Days Like
These – Part 4
Friday 16th December
11 pm GMT
The Babbage Home
"Can I ask
a question love?" Mike Babbage asked as Sherry and he climbed into bed.
Sherry lowered
her glasses and said “of course you can.”
"Are you
still doing bits of work for Kay and the SIS?"
"Why do
you want to know darling?" Sherry smiled as she pulled back the covers.
"Curiosity
I guess,” Mike said with a smile. “Now
that I know you turned down a career in the field when we left Oxford because
of your personal ethics, I'm surprised that she may have talked you into doing
more for them."
"Let's put
it this way, I've signed the Official Secrets Act shall we say."
"Oh,"
Mike paused for thought, "and I guess that means you are doing things
you can't tell me about?"
"Only in
the broadest terms," Sherry smiled again, "I wish in a way I could
say it was glamorous and exciting work, but really it's just looking
at some raw data that Kay sends me occasionally and asking if I can see
anything in that data which should raise a red flag."
"Well, you
are a very talented statistician."
“You
remembered? Well… it's an alternative to crosswords that gives
my brain a workout, and I can fit in with both my housework and the bit of
helping out I've been doing at Aggie's school." Sherry lay down, "I
think doing both things have given me a new interest for a few hours a
week."
"Life as a
mere coppers wife was getting dull, eh?" Mike took a turn to smile.
Sherry turned
over and looked at him. "No, I love
you, I love the kids, but I guess I hadn't realised quite how routine my life
had become."
"So are
you being paid for this little bit of work?"
"I refer
you to my original statement regarding the Official Secrets Act," Sherry
giggled, "and why do I think I sound like Catriona saying that?"
"Seriously?"
Mike asked as he climbed into bed, "how deep are you in this now
Sherry?"
"Well I'm
not needing to be fitted for naval uniforms, shall we say that?"
"Okay,
that reassures me a bit," Mike kissed her.
"I've
already had them made," Sherry smiled inwardly as she kissed him back.
Saturday 17th
December
1 AM Central European Time
The British Embassy, Paris
"That
finished far later then I thought it would," Donald smiled as he passed
Agnes a brandy.
"That kind
of official function often does darling," Aggie took it and collapsed into
one of the comfortable old armchairs in the Ambassadors private drawing room. “At least the girls did not have to be there.
and could get to bed at a reasonable hour.”
"Mike
texted me earlier, he thinks that despite all her denials that she would never
do anything more for Kay and the Security Service that she is in fact still
working." Donald said as he sat on the chair’s broad arm, "do you
know what is going on?"
"I do know
a little Donnie."
"But you
won't or can't tell me about it?"
Aggie sighed as
she looked at her fiancé. "Let’s
just say that events in New York at Shirley's wedding may have changed Sherry's
mind a little shall we."
"Oh?"
Donald thought. "Does that mean what I think it does?"
"Darling I
can't really say."
"And what
about you Aggie, are you still helping Kay just informally, or is it rather
more now?"
"Donald
you are jumping to conclusions," Agnes laughed.
"Yes, but
are they correct conclusions?"
Looking at him,
Agnes said "Would I be able to tell you if they were?"
"Probably
not."
“Look – if you
mean am I working for Kay now in a formal sense, then no. She asks my advice from time to time, but not
on high security stuff – honestly.
“Now, let’s
drink up, and then bed – we have that reception tomorrow for the rugby team…”
Friday 16th
December
9 pm
Stowe
“So these are
the famous lodges, Sister,” Maisha said as she and Ama walked into the long
dormitory room.
“Indeed they
are,” Erica said as she and Mel carried their bags in, “indeed they are. Take a look Mel – you’re probably not going
to see a lot of this this weekend beyond sleeping.”
“Young Miss
Burton doth speak truth to wisdom,” Abby said as she sat on the lower bunk of
one set, “so get yourselves ready, and then we go for cocoa and chat before
bed.”
“Snow!”
“Yes it is,”
Natasha said as she stood at the window, Alain pointing at the lit white
covered ground as he grinned. “And all
of you are going to have fun in it tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Alain nodded as
Allan sat with Gale, April and Judith playing with their dolls on the floor as
Clint started to carry in trays of hot cocoa.
“Did I hear the
younger generation start to arrive,” he said as he put the first tray down.
“You did indeed,”
Jo said as she came in with Nell and Ally Rochermann. “Susan?”
“Helping me in
the kitchen – the others should be back from the restaurant soon. In fact, the only people I have not heard
from are…”
“Well HELLO
EVERYONE!”
“Mom?” Sandy and Heather looked at Nessa as she led
the party into the chalet, Sands giggling as Katy Carter looked at her.
“What the… Bestie, are you all right?”
“Never better,”
Sands giggled as she looked at Katy.
Paulie, Lee and Glenda smiled as they whispered to each other at the
side.
“Mum, tell me
you have not?”
“No, I have not
taken anything – but we had a fun and interesting trip up. What I am ready for is bed – so where are we
sleeping?”
“Your rooms are
upstairs,” Sandy said, “while Sands goes into the dormitories under the tender
care of Jo and Ally.”
“When she gets
here,” Jo said with a sigh.
“Hey Smith –
you need your eye prescription changing?”
“Scratch that –
come on,” Jo said as she took the Rochermann twins into the dormitory.
“No – I hope
I’m not interrupting?”
"I didn't
think that you were going to make it," Heather smiled as Krys came in,
dropped her bag, and slumped into a chair.
"I nearly
didn't," the model paused, then smiled. "I think having so many of
you speeding on your way up meant by the time I drove up every traffic cop was
on high alert."
"Whoops,"
Heather laughed as she poured a cup of warm milk. "How
many tickets?"
"Two, and
I flirted my way out of a third."
"Not
bad," Heather laughed, "Sandy actually collected three herself, and
even Holly got one."
"Damn."
"Yeah I
think they know that a sinners ski weekend is a great way to replenish their
state coffers at our expense."
"Well I'm
here now."
"Yep
better late then never."
"So any
more news on that matter you talked to me about?" Krys reduced her voice
to a whisper.
"Yes, and
very little of it is good."
“I see – if
there is anything I can do…”
“Hey hey – time
to par-TAY.”
Abby laughed as
Ally and Nell came back in from th dormitories, Nell walking over to kiss Mick
Harran as he came in. Looking round, he
said “very nice – so where do I put this?”
“I’ll show you
and Nell your room,” Sandy said, “while Ally helps Heather take drinks to the
girls.”
“And so it
begins,” Ally said with a laugh as she headed to the kitchen,
"So who
was that arriving Heather?" Sands asked as Heather brought in the hot milk
drinks into the dormitory.
"Krys
Ernst, she got delayed by some encounters with assorted county Mounties."
Sands raised an
eyebrow before she said "You didn't say she was coming?"
"Oh it was a last minute change of mind by her."
"Well it
means I can introduce her to Britt," Holly smiled as she
climbed down from a top bunk. “I think she's a fan of Krys's."
"She
is?" Sands giggled," "then that might be interesting."
Heather shook
her head as she caught the glimmer in the young woman's eye. Inwardly she
prayed that Sands was sensible enough, and sober enough not to cause a major
scene.
"I see we
weren't the last to arrive then," Ally spoke as she came in with another
tray of drinks. "And how come my
dear twin gets a room, and I get to bunk with this lot?"
"Because
she and Mick are a couple, and Ju allocated them a room together."
"Well it’s
an excuse, not a great one, but an excuse.” For a moment Ally paused to think,
"so if I brought a guy along next time I might get a room as
well?"
"Only if
there's an engagement or wedding ring on your finger," Heather laughed.
"Damn I
knew there had to be a catch," Ally laughed back.
“Right, drink
up and into bed – early start tomorrow…”
Saturday 17th
December
6.30 am
Stowe
“Good morning
Mel – looking forward to today,” Ama asked as she and Maisha watched the young
teenager walk in with Erica and Poppy.
“Oh yeah –
Erica warned me of the early start, but I’m really the last one up?”
“Almost – but
not quite,” Maisha said as Diana started to bring food through from the
kitchen.
“Oh my god…”
Paulie slowly
opened her eyes and turned over to see Nessa sitting on the other side of the
bed, her knees drawn up and her chin resting on them. She slowly turned her head to look at her oldest
friend, before she said “hey – how are you feeling?”
“My mouth could
pass for the Sierra Madre – but… Ness,
what happened on the drive up yesterday?”
“Which part –
the part where Glenda was kissing your breasts, the part where Lee made my
granddaughter have an orgasm, the part where the young men…”
“Whoa, whoa –
back up a second.” Paulie slowly sat
herself up and said “what happened with me and Glenda? And what did Lee do?”
“You really
cannot remember?”
“It must have
been the champagne – or was it…”
Paulie’s eyes opened wide, before she said “oh – did you…”
“No – and I
don’t think I want to after seeing what happened.”
“Is the old
Vanessa coming back?”
“No,” Nessa
said as she smiled, “but perhaps I do need to learn my limits. What it does mean is I cannot discipline
Sands for what she did – but I do need to keep a close eye on her…”
Krystle looked
at herself in the mirror, the ski suit open to just right the amount to show
her white silk jumper underneath, the snow boots fashionable, but functional.
“See, I told
you we needed this time off.”
“Perhaps,”
Tommy said in reply in her head, “but remember - one day, and we go back
Sunday.”
“We’ll see,”
Krystle laughed as she heard the knock on the door. “Hey,” Heather said as she looked in, “ready
for some breakfast?”
“I am,” the
blonde said as they walked down to the central room – and then Krystle stopped
before she said “Holly, darling – I did not know you would be here?”
“I am –
Krystle, this is Britt Boynton. Britt,
Krystle Ernst – I understand you have a bit of the fan girl about her.”
“Well – any
friend of Holly’s is a friend of mine,” Krystle said with a smile. “Where do you know each other from?”
Britt was
silent for a moment, before she said “my brother is… was… “
“Is my
boyfriend, Tommy – but he’s not here, so we thought we’d have a girls’ weekend
away. Is that fresh bacon?”
Sniffing the
air, Krystle said “I do believe it is – shall we?”
“There you
are,” Diana said as they walked into the main room, the table surrounded by
Sinners as they sat and talked.
“Britt,” Susan
said as she looked over, “this afternoon, would you mind helping with the
younger ones? It will give the mothers a
chance to hit the slopes.”
“And show us
how to really use a snowboard,” Marina said with a smile as she nudged Kylie.
“Darling! I do not think you should give Maisha the
impression we are not good instructors?”
“It is all
right,” Marisha said with a smile, “I am eager to learn from all this weekend.”
“Really?” Ally and Nell exchanged glances before Ama
said “she means of the sporting type, my friends.”
“Well, with
Mick here, I’m behaving myself,” Nell said as Ally saw Sands walk in. She exchanged a glance with Jo, who also
noticed the rings round the young girl’s eyes.
“I was wondering
where you had got to,” Jo eventually said.
“Everything all right?”
“Hmm? Oh – yeah,” Sands said quietly as she took
some coffee from Katy.
“So, what does
everyone have planned for this morning?” Juliette said as she looked round.
“Maisha and I
will join Marina and Kylie to try snowboarding,” Ama said as she put her mug
down, “and then join you at lunchtime.
Doc?”
“We’ll join
Jeannie doing the slopes,” Anna said as the others nodded.
“Good – Mel,
your lessons with Erica are booked.”
“Jean-Claude,”
Erica said quietly, her eyes closed as Poppy shook her head.
“As for we
older ladies,” Lee said as the others came in, “we shall head to the café and enjoy
the view.”
“The
mountains?”
“Among other
things…”
Sands giggled
as George looked across the table, then at Jo and Heather.
“George, want
to join us today,” Jo said as she drained her mug. He slowly nodded as Katy said “mind if I tag along
as well?”
“Oh – George
and Katy…”
“Under adult
supervision,” Sandy said as she looked at her daughter. “So cleanse those thoughts from your mind,
young Padawan.”
Sands giggled
again as she looked round the table.
9 am
Stowe Mountain Resort
“Oh wow,” Mel
said as she, Erica, Denise and Eva looked at the mountains rising from the
Nursery slope.
“That is a
usual reaction,” Jean Claude said with a smile as he looked over, “so take a
moment to understand the beauty – and then we may begin. This is your first time, Mademoiselle Eckholm
and Madame Eckholm?”
“Yeah, first
time,” Eva whispered.
“Bon – let us
first try to walk…”
Mel nodded as
she started to copy the instructor.
“Are you sure
it is all right for me to come with you,” George said as he skied alongside
Katy, Heather and Jo, “I mean, this is good exercise, but…”
“We need to
talk – the four of us,” Jo said as she looked at him, “in a private place.”
“Hey, the two
of us…”
“Not about
you,” Heather said as she looked at Katy.
“Oh…. OH.
Right.”
“What an
amazing view…”
“The mountains
or the men?”
“Both,” Lee
said with a laugh as she looked at the group.
She, Paulie, Nessa and Glenda were sitting at a table outside the
Waffle, steam rising from the mugs of coffee in front of them.
“You are
incorrigible,” Glenda said as Lee unscrewed the top of a small flask and poured
some brandy into her coffee. “Some for
me as well?”
“Not for me,”
Nessa said with a smile, “I need a clear head for this clear air.”
“I’ll pass as
well,” Paulie said as she looked round, large sunglasses covering her eyes.
“Feeling under
the weather?”
“Merely resting
my eyes…”
“Ladies, your
order…”
“Thank you,”
Lee said as the waiter placed the plate with cake in front of her, and then she
heard him say “well, this is a surprise.”
She turned to
see Steve standing behind her, smiling as he said “so you are all staying
here?”
“Indeed – your
friend?”
“He works in
the main building – enjoy your stay,” Steve said as he walked off, the four
women looking at each other.
“Oh god, did
we…”
“Oh yes,” Nessa
said quietly, “we may have a problem here…”
“We may have a
problem here.”
Heather looked
at George, Katy and Jo as they stood in the shelter, hot mugs of coffee in
their hands.
“You mean
sis? What have you three seen that I
haven’t?”
“George,” Katy
said quietly, “you have to promise me you won’t lose your temper.”
“Okay, I
promise – so what’s going on?”
“Well,” Jo said
quietly, “we think Sands is courting trouble.”
“What sort of
trouble,” George said quietly.
“Do you know
she’s carrying a gun with her?”
George stared
at Katy before he said “I did wonder – I know Gran has one as well. I haven’t said anything to Dad though – given
what happened with Allyson.”
“There’s more,”
Heather said, “we think – no, we’re sure she has taken some cocaine.”
“My little
sister is using drugs – who’s supplying her?”
“Not the most
important question,” Jo said, “the most important question is why she is doing
it. Katy?”
As she looked
round, Katy said “Well… The other day I
saw her get something from a man at the station. I challenged her about it the next day, and
she said she had got it for her and Liz.
I think it’s Liz who got her on this.”
“Liz…” Heather shook her head as she said “I can ask
someone about that – but for this weekend, I need you three to try and distract
her as much as possible.”
“Tricky –
you’re assuming she will listen to me,” George said quietly, “and she’s under
the influence of Gran and her friends.”
“Your
grandmother is concerned as well, so I think she’s on our side,” Jo said as she
sipped from her cup. “But I take your
point, George. Katy, I hate to say it,
but…”
“Yeah – the
wild child has to be momma. Mom will
laugh the place down when she hears about this…”
“Oh wow – this
view is spectacular,” Briit said as she stood with Krystle and Holly at the top
of the slope.
“How long is it
since you have been up here?”
“Two years,”
Tommy thought to himself as he lowered his snow goggles.
“But I did not
know that, did I?” Krystle purred.
“No, I know
that,” Tommy replied before Krystle said “well, this is my first time here, and
I’m only here for today, so I intend to enjoy.”
“Ready?”
All three
nodded as they pushed off, Britt watching as Krystle took the lead, watching
the way she skied and moved. There was
something familiar about it, but what she could not put her finger on…
“You have a
natural skill,” Jean-Claude said as Eva glided to a stop at the bottom of the
nursery slope. “And you have improved
greatly as well, Madame and Mademoiselle Burton.”
“It feels easier,”
Erica said, “what about you Mel?”
“How many times
did you fall over when you first tried?”
“Point,” Erica
laughed as Eva hugged her daughter, “but you got the hang of it in the end.”
“So, we break
for lunch, and meet again at two.”
“You were right
about one thing though,” Mel whispered as she picked her skis up.
“Oh?”
“He is yummy…”
1.30 pm
West Central Park
“All right,”
Adam said as he sat down at the table, “we know why we are here, so let’s lay
our cards on the table. Mom?”
Eleanor Ball smiled
as she said “well, you know what I think, Adam, but I’m open to suggestions.”
“I’m not
willing to convert to Judaism,” Jan said as she sipped her coffee, “so it can’t
be the full Jewish ceremony.”
“But,” Eleanor
said as she looked at them, “if you agree to follow Jewish tradition in your
home, I am told that Tom and Clare’s Rabbi is open to doing a blessing as part
of the wedding ceremony – and he knows Alex.
Unless you are going fully civil?”
“Oh no,”
Katherine said with a smile, “she’s not.”
“MOM!”
“So much for
eloping to Vegas,” Adam said as he shook his head. “It does sound like a compromise, Jan – and
the ceremony could be on natural ground.”
Jan nodded as
she said “all right – we find a venue, talk to Alex and Rabbi Jacob, and then
we plan…”
“Excellent –
now the wedding feast… I presume a
mixture of Kosher and traditional is going to be in order?”
Stowe
“Ah – and how
did you enjoy the snowboarding,” Penny said as she saw Maisha come in with Ama,
Marina and Kylie.
“An – experience,”
Maisha said with a smile, “and at least the snow is soft to land in.”
Return to the Pussycat Gang index