Dear Mum.
Thank you both for your wonderful wedding present
After you spent all that money on the wedding,
We really did not expect anything.
I will be writing thank you letters to Aunt Renee, and all our
Friends as soon as we get back from Honey moon.
The weather in St. Ives has been wonderful.
I hope you’re all well, and Sam is behaving himself. He should really try and
find himself a nice girl friend to help sort himself out...
Mind you my track record hasn’t always stood up to scrutiny, has it?
Is Morse out of Hospital yet? I have been so worried since Jim told me.
A stab wound in the back.
That’s all he would say.
Blenheim Vale that’s where dad was shot,
And Morse arrested on a trumped-up murder charge.
The place must have a curse on it.
I only heard the full story a couple of weeks ago from the lady who runs
the Oxford Mail.
Miss Frazzle I think her name is.
She’s a great friend of Morse; I often wondered about those two...
Hmmmm.
You know what a dark horse Morse can be.
Don’t tell dad, but Jim told me about a certain blonde girl Morse
spent the night with.
Cockney accent, petite very pretty.
She sounded to me like a dead ringer for Cousin Carol.
Quite the Casanova our Morse!
Pity the same can’t be said about Jim, I had to teach him everything,
and I mean everything on our wedding night
I am certain I was his first serious girlfriend!
Anyway getting back to Blenheim Vale.
I asked Jim why he hadn’t been there to help Dad and Morse.
He became very cagey, quite angry in fact refusing to give me a straight answer.
He said it was for my own good.
Not like Jim at all to be so mysterious.
I left it at that.
I should confess that I had arranged to meet Morse in the Eagle and Child
public house a week before my wedding.
There has always been a fire between us, and I planned for us to spend the
night together at his place, hopefully to put it out or not.
A last fling if you like. Or a new beginning.
Nothing goes to plan with Morse, he never turned up.
Yes, I was stood up, something Jim would never do.
I was furious with him; he tried to explain that he had been delayed,
but I wouldn’t listen I tried to hide my feelings, but I was so angry inside.
“It doesn’t matter” I lied but it did ... so very much.
A woman scorned I suppose.
My heart is breaking
And I am left with this burning fire
that Jim cannot quench.
Before I forget.
The oddest thing happened just before we left the party.
I must have had too much wine because I imagined Morse was telling me
how much he had always loved me.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps.
He finished by saying “It’s too late now.”
I said “It’s not.”
I looked around to see if anyone was watching, and then I grabbed him and
we started snogging, not giving a damn if anyone was watching or not.
He hugged me, and I could swear I felt a tear drop on my shoulder.
Jim spoiled the moment by reminding me I was a married women, the
next thing we were climbing into this little sports car Jim had hired and
we were gone.
***
Our honey moon is not what I had expected.
Touring the beauty spots of Cornwall.
Sunbathing on the fabulous Cornish beaches.
Swimming in the clear blue waters of the Cornish Riviera.
Perhaps visiting the Isle of Tresco by helicopter.
Jim’s idea of good time seems to be visiting Masonic Temples, and wolfing
down a double helping of a Cornish cream tea whenever he gets the chance.
I swear he’s almost put on all the weight he lost.
Now he’s got me he obviously doesn’t care about his appearance
Well Mum I had better sign off now, the St Ives brass band are playing
at the Town Hall tonight and Jim is the guest trombone player
Love
Joan xx
*****
Joan took the finished letter out of the type writer, tore it up and started again.
The End