Forty-five minutes after they’d met at the services, Vivienne and Maxine said goodbye to each other. Even in that short time, they’d become friends.

“Are you sure that I won’t be a pain in the neck? I’m not exactly a country person.” asked Vivienne.

“Not at all. It will be nice to have some company for the week.”

“And you don’t mind about Betty?”

“Not at all. She seems to like me.”

Vivienne thought for a couple of seconds.

“Very well then. It is a deal.”

Maxine smiled.

“Good. I’ll make sure that there is a room for you for the week.”

“How much will it cost?”

Maxine grinned.

“Zero, zilch, nada. I own a good chunk of the Hotel which means that I do have a say in what goes on. In return for that, you can be my companion for the week. That does not mean having to stay silent. You seem like an astute person so comments will be most welcome. Consider the cost of the room being payment in kind for your consultancy during the week.”

Vivienne smiled.
“I’ll try not to put my foot in it.”

“Don’t worry at all. I’m just starting to work on a big project and any input you can provide will be useful even if you have to say, don’t be a stupid idiot Maxine, it will never work.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good. The opening ceremony is at two. Just make yourself known that you are my guest.”

Vivienne watched Maxine drive off and started to wonder if she should do a runner back to London. She wasn’t used to people being so nice to her. It was rather unsettling.

Maxine had not gone very long before Vivienne had started to feel a bit guilty. Her new friend had taken the trouble to arrange for somewhere for her to stay that night and seemed genuinely interested in Vivienne despite their difference in ages. Vivienne had almost felt like a teenager again with Maxine seeming to know everyone and everything.

“She was only trying to be kind to me wasn’t she Betty,” muttered Vivienne as she loaded Betty into her cage.

---

It took less than an hour for Vivienne to find the home of Duncan and Charles. Just as Maxine had explained, there was a Pub next door and she could see a charger in the corner of the car park.

She drove the car into their driveway. As she came to a halt, the front door opened and a man walked out. He smiled at Vivienne.

She got out of the car. He was waiting for her.

“You must be Vivienne,” he said.
“I’m Duncan. Welcome to our home.”

“Thanks. I don’t want to put anyone out.”

“You aren’t putting anyone out. Besides, any friend of Maxine is a friend of us isn’t that true Charles.”

The other half of their partnership had joined Duncan.

“That is very true Duncan dear. Let us get you unpacked and then I’ll get your car onto charge.”

“Are you sure that it is all right with the people at the pub?”

“Absolutely. We are only a B&B. Most of our visitors go to the Pub for their evening meal.”

Vivienne hesitated a moment.

“Duncan here will be serving behind the bar so he’ll keep an eye out for you. The locals are not that untrained you know,” said Charles by way of re-assurance.

Once Vivienne realised what he’d said, she relaxed.

“Besides, I hear that you have a nice friendly dog with you. I can look after it while you are eating.”

“Ok. Thanks. Her name is Betty.”

---

Charles proved to be a natural with Betty. Betty was loving the attention that she was receiving.

“Betty likes you,” remarked Vivienne.

“I think she does, doesn’t she?” replied Charles as Betty licked his face.

Vivienne left Betty with Charles who was making a real fuss of her and went the few yards to the pub.

Duncan was behind the bar doing what barmen and women the world over do when not serving a customer in that he was polishing a glass.

“What will it be?” he asked.
“You don’t have to worry about driving tonight.”

“That’s true. I think I’ll have a glass of Merlot please.”

“Large?”

“Why not. As you say, I don’t have to drive.”

As Duncan poured the wine, he asked,
“Is Betty ok?”

Vivienne laughed.
“I think Charles is in danger of being licked to death.”

Duncan put the glass of wine on the counter.
“He loves dogs but clearing up after them for more than a day or so is another matter entirely.”

Vivienne laughed.

“I know what you mean. My Daughter Janice once volunteered to look after Betty for a long weekend. She lasted until Saturday Morning. Then I got a phone call ‘Help!’. The problem was that I was in Venice. She just had to lump it and do her best until I returned. She put Betty into a Kennel and washed her hands of it. Betty got her own back by peeing all over her shoes the next time she visited us. Then… she tried to stiff me with the bill for a new pair of shoes.”

“Your Daughters seem to be a right piece of work.”

“I’m certainly not in their good books. Before I left London, I gave them both barrels. They needed to be told and in public how I felt about them and what they were trying to wheedle me into doing.”

Duncan laughed.
“My parents did that to me when I married Charles. What I never had, I can’t miss now can I?”

“That’s very true,” replied Vivienne.

Just then four more people walked into the Bar.
Duncan let out an audible sigh.

“Please go and find a table. I’ll bring the menu over when I have served them. The old guy is a right PITA. Nothing we do is ever right for them. Just sit back and watch a professional complainer at work.”

Vivienne found a table well away from where the newcomers had seated themselves.

As the evening progressed, Vivienne got an education in the art of ‘Complaining over Nothing’. Duncan got the brunt of it for no good reason. Nothing was beyond the man when it came to complaining. He took Duncan to task for serving him tap water when that was what he specifically ordered.

When Vivienne had eaten a very nice Steak Pie washed down with another pub staple, ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’, she went up to the bar to pay the bill.

When Duncan handed her the change, Vivienne said,
“Can you give me a large pitcher of water?”

Duncan stepped back from the bar and smiled.

“You aren’t? Are You?”

Vivienne grinned. That was answer enough.

Duncan put the full pitcher of water on the bar.

“Thanks Duncan. That guy is just as you said a royal PITA.”

Then she took the pitcher and walked over to the table where the party of four were seated.

“Hey you!” said Vivienne in a deliberately loud voice.

They all turned to look at her.

“You four with all your complaining over frankly nothing ruined my evening. In fact, it has been the icing on the cake of a truly rotten birthday. So, I’m going to ruin yours in return.”

Then she poured the water over their obvious leader.

Not one of them made a sound.

Vivienne put the now empty pitcher down on their table.

“If I were you, I’d pay your bill and leave before the barman sets the dogs on you. They really don’t like people who come into a place like this, order a meal with zero intention of paying the bill. I’ve seen many people like you try this on in London. Your moves were so obvious that it was almost laughable.”

Not one of them moved.

“Or does the barman have to call the Police? So far, I’ve seen plenty of evidence of intent to defraud this fine establishment. I’ll happily be a witness for the prosecution.”

As if by magic, a number of banknotes appeared on the table. Then they stood up and started to walk towards the door. Duncan had emerged from behind the bar. He took all their photographs.

“You are all banned. For life.”

They disappeared. The other customers to a man and woman started clapping.

Vivienne sat down shaking.

Duncan returned with a large Scotch.
“I think you need this. That was some… That took some guts.”

“I didn’t know what happened. I just felt that something had to be done.”

“Well Vivienne, you did good. Real Good. You can some back anytime you like.”

“Thanks Duncan but I really don’t know what came over me just now.”

He laughed.

“Vivienne, could this be you coming out of your shell at long last?”

She didn’t answer.

“Was what you said about it being your birthday?”

“Yes. Sixty today I’m afraid.”

“Nothing to be afraid of at all.”
He smiled.
“If I’m as feisty as you when I’m your age then I’ll be happy.”

“I’m not normally like this but thanks for the compliment.”

---

Vivienne drove down to Devon the next morning feeling good. Betty was on good form as well and the sun was shining so for her, all was well with the world.

It was just as well that her phone was switched off. The number of increasingly irate messages from her daughters was rapidly filling up her message inbox.

She found the Pub and parked nearby. The place was a hive of activity with the preparations for the grand opening. She couldn’t see any sign of Maxine but she wasn’t worried. It was a lovely day so she walked Betty through the village and up to the nearby clifftop. There was a bench there so she sat down and basked in the sun. It was very pleasant and a far cry from her part of London.

She used the time and pleasant surroundings to think about the whole concept of moving down to this part of the country. She tried to imagine the scene before her with a storm in full force. That whole thing frankly terrified her so one condition for where she bought was that it was sheltered from the prevailing South Westerly winds.

At a little after two, Vivienne could see some formalities taking place outside the Hotel.

“Time to go Betty. Then we can get you some water.”

---

Things were a bit hectic at the Pub. The local Mayor who was supposed to be performing the opening ceremony had gone AWOL. No one knew where she was. The local School Band was trying their best to keep everyone entertained but it was soon obvious that they had a rather limited repertoire of tunes.

Vivienne watched from afar as two women tried to get things going. She guessed that they were Maxine’s partners, Nina and Belinda. She couldn’t see Maxine anywhere.

Some form of order was restored and Nina did the honours in the absence of the Mayor. Then everyone headed inside for the free food and drink.

Vivienne was a little unsure about what to do next when Nina saw her.

“Are you Vivienne?”

“That’s me? I was looking for Maxine?”

“She’s out looking for the Mayoress. She texted a few minutes ago that she has found her. Her car was in an accident with a Horsebox. It does not look like either of them are going to be here anytime soon.”

“Oh.”

The worried look on Vivienne face told Nina everything she needed to know.

“Why don’t you head on up to the Hotel. They are expecting you and your room will be ready. I’m sure that Maxine will be around before dinner. Jules, our Chef has had his arm twisted by Maxine to do something special.”

“I really don’t want to be any trouble.”

Nina laughed.
“That’s exactly what Maxine said that you’d say. You aren’t any trouble at all believe me. When you get to the Hotel, plug your car in to charge. We now have eight chargers but I expect Maxine told you that.”

Maxine hadn’t gone into any detail other than to say that there was a place to charge her car at the Hotel.

Vivienne looked down at Betty.
“What do you think Betty? Time for a little nap?”

Betty wagged her tail. As she did this most times when anyone spoke directly to her, it was difficult to know if she understood or not.

“Ok, then we’ll head on up to the Hotel.”

“Good. I hope that the food runs out soon then most of the freeloaders will head off to another watering hole.”

“Aren’t you serving in the Restaurant tonight?”

“No, we properly start on Tuesday. We won’t be serving on Monday evenings. Maxine has booked a table for the two of you for Wednesday,” said Nina.

“It seems that she has everything organised?”

“That’s Maxine through and through but if you come up with better ideas then don’t hesitate to mention them. She’s a pretty flexible sort of person once you get to know her.”

---

[the following morning]
“Ready?” asked Maxine

“Yes I am. Are you Betty?”

Betty was sitting in her travelling cage in the back of Maxine’s car. She responded with a little ‘yelp’.

“She’s ready. Where are we going? Please don’t say ‘wait and see’. My father used to do that with me and it drove me mad.”

Maxine chuckled.

“Our first stop is at the farm where the bacon that you are for Breakfast comes from. They have just started a new project that might interest you.”

Maxine didn’t elaborate but the presence of a large crane at the farm told her that the project work was in full swing.

That was the way things went for the first part of the week. They’d visit a supplier to the hotel and discussions relating to Maxine’s big plan would eschew. Gradually Vivienne got a picture of what she was planning on doing. It all seemed very ambitious but as she got to know Maxine more, she realised that she knew what she was doing. She commented on many of the specifics and asked a lot of questions.

“That’s why I asked you along. Having someone to ask those stupidly obvious questions is perfect. It allows me to refine my plan,” said Maxine as they ate a truly delicious Lunch at a Pub on the edge of Dartmoor.

“Where to next?” asked Vivienne.

“Something completely different. We are going to visit a place that is totally off the grid. The man that runs it is a bit of a mystery but he supplies us and a good few other places in the area with all the herbs the chefs need to help them work their magic.”

“Sounds interesting. That will be a change from talking about digesters and sludge and all manner of really smelly stuff.”

---

“I see what you mean,” commented Vivienne as Maxine drove up a narrow track that led to the smallholding of the Herb Grower.

“The wood on the left is a coppice. He makes Charcoal in the Winter and sells it at the Farmers Markets in the Summer.”

Vivienne looked and could see where some trees had been cut down the previous autumn. New shoots were already growing.

“Here we are,” she said as the car came out of the trees and into a small valley.

“Oh!” remarked Vivienne.

The whole place could have been taken from the lid of an old Biscuit Tin or a painting by Constable. A Thatched Cottage stood on one side of the valley. A wisp of smoke rose from the Chimney. Chickens, Ducks and Geese roamed freely. Then she saw the owner.

She almost let out a swear word. He was a hunk that would put many other hunks to shame. The man’s body was tanned. The sort of deep tan you can only get from working outside for extended periods. He was sitting near the door to the cottage making something from wood. There wasn’t a power tool to be seen.
Then she realised that she couldn’t see any electricity supply to the place.

“I can see what you mean by ‘off grid’.”

“There isn’t any electricity other than what a couple of Solar Panels and a Waterwheel can generate and a few old car batteries can store.” remarked Maxine.

The man had seen them. He stood up and gave them a wave.

“Come on Vivienne, lets’ go and meet Jacques.”

Vivienne was in a bit of a daze. She was having feeling that she’d never had before. That unnerved her. Just looking at him, with his toned body and fantastic looks made her go all funny inside. His six pack did not come from a gym.

As she got out of Maxine’s car, she realised that he wasn’t young. Her estimate was that he was ten or twelve years her junior. Far too old to be called a ‘toy-boy’. She stopped dead and admonished herself for having visions of them together and …
She shuddered.

Then she put on her best smile and followed Maxine towards Jacques.

The next half hour was hard, really hard for her. Parts of her body were reacting to him in ways that she’d never experienced as a hormone laden teenager.

Despite these feelings she managed to have at least a semi-coherent conversation with him about his plants and where he sold them.

When they left, Maxine drove down to the end of the lane and stopped.

“Recovered?”

Vivienne tried to make light of it.

“I really don’t know what you mean?” she replied indignantly.

“Come off it Vivienne, I could see you undress him even before we got out of the car.”

Vivienne just lowered her eyes to the floor.

“He is a bit of a hunk isn’t he?”

“That’s a point of view I can readily concur with.”

Maxine leaned over and touched Vivienne’s hand very gently. She almost withdrew it but didn’t.

“I’d jump into bed with him in an instant if I fancied men,” she said calmly.

“But you were married?”

“I was and I loved Adrian. He was gay and… well, it was a marriage of convenience. Yes, we had sex and I enjoyed it but I’m very much more interested in women.”

Maxine saw the look of concern on Vivienne’s face.

“Don’t worry Vivienne. You aren’t my type but I think that Jacques is very much yours… am I right?”

Slowly, the answer came.

“Yes but…?”

“He didn’t run a mile from you so there might be hope for you yet?”

“He does not know me from Adam or Eve.”

“He is very much like me in that he can read people like a book. He read me in less than thirty seconds the first time we met.”

“Read you? Oh, that you are a Lesbian?”

Maxine smiled.

“That’s only part of the story. I’m Trans.”

Vivienne could not believe what she’d just heard.

“I was an unemployed loser called Tom until a strange sequence of events led me to start living as a woman. Then I did some work that led me to meet Adrian and the rest is history.”

“But… you said that you are a widow?”

“That I am. He died some eighteen months ago.”

Vivienne was totally confused by just about everything they’d seen and done that afternoon.

“Time to get back and make ourselves pretty. We have a table at the Pub with our name on it don’t we?”

---

That evening, Maxine and Vivienne dined on some of the best food that Devon can provide.

“What do you think?” she asked Vivienne as that tucked into their main course.

“That Lamb just melts in the mouth.”

“I told you it would.”

“Would you like to eat Jacques?”

Vivienne almost choked on the mouthful that she was chewing.

“I really don’t know what you mean?”

The grin on Maxine’s face told Vivienne that her leg was being pulled.

“Come on now Vivienne, it was obvious that you fancy him.”

“So? I’m a lot older than him…”

“You obviously failed to see how he reacted to you. I’ve never seen him take even more than a passing interest in other women. Until now that is…”

“How many visitors a week does he get to his smallholding?”

Maxine grinned.
“Then we’ll have to go to the Farmers Market on Saturday. Then you’ll see what I mean.”

She added,
“There will be a chance to get some supplies to take home with you on Sunday… As well as observing him in action. He puts on his French Accent and charms the customers into buying his plants and charcoal.”

Vivienne wanted to see him in action but was really not keen on making an exhibition of herself by gawping at Jacques in a public place.

“Live a little. Break free of the chains of conformity!”

Vivienne chuckled.
“It is all well and good for you to say it. I’m old enough to be your mother and have been conditioned to conform and not make waves.”

“So?”

“It is easy for you. It isn’t for me.”

Maxine laughed.

“I broke the habit of a lifetime when I told my daughters what to do with themselves. That will do for a while… I think?”

“You don’t sound convinced?”

“Let me just say that since my Birthday, I have been operating well outside my comfort zone. I’m sure that I’ll crash and burn sooner or later and I’d rather do that at home.”

Maxine laughed and raised her glass to Vivienne.

“I am so glad that I stopped to help you on Saturday. You really are an interesting woman Vivienne. I’m sure that there is another person inside you just waiting to escape given the chance.”

Vivienne laughed.
“My daughters probably think that she’s escaped already and needs to be locked up by the men in white coats.”

“Your daughters needed more than a verbal dressing down if you ask me. “

“Oh, don’t worry Maxine. The way they are going, the end won’t be far away. I tried telling them but they think that they know better. That was part of why I had that little rant at them the other day.”

---

[Saturday Morning]

“Jacques’s stall should be just around the corner,” said Maxine.

Vivienne was interested in some Spelt Flour that a stall was selling.
“Let me buy some of this. It makes great bread,” replied Vivienne.

Maxine just smiled. Cooking was really not one of her strong points. She was far more of a ‘Fling it all in a Pot’ and hope for the best sort of person. She’d tried to make bread once and failed miserably. That had deterred her from ever trying again.

“Where did you say Jacques was?” asked Vivienne having completed the transaction for the flour.

“This way.”

As they approached the stall, something wasn’t right. Jacques seemed to be limping as he moved around collecting the plants that he was selling.

“Hello Jacques,” said Vivienne.

A huge smile appeared on his face.

“Can I interest you two lovely ladies in some fine herbs?” he said in a broken French accent.

They both laughed. When they’d visited him a few days before, his voice was very English. Now he was turning on the charm that only a person with a proper French accent do.

“I’ll bet that accent makes a sale more often than not? Oui?” remarked Maxine.

“But Oui. Can I tempt you?”

“What’s wrong with your foot?”

“Ah that. I was trying to round up the Geese last night and one decided that it was not going to cooperate. In chasing after her, I put my foot down an old rabbit hole. It is nothing. A slight sprain that’s all.”

Vivienne shook her head.

“You need some help.”

Then she turned to Maxine.
“You know what I want to buy. Can you get it for me while I help Jacques in his time of need?”

Maxine was watching Jacques face. She was also trying hard not to laugh.

“See you later. Good luck,” she said as she turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

Vivienne took her cue and went around the other side of the stall.

“Now. Why don’t you take the money while I get the plants from the rack?”

Jacques was trying to say something but failed. Before he could object, another customer appeared.

---

[Four hours later]

“That’s the last of the rack stowed,” said Vivienne.

“Thank you again Vivienne, your help was… just that I needed,” said Jacques.

“It was a pleasure to help out. Maxine and I will come back to your place and help you unload. Isn’t that right Maxine.”

Maxine had made herself scarce until the trading session was over. She’d bought all the things that she and Vivienne had talked about before the coming to the market. Then she’d gone for a walk along the nearby River Dart. She didn’t want to be a 3rd wheel. She admired the way that Vivienne just took control. Jacques didn’t stand a chance once she got going but it was obvious that they worked well together. The way that they’d just gelled as a team impressed Maxine no end. There was a good deal of banter between them and their customers that seemed to work wonders with the sales.

Maxine returned in time to help clear up. It was obvious that Jacques was starting to struggle but being that sort of man, he refused to complain.

“Yes, we will,” said Maxine.
“We’ll help you unload and get everything put away. Do you have any elasticated bandages at home?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll drop into the Chemists and get some. That ankle needs some support.

Jacques made as if he was going to argue but the looks on the faces of the two women told him to shut the hell up.

---

“That was an interesting week,” said Maxine over breakfast the following morning.

“I hope I didn’t ask too many dumb questions?”

“Vivienne, you did exactly what I wanted. You asked all sorts of questions that has allowed me to make great strides in my project. Some things… Well most will need a lot more work and that is thanks to you. I’ll collate everything when I get home and I should be able to present it to the Board at our next meeting in a couple of months.”

Vivienne looked a bit lost. The week had literally flown by. Betty had been walked and pampered and walked and was one happy dog. She’d seen things that were totally new to her and had met some very interesting people.

“Are you any closer to deciding where you are going to move too?” asked Maxine.

Vivienne smiled.

“You really like Jacques, don’t you?”

“I do. I think he likes me but…”

“You’d like it to go a lot further?”

Vivienne went red in the face. She’d had a particularly erotic dream the night before that involved her and Jacques and some boots.

“You really do, don’t you?”

“Maxine, he’s ten years younger than me for heavens’ sake.”

“Vivienne, you really don’t look your age. Look at your legs. They are as thin as drainpipes. There are many women half your age that would literally kill to get a pair like that. You are a wonderful intelligent and funny woman so… Plus it is obvious that Jacques likes you.”

“I know but…?”

“Going to the next stage terrifies the life out of you?”

“Yes, and that’s all I’m going to say on the subject. Understand!”

Maxine grinned.

“Yes, Madam Vivienne!”

The two women laughed. All was well between them.

Despite their age difference they’d become really firm friends.

[half an hour later in the Hotel Car Park]

“Thanks again for all your help this week,” said Maxine after they’d finished loading up their cars.

“I really enjoyed it and thanks for all your help with charging my car.”

“You should be able to make Morrison’s in Wincanton on one charge. An hour there for lunch and you can easily get home.”

“That’s the plan,” agreed Vivienne.

Then Maxine gave Vivienne a big hug.

“He’ll come around. Don’t be a stranger down here. Get that house of yours on the market and give London the finger!”

“Thanks Maxine. I’ll get things going very soon,” replied Vivienne as she recalled the dream from the night before. It had been a long time since she’d had a dream like that.

[to be continued]