The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (186) New Years Eve

 

When they first moved to Spaniards Creek, Molly was hoping

St Clara’s would suit her rather more than the main churches on the island in St Pierre.

So, when she and Danny walked inside, she was apprehensive, but she was not disappointed with the church she’d chosen and felt immediately at home, and they had been regulars ever since.

It was a small church by Norman standards and was full of catholic iconography and a spectacular stained-glass window behind the dais was a joy to behold.

 

It was a gloriously bright morning, on New Year’s Eve, with a clear blue sky and not a hint of breeze or the snow which was expected by the next day.

The Church was well attended and there was a hum of chattering among the congregants as the news of Arielle’s blessing was spread among the faithful, they spotted Arielle sitting on the front pew with Harry in protection mode and they assumed the other woman with them was Justyna Krajewska.  

She and Arielle were the same age, but very different in appearance, both were attractive women, Arielle was a small and delicately featured woman with bobbed brown hair, and pale complexion due to her condition, whereas Justyna Krajewska was a tall willowy woman, with shoulder length brunette hair, intelligent green laughing eyes, a broad toothy smile and a warm open manner and altogether a very pleasant demeanour.

“Hello Arielle” Molly said and stooped down and kissed her.

“Hi Molly” she responded “Have you met Justyna, she is a fellow cleric”

“Hello,” she said and shook her hand “How do you like our little church?”

“I love it, I felt immediately at home as soon as I set foot inside” Justyna replied

“Yes, it had the same effect on me” Molly responded and smiled at Arielle.

 

Reverend Henry Noble took the service, but Arielle did the reading, however that would be the last time either of them attended St Clara’s for a while and the following Sunday Reverend Justyna Krajewska was in the pulpit.  

 

The Shaw Brothers Ferry Company were holding a New Year’s Eve party at the Mablethorpe Spa Hotel in Pipershaven.

Bernie Keach worked at the St Giles Island office and travelled to the Hotel in the morning and was the first to arrive and had booked in early, so he could enjoy some of the facilities.

Later when he was on his way down to the bar to have a drink before going in to find his table, he heard a commotion at the function’s check in desk, and he recognized one of the voices as one of his colleague’s, Ewa.

He paused on the stairs and drank in the scene, though his eyes were focused on her, and he thought she looked gorgeous in her evening dress.

“What do you mean I’m not on the list?” she shouted

“My name is Ewa Szczepaniec”

“I can’t see it” the receptionist said as he perused his list “Can you spell it?” 

“S.Z.C.Z.E.P.A.N.I.E.C” she said slowly and deliberately

“No that hasn’t helped” he said, “Can you write it down?”

Reluctantly she printed her surname on a piece of paper and handed it to him

“No that hasn’t helped either” he said and then laughed

“Wow that would score big on scrabble, perhaps that’s what we should call you Miss Scrabble”

“My name is Ewa Szczepaniec” she repeated slowly “S.Z.C.Z.E.P.A.N.I.E.C”

“Yes, I understand” he said “but I must just ask, do you lot have something against vowels”

“My lot, my lot, what do you mean, my lot?” she said angrily, which was when Bernie arrived, and stepped between them before Ewa brained him.

But it quickly became apparent that she was not calming down, so he steered her away from the fray and she left reception like a marauding bull, with him right behind her carrying her pashmina and clutch bag.

Once Bernie caught up with her, he walked Ewa around the courtyard and calmed her down and soothed her temper with his comforting words and a reassuring hug.

 

After half an hour her mood had lightened sufficiently for him to propose they make another attempt to gain entry to the function and she concurred, so they walked back to the Hotel arm in arm and he stayed by her side all night, and she had never in her life been happier, so at the end of the evening on the terrace in the moonlight she kissed him.

They often joked over their long life together that the entire night had been something of a cliché, but they didn’t care.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (185) New Years Eve, Eve

 

On Saturday just after lunch there was a knock on the door at Cliff Haven and when Danny opened the door Reverend Arielle Archer, and her husband Harry were standing there.

“Hello, you two” he said “Come in out of the cold, you look perished”

“Thank you” Harry said

“Go through into the lounge” Danny said

“It’s lovely to see you” Molly said, and they embraced but she thought Arielle looked very pale

“But I don’t think you should have come out on a day like this”

“We have some news that we wanted you to hear from us first” Arielle said

“Oh?” Molly asked with concern

 “It’s a good thing” Harry interjected

“We’re having a baby” Arielle said

“That’s wonderful news” Molly said and kissed her

“Congratulations” Danny added and shook Harry’s hand before giving him a hug.

 

After all the kissing and embracing was over Arielle said

“There is some bad news”

“Oh?” Molly asked with concern again

“Yes, the Doctor has advised complete rest” Arielle said

“Is everything ok?” Molly asked

“It’s precautionary” Arielle replied

“It’s Preeclampsia and acute anaemia” Harry corrected her

“Then you must rest” Molly said “We’ll get someone else to cover for you, I’ve been thinking for some time that we need to get a curate to assist you”

 

If St Clara’s had still been a Church of England Church a locum would have been supplied, but they weren’t, so they had to make other arrangements.

In the past Henry Noble, for whom Arielle had been curate for several years, had stood in for her, and over Christmas, but he was working at the St Giles retreat on St Giles du Cabot so he couldn’t cover all of her parochial duties.

However there was a someone who had spent a prolonged period at the retreat following a long battle with cancer.

Forty-year-old Justyna Krajewska who was ready to leave the retreat but was unsure where her future lay so Henry Noble had suggested St Clara’s, and had introduced her to Arielle.

 

Arielle liked her and in turn suggested her to Molly, but obviously Molly would need to meet her for herself, however there was a slight complication, as only a very select few knew that Molly owned the Church, so a chance meeting had to be engineered, it was decided that the New Year’s Eve service would be the best time.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (184) Suggesting Change

 

Molly and Danny had enjoyed Christmas and planned on enjoying the New Year’s Weekend in the same vein but in the meantime, they were planning their trip.

The itinerary for the book signings was already set in stone, and they had just received it by email that morning, so the planning involved finding suitable accommodation in each City and some research into what to see and do while they were there.

Also as they were going to Australia it gave them the opportunity to see Danny’s brother and family again. 

 

On the Friday before New Year’s, Sam Archer was taking his girlfriend Nikki Harrison, her mum Katie, her other half George Wood, her aunt Louise Stratford and her husband Neil, Shepherdess Hayley Stock and her boyfriend Jamie White, out to dinner at the Beaumont Manor Hotel.

So he drove from Spaniards Creek to Beacon Farm with Jada Ellington in the passenger seat who was going to babysit the Stratford’s Twins for the evening.

George answered his knock which was quite fortuitous for Sam to get George on his own and allowed them to have a brief, yet important, conversation before joining the others, while Jada went straight in.

 

Katie was in the lounge and kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly.

“Thank you, Sam,” she said, and she was filling up, he wasn’t sure what exactly she was thanking him for, was it for the meal or just for making her daughter happy.

It could have been either, but it certainly could not have been for what he and George had just been discussing.

He patted her on the back, and she released her grip and turned away to wipe her eyes, and a few minutes later Nikki came into the lounge, and he thought she looked as lovely as ever.

“Hello darling” she said as she walked over and kissed him

“I didn’t know you were here; I didn’t hear the door”

 

A short period of small talk followed and then Nikki looked at her watch and said

“I think we should make a move”

“Yes” Sam agreed “But before we go, I want to ask you something”

“Can’t it wait until dinner? I’m starved, I’ve been looking forward to my roast duck all day”

“You’re going to have duck again?” Sam asked

“Of course,” she replied with a confused look on her face

“There are other things on the menu” he pointed out

“I know” she retorted

“You could just give something else a try” he teased

“I have tried other things; I had a stroganoff once” she retorted indignantly

“Just the one time?” he said

“Yes, but that’s because I don’t like change” she replied

“You don’t like change?”

“No, I don’t”

“Then we might have a problem” Sam said and glanced over to the sofa, George was smiling broadly, and Katie looked bemused.

“What do you mean?” she asked in alarm

“Well, I was going to suggest that you change your last name” he said and fished out a ring box from his pocket.

“Nikki Harrison, will you please marry me”

“What?” she exclaimed

“Will you marry me?” he repeated,

She just stood and stared at him for a full minute, and he was beginning to worry that he had been premature and then all of a sudden, she screamed and threw her arms around his neck.

“Is that a, yes?”

“Yes” she replied

George and Katie were hugging, as Katie watched her daughter’s joy unfold, no doubt remembering long passed moments from her childhood, then Nikki rushed over and hugged and kissed her mum, then she looked over her shoulder and said

“I’m still having the duck”

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (183) The Hairdresser and the Toyboy

 

Mobile Hairdresser Maria Jenkins was 36 and had been unhappily married for fifteen  years to a gambler and womanizer, she had known about the former from the beginning, but the latter was a much more recent revelation.

She is widely respected on the island and known to be a kind soul and everyone that knows her has a tale to tell of her generous nature.

She retaliated to her husband’s infidelity by embarking on an affair of her own with a man ten years her junior, Mark Duff, and it was on the door of his cottage in Spaniards Creek that she knocked at 8pm on the day after Boxing Day wearing her best posh frock, and behind her a taxi was pulling away.

“Hello” he said with genuine surprise

“Hello” she responded, “Can I come in? Its bloody freezing”

“Of course,” He said fussily “come in, come in”

Once inside she slipped off her coat and walked through to the lounge and he thought she looked absolutely gorgeous.

“You’re a bit overdressed for my humble abode” he observed mentally undressing her.

“I know” she said as she sat down “I was going out to Dinner but…”

“But?” he asked

“I couldn’t face everyone quizzing me about Bill”

“About what?” he quizzed

“I’m divorcing him” she replied, “I don’t want him back, I’m moving on”

“I’m sorry,” he said inadequately

“I’m not” Maria said surprisingly “though it’s your fault in a way”

“Then I should be sorry,” he admitted

“No, you opened my eyes and showed me that I’m still an attractive woman, still a sexy woman, Bill didn’t appreciate that, and I need to be with someone who sees me the way that you do”

Richard raised his eyebrows in response and Maria laughed

“Oh, don’t worry I’m not looking to move in with you, having you at my disposal with your appetites would probably kill me”

She laughed again then continued

“Love making with you is like Zumba and Pilates rolled into one and you would “appreciate” me into an early grave”

“So, what do you have planned?” Mark asked

“I’m going on a cruise” she replied

“Really?” he asked, “on your own or with a friend?”

“I’m going with a gentleman admirer” she replied and blushed

“Good for you” Mark exclaimed

“So, when do you go?”

“I’m leaving next week” she replied and gracefully got to her feet “So in the meantime I’m going to let you answer the question you’ve been asking yourself since the moment I walked in”

“Which is?”

“Is she wearing tights or stockings?”

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (182) St Stephen’s Day

 

It was Boxing Day and Dave Radcliffe and Charlotte Pickford were on their way to the Sword and Shield, and the reason they were on their way there was because they showed live football in the bar and United were playing Liverpool.

Dave was a Man Utd fan, from a long line of United fans and it was an important match, well to be honest it was always an important match when United played Liverpool, but this one was more important than normal.

“I have a confession to make,” Charlotte said.
“Oh? What?” he asked her “Are you married?”

“Not that I remember” she replied “and I would hope if I were, I wouldn’t be standing in a bus shelter kissing another man”

He thought about it for a moment, and she could have been married for all he knew, he hadn’t known her for long and they’d only had their first proper date on Christmas Eve, so there was a lot he didn’t know about her.

Her name was Charlotte Pickford, and she was new to the island, her family had moved into the house next door to his parents, two weeks before Christmas from somewhere in Downshire.

He liked the look of her from the first minute and asked her out the first chance he got, but it took him almost 2 weeks before he wore her down and she said yes.

It was kind of an instant attraction thing, certainly for me, and since the first attraction had gradually deepened, he was now head over heels in love with her.

But on Boxing Day they were on their way to the pub to watch the match when they stopped for an intimate interlude in the bus shelter.

“What then?” he asked
“I’ve been dreading saying this” she said, and Dave was really worried and wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but Charlotte took a deep breath, and he braced himself

“I’m a Liverpool supporter” she said and closed her eyes and grimaced, but it took a moment for the full implications of her statement to sink in.

“I think I would have preferred it if you were married” Dave said, so she moved close into him and asked

“Do you mean you would prefer a married woman to be in love with you rather than a Liverpool supporter?”

“She loves me” he said to himself, and he wasn’t sure if that shocked him more than the fact, she supported Liverpool.

“I'm sorry,” she said “Not much of a Christmas present for my new boyfriend I’m afraid”
But she couldn't have been more wrong, it was the perfect Christmas present, Charlotte Pickford loved him.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (181) Christmas Day

 

Christmas morning began with a frosty glaze decorating the rooftops and lightly dusting the evergreens and as the bells rang out to celebrate the birth of the Lord the joyous faithful arrived under a clear blue sky.

It was a most glorious Christmas morning and spirits were high.

At St Joan of Arc’s, Reverend Cheryl Mackender was in great form conducting her first Christmas Morning service in front of Reverend Matthew Lines smiling in the front row. 

Arielle was not in attendance at St Clara’s in Spaniards Creek as Midnight Mass had taken too much out of her so Reverend Henry Noble presided over the service.

Afterwards it took some while for the Church to empty as everyone wanted to give their best wishes to Arielle.

 

In the days preceding Christmas Molly and Danny had been inundated with invitations to share Christmas dinner and were quite overwhelmed by people’s kindness, but in the end, they decided to decline all the invitation’s so they could enjoy a wonderful Christmas lunch, just the two of them, where they ate too much, drank too much and then had the present opening after lunch as per Molly’s tradition.

 

Back in June on one of their walks when they were crossing a stream, Stuart Cameron caught sight of something glistening in the water, so he knelt on the bank and reached down and picked it up, it was an irregular shaped piece of aviation Perspex about the size of a cigarette packet.

He assumed it originated from a German World War Two aircraft, a Messerschmitt probably, and likely fell to earth as a result of cannon fire or flak.

 

Following the find Stuart began fashioning it into two items,

He had done everything he could do himself, but he needed help from one of his patients, Daniel White, at Longlake Farm, who made jewellery as a hobby so one Sunday he drove out to the Farm so that he could finish off the pieces with gold mountings so they could be worn on a chain.

One of the items he had given her was a perfectly crafted Dolphin for 39th Birthday and the other one he had kept for Christmas. 

“It’s beautiful” she exclaimed as she took the Celtic Cross from the box.

Deborah Woodward had a faith, but she was not a churchgoer, it was hatches, matches and dispatches only for her.

“You are amazing” she said and kissed him “I really love you”

 

In mid-December Dale Power offered to take Eden Hills Christmas shopping on the mainland one afternoon and they had a great shopping expedition which culminated in a tender kiss.

There were many more dates and many more kisses between then and Christmas Day.

They had to spend Christmas Morning and have Christmas lunch with their families, so they didn’t get together until 4 o’clock at her parents’ house which was when they opened their presents, Eden had never done Christmas presents with a boyfriend before and she was very excited indeed, almost as excited as she was with the shopping trip when he kissed her in the Shopping Centre.  

Her parent were in the lounge watching TV, so Eden took Dale into the dining room.

There was a small Christmas Tree on the table, and she had placed his present under the little tree as Dale looked on.

“Happy Christmas” she said excitedly and handed a little gift bag to him. 

“Ok” he said laughing and he took the package and inside the gift bag was a little bundle wrapped in tissue paper, and inside that was a little square gold embossed jewellers’ box, and when he opened the hinged box, he found a pair of platinum cufflinks bearing his initials.

“They’re lovely” he said and then he joined Eden and kissed her.

“Your turn” he said and placed her gift under the tree and brought out a small parcel.

“I’ve never had a Christmas present from a boyfriend before” she said

“Well you have one now, open it” he urged “Open it”

“I want to enjoy every second of it” Eden said

When she had carefully removed the paper, she put it on the table and opened the gift box and inside she found a gold charm bracelet, bearing five charms, an anvil and a horseshoe, (symbolizing how they met while he was blacksmithing), a heart inscribed with her name (for love), a Christmas tree (to mark the season), and a crucifix (as a mark of faith).

“Wow” she exclaimed “it’s beautiful”

“You can add to it as a record of our life together” Stephen added

“What forever?” she asked

“For ever” he confirmed before adding “I love you”

“And I love you too” she responded, and they embraced, and the nature of that embrace led to them having to adjourn to her bedroom.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (180) The Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve

 

Christmas Eve was a busy day for the clergy with the Sunday service in the morning including lighting the fourth Advent Candle and then at 11 o’clock at night they had Midnight Mass.

It was also a busy day for families as parents made final preparations for the big day as their children’s excitement reached fever pitch.

 

Fifty-year-old Elizabeth Rodriguez was staying on St Giles with her cousin Shelagh Marks for Christmas, and despite the weather she took a walk around Hastings Lake and the surrounding woodland on Christmas Eve with her Cockapoo, Brandy.

As she and Brandy enjoyed their surroundings she was stunned to bump into her old flame, Matthew Woods, who was also walking a dog, in his case it was a Jack Russell, who she discovered went by the name of Digger.

They were both so taken aback by the chance encounter that they parted with things unsaid and unasked questions unanswered.

 

Despite the intermittent snow showers, St Joan of Arc’s was well attended for Midnight Mass, even in the bitter cold.

And to the great delight of everyone in attendance at St Clara’s, Reverend Arielle Archer was in attendance for the Mass.

At both Churches the service began in semi darkness to add to the atmosphere.

Midnight Mass was very moving and at the stroke of midnight when the lights come up to signify the light of Christ in the world made it really Magical.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (179) Christmas Joy

 

Joy was the sole breadwinner in the Melbin family and her parents were very proud, but they were a poor family, her mother Sarah had Terminal Cancer, and her father Liam lost a hand the year before in a car accident.

It was a terrible weight that she had to bear on her 20-year-old shoulders, and she worked three jobs to pay the bills, and throughout December she picked up every extra shift she could to pay for Christmas and have enough to treat herself to a new laptop.

She had just reached the point where she could order a laptop when the universe ganged up on her and the boiler broke down.

They didn’t have boiler cover, and because of her mother’s illness it was important to have a working boiler.

She was able to get the boiler repaired promptly and set up breakdown insurance for it, but it meant the extra outgoings she wasn’t going to have enough to fund her new laptop, and she burst into tears.

Joy had just got her tears under control and was drying her eyes when there was a knock on the door and when she opened the door and saw Sam Hoban standing there, she broke down again.

“What’s wrong?” he asked with concern as he stepped towards her, but she couldn’t speak, so he quickly closed the door, and she threw herself into his arms.

 

Sam was literally the boy next door, and he worshipped Joy, though he had never told her that.

He was two years older and worked full time at the Beaumont Manor Hotel as a chef, he had just finished his shift for the day and thought he would pop in and have a chat, they were all getting together at his house that evening for Christmas Drinks but he didn’t expect he would get to speak to her on her own, so he figured it was best to do it when he knew she was alone in the house.

Her dad had taken her mum to the hospital for an appointment, and with just the two of them there was always the possibility that he might actually get around to asking her out, it would be his last opportunity before Christmas.

He had rehearsed at length what he was going to say, but he wasn’t prepared to find her in floods of tears.

It was some minutes before she had composed herself sufficiently to be able to speak, and when she began, she couldn’t stop, and told him about the Boiler, and the insurance and how her finances weren’t going to stretch to the new laptop.

“I’ll just have to make do,” she sobbed and then the tears flowed again.

 

Sam knew how hard she had worked, and how much she wanted the new laptop, and he also knew how much she wanted a particular laptop, she had talked about it often enough, and it almost broke his heart when she said she would just have to wait, and even then, she would probably have to get something cheaper.

“That’s not going to happen” he thought.

 

When he was sure she was ok, he made his excuses and left on the pretext of having to run an errand for his folks regarding that evenings get together, the real reason was something much more important.

 

He was at the front door to greet the Melbin’s that evening and directed Liam and Sarah towards the lounge, but he halted Joy’s progress.

“Come into the dining room for a minute” he said.

“Oh ok” she responded, she thought he probably just wanted to check to see if she was alright after her embarrassing display earlier, but she wasn’t sure, after all he’d made himself scarce as soon as he could, and she was a bit disappointed in him for that if truth be told.

Once inside the room he closed the door behind them and said.

“I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes.”

“It’s alright I’m recovered now, there won’t be a repeat of my histrionics” she said flatly.

“No, it’s not that” he said, “I just wanted to do this away from prying eyes.”

Suddenly her heart started to flutter, and she had butterflies in her stomach as he spoke, could it be that he was finally going to ask her out?

“Oh”

“Well, it’s because you were so sad and disappointed this morning, so I got you a little Christmas present” he said.

“Is that all?” she screamed in her head but aloud she said.

“You shouldn’t have.”

Sam went behind the sofa and she braced herself for some cheesy gift but when he reappeared, he was carrying a brown cardboard box tied with a bright red ribbon.

“What’s this?” she said.

“Open it” he said, “It’s not the exact one.”

“The exact one what?” she asked confusedly.

“Open it and find out” Sam urged.

So, she untied the ribbon and lifted the flaps on the box and then she gasped, and her eyes widened with delight, and she smiled broadly.

It was a laptop, the same make and colour as the one she was going to buy, but the one she was staring at had all the software she needed preinstalled, better graphics and a bigger memory.

“Is it ok?” he asked.

“It’s perfect” she replied, “But is it for me?”

“Of course, it’s for you” Sam said and laughed.

“But why?” she asked, “Why would you spend so much on me?”

“Because you deserve it” he replied and then he took a deep breath before adding.

“And because I love you.”

Joy couldn’t believe her ears; did he really just say he loved her or was it just wishful thinking on her part?

“Can you say that again?”

“Because you deserve it” he said.

“No not that bit, the other bit” she explained.

“Because I love you” he said and smiled.

“You really said it? And I’m not dreaming?” Joy asked.

“I really said it and you’re not dreaming” he confirmed “Do you mind?”

“No, of course not, because I love you too” she replied, “And now I want to kiss you.”

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (178) Snowblind

 

 

Danilo Franzo is the postman covering the southern half of Beaumont island and the island of St Giles he was only 25 years old and a hard worker, he also had a secret crush, Agnes Starr.

Agnes was the only child of a wealthy couple who were always off globetrotting, but Agnes had no interest in that lifestyle.

She did meet up with them for special occasions, but for the most part she stayed on the island, and although she had no need to work, she looked after her Cousin Oliver Kingham’s horses which where stabled at his yard adjacent to Kingham’s Saddle and Tack, which was also where she kept her own horse.

 

As it was the last working day before Christmas and after work his presence was requested at Philips Folly for Christmas drinks, which proved to be a very jovial evening and a little more of a boozy get together than he was expecting and the beer was as free flowing as the joviality, unfortunately when he left, he had imbibed a little too much to drive.

He had never been much of a drinker and the rest of the assembled group were more hardened drinkers.

Danilo set off down the road and he hadn’t gone more than a hundred yards when it started to snow and before long it was snowing so hard that he struggled to get his bearings so concentrated on keeping tarmac beneath his feet, and all was going well until he tripped on a curb stone and crashed into someone and they both fell to the floor in an untidy heap, when he scrambled to his feet he found he was outside Kingham’s Saddle Maker’s.

“Thank God,” he muttered before his thoughts turned to the cute girl that he loved, but then he remembered he had to help the other poor soul he had left on the ground.

“I’m so sorry” he said as he grabbed a handful of their belt and pulled the stricken body to its feet.

The individual muttered incoherently under their breath as they brushed themselves off and he got the impression his apology was not accepted, and when they began to turn in his direction he was bracing himself for a volley of unchristian language but to his great surprise he found the previously stricken figure to be Agnes Starr and the muttering scowling indignant face instantly changed to a beaming cute smile when she recognized the face of her assailant.

“Danilo” she said excitedly then cautiously gave a long look in the direction of the stable doorway, then in a quieter voice she continued

“I didn’t know it was you”

“Are you ok?” he asked

“I am now” she replied and glanced again at the door.

He looked her up and down and realized why he hadn’t recognized her before, she was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt instead of her customary jodhpurs.

She was still looking anxiously towards the stable as if she was worried about something, then she suddenly set her chin resolutely and steered him around the side of the building and kissed him passionately, which he reciprocated eagerly.

After a minute of mutual passion Oliver Kingham called from the stable doorway

“Agnes! Are you ok out there?”

Reluctantly they ceased their passionate exchange

“Yes, everything’s fine, I’ll be there in a moment” Agnes called back then she kissed him again.

“I have to go now” she said regretfully, and he looked at his watch

“I can wait until you finish” he suggested

“Oh yes please” she replied excitedly and then she rushed off.

“You do work in mysterious way Lord” he said looking to the heavens.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (177) St Thomas’s Day

 

After the defeat of King Harold at Hastings, a minor nobleman, Gilbert du Beaumont, claimed the Pepperstock Bay islands for himself, and took up residence on the larger Island which he promptly named after himself. 

He named the smaller island St Giles du Cabot in honour of his cousin and childhood friend who died of his wounds after the battle.

It was a rugged inhospitable and largely uninhabitable island surrounded by treacherous rocks. 

For hundreds of years following the dissolution of the monasteries a hardy community of Monks eked out a meagre existence before they had to share their seclusion when work on a lighthouse at Cabot point began in the middle of the 19th Century.

By the 21st Century, three quarters of the island is a Wildlife Sanctuary, there is a small Meteorological Station, a small Hotel, the Seaview, and the Monks, who now run St Giles’s religious retreat, which meant there was a population of between 50 and a 150 people, depending on the time of year. 

There is no Church on the Island but for those of a religious bent were always welcome at the St Giles Chapel.

 

St Giles is where Rachel Walker and Carla Moody first met and was also where Rachel fell head over heels in love, with Carla.

Rachel had worked at the Seaview Hotel since she left school, but Carla only joined in October, Rachel was from Beaumont Island and lived in at the Hotel whereas Carla lived on St Giles with her parents and brother.

She was three years younger than Rachel, but like her she was socially awkward, and lacked confidence.

As a result, they just smiled at each other for the first month, but at least sat at the same table for lunch, and by December they progressed beyond monosyllabic conversations, and in the week before Christmas they arranged to go Christmas shopping together in Pipershaven.

Rachel was a little concerned there might be an awkward silence on the ferry over, or at some point during the day as they had never spent more than half an hour at a time in each other’s company before that day.

She needn’t have worried as Carla chattered away for the whole journey, as she was so full of excitement.

 

Rachel had a lovely day, and she was pretty sure that Carla had too, so when they were heading back to the ferry, walking past the library, hands full of bags and chatting, Rachel formulated her plan.

Just after the library they turned left by the art gallery and down a cobbled alley which led to the dock, then they boarded the ferry and headed back to St Giles.

Carla was anxious to go and show her mum her purchases, but Rachel had other ideas.

So, as Carla had to walk past the Hotel to get to the cottage Rachel took hold of some of Carla’s bags and rushed up the path to the staff accommodation.

“Come on Carla” Rachel called “come in for a minute”

“Ok I’m coming” Carla called back “Just for five minutes though”

“Alright come in and close the door” she said and went inside Rachel’s room was the first door on the left.

Carla followed her in a bag in each hand and closed the door behind her as instructed, but as she went into the sitting room, she found Rachel standing in front of her holding up a sprig of mistletoe, and before she could react Rachel took her by surprise and kissed her,

“I didn’t think we were doing presents until Christmas Eve”

Carla said, dropped her bags and kissed her back. 

 

Carla had stayed much longer than five minutes when they shared a soft, gentle, and affectionate farewell kiss, before Rachel opened the door and Carla went home to share her news with her mum.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (176) The Christmas Wagon

 

Emily Parsley lived in St Pierre in what was previously her family’s home, and she had lived there all 26 years of her life; and she had lived alone in the house for 2 of those years.

She worked in St Pierre for the St Pierre and District Council, but she had many more strings to her bow.

Emily was very active in the church, at St Joan of Arc as well as farther afield.

This involved among other things, being a greeter at the church services, delivering Parish Magazines, helping at the Christmas Bazaar, Summer Fete, and Sunday School, you name it, and she did it and that was only on the island.

Her wider good works included the Soup Kitchens in Pipershaven, who were always desperate for volunteers.

The Christmas Wagon in St Pierre and Spaniards Creek, which was an old Mornington Brewery dray, pulled by two of the Beaumont shire horses, which was bedecked with tinsel and lights and carried on the back, a multi denominational choir singing Christmas Carols.

Emily was not however, among those going from door to door, as the wagon drove around the town, collecting donations in plastic buckets and handing out sweets to the excited children, no she was in the choir on the back of the Dray because she had the voice of an angel.

The wagon plied its festive trade on three consecutive nights on the week before Christmas, starting in the Townsquare they travelled on three different routes so that by the end of the third evening they would have covered all of the town, they then did a fourth trip through Spaniards Creek. 

The collectors with the buckets were dressed as Elves, whereas Emily and the other choir members were dressed in Victorian costume.

 

There were always plenty of helpers, most of whom she already knew, but there was often a new face or two, and that Wednesday was no difference, but one helper fell into both categories.

She had just got aboard the wagon when a voice behind her said

“My God its Herbie”

Only one person had ever called her Herbie, and that was Clayton Cooper, but she hadn’t seen him since they were at school together when they were 14, because he moved away from the island, she didn’t know where to.

She turned around to face the speaker,

“It is you” he said and laughed, and the schoolgirl crush she had on him as a 14-year-old girl flooded over her again, even though the tall man with broad shoulders and hands like shovels, short brown hair, neatly trimmed beard, and hazel eyes, was so different from the boy she worshipped, only his infectious laugh was the same.

“Clay!” she exclaimed

“The very same” he replied

“Not the same” she corrected him “but definitely you”

She had never believed in love at first sight or in soul mates, she thought them rather fanciful notions, the stuff of romantic fiction and sentimental movies.

That was until she met the grown-up incarnation of Clayton Cooper when she was instantly smitten, but she doubted he would feel the same.

“What are you doing here?” she asked

“The same as you”

“That’s not what I meant” she said, but then became aware that they were moving off

“Here we go” she said regretfully  

“I would love to catch up though” she called over her shoulder

“Me too” he shouted after her

 

She did catch sight of him a couple of times after that, the first time was when one of the Elves, Lily Farmer managed to trap him in a bus shelter armed with a bunch of mistletoe and only when she had satisfied herself in the pagan ritual did, she let him go.

Irrationally, having witnessed the kiss, she was not at all happy about it, but she did enjoy seeing him again.

The second time she saw him was when they returned to the square and she disembarked, when her own cousin Ellie kissed him and said goodbye.

Sadly, she never got to speak to him again, not that day at any rate.

 

As she walked back home, she was rerunning the evening’s events in her head and just as she opened her front door, her phone rang, so she stepped inside and answered it.

“Hello!”

“Hi Emily” her cousin Ellie said

“Guess who asked me for your number today?”

An hour later her phone rang again and this time it was Clayton and two days later they had their first date.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (175) Secret Love

 

28-year-old Darren Beckley was a freelance Landscape Gardener and always walked to and from work, and on the way home he liked to call in at the shop, to see someone special.

Rebecca O'Toole, who was the Postmistress at Jardine’s General Store/Post Office in Spaniards Creek, her husband Peter played the role of shop manager, but it was his younger wife who did all the work, along with a few additional staff.

Rebecca was a year older than Derren, and he loved her to distraction, unfortunately she was already married.

It all began with some harmless flirtation, he would flirt outrageously with her and she would flirt back, but then one day as she handed him his magazine, she let go of it before he had hold of it properly in his grip and as they both reached to recover it, their hands touched and he thought it was like a mild electricity passing between them, and he could tell by her expression that she felt it too.

There were many such momentary touches, and they were always accompanied by the same tingling sensation but other than the flirting and brush of fingertip on hand nothing ever came of it because she was not free.

Also, it was all tacit, nothing had been said, no feelings had been expressed, and he had wanted to make it plain to her, and not just flirt and accidentally caress her hand.

So, on one Tuesday before Christmas when he went to buy the Christmas Radio Times, she was alone in the shop and there were no prying eyes, and as they were in a CCTV blind spot, he blatantly held her hand in his and caressed the back of it with the other, he would have liked to kiss her too, but he knew that was going too far.

“You’re not free, so I can’t say that I love you” he said

“I know” she gasped 

“But it’s true nonetheless”

“I know that too” she replied quietly

“And I would kiss you if I could, but I know I can’t, so you will have to imagine me doing it instead, until I can”

“I do that every day” She replied and squeezed his hand and would not have relinquished it if another customer hadn’t entered the shop.

So, their intimate moment had passed until another day.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (174) Moral Support

 

As Molly and Danny were walking to the Church Hall for the committee meeting on Monday, they were surprised to see Dr Cameron leaving the vicarage and get into his car, they said good morning, but he didn’t respond or stop and as he drove away, they wondered what the Doctor was doing there, when making house calls was not in vogue. 

When they got to the Church Hall, they were almost the last to arrive and they found the assembled group in sombre mood.

Also in the room was Henry Noble who was standing in for Arielle for the rest of the week.

It seemed that the stresses and strains of the Christmas calendar had taken its toll on Arielle.

But by all accounts, she would appear to be no more than thoroughly run down and had been advised to take a complete rest.

That was obviously the reason why the Doctor was leaving the vicarage.

Full bed rest for the week would hopefully put her right and she would be strong enough to participate on Christmas Eve.

Reverend Noble would be standing in for her wherever and whenever necessary until then.

There was still a busy program to get through, an advent Sunday, midnight mass and Christmas morning itself as well as the Christmas Wagon and the proceeds from the Christmas Bazaar to discuss.

The meeting moved on at a pace once they got started and they covered a good deal of ground.

 

As she had a day off on Monday, Fiona decided to take the water taxi to St Giles so she would have a chance to see Simon again and met them just as they were leaving the Seaview.

“This is a nice surprise” Jeannette said and embraced her friend

“I thought I would give you some more moral support” Fiona said but Jeannette knew that was only part of the reason she was there.

They walked with her as far as the Meteorological Station and wished her luck and watched her walk in then Simon and Jeannette took a walk round the Hastings Lake and got to know each other a little better.

He was from Northchapel like Jeannette but was living in Sharpington until he sold his house.

His marriage had just ended, and he just wanted to off load the house and draw a line under an unhappy episode in his life.

“I wouldn’t mind living on the islands” Simon said “first impressions and all that”

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else” Fiona admitted “but you’re not even seeing it at its best”

“I’m looking for a change once the house has been sold” he said “And I like what I see”

When Fiona looked up, she saw he was looking at her and it flustered her.

“Houses don’t come up for sale very often, and tend to remain in the family” she said

“That’s a shame” he said

“But tied properties are a different matter” Fiona suggested

 

When Jeannette finally reappeared it was clear that she had got the job and couldn’t keep quiet about it for the rest of the day because she was so excited, but for Fiona and Simon they were excited for quite different reasons because they had shared a kiss beside Hasting Lake.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (173) The Third Sunday of Advent

 

Fiona Phippen approached St Clara’s and was surprised to find her friend Jeannette Kenny among the congregants.

Jeannette was from the mainland and was staying at the Seaview Hotel on St Giles as she had an interview on Monday morning at the Meteorological Station

“What are you doing here? I thought we weren’t getting together until lunchtime” she said and embraced her,

“Simon came with me as moral support for the interview, and he didn’t want to miss Church and as they only have the chapel on St Giles, we got the water taxi early and thought St Clara’s would fit the bill, so here we are” she said and then almost as an afterthought added

“Oh, by the way this is my brother Simon” And gestured to the tall good-looking man a year or two older than her, and there was an almost instant mutual attraction and to be quite honest Jeannette might just as well not have been there.

Simon was as different from Jeannette as it was possible to get, he was stocky to her slim, the tall to her short, and the quiet to her outgoing.

But in one obvious way there was no difference at all, he also had a friendly open face, and a kind heart.

 

As they came out the church Jeannette said

“I rather enjoyed that”

“So, you’re not a regular churchgoer?” Fiona asked

“That’s right, not for years, I don’t know why I lapsed” she replied, “Simon is a regular though”

 

For Reverend Cheryl Mackender the third weekend of advent was a test of endurance with the success of St Lucy’s day already under her belt earlier in the week, Christingle on Friday, and the Carol Concert on Saturday night.

Part of the success was the refurbed sound system, which was excellent, and the new visual displays which came into their own.   

It meant after another success with the morning service and the lighting of the third candle of advent going off without a hitch.

So by Sunday lunchtime it was over, Cheryl had got through the Christmas marathon, St Lucy’s Day, Christingle, The Christmas Concert and two advent services had all been completed and she looked visibly relieved and hugged Lee who had been on hand at every stage of the proceedings, watching, supporting and worshipping.

It certainly had been an eventful week, a week in which Steve Sharpe had saved the day with his technical expertise, as well as her sanity and she had found her soulmate in Lee Barnaby.

So there was just time for a light lunch before she was off again with renewed vigour as the fourth Sunday of Advent, Midnight Mass and Christmas Morning were still on the horizon.

 

Later at lunch in Philips Folly, the conversation turned back to the upcoming interview.

“So how are you feeling?” Fiona asked

“You know me, I’m not an optimist and over confidence would be very out of character,” she said “But I’m feeling very confident”

“No worries” Simon said, “I like your chances”

“Good” Jeannette said, “It’s good to have your support”

“I think so too” Fiona said

 

Adrian Greig’s return to the island was a cause of celebration and at lunchtime on the Third Sunday of Advent there was a big family Sunday Lunch at Beales family home with Adrian as the guest of honour.

It was a noisy and raucous occasion fuelled in no small measure by the liberal consumption of some homemade wine.

By 2 o’clock dinner was served, and Lily’s mother had done them proud with the table groaning under the weight of the celebratory fare.

It was no mean feat to cook such a sumptuous feast for 9 people, but as usual it was achieved effortlessly, which was made all the more remarkable, as her mother appeared not to have a single hair out of place, and everyone enthused at the magnificence of the spread and all the trimmings and subsequently all the plates were cleared.

 

Finally, the pudding was served, a New York Cheesecake, which was Adrian’s favourite, and then as the final scrapes of spoons on China echoed around the room Adrian stood up and called for order, and when he finally had everyone’s attention, he firstly proposed a toast to the cook, then to the master brewer and finally he proposed to Lily.

“Wha…?” she said

“Will you marry me?” he repeated holding the ring box out to her

“Of course, I’ll marry you, you fool” she said and wrapped her loving arms around his neck and kissed him.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (172) The Carol Concert

 

The Carol Concert at St Joan of Arc on Saturday night was an all-ticket occasion and as always was performed to a packed house.

The sound system was excellent, and the new visual displays came into their own.   

But as successful as the concert was there was no time for Katy to rest on her laurels because the next morning brought the Sunday Service and the lighting of the third Advent Candle.

It wasn’t the only Christmas Concert on the island that night as there was also one at St Clara’s in Spaniards Creek, a more modest event it has to be said but equally well attended.

 

Nathan Overton was going to the Christmas Concert at St Clara’s which was well attended as usual and when he went inside “Ave Maria” was playing softly in the background.

It was a big night for Nathan as his contribution to proceedings was as soloist in the choir in which he was performing “o holy night”.

He waved to his many kith and kin as he walked towards the vestry and as he did so his mind was preoccupied with two things, the first was a wish to give a faultless performance in front of such a large congregation and the second was his hope of getting Sara Pacciarella under the mistletoe at the party afterwards.

 

Sara was two years younger than him and was new to the choir and he was besotted with her and had been from the first moment he saw her.

She was a bit of a tomboy but he quite liked that she wasn’t a girlie girl and didn’t present with all the girly paraphernalia.

Such as the fact that she never carried a handbag, instead she had a backpack with her at all times, she also wasn’t fashion conscious, which was another plus for him, she always wore a loose-fitting black dress, black tights and coloured baseball shoes and wore her long Brunette hair in plaits.

He really liked everything about Sara, her prominent chin which she thrust out proudly, her green thoughtful eyes behind thick framed specs and her broad smile that made her nose wrinkle.

In short, he thought she was perfect, he just needed to work up the courage to ask her out, which is where he hoped the mistletoe would come to his aid.

 

So after the service the clergy, verger, altar boys and choir members all made their way at some point to the vestry to change into their street clothes, he made sure he stayed close to Sara as he still held out a hope that he might suddenly grow a backbone and ask her out.

 

He kept her in view at all times while he spoke with various members of his family, who were congratulating him on his solo performance, until most of the people who had gone in the vestry had come out.

When Sara looked over to where he was standing and went into the vestry herself, he followed a few moments later and as he went inside, the Verger left, leaving just him and Sara, who was just hanging her surplice in the cupboard.

“Hello” he said nervously

“Hi Nathan” she retorted as she slipped off her shoes and replaced them with her baseball shoes “great solo”

“Thanks” he said and started to panic as he couldn’t think of anything else to say, because as he watched her change her footwear his mind went blank, until he caught sight of the Christmas lights through the vestry window, and he asked.

“Are you looking forward to the party?”

“I was” she replied

“Why aren’t you now?”

“Because I’m not going” Sara replied, and he sat down heavily on a chair as his heart sank and she smiled when she saw his reaction then she said

“My mums ill”

“Oh I’m sorry” he said sympathetically and bent down to tie his shoelace and when he sat up again Sara was holding a sprig of mistletoe above his head.

“I was going to use this at the party” she said and leant forward and kissed him, but not just a peck, it was a proper kiss, his first proper kiss, and it was everything he’d hoped it would be and more.

“Wow that’s good mistletoe” she said

“Definitely” he agreed and then added

“I’ve got some mistletoe for the party as well”

“That’s good to know” Sara said as she slipped her coat on

“So I think we should check if it’s as good as yours” he asked

“Fab idea” she grinned, and they kissed again.