December
Quiet and
thoughtful Fifty-year-old widow Oliver Hibbert was spending New Year’s Eve
alone in his Victorian Cottage, for a number of reasons, the first of which
being that he wasn’t big on the whole New Year’s concept and it wasn’t a time
that held any deep significance for him, he loved Christmas and embraced every
aspect the season, but not so much New Year’s.
Secondly, he
was normally feeling more than a little jaded by the time it arrived and this
year, after overindulging quite spectacularly over Christmas, he was even more
so.
But the final
and most significant reason was because he had lost his heart to someone who
was, he was sure, unlikely to return his love, as she had a younger much more
attractive man dancing attendance on her, and although he was due to attend the
New Year’s Eve Ball at the Barnabus Manor Hotel, where she would also be
present, he declined the invitation as being so close to her, especially in all
her party splendour, would have been too hard for him to bear.
The object of
his affection was Amelia Fleming, also widowed, but she was three years younger
than he and she was bubbly and vivacious, so Oliver was resigned to the fact
that it was not to be, so he settled down to a quite evening on his own.
He had his
laptop to hand and spent about an hour writing emails to friends and family,
which he left as drafts to send after Big Ben struck twelve.
The rest of the
time he watched TV and picked at any and all of the nibbles within easy reach
of his comfy chair.
By ten o’clock
he was a little bored with the New Year’s Eve offerings on TV and about an hour
later he decided to put on a DVD and was just returning to his chair when the
doorbell rang.
Oliver had no
idea who it might be, he certainly wasn’t expecting anyone.
When he opened
the door, he was surprised to see the diminutive figure of Amelia Fleming
standing on the doorstep in full evening wear and over her shoulder he could
see a taxi pulling away.
“Hello” he said
with genuine surprise
“Hello Darling”
Amelia said, “Can I come in? It’s bloody freezing”
“Of course, of
course” he said fussily “come in, come in”
Once inside she
slipped off her stole and walked through to the lounge and he thought she
looked absolutely gorgeous in a full-length magenta evening dress.
“Lead me to the
wine” Amelia said “I’m gasping”
He led the way
to the kitchen and opened the fridge and took out an open bottle of wine.
Then he took
two large wine glasses from the cupboard and filled them both generously then
handed one of them to her.
“Thank you
darling” she said and took a large slurp and then they proceeded to the lounge.
Matt followed
her along the hall and had another chance to admire her form encapsulated in
her evening dress.
As usual she
was perfectly accessorized with long elbow length gloves, and clutch purse
etcetera, and knowing what a classy lady she was, he imagined her to be fully
accessorized under the dress as well.
“You’re a bit
overdressed for my humble abode” he observed.
“I know” Amelia
said as she sat down “I was going to the New Year Ball but…”
“But?” he asked
“I couldn’t
face everyone quizzing me about Harry”
“About what?”
he quizzed, fearing the worst.
“He told
everyone that we were a couple, and very much in love” she replied, “and that
we were moving in together”
“And you’re
not?” he asked hopefully
“No we’re
bloody not” Amelia said definitely “But people believed him, how could they
think that, why on earth would I do such a thing?”
“Well he’s a
good-looking man, and a very…. athletic man” Matt said
“Yes, he is
both of those” she agreed “but he’s also a boy”
“He doesn’t
look much like a boy to me” he said
“None the less,
he is” she corrected him “It’s flattering of course, to have a young stud pay
me some attention, but a physical relationship with someone like that, on tap
24-7 would probably kill me”
Amelia laughed
at the thought and then continued
“It would
probably be like a marathon and a triathlon combined, and would send me to an
early grave”
She was
laughing again while Oliver digested the information that there had been no
physicality between them.
“He did however
open my eyes and show me that I’m still an attractive woman, still a sexy
woman”
“I could have
told you that” Oliver said a little to definitely, which didn’t go unnoticed by
Amelia as she continued
“My husband
didn’t appreciate that, and I need to be with someone who sees me the way that
you do”
Matt raised his
eyebrows, and she laughed and then said
“I’m not just
here because I couldn’t face the Ball”
“Oh” he said,
and Amelia was giggling and blushing as she slipped out of her seat and knelt
on the floor in front of him, and when she had slipped her arms around his neck
and kissed him to the accompaniment of Big Ben chiming, Amelia kissed him from
one year to the next.
