The CBB :: View topic - Solace and Solitude

“Not at all. So did you start liking him while you were in Paris?” asked Kester. Then, at her confused look, “Mum and Dad told us that's where you'd been when you got back. They also said that there was a man involved, and that Kevin and I weren't to ask anymore questions, so don't worry, I won't pry.”

Thanks Ariel, really nice to see more of this. Cecilia is more adventurous than I am. I tend to cook roasts by shoving it in an oven bag and then into the oven. Very boring I know.

Fiona Mc wrote:

Thanks Ariel, really nice to see more of this. Cecilia is more adventurous than I am. I tend to cook roasts by shoving it in an oven bag and then into the oven. Very boring I know.

I think that's because we've never heard of oven bags here in England, Fiona! Well, I haven't anyway. I'd ask you what on earth they are, but it's way off topic here, so I'll just say thanks Ariel for a most welcome update.

PaulineS wrote:

Still possible to get oven bags in places like Lakeland but we tend to cover things with foil instead./quote]

Well, I feel suitably enlightened, thank you Cestina and Pauline, though I can't imagine what they're made of

I'm even more basic - I rarely even use foil when I roast meat.

But she hadn't been brought up to be a spineless jellyfish, she thought ruefully,

Come the long winter evenings stuck in halls, you'll all be bored of this (if you aren't already) I promise!

“She always was a harebrained, madcap young thing, and apparently even Jack hasn't been able to cure her of it. This latest is nothing compared to some that I've heard. Honestly, I blame whoever raised the kid.”

This is facinating - but where can I find final redemption please?

Quote:

Loved that comment of Dick's

her brand new, felt, lime green hat

How nice to see Cecilia so happy. Hope it continues. Why do I have this feeling that it's too good to last? :shock:

cal562301 wrote:

How nice to see Cecilia so happy. Hope it continues. Why do I have this feeling that it's too good to last? :shock:

Ye of little faith!

Or possibly, ye who know Ariel too well.... *is deeply suspicious, particularly following a certain conversation*

Meanwhile, Cecilia couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she'd met Giles, as he'd told her to call him, somewhere before. This was illogical in the extreme

thanks for the update.
Why does the following cause me to wibble?

Quote:

Meanwhile, Cecilia couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she'd met Giles, as he'd told her to call him, somewhere before. This was illogical in the extreme

PaulineS wrote:

thanks for the update.
Why does the following cause me to wibble?

Quote:

Meanwhile, Cecilia couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she'd met Giles, as he'd told her to call him, somewhere before. This was illogical in the extreme

Hope it's not what I may be thinking. :shock:

Giles doesn't deserve the hurt? I should say he did! He made his bed, and so on. Poor Peggy - and poor Cecilia having to keep that secret on top of everything else.

Eilidh wrote:

Giles doesn't deserve the hurt? I should say he did! He made his bed, and so on. Poor Peggy - and poor Cecilia having to keep that secret on top of everything else.

Perhaps it's really Peggy she's thinking of, but is confused? At least she's not so vindictive (or so thoughtless) that she immediately gave away his secret, thus destroying his family.

Then, suddenly, he was walking back to the Quadrant, purposefully, away from the imposter who'd stolen his heart

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Tue May 18, 2010 11:45 am ]
Post subject:	Solace and Solitude - Completed 08 October
A sequel to 'Finding Redemption'! For those who don't know (I have mentioned it to a few people, I know) it was always the plan to carry FR on, but I wasn't sure when the plot bunnies would come back or what they'd say, so I didn't want to set anything in stone. They're coming back slowly - though with other drabble commitments as well, I can't guarantee regular updates, at least at first, sorry! Mods, I'm very tentatively putting this in here; there is some reference to the events of FR, but at the moment there are no plans for anything too adult, though of course please do move if you feel appropriate. Sorry, opening waffle over now! - X- With the wind whipping through her hair and bringing a spark of life to her cheeks, Cecilia smiled to herself. Brown hair flew away behind her, tangling and knotting, but she didn't care in the slightest. Along the journey she had lost some of her worried look and something that had haunted her eyes began to slip away; the closer they got to England, the sunnier she had become, until she was positively happy – a rare emotion for her recently. Jack had watched all these changes avidly, as if seeing his daughter growing and escaping from a cocoon and into a beautiful butterfly ready to spread her wings and fly again. It would be a long time before he trusted anyone else with her, though Joey had insisted on their being parted once they reached England, because he knew what she meant to him now more than ever, and seeing her suffering as they drove away from the Platz, the tears that she'd tried to hide from him for half an hour and more, he'd vowed to do everything he could to stop it from happening again. All the same, he'd been forced to concede to Joey's superior logic and agree that, if she wanted, she could go and stay with Dick for a few weeks to begin with. They'd approached her in Germany, during a break for lunch, about the idea, and she'd agreed readily. It would take them at least two weeks to have the house in a good condition, and much longer if Joey went all out for the re-decorating that she'd decided must be done before they unpacked properly, and she didn't want to be in the way while it happened. A break from her old life, and a chance to just breathe and sit and think about the journey that she'd undertaken so far, would be a welcome one. How Joey had guessed from just the few hints she'd dropped, Cecilia didn't know, but she'd been glad all the same that her mother had not only seen the problem but found a way around it. It had been a long time since she'd seen her Uncle Dick, before his wife had died in fact, and although it would be almost like staying with a stranger she knew that she would be taken care of, and there would be no awkward questions from anyone. Slowly, the white cliffs of Dover hove into a view, an iconic symbol of a country that she, bizarrely, felt that she knew little about. Born and raised in Switzerland, any time spent in England, which she was always told was her home, were to visit family and never more than a month at most. What she should find when she arrived there had piqued her curiosity, and it wasn't without a flutter of fear that she looked at her new home, the country where she was to make her life from now on. For just a second Matt hovered at her shoulder, taunting her with her apprehension, but turning impulsively she dissipated him with a pointed question to Anna designed to block out the voices in her head, telling her about how badly it would all go. Her new start had been a complete one, she wouldn't listen to them anymore. She had her family behind her, and she was free, free to do anything she chose. Politely she listened to Anna's answer, half her mind on the boat which was currently preparing itself to dock. As soon as they were free of the queues of traffic from the boat and driving along merrily again, Joey turned to her and told her the plan. Originally she'd thought that it would be best to put Cecilia on a train for Dick's, as she only had one trunk, but after deliberation with Jack they'd told her that they would drive her to the Quadrant themselves. It would be good to see Dick again, and it would give them a break as well, for they were assured that they could stay the night without needing to give any advance notice of their intentions. With them making good time, especially once Jack got used to driving on the opposite side of the road to that which he was used to again, a lively conversation was soon struck up between Joey and Anna about all that had happened in England since they had last lived there, and what they could expect this time. One thing was certain, and that was that, apart from the occasional holiday to see Len, or to visit a new country, they would be staying in England from now on; they were, as Joey sighed regretfully, getting too old for gallivanting about moving all the time, and they'd managed to find a house near to Madge and Jem so that they were just where they wanted to be. Half listening, Cecilia continued to stare out of the window in a dreamy manner, thoughts elsewhere. In fact, they were on the damp, rainy streets of Paris, with the Eiffel tower looming doomfully above her as she stood at a street corner, unenthusiastically calling out now and then, but hardly looking appealing with her hair in knotted strands dripping down her back and no make-up on in case it ran in the weather. Once such thoughts would have tortured her, but now it had just been recalled because of the English climate, which had turned suddenly and gone all out to impress her by raining. “Do you think Uncle Dick will have changed?” she asked compulsively, turning to her father. He glanced over from the wheel at her, then said carefully, “I think that a lot of things will have changed for all of us now that we've come back, but the adventure is always adapting to them. You might find that you actually have quite a good time with Dick, once you settle in, but if not then you know that you can come up to us at any time. I'm supposed to be settling back in at the San., just in a consultation role, so if I can't make it down to pick you up I know that Jem will. We do, of course, expect lots of letters, and you can ring whenever; we'll ring you as soon as we've got a phone line up and running.” “Oh, I'm sure that I'll be fine,” said Cecilia carefully, though some hesitation still lingered around her eyes. At least she knew that it couldn't possibly be worse than her first few weeks in the awful brothel that Matt had kept, when she had knelt down every night only to pray for her own death so that she could escape. “It's just – a new place.” There was silence for a short while after that, but her curiosity overcame her fear of asking her father what she so desperately wanted to know and, having made sure that Joey and Anna were completely involved in their own affairs and wouldn't overhear what she said, she suddenly whispered, “Does Uncle Dick know, about what I did before?” “In Paris?” checked Jack carefully, murmuring as well so that his wife wouldn't hear. “Yes. But I know that he's made sure Maeve and Maurice don't find out – I expect that they'll be there, as it's the summer holidays. Possibly the older children do, Peggy and Rix and the like, but they might not. Madge and Jem said they would tell David, because he was so involved when you first went missing, and Ailie might or might not know, but they said very definitely that they wouldn't tell Kevin and Kester.” Hoping that he'd satisfied her, Jack was forced to abandon the point, spotting that Jo had noticed them talking in an undertone, and after that they kept on the more neutral subject of the English weather until Jack started to describe the journey that they were taking. All the same, it had given Cecilia plenty to think about, and as they sped on towards her Uncle's house, she became quieter and quieter until she was lost completely to her own thoughts.

Author:	Chris [ Tue May 18, 2010 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Glad to see this back and hope Cecilia finds some measure of peace in a new country.

Author:	cal562301 [ Tue May 18, 2010 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Pleased to see this back. Hoping that this will really be a fresh start for Ceciia (change of name significant?). Looking forward to more when you have time.

Author:	JB [ Tue May 18, 2010 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Great to see this back, Ariel. Did I miss the part where you killed off Mollie Bettany or have I forgotten?

Author:	Abi [ Tue May 18, 2010 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Hurrah! Great to see this back, Ariel.

The CBB http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

Solace and Solitude - Completed 08 October http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7883

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Wed May 19, 2010 1:36 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Glad to see this back again as I really wanted to know what happened to Cecilia

Author:	lexyjune [ Wed May 19, 2010 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Great to see this back, have been looking forward to it.

Author:	brie [ Thu May 20, 2010 11:49 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Thanks Ariel. Glad to see this back.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Fri May 21, 2010 8:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude
Thankyou everyone JB, I think that I mentioned it in FR... - X - It was dark by the time that they arrived, guided up the drive by the narrow beam of Jack's headlights and the shining beacons from the house. Luckily, Joey had been able to borrow a telephone from the café in which they stopped for afternoon tea and ring ahead to warn of their late arrival, so they expected to be greeted with the full works – anyone who knew Joey wouldn't dare to do any less, for fear that she would descend on their kitchen personally. Joey and kitchens had never gone well together. Pulling up with a sigh of relief, Jack jumped out and went to bang on the front door while the rest extracted themselves. Anna had fallen asleep and spent the last hour snoring contentedly; Joey had suggested leaving her there, but when she woke up, the indignant party had scolded her roundly for it - “just as if I was still at school and trying to steal buns again,” sighed Joey reminiscently, with a giggle. Surrounded by moorland the house seemed quite imposing, and there was a bite in the air that made Cecilia shiver and draw her thin cardigan more firmly around herself. In the gloom little could be made out, beyond the grey stone of the sheer front to the house, which reared above them. Certainly the drive had been longer than she was expecting, but it had been many years since she had last been at the Quadrant and she could hardly remember it. There was no forgetting the old man, boyish charm still glowing in the tired eyes, who stood on the steps to greet them, however. “My dear,” he exclaimed as she came close, pulling her tightly into a fierce hug. “How wonderful to see you again. Can I be something of the typical uncle and comment on how much you've grown since I last saw you?” “You can,” interposed Joey solemnly, from where she was hanging up her coat behind him. “The question is whether you may.” Both she and Jack laughed, and even Cecilia managed a small smile, though the mention had brought to mind the school, and had clouded her brow slightly, while Dick glared at his irrepressible little sister in the fondest possible manner. Then he turned to greet Anna and usher her into the warm as well, behaving as gallantly as possible by taking the shawl which she was huddled in and offering her his arm to be escorted to the drawing room, where a roaring log fire and tea and crumpets awaited them. “Just a light spread, as I thought you'd be peckish after all that travelling,” he explained, as they all seated themselves and he leaned forwards to do the honour with pouring out tea. For a while they all just caught up on family news, then he added, “Cherry apologises for not being here, but she said that she simply couldn't stay up any longer when she had to be up again at six to take the milk in and start on breakfast – though she can't wait to meet you.” Cherry, it should be noted in passing, was Dick's housekeeper and the subject of many an amusing anecdote from his letters to the family. She had been with him for many years now, since before Mollie passed away, and was almost as much a member of the surrogate family as Anna, yet none of them had ever met her, because she'd been on holiday when they last came to visit. “Plenty of time for all that tomorrow,” said Joey breezily, waving her hands in a way that nearly spilt tea all over Jack's lap and made him lunge to steady her with a squawk. “We're all fairly tired from the journey as well, it'll be good to turn in – not that it isn't choice to see you again.” Where Joey got her slang terms from nobody would ever know, but at this example, which would have made Hilda Annersley wince pointedly, even Dick rolled his eyes and Jack seriously debated having words with his wife about her vocabulary. In the end he was forced to conclude that it would be pointless, however, having words with Joey about anything only ever made her worse. By this time, they had almost all finished their tea and the pile of crumpets had vanished, with Joey taking a record three. The fire was starting to die down so that only the occasional flame leapt out from the embers, and the room had melted at the edges into a pleasantly warm glow, cream walls turned red from the light. It reflected off of the tired faces, Jack looking especially haggard, for he had borne the brunt of the driving today, and hid the corners from them. “I'll show you to your rooms,” offered Dick, once he'd drained his teacup and set it down on the tray. “I'm afraid that you might have to be quiet in the corridors, there are other people but Cherry sleeping by now, I do have visitors. But you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out more,” he added quickly to his sister, who was already bursting with questions. The look on her face told him how much she was dying to know just what his cryptic remarks meant, but he refused to be drawn further, and with that she had to be satisfied for the evening.

Author:	JellySheep [ Fri May 21, 2010 9:03 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
Really good to see this, and find out what happens next. The can/may moment was fun, and the bits about Jo and kitchens, and having words with her!

Author:	2nd Gen Fan [ Fri May 21, 2010 9:31 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
Great to see a sequel here, your original story was so well written. Nice seeing Dick again as well, I always had a bit of a soft spot for him! Is Daphne likely to be one of the vivsitors? (Just thinking that she was probably about Cecilias age, so that could be a little tricky).

Author:	brie [ Fri May 21, 2010 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
Dick was lovely there

Author:	Abi [ Fri May 21, 2010 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
They make such a great family unit. Thanks Ariel.

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Sat May 22, 2010 1:33 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
Thanks, it's nice to see more about Dick

Author:	Chris [ Sat May 22, 2010 5:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
ooh! exciting! Who are the other visitors?

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Tue May 25, 2010 11:32 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 21 May
Sorry for the delay - RL will keep getting in the way and scaring any plot bunnies off! - X - The next morning Cecilia was awake early, before even Cherry was up and working. At first she sat and read, but after two chapters the words started to blur, and her eyes were merely skimming the page; fully aware that she couldn't get up and disturb everyone else for at least an hour and a half, she threw back the covers with a tiny shiver and moved over to the window. The curtains were of the heavy, red velvet variety, and she decided that rather than try and open them – tying them back would take practice, and Joey was a light sleeper who was in the room next door; Cecilia did not want to wake her – she would huddle on the other side of them. With a broad, sweeping seat underneath it, piled up with a few cushions, the window afforded a wonderful view over the coast and out to the sea, and made for the perfect place to let an idle imagination wander. The sun was just starting to rise over the horizon, and Cecilia looked on in awe from her ideal vantage point, a cushion behind her back so that she could prop lazily against the wall in a position that would have made Matey – who always lectured her on posture – shriek in horror, if ever such a redoubtable lady could be imagined to do such a thing. As the light, grey clouds parted, a sun ray shone directly through them and into the storm tossed waters below, the waves lapping eagerly towards the shore but disappearing from view behind the cliff before they reached it. In the far distance an almost invisible line was drawn between the fidgeting water and the placid, gentle skies, which sat over all and watched impassively but lovingly its subjects. In the middle of the view was the fiery orb, home to all human life, creating a magical scene seemingly just for Cecilia. She watched with bated breath as it very slowly started to climb, the waters around it turning a vivid mixture of reds, purples, oranges and yellows, a fire playing across the vast ocean that separated them, in Britain, from any other land. More rays began to break through, their long arms reaching across the miles towards her, welcoming her and calling her to join them. A yearning in her soul broke free to be allowed to go swimming in the restless currents, to feel the tug of nature and the sleekness of the water dripping from her body, as she fought an exhilarating fight with every ounce of her strength. From the edge of the cliff, which seemed so much closer from so high up than it could possibly be, came a series of calls from wheeling sea birds just starting to wake up for the day ahead, and a few keen gulls flew out to start circling above the sea. A crash downstairs warned her that Cherry was awake, that she was no longer the only person in the world to enjoy such a fantastic view. This also brought her back down to reality with a sigh. Just as she was swung out from behind the curtains, where she had been hidden so completely, Joey tapped gently and stuck her head around the door. She had been woken up by whatever Cherry had dropped, and, seeing that Jack was still slumbering peacefully, had come to find her daughter and see if she was awake. Smiling, she came in, shut the door behind her and threw back the covers of the single bed, waving Cecilia to her side. “It's too cold yet to be prancing around,” she whispered, as Cecilia joined her, sitting next to her in a companionable way. “I just thought that I'd come and see how you are. If I know anything about your father, he'll want to get off as early as possible, and I wanted to make sure you still wanted to stay here before we left.” “I think so,” murmured Cecilia. She had fallen asleep almost straight away the night before, but her mind had been turning it over while she sat watching the sunrise, and she found to her surprise that she was actually looking forwards to a fortnight or so away from all the people who had come back into her life, and to spending time with someone new. “Mum,” she added suddenly, her curiosity getting the better of her. “How did you know that – that -” “You needed to get away for a while? My dear girl,” Joey said, with one of her golden laughs. “When I was your age I did exactly the same thing. Remember my time in India? I just needed a break from it all, to grow up and start to plan what I wanted to do with my life, so I ran to Dick – he's good for not asking questions and just letting you get on with it, you know.” The two talked for a while longer, until the sounds of a bustling house coming to life drifted into them, when Joey excused herself to get dressed. As she performed the same duties, Cecilia meditated over it all in her mind; neither she or her mother were particularly demonstrative, but there had been something between them as they sat and talked together that made her smile. Firmly tying up her hair with a ribbon that had certainly seen better days, she checked herself in the mirror and then ran lightly down the stairs. On entering the breakfast room, she certainly received a shock. She had forgotten all about Dick's mischievous hints of visitors the night before, and when the riot she had heard on her way down proved to be from four young men arguing over the butter, she stopped dead. Then a flush rose slowly to her cheeks and, even as they turned to look at her, she gasped, “Kester?”

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Tue May 25, 2010 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 25 May
Thanks Ariel. It's nice to see the understanding between Joey and Cecilia. I never thought the visitor would Kester.

Author:	Abi [ Tue May 25, 2010 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 25 May
Wonderful relationship between Joey and Cecilia there - thanks Ariel.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Wed May 26, 2010 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 25 May
Conversation around the room paused at her exclamation. All, with one accord, turned to look at this strange girl who had appeared in their midst, some with more curiosity than others. Dick smiled, and waved her over to the seat next to him, where there was laid a gleaming white plate, knives, fork and spoon around it glinting in the sun that shone through the window, and a glass just waiting to be filled with the invitingly placed jugs of pure orange juice set at opposite ends of the table. Cherry liked things to be done formally. “Oh, hallo,” said a voice behind her, and she shifted to one side so that her mother could see clearly into the room. The next second, and Joey breezily declared, “Well, if it isn't young Kester. So you must be the mysterious guests that Dick was threatening dark things of last night. What a surprise!” So saying, she went to take a seat, eyes twinkling as she took in the other people sat around her nephew. Hesitatingly, Cecilia joined her, sitting down shyly next to Dick as if she expected the seat to be removed from under her at any moment. Unsure of what to do, she glanced around the assembled company with wide eyes, then focused firmly on her plate, hands entwined in her lap. Ever since she had run to Paris she had disliked unknown company to the point of painful shyness. “This is my sister Joey, her daughter Cecilia and, if I'm not mistaken, her husband Jack on the stairs,” began Dick, pouring Cecilia a drink and pressing on her a bread roll. “I'll leave you lot to introduce yourselves.” “Well, as you seem to have guessed, I'm Kester,” laughed that young man, dark eyes sparkling merrily, laugh lighting up his features. He had grown into a handsome creature, the years of rugby building him an impressive physique, while he wore Jem's looks with a certain haughty, friendly arrogance that somehow induced one into liking him almost against one's wishes. Instead of introducing the others, clearly friends of his, as might have been expected, he looked at them all, daring them to introduce themselves. Thankfully, none of them were shy or wont to stand on their dignity, and without pause the next introduced himself. He was cheerful looking, with an open, honest face, blonde hair flopping over one eye and a chipped tooth from the time he had rolled down the stairs, clutching at his house master firmly all the way. “I'm Harry,” he grinned. “Training to be a doctor, or will be after a little summer vacation. I met Kester one summer when I was doing volunteer work at Sir James' San., and he came in to find his father. Turned out we were at the same university, so we got together again when term started, and took it from there.” By this point Jack had joined them, and he paused in buttering his own bread to look keenly at Harry, but he passed no comment at the time. Nobody had much of a chance to – before a word could be uttered, the next young man had jumped to the fore, wiping a fleck of jam from the side of his mouth and smiling at Cecilia, as he said, “I'm Benjamin, or Ben to my enemies. Doing sport like Kester, and like to have a fun time, so I said that I'd come along for the ride.” The smile had lit up his face, and transformed it from its previously sombre mood, and Cecilia found herself smiling back despite her discomfort. He, too, had blue eyes, but unlike Harry his were brilliant, full of wit and laughter, memories stored within them. She found herself fascinated by them, and had to look away quickly to hide her blushes. His black hair was still ruffled from sleep, wide, red mouth framing itself around a yawn even as he finished. “And I must be Thomas,” finished the last of the guests. Pushing his glasses up his nose in a gesture that was to become so familiar to Cecilia during her stay, he held out his hand to first Jack and then Joey, though he couldn't reach far enough across to offer Cecilia his hand as well. “I'm studying theology at the moment – I want to be a vicar, like my father, or do voluntary work. I met Kester on what must have been his one and only ever visit to the library, but I knew Benjamin before that.” “The boys have just finished their courses and wanted a month out to recover from exams,” explained Dick, as Cherry bustled around them collecting dishes and starting to bring out the cooked breakfast which would make up most of their breakfast. Through the delicious aroma of bacon, eggs and sausages, all freshly cooked, he finished his story. “I said that they could come here, the bracing coastal air might wake them up a bit. Madge and Jem were busy with other things, and Daphne doesn't come back from the school for another month. I was getting lonely rattling around in a big old place like this by myself!” It was left to Joey to express how they were all feeling. Tucking into her sausages with a gusto, she raised her fork, waved it vaguely in the air, and said in the most final of tones, “Well, it's very nice to meet you all!”

Author:	Abi [ Wed May 26, 2010 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Hope Cecilia will be all right with all of them around. But they seem nice enough, so hopefully she will. Thanks Ariel.

Author:	2nd Gen Fan [ Wed May 26, 2010 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Maybe Cecilia will find it easier with a group of four than she would with just Kester on his own - I hope so.

Author:	PaulineS [ Wed May 26, 2010 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Thanks for the update. Hope having so many there will be a help to Cecillia

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Wed May 26, 2010 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Hopefully Cecilia will cope with them all, though am wondering what Jack was about to say

Author:	charli [ Wed May 26, 2010 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Thanks for the update Ariel. I was an avid reader of FR so i am very glad this is back . The boys sound nice, I hope they get on well with, and can help Cecilia.

Author:	shazwales [ Thu May 27, 2010 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Thanks Ariel really enjoyed FR so great to see more

Author:	brie [ Thu May 27, 2010 7:24 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Thanks Ariel- I'm enjoying this.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Mon May 31, 2010 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 26 May
Thankyou everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting - RL is having its wicked way with me at the moment! - X - After breakfast, it was proposed that the four young men should go for a walk across the moor, taking Cecilia with them and starting to show her some of the best haunts. Jack and Joey would be leaving as soon as possible – as Joey had predicted, Jack was keen to set off, and even Anna's protests about being stuck in such a confined space again soon after leaving couldn't dissuade him – but before they did, Dick called Cecilia into the living room with him. “I wanted to speak to you,” he explained, once they were comfortably seated in the high-backed Queen Anne chairs that graced his front room. “Basically, I have a bit of a favour to ask – feel free to decline, after all, you are a guest, but it would be a real help if you could.” Wondering greatly, Cecilia nodded and waited for him to continue. Whatever it could be she couldn't guess, for she had been there less than twenty-four hours, but it must be something urgent for him to call her away from the rest. Perhaps it was just a plea for her to stay out of the way of the other visitors; after all, with her history, she would hardly be considered a good influence on them. If it was, it would be awkward for her without telling them what the problem was, or seeming horribly aloof, but she would of course agree. “It's just this,” said Dick, watching her keenly. “Cherry's son has just had a baby – well, his wife has, obviously – and it's her first grandson. She'd love to go and see them, and help out for a couple of months while they try and settle down into a routine, but they live in Yorkshire and she doesn't want to leave me on my own. I've said that I'll get a girl from the village to come and clean, and I thought that if you would agree to take on the cooking I could maybe get her to go. You would, of course, have all four of the boys to help, and full run of the kitchen, but it's entirely up to you. If you think that it would be too much, or you'd rather not do it, then please do just say.” “Oh, I think I could,” said Cecilia slowly, laughter hovering around her eyes. “If, and only if, I had complete control of the boys and a promise that they would obey me whatever I ordered.” “They will,” promised Dick, laughing as well. “I may be old, but I can still wield a good cane, as I told them in no uncertain terms the other night when they came back late from the pub and woke up the whole house, including cat.” He paused to chuckle, then leaned forwards and took her hands in his own. “Only if you think you can cope, my dear. Even then, I dare say that Cherry will put up a fight, and I want you to know that she'll be on the first train back down if you ask for her. I really don't want you to take on more than you're comfortable with.” “I won't be any good,” promised Cecilia, equally sincerely. “I've never run a kitchen in my life, and I was always the dud at cooking in school. But as long as you can put up with the sort of weird and wonderful concoctions I've picked up from mum, I'll give it my best shot. Being kept away from your family when you want to be with them is horrible, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.” “Thankyou,” said Dick softly. Giving her a queer look, he added, “You're a credit to Jack and Joey, you know. If I'd asked Daphne – and I may well have to, if Cherry isn't back by the time you leave! - I would have got a downright refusal, until I pushed her into it, and then she would only have given it half an effort and I would have ended up calling Cherry back. It's a shame that Pegs is so tied up with Alan and the rest, or I would have asked her, but he would have to go and get measles over half term and slowly infect the rest of the nursery!” After that, Cecilia was sent off to say farewell to her parents, but her heart was lighter all the same. The one thing she had feared more than any other coming here was that she would be bored, with nobody her own age to talk to and nothing to do – Devon not being noted as a hotbed of fun – but now there were not only the visitors to enliven things, she had a new challenge to face as well. She just hoped that she didn't fall too flat, or she would never hear the end of it. The goodbye would have been an emotional one, if Jack had let it. Instead, he pulled Cecilia into a fierce hug, gave Joey two minutes to list everything that she must remember and hug her as well, then insisted on his wife getting into the minivan, still shouting instructions out of the window. They heard her as it pulled down the drive, then Jack saying something which effectively silenced her and left Cecilia giggling a little tearfully on the doorstep. There was no time for regret or nerves, however, for at that moment Kester appeared to demand to know whether she was planning on joining them or not, and she skipped off to get ready.

Author:	PaulineS [ Mon May 31, 2010 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
Thanks I have just read the FR through and am enjoying this drabble.

Author:	Abi [ Mon May 31, 2010 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
Glad Cecilia's looking forward to the challenge and that she won't be bored. Thanks Ariel!

Author:	shesings [ Mon May 31, 2010 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
Yet another stotter, Ariel! Love it!

Author:	cal562301 [ Mon May 31, 2010 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
This is great, Ariel. Thanks.

Author:	2nd Gen Fan [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:18 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
Just what Cecilia needs right now - to feel that people need her and want her. Thanks.

Author:	charli [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:50 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
Ahhh, I really enjoyed that! Loved Jack silencing Joey in the van haha. Thanks for another brilliant drabble Ariel.

Author:	ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Solace and Solitude - Update 31 May
Thankyou again! I've managed two updates in two days and feeling very proud of myself as a consequence - X - As they traipsed across the moors, the four boys talked among themselves. Once or twice they tried to draw Cecilia into their conversations, but as they were largely about rugby matches of the previous year, or what various other of their friends were doing now that university had finished, she was content to walk a little behind them most of the time. Lost in her own world, she soon started to hum a song, one that she'd picked up during her time away. It was by one of her favourite artists, and she soon got lost to the song, so that what she had meant to keep to herself she started to sing more loudly, until the boys ahead heard. At first they thought she might be calling to them, but they quickly realised that it was in French, and with a look Kester started to drop back, until he was level with her. The rest had carried on, guessing that their intrusion would not be welcomed. “What song's that?” he asked softly, as he fell into step beside her. “I don't recognise it.” “Oh, nothing,” said Cecilia suddenly, coming to an abrupt halt. Then, catching his eye, she relented and said, “It's called 'Ne Me Quitte Pas', it's by Brel. He's probably my favourite artists, though I don't own any of his music, but I didn't mean to sing so loudly. Sorry.” “Not at all. So did you start liking him while you were in Paris?” asked Kester. Then, at her confused look, “Mum and Dad told us that's where you'd been when you got back. They also said that there was a man involved, and that Kevin and I weren't to ask anymore questions, so don't worry, I won't pry.” “Yes, I saw him live there once,” she said, then finished with a wobbly, “Matt took me.” “Hey, don't cry!” said Kester quickly, with the same horror of tears that most men tended to show. Gathering himself together, he slipped an arm through hers. “Look, the other three don't know anything about it, as far as they're concerned you could have just finished your exams as well and decided to leave school a little early to come and stay. I won't say anything else, I promise.” That was all that was said, but Cecilia thanked him, profusely glad to have got the matter out of the way so easily and quickly. Knowing that nobody else knew anything, she hoped that she could start to relax a little bit now, and enjoy her time away. As they ran to catch up to the rest of the party, who had got a good way ahead, Kester coaxed her to sing it to them all properly one evening; the song, with its lilting melody, had caught at him somehow, and Cecilia had been singing it in such perfect French. As soon as they did manage to catch up, they were accosted by Harry and Thomas, who had been having a fierce argument as to which of the two was more handsome; Cecilia was immediately called on to judge. Cocking her head to one side, she eventually said slowly, voice playful, “Well, I think that Benjamin would have to be the most handsome of you all, but even he is positively ugly next to such a countenance as mine.” The last few words were screamed as she skipped nimbly away, chased fiercely by four young men, all thoroughly indignant. They were laughing too, though, and once they did catch her the worst that she was subjected to was being rolled about in the bracken and gorse whilst they all tickled indiscriminately at the parts they could reach, ignorant of her loud and breathless pleas for mercy through helpless, breathy laughter. Such was the tone of the day. Nothing particularly special occurred, excepting Harry failing completely to notice the dip in the ground and going headlong, for which he was teased on and off for the next few hours, but they still had a nice time. At some point Cecilia managed to detach herself from the main conversation and talk to each one of the four boys, so that she felt as if she knew them much better once they got back to the house. Their arrival there was certainly unmissable. Rowdy as ever, the four piled into the hallway in what might well have been a rugby tackle, but when Dick came to remind them about proper behaviour he was pulled up short, for, in the middle of it all, Cecilia was stood, bent over to try and stop Kester from tickling her again, hitting out wildly with her fists. Anything more different from the girl who had left that morning it would have been hard to invent; her cheeks were rosy, flushed with fresh air and exercise, and her eyes sparkled. Her hair was completely messed up, and flyaway curls coated her collar. In a similar condition were her clothes, bespattered with mud and various types of plant debris, and it would take all Cherry's efforts to reduce them to something approaching their former self. As for the boys, they were a sight to behold, worse in every aspect than Cecilia. Still, just to see the transformation, Dick smiled, and made a mental note to impress upon Joey just what a difference it was when she inevitably rang that evening to see how Cecilia was settling down. To look at her now, you couldn't possibly guess that she was anything other than a normal teenage girl. However, he couldn't exactly say this, and so he just ordered them upstairs post haste, to try and tidy themselves up before dinner. His heart was gratified by Cecilia stopping as the rest ran up to throw her arms around his neck and whisper, “Thankyou for letting me stay.”