In sunshine or in shadow
Your
love sets me aglow
In
perfect calm or raging storm
Your
love keeps me warm
In
times of drought or flood
Your
passion warms my blood
In
summer bright or winter dark
You
are always in my heart
Thursday 29 July 2021
IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (37) One White Christmas
It
was Christmas Eve and Samantha Dunlop, who worked at Hanratty’s Department
Store in Abbottsford’s Phoenix Centre, was
just on her way back to work after having had lunch with her boyfriend Darren.
“Bastard” she muttered under her breath as she
entered the centre.
Sam was running the lunch time conversation through
her head which was why she was so angry.
“You’re breaking up with me?” she asked in disbelieve
across the table in McDonald’s.
“Don’t take it so hard babe” he said
“You’re breaking up with me on Christmas Eve?” she
repeated
“I didn’t see why not I haven’t got your present
yet so it was a win, win babe” he said
“You cheap bastard” she yelled and poured his
chocolate shake over him
“I can see this is going to be another shit
Christmas” she said to herself as she walked into Hanratty’s.
She went into the staff room and took off her coat
and woollen had and shook her black hair like a wet dog.
The day before she had been passed over for
promotion and then she gets dumped on Christmas Eve.
She was a 29 years old divorcee and she had worked
for the department store in the cosmetics department for seven years and she
was passed over for Abigail Subhan,
A 22 year old University graduate who had to take
her head out of her arse to smell the perfume.
About 4 o’clock that afternoon a middle aged man
entered the department and walked up to Samantha’s counter
“Good afternoon sir how may I help?”
"I would like to buy some perfume for my
wife." he said
"Certainly sir" she replied. "What
does your wife like?”
“I’ve no idea” he replied
“Do you have anything particular in mind?" she
asked through gritted teeth
"Not really." he said "but nothing
very expensive."
"I understand sir” she said and reached behind
her “How about this one?"
He picked it up and looked it over and asked
"How much is it?"
"£150” she replied
“No, I did say nothing very expensive”
She place that bottle back where she had got it from
and picked up its neighbour.
“This one is Eighty pounds sir”
"That's still too expensive" he replied
She presented him with a smaller bottle
“How about this one?" she said
"How much?” he asked.
"Fifty pounds sir."
"Do you have anything else?" he enquired.
"Well, there's this small bottle at twenty
five pounds."
"Look love" he whispered "I want you
to show me something really cheap"
Samantha smiled and said conspiratorially
“Come this way”
She led him to the makeup counter and said
“Just stand there and look straight ahead”
“What for?” he asked
Her green eyes narrowed and she said
“Because you said you wanted to see something
really cheap, and that is as cheap as I’ve ever seen”
“Mrs Dunlop!!” Ms Subhan called “My office now”
So on top of
missing out on promotion and being dumped by her boyfriend she was also sacked
from Hanratty’s.
But then maybe
saying to her boss that even with the biggest nose in Abbottsford she couldn’t
tell the difference between Chanel and Dettol, didn’t really help her case.
Her first reaction
was to go straight to the pub and get plastered but she was driving to
Shallowfield that evening.
And the way her
luck was going at that moment she was bound to get stopped by the police and
lose her license along with everything else.
Samantha had
phoned her best and oldest friend Emily as soon as she got back to work after
Darren dumped her and Emily invited her to stay with her and her husband Matt
for Christmas.
The
Charlton’s had a Flat in East Cliff Lodge, on Teardrop Lake, so she went
straight home after she was canned and packed a bag.
As she left
Abbottsford it started to snow and the snow that had fallen ten days earlier
was still evident on the ground so the fresh fall quickly settled.
Samantha didn’t
like driving in the snow, well she didn’t like driving full stop if she was
honest, and so she was driving very cautiously.
The snow was
obviously coming from the direction she was heading because as she was driving
between Childean and Shallowfield the snow on the road was getting
significantly deeper so she went even more cautiously.
But as she
approached the last significant bend before the Shallowfield she lost control
and after fighting with the steering she careered off the road into a ditch.
Richard O’Sullivan
was in his mid-thirties and was one of the partners in O’Sullivan and
Springthorpe Auctioneers in Shallowfield.
He had been
driving in the same direction to Samantha Dunlop but then he received a phone
call from his friend Jon cancelling their dinner date so he turned around and
was heading back home when he witnessed her car briefly skidding across the
road before disappearing from view.
He stopped the car
and looked down into the ditch, the car was nose in and tilted upwards 20
degrees on the driver’s side.
The lights were on
and the engine was still running and the driver’s door was open but there was
no sign of the driver.
He got out of his
car and shouted
“Hello”
He got no response
so he clambered down into the ditch and approached the car.
He confirmed the
car was empty and reached in and switched off the engine and killed the lights.
He could see
footprints in the snow so he decided to follow them and resumed his calling.
After four or five
minutes he found a young woman in a clearing blundering about in aimless
circles.
“Are you ok?” he
asked and she turned around towards him the snow was still falling and
accumulating on her Wooly hat.
"It's
Christmas Day. Shouldn't we be watching “White Christmas?”” she said
"No” he replied “it hasn’t started yet”
“I like “White
Christmas”” she said
“Why don’t you
come and watch it with me then?” he suggested and took her arm
“I wouldn’t want
to miss it” she slurred and turned towards him which was when he noticed blood
on her face.
He guided her
slowly back the way they had come and helped her up out of the ditch and into
his car.
Then he opened the
boot and took out his torch and went back to her car, and located her handbag
from the foot well and an overnight back and coat from the back seat and
clambered back up to the road.
As he was only
half a mile from his cottage and the snow was falling thick and fast he decided
the best thing to do would be take her to the Old Mill Cottage.
After he settled
her on the sofa he took a moment to look at her closely.
She had a bump on
her forehead and a cut above her right eye but apart from that her face had a
lovely shape and symmetry.
Richard got the
first aid kit and cleaned and dressed her cut then he gave her another
appraising look.
He noticed she had
high cheekbones and flawless skin.
But her shinning
black hair and wild green set her apart from every other girl he had ever met.
"My dad wants
to play Monopoly" she said "Not me though”
“Quite right” he
said and tucked a blanket around her legs and then he went to phone the Health
Centre and was put through to the on call Doctor.
“Hello Doctor, its
Richard O’Sullivan, there’s been a car accident, a young woman has banged her
head, she has a bump on the head, a cut eye and she’s a little confused”
“Ok where are
you?” Doctor Philips said
“Old Mill Cottage
in Shallowfield” he replied
“I can’t get there
myself, the roads are terrible and I’m stuck in Mornington” he said
“What should I do
then?” he asked
“I will get to you
when I can or failing that I’ll get someone closer to you to attend” he
said
“Just don’t let
her go to sleep”
He hung up the
phone and sat on the floor in front of her and had a nonsensical conversation
with her until an hour later there was a knock on the door.
He got up stiffly
and answered the door to find two snow covered figures.
“Hello Richard,
where’s the patient?”
“Doctor Lutchford?
Is that you?” he said “Come in, come in”
“It’s a bit
Wintry” Claire said and stamped the snow off her boots “Where is she?”
“On the Sofa” he
replied “Is that Peter under all that snow?”
“The roads are
un-drivable” he said and shook Richards hand “so we walked”
“I guessed as
much” Richard said
“It’s just as well
we did there are two trees down so the Childean road is blocked”
“Come into the
kitchen and let Claire do her thing” Richard said “I’ll make a hot drink”
Claire joined them
in the kitchen about 10 minutes later.
“How is she?”
Richard asked
“I’ve glued the
cut and redressed it. The bump seems superficial and there’s no sign of a
concussion”
“Good” he said
“Is it alright if
you keep her here overnight?” Claire asked “Getting about is problematic at
best”
“Of course it is”
he said “Peter was just telling me what it’s like out there”
“Thank you Richard
that’s very good of you” she said
“I’ve given her
some pain killers, just let her sleep now, but keep an eye on her and call me
if there is any change”
They stayed long
enough to finish their drinks and then said their goodbyes and disappeared
again into the snowy night.
Richard made
himself another mug of coffee and went back to the lounge.
His houseguest was
fast asleep on the sofa, he could have carried her into the bedroom but as she
was a diminutive girl she fitted quite comfortably on the sofa, so he saw no
point in moving her.
He did go upstairs
and brought down the duvets, one he draped over her and the other he would use
himself.
Before he settled
down he put another log in the burner and picked up her handbag and rummaged
inside until he found her purse.
In the front
pocket of a rather gaudy pink purse was her driving license and he checked the
photo and confirmed it was her.
“Samantha Dunlop”
he said out loud and smiled
He also checked
her mobile phone and noticed a lot of missed calls, all from the same number.
“Someone is
worried about you” he said and dialed the number
He pulled the
armchair closer to the fire and made himself comfortable and covered himself
with the duvet.
That was the last
thing he remembered until he awoke in the eerie light of Christmas Morning with
a stiff neck.
He got up and
stretched and then winced when he turned his head.
He checked first
his watch and saw it was after eight and then his guest and found she was still
sleeping peacefully.
So he revived the
fire and dropped in another log and crept out of the room.
Showered, shaved
and dressed he returned downstairs to the kitchen.
He looked out of
the window and could see it was still snowing though much lighter than the
night before.
He flicked on the
kettle and turned his attention to lunch.
As he lived alone
he didn’t bother with Christmas lunch and all the trimmings, not because he
couldn’t cook, he was a very good cook, he just didn’t bother for himself.
In fact he hadn’t
done Christmas lunch since his wife died.
Helena loved
Christmas and everything that went with it and so did he.
But five years
earlier his love of it died along with her.
And even though
that was at a different time in a different house he still didn’t put up the decorations
like Helena used to.
First things first
he looked in the fridge and the freezer and checked the cupboards and set about
his task.
It wouldn’t be a
Christmas Lunch per se but it would be a cooked lunch on Christmas Day.
Once he had
everything prepared he made his drink and went back to the lounge.
It was 10 o’clock,
Samantha had been asleep for more than 12 hours so he thought it was probably
best if she began to come round.
He drew back the
curtains and put on the radio, nothing too raucous he thought so he selected
Christmas worship on the BBC, then he sat down in his armchair and drank his
coffee.
Within ten
minutes, helped along by a vigorous rendition of “O come all ye faithful”
She began to
stir.
He was leant back
in his chair as first her breathing changed and then her eye flicked open, a
little at first, and then fully as her eyes tried to locate something familiar.
Eventually her
eyes settled on Richard.
“Where am I?” she
asked
“You’re in
Shallowfield” he replied
“Have you
kidnapped me?” Sam asked
“No” he replied
and chuckled “You crashed your car”
She closed her
eyes again and tried to remember
“How’s your head?”
he asked and her eyes opened again
“Ow” she exclaimed
after touching the bump
“Are you sure you
didn’t bop me on the head and kidnap me?”
“I’m quite sure”
he said “Merry Christmas by the way”
“Merry Christmas?”
she said puzzled “I thought I’d already had that”
She sat herself up
and asked
“Did I have a
bag?”
“Two actually” he
replied “Your overnight bag is in the hall, and your hand bag is here”
He leant over the
arm of his chair and retrieved it and handed it to her.
“I took the
liberty of checking your mobile last night after the doctor left”
“The doctor was
here?” she asked
“Yes”
She closed her
eyes tight and tried to remember.
“You’re friend
Emily called you numerous times, she was clearly quite worried, so I called her
and told her what happened”
“Emily” she said in
a eureka moment “that’s where I was going”
She grinned
broadly at successfully accessing the memory.
“They will come
and get you when the roads are passable again” Richard said
“Why don’t you
call her while I make a drink?”
“Ok” she agreed
“Tea or coffee?”
“Tea please” she
replied and then as he was leaving the room she asked
“Who are you?”
“I’m Richard but
my close friends call me Tripp”
He had had the
nickname Tripp since he first started big school he was now 35.
It was all thanks
to his namesake Richard O’Sullivan whose most famous character portrayal was of
Robin Tripp in the shows “Man about the house” and “Robin Nest” and thanks to
reruns of the shows when he was a schoolboy the name stuck with him.
While he made the
drinks she made her phone call to Emily which dispelled her fears of being
kidnapped and she was much happier.
He entered the
room with the drinks and a pack of Paracetamol
“I spoke with
Emily” she said “And I am now happy that I haven’t been kidnapped”
“Good” he said
putting her mug down and giving her the pain killers
“Of course Emily
and I could be in it together”
“No don’t say
that” she said “my head is already messed up”
As she finished
her tea she asked sheepishly
“Could I be really
cheeky and have a shower”
“Of course you
can” he said and laughed “I took your bag up and put it in the spare room
there’s an en suite so you have complete privacy”
“Thank you
Richard” she said
“Call me Tripp” he
said
“But were not
close friends” she pointed out
“That’s very true”
he agreed “But we have slept together”
He watched her
gingerly climb the narrow stairs and found himself once again admiring her.
He had not looked
upon a woman in that way for a very long time, when his wife was alive he only
had eyes for her and after her death he focused only on his work.
When she reached
the top he said
“It’s the room on
the left”
“Thank you” she
called back and then she turned towards him and added “Merry Christmas Tripp”
Richard smiled and
walked into the kitchen and got on with the lunch
He was an ordinary
looking man in fact he was so ordinary if he were to commit a crime the
witnesses to it would supply a description that would fit half the population.
He was neither
tall nor short or fat nor thin, his face was not unpleasant to look but it
wasn’t handsome, his hair was mousy in colour and was unremarkable.
In summary he was
not the type of man who would attract the attention of someone like Samantha.
In fact it
occurred to him that only the particular chain of events that had already
occurred could have brought them together on Christmas day.
“Apart from
kidnap” he said to himself and laughed
While the Roast
Potatoes were cooking he set the table in the dining room, he always ate at the
dining room table, and it was a hangover from when Helena was still alive.
It was her Latin
upbringing, she would always say
“Meal times are
for more than just refueling”
After he’d laid
the table he went into the lounge to check on Samantha and found her back under
the duvet watching TV.
“Do you want more
tea?” he asked
“Yes please” she
said “can I do anything to help?”
“No, you just need
to relax and enjoy the hospitality” he replied and returned to the kitchen
He was lacking too
many key ingredients to make an authentic Christmas Lunch, Turkey, Cranberry
sauce chestnut stuffing and Christmas pudding and brandy butter, so in lieu of
a Turkey he cooked duck breasts, accompanied by Roast potatoes, and a selection
of vegetables, desert was an apple crumble.
He had taken
everything to the table, apart from the wine, which he retrieved from the
fridge he then pushed open the Lounge door and said
“Luncheon is
served madam”
“Oh goody” she
responded
When she was
seated at the table he said
“It’s not your
usual Christmas fare I’m afraid, but I did quite a lot of it as I wasn’t sure
how hungry you’d be”
“Wow it looks
great and I’m absolutely starving” she replied “I can’t remember when I last
ate”
Although she
couldn’t remember at the time her previous meal was actually lunchtime the day
before prior to Darren dumping her.
Richard needn’t
have concerned himself about cooking too much because Samantha ate more than
her share and still had room for two helpings of Apple Crumble.
Richard cleared
the table and took the plates to the kitchen and found Samantha stood running
the taps at the sink.
“Hey what do you
think you’re doing Samantha Dunlop?” he asked crossly
“I’m washing up”
she retorted
“You are my guest
and guests don’t wash up, now go and sit down”
“I can’t” she
replied
“You can’t what?”
“I can’t sit down”
she said “I’m too full”
“Ok then I’ll let you off”
With the washing
up done and two reviving mugs of tea made they adjourned to the lounge.
As the day wore on
the snowfall had petered out and by late afternoon the skies cleared just as
the light began to fade and the temperature dropped like a stone.
So Richard put on
the lights and drew the curtains then he attended to the wood burner before
sitting down in his chair.
“Would like music
or TV?” he asked
“Is “White
Christmas” on today?” she asked “Or did I imagine it”
“Yes it is” he
replied “would you like to watch it?”
“Yes please, it’s
one of my favourites”
“I know, I
remember you saying”
“Really? When?”
He then explained
the conversation they had in the woods the night before and she put her head in
her hands
“Oh God how
embarrassing” she said
“And then when we
got back here you announced "My dad wants to play Monopoly””
“Now you’re making
it up?”
“Not at all, you
said, "My dad wants to play Monopoly, but not me though"”
“Because I wanted
to watch White Christmas” she said “I was seven when that happened”
Samantha laughed
at the memory and Richards’s rendition of her and then she shivered.
“Are you cold?” he
asked and got up from his chair and retrieved the folded Duvet she had used the
night before
“Here put this
over you” he said unfolding it onto her lap
“Thank you” she
said and smiled
“It’s definitely
chilly I think I might get my fleece” he said
“We could share
the duvet” she suggested and flapped the duvet aside
“Oh, ok, yes” he
said and sat next to her on the sofa and she flapped it over him.
As he nervously
fumbled with the TV control Samantha’s phone rang for which he was grateful as
it diverted attention away from him.
“Hello” she said
“Hi Em, Merry
Christmas”
Suddenly he wasn’t
so grateful for the interruption once he realized it was her friend Emily
presumably to arrange a time to collect her.
There was a long
tortuous silence until she said
“Hold on I’ll ask”
and Samantha turned her attention back to him
“Emily says the
road is still closed so they can’t pick me up until tomorrow, and could you put
me up for another night, or put up with me for another night”
“Of course, you
can stay as long as you like” he said struggling to keep the delight out of his
voice
“Ok Hun bye”
“I’m sorry” she
said
“Whatever for?”
“Imposing on you”
“It’s no
imposition Sam, it’s a pleasure” he said
“Now watch the
film”
When he woke up on
Boxing Day he was thrilled to see it was snowing again and settling fast on the
frozen snow of the day before.
He showered and
shaved and dressed for the day and went down stairs with a spring in his step.
When he got to the
kitchen he found Samantha was up before him and was in high spirits.
“Morning Tripp”
she said “It’s snowing again”
“Yes I know, it
looks like I might have to put up with you for another night”
“Really?” she
queried
“Well I can’t see
them reopening the road today in this”
"How's the head?" Richard asked her
"Better," she told him
“Good”
“Do you mind?” she
asked
“Do I mind what?”
“Being stuck with
me for another day”
“Not for a second”
he replied and she smiled
“In that case can
I cook you breakfast?” she asked
“I don’t know, can
you cook?”
“Go and set the
table and then you’ll find out” she said
As she cooked the
omelet’s she was feeling very happy with the situation and was not entirely
sure why.
Richard O’Sullivan
was not the kind of man who would normally show up on her radar, she went for a
very different type, he was rather ordinary.
As she dished the
omelets onto the waiting plates the thought occurred to her that, that was
probably why she had never landed a good one.
Later that day
they were playing cards in front of the log burner when Richard said.
“I bet this wasn’t
how you envisaged spending your Christmas”
“No it wasn’t” she
agreed
“So what was the
plan?”
“Christmas dinner
with my boyfriend’s parents” she said
“Oh” he said
barely hiding his disappointment
“But that was
before I was dumped by my skinflint boyfriend on Christmas Eve because he was
too tight to buy me a present”
“Ouch”
“Then I lost my
job because I embarrassed a miserly customer at Hanratty’s who was too mean to
buy a £25 pound bottle of scent for his wife’s gift”
“Oh dear”
“So I called Emily
and she invited me to stay and then I crashed the car in the snow”
“That I can
verify”
“Me too” she said
touching the wound above her eye
“You managed to
pack a lot in to one day” he said
“Yes” She agreed
“As Christmas Eve’s go, boring it was not”
“Indeed” he said
“Christmas Day on the other hand” she began and then they exchanged a smile.
The road through
Shallowfield was finally reopened on the day after Boxing Day so Emily and Matt
Charlton arrived mid-morning to collect Samantha.
While Sam was
upstairs getting her bag, Richard entertained the Charlton’s in the lounge.
“It was kind of
you to take Sam in”
“It was nothing”
Richard said dismissively
“It was my
pleasure”
Just then he heard
Samantha’s footfalls on the stairs
“We’re having a
party on New Year’s Eve and you are more than welcome to come” Emily said
“Thank you but no
I’m not much of a reveler”
“Oh do come” Sam
said
“I’m not really
much of a one for parties” he replied
“Well if you
change your mind its flat 3 East Cliff Lodge any
time after nine” Matt said and shook his hand
On the door step
Samantha turned and kissed his cheek
“Thank you Tripp”
Samantha waved
through the back window as he watched them drive down the lane and he felt a
strange sense of loss.
Since his wife
died he had lived in quiet isolation and he had grown content in his existence.
But Samantha had
disturbed his calm and muddied the quiet waters of his life.
As Matt drove carefully
along the snow covered roads, Emily chatted excitedly at a pitch that was only
audile to dogs while Samantha was feeling lost and alone.
When he got up on
New Year’s Eve the snow had all but gone and he still planned to spend it alone
as had become the norm.
All day long he
was content it would be business as usual for the turn of the year.
Samantha was in
Emily and Matt’s spare room for hours getting ready for the party.
Hair, nails, legs,
the whole nine yards she even borrowed one of Emily’s raciest dresses.
“You look
gorgeous” Emily said
“Thank you” she
replied “I thought I should make the effort”
“But you haven’t
gone to all this trouble just for us, have you?”
“I don’t know what
you mean” Samantha said adjusting her makeup.
“He probably won’t
come you know” Emily said
“He doesn’t have
to” Sam said
Richard was
dressed in his smartest suit and was rushing around the lounge muttering under
her breath, looking for his car keys when there was a knock at the door.
“Who’s that now”
he said to himself
Abandoning his
search he went to the door prepared to bark his disapproval in their direction
but instead he found Samantha standing on the doorstep dressed to kill and
carrying a bottle of Champaign.
“I thought if you
won’t come to the party I’d bring the party to you”
She said holding
up the bottle
“I was just coming
to find you” he said
“Well I beat you
to it” she said and smiled
“Shall we go to
the party then?” he asked
“No let’s have a
quiet night in” she said and closed the door behind her.
WE HAD IT ALL
It was here, in our grasp
We
could see it, feel it, touch it
Something
steadfast and solid
Reassuring
and comforting
A
constant, a given
Something
infinite and immeasurable
We
had it all in our hands
A
living breathing thing
That
we gave life
Our
own creation, our new entity
But
we let it escape from our grasp
Slowly
slipping through our fingers
Though
we tried to recapture it
It
was illusive, like trying to net smoke
It
evaded our efforts
So
now it's gone and nothing remains,
Of
that entity that was us
Nothing
tangible, nothing physical
Only
memories remain
IS IT YOU?
Is it you?
Are you the one?
Are you my missing puzzle piece?
That will make me whole
And complete the unfinished picture
Or will you be another square peg
In my round hole
Is it you?
Are you the one?
The special other half of me
If we touch will we bond together?
Seamlessly, our borders undefined
Or will we repel like opposite poles
Never to be joined
Is it you?
Are you the one?
The shadow of my soul
Will we fit like hand in tailored glove?
Or will you be like
That hand knitted Christmas gift
From a well meaning aunt
Is it you?
Are you the one?
My long lost soul mate
Will we wear each other?
Like comfortable shoes
Or some fashionable pair
That pinch and rub
Is it you?
Are you the one?
The one that’s made for me
Or don’t you exist
When our fingers touch
Will electricity pass between us?
Or will it just be a static shock
That makes us flinch
Is it you?
Are you the one?
The one I have always sought
Or is it that you don’t exist
And I have set my sights to high
My heart won’t let me believe that
So take my hand and we will try
Can you feel that?
Wednesday 28 July 2021
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (36) Koo-Koo-Ka-Choo Mrs Robinson
It
was a successful organization that phlebotomist Harriet Robinson joined on a
bitter cold January morning along with another new nurse named Elena Fedeli.
It
was two years to the day after Dr Claire Andrews took over The Shallowfield
Surgery and in that short time she and her business partner Olivia Adamson had
transformed it into the Dancingdean Heath Centre, which necessitated the
expansion of staff numbers.
Equally while
things had been going well for Claire and Olivia in the two years they had been
in Shallowfield.
It had been quite
a similar story in those two years for
Harriet, which
began with her taking blood from her needle phobic husband to be.
Her
full birth name was Hayley Harriet Hanson but that was before, at the tender
age of 21, she married William Quimby.
And
after her disastrous marriage ended though she chose to remain as Harriet
Quimby as she rather liked the name.
Her
ex-husband on the other hand remained a complete bastard.
She
was a phlebotomist by profession and proud of it but she was really tired
of people saying to her “What’s a phlebotomist?”
And
then having to explain her occupation to them, so she made the decision to
reply, when asked what she did for a living, that she was a nurse and
volunteered no further information.
Which
was a shame because she loved her job, and she really was proud to be a
phlebotomist, she liked dealing with people and liked engaging with them and
she was good at it.
Some
of her colleagues favoured the stand offish approach, keeping a dignified distance
between themselves and the patients, but that was not Harriet’s way.
Harriet
found the pleasant exchanges helped the day pass by, she couldn’t do it with
everyone of course, some patients thought they were customers and that she was
on a par with a shop girl, but they were few and far between.
And
it was through her job and her pleasant professionalism that she came to
replace the name Quimby with that of Robinson.
In
the years since her divorce she had not remarried or even thought of doing so.
She
worked hard in a rewarding job, she had a supportive family and she had a large
circle of friends, and she was content with that.
Harriet
was not without admirers however and she had not exactly lived as a nun, she
had had boyfriends but she had not actively sort a replacement for Mr Quimby,
what would be would be in the fullness of time.
So it
was a life changing moment at the Abbeyvale Health Centre when Nathan Robinson
heard his name called by the willowy young Harriet with her bobbed dark brown
hair, wearing a white uniform with red piping.
He
was only there for a routine blood test but he was Trypanophobic but she was
well used to needle phobe’s and her easy manner and playful teasing soon put
him at his ease when she called him a chicken and he called her a vampire.
All
of which put his mind at rest to such a degree that he was able to take a
moment or two to appreciate the loveliness of the girl with the very large
needle.
After
he’d left the room she chuckled to herself as she remembered their humorous and
pleasant exchange and she thought what a nice man he was.
There
was no one in her life at the time and she was content with that so that brief
pleasant exchange between them would probably have been the end of it had it
not been for a chance meeting just over a week later when they saw each other
again in St Candida’s park.
He
saw her sitting on the grass with a small group of young women and decided to approach.
“Hello
nurse Nosferatu” he called and then he made the sign of the cross when she
turned around
“Oh
hello chicken” she responded and made it sound like a term of endearment which
wasn’t her intent but she was not unhappy about it.
“Should
a phlebotomist be out in the sunlight?” Nathan asked
“What’s
a phlebotomist?” one of the group asked and Harriet shook her head and took it
as her sign to leave.
She
said her goodbyes to her friends and quickly caught up with Nathan who had gone
ahead.
“Thanks
for that” she said
“For
what?” he asked
“For
exposing me as a phlebotomist” she said
“Ay?”
he exclaimed in some confusion
“But
you are a phlebotomist”
“I
know” she said “but I hate the fact that I always have to explain it”
“Sorry”
Nathan said
“So
what do you do for a living?” she asked
“I’m
a University Professor” he said proudly
“A
professor?” Harriet replied a little impressed
“Aren’t
you a little young?”
“Not
in my field” he replied
“I
thought professors were intelligent” she said with a laugh
“And
I thought nursing was the caring profession” he retorted
“So
what are you the professor of?” she enquired
“Music”
Nathan replied
“Really,
what kind?” she asked impressed
“My
field of expertise is early 20th century” he replied
“Like
Puccini?” She said hopefully
“Like
jazz” Nathan said
“Jazz?
How disappointing, you got interesting for a second and then, wham! Dull as
ditch water again”
“I
like jazz” he said defensively “Jazz is very exciting”
“And
people study that at University?” she asked derisively
“Of
course, as part of a rounded degree course” he replied
“Do
you play or just teach?” she asked
“Yes”
Nathan replied
“Which
one?”
“Both”
“What
instrument? The washboard?” She asked and laughed out loud with delight
“That’s
skiffle, not jazz” he corrected her “Philistine”
“What
then?” Harriet persisted
“Clarinet”
Said Nathan
“Really?
But that’s a proper instrument” she said shocked “Are you any good?”
“Well
I enjoy playing” he answered
“You’re
really bad then” Harriet said and laughed again
“Why
not come and judge for yourself” he said
“When?”
she asked
“Now”
he replied “we’re playing a set at the Jazz Shack on Finchampton Street”
“Ok”
she answered although she wasn’t sure why
Nathan
who was six years older than her, really liked her but worried about the age
difference, however after the gig he suggested that they do it again.
Harriet
was reluctant to accept, not because of the age gap or because she hadn’t
enjoyed it.
Nor
was it because she didn’t like him, because she did.
“We
have absolutely nothing in common” Harriet said to him
“We
share a sense of humour” he said
“That
doesn’t count” she responded
“I
think a good sense of humour is essential in a relationship if there is a
prospect of someone seeing me naked” Nathan replied
“That’s
really not much of a prospect” Harriet corrected him.
In
the end she reluctantly agreed and much to her surprise it worked.
To
the untrained eye they seemed an odd couple, she a beautiful willowy health
professional and him an unspectacular looking academic.
There
was the 6 year age difference for a start and they didn’t even agree on music,
he was a devotee of early Jazz whereas Harriet favoured Puccini’s Operas.
But
despite their differences they became a couple and learned to appreciate the
others likes because that was what relationships were about, compromise.
And
it was also patently obvious to everyone, that miss matched or not they were
head over heels in love.
And
after six months together Harriet could hardly remember the time before they
met.
They
did however still disagree musically but in all other matters they were
simpatico.
For
her 30th birthday he arranged a surprise trip to see Madame
Butterfly, at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York City.
Which
had she not already fallen in love with him would on its own have won her
heart.
Harriet
loved every moment and it was a wonderfully romantic trip and on the night
before they returned home, on top of the Empire State Building, he proposed to
her and they married the year after.
Alas
because she was a divorcee they couldn’t marry in Church, so the ceremony was
held in the Abbeyvale registry office which was immediately followed by a
blessing at St Candida’s Church.
Their
reason for moving from Abbeyvale came out of the blue, they had been perfectly
happy where they lived and she remained fulfilled in her job, but within a
matter of weeks her job came under threat as the local trust were rationalizing
services so she started putting feelers out and within a week she had an
interview in Shallowfield.
Harriet
and Nathan moved into number 1 Folly Cottages just before Christmas, the
previous occupant was one of her new bosses Dr Claire Lutchford, who now lived
on the other side of the lake with her new husband and they fell in love with the
cottage instantly.
Originally there
were six dwellings but after conversion there were now three terraced cottages
and they were situated high above the northern perimeter road in a rocky glade.
The two end ones
had two bedroom and the one in the middle had one.
Once upon a time
they were home to peasants who worked the woods but now the peasantry couldn’t
afford to live anywhere near the lake.
The view of the lake was spectacular although
they couldn’t see it all or discern the teardrop shape that gave the lake its
name. But the view of the surrounding ancient woodland of the Dancingdean
Forest was majestic.
Although much of the modest body of water was
obscured from view it was still quite beautiful and relatively unspoilt which
was why the she instantly fell in love with the place, and as there was snow on
the ground the scene was very picturesque.
Teardrop Lake
and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve
parcels each with one significant dwelling although there were a number of
cottages dotted around the woodland.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was
little or no noise pollution and they had been reliably informed that although
the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats,
canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
“What a perfect
place to raise a child” Nathan said when they first looked out across the lake.
“If only” she
replied sadly
“It’s just a
matter of time sweetheart” he said reassuringly
“But time is
running out” she replied, so he just hugged her
Fortunately
Harriet was not the only new starter at the health centre or the only newbie to
the area.
Elena
Fedeli who was the new district nurse moved into number 3 a couple of days
after the Robinsons.
However
whereas Harriet’s move had been forced upon her Elena had been looking for a
change.
As
they both moved in before Christmas and weren’t due to start work until the New
Year and as they were neighbours the two new girls gravitated towards each
other especially as Nathan was only around at the weekend for the first week
until the end of the semester.
Eva Christodoulou and Siti Shahara, who lived in number 2, also worked at the health centre, volunteered to show the new girls around and help them get their bearings and settle in.
When
they moved to Teardrop they had been together for over 7 years and married for
6, Harry was fast approaching her 37th birthday and she was
convinced she could literally hear her biological clock ticking.
They
had been trying for a family ever since they were married but it just wasn’t
happening for them.
43
years old Nathan was medium height, slim build and had thinning sandy hair and
grey eyes.
He
loved her very much but he didn’t feel the same time pressure that his wife did
but he was desperate to make her happy.
They
had undergone all the tests imaginable but there was nothing physically wrong
with either of them and everything was in good working order.
And a
lack of trying was also not the problem and the love making was as great as it
had always been and they didn’t stint on the quantity,
But it was all
to no avail, but it didn’t prevent them from trying.
After a very active first Christmas in their
new home on the Lake, the mad girls in number 2 made sure they had an enjoyable Christmas.
Harriet was
really pleased that she wasn’t starting the new job on her own and she knew
Elena felt the same way.
They both
slotted right in at the Heath Centre and they soon found that the rest of the
staff were just as friendly as their new neighbours were.
When
she first walked through the doors of the Health Centre she felt instantly at
home and it took Harriet no time at all to settle
into a comfortable routine at work and find the natural rhythm of life on the
Lake.
And in a matter of weeks it was as if they had lived there forever.
Almost as soon as her boss Olivia realised Nathan was a Professor of
Music she kept making references to her about the Church choir and dropping
hints about the need for someone with a professional ear to champion the Church
music, but then she was married to the Vicar.
Eventually after a month or two the drip, drip, drip of Olivia’s Chinese
water torture technique paid off and she succumbed or to be more accurate she
made Nathan succumb and he took control of St Mary’s church choir.
As it turned out it was just what the Robinson’s needed something to put
their collective efforts into, a common interest and a distraction from what
was consuming her every waking thought, her failure as a woman.
As a member of the choir she threw herself into it body and soul and
managed to put everything else out of her mind.
She even managed to persuade Elena to join and they were side by side
when, on Easter Sunday, Nathan debuted as Choir master.
After Easter, life continued in much the same way until the summer
festivities filled the calendar.
It began as it did every year on Teardrop Lake with Lynn Cooper’s
birthday BBQ at Coopers Villa on the first of May and ended at the Shallowfield
Lodge Hotel in September for Rob and Sheryl Browns Wedding Anniversary party.
It had been such a busy summer with the seemingly
endless round of Hog Roasts and BBQ’s, parties and picnics that it wasn’t until
summer drifted relentlessly into autumn that the
hopeless longing for a child struck her again.
Nathan tried desperately to lift her spirits
and for his sake she put on a brave face but inside she was dying.
There were other distractions in September such as
Olivia Shenton’s Wedding Anniversary and Chantelle Dooney’s
birthday and Siti Shahara’s also had one in October, but overall not enough.
Throughout October at the health centre the
main topic of conversation was the upcoming Lutchford’s Annual Fancy Dress
Halloween party at Forest Lodge, to which all the staff were invited.
The talk was primarily of what costumes would
be worn but more interestingly the gossip was mainly about past misdemeanours.
Everyone at the
health centre apart from Elena Fedeli and the Vicar’s wife Olivia were going to
the Halloween
Party at the Lutchford’s and the two of them left work early for the church as they had chosen instead to attend the Halloween celebrations at St Mary’s.
Nathan and Harriet, both conscious of each
other’s feeling of inadequacy, but were equally unable to discuss “the elephant
in the room”.
So as the Halloween party approached, they
had both independently developed a plan designed to cheer the other one up.
Nathan was already at home when Harriet
arrived and was busy in the kitchen.
“Hi Hun” she called as she walked through the
door
“Something smells good”
“That must be me” he said
“Nah it’s definitely something nice” Harriet
retorted
After they’d eaten and cleared away they went
into separate rooms to change.
When they were ready they emerged
simultaneously onto the landing, the result of which caused hysterical laughter
when they discovered what the other was wearing.
Harriet was dressed as a vampire and Nathan
was wearing a chicken suit.
The laughter continued as they went downstairs
into the lounge in fact it only stopped when they kissed, which was prolonged
and passionate.
In fact the kissing lead to a horny vampire
straddling a prostrated chicken on the lounge carpet.
Needless to say they were late arriving at
the party.
That
lustful Halloween Night seemed to have put the destructive thoughts of
inadequacy into the shade, at least for a while and then as November progressed
thoughts of Christmas took over and became all consuming, it was after all a
celebration of their first year on the Lake.
It
was the week before Christmas and Nathan had finished work for the holiday and
was looking forward to his long break as he was off until the New Year.
And
as Christmas was fast approaching he was taking full advantage of the fact that
Harry was at work so he could wrap her presents.
He
had just safely placed the wrapped gifts under the tree when he heard her car
pull up outside the cottage.
She
was home early so he quickly tidied away the wrapping paper, scissors and
sellotape, and had just sat down on the sofa as she came through the door.
“Hi
Hun” she said
“Hello
darling” he replied “are you ok?”
“No
I’m a bit queasy” she replied
“That’s
not good for a vampire to get queasy at the site of blood” he said flippantly
“It
wasn’t the blood” she retorted
“Was
it the needles then? Are you turning into a chicken?” he said and chuckled
“No
it’s not the needles” she stated and sat down beside him “there are other
things that can cause queasiness in the morning”
“I
know Hun, like too much Pernod the night before” Nathan said
“Yes
but what else causes sickness in the morning?” She asked him leadingly
“Apart
from a dodgy kebab, or 6 pints of Guinness, I don’t know” he said “what could
cause morning sick...”
She
sat looking at him patiently as the penny finally dropped
“You’re
pregnant” he said
“Well
done Professor”
“You’re
pregnant” he squealed and then he kissed her
“We’re
having a little musician” he said proudly
“Or a
little health professional”
She
added and he kissed her again
“So
how pregnant are you?” he asked her later “when was it, you know”
“I
think we both know the answer to that” she said
“Halloween”
they said in unison
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