The Boys in Blue Ch. 04

That dream came true, when they bought The Archers, it took a lot of work, and the first few years were difficult, but with Ruby's managerial skills, and Jack's cooking people began to take notice.

Now, at weekends the place was packed with diners coming from Salisbury, Fordingbridge, Ringwood and Bournemouth.

The horse stalls, were converted into the restaurant, and being a free house, Jack could cater for his customer's tastes in beer, larger and wine from a wide range of breweries.

Robert ducked his head as he entered the pub, like most of the old buildings in the village the ceiling height were only about seven feet high.

There were already about a dozen people clustered around the bar, including Mrs Mac and Archie. She was talking, the rest listening intently. Ruby was behind the bar with her elbows on it supporting her head.

She spotted him coming through the door; with a yell she galloped round the bar and grabbed him pulling his head down into her ample bosoms.

Jack came rushing out of the back, still in his chief's whites, wondering what the disturbance was. Robert suddenly found him self being kissed by the women, being slapped on his back or having his hand pummeled by the men.

Later, as he walked home up the hill, back to Lark Hill, he felt a comforting sense of belonging.

Over the next three days, Robert developed his routine, after breakfast, he would spend two hours carrying out the exercises that Ted had shown him.

Then he would either go for a long walk or a cycle ride, each time increasing the distance.

On the fourth day, he received a parcel; opening it; he found a laptop case, with a note. It was from Ann at the Grange. Hadn't he realised that the laptop was his; Sir Royston had bought it for him; the note read.

Later that afternoon he wrote a long letter back to Ann thanking her and Sir Royston, saying how he was and asking her to pass on his best wishes to the staff. Sealing the letter, he told Mrs Mac, who was in the kitchen doing his laundry that he was going down to the village shop that doubled as the post office to buy a stamp and post the letter.

When he returned, Mrs Mac popped her head round from the kitchen, "Robert", she said, "There was a phone call for you, some one called Terry, she left a number and asked if you could ring her, when it was convenient." She passed over a scrap of paper with a London telephone number on it. "She sounded very nice, I'm sure she had a Scottish accent."

Robert took the paper, his stomach turning over, and rushed upstairs leaving a perplexed Mrs Mac, staring after him

.

Robert grabbed the phone from his bedside table, sitting on the bed he punched in the numbers, his mouth suddenly dry, on the third ring, Terry said "Hello"

"Terry hi, its Robert, I'm returning your call."

"Hi Robert I err. Well, my schedule is pretty slack at the moment, and I wondered if your invitation to see your village was still open."

Robert's stomach turned over again, suddenly it became important that he should see her again, "Of course it is, when can, you come down?"

"Well I'll have to check on the trains, but would tomorrow be too soon, say in the afternoon or evening?"

"Sounds great, when, you know what train you're getting, phone me, and I'll meet you at the station with Buttercup."

"Ok, bye." She broke the connection.

Robert sat, trying to get, his thoughts in order. Jumping to his feet he dashed down stairs.

"Mrs Mac", he called urgently

"Whatever is the matter", she said alarmed

"I've a visitor coming to stay tomorrow, she could use Mum and Dad's room, if you could get it ready please. Her name is Teresa, but she likes to be called Terry, Teresa Kerr, I think she's a singer."

Mrs Mac looked stunned, "Not The Teresa Kerr; she's our favourite singer; she's got the voice of an angel," she paused mentally checking of what needed to be done, "we'll need flowers, lots of them, I'll sort that out, do you have any thing in for the lass to drink, when she gets here."

"Heck no, I'll see Jack and organise some."

"Right, I'll get on to Archie he can mow the grass at the back."

Robert dashed out grabbed the bike and peddled furiously down to The Archers.

Ruby was behind the bar with only three customers in the lounge.

"Ruby can you ask Jack if he could spare me a moment please."

"Jack," she yelled, "Bob wants to see you."

Jack came out from the kitchen, seeing Robert at the extreme end of the bar, and walked towards him.

"Jack I need a favour, a big favour," he said in a low voice, "I've err got a friend coming to stay tomorrow, and I don't have any drink in at home."

"So what's the problem don't you know what he drinks?" Enquired Jack.

"It's not a he; it's a she, and I don't have clue what she drinks, well I know she drinks Champagne." He said as an after thought.

"Look," deciding to come clean, "Her name is Teresa Kerr she helped me in London during the investiture, I believe she's a singer."

Jack looked at him in open mouth astonishment, "What bloody planet have you been on Bob, her last three disks, went platinum."

"Oh, so she's well known then."

"Err, yes, just a bit," laughed Jack

"So, what do you think I need to get in?"

"Well knowing the circles; she would move in; it would be the best," he reached into apron pocket and pulled out pad and pencil, "how long is she here for?"

"I, don't know, let's assume it's for a week, you choose the vintage Jack, also Champagne, and I'll need Whiskey, Brandy, Gin and Vodka and mixers to go with them."

"Let's see, wine, say six bottles of white, and six of red," he paused.

"She means a lot to you?" Said Jack with a twinkle in his eye.

"No," said Robert on the defensive, "it's just that, I owe her a lot."

"You are going to owe me a lot, when you get the bill for this lot." Jack said laughing.

"Don't worry Bob, I'll make out a list, and phone it through to my stockist, it should arrive tomorrow morning, and I'll bring it up to the cottage."

"Oh, one more thing Jack, we'll be eating here to morrow night, reserve me a quite table please."

"Don't suppose, you know what she likes to eat either?"

"No sorry."

Jack just rolled his eyes.

To be continued.