New Beginnings and An Unusual Friendship

D Holloway Pamela

Description

New BeginningsSir John Devereaux (formerly John Bellows) starts his highly successful business JD Travel while still at university. He impresses his clients with his in-depth knowledge. At a Downing Street Reception, he is invited to dinner and receives an astonishing request to Chair a highly contentious meeting. Things go wrong. There is a prison sentence pending. Visiting South Africa on Business John meets two women - they will both play a significant part in his life and his future happiness. An Unusual FriendshipAt the Annual Garden Party in the National Trust garden Sara - quite recently widowed meets the glamourous newcomer, Isabella, who has bought and is renovating a beautiful house on the outskirts of the Town. Quite soon, Westingham becomes divided into distinct groups. Gossip thrives. To the surprise of Sara's friends, the women spend time together. Meeting the cousins Max and Mikail provide Sara with excitement and unexpected challenges.

Informations

• Publié par: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 14 avril 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781800469587
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Pamela D Holloway has, over the years, written and had published under various pseudonyms, both short stories and poetry. Having lived in five countries and travelled widely, she has made use of these fantastic experiences in her writing.


Copyright © 2021 Pamela D Holloway

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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ISBN 9781800469587

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For my family and friends, for all the prayers and love I have been shown and given at an unusual time in my life.
Contents
new beginnings
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
Chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
chapter 14
chapter 14

an unusual friendship
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 10
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
chapter 14
chapter 15
chapter 16
chapter 17
chapter 18

new beginnings
chapter 1
the beginning
Margaret was looking forward to dinner at the Savoy. She knew the name John Devereaux but looked him up on Google to remind herself about his interests and activities. She was impressed to note he had received a first-class honours degree from Birmingham University. She also read it was the location of his now-famous travel company’s beginnings, started while still there. Now, thirty-five, knighted for his services to the travel industry and charitable giving and, she noticed, single.
She decided to wear a simple shift dress in neutral beige linen, then brightened it with a long multi-coloured silk scarf. Heels showed off her slim legs and ankles, and a small clutch bag completed her outfit.
She would have travelled on the underground under normal circumstances, but she decided a treat dinner deserved a treat beginning. Having walked down the steps from her flat to the pavement, she hailed a passing taxi and rather enjoyed saying, ‘The Savoy, please, driver.’
*
John Devereaux sat at his desk, a small glass of whisky in his hand and a look on his face that one could read as determined or satisfied.
After considerable thought and research, he had narrowed down his search to three people of interest to him. Without giving details of his plans, he had sent each of them an invitation to join him for dinner. The card read:
Sir John Devereaux requests the pleasure of your company for dinner on Friday 5th August 8 pm at the Savoy Hotel. To be followed by a short meeting that I hope you will find of interest.
Putting down his whisky, he stood and walked the few steps to his study window; he looked down into Eaton Square, the location of his elegant home.
His face darkened as for some unknown reason he found himself thinking of his former life. A life that still haunted him from time to time. Pulling himself together, he turned and left the room, walking along the broad corridor towards his bedroom with its luxuriously appointed bathroom.
Having had a quick shower and change of clothes and feeling refreshed after his earlier maudlin thoughts, he walked downstairs, where his housekeeper greeted him with a smile. ‘The taxi is waiting for you, Sir John, she said with a brief smile, handing him his raincoat as she spoke.
The taxi driver greeted him politely, as always, pleased that Sir John believed that using taxis was better than keeping an electric or petrol-guzzling car. Also, Sir John was known for using the same one or two drivers, which was appreciated.
As they drove, John thought carefully about the people he had invited to join him for dinner. It had taken some time and considerable delving for him to make the ultimate choices, and he felt confident that he had made the best possible decisions.
Margaret Beecham, he mused; an unmarried researcher into infant mortality. His own research had shown that she regularly attended post-mortems as part of her ongoing programme. Much to his interest, he had discovered her views on the constant struggle to keep severely handicapped new-born babies alive. Margaret’s thoughts were generally known but only to her immediate colleagues.
As the taxi drew to a stop at the Savoy, the usual pleasantries exchanged, John Devereaux, let his mind briefly dwell on Roy Atkinson. Roy was one of several people who had fought for fluoride to be added to water supplies as and where necessary and had received an OBE for his efforts.
Lastly, of course, was Professor Brian Stead, a specialist consultant on the elements of ageing that caused, among other things, general frailty and dementia.
John Devereaux was deliberately early. He wanted to be sure everything was how it should be, and that he could be relaxed when his “guests” arrived. At his request, the dinner table was round, and John spent a moment or two deciding the optimum position for himself. It was a pleasant room, thought John, putting a small notebook by his chosen place. He stood to pour himself another whisky from the trolley where the array of drinks he had ordered was laid out for his guests.
For some reason, perhaps because he was thinking of mortality, among other things, John’s mind shot once again to his past. To when his name was John Bellows, where his mother was an alcoholic, and his father, who seldom put in an appearance but when he did, was the cause of loud, raucous rows that resulted in beatings. To a past in which to avoid being beaten, John and his sister Mel would hide in their shared bedroom.
Mel, he reminisced, frequently didn’t bother to go to school. When she was fourteen, lying about her age, she found work at a local hairdresser’s, sweeping floors and making coffee for the clients. She planned to scrape together enough cash to escape from the unhappiness and tyranny of home. Mel “knew” London would provide an opportunity to earn a living wage and seek a happier life.
John, on the other hand, put up with his home life – such as it was. On his twelfth birthday, he made the decision that the only way out was to get good results at school, which would then provide an escape route.
His teachers couldn’t fail to notice the scruffy – often not-too-clean – clothes, the worn shoes and inadequate clothing in the winter. Despite these stumbling blocks, he had regularly submitted excellent work and always did well in exams. The teaching staff agreed that he had the potential to “go far”.
True to expectations, his final school exam results produced offers of a place from several universities. Feeling incredibly lucky, he decided to go to Birmingham to study Geography and Maths.
Another sip of whisky brought him back to the present, and a glance at his watch showed that his guests were due to arrive.
*
Roy Atkinson kissed his wife lightly on the cheek and patted Buff, their large boxer dog, on the head. ‘Lucky you,’ said his wife, somewhat enviously.
‘I can’t think why he asked me,’ was Roy’s ever-modest reply, as he closed the door behind him and set out on the brisk walk to the Savoy Hotel.
*
Professor Brian Stead glanced at the clock on his study wall. ‘Damn,’ he muttered, turning off his computer as he swore. He picked up his mobile and pressed seven, his daughter’s code.
‘Hi, Dad, don’t worry. I’ve remembered dinner at the Savoy, nice one.’ Brian Stead smiled at her turn of phrase; she was such a darling and had undoubtedly helped him through the last dreadful months of Connie’s life. Ironic really, he often thought, studying dementia among other aspects of old age. It had been hard to accept that his darling wife had developed early-onset dementia and become, ultimately, so violent (his former sweet, tender wife). So that even with medication, she could no longer remain at home. His grief and sadness at her death, only tempered by the fact that it was now all over for her; and also, for him and Frankie.
*
Two taxis deposited their passengers at the Savoy Hotel. Roy Atkinson’s timing coincided with the other guests’ arrivals. Sir John Devereaux greeted his guests warmly, introducing them to one another. The hotel staff offered drinks and modest but delicious canapés. After about fifteen minutes, dinner was ready; a timing which had previously been decided by John to be sufficient.
It was splendid in a simple way — simple food, beautifully presented – not so much that his guests would wind down too much. The meal began with cream of avocado soup, followed by a filet of plaice and salad and concluded with either freshly chopped fruit or crème caramel served with a che