The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (238) The New Year’s Resolution

 

January

 

On the eastern extreme of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, at the end of the Finchbottom Expressway, is the deepwater seaport of Pipershaven, on the edge of Pepperstock Bay.

It was first established as a garrison town by the Romans during the reign of Vespasian in 70 A.D. as Piperis Stirpe Praesidio.

In the 21st century none of its Roman origins are any longer in evidence as the town had expanded far beyond the ancient confines and the busy docks would have been the envy of the Roman world.

However apart from being a remarkably busy commercial port with a substantial dockside, it was also home to the cross-channel ferry port, the RNLI Lifeboat Station, a substantial fishing fleet and small ferry service covering the two miles to the bay islands, Beaumont, and St Giles, running a daily schedule, weather permitting.

The fortunes of Pipershaven depended on the flow of goods and people through the port for its prosperity and thanks to trade and tourism Pipershaven thrived and the Essert family thrived along with it through all their business interests.

Bob Essert also benefited and everything in his life seemed to be perfect, a privileged upbringing, public school and an Oxbridge education, a place in the family business, a luxurious house and a glamorous wife, but he blew it.

Apparently having everything in life served to him on a silver platter wasn’t enough for him as he decided he needed to have numerous meaningless relationships or more precisely, one-night stands, until he was finally caught.

So now he was separated from his wife, estranged from his family, and reduced to stacking shelves at the St Pierre Stephenson’s Supermarket on Beaumont Island and living in a bed sitter above the Cherry Blossom, and he’d never been happier, he had no responsibility, no pressures, and no expectations.

He had been cut off from his wealthy life style by his father in order to teach him a lesson and he was expected to last a few days before he crawled back to the family and begged for forgiveness, but he had been living his simple life for six months and the thought of returning to his old life had never once crossed his mind.

That of course was before “she” started coming into the shop a few weeks before Christmas, she was small and fine featured with short brunette hair and a radiant smile, which he tried desperately to ignore.  

Since his spectacular fall from grace, he had chosen not to have any more dalliances, despite several offers which he had rebuffed, and he had not actively pursued anyone or wanted to for that matter.

She made it difficult for him as she came into the shop every day, sometimes twice, and they always exchanged polite conversation and a smile, but Bob tried to keep their interaction to a minimum.

He did find out from other members of staff that her name was Kayley Nickinson who lived “in” at the Beaumont Manor Hotel, where she worked long hours as maid, receptionist, waitress, chief cook and bottle washer, and Bob tried hard to be disinterested.

As Bob was persona non grata with his family, he chose to work maximum hours at the shop throughout Christmas to allow those who did belong to functional families to feel the benefit.

So, he successfully managed to maintain a healthy, yet polite distance between himself and Kayley all through December.

 

After closing the shop on New Year’s Eve, he thought he should reward himself with a beer before turning in.

There were a number of pubs in St Pierre and he had tried them all since he had been on the island, but he didn’t have a favourite, so as it was the end of a long day and another one in prospect the next day, so he decided to plump for the Sword and Shield as it was the nearest and got there with ten minutes to spare before the chimes and stood at the bar and ordered a pint, and he was halfway down his pint when she appeared and as soon as their eyes met they smiled.

“Hello” Kayley said, “This is a nice surprise.”

“Yes, it is” he agreed and was resigned to the fact that further resistance was futile.

“Can I get you a drink?”

“I’m still working I’m afraid” she replied, “I get off at half 12, you can buy me one then.”

 

She sat down on the stool next to him and he ordered her a drink.

“Large white wine please” he said to the waiting bartender.

“I’m glad you picked this pub” she said “I suspect you would you have gone elsewhere if you’d known I worked here.”

“What makes you think that?” he asked.

“Because in the shop you’ve always been…. distant” she replied, “or perhaps reluctant, would be more accurate.”

“Well, my life has tended to be a bit complicated” Bob said

“And you think I might make it more so?” Kayley asked.

“Possibly”

“Well, I can be very uncomplicated” she said and leant in and kissed him.

 

In the early hours of New Year’s Day Bob and Kayley were at his bedsit and laying entwined in the afterglow when she asked

“So what complications are you concerned about?”

“The main one is that I’m separated from my wife” he said.

“Separated?” she queried.

“While in the process of getting a divorce” he clarified.

“I’m sorry, any particular reason?” she asked, and he laughed.

“My infidelity”

“I see, singular or multiple?”

“The latter” he confessed.

“So, are you a lost cause or is there some hope for a self-confessed adulterer?” she asked.

“I don’t know how to answer that” he said.

“Well prior to us meeting tonight did you make a New Year’s resolution?”

“I did” he replied.

“What was it?” she asked with interest.

“I think I should keep it to myself” he said.

“Go on tell me” she insisted and after a moment of silence he replied.

“Not to get involved with women” He replied.

As she climbed onto him, she asked.

“How did that work out for you?” Kayley asked as she nibbled his ear.

“And what if you were to make one now, what would it be?” she asked.

“Never to have another one-night stand” Bob replied.

“This isn’t a very auspicious start then” she pointed out.

“Really? I thought this was just our first date” he said, and she kissed him.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (237) Boxing Day

 

December

 

St Pierre in the northwest corner of Beaumont Island, is the largest town on the island, in fact it’s the only town on the island and the most densely populated area in the Pepperstock Bay Islands.

It was the place where the Lowe and Kent families lived next door to each other and the families should have been tied by the marriage of Jane and Alan, but instead of a joining of the two families they were split apart when Jane ran away, and two years passed before the couple met again, on Boxing Day.

Neither knew that the other would be on the Island on that day and they were both taken aback when they bumped into each other at the Sword and Shield, he was on the way up the steps and she on the way out, and they stood there as the snow fell and minutes past before either spoke, but it was Alan who broke the silence.

“I’ve really missed you.”

She seemed both surprised and pleased by the revelation and he wondered if she had heard him correctly or if it was just whatever she’d been drinking having an effect on her processing ability,

“I’m sorry” she replied.

“Why did you go?” he asked “I never understood why you left”

“I had to” she replied earnestly.

“But why??” he asked.

“Because I was scared” Jane confessed.

“Scared?” he asked aghast.

“Yes” 

“Of what?” Alan asked angrily.

“Marriage” She admitted.

“So, all you had to say was no” he said and then there was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes as the snow began to fall faster but then she said.

“I thought it was for the best.”

“It wasn’t the best for me, or you” he said and turned and began to walk away and Jane followed him.

“Let me explain” Jane said as she trotted behind him, but he ignored her and pressed on across the car park towards the road, but she caught up with him as he stopped to allow a car to complete its maneuver.

“I made a mistake” she said from behind him, and he span round on her.

“I realized almost immediately” she continued.

“So why didn’t you come back?”

“I didn’t know how” she said and fell into his arms.

“So, you just made us both unhappy” he said gently.

“Yes” she replied, and Jane began to cry.

“Don’t cry honey” he said.

When he imagined them meeting again, he hadn’t expected to see that side of her, vulnerable, that was a different girl to the one who had run away, she wasn’t vulnerable or unsure of herself on that day.  

So, when she looked up at him through tear-filled eyes he kissed her, a kiss they had both longed for, and dreamt of for two years.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (236) St Thomas’ Day

 

December

 

On St Thomas’ Day Tom Park was crossing the square in St Pierre and he was taken back to a Christmas of his youth many years before he moved to Beaumont Island when he lived and worked in Northchapel which was still in the 1970’s the Industrial powerhouse of the County and although it didn’t physically occupy its center it was the beating heart of the County.

In recent generations its fortunes had suffered greatly but in the 70s it was still a major employer, and one of those employers was Brompton’s Biscuit’s, which was an old family business established in 1849 by Basil Brompton.

They had moved to that location in Northchapel in 1928, to the broad white building which was a prime example of the Art Deco style with its angles, curves and symmetry. 

Not that he had any appreciation of the stylish building, it was just where he worked.

He started there straight from school in 1969 and had been at Brompton’s for six years when the memorable Christmas Lunch occurred.

 

It was four days before Christmas 1975, and the staff had just returned to the factory after having had their Christmas lunch at the Kings Head.

Although in truth calling it “Christmas Lunch” was perhaps, a bit of a stretch and makes it sound grander that it actually was, in the 1970s, even in Northchapel, pub grub was very unsophisticated fare and invariably consisted of Chicken in a Basket or a Ploughman’s.

The more up market establishments might well offer Scampi in a Basket and a selection of Ploughman’s including a variety of cheeses as alternatives to the norm.

The Kings Head however was not an up-market establishment in any way shape or form and offered Chicken in a Basket or cheddar cheese Ploughman’s, however in addition to that, as it was Christmas you got a Mince Pie as well.

 

So, after their “Christmas Lunch” they all arrived back at work with some of their number much the worse for drink.

Tom himself had perhaps over indulged to a small degree with an unspecified number of Light and Bitters so as a consequence he was wearing beer goggles and even scabby Carole was looking passable, as was Wonky Wendy, so called because she had a wonky eye, in fact Wendy had one eye that looked at you, while the other one was looking for you. 

Not a politically correct name and “Wonky” wasn't even a very imaginative nickname but there you have it, that was the 70s and they were simple folk and easily amused, but regardless of the appropriateness of the name, Tom thought that viewed through beer goggles even she looked quite appetizing.

Another of the girls he wouldn’t normally have looked at twice, had he been sober, was Valerie East, although she had nice eyes and a pretty smile, other than that she was a plain-looking girl about a year younger than he was.

Over the previous year Val had made no secret of the fact that she fancied Tom, he on the other hand did not fancy her one iota and not because she was plain or because she was stick thin and featureless or because she was ginger, the truth was she just didn’t do it for him, but that was without the benefit of alcohol fueled lust.

 

On returning to the factory they continued the party in the canteen, Tom’s tipple of choice from what was available was Light Ale while for Val it was Port and Lemon and on that day they both necked a few and with every bottle of beer he drank Val was getting prettier and prettier, and it reached a point that when she went off to the loo he followed a few minutes later and intercepted her as she returned and took her into the coat room.

It was a small room, about 20’ square, with frosted glass on two sides but with the lights off it was dark enough in the shadows for what he had in mind, and apparently it was what she had in mind too, because as soon as the door closed behind them Val was all over him like a rash and her tongue was in his mouth like an Exocet missile, and her hands were all over him.

“Blimey you're keen” Tom thought to himself and thought he had better join in quick and yanked her blouse from the waist band of her skirt and partly unbuttoned it before going in search of her treasures and when he found them, such as they were, he made a startling discovery.

Not a Scaramanga third nipple kind of thing, what Tom found was something altogether different.

 

Young Tom Park was just a callow youth and he wasn’t hugely experienced in the ways of the world, but he had unbuttoned enough blouses, and unhooked enough bra’s, and had sufficient experience of their contents to know that nipples shouldn’t be hairy, the last thing he expected to find surrounding her treasures were course two-inch-long curly ginger hairs, although the ginger part was an assumption as he didn’t actually get to see them.

At the time his brain was sufficiently fogged by Light Ale for him not to care that the contents of her bra were unconventional, so he just resumed his examination of her form and his hands headed south, where he got his hand up her skirt easy enough and was attempting to get his hand in the promised land when the door flew open.

“Aye, aye” Shaft said.

Shaft was the Warehouse Foreman, his real name was Ted, but his nickname was Shaft, not because he was black, or was a fan of the TV show, but because he was shafting Beryl from picking, Tom did the gentlemanly thing and positioned himself between Ted and Val, so she could redress herself.

“I’ve just come for my coat” Ted said with a chuckle as he took his coat off the peg

“Carry on” he said and closed the door.

Tom would have liked to carry on where he left off, but Val wasn’t so keen in light of their discovery, so they went back to the party and that was that.

 

He never had another close encounter with Val and in the light of his discovery, he had no desire to, as in the sober light of day he didn’t fancy her.

The day after their St Thomas’ Day fumble in the coat room, when the alcohol fog had lifted, like his namesake he had doubts about the encounter, Tom had always assumed that Val was short for Valerie but after his discovery, he wasn’t so sure if it wasn’t short for Valentine.

Obviously if Shaft hadn’t interrupted them when his hand was up her skirt and he had reached his goal he would have known for sure if his Christmas fumble was fish or fowl, but he didn’t so he remained a Doubting Thomas.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (235) Christmas Jumper Day

 

December

 

The fishing village of Spaniards Creek to the south of Beaumont Island which is so called because it was where a severely damaged Spanish Galleon from the Armada sought refuge from the English Navy and the storm in May 1588.

The only evidence of the event in the present day are the oak beams in the Tudor buildings of the old village dwellings.

However, in one of a row of terraced Victorian Cottages lived William Panton, a boat builder, and he lived next door to divorcee sisters Rebecca Heald and Lizzie Carol.

They were all in their mid to late thirties and with no romantic attachments, so they got on very well.

 

It was mid-December and William had just finished a week of long days and late nights to finish a client’s boat and then delivered it to Sharpington Marina and then got a lift back to the Island on a fishing boat, so he was exhausted when he got back to the cottage at 6am.

His first step was a hot shower, followed by breakfast and bed, however when he finished, he was annoyingly wide awake.

So he pottered around for a couple of hours tidying up then he sat down in front of the TV with a coffee mid-morning and started watching Alistair Sim in “Scrooge”, one of his favourite Christmas movies, but he lasted no more than 10 minutes before the long blinks set in and he spent the rest of the day sleeping soundly on the couch until he was woken from that long afternoons snoozing when he heard the sound of the doorbell.

 

The bell continued to ring as he made his way up the hall and when he opened the front door, he found a slightly inebriated Rebecca Heald leaning against the doorframe.

“William, thank God” she slurred, “I’m locked out, and in distress.”

“Come in and tell me how I can help” he said.

“Well, the trouble is I’m locked out” she said, “and Lizzie won’t be back for at least two hours.” 

“Could I be a nuisance and stay here until she gets home?” she pleaded “I’ll be no trouble, I promise.”

“Yes of course, what are neighbours for.”

“You are my saviour,” she declared.

“Come on then party girl, let’s get your coat off” he suggested but this proved to be more of an effort than he imagined, but they managed it in the end.

When they had accomplished its removal, she adjusted her skirt and straightened her brightly coloured Christmas Jumper.

William took a moment to admire the way she filled a sweater, and she had a very curvaceous figure, and the undulations were very pleasing on the eye, and it was not the first time he had pleased his eye on her curves. 

“Thank you kind sir” she said as she almost fell onto the hall table.

William caught her just in time and sat her on a chair in the hall while he pulled her boots off revealing her festive tights with Christmas tree motifs.

“Come in the kitchen and I’ll put the kettle on” he said.

“Wine will do” she suggested and fell against the wall giggling.

“Coffee would be safer I think” he replied.

 

After a couple of cups of coffee Rebecca had sobered considerably as she told him all about her office Christmas lunch and how much she had enjoyed it.

“Well, I could tell how much you enjoyed it by the way you fell through the front door” he said.

“Cheeky” she said and giggled.

“Do you want another cup?” he asked, and Rebecca checked her watch before replying.

“Yes please, but I need a pee first.”

“Ok, I’ll take it through to the lounge” William said, and he was sitting on the sofa when she tottered into the room, make up repaired, outfit perfect, and holding a sprig of mistletoe in one hand.

“Look what I have found,” she said, and he hadn’t a clue where she found it because he didn’t have any in the house, so she must have had in her bag or coat pocket.

But it was immaterial because while he was musing, she had reached him, and she raised it above her head.  

So, he stood up, puckered up and gave her a Christmas kiss but as his lips touched hers it was clear that she had an entirely different type of kiss in mind, which took him completely by surprise, so in the spirit of the season and just to be neighbourly he responded in kind and the upshot of her mistletoe ambush was that her festive sweater and tights spent the night of Christmas Jumper Day on his bedroom floor.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (234) Christingle Girls Refrain

 

December

 

The girls were sitting at a corner table facing back towards the bar.

“Look who’s just come in” Shannon said, and Catherine looked up and saw their prey standing at the bar.

As soon as she saw them Catherine got all flustered and her cheeks flushed.

“What’s wrong with you?” Shannon asked.

“Nothing” she said trying to look anywhere but at the bar.

“Just play it cool” Shannon asked and glanced at the bar just as Sam looked across at them and smiled.

“He’s looking over here” Shannon whispered.

They both smiled back at him and then Catherine said.

“Well, he’s not looking at me, is he?”

 

Catherine spent the next 20 minutes sneaking glances at Sam as he laughed and joked with his cousin, every now and then he would throw a glance at her, and she would look away.

There were a number of girls who approached them but whatever they were after they left without it.

Shannon suddenly got up and announced she was going to the loo and almost as soon as she left there was movement at the bar as Sam started walking towards Catherine.

“Hi Catherine” he said.

“Hello” she replied, “Shannon’s gone to the loo.”

“I know I saw her go” he said, “it was you I wanted to talk to.”

“Me?” she said incredulously.

“Yes you” he replied.

“Why?” she asked.

“Blimey you don’t make it easy for a bloke” he said.

“I don’t understand” she said.

“I wanted to ask you something while Shannon was in the ladies” he explained.

“Oh, I see” Catherine said with a sigh “you want her phone number I suppose.”

“No” Sam replied with surprise “Why would I want her number?”

“Sorry?”

“I wanted to ask you out” he explained.

“Me?” she said incredulously.

“Oh no not again, yes you” he replied.

“I’ve been wanting to ask you out for ages, but I can never get you on your own, so I never get a look in.”

“Seriously?” she asked. 

“Yes” he replied “So?”

“Yes” she said.

“Now was that a question or an answer?”

“Definitely an answer” she said and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“Good” he said, “now can I get you a drink?”

 

Sam walked to the bar just as Shannon returned from the toilet and Robert joined his brother at the bar.

When he first walked to the bar and saw Catherine sitting at the corner table, he congratulated himself on his choice of venue and hoped Christmas had arrived early and seemed he was not to be disappointed.

 

“Well?” Shannon asked when she returned to the table.

“Well, what?” she replied.

“Did he ask you?” Shannon asked.

“Yes” she said excitedly, and they hugged.

“But how did you know?”

“Robert told me” she replied.

“But how did he know?”

“Sam told him?” Shannon said.

“Oh”

“Anyway, Robert told me” she said, “and then he kissed me.”

“Where?” asked Catherine, wide eyed with curiosity.

“On the lips stupid”

“No, I mean, where?” she explained “Where were you when he kissed you”?

“Oh outside” Shannon clarified.

“What were you doing outside?” Catherine asked, “Apart from being kissed.”

“Well, I went to the loo” Shannon explained “and when I came out Robert was there waiting for me, and he told me not to go back to the table because Sam was asking you out.”

She paused for breath.

“Which was taking forever by the way, and we were blocking the door, so he suggested we went outside and that was when he kissed me, in the moonlight, it was very romantic.”

“Wow” Catherine responded, “And did he ask you out as well?”

“Yes” she said excitedly, and they hugged again.

“Who’d of thought it, I have a date.”

Catherine said.

“Me too” Shannon squealed just as the boys and the drinks arrived.

 

After they were on the way home from the bus stop, they split up.

Robert turned left so he could walk Shannon home and romantically kiss her in the moonlight once more and Sam and Catherine turned right and walked slowly hand in hand in the moonlight, as they were in no rush to get home.

“Fancy that, I’m walking hand in hand with Sam Dennison” she said inside her head.

While Sam was thinking to himself about how lucky he was.

 

“Was that romantic enough for you?” Robert asked moments after his lips left hers

“It was acceptable” she said.

“Perhaps I should have another go” he suggested.

“Definitely worth a try” Shannon said obligingly.

 

When they got to the end of the path that led to her front door they came to a halt and he turned to face her, and he kissed her soft lips, in a long and sensual kiss.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to do that” Catherine said.

“Me too” he concurred.

“How long?” she asked.

“A couple of years, almost three to be precise” he confessed.

“I was 12” she admitted “when I first noticed you like that.”

“Was it worth the wait?” he asked.

“It was for me” she said.

And then her kissed her again which she took to mean “me too”

 

So, the Christingle Girls got their dark-haired gypsy eyed boys and had them hook, line and sinker, and they were all set to have a very happy Christmas indeed.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (233) Christingle Girls

 

December

 

It was at the church of St Pierre where the Christingle service was being held which would be well attended as usual as there would be children and families there from all across the island. 

 

The Christingle Service had become ingrained in Anglican worship though it had its origins in Eastern Europe, and the Christingle Service is a Service of candle lights, where very many years ago people gathered in the street, sang carols and collected gifts to help the less fortunate in the community.

It is a beautiful candle lit service of hymns, carols, recitations and bible readings, but Christingle goes beyond a candlelight service, and it tells a story.

A story is told with the symbolic use of an orange representing the world.
A red ribbon is tied around the orange to symbolize the blood of Jesus shed for his people and toothpicks decorated with dried fruits and sweets are placed at the four corners of the orange representing all the people of the world.
A lighted candle in the center of the orange represents the gift of the light of Christ to the world.

The Christingle lights are made by the children in Sunday school, and then they carry them proudly in procession into the church where they are lit for the service.

 

Because the symbol of the service began life in the Sunday School classes the leaders also attend to watch their charges and from St Joan of Arc’s were Sam Dennison, Robert Horne, Catherine Emmans, and Shannon Duel.

 

Catherine Emmans thought of herself as a plump girl but in reality, she was just a couple of dress sizes bigger than her best friend.

In every other respect she thought she was ok, with her luscious Auburn hair and an abundance of freckle and she was a tall girl, but that hadn’t been enough for her to get her anywhere with Sam Dennison, and she was convinced he didn’t even know she existed, but she had been in love with Sam since she was 12 years old and she was now 18.

 

Sam Dennison and Robert Horne were cousins and had black hair and wild gypsy eyes and were also 18-year-old and good-looking boys, and were very popular with the girls, but the sort of girls who kept throwing themselves at them were not the type of girl they were looking for.

 

Shannon Duel was 17 years old, and she was pretty, tall and slender girl with long dark hair and she was on the outside at least ultra-confident and ultra-popular with the boys who she kept dancing on strings, but they were not the right boys.

She was always immaculately turned out, painted, perfumed and powdered and ready to impress Mr. Right.

But apparently, he was never looking her way, whoever he might be.

But for all her big talk and bravado she was fast approaching 18 and hadn’t even been kissed.

Because she was pretty and because she knew she was pretty, Shannon always talked big when it came to the opposite sex, and her friends bought into it.

But it was all bravado, if one of the men she flirted with actually came on to her, she would have run a mile.

Outside she was sexy and confident but inside she was a shy and dowdy little mouse.

 

Shannon was convinced she was never going to be kissed and especially not before she reached her 18th birthday.

She could quite easily get a kiss in time if she acted like a tart, but she wasn’t a tart and she wanted her first kiss to be romantic, not desperate.

Meanwhile Catherine was still dreaming of a romantic affair with her prince charming Sam Dennison but was resigned to the fact it would never happen.

 

The two friends finally confided in each other during December.

“You fancy one of them?” Shannon probed “Which one?”

“Sam” she reluctantly replied.

“How long have you fancied him?” Shannon quizzed.

“Since I was 12” she replied.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

“Because nothing will ever come of it” Catherine said definitively.

 

But Shannon was very persuasive, and they made a plan, so on the afternoon of the Christingle service the girls did each other’s makeup, so they could each snag themselves a dark-haired Gypsy eyed boyfriend.

“Wow” Shannon said, “I look really hot.”

“Not bad, eh?” Catherine said admiring herself in the mirror.

“I look about 20” Shannon said, “Don’t you think?”

“21 maybe” Catherine added.

“Shall we go to the pub with them then” she suggested.

Catherine thought about it for a moment and said.

“I don’t know” she said, “I look rubbish.”

“You can borrow something of mine” Shannon said, and Catherine reluctantly agreed so half an hour later they were laughing and joking and on their way to St Pierre’s.

At the same time Shannon and Catherine were doing their makeup Sam and his Cousin Robert were just leaving home themselves for the same destination.

 

The Christingle service was lovely, and the huge congregation thoroughly enjoyed it but for the girls it caused a problem for them as they lost track of the boys, but unbeknown to them they had also decided to go to the pub, fortunately they also chose the Sword and Shield.

 

Shannon hadn’t been to a pub before and although she looked old enough to be in there after the makeover, she had no ID, so she went and found a table and Catherine bought the drinks.

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (232) Like a Breath of Spring

December

 

It all began for Evangeline House and Roman Street in the southern town off Abbottsford, which was Downshire’s administrative capital and the seat of the Downshire government.

It was also a place that benefitted from the renowned Winston Churchill Hospital, it could also boast that it was a Cathedral City, was home to Abbottsford Town football club and was a seat of learning thanks to Downshire University’s.

 

Sweet Evangeline House walked into the party with a delicate air, and she entered Roman’s life like a breath of spring, enlivening him and her sweet refreshing presence altered everything in his world forever.

Heads turned to watch the maiden, a vision of pulchritude, as she moved like liquid lust, but she had eyes for him and him alone.

She was lithe limbed, gracile, and coquettish in the extreme and had but one desire which was to win his heart and soul because Evangeline was hopelessly in love with him.

But until that day she had been invisible to him, all through the first year they were at University she was just another college girl on campus, but for her he was her universe and every night he was in her head and in her dreams.

She was not invisible to other boys on campus, but she wasn’t interested in any of them, she had set her cap, and she would brook no substitute.

 

However, on that day she was not invisible, on that day he could see her, and he instantly ached for her, but he wasn’t going to get her, not that day.

She didn’t want to be just another conquest for a college boy, she wanted him, but she would deny herself the pleasure of him until he wanted her more.

Dressed as she was in a figure-hugging dress which left nothing to the imagination, she would win his love along with his lust.

She had his attention now and with him hooked she would lead him like a bull by the nose until she was certain she had his heart, his soul, and his love as certain sure as she could have had the rest of him right there and then.

Only when he professed his love to her and she was sure of his sincerity would she surrender her virginity to him.

That surrender came on the night of their wedding on the 8th of December, in the Wedding Suite of the Beaumont Manor Hotel and their union was perfectly blessed. 

The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (231) St Andrew’s Day

 

November

 

St Pierre in the northwest corner of Beaumont Island, is the largest town on the island, in fact it’s the only town on the island and the most densely populated area in the Pepperstock Bay Islands.

St Pierre was where Arthur Lewis had lived for all 63 years of his life, in fact he’d lived his entire life in the same house, and it had never once occurred to him that he should live anywhere else.

 

He was born in the late fifties and had few recollections of that austere decade, almost all his earliest memories were from the brasher, brighter and less restrained sixties.

But the earliest memories he did have were about Christmas and in the Lewis household Christmas began on St Andrew’s Day, November 30th.

As a result of his awareness of the time coming on the cusp of the decades, his earliest memories of Christmas were of a bright and sparkly time when paper chains and the watery coloured paper stars, bells and balls were being replaced by dazzling foil and tinsel.

Which included the Silver Tinsel Christmas Tree, when he looked back it was a quite unspectacular specimen of a tree compared to what’s on offer in the 21st century, but he loved it.

It stood less than 5 feet tall with its fold down tinsel covered wire branches, tipped with red beads to symbolize berries.

However, by the time his Dad had worked his not inconsiderable Christmas magic and covered it with every size, shape and shade of bauble, glass birds with feathered tails, lantern lights, strands of brightly coloured tinsel, foil covered chocolate treats and tiny crackers lain on the branches, it was transformed and was absolutely stunning.

It was the only tree he’d ever known until his teenage years came to an end, when in the mid-seventies he suggested that they have a real tree just for a change.

He would never have suggested it if he had realized for a second that it would signal the death knell of the Silver Tinsel Tree.

Because the following year it was replaced by a green plastic tree much more akin to the trees of today.

 

After his Dad died a few years later the task of decorating the tree fell to him and he instantly realized, sadly, that he hadn’t inherited his father’s tree dressing skill and was never able to equal him.

He came very close one year, in 1983 it was, but he concluded in the end that he merely flattered to deceive.

 

The task of tree dresser fell to his wife Becky which she performed admirably for 40 years, and she made a far better fist of it than Arthur ever could.

However, whether she possessed the necessary skill to transform a Silver Tinsel Tree into something stunning he would never know, as she passed away in October.

“What I would give to watch you dress the tree again my darling” he said as he stared at the naked branches “and then hold you in my arms beside it”

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.