and Terry were next door in Lakeside Villa, in his room making love for the first time.
When they eventually arrived at the party it was with a gleam in their eyes and a spring in their step.
It may have been the first time but it certainly wasn’t the last and they would have spent the entire summer in that regard had fate not taken a hand.
It was when Jane was working at the Brown Windsor, a month later.
It was Saturday night and it had been a full house.
Mark Roscoe the owner and manager, a pleasant personable man around 40 years old, who carried the evidence of his over indulgence around his middle.
He was in great form that night and was a natural with the customers.
Jane would have been on her own had she not have been able to draught in Emily Goff to help her.
The reason for that was that the Chef de cuisine had quit the week before.
Her sisters, Kath and Karen waited tables and by the end of the night they were all totally shattered.
And it was just after that, when mine host, Mark Roscoe, had a heart attack and collapsed.
Fortunately for Mark, one of the last customers out the door was Dr Andrews, who was dining with her film director fiancée Peter Lutchford.
It was Kath who witnessed the collapse and immediately dispatched Karen to fetch the doctor back.
“Jane! Jane!” Kath called “Come quick”
Jane came bursting through the kitchen door wielding a large frying pan expecting to confront a robber only to find her boss on his back and her sister performing CPR on him.
“Phone an ambulance” Kath said.
Jane dropped the pan and picked up the phone.
Karen came back through the door panting hard, with Claire close behind her panting even harder.
“The Ambulance is on its way” Jane said as she crouched down besides Kath.
They all stood in the street outside the restaurant and watched as the ambulance drove away and Jane had the distinct impression that Mark Roscoe’s restaurant management days were over.
The Cooper girls ran the Brown Windsor for the next couple of months, initially while Mark was in hospital and then while he convalesced at his sisters in Millmoor.
They didn’t realise until he wasn’t there just how much he did so Jane and her sisters were kept very busy.
As Jane was so busy with the Brown Windsor and he was at a loose end Terry started to help out in the restaurant as well.
This was originally motivated purely by selfishness as he wouldn’t have seen very much of Jane if he hadn’t but as the weeks passed he found he was actually enjoying it.
When he first suggested it to Jane her reaction was a little derisory.
“You don’t know anything about working in a restaurant and I’ve seen you in a kitchen remember”
She was referring to when they used to do food tech together at school.
Even the teacher despaired of his efforts and in one school report, wrote,
“Never have I seen a pupil less suited to the subject”
Harsh but true, after all he only signed up for the subject because it was her passion and she was his.
“There are things I can do that don’t require culinary skills” he said
“And I can smooze the customers”
“You can’t even say schmooze” she said and laughed “But you are cute”
On July the first Terry was officially unemployed and for all he knew unemployable.
He had only been in the police about 3 and a half years when he was involved in the car accident that ended his career and took his leg.
So although he survived he was invalided out of the service
He got a lump sum on his discharge followed by an even larger sum in compensation and there was even a small reward from the insurance company for the recovery of the stolen jewellery.
He donated the insurance money to the Police benevolent fund.
(Part 07)
It was August the twelfth, also known as the glorious 12th, and was the beginning of the Grouse shooting season, so Jane had Grouse on the menu and as a result they were fully booked.
It was also the day, after the lunch time serving was over, that Mark Roscoe decided to drop in to see them.
He had lost a lot of weight and skin hung loosely at his neck and his skin was ashen.
As he sat at one of the tables he made an announcement.
As he wasn’t staff, Terry listened from behind the kitchen door.
“I wanted to catch you while you were all together and give you the news” he said slowly having to pause to catch his breath.
“I have decided to sell the Restaurant”
It was obvious to them all that he was gravely ill and it would be a very long road to recovery if he was to complete the journey.
His plan was to sell up and move in with his sister in Millmoor and he planned to sell the restaurant as a going concern so he hoped their jobs would be safe but he couldn’t promise that they would be.
That afternoon as Jane and Terry walked home in silence, they paused and took a seat by the lake and sat gazing out across the water.
It was Jane who broke the silence
“Well it looks like we’re both unemployed now”
“Not necessarily” Terry responded
“The new owners will want to do thing their way, and with staff of their choice” she said “With a chef of their choice”
“That’s not what I meant” Terry said
“What then?” she asked
“You’ve always wanted your own restaurant, why don’t you make him an offer?” Terry suggested
“I already spoke to him” she said “I can’t afford it”
“How much is he looking for?” he asked
“Twice as much as I have” Jane said
“But not twice as much as WE have” he said
“What?” she said
“I just happen to have a lump sum burning a hole in my pocket, and I’m looking for an investment opportunity” he said
“Don’t tease me Terry” she said crossly “it’s not funny”
“I wasn’t teasing” he said seriously “I’m serious”
“You are?”
“I’ve really enjoyed working at the restaurant and working with you” he continued “and I think we work well together”
“Yes I know but…” she began
“No buts” he said cutting her off “we could really make a go of it, this could be our chance”
“Are you sure?” Jane asked clearly not
“I am” he replied “But you have to be as well, so you need to think it through”
He stood up and took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“So I prescribe a long hot bath, scented candles and soothing music” he said “and whatever you decide I will support”
“And what will you be doing while I’m soaking and thinking?” she asked
“I’m going home to soak my foot” he said and she laughed
Jane took his advice and had a long hot bath with scented candles and soothing music and it did clear her mind.
But she also spoke to her mum and dad and Granddad Harry and her sisters.
The decision was unanimous.
As she lay on her bed wrapped in towels cuddling her teddy bear chef she phoned Terry who was indeed soaking his foot.
When he answered the phone she said
“I’m in”
“Great” he said
“I’ll be around in ten minutes to seal the deal” she said
“Does that mean we’re going to shake on it?” he asked
“Something like that” Jane replied
So taking advantage of an empty house they sealed their partnership.
Then they had to get a wriggle on and get back to the restaurant to start the prep for the evening service.
The next morning they phone Mark and made him an offer, which was just under his asking price which he accepted without hesitation.
Her first act as joint proprietor was to employ Emily Goff, who helped her with her home dining bookings, as her full time under chef.
The Brown Windsor closed on the Friday before the August Bank Holiday and reopened on the 1st of September as The Phoenix.
It was on New Year’s Eve that Jane Cooper’s life changed for ever, although she was totally oblivious to it at the time.
She had gone to bed as the year came to an end she reflected on the events of the year and congratulated herself quite smugly on her achievements, and the growing restaurant fund she had been working on and she looked forward to the future.
She was 8 years old when she and her family moved into Coopers Villa after her father Paul became reconciled with his estranged father Harry.
She had been very happy living there but almost from the day she moved in she attracted the attention of her new neighbour Terry O’Neil.
He was a persistent lad and he pursued Jane for sixteen years before he finally wore her down.
Jane was a person with a goal in life which she had had since she was very young.
And she had been literally working towards it since she left college.
It was been hard work, but she wasn’t afraid of that.
She worked every job she could which was all grist to the mill, every penny she earned went into the Restaurant fund.
Because that was her goal, to be chef de cuisine in her own kitchen in her own restaurant.
It was a big goal, she had set the bar high, but she figured if you’re going to have a dream you might as well dream big.
She had never had anything personally against Terry, and he was a good looking fella just like his brothers.
The three O’Neil Boys were all good looking and had black hair and wild gypsy eyes.
Whereas all the Cooper girls, of which there were also three, all had Auburn hair and freckles all.
The truth was Jane didn’t really do time off and she certainly didn’t do dating which was why at the age of 24 she was still a virgin.
When Jane got up on the morning of New Year’s Day she went downstairs and was met with very grave expressions.
“Blimey! How much did you lot drink last night?” Jane asked and gave a little chuckle.
Just then her father walked in wearing his uniform and no one was laughing.
“I thought you were off today” she said
“I was” he replied then he kissed Lynn
“I’ll see you later love”
“What’s happened?” Jane asked but no one spoke
“What’s happened?” she repeated “Where’s dad gone?”
“Someone’s been hurt” Lynn replied
Jane knew by the atmosphere that it was someone they knew, but she didn’t know who it could be.
And as if to pre-empt Jane’s next question Lynn said
“It’s Terry O’Neil”
And Jane felt like she’d been punched in the stomach.
And the next thing she knew she was being helped up from the floor.
PC Terry O’Neil was on duty on New Year’s Eve with another PC, Georgina Devereaux, when there was an armed robbery at a wholesale jewellers in Finchbottom.
Georgina was driving when they took the call and spun the car around as Terry responded on the radio.
Two other cars were in pursuit of the bandit car from Finchbottom and O’Neil and Devereaux were heading straight for them to intercept.
As Georgina took the roundabout, the bandit car went the wrong side of the island as a shortcut to the motorway and hit them head on.
Devereaux and two of the bandits died at the scene and a third in the ambulance, only Terry survived and he was only hanging on.
“Oh my darling” Lynn said as she helped Jane onto a chair
“I didn’t know”
“What am going to do mum?” she said and wept
Terry had pursued Jane from the age of eight when she and her family first moved to the lake but Jane had always given him the cold shoulder.
However a couple of months before the accident she began to see him in a different light and they had their first proper date.
And it went so well they planned more but Terry didn’t home again for any significant amount of time for the rest of the year buy they spoke on the phone a few times and they did meet briefly at St Mary’s on Christmas morning.
And then the accident happened.
(Part 02)
As soon as he reached the Winston Churchill Hospital, Terry was rushed into theatre and after several hours of surgery he was transferred to intensive care minus one leg.
Jane was like a zombie in the days following the bad news.
Her mum and dad kept her updated on his progress, Lynn through her contacts in the medical profession and her father as a high ranking police officer.
But all she really knew was that he was off the critical list and his police career was over.
And that wasn’t enough, so she had to adopt unconventional methods.
She borrowed granddad Harrys binoculars and from a suitable vantage point, her sister Karen’s Bedroom window, spied on the comings and goings at Lakeside Villa.
Although it might have seemed unorthodox, or even creepy to the untrained eye, but she wanted to be sure Kay O’Neil was at home when she called round.
So it was all in a good cause and after all she didn’t spy on them all the time, she still had to work for a living.
All the time Terry was in the ICU someone was at his bedside, talking to him, holding his hand, sharing their news and their love, either one of his parents or one of his brothers.
So their comings and goings at Lakeside Villa were very irregular.
It was twenty minutes into her third morning of espionage when Jane got her reward, when she saw Kay’s car pull onto the drive.
Kay worked at a nursing home in Childean and was obviously returning home after a night shift.
Kay O’Neil was a kindly woman and a good neighbour.
Jane waited until she was sure Mrs O’Neil was in the house before she raced downstairs and out the front door.
And then a few minutes later she was knocking on the O'Neil’s front door.
“Hello Kay” Jane said when the door opened
“Jane! How lovely” she said still wearing her nursing uniform “Come in dear”
“How is Terry?” she asked as she stepped over the threshold.
“He’s stable, but they have him in a medical induced coma” she said “I’m off to sit with him for a couple of hours”
Jane was thoughtful in response and then asked
“Are you going on your own?”
“Yes I’m afraid so” she replied “The others are at work”
“I could keep you company if you like” Jane said
“Would you? That would be nice” Kay replied “I’m leaving in half an hour”
As she drove them to the Winston Churchill Hospital it was Kay who broke the silence
“Terry has loved you since primary school you know?”
“I know” she replied and added a moment later
“And I only realised quite recently that the feeling was mutual”
Kay reached across and squeezed her hand.
Kay always envisaged that they would get together eventually but she didn’t think it would take quite as long as it had.
When they reached the hospital they went straight up in the lift.
Terry was in the High Dependency unit and Jane was shocked when she saw him lying there.
Apart from numerous fractures, sternum, ribs, collar bone and wrist, he had also lost his right leg below the knee and the road to recovery was going to be a long one.
He was a mass of bruises and abrasions and there were tubes coming out of every orifice.
And there was a frame keeping the covers from where his leg would have been.
She felt that same blow to her stomach she had felt on New Year’s Day when she first heard the news, and she felt queasy and light headed and for a moment she thought she might end up on the floor again, but Jane took a series of deep breaths.
“Hi Baby” Kay called “Mums here, and I’ve brought Jane too”
Kay kissed his forehead and added
“Sit down and talk to him while I’ll get us a coffee”
“What should I say?” Jane asked
“Just chat to him” Kay said
“Let him hear your voice dear”
Jane nodded and sat on the chair by the bed as Kay left and after a few moments she said
“Well Terry O’Neil, You finally got my full attention”
And she took hold of his hand and cried.
(Part 03)
Jane felt so much better after she had seen Terry, even though he was in a coma.
And she was much more relaxed on the journey home and her and Kay even laughed and joked.
Jane visited him whenever she could after that, sometimes with Kay, sometimes with his brothers and sometimes on her own, it depended on when or whether she was working.
Her visiting went on like that for more than a week with her sat by his bed holding his hand and baring her soul.
But that came to an end one lunchtime when she was working at the Brown Windsor Restaurant.
It was just after the last of the mains had gone to the pass that she received a text from Kay.
“He’s awake x”
Her first reaction was to go outside by the wheelie bins and cried her eyes out.
But as soon as the service was concluded and the kitchen cleaned down she went across the road to the surgery.
“Hello love” Lynn said “everything ok?”
“Can I borrow the car mum?” Jane asked
“Any particular reason?” Lynn asked
“Terry’s awake” she said
Lynn just smiled and tossed her the car keys.
Jane didn’t realise as she ran down the path towards the car park that there were a number of smiling faces pressed up against the windows watching her.
When she reached the car, she dropped the car keys on the tarmac, twice.
And when managed to unlock the car and get in she couldn’t find the ignition.
But eventually she started the car and drove off.
Although Jane had held a full licence since she was 18 she was not an experienced driver by any stretch of the imagination, which was perhaps fortunate as it forced her to be more cautious than she otherwise might have been under the circumstances.
And it was as a consequence of her caution that she reached the hospital in safety.
So she parked the car and then rode up in the lift, when the lift doors opened she paused and took a deep breath before stepping out.
She had only taken a few steps before she heard a familiar voice.
“Jane dear!” Kay said and hugged her.
“Hello Kay” she said and hugged her back
“Come and sit” she instructed “The doctors are with him at the moment”
So they sat in the visitor’s room and held hands as Kay explained the details of his reawakening.
In Kay O’Neil’s eyes Jane was already one of the family and she was convinced that her being at her son’s bedside had definitely hastened his recovery.
Which was why Jane was the first person she contacted when Terry woke up.
“You can go back in now Mrs O’Neil” A doctor said
“Thanks Doctor” Kay said
“You’d better go in first” she said to Jane
“Me?” she replied
“Yes, I told him you were coming” Kay said
“Oh goodness” Jane said “I don’t know what to say”
“You say exactly what you’ve been saying dear” she replied and squeezed her hand.
Jane stood up and immediately had that queasy feeling again but Kay was still holding her hand and she gave it another encouraging squeeze and a warm smile and she felt fine.
As she approached his bed his eyes were closed so she sat in her normal chair and waited.
But she didn’t have to wait for long, however she was looking the other way at the time, and didn’t see his eyes open.
He focused on the figure in the chair and licked his lips before he spoke.
“Now I know what I have to do to get you to come and see me”
“Well text time just ask, you have my number” she said “And my heart”
The following months after her declaration were very difficult ones.
Apart from the cuts, bruises, broken bones and the loss of his leg, Terry’s greatest injury was the loss of his career as a police officer, and worst of all the recurring nightmare of watching the life ebb away from his partner Georgina.
In the plus column after 16 years of trying he had finally won Jane Cooper’s heart.
But he felt the greatest gain in his life was more a result of pity which he heaped on to the already considerable pile of self-pity he already felt.
(Part 04)
However Jane Cooper was having no truck with that nonsense and after three weeks of listening to his self-indulgent whining she snapped.
It happened after he had just launched into one of his well-worn routines.
“It’s a shame you didn’t pay me as much attention before I was crippled” he whined
She had listened to the same old record play day after day and she said nothing but she was growing very tired of it, in fact she was very tired so when he started reciting it again she let him have it with both barrels.
“That’s quite enough of that rubbish” she barked stopping him mid flow
“Let me tell you something Terry O’Neil, I if were merely here out of pity I would at least be able to function in the world when I’m not here, and I can tell you that I most certainly am not.
Last week I put sugar in the cheese sauce, and salt in the meringue and I haven’t managed a successful soufflé for weeks.
These are simple task for me which I am capable of doing in my sleep, and I am consistently failing to complete them.
So don’t you lie there wallowing in a piteous mire and tell me I’m only here out of pity”
“But...” he began
“Be quiet I haven’t finished yet” She yelled
“I’ll tell you precisely what I do pity you for, and that is that you have chased me since I was eight years old with pigtails and now that you have me heart and soul you are pushing me away, for that I most heartily pity you”
And she picked up her coat and left and as she passed the visitors room Kay said
“Good girl”
“I’m sorry Kay” she said “I just lost my temper, I didn’t sleep well again last night”
“No need to apologise” Kay said “It’s just what the silly bugger needs”
Then Kay gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek
“You’re doing wonders with him, don’t give up”
“Ok” she said “I’ll just go and get some air”
When she stepped out of the lift and into the lobby she walked straight out the main entrance and filled her lungs with fresh air and as she slowly exhaled she received a text message.
She saw who it was from and opened it.
The message read;
“Sorry, T xx”
Jane put her phone away and did an about face and got back upstairs she and Terry had a good long talk.
“What was it like?” she asked him
“I don't remember that much really” Terry told her
“Not about the crash itself, it all happened so fast”
He remembered nothing about the accident other than being trapped waiting for the fire brigade to cut him free.
“You watched her die didn't you?”
“It was terrible watching her life just ebb away, I still have nightmares about it”
“Do you blame her?”
“I was always telling her that she drove too fast but she never
listened, so I suppose I do a little”
Jane just let him talk and listened
“But I feel guilty, because I survived and she didn't”
“Even though it was inevitable” he continued “it was always going to happen”
“What do you mean?” Jane asked
“She always took too many risks, I don’t think Georgina ever got over losing her husband”
Georgie’s husband, Danny had only gone out to get a bottle of wine to celebrate their two month wedding anniversary.
When he came out of the off license a fight had kicked off between some of the local winos and Danny tried to be the peace maker and got a knife if his kidney for his trouble.
He died before the paramedics reached him and Georgina’s world fell apart.
“I don’t think she cared if she lived or died” he concluded
Their long talk really cleared the air and during the following weeks, Terry made steady progress, his bruises had all but faded his bones had knitted so the physiotherapy could begin and the wound around his stump had completely healed so he was able to have his first fitting of his artificial leg.
He wasn’t looking forward to the session at all and he hadn’t kept his feelings to himself
“Stop making such a fuss” Jane said
“But it’s a big deal” he said
“Last year I saw a man in the Commonwealth games with no arms playing green bowls with his foot” she said
“And he won a medal”
“Are you going to bully me every time I don’t want to do something?”
“Yes probably”
“I think I preferred you when you didn’t want to go out with me” he said and stopped wheeling his chair
“Me too” she replied and carried on walking
“What if I end up with a peg leg like Long John Silver” he called after her
“Then I’ll buy you a parrot” she replied
“Very helpful”
(Part 05)
He may have worried about getting a peg but what he got couldn’t have been further from it.
He loved it his prosthetic leg it had a natural foot action with a microprocessor controlling the movement making walking more efficient and reducing the risk of falls.
Although the physio began very gently and he thought it was going to be a breeze and then they built up and up until they were working him really hard.
When he was returned to his room after a particularly gruelling session he had to be helped into bed and he said to Jane
“Can I start to feel sorry for myself yet?”
But before she could answer he was asleep.
Jane couldn’t see him on Valentine’s Day because it was one of the busiest days of the year in the restaurant, but she did drive over to the Winston Churchill at the end of the night with a card for him, but he was asleep so she left it on his table and kissed his forehead.
As she drove home she reflected on their first Valentine’s Day together, in fact it was her first ever Valentine’s day on which she had a vested interest, and she deemed it something of an anti-climax, not that she was expecting anything much from him, but a card would have been nice.
“Never mind” she thought “there was always next year”
It was quite late when she got home and the house was in total darkness so she took off her coat and went straight up to her room.
Jane opened the door and switched on the light and she started to cry, and she stood stock still with tears rolling down her freckled cheeks.
In the middle of the bed were a large heart shaped box of handmade chocolates, from Crazy Chocolatiers in Abbottsford’s, her absolute favourites.
A huge bouquet of flowers and a cuddly stuffed bear wearing a chef’s hat and an apron with Jane embroidered on it.
And finally a valentines card, not in an envelope but in its own box.
“You didn’t forget” she said as she hugged the bear.
Jane lay in her bed cuddling the chef bear and she wondered what he would do for her birthday which was less than a week away.
Well she would never have guessed it but for her birthday Jane got the best present ever, Terry was discharged from hospital.
And on the day of his discharge, Jane had been to Mazzone’s in Childean and had her Auburn hair cut, washed and blow dried before she travelled over to the Winston Churchill with Kay to pick him up.
As he stepped outside for the first time the March wind blew through his black hair and he walked with a defiant look in his wild gypsy eyes as he walked arm in arm with his mum and Jane.
Later that day she got her real 25th Birthday present, Terry had bought her a gold charm bracelet, with charms that meant something to them both, amongst them was a heart, a teddy bear and a bowling ball.
He would be able to add more for each future special day.
Terry was so pleased to be back home but he was confined to barracks so to speak but with having him next door it meant she didn’t have to do all the travelling to see him so it meant she could actually spend more time with him.
He still had to do physiotherapy three times a week but he was able to do that at the Shallowfield surgery.
Alma Fuentes was a tiny Spanish woman who looked like a breath of wind would blow her a way but Terry found out looks could be very deceptive as she was quite brutal.
In addition to the physio he had to go back to the hospital once a month just to check on his prosthetic and more importantly his stump.
But after three months he was completely discharged and only had to go back once a year.
By the time Easter came around Terry O’Neil was no longer a serving police officer.
He could have stayed on in an admin role, shuffling paperwork, or data entry, but that wasn’t why he joined the police in the first place, so instead he took a medical discharge.
This was problematic, firstly as it left him unemployed and secondly he had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do.
The police service was his dream and that dream was over.
(Part 06)
On the first weekend in May it was open house as usual for Lynn Cooper’s birthday and everyone on the lake was there, well almost everyone.
There were two notable exceptions because while everyone was enjoying the food, drink and warm sunshine Jane and Terry were next door in Lakeside Villa, in his room making love for the first time.
When they eventually arrived at the party it was with a gleam in their eyes and a spring in their step.
It may have been the first time but it certainly wasn’t the last and they would have spent the entire summer in that regard had fate not taken a hand.
It was when Jane was working at the Brown Windsor, a month later.
It was Saturday night and it had been a full house.
Mark Roscoe the owner and manager, a pleasant personable man around 40 years old, who carried the evidence of his over indulgence around his middle.
He was in great form that night and was a natural with the customers.
Jane would have been on her own had she not have been able to draught in Emily Goff to help her.
The reason for that was that the Chef de cuisine had quit the week before.
Her sisters, Kath and Karen waited tables and by the end of the night they were all totally shattered.
And it was just after that, when mine host, Mark Roscoe, had a heart attack and collapsed.
Fortunately for Mark, one of the last customers out the door was Dr Andrews, who was dining with her film director fiancée Peter Lutchford.
It was Kath who witnessed the collapse and immediately dispatched Karen to fetch the doctor back.
“Jane! Jane!” Kath called “Come quick”
Jane came bursting through the kitchen door wielding a large frying pan expecting to confront a robber only to find her boss on his back and her sister performing CPR on him.
“Phone an ambulance” Kath said.
Jane dropped the pan and picked up the phone.
Karen came back through the door panting hard, with Claire close behind her panting even harder.
“The Ambulance is on its way” Jane said as she crouched down besides Kath.
They all stood in the street outside the restaurant and watched as the ambulance drove away and Jane had the distinct impression that Mark Roscoe’s restaurant management days were over.
The Cooper girls ran the Brown Windsor for the next couple of months, initially while Mark was in hospital and then while he convalesced at his sisters in Millmoor.
They didn’t realise until he wasn’t there just how much he did so Jane and her sisters were kept very busy.
As Jane was so busy with the Brown Windsor and he was at a loose end Terry started to help out in the restaurant as well.
This was originally motivated purely by selfishness as he wouldn’t have seen very much of Jane if he hadn’t but as the weeks passed he found he was actually enjoying it.
When he first suggested it to Jane her reaction was a little derisory.
“You don’t know anything about working in a restaurant and I’ve seen you in a kitchen remember”
She was referring to when they used to do food tech together at school.
Even the teacher despaired of his efforts and in one school report, wrote,
“Never have I seen a pupil less suited to the subject”
Harsh but true, after all he only signed up for the subject because it was her passion and she was his.
“There are things I can do that don’t require culinary skills” he said
“And I can smooze the customers”
“You can’t even say schmooze” she said and laughed “But you are cute”
On July the first Terry was officially unemployed and for all he knew unemployable.
He had only been in the police about 3 and a half years when he was involved in the car accident that ended his career and took his leg.
So although he survived he was invalided out of the service
He got a lump sum on his discharge followed by an even larger sum in compensation and there was even a small reward from the insurance company for the recovery of the stolen jewellery.
He donated the insurance money to the Police benevolent fund.
(Part 07)
It was August the twelfth, also known as the glorious 12th, and was the beginning of the Grouse shooting season, so Jane had Grouse on the menu and as a result they were fully booked.
It was also the day, after the lunch time serving was over, that Mark Roscoe decided to drop in to see them.
He had lost a lot of weight and skin hung loosely at his neck and his skin was ashen.
As he sat at one of the tables he made an announcement.
As he wasn’t staff, Terry listened from behind the kitchen door.
“I wanted to catch you while you were all together and give you the news” he said slowly having to pause to catch his breath.
“I have decided to sell the Restaurant”
It was obvious to them all that he was gravely ill and it would be a very long road to recovery if he was to complete the journey.
His plan was to sell up and move in with his sister in Millmoor and he planned to sell the restaurant as a going concern so he hoped their jobs would be safe but he couldn’t promise that they would be.
That afternoon as Jane and Terry walked home in silence, they paused and took a seat by the lake and sat gazing out across the water.
It was Jane who broke the silence
“Well it looks like we’re both unemployed now”
“Not necessarily” Terry responded
“The new owners will want to do thing their way, and with staff of their choice” she said “With a chef of their choice”
“That’s not what I meant” Terry said
“What then?” she asked
“You’ve always wanted your own restaurant, why don’t you make him an offer?” Terry suggested
“I already spoke to him” she said “I can’t afford it”
“How much is he looking for?” he asked
“Twice as much as I have” Jane said
“But not twice as much as WE have” he said
“What?” she said
“I just happen to have a lump sum burning a hole in my pocket, and I’m looking for an investment opportunity” he said
“Don’t tease me Terry” she said crossly “it’s not funny”
“I wasn’t teasing” he said seriously “I’m serious”
“You are?”
“I’ve really enjoyed working at the restaurant and working with you” he continued “and I think we work well together”
“Yes I know but…” she began
“No buts” he said cutting her off “we could really make a go of it, this could be our chance”
“Are you sure?” Jane asked clearly not
“I am” he replied “But you have to be as well, so you need to think it through”
He stood up and took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“So I prescribe a long hot bath, scented candles and soothing music” he said “and whatever you decide I will support”
“And what will you be doing while I’m soaking and thinking?” she asked
“I’m going home to soak my foot” he said and she laughed
Jane took his advice and had a long hot bath with scented candles and soothing music and it did clear her mind.
But she also spoke to her mum and dad and Granddad Harry and her sisters.
The decision was unanimous.
As she lay on her bed wrapped in towels cuddling her teddy bear chef she phoned Terry who was indeed soaking his foot.
When he answered the phone she said
“I’m in”
“Great” he said
“I’ll be around in ten minutes to seal the deal” she said
“Does that mean we’re going to shake on it?” he asked
“Something like that” Jane replied
So taking advantage of an empty house they sealed their partnership.
Then they had to get a wriggle on and get back to the restaurant to start the prep for the evening service.
The next morning they phone Mark and made him an offer, which was just under his asking price which he accepted without hesitation.
Her first act as joint proprietor was to employ Emily Goff, who helped her with her home dining bookings, as her full time under chef.
The Brown Windsor closed on the Friday before the August Bank Holiday and reopened on the 1st of September as The Phoenix.
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