In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (130) – Giving Her Space

 

December

 

Three months had passed since Surrey Palmer and James Gordon had made love in his room at the Abbottsford Regents Hotel and two days short of three months since she said she wasn’t sure if they could be together.

Not that she didn’t love him or enjoy being with him, and he could say without being boastful that it wasn’t because she didn’t enjoy making love with him.

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 they lay entwined beneath the duvet “I just have doubts”

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

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

After all he 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 he have wished to use them if they were in his possession.

 

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

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

It had been pretty much love at first sight for him, 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 James simply surrendered to her.

 

Even before their chance meeting at the Hotel Surrey had agreed to take a three-month secondment in Abbeyvale where she could be close to her sister and her newborn twins, so she suggested they take that time to think, and in that time she would either get over him or know for certain sure he was the one.

 

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

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

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

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

Personally, he preferred to think it was fate that brought them together on that wonderful weekend.

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

“Hello, James Gordon” he said

“Hey James” she said

“Surrey?” he asked “God it’s good to hear your voice”

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

“I’m in Sharpington” he replied, “Are you still in Abbeyvale?”

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

“Tonight” he replied

“Can we meet?” Surrey asked

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

“Yes, I have” she replied

“And?” he enquired trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice

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

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

“Come to the house tonight” he said

“What time?” she asked

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

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

“Ok, bye”

 

The journey out of Sharpington was an absolute mare, made worse by a combination of Christmas shopping traffic, roadworks and heavy snow and consequently he was late getting home and it was nearly 8 o’clock when he reached Pepperstock Green and drove onto his drive.

Since her phone call his 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 Surrey had let herself in he only hoped she was still there and hadn’t got tired of waiting.

As he sat in the pre-Christmas traffic he tried to ring her to warn her of his delay, but his phone died.

So, James sat on the drive trying to summon up the courage to go in, he 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 him unreservedly

Or “No” and they would never be together.

He reran the earlier conversation in his 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 he was none the wiser. 

He slowly opened the front door and stepped in.

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

No answer, so he supposed she must have got fed up with waiting after all.

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

“She is here” he said to himself, but where? Where was she exactly?

He hung his coat on the peg and walked into the lounge and that’s when he knew.

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

“Happy Christmas James, All my love, Surrey”

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 he had his answer and his dreams were fulfilled.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (129) – St Thomas Birthday

 

December

 

Illustrator, Fiona Phippen, was attending a dinner party on St Andrew’s Day, at the home of local celebrity, children’s author, Chania Campbell.

In addition to the hostess Chania, was St Agatha’s Church Warden, Kevin Southey, Derren Mcphail, Curate of same, Chania’s brother, artist Aiden, Literary agents, Harry and Tracey Smedley, Actresses Louise Sexton and Jade Edwards and Tim Weston who was a Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch.

Fiona had known Chania since they were at school and apart from being best friends, Fiona also illustrated her children’s books, and as a result she had become well known in her own right and her work had become well sort after, so life was good, but not quite perfect, yet.

Although the dinner guests were indeed interesting, her interest was very much in one among them and that was Tim Weston.

When the time came for them to take their seats Fiona found that she was seated next to Aiden Campbell, but he was completely absorbed by Jade Edwards who was opposite him, but Fiona had no interest in him anyway because she saved all her attention for Tim Weston who was sitting opposite her.

Tim was a local historian who was the Curator of the Pipershaven History Centre, and he was at the dinner party because Fiona asked Chania to invite him.

They met one rainy Friday afternoon in October; Fiona entered the History Centre and stood dripping on the doormat for several minutes before she ventured further.

“Can I help?” Tim asked the tall skinny girl as she dripped on his floor.

 “I do hope so” she replied brightly

“I’m looking for information about my family name”    

“Ok I’m sure we can help with that” She said, “What’s the name?”

“Phippen” she replied proudly

“Oh excellent” he replied as he brushed his sandy hair off his forehead “That’s a cracking good name”

“Thank you” she said with a laugh “I like it, and so far, as I know I’m the last one, because I’ve never met another”

“Well come and take a seat and you can tell me what you know over a cup of tea” he suggested

“Oh yes a cup of tea would be lovely”

At that first meeting they spent more than an hour together while Fiona related everything that she knew about the family, firstly the facts, names and dates and the anecdotal information which may or may not have been true.

Tim’s immediate interest in the skinny young woman was her name, he did a lot of research of the kind she was looking for, but unlike hers they were very common, such as Wilson, Brown, Andrews and Cooper of which there were very many in the county, so to be asked to undertake research on Phippen was refreshingly different.

But an interest in the name was soon surpassed by one in the young woman herself, and in particular her company, although she was unaware of the fact.

Fiona had only gone to the History Centre in order to get some help and pointers, but the nice Sandy-haired Historian was so helpful and friendly that when he offered to research her name with her, she didn’t hesitate to accept.

So, over the following weeks she went to the LHC to meet with him almost every day and with each subsequent visit the importance of her original visit waned while her attraction to Tim grew exponentially.

However, she was not able to shake him from his primary interest in the research which was why she asked Chania to include him on the party guest list.

But despite the fact that they were seated opposite each other during dinner and talked non-stop about a range of topics, and they both enjoyed the others company, they parted at the end of the evening without securing a date.

However, he did ask if she needed escorting home, but she had to say no as she had already told Chania that she would help her clear away, she kicked herself for not foreseeing the possibility that he would ask, she was however encouraged that he had asked though.

With the arrival of December came more demands on her time so she wasn’t able to spend as much time with Tim at the LHC, but she looked forward to the times that she could spend with him, and she enjoyed every minute she was there, but she made no progress on securing a date.

It was her birthday on the 21st so that was her target and failing that she wanted him on her arm by Christmas.

The problem was that as the days slipped by, because Tim was as efficient as he was gorgeous, he was likely to have completed his research before she had got her man.

And her worst fears were realized when he phoned her two days before her birthday and told her he was finished.

“Oh great” she said “And so soon”

“When can you pop in?” Tim asked, “Can you do tomorrow?”

“Oh yes I think so” she said unable to think of a reason not to

“Brilliant I’ll see you then” Tim said “Bye”

After she hung up, she chastised herself for dithering, but in the end, she couldn’t make it as she was tied up all day with Chania and her publisher discussing the illustrations for the new book, so she didn’t make it to the Local History Centre until the next day, which was her birthday.

“Hello” he said when he saw her, and she instantly smiled

“Hi Tim, sorry about yesterday” she said

“No problem let’s go and sit” he said “The kettle has just boiled”

“Lovely” she responded

They were sitting down at the table with only the remnants of tea left in the mugs when Tim said

“I have a full record of The Downshire Phippen’s up to and including you, and as it’s your birthday I had it bound in Leather”

“Wow” Fiona said, and as she studied it tears filled her eyes “It’s beautiful”

“I’m glad you like it”

“I love it” she said and stood up and hugged him “Thank you, in fact, let me buy you lunch as a proper thank you”

“Oh, I was going to take you to lunch for your birthday” he said

“Well how about this, I’ll take you for a thank you lunch and then you can take me for a birthday dinner tonight”

“Ok that’s a date” he said

“I do hope so” she said and took hold of his hand

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (128) – The Shortest Day

 

December

 

It was a bitterly cold day in the village on the shortest day of the year and it was a cold and grey December morning and there was a biting wind that made Ben Hutchinson’s skin tingle and take his breath away as he busied himself running errands around the village.
But after all the errands were complete he headed towards the Black Wolf where he took refuge in the bar and made himself comfortable beside the fire.

Ben was preparing to get on the outside of a pint of Mornington Ale and a large Brandy when his eyes were drawn to the center of the room where a striking blonde was sitting with her long slender legs crossed.

She had a pen in one hand and a large drink in the other and she was concentrating on something, that made her frown, a crossword clue or perhaps a Sudoku and her bottom lip pursed slightly downward almost like a wilting pink rose petal.
He noted that her eye, kind of crinkled up, and that combined with a slight inclination of her head, gave him the impression she was confused and he assumed her confusion was over whatever it was she was studying.

He took a sip of Ale and turned his attention to his newspaper and then he noticed that the room had got brighter, and he looked up to find a flash of golden light in the hair of the blonde as if her golden curls had ignited, but it was lit by a shaft of sunlight which had burst through the grey December skies.

He smiled at the sight of the sun, because it was the shortest day and to have that short day full of greyness and gloom was quite depressing and he would have been content with the sun’s appearance for that reason alone, but then Ben’s gaze fell upon the Blonde again and he realized the sun had made her squint and this in turn screwed up her nose and caused her to sneeze.
She sneezed quite indelicately and then again and again and this fit of sneezing had an added interest to him because apart from the obvious effects of the shaft of sunlight brightening the room, or setting her blonde curls ablaze, it had also rendered her blouse quite transparent and she had little else on beneath it.

Each sneeze caused the contents of her blouse to rearrange themselves rather delightfully within her non-existent garment and her sneezing fit had taken on a more sensual quality, he took a moment to look around the room and realized he was the only patron looking in her direction and was therefore enjoying a private show, but alas all too soon the sneezing stopped, but he was pleased to see that her breathing had not and he watched with lustful fascination as she took each subsequent breath, while she was blissfully unaware that her blouse had become translucent.

Of course, he should have done the gentlemanly thing and looked away or at the very least alerted her to her situation but in truth he was enjoying it too much.

Her sneezing fit had obviously rearranged her assets to such an extent that she needed to make some corrections to the disposition of her assets.
But alas all good things must come to an end and thanks to a thoughtless cloud the shaft of sunlight was snuffed out and the show was over.
It had been a most pleasant respite and had warmed Ben up more than the fire and the Brandy, studying her most wondrous topography and he thought it was amazing how the little things in life, not that they were small by any measure, but little things can brighten up the dullest of winter days and it may have been an un-gentlemanly thing to do, ungallant he supposed not to have averted his gaze, but he preferred to think of it as a Christmas treat, or a gift from the pagan Gods on the Winter Solstice.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (127) – Christmas Lunch

December

 

Collette Byworth went to the University of Downshire in Abbottsford where she studied Drama and it was for her, like many girls of her age, a life defining time.

She was in halls for the first year and she shared with three other girls, and all four of them were studying the Performing Arts in one form or another and apart from their studies they also had in common the fact they were all natives of Pepperstock Green.

Collette was five foot eight with long cascading straw coloured hair,

mesmerizing blue eyes, a heart melting smile, a gorgeous figure, substantial breasts, and a pert derriere, all gracefully underpinned by stunning legs.

Out of all the girls Collette was the only one of them who had a boyfriend when they first met during fresher’s week.

Peter Lukac was four years older than her and had already been through University and he was literally the boy next door for Collette, and she had loved him since she was 12 years old, but because she was younger and was a skinny tomboy with braces on her teeth she was invisible to him.

However, beneath the comfort of her duvet she fantasized about being with him and as she touched herself, she dreamed of him touching her.

She finally got him in the summer before she went off to Abbottsford and from that moment, she had him heart, body, and soul.

After dating for a month Peter went to stay with his grandparents for two weeks and while he was away they began writing love letters to each other via email and when he returned to Pepperstock Green they made love for the first time, which was also her first time.

 

Peter worked in the National Park for the Forestry Commission, which he heartily enjoyed, and his profession kept him at his physical peak, which he needed in order to keep up with a very vigorous Collette, because once she had succumbed to him that first time she wanted him all the time, he had created a monster, a beautiful, sexy, large breasted sex monster who wanted to do it with him at every opportunity, at any time and in any location.

So he kept his 6ft tall muscular physic in good order because he had to be ready for her, as with Collette in Abbottsford and Peter in Pepperstock Green she was severely rationed, which was why when they did get together she wanted as much of him as she could get, so he would either drive to Abbottsford to give it to her or Collette would travel home to the village to get it.

Which was what happened in December when she got a lift home the week before Christmas after they had broken up for the holidays.

The first thing she did once she got all her things in the house was phone Peter and invite him to lunch.

“I can’t babe” he said “We’re really snowed under”

“Oh, but you have to, everyone will be so disappointed” she pleaded

“Everyone?”

“Yes, the family” Collette lied “It’s for Christmas”

“You mean it’s a Christmas Lunch” he asked, “I really don’t have time for….”

“It’s more of a buffet really, you don’t have to stay long” she explained

“Ok I’ll see you soon, but it’s really got to be a quickie” he agreed

“Absolutely, a quick in and out, I understand” she said

When she hung up, she quickly undressed and started to set the scene.

 

“Hello!” He called as he stepped through the front door “where is everyone”

“Is that you Peter?” Collette called

“Yes, where are you?” he shouted

“I’m in the dining room” she called back so he walked down the hall

“Where’s everyone else, I thought we were having Christmas Lunch”

He said as he stepped into the dining room and found Collette lying draped across the table like an erotic Christmas buffet completely naked with only some strategically placed item of food to preserve her modesty.

“We are, and I’m it” she replied

“That’s a Terrible waste of ham” he pointed out

“They’re just props from Uni” she said and threw one at him

“So, do you have enough time for some of this?”

“I could manage a morsel or two” he replied

“Good, now come and tuck in”

 

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (126) – St Lucy’s Day

 

December

 

It was at a dinner party on St Andrews Day where the new Curate of St Agatha’s, 35-year-old Derren Mcphail, had lost his heart.

It was in the Pepperstock Green home of a local bigwig, author Chania Campbell, and he fell for her almost the instant that she flashed him her glorious smile, and what a smile it was, a smile that reached her dark, almost black eyes, sharp and intelligent behind her gold rimmed spectacles as they sat perched on her aquiline nose.

It was a smile he had seen in his dreams many times since along with the image of the finely chiseled features of her face.

That meeting in her home was not their first that day, but the second, and the previous meeting also made an impact on him, though in a different way.

It was at the Church Wardens house when he went to use the downstairs bathroom and no sooner had he gone inside and locked the door than he spotted Chania sitting on the toilet, with her tights and underwear around her knees and her skirt hoisted up her thighs, so not the most auspicious of meetings.

 

Despite that awkward beginning there was a definite something between them and a few days after the dinner party, she had invited him round so she could sign a copy of her latest book for his niece Mia, and at the end of the evening they found themselves beneath the mistletoe, and in order not to anger the Christmas Gods, they kissed, but it was not a kiss of appeasement, nor the enactment of a silly tradition, it was a gentle tender kiss that made his knees go weak.

 

After that he was completely hooked but he did nothing about it after she drove him home in the rain, he could do nothing about his attraction towards her because she said

“I’m off on my travels again, but I should be back on St Lucy’s Day”

He didn’t know where those travels were to or indeed their purpose, he didn’t know anything, all he knew were her parting words

“Good night, I hope to see you at the party”

Which he subsequently found out was the St Lucy’s Night Party, held every year at The Palladium Ballroom in Sharpington.

 

He was kept very busy while Chania was away, first their was choir practice, almost every evening, the second Sunday of Advent and of course St Lucy’s Day which was completely new him.

It all began once the darkness had fully descended with a celebration service and then after the church service a parade of school children from local schools processed along the promenade carrying their Lucy lights and then down to the beach where they threw them onto the bonfire to light the Lucy fire, as it is believed that St Lucy’s light can lengthen the days.

It was all very pagan and a Swedish tradition originally, a mixture of the Christian and the pagan really, something that was right up Alesha’s street, and he could understand why she was keen to get back in time, though he hadn’t seen any sign of her.

The St Lucy’s day festival was always well attended as it’s such a unique event.

Christians from churches far and wide attended the service at St Lucy’s Church and a healthy crowd both church and secular turned out for the parade, even the odd humanist had been known to turn up, but then most humanists were odd in his view.

But with such a big crowd it was hardly surprising that he hadn’t seen her, if indeed she was there.

 

Once the fire was well ablaze and the singing began the crowds began to thin out as the curiosity of the secular section soon waned at the first sniff of anything religious.

When the proceedings were brought to a close the children were all marched back to school and the rest of the crowd dispersed.

A couple of volunteers stayed on the beach to guard the fire and then Derren walked across to Palladium Ballroom.

Once he was inside he soon discovered where the crowds had dispersed and the party was absolutely humming, and there were hundreds of people on the dance floor alone.

“This is hopeless” he said to himself “I’ll never find her in here”

He turned disconsolately and headed towards the door, but he only managed two paces before he was halted in his tracks

“There you are” she said, and he looked up to see the unmistakable smiling face of Chania Campbell, a little less glamourous than the last time he’d seen her, in a purple cloche hat, and a thick dark grey wool dress, which nonetheless showed off her delicious shape rather well, and knee length leather boots

“Oh hello” he said

“I’m glad you’re here, I was beginning to think you hadn’t made it back in time”

“Oh, I’ve been here for the whole thing” she said then she grabbed his hand “Come on let’s dance”

And she dragged him into the middle of the dance floor

“Did you say you’ve been here for the whole thing?” he asked when they were face to face.

“Yes”

“I was looking for you” he said

“I know, I saw you”

“I don’t understand” Derren said, “Why didn’t you come and say hello earlier?”

“Because I wouldn’t have been able to resist doing this” she said and kissed him, and it was an even more potent kiss than the one they shared beneath the mistletoe a week earlier

“Do you think it would have been appropriate to do that while you were performing the duties of your curacy?”

“Highly inappropriate I should have said” he replied

“I’m glad you agree” she said, “so can we get back to the kissing now?”

“We could find somewhere a little less crowded” he suggested

“Good shout” she agreed

 

They made their way off the dance floor and collected their coats from the cloak room and then left the Palladium and Chania slipped her arm through his as they walked along the promenade until they reached the first Victorian Seafront shelter.

As the wind was blowing offshore, they moved to the side of the shelter facing the sea and sat down on the bench.

“Now can you remember where we got to?” he asked

“Oh, I remember” she said and kissed him in the same gentle tender way that made his knees go weak when they kissed beneath the mistletoe, and they would have done the same that time had they not been sitting down.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (125) – Feast of St Lucy

 

December

 

Popular Children’s Writer, Chania Campbell, had made her home in the village of Pepperstock Green and on St Andrews Day she was hosting a dinner party, and among the guests were Louise Sexton and Jade Edwards, a pair of visiting thespians.

The hostess had first met Louise after they both took part in the World Book Day events at Pipershaven Library, and they became friends, but that evening was the first time Jade and Chania had met.

 

There was a period of reacquaintance with the guest that she knew and formal introductions to those she didn’t but then after a brief chat with her guests Chania had to excuse herself to check on the food, so it was up to the guests to amuse themselves.

In addition to the hostess Chania, were a skinny young woman of a similar age, Fiona Phippen, an illustrator, who was an old school friend, who also assisted in the kitchen, then there was Chania’s brother Aiden, an artist, Derren Mcphail, the new curate of St Agatha’s, Kevin Southey, Church Warden of same, Literary agents, Harry and Tracey Smedley, and Tim Weston who was a Local Historian, so it was an interesting bunch.

 

Louise and Jade got to know each other when they both worked on a very popular TV soap and during their time on the show they became very good friends, and over the years, in addition to the soap they had also worked in the theatre and even in pantomime, which was why they were both in the area, as they were appearing at the Heartstone Theatre, doing panto, playing the ugly sisters in Cinderella, which was intended to be ironic given the way they looked.

At 30 years old, Louise was stunningly attractive, slim with shoulder length brunette hair and hazel eyes but even Jade, who was three years older, put her friend in the shade with her looks.

Jade was slightly taller and a little curvier than Louise with a shock of flame red hair, so it wasn’t their looks that kept them single.

Their problem was that in their profession it was difficult to meet men, well the right kind of men at any rate, and they had over the years grown weary of being hit on by all the usual suspects.

Men who wanted to either be seen with a famous actress on their arm or wanted the glamour lifestyle they imagined went along with being a successful actor or on the baser level just wanted to have sex with a celebrity.

There was another obvious alternative to those types of men, and that was to date someone from their own world, someone on a par with them, but in their experience most actors tended to have huge egos and small personalities.

So, despite their professional success they were no different to any other human being, looking for love or companionship or a family.

What they needed was someone who would like them or love them for who they were rather than thinking of them as a backstage pass to a celebrity life.

But neither of them was actively looking for anyone so it came as a complete surprise to meet a serious candidate at dinner party in a quaint country village.

Although in Louise’s case it was more of a re-acquaintance.

The man in question was Harry Smedley, Chania’s Literary agent, who she first met just after the World Book Day events at Pipershaven Library, when she was starring in a play at the Heartstone Theatre, and there was an instant attraction, but Louise found out he was married to his business partner Tracey, so she backed off, however she had since discovered that they were not a couple.

Harry and Tracey had divorced the year before, but it was a completely amicable split because after eight years of marriage they both realized 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, Smedley and associates.

Even after they stopped living as man and wife, the split was so amicable that they kept up their long-standing routine of travelling to and from work together.

So, it was no wonder that Louise jumped to the wrong conclusion, and she’d left Pipershaven when the theatre Company took the play to Abbottsford, when she discovered the truth of the arrangement.

But now she was back in Pepperstock Green and there he was in touching distance, although his ex was also at the dinner party, so she thought she should be forgiven for getting the wrong end of the stick.

From the first moment she got “eyes on” she kept them on and when the time came for them to take their seats she found that she was seated opposite him and focused all her attention on him and made it patently obvious she only had eyes for him.

 

“So, what brings you here to Pipershaven?” he asked.

“I’m in Panto at the Heartstone” she replied, “Jade and I are the ugly sisters.”

“Typecasting then” he said, “I believe that is the curse that befalls successful soap stars.”

“You will get a slap” she said with a laugh “And anyway it’s a living.”

“Indeed”

“What about you?” she asked are you still getting your 30 percent?”

“Oh yes business is booming, though it helps to have a star like Chania on the books” he said.

 

The remainder of the evening passed in the same easy manner until it was time to leave, and they were suddenly thanking Chania, who was at the front door saying goodbye to her guests in turn, and then they were outside.

Jade was deeply engrossed with Chania’s brother, Aiden, and almost oblivious to the fact that Louise was waiting and then Harry asked.

“Are you staying at the Ocean View Hotel?”

“Yes, we both are” Louise replied.

“Well, I’m already dropping Aiden home in Pipershaven so why I don’t drop you both off” he suggested. 

“Good idea” Aiden said, and Jade nodded vigorously.

 

Louise and Harry chatted as much as they had all evening and then they were suddenly at the hotel almost before they had time to blink and were getting out of the car.

Aiden suggested they go round the corner to a club, but they declined and then she asked desperately

“Do you want to come in for a nightcap?”

“Ok just a quick one” he said, and she was feeling very smug as they went inside

“I’ll meet you in the bar” she said “I just need to spend a penny”

“Ok”

“Oh, I forgot” she said and handed him her key card “Order me a white wine”

“Ok”

She didn’t need to spend a penny, though she did anyway, what she wanted to do was attend to her makeup and freshen her perfume and when she got to the lounge he was sitting at the bar on a barstool waiting for her, the drinks on the counter in front of him.

 

When she was halfway down the glass of wine she said

“Perhaps we can do something over the weekend, dinner, maybe” she suggested

“The Panto doesn’t open until Monday, so I’m completely free”

“Ah” he responded

“Ah?” she repeated “I don’t like the sound of “Ah”, is it an “Ah” I’m back with my wife or “Ah” I’m with someone else or “Ah” I’m gay”

“None of the above” he said

“Phew”

“Do you remember me telling you during dinner that my sister Lizzie had twins?”

“Yes” she replied, “Oh God are they ill?”

“Not them” he replied.

“Lizzie has PPD, Postpartum depression” he replied “and she’s not coping and nor is her husband”

“Oh dear”

“So, the rest of the family are having to muck in and help them through the worst of it” he explained “They live up in Millmoor, so I’m going up for a week, maybe two”

“Oh, I understand” she said, “is your ex going?”

“Good God no” he said and laughed “She doesn’t like children, so she’s going to hold the fort at the agency for me”

She was disappointed that he was going away but relieved the Tracey wasn’t going with him.

“Do you want another?” she asked as she caught the barman’s eye.

“Hmm yes, please” he replied and drained his glass “But then I have to go.”

 

“Do you think you might be back by the 13th?” she asked.

“Possibly, why?”

“There is no performance that evening, so I have the day off, we could have dinner?”

“It depends on who’s paying” he answered, and she laughed.

“That’s just the type of response I expect from an agent” she said, and he shrugged.

“My treat” she replied but seeing him again would be the real treat.

“Ok I’ll do my best.”

 

They parted company in reception where he kissed her cheek and then she watched him leave, and it hurt, it really hurt and that really surprised her, why did it hurt? She knew she liked him, but obviously it was more than that if it hurt.

“Why does it hurt?” she asked herself as she walked towards the stairs and then she stopped.

“My God I love him” she exclaimed.

 

Over the rest of the weekend, with too much time on her hands she could think of little else than the revelation that she was hopelessly in love with him, and the problem with that was that she wasn’t going to see him for an absolute age. 

Fortunately, the pantomime started on Monday so two shows a day kept her occupied, it was just at night when she was alone in bed.

 

Her one big regret while he was away, was that she didn’t have a phone number or an email address for him, but she didn’t.

She could have asked Chania, but she would have felt foolish, she could even have phoned Smedley and Associates and asked Tracey, but what possible reason could she have for needing it?

So, she just had to keep herself busy and wait until the 13th.

 

As there were no performances on the 13th, she had the whole day off, which had to be filled, and her mind kept occupied, she had hoped that Jade would have helped but she had plans to spend the day with Zac.

So, she did the best she could, including having her hair and nails done and a bit of pampering to make the best of herself.

But that didn’t consume nearly enough of the day.

She spent the rest of the day Christmas shopping and then admired the festive decorations once the darkness had fully descended.

As she walked back to the Hotel she was feeling the chill, so she went straight to the lounge and up to the bar.

 

She was sitting at the bar, perched on a barstool drinking brandy, and feeling its warmth spread through her, still wearing jeans and a sweater, when Harry arrived.

“Hi” he said as he leant in and kissed her cheek and breathed in the fragrance of apples on her hair, the aroma of coconut on her skin and an overall presence of expensive perfume.

“Oh bugger” she screamed inside her head, she had planned to wear a brand-new white silk dress decorated with tiny pink roses, over some recently purchased very classy lingerie, and be made up to perfection, and instead she was wearing jeans and a sweater.

“You look lovely” he said as he sat down on the vacant stool.

“And you smell good enough to eat.”

“I am supposed to look gorgeous” she said sadly.

“You do look gorgeous” he said, “And you smell delicious, not like me, I look like I haven’t slept for two weeks, hang on, I haven’t slept for two weeks, and I smell of baby sick.”

She leant close into him and breathed in his aftershave and its effect on her was almost sensual, so much so that she almost buried her face in his neck before she sat up again.

“Not a hint of baby sick” she declared. 

“Honestly?” he asked.

“Honestly” she replied as she caught the barman’s eye “Another please, and whatever my…. guest wants?”

“I’ll have the same” he said.

“I don’t know about you but I’m starving, shall eat now?”

“Hmm good idea” she replied and when the drinks appeared they made their way to the restaurant.

 

When they were seated at the table she asked

“How’s your sister?”

“She’s getting better, slowly” he replied.

“And the twins?”

“They are fantastic, smelly, but fantastic.”

He said and as they ate he explained in detail.

After that the conversation was more general, but as much as the conversation flowed, so did the wine and Louise, who had always been a lightweight, drank too much, and when she drinks too much she is too honest.

“I’ve really missed you” she said, and he was both surprised and pleased by the revelation and he wondered if he had heard her correctly or if it was just the wines effect on his processing ability, in the end he decided he hadn’t misheard and responded.

“I missed you too.”

“Really?”

“Really” he confirmed.

“Oh, good because I was really worried that I loved you and you didn’t love me back” she said and giggled, but then she realized he was just looking at her and not speaking and she began to back track.

“What I meant to say is… um… err… I… erm… oh I’m sorry” she said “I used the “L” word didn’t I.”

“Yes, you did” he confirmed “and it’s ok because I think I love you too, but”

“But….”

“Oh shit, why is there, a but, I don’t like the “but”, one little bit.”

 “But….” He continued “I have to go back to Millmoor tomorrow, and I’ll probably won’t be back until Christmas.”

She looked crestfallen, so he took hold of her hand.

“I have to be there for my sister’s family right now, but I want there to be an “us”, but I can’t give you that right now” he said as he held her hand “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to, do you understand?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Can you wait?”

“Yes” she said, “on one condition.”

“Name it”

“That you give me your mobile number, so I can talk to you or text you or something” she said.

“I’ve already put it in your phone.”

“You have?”

“Yes” he replied, “Now I think it’s time to get you to bed.”

“Oh goody, I like the sound of that.”

“Calm down hot stuff” he said, “I need to get you to bed so you have a good night’s sleep and then we can spend an enjoyable few hours together tomorrow morning, before I have to leave for Millmoor and you have to be at the theatre.”

 

Louise tottered along the corridor beside him but when they paused to allow an elderly lady to go through the fire doors ahead of them, she looked up at him through soulful eyes and he kissed her, a kiss she had longed for since the moment she first met him.

After the long-awaited kiss, they walked hand in hand to the door of her room where they kissed again before he unlocked the door and pushed it open, but Louise paused in the doorway.

“I’m sorry” she said.

“For what?”

“For being so needy.”

“You’re not needy, so don’t apologize for being you” he said and kissed her once more.

In the Village of Pepperstock Green – Chapter (124) – Bumper Edition

December

 

Neil Mack was the most recent newcomer to the village of Pepperstock Green and had waited for four years for a suitable property in the village to come on to the market, and it was a life-changing move especially when he met his next-door neighbour, Marjorie Saunders.

He worked for a film production company WKF, who had been based on outskirts of the village for more than five years.

 

Marjorie was a divorcee and immediately lost her heart to her new neighbour but was reluctant to do anything about it and thought that any search for a meaningful love with someone of a like mind would be a fruitless exercise as she had been let down before.

She was a striking looking woman, not model beautiful but very lovely with dark hypnotic eyes.

Though the woman that stared back at her from the bedroom mirror each day thought she was far from lovely.

She stood 5 feet 4 inches tall in her stocking feet and was a stone heavier than she should have been, which was thanks to her own baking.

She wasn’t though disappointed with everything she saw in the mirror she liked her legs which she thought were quite shapely and her hair which she thought of as her crowning glory, which was long and straight and was of a brown so dark that it looked black.

 

However, Marjorie didn’t think that nice legs and beautiful hair was sufficient to win the love of her new neighbour Neil Mack, because she valued herself so little, which was why she held no expectation in his regard.

He for his part had shown no interest in her nor given any indication that he thought of her in anyway other than as a friend and neighbour, and her dilemma was that if she did tell him of her feelings for him and he didn’t feel the same about her it would create an unbearable awkwardness, with him living next door.

So that was why she decided it was best not to upset the Status Quo, and to just remain as friends.

After all friendship was better than nothing and that had been her opinion for nine long months.

Marjorie had not, however, gone unnoticed by Mark, but he too had decided discretion was the better part of valour and also opted for the Status Quo option.

 

His professional role was as a middle management strategist but that year, due to a sudden heart attack striking down the woman who organized the Christmas entertainment for the company, Neil was given a new project, cater the Christmas office party from scratch in 10 days.

 

Molly had her heart attack in October, and he wasn’t given the poisoned chalice until well into December by which time all the venues were fully booked, including the Barnabus Manor Hotel in the village and the Mablethorpe Spa in Pipershaven, and no one could cater for it at such short notice.

The venue wasn’t so much of an issue as they could hold the party at WKF, but catering was, because the staff were going to expect more that Pork Scratching’s and cheese footballs.

So, his thought returned to his beautiful buxom neighbour Marjorie, because apart from the fact he thought she was gorgeous, he also knew that she was a brilliant baker, and she was also the manager of Bloomer’s Bakery in the village, so she had the wherewithal to get the job done and get him out of a hole, provided she wasn’t already over committed.

 

What he didn’t know was that there was a great deal of competition within the Bloomer’s Baker’s chain and Pepperstock Green were neck and neck with their nearest rivals in Springwater and Pipershaven at the end of November and a huge catering order would push them over the line, which would mean both the kudos and a nice bonus for Marjorie’s shop.

  

He got up late on Monday morning, so when he knocked on Marjorie’s front door he got no answer, so he took a walk into the village and wandered aimlessly down the road with no particular purpose and found himself walking past Richmond’s General Store, and as he’d used the last of the milk in his morning coffee, he decided to pop in and get some, and as soon as he walked in, his eye was drawn to a large stack of magazines. the Radio Times to be precise, and the bumper Christmas edition at that.

He knew that it was a bit sad, but he really looked forward to getting the Bumper Christmas Edition of the Radio Times.

It was one of the highlights of the season for him, and he would have gladly acknowledged that it did indeed sound really sad, but he didn’t care, it was part of Christmas for him, but to make it even sadder, he bought two copies.

The magazine reminded him of his childhood when the family would mark the programs they didn’t want to miss in coloured pen.

At that time, you had to buy a Radio Times for the BBC channels and a TV Times for the commercial stations.

 

After leaving Richmond’s General Store with the Bumper Edition of his magazine he headed towards Bloomer’s to see his other favourite bumper bundle, Marjorie, and on arrival went inside.

“Hello Mark” Marjorie said, her face blushing slightly

“Hi Marjorie, I missed you at the house this morning” he said, and she completely coloured up

“Oh? How can I help?” she asked conscious that her colleagues were watching her every move

“I’m hoping you can save my life, I’ve been lumbered with organizing the Christmas party” he said fishing inside his coat and bringing out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her

“At the last minute to boot, can you cater for one hundred, in a week?”

Marjorie said nothing, just read the list so he added

“I’ve listed a few things that are a must, but the rest is up to you, and money is no object”

Marjorie smiled and handed the list to her colleagues and gave him a bear hug almost crushing his Radio Times

“You are my hero” she announced and kissed his cheek several times, and then as they stood face to face smiling at each other they kissed, and it was a long slow and deliberate kiss.

“Do we get one of those now” Marion asked from behind the counter when they had finished.

“No, you certainly don’t” Marjorie replied

“It’s one of the perks of management” she added, and she kissed him again

 

When they had finished a queue had formed so she blushed and said

“Well thank you for your order, Mr. Mack”

“Here if I order something do I get one of those?” and elderly customer asked, prompting a peel of laughter

“I’m sorry Mr. Kelly” she said “Special customers only”

 

As a result of their exchange in the shop, WKF got their Christmas Party, Bloomer’s staff got their bonus, Marjorie got her man and Christmas for Neil was a special Bumper Edition.