Twenty eight year old Paul
Ingram was involved with an older woman, a forty year old woman to be precise, who was
a beautiful unhappily married, soon to be divorced Carrington Chase educated woman, called Francesca
Carrington-Webber.
Paul and Francesca both lived in the village of Forest Dean situated
equidistant between Shallowfield and Childean, she lived in a huge house that
backed onto the The Forest Ridge Golf Club, and coincidentally Paul worked for
the Golf Club.
They became involved after three chance meetings, two on a train and
the third more significant one was on the Promenade in Sharpington, where he
came upon her small huddled figure on the bench ahead of him in some distress and
after some tender moments of consolation lead to them making love in his
caravan.
Since that night they had had a non-physical relationship and on the
rare occasions that they managed to get to spend some time together they always
made the most of it, sometimes they had to create opportunities and sometimes
they just happened and sometimes one of them managed to surprise the other but
the biggest surprise came on the Halloween weekend when she arrived at his
caravan dressed as a witch and announced that not only was she divorcing her
husband David but that she was staying the night.
On the rare occasions that they managed to get to spend the night
together they always made the most of it but sometimes they had to create
opportunities for example on the day of Derek Bronson’s funeral on a cold
February day.
The Bronson’s were Francesca’s next door neighbour’s and Daphne was
one of her closest friends and obviously on the day of the funeral she was in
pieces and she leant heavily on Francesca.
Francesca’s mum stayed in her house and looked after her children and
Daphne’s mother looked after the Bronson children IN Purplemere and Francesca
looked after the widow in the Bronson house.
The warm weather of the spring was still in evidence on the day of the
funeral and during the wake Daphne completely broke down and so Francesca had
her taken home and the doctor was called.
Dr Lutchford came downstairs carrying her bag and said
“I’ve given her a sedative” she said “So she’ll sleep until
morning”
“Thanks doctor” Francesca said and as she closed the door behind her
she smiled and got her phone from her pocket and typed a message.
Paul Ingram was still at the wake and talking to some friends when he
felt his phone vibrate in his pocket so he discreetly excused himself and read
the message.
“Come now!!!”
He discreetly slipped away from the funeral and headed towards the
Vicarage and then he turned down the lane by the church, which led to the path
that crossed the golf course and from there he traversed the course until he
reached the back of Francesca’s house and then he remembered he wanted the house
next door and went in the back gate and ran across the lawn and tapped on the
door.
When the door opened the elegant figure of Francesca stood before him.
“Hello Paul” She said brightly then pretended to be solemn with a
half-smile.
“You called madam” he asked
“What kept you” she retorted
“I had a call from a horny middle aged woman who didn’t leave a name”
he said “so I tried the pretty ones first”
“You cheeky sod” she said “if I didn’t love you so much I’d send you
on your way”
She was giggling as he took her in his arms, and when she stopped
laughing he became aware of her hot breath on his neck, and her arms tighten
around him and she began to nuzzle his neck and he could feel her breath
panting on his skin.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea” he said
“It’s alight Daphne has been sedated” she retorted and began nibbling
his ear “So we won’t be disturbed”
“Don’t you find me sexy dressed like this” she whispered “everything I
have on is black you know”
“I always find you sexy” he said “And I love you in black, but you are
dressed for a funeral and not only is this the widow’s house but she’s
upstairs”
“I know all that” she admitted “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you
like she lost Derek, I don’t even want to think about that”
“I’m not going anywhere” he said trying to make light of it
“Daphne didn’t think Derek was going anywhere” she said “And look what
happened to him”
“I know it was very tragic” he agreed “But that won’t happen to me”
“I just want you to make love to me and make me feel alive” she
pleaded while still nuzzling his neck and her hands began to caress up and down
his back as her nuzzles turned to kisses.
In response to her plea he reciprocated the caresses and in an instant
her soft lips were on his.
So on Daphne Bronson’s expensive Persian rug Paul made Francesca feel
alive and then they lay beneath a throw and shared the words of love that had
become the normal converse between them after making love.
Then Francesca needed to get up for a pee and she returned to find he
had begun to get dressed.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked disapprovingly
“Getting dressed” he replied
“Well you can stop that right away” she said
“Why?”
“Because I’m going upstairs to check on the widow and then when I return
you’re going to make me feel alive all over again” she said and giggled.
Paul looked at her as she laughed while wearing only stockings.
“Well I don’t think you should go dressed like that” he said
“Ooops” she exclaimed
