Wuthering Dormice (aka Bike) Part 717 by Angharad

“Was that about what I think it was about?” asked Stella.

“Probably, but seeing as I don’t speak the same form of gobbledygook as you, I’m not entirely sure.”

“You need to lighten up, Cathy.”

“Lighten up? I could have half the press hordes from northern Europe here in minutes and you tell me to lighten up?”

“Because you raised the dead?”

“Something like that.”

“Aren’t they gonna just do that whenever anything unusual happens in Portsmouth, in the future?”

“Why?”

“Well, they do tend to end up here with monotonous regularity.”

“I suppose they do. What should I do, Stella?”

“Why ask me, I can’t make up my mind whether to put Pud in a dress or a grow-bag.”

“A babygro, surely?” I queried.

“So that’s where I’ve been going wrong; no wonder she looks like a tomato.”

“Thanks for trying to distract me, but we really need to do something about the coming storm.”

“Gi’s the phone,” she took it and dialled. “Houston, we have a prarl’m.” I gathered she was talking to Henry and the conversation moved so quickly I had little chance of following it.

I went off to see how the girls were doing, and called them down. Their bedrooms looked very tidy. I sent Simon a text. ’Press know about the healing. Lol, C xxx

“Okay, in an hour then.” Stella handed me back the phone. “The cavalry are on their way. Good you’ve got the girls, get packing.”

“Packing?”

“Yeah, for the hotel, if that gets too hot, we’ll shoot up to either London or Scotland.”

“Scotland, oh yes, Mummy, can we go to Scotland, Livvie hasn’t seen the castle has she?”

“Girls; please don’t interrupt grown-ups’ conversations.”

“Sorry, Mummy.”

“Who winned the competishun?” asked Meems.

“What competition, Meems?”

“De one for de ice cweam.”

“Ice cream? Oh yes, oh that was a three way draw, you all won.”

“Daddy has booked us into their suite, he said to let Tom and Simon stay at the house and see off the invaders.”

“Oh they’ll love that, I should have said no.”

“You’d have a little boy’s life on your conscience if you had.”

“I guess so. Come on, girls; let’s get packing.” I led them upstairs. “Goodness these rooms are tidy,” they were too. Five minutes later, they were a mess but I was on the way to packing a second case. I got them to collect some of their favourite toys, they each wanted to take a bike. Wonderful!

I ran into my room and packed two cases very quickly throwing in some cycling stuff as well as my swimsuit. Then down to the garage and a few minutes later, the bike rack was on the car and the cases were in the boot of my car. I tied on the Specialized with bungee cords and the girls bikes on top of it. Handbag, coats and computer went inside the car. I gave Kiki some food and water and let her out into the garden for a few minutes. Then I locked her in the kitchen.

I helped Stella pack her case, we got Pud down in the carrycot and secured on the back seat. Then loading the girls in mine, we locked up the house and set off for Southsea.

My phone beeped. I asked Trish who was sitting in the front with me to see what it was. She knows how to send a text better than I do. She read it to me:

’Get to S-sea. See U there later. S xxx.’ It proved that at least he spoke with his father occasionally.

Within the hour we were parked in the hotel’s underground car park and my bike was safely being stored in a safe room in the car park, as were the girls’ bikes. Then our procession was led up to the Cameron suite by the manager and a train of porters.

“You honour us with your presence, ladies.”

“No one is to know we’re here, do you understand?” said Stella, sternly.

“Your father already knows, Lady Stella.”

“I mean outside the family.”

“Of course. The suite is ready, have you eaten?”

“Food, bugge r– no we haven’t.”

“Would you care to use the restaurant or dine upstairs?”

“Upstairs please,” I agreed.

“I’ll have the menu sent up.” A few moments later we were up in the suite and unpacking. The suite was essentially a sitting/dining room with four bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms. The three girls were put in one, Stella and Puddin’ were in another and I bagged the third. If necessary, Tom could stay here as well, and Kiki would be allowed in too. The joys of owning the place.

We ordered light meals, in our case omelettes with salad. The girls watched the telly in their room for a while and I asked Stella if we could take advantage of the facilities.

She was gob-smacked. “Of course you can, which one did you have in mind?”

“The pool,” I whispered.

“Yeah, no prob. Let me get the babysitting service organised and I’ll come with you.” So that was how an hour later, we were splashing about in the quite nice sized indoor pool. We were practically the only users which surprised me. An old chap swam lengths, up and down at an even pace. I presumed he had a target in mind, but it seemed a boring way to keep fit. I had the girls swimming a little, Trish and Meems had been here before and were telling Livvie that their Gramps owned it. She couldn’t believe it. “Wait until you see the castle, if we go up to Scotland, that’s brill,” Trish boasted.

They splashed about together and one of the instructors came to teach them somewhat better than I could. While he did that, I did a few lengths, realising after the first how unfit I was. I did alternating relays of breast stroke and front crawl, then one of back stroke, until I swam into the old chap. We both laughed until I realised who it was.

“Sir Reginald?”

“How do you know me, young lady?”

“We met at a dinner some time ago. You know my in-laws, Henry and Monica Cameron.”

“Catherine?”

“You have a good memory, Sir Reginald.”

“And you a beautiful face, Lady Catherine.”

“Cathy, please.”

“You must have dinner with us, are you staying here?”

“Yes for a day or two. That’s my adopted family over there with the swimming instructor.”

“You’ve adopted three girls?”

“I’m fostering them, but I’d love to adopt them.”

“I know just the man to help you there, the Director of Social Services is my son in law. He’s coming to dinner tonight, you must come and meet him. I presume your other half will be here by then?”

“I’m not sure, Sir Reginald.”

“Oh for goodness sake, if you’re Cathy, I’m Reg, okay?”

“Yes, Reg.”

“I must go,” he took my hand and kissed it, “See you tonight, at eight in the Green Room.” Before I could decline, he’d dived under the water and was swimming faster than I could for the ladder and the exit.

“What was all that about?” asked Stella.

“That was Sir Reginald Butterworth.”

“Oh yeah, who’s he?”

“A friend of your dad.”

“Yeah, hardly surprising here is it? It’s full of his cronies.”

“His son in law is Director of Social Services.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Adoption and getting a green light….” I said.

“Ah, now it makes sense. Bring an evening dress?”

“No, I wasn’t expecting to need one.”

“Good job I brought two then isn’t it?” Stella smirked and splashed me as she swam away towards the ladder.

>^^< is waiting for your comments and votes, it isn't a good idea to disappoint him (he knows where you live).