The Wedding Kiss.
“She kissed him goodbye, knowing he would not remember her tomorrow.”
Chapter One.
It was the end of the first semester at the university where Joy worked as a lecturer in physics. She had booked a week away to one of her favourite places, which was Cornwall, and a little village that she had visited with her parents when she was a child, not far from Land's End. The cottage she had rented was cosy with a lovely fireplace and a comfortable armchair, where she wanted to sit and read an enjoyable book and switch off from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
After she had unpacked and lit a fire, she decided to walk into the village to get some supplies and to see if the bookshop she loved as a child was still open. She saw it was, and stepped inside and was lost in shelves and shelves of books, some dusty, some new. The owner, who was an old gentleman with very large brown eyes and grey hair, asked her what she was looking for. She told him something I can escape into for the next week while I am on a work break.
He pulled out a dusty leather-bound book from one of the shelves entitled “Meeting Mr. Jenkinson” he told her it had been written over fifty years ago and it was set in the nineteenth century; it would take you away from our present time and he would recommend it as it had a good story line, however he told her that she should remember whilst reading it, what century we were now in. Also, not to get too carried away with it. It would, however, help her escape while she read it. He had felt the same once, and it had helped him.
She was curious and thought, “I will take it” She paid him, and he gave her what seemed like a knowing smile and told her to enjoy the book and have a good break.
After picking up some food items she made her way back to the cottage walking along the beach and watching the waves splashing up against the shore, it was a grey cold and windy day, but she loved the sound of the sea and the wind blowing around her hair, she walked on until she reached the cottage and let herself in, it was warm, cozy and peaceful and she began to relax after the stress and strains of the past twelve months. Although she had decided to end her relationship with John after three years together, she knew she had made the right decision, but it had been stressful and painful for them both, and now she just wanted some complete relaxation for the next week.
After she had eaten, she settled down in the comfortable old armchair and felt the warmth from the fire, and she opened the old leather-bound book and thought, I wonder who Mr. Jenkinson is? She would soon find out.
She opened the book at the first Chapter and felt herself being transported through time and space into the front parlour of a Georgian Vicarage House and found herself sitting in an armchair doing some embroidery on a sampler of a flower which was of a bluebell. and wearing Georgian clothes, with a little cap on her head.
An older lady came into the room and spoke to her, saying, "How lovely is your sampler, Emily? You are an expert needle worker.” Joy looked up at her and smiled. She did not tell her she was not Emily; she just did not know what was happening. She had guessed she was dreaming and had been transported into the book as if she were a character, so she thought she would see what happened next.
The older lady whom she had guessed was Emily’s mother, then asked her how she had enjoyed the Opera last night, and the Company of Mr. Thomas Jenkinson. “Oh, gasped Emily. He was highly informative about the Opera and able to answer my questions. He is a very handsome and thoughtful gentleman. (Joy could not believe what she had just said, and now she knew who Mr. Jenkinson was. And she recognised that she had taken on Emily's character.)
Emily’s mother told her that Mr. Jenkinson had requested to meet with her father, who was the Vicar at three o'clock this afternoon.” Do you know why that is?” She asked. Emily blushed and said, “No, I have no idea.” Her mother then said, “He is a country gentleman, who has the Manor House and a large home farm; he would make a suitable match for you, my dear.”
Chapter Two.
Joy opened her eyes and saw the fire had gone out. It was past midnight, and her book was open in her lap. She was about halfway through it. She thought I must have fallen asleep and dreamed that I was Emily. How strange, she placed a bookmark on her page and took herself off to bed.
The next afternoon after she had been for a walk on the beach, she decided to continue with her book, she opened it and again felt she was being transported through time and space and was now seated at the dinner table wearing an evening dress and sitting opposite a handsome man with jet black hair and piecing big brown eyes that seemed to look straight into her, she felt her heart jump a beat, Also Emily mother and an older gentlemen who she presumed was her father the Vicar were also sat at the table with a very old woman sat at the top, who had deep grey hair and was wearing spectacles.
The Vicar introduced Mr. Jenkinson to the old lady, saying, “Mama, this is Mr. Jenkinson from the Manor House. He has asked for Emily's hand in marriage, and she has accepted him. Emily smiled and looked across the table at Thomas, who smiled back and asked if she would accompany him to the Manor House tomorrow afternoon to meet his uncle whom he lived with and his sister, who was staying with them at the moment.
Her mother replied and said, “Yes, I will bring Emily tomorrow if that is acceptable. We need to look at arranging the Wedding, and I am sure your sister would like to be involved.” Mr. Jenkinson said he would send his carriage for them and was looking forward to showing Emily her future home.
The next day, Emily and her mother arrived at the Manor House and met with Thomas's family. He then asked Emily’s mother if he could take Emily for a tour of the gardens, and she agreed.
Emily walked outside along the rose harbour with Thomas, and they chatted. Emily was in love with him (and Joy could understand why; he was handsome and considerate, and he was in love with her).
They sat on a bench and Thomas held her hand and told her of his plans to improve the estate and how he would love her to help him re plan the gardens, He then told her he wanted to take her to Italy for their honeymoon, and she was enthralled she had always wanted to go to Rome and now it was going to happen, she was very happy, she thought he was going to kiss her, but her mother found them and told them it was time to go home.
Joy woke up again, and the fire had gone out. It was after midnight, and she just could not believe what was happening. She was Emily when she was reading the book, and it felt so right. She went to bed and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning Joy went for her stroll on the beach and discovered she was not alone a man was just ahead of her with a beautiful black and white sheep dog, who came bounding up to her and nearly knocked her over, the man who looked familiar although she did not know him, said “I am sorry he is over friendly”, she smiled and said he is okay. and she bent and through his stick, they walked on and he asked her where she was staying, she told him and he then asked if she would like to go for a drink in the local pub this evening, she declined and told him she just wanted to have some space on her own, he seemed to understand and walked with her to the cottage before saying goodbye and telling her to enjoy your break.
Chapter Three.
Again, after her lunch, Joy picked up the book and was again transported through time and space. This time, she was in a bedroom putting on her Wedding gown.
“Emily, hurry up”, shouted her mother, you are going to be late for your Wedding. Emily replied, “I am coming Mother, just fixing my veil.” (Joy thought Oh God I am getting married, then she remembered what the old man in the shop had told her to remember she was not from this century, so she thought I will just go with the script knowing it is not me that is getting married but Emily.) “
Emily looked radiant, her dress was Ivy silk, it was high-waisted and fit her figure to perfection, her bonnet had a veil attached to it which went over her face, her flowers were all beautiful, made up of forget-me-nots and freesia, and their fragrance was lovely.
The organ played the Wedding march, and she walked up alone to her bridegroom, who looked very handsome; her father, the vicar, would perform the wedding service. (Joy thought I am marrying Mr. Jenkinson and, in a moment, he would kiss me, it would be a goodbye kiss, and he would not remember me tomorrow, as he never knew me; it is Emily who will be his wife.) The Vicar, after conducting the service, said, "You may kiss the bride.” Thomas lifted the veil from Emily's face and kissed her tenderly.
Joy woke up, and she had finished the book exactly where she had left it at the end. with the Wedding kiss.
The next morning, she met the man and his dog on the beach, and as she looked at him, she thought he looked like Thomas Jenkinson. He asked her name, she told him, and then asked him what his name was. He replied, Tom Jenkinson.
She said If that offer for a drink at the local pub still stands, I will meet you there tonight. He smiled, and his eyes seemed to pierce straight into her; it would be a pleasure, he replied.
The End
This story has not been rated yet. Login to review this story.