The Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa – The Second Sunday of Advent Matinée

 

The beautiful Downshire village of Clerembeax St Giles was situated to the west of Abbeyvale located between Grace Hill and Bushy Down and on the outskirts was the Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa and when staffing the Hotel, they wanted to employ from the village populous where possible, and that was how the Ward girls came to work at the Palace.

Felicity was the second oldest at twenty-three and the tallest at 5ft 8, but she was also the least confident, and was oblivious to how attractive she was, with her willowy figure and long brown hair.

Unlike her siblings she was painfully shy, and was a quiet studious girl, who never went out, preferring to immerse herself in books, in fact she only ever left the farm for work and church, and she hadn’t left the village since she left school.

but the one thing that she shared with her sisters was her work ethic.

Life changed for her however at the beginning of November when Stephen Shepherd arrived as Hospitality Manager.

He was in his mid-twenties, tall, with a military bearing, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that melted Felicity’s heart the first time she saw him.

In fact, she liked him so much that she volunteered to help him with the linens and it soon became clear to everyone that there was more to their relationship than Hospitality Manager and Housekeeping girl, but it didn’t become evident to the two of them until the Second Sunday of Advent.

 

The Ward Family had always been churchgoers and not out of a sense of duty, the whole family had very strong faiths, and they only missed in exceptional circumstances, and the same was true of Olive Ward’s family Sunday Lunch.

But after Stephen offered to take Felicity Christmas shopping in Abbottsford that afternoon, Olive excused her.

 

Stephen and Felicity sat together during the service and then afterwards Stephen walked back to his Cottage to pick up his car while Felicity returned to the farm with the rest of the family, where she hurriedly changed so she was ready when Stephen arrived to pick her up.

 

It had been a long, long time since Felicity had been out of the village, and she normally did all her Christmas shopping on line.

But this time she would be shopping for real, not that she had to buy presents for many people, just her family, and now an additional gift for someone special.

Stephen drove her to the Phoenix Shopping Centre in Abbottsford which had been dressed for Christmas in tinsel and foil and twinkling lights almost since the beginning of October.

“My Goodness” Felicity said “It’s enormous, much bigger than I remember”

“It is rather” Stephen agreed “When was the last time you were here?”

“Ten years”

“That is a long time” he said

 

Before they got started he took her to the food court and bought her the promised lunch.

“So, have a good look around and remember where you are, and we will meet back here in an hour and a half” Stephen said

“Can’t we go around together?” Felicity asked, sounding very small

“Well not really” he said “as I need to buy for someone special, and it’s supposed to be a surprise”

“Oh yes I see what you mean” she said “me too”

Which was when he took hold of her hand, gave it a squeeze and kissed her, just a simple kiss, to reassure, which gave her strength.

“Ok then back here at 3 o’clock” he said, and they went their separate ways.

 

Stephen knew exactly where he was going first, he knew exactly what special present to get for her, he’d been planning it for weeks, so that wasn’t a problem, it was the little extras, the stocking fillers that took the time, those little things that made Christmas morning extra special.

 

For Felicity it was a little more difficult firstly because it was unexpected, hoped for, but unexpected, she thought it was just another ordinary Sunday when she got up that morning, but instead she was on a date, and that was a new experience.

She was determined to enjoy it, and she did, she embraced everything that was new, fresh and wonderful.

So, having never done Christmas shopping before, buying presents and treats for real rather than on line was totally alien to her and she didn’t know where to start, until she passed a dazzling shop window that held her entranced.

“That’s absolutely perfect” she said, and her eyes fixed on the prize.

 

They were to meet back where they had started at 3 o’clock, Stephen was there first, and Felicity trotted up about five minutes later.

“I thought I’d lost you” he said

“Sorry, I lost track of time” she said, “It’s very exciting isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is” he replied and smiled at the lovely girl loaded with bags.

“Once I got started I didn’t know how to stop” she said and giggled

“You’re really lovely” Stephen said and kissed her, but this time there was nothing simple about it.

The Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa – The Second Sunday of Advent

The beautiful Downshire village of Clerembeax St Giles was situated to the west of Abbeyvale located between Grace Hill and Bushy Down and on the outskirts was the Clerembeax Palace Hotel and Spa and when Yvonne Labuschagne inherited it from her cousin, the last remaining Clerembeax, she undertook the task of modernizing the Palace and opening a Hotel and Spa offering, fitness classes, gym, rock sauna, infra-red sauna, aroma steam room, ice fountain, drench showers, Jacuzzi, a Romanesque pool, Reflexology, Raki, facials, scalp massage, hand massage, Manicure and Pedicure, while also providing accommodation, meeting and function rooms, a superior restaurant and whatever temptation might attract potential visitors.

She was by profession a masseuse and had worked for many years along with her late husband at the Dancingdean Spa Hotel in Childean.

Staffing the Hotel and Spa was crucial, and Yvonne used her contacts in the Spa world to find the right specialist people in her field of expertise’s and employed Hannah Morgan to fill the remainder of the roles, on the understanding that she employ from the village populous where possible, and that was how the Ward girls came to work at the Palace.

 

The Ward family had a small holding on the North side of the village, parents Jack and Olive, and daughters Donna, Felicity, Josephine, and Maxine.

It was a profitable concern and gave them all a modest living but when the Palace opened, it gave them a chance to supplement their incomes without having to travel to Abbeyvale.

They were all hard-working girls and didn’t care what work they did so Hannah Morgan didn’t hesitate to offer them all housekeeping jobs.

Felicity was the second oldest at twenty-three and the tallest at 5ft 8, but she was also the least confident, and was oblivious to how attractive she was, with her willowy figure and long brown hair.

Unlike her siblings she was painfully shy, and was a quiet studious girl, who never went out, preferring to immerse herself in books, in fact she only ever left the farm for work and church, and she hadn’t left the village since she left school.

but the one thing that she shared with her sisters was her work ethic.

 

At the beginning of November Stephen Shepherd arrived as Hospitality manager.

He was in his mid-twenties, tall, with a military bearing, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that melted Felicity’s heart the first time she saw it, and if that alone hadn’t been enough to catch her eye, Stephen was also an immaculate dresser, Blazer, Slacks, collar and tie, finished off with tie pin and cufflinks.

 

As the Palace was doing so well, with the Spa, Hotel and hospitality out performing expectations, Hannah Morgan was stretched to breaking point, so Yvonne decided she should bring someone else in to share the burden, so at the beginning of November Stephen Shepherd arrived as Hospitality manager.

He was in his mid-twenties, tall, with a military bearing, blonde hair, blue eyes and a smile that melted Felicity’s heart the first time she saw it, and if that alone hadn’t been enough to catch her eye, Stephen was also an immaculate dresser, Blazer, Slacks, collar and tie, finished off with tie pin and cufflinks.

Some of the girls in housekeeping thought his “uniform” was odd and made fun of him behind his back, but Flis liked it.

 

After about a week in the job he asked Hannah if he could have the assistance of someone from housekeeping to assist him with the linens, table cloths and napkins etc.

Hannah had no problem with his request and was about to assign someone when much to hers, and everyone else’s surprise, Felicity volunteered.

“Ok then off you go” Hannah said with a smile.

 

“Hi, I’m Stephen” he said, rather pleased that his helper was the attractive girl he’d seen busying around everywhere.

“Felicity” she said

“That’s a lovely name” he said, “Doesn’t it mean Happy or is it lucky?”

“Good fortune, or happy” she replied

“Much more interesting than mine” he said “I’ve always thought Stephen was rather a dull name”

“Nonsense it’s a great name, which means “garland, crown”” she explained

“Really? I didn’t know that” he responded and chastised himself for thinking that just because she worked in housekeeping she wouldn’t be very bright, having spoken to her for only a few minutes it was clear he was in error.

“I’ve seen you quite a lot, busying around the place” he said

“That’s right” Felicity said “There’s not much going on at the farm at present, so my sisters and I have increased our hours up here”

 

Felicity worked with him on and off all that week and in the weeks that followed whenever he needed help he asked for her, and every time they talked she surprised him anew.

But although it was clear to everyone that there was more to their relationship than Hospitality Manager and Housekeeping girl, it didn’t become evident to the two of them until

The Second Sunday of Advent.

 

The Ward family had always been churchgoers and not out of a sense of duty, the whole family had very strong faiths, and they only missed in exceptional circumstances, and the same was true of Olive Ward’s family Sunday Lunch.

 

The family arrived at St Giles’ en masse and milled around at the back of the church chatting to some of the other congregants, although Felicity tended to just hover until it was time to take their seats.

But after only a few minutes of shuffling around staring at her feet, she was interrupted.

“Hello Lucky” a voice said and when she looked up it was Stephen

“Oh hello” she responded “I’ve never seen you here before”

“No, I normally work on Sundays” he replied

“Yes, I know, I thought that was because you didn’t do church” she said

“No, I do it so people with family can get the most from the day” he explained “Then I come to the evening service”

“Oh, I see” Felicity said, “So why not this week?”

“I need to go and do my Christmas shopping” he said “I’m going to Abbottsford straight after the service”

“Oh”

“Why don’t you come with me?” he asked

“Me?”

“Yes” he said

“We always have a big lunch on Sunday” she said

“I’ll buy you lunch”

“Mum wouldn’t like it” she said resignedly

“What wouldn’t mum like?” Olive Ward asked, having seen her daughter with her head up talking to a man, so she had to investigate.

“Stephen just asked if I wanted to go Christmas Shopping in Abbottsford” Felicity explained “But I said you didn’t like us to miss lunch”

“Nonsense” Olive said “Of course you can go, as long as Stephen promises to feed and water you”

“Absolutely” he assured her and then Olive nodded and left them alone, and as she joined her husband she was wearing a broad grin.

“So that’s settled then” he said “You can go home and get what you need, and I’ll pick you up from the Farm, agreed”

“That’s a date then” she said and then got flustered

“I mean…sorry… I didn’t mean date”

“Really?” Stephen said “I did”

Snippets of Downshire Life – St Nicholas’ Day

 

Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the north but our story takes place in the southern town off Abbottsford which was the biggest in Downshire, its administrative capital and the seat of the Downshire government.

It was also a place of learning thanks to the Downshire University and was a Cathedral City and was also home to Abbottsford Town football club.

Abbottsford was also the location of the Abbottsford’s Phoenix Shopping Centre and Hanratty’s Department Store therein.

It was at Hanratty’s where lifelong friends, Kristine Perrin and Lily Parsons, worked.

Krissy was the eldest of the pair by two weeks and was a very slim, very pretty girl with dark brown pixie cut hair, while Lily was a small skinny girl with long curly chestnut hair.

Neither of them had particularly happy home lives so they were naturally drawn to each other from an early age.

So, they did everything together and were seldom ever home as they were always off on some adventure or other.

 

They spent all their spare time together and when they were at school and college they also worked together, evenings and weekends at Stephenson’s Supermarket.

Most of their adventurous escapades were during the holidays and they chalked up a lot of happy times and their friendship was their most precious possession and they loved each other, and they complimented each other.

 

Although there were similarities between them, they were both pretty for a start, their likes and dislikes, their sense of humour, but really as individuals they couldn’t be more different.

Kristine had no fear whereas Lily would tremble in the shadows on her own.

Krissy was an extrovert, confident, self-assured and brave, though not cocky in any way.

Lily on the other hand, was shy and she lacked self-confidence but being with Krissy made her feel more confident, daring to do things she would never have done alone, such as leaving Northchapel and moving to Abbottsford.

 

Abbottsford was a place of particular significance to the girls because it was on one of their adventures, to see the Mardis Gras Parade, where they both declared that the unquenchable love they felt for each other was not one of sorority or friendship. 

 

When they had finished college, life at home for Krissy became intolerable so she left, and because of the love they shared, Lily left too.

Luckily Lily had a maternal Grandmother living in Abbottsford who had also fallen out with the family, so they went there, and Grandma Alice was hesitant, from past experience, to get involved but she reluctantly agreed they could stay for a couple of weeks, it was only sleeping bags in the spare room, but they didn’t mind that, they had had plenty of experience of sleeping bags.

Staying with her was conditional upon them getting work, and paying their way, but that didn’t bother them as they had always been hard workers.

Despite the two-week limitation they were still there six months later, because her worst fears were not realised.

Initially the girls got work at Stephenson’s because they had a history with the stores and a couple of phone calls to Northchapel had them vouched for. 

On the other hand, Alice Parsons, worked for Hanratty’s Department Store, and had done for more than twenty years and once she knew how reliable they were she was able to get them jobs at the store, which gave them full time hours, and Hanratty’s paid better than Stephenson’s.

 

Hanratty’s Department store and the Abbottsford’s Phoenix Shopping Centre had been dressed in tinselled Christmas garb and twinkling lights almost from the beginning of October and the girls found it very exciting as it was a constant reminder of the fact that they were heading for their first Christmas as a couple.

 

On the evening of the sixth of December there was a party in the staff canteen, with a first-class buffet and plenty of booze, in fact too much of the latter for lightweight Lily who Krissy had to escort to the ladies.

“Is she ok?” Alice asked

“She will be” Krissy replied “But I think I’d better take her home”

“Ok love” Alice said and returned to the party

 

Krissy took her into the disabled toilet, as it was more spacious, and knelt Lily down in front of the bowl, but she wasn’t sick she just fell asleep and as Krissy sat and watched so did she.

 

Krissy was woken up by the sound of Lily’s phone going off, so Krissy took it out of her pocket and answered it.

“Hello”

“Lily! thank God, where are you?”

“It’s not Lily, its Krissy Grandma” she said, she always called her grandma even though she was no relation

“Why? where’s Lily?”

“She’s asleep” she said and opened the toilet door “We both fell asleep, and now everywhere is dark, and I think were locked in Grandma”

“Well at least your safe” she said, audibly releived

“What should we do?” Krissy asked

“Well just sleep there tonight” she said, “What floor are you on?”

“Six”

“Good, just go through soft furnishings and sleep on one of the beds” she said “just avoid the main thoroughfares and you won’t appear on the CCTV”

“I’m sorry Grandma” Krissy said

“Don’t be silly” she said “you’re safe, that’s the main thing, look after Lily and I’ll bring fresh clothes with me in the morning”

“Thanks Grandma”

 

“Come on sleepy” she said as she tried to get Lily on her feet

“I’m tired” she protested

“So am I honey, so the sooner we get going the sooner we can lay down on a nice soft bed”

“A real bed?” Lily asked sleepily

“Yes”

“Oooh lovely”

 

Even with the incentive of a comfy bed and the fact that she was a skinny little thing it was difficult for Krissy to steer her comfortably to their destination without appearing on the cameras, but she managed it, and dumped Lily on the first bed they came to.

Then she grabbed some pillows off a nearby display and a throw off an adjacent chair and after arranging the pillows and Lily, she covered her with the throw and the slipped under it with her.

 

Krissy had had the presence of mind to set an alarm on her phone, so they could be up and hidden away before the early staff started to arrive, and the contented couple slept soundly all night and the alarm was an unwelcome sound when it went off.

“Wake up Lily” she said and kissed the top of her head as she lay with it on her chest

“Wake up Lily” she said

“What?” she said sleepily

“Wake up” she said “We need to move”

“What! Why what time is it?” Lily retorted

“Late” Krissy retorted

“That was a lovely sleep” Lily said as she lifted her head to look at her

“It was nice wasn’t it” Krissy agreed

“But how did we get here?” Lily asked

“I’ll tell you later but for now we need to get moving”

“No, we need to have our good morning kiss first” Lily pointed out

“You can have your morning kiss when we are safely hidden from the security guard” Krissy said

“Ok” she said and reluctantly slipped out of bed, and Krissy put the pillows back where she got them, even the one Lily had drooled on, and folded the throw and put it back on the chair, and once she was sure they hadn’t left anything behind they made their way stealthily back to the disabled loo.

 

Once they were safely hidden Krissy filled her in on the events of the previous night and explained about Grandma bringing them clean clothes and then just after 8 o’clock Lily got a text message

“Where are you?”

She looked quizzically at Krissy, who raised her eye brows and took the phone from her and typed: 

“Disabled toilet 6^th floor”

“On my way up”

 

“I’m starving” Lily said as they waited

“You’re always hungry” her girlfriend pointed out just as there was a light knocking on the door and Krissy got up and unlocked the door.

“Grandma” they both exclaimed, and she rushed in and hugged them both.

“Oh, girls I’m so glad to see” she said as they hugged “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to either of you”

 

When the group hug broke up she said

“There are clean clothes, fresh underwear and toiletries in the bag there”

“Thank you” they said

“And there are bacon rolls in here” she said holding up a white paper bag

“Breakfast!” Lily shouted

“I love you grandma” Krissy said and kissed her

“Me too” Lily said having already taken a bite out of her roll

“I love you both as well” she said “Very much”

Snippets of Downshire Life – Feast of St Nicholas

 

The traditional seaside resort of Sharpington-by-Sea with its Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, has all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park and it was in the grand neighbourhood of Granite Hill, which in a nod to San Francisco, the locals had nicknamed Nob Hill where Church Warden of St Lucy’s, Henry Appleby, was attending a dinner on St Andrew’s Day, at the home of a local celebrity, children’s author, Alesha Khan.

Henry was a popular figure in Sharpington society who dedicated all of his free time to the church and good works, so it would have been of little surprise to find him on the guest list, but he on the other hand was surprised at some of the other guests.

In addition to the hostess Alesha, was Kim Labuschagne, an illustrator, who was an old school friend of hers, and she also assisted in the kitchen, Alesha’s brother artist Zach, Curate of St Lucy’s, Russell Glavin, Literary agents, Jayson and Kathryn Mercer, Actresses Kerry Freeborn and Sharon Blackburn and Tim Street who was a Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch, but his interest was overwhelmingly in Kathryn.

Henry had known Kathryn since she was a girl, he was an old family friend, but it wasn’t friendship that he felt for her, but he had not shared his feelings with her, because he thought it would have been a betrayal of her parents trust, but following their deaths in a car accident, but he said nothing then because he had to fulfill more of an avuncular role, and then she married so he resigned himself to the fact that there could never be any other role for him in her life.

 

When the time came for them to take their seats Henry found that he was seated oposite Alesha and next to Kathryn, and he could tell by the look on the formers face that she had put them beside eachother by design, hoping that her change in circumstances would move things along between them.

 

Kathryn had divorced from her husband Jayson the year before, but it was a completely amicable split because after eight years of marriage they both realised it wasn’t really working, they loved each other, and still did, but they were not in love.

In fact, they still lived under the same roof, in the same house, after the split, and planned to sell the house, or buy the other one out, if and when their personal circumstances changed.

So domestic life for them wasn’t really very different to when they were married, and it really should have been if they belonged together as a couple, so they knew they had made the right decision, and even after the divorce they were still best friends, and of course they still worked together at the Literary Agency they founded, Mercer and associates.

 

The conversation between Henry and Kathryn during dinner was as easy and relaxed as it always had been, so much so that it actually felt like they were a couple, but they wernt.

Over coffee Kathryn said

“I’ve been asked to organise the St Nicholas gifts this year”

“Really? I did them for a couple of years” he said “before I became Church Warden”

“Yes I remember” she said “Which is why…”

“Why what?”

“Which is why I could use your help” she replied

“Of course I’ll help” he said

“We could meet tomorrow”

“Perfect” she said

 

They met the next day at his house after Church and over coffee they compiled a long list of items she needed to get from the cash and carry and afterwards they walked along the promenade to Albies Coffee Shop and Café where they had lunch.

“Thanks for your help Henry” she sadi

“My pleasure Kathryn, you just need to drive over to Purplemere and pick it up”

“I might need your help again with that” she said “I’ll never get that lot in my car”

“Why? You’ll easily get it all into your SUV”

“Erm… Its in the garage until Wednesday, so I’ve only got the Mini”

“What about Jayson’s car?”

“He’s gone to Millmoor, and won’t be back for a fortnight” she replied

“Well in that case we can go in mine” he said

 

They couldn’t go on Sunday afternoon as it was the first Sunday of Advent and as he was Church Warden and she was the Verger they needed to be on hand for the evening service, so he picked her up early on Monday morning and drove her over to the cash and carry.

 

It was an amazing place, and they were very impressed even though they had both been to one before, it was like an Aladdin’s cave of Christmas goodies, and they soon filled their trolley.

But Kathryn seemed to be in no particular hurry to leave because although they had everything that was on the list she kept Henry there for another hour wandering up and down the aisles but added nothing to the trolley before she accepted they had finished the shopping and went to the checkout.

Henry and Kathryn loaded the shopping into his car and then they exited the car park with the sound of thunder in the distance.

On the way out of the gate it started to rain, and as he turned onto the Sharpington road the sky had grown really dark and the thunder cracks grew closer and the rain fell harder.

Twenty minutes later the rain was falling ever harder until the wipers could barely cope.

As luck would have it they were just approaching a lay-by, so Henry turned into it to wait for the rain to abate.

He had barely applied the handbrake when there was a clap thunder above that shook the car and Kathrine screamed and launched herself at Henry.

“Hold me” she begged “the thunder frightens me”

 

“Don’t worry honey” he said putting his arm around her “I’ve got you”

 

The thunder storm went on for almost half an hour before it moved away, and the rain eased off and Henry said

“I think it’s safe to go now”

“Are you sure?” she said “it might come back”

“No, it’s moved away now” he said and released his hold on her and he thought he heard her sigh.

 

When they got back to Sharpington they went back to her house and unloaded the car.

“So where do you want them?” he asked as he walked in carrying two boxes

“In the Dining room” she replied “I’ll make a start on them after lunch”

And then almost as an afterthought she added

“You’ll stay for lunch of course? “

“That would be lovely, I can stay and help after” he suggested

“Really? Would you?

“Of course,” he replied “and I’m free tomorrow so I can help you box them up and deliver them” 

 

The St Nicholas Day gifts could come in different forms but were almost always presented in boots or shoes.

The ones that St Lucy’s Church were giving out consisted of a small red plastic Santa Boot, complete with white fur trim and filled with chocolates and candy.

Each one contained Chocolate Coins, Candy Canes, Bonbons, Fudge, Chocolate Santa, a small toy and a puzzle.

So, after lunch they set up a production line and when the Boot was filled the whole thing was completed by putting the filled Boot inside a cellophane bag tied at the top with a red ribbon.

working together right through until 10 o’clock, only stopping for pizza, they got them all filled, bagged and tied, but left the packing of them until the next morning.

 

Henry arrived at Kathryn’s just after ten the next morning and they packed the gifts in boxes for the various destinations, and then they loaded the car, before making the deliveries.

Jubilee Primary School, Whitecliffe Hill Primary, St Lucy’s Church, for the Sunday School, and Sharpington Library for the reading club and then back to Kathryn’s.

“I can’t thank you enough Henry” she said

“It was my pleasure” he said “I enjoyed it”

“Nonetheless I’m very grateful” he said “Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night as a thank you, L'uccello Canto”

“That’s my favourite restaurant”

“I know it is” she said, “so is that a yes?”

 

It was a lovely meal and the conversation was easy, witty and stimulating but Henry drank more than he probably should have but he was having such a good time.

“A perfect end to a perfect evening” she said when the liqueurs arrived

“Your perfect” he said, and then he realized he had said it out loud, and he glanced at her and she was smiling, but not in a derisory way, so he decided, aided by all the wine, to tell her how he felt.

“I’ve always thought you were perfect, in everyway”

“Before you go any further I have a confession to make” she said

“You don’t have to say anything, I just need to say how I feel” he replied

“But I really do” she insisted

“Ok” Henry replied, a little concerned at what might follow and then

Kathryn took a deep breath and blurted out

“I planned all of this”

“All what?”

“Everything in order to get you here tonight” she said, and Henry thought for a moment and then said

“Did you arrange for me to be sitting next to you at the Dinner Party?” He asked

“Yes, but that was the easy bit” she confessed “because I had an ally in Alesha, but after that, it was up to me to take advantage of the situation”

“Which of course you did” he said

“Indeed, I did” she admitted, “The rest however took a bit more planning”

“And a bit more deceitfulness” she continued, and Henry took a moment to think before he said

“You didn’t need my help with the planning, did you?”

“No” she confessed

“And the SUV being in the garage?”

“Was a lie” Kathryn confirmed

“And your being scared of the thunder?”

“Also, a lie” she confirmed again “I just wanted to hug you”

“So why?”

“So that I could be close to you and hopefully pluck up the courage to tell you how special you are to me”

“So, does that mean what I think it means?” he asked

“If that’s what you want now that you know that I’m he not perfect” she said

“I do” he said and held her hand

“You don’t think less of me?” she asked

“I’m shocked and stunned” he said “but only that you want me”

“I’ve always wanted you” she said and kissed his hand

 

As he walked her home arm in arm he asked

“So, are you pleased with the outcome of your scheming?”

“Oh yes” she said “pleased and surprised”

“Surprised?” he queried

“Yes, I’ve never done anything like it before, and I’m surprised how conniving I’ve been” she said

“Well you’ve got me now” he said

“Yes, and that’s perfect” Kathryn said

MY MATE IS PLANNING A TRIP TO LAPLAND

 

My mate is planning a trip to Lapland

As his kids really want to go

He would prefer elves landing on his lap

At Santa’s Village bar à gogo

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (018) An Ardennes Christmas

 

The next time you’re whining on about what a crap Christmas you had, because your mother in law over did it on the sherry and told everyone what she really thinks about you, or when your wife’s Uncle Stan spent Christmas afternoon asleep on the sofa breaking wind with monotonous regularity, or your brother’s new girlfriend, who kept hitting on your wife or your Gran who said “just a small dinner for me I don’t have much of an appetite” then spent the afternoon eating all the chocolate Brazils.

If this strikes a chord think again and spare a thought for the half a million or so men of the allied forces and six hundred thousand Germans who spent Christmas 1944 outside in the snow of the coldest winter in a generation in the Ardennes forest during the battle of the bulge.

Men like my father sheltering in foxholes scratched out of the frozen earth with no hot food or drink, unable to light fires for fear of giving their position away and regularly coming under enemy fire or being shelled, then once you’ve hewn out a decent sized foxhole and settled down into it out of the icy wind an order comes down the line for everyone to move out and you move a hundred yards or less and dig another hole.

Go and tell your petty gripes to that generation and see if you get any sympathy.

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (009) The Avuncular and the Christmas stocking

 

Three months had passed since Hannah Castle and I had made love in my room at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel and two days short of three months since she said she wasn’t sure we could be together.

Not that she didn’t love me or enjoy being with me, and I can say without being boastful that it wasn’t because she didn’t enjoy making love with me.

Nor did she think that was a mistake, a moment of madness or because she had drunk too much.

“I don’t regret it for a second” she said as we lay entwined beneath the duvet “I just have doubts”

Hannah just wasn’t sure if she could or should give over her heart, soul and life to a man 12 years older than herself.

I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed and I wasn’t happy about it but nor was I angry with her, in fact I agreed with her to a point, and I wanted her to be sure as much as she did.

After all I had no words to convince a 29 year old woman to give her life to a man the wrong side of 40, and nor would I have wished to use them if they were in my possession.

 

“I love you Tom, but I just have to be certain sure” she said the moment before she drove away it was heart-breaking to watch her drive away because I had no such doubts.

For me that first night together was the blissful culmination of eight years of hope and desire, not just the love making but to hear my declaration of love returned in word and delicious deed.

It had been pretty much love at first sight for me, but then she was a beautiful sight to behold, but for her it was a more gradual falling and one that she desperately fought against tooth and claw whereas I simply surrendered to her.

 

Even before our chance meeting at the Hotel Hannah had agreed to take a three month secondment in Milford Haven where she could be close to her sister and the twins, so she suggested they take that time to think, and in that time she would either get over me or know for certain sure I was the one.

 

While she was away I convinced myself almost on a daily basis that it was over, and rightly so I thought at times.

If the worst came to the worst I consoled myself with the thought that I would always have the memory of that wonderful weekend when my love for her was finally validated.

In my darkest moments I did question if it was a moment of madness that brought Hannah to my bed, but I was glad for that madness if that’s what it was.

Though if Hannah did resolve that it was a mistake and it was over I would at least have the memory of that wonderful weekend to sustain me forever.

Personally I prefer to think it was fate that brought us together on that wonderful weekend.

 

I would have liked to have exchanged the occasional text or email with her, but Hannah had asked for total separation.

All I could do was throw myself into my work totally and fill my every waking moment with thoughts of anything and everything that wasn’t her.

Impossible of course, but if in the unlikely event that I could exclude her from my thoughts I couldn’t stop her invading my dreams, and when I slept I dared to dream, so in the small hours of the sleepless night I resorted to the only thing that prevented me from being driven insane.

I wrote in a diary, I called it a dream diary, it was where I wrote every detail, every thought that filled my troubled sleep nightly,   thoughts of love for the girl of my dreams, and the closer the end of the three months got, the more intense the dreams became and evermore vivid with each passing day.

 

It was the day before Christmas Eve when I got the long awaited phone call, and I took a deep breath and hit the button.

“Hello, Tom Flood” I said

“Hey Tom” she said

“Hannah?” I asked “God it’s good to hear your voice”

“Ditto” Hannah replied, “Where are you?”

“I’m in London” I replied, “Are you still in Milford Haven?”

“No, I’m back home” she replied, “When are you back?”

“Tonight” I replied

“Can we meet?” Hannah asked

“Yes, of course” I said, “Have you made a decision?”

“Yes, I have” she replied

“And?” I enquired trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice

“I don’t want to say on the phone” she answered “I want to do it face to face”

“Ok” I said not knowing if that meant it would be good or bad

“Come to the house tonight” I said

“What time?” she asked

“Around seven” I replied “Let yourself in if I’m late; you know where the key is”

“Ok, I’ll see you tonight then Tommy” she said

“Ok, bye”

 

The journey out of London was an absolute mare and consequently I was late getting home and it was nearly 8 o’clock when I drove onto the drive.

Since her phone call my stomach had been in absolute knots and arriving home late didn’t untangle it in the least.

The lights were on in the house so Hannah had let herself in I only hoped she was still there and hadn’t got tired of waiting.

As I sat in the pre-Christmas traffic I tried to ring her to warn her of my delay but my phone died.

So I sat on the drive trying to summon up the courage to go in, I was so desperate to know her answer but equally terrified of what it might be, yes or no.

“Yes” meaning she was sure, and she would give all of herself to me unreservedly

Or “No” and we would never be together.

I reran the earlier conversation in my head over and over again and tried to read between the lines to find some hidden meaning or some indication as to her decision, but I was none the wiser. 

I slowly opened the front door and stepped in.

“Hi Hannah” I called “I’m sorry I’m late, traffic was hell”

No answer, so I supposed she must have got fed up of waiting after all.

“Shit” I exclaimed and took off my coat, but as I hung it on the peg in the hall, I noticed an unfamiliar coat already hanging there.

“She is here” I said, but where? Where was she exactly?

I hung my coat and walked into the lounge and that’s when I knew.

I knew because I saw the black stockings hanging from the mantel anchored beneath a Christmas candle so I knew where to find her, and stood on the mantel next to the candle was a Christmas card; I opened it and read the words

“Happy Christmas Tommy

All my love

Hannah”

Beneath her signature there appeared to be an abundance of the obligatory small x’s but on closer examination each kiss was in fact the word “Yes” and so I had my answer and my dreams were fulfilled.