Collette Bonnar's Short Stories: The Stranger in Clearwater Cove

The annual party at the Old Vicarage in Clearwater Cove was always the social event of the year. Iris Boyd-Creamer was the perfect hostess who took pride in pushing the boat out for what was one of the most popular house parties around the sleepy village.

“I suppose you’ll be having the same crowd as last year,” Millie Dobbs, the housekeeper at the Vicarage, remarked to Iris one morning as they were having coffee.

“Yes, the usual suspects,” Iris chortled. “It will be a fun evening. I’ve invited Simone Fitzgerald this year, seeing as she’s new to the village. It will be a chance for her to get to know the locals.”

“Simone Fitzgerald?” Millie frowned.

“She’s the lovely young woman who’s renting The Brambles. She’s very private but

I happened to bump into her coming out of the library, welcomed her to the village and of course, invited her to the party.”

“Ah, that’s very kind of you,” said Millie.

“I was also talking to your friends, Dot Arbuckle and Lizzie Cooper, they’re willing to come and lend a hand with the party preparations,” said Iris.

“Oh yes, they were telling me. They love to be part of the excitement,” said Millie.

“Well, now my dear, I shall start making out lists and then it’s full steam ahead,” said Iris in her plummy tones.

The evening of the party in the Old Vicarage wore around and the guests began to assemble in the drawing room. One of the last to arrive was Simone Fitzgerald.

“Welcome darling to my little soiree. I hope you enjoy the evening here at the Vicarage,” Iris greeted her warmly.

“Thank you for inviting me, Iris,” said Simone as she accepted a glass of prosecco from Millie.

Holding court at the far end of the room was Annabel O’Rourke. Glancing in her direction, Iris said to Simone. “Come, you must meet the village celebrity.” Then in lower tones she added; “Annabel was a very famous actress in Hollywood some years back. She turned her back on all the fame and glamour and retired early, she now lives quietly in the village. She’s a very private person and I feel so honoured that this is one of the rare social events that she attends.”

“I see,” said Simone but Iris didn’t notice the change in the younger woman’s demeanour as they made their way over for the introductions.

“Annabel, there’s someone here I’d like you to meet, she’s new to the village; Simone Fitzgerald.”

Simone felt intimated by the tall, willowy and still very beautiful Annabel.

“Delighted to meet you,” she said, feeling suddenly tongue-tied.

Annabel stared at Simone with her piecing blue eyes, then she suddenly blanched.

“Oh likewise,” the older woman managed. She looked like she’d seen a ghost.

“Are you OK, darling?” Iris enquired as she noticed Annabel’s pallor despite being carefully made up.

“I’ve a sudden migraine coming on. You’ll have to excuse me. I have to go.”

Annabel left in a hurry much to the amazement of the other guests.

Simone looked decidedly uncomfortable and a short time later, she made her excuses and left.

She lay awake for a long time that night, she couldn’t get the image out of her head of Annabel’s reaction when they were introduced. The rain and wind began to howl around the cottage and during the long hours of sleeplessness, Simone made up her mind she would visit Annabel the next day.

The following afternoon as Simone made her way towards Windcroft House, she felt her stomach in knots and her hands clammy. She’d never felt so nervous but it was now or never. It seemed ages before Annabel O’Rourke answered the door. But it was only minutes. “Oh hello,” she said hesitantly. “Can I help you?”

“May I come in? I’d like to talk to you,” said Simone, feeling the beads of sweat gather on her forehead.

“Yes, of course.” Annabel answered, pulling back the door. She felt a shiver come over her as she made way for the younger woman to enter the hall.

“Can I ask you what this is about?” Annabel enquired when they’d settled in the sitting room.

Simone carefully withdrew a photograph from her bag and passed it to Annabel.

“Where did you get this?” Annabel gasped, staring in shock at the picture of a happy smiling couple. The young man was the image of Simone but the young woman in the photograph had Simone’s colouring.

“Olivia, my birth mother gave it to me. I traced her and she told me the story about my biological father…”

“That’s my brother, Peter,” Annabel’s voice was trembling as she stared at the picture. “He died in a motorcycle accident when he was a young medical student.”

“Yes, that’s what Olivia told me. She was his girlfriend and also a medical student.

At the time of the accident, she wasn’t aware that she was pregnant. She explained to me that she was so devastated by the loss of Peter, she couldn’t cope and with a lot of regret she put me up for adoption.” Simone glanced tearfully at the photograph and added; “When Olivia gave me the photograph, she told me as much as she knew about you. I hope you don’t mind me looking you up…”

“Don’t mind? I’m so happy you did, my dear. I cannot say how much this means to me… you see I don’t have any other family. I have to confess to you that when I saw you at the party in the vicarage, I got a shock. You look so like my brother but I thought you couldn’t possibly be any relation. That’s why I left the party early; I was totally overwhelmed. I can’t believe this.” With tears now flowing freely, Annabel rose and warmly hugged her new-found niece.

Simone felt her heart soar with joy at being reunited with her aunt. “I wasn’t sure…” she began.

“Oh, please, I’m overjoyed,” said Annabel. “Let’s have a glass of bubbly to celebrate this wonderful reunion.”

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A short time later, aunt and niece sat sipping champagne. Annabel, still in a state of shock could barely believe what was happening. Finally, she found her voice; “Here’s to the future, Simone. I look forward to spending a lot of happy times with you. When the rental on your cottage is up, you must come and stay with me for a while, so we get to know one another properly and you’ll no longer be a stranger in Clearwater Cove.”