It was a one of Vera Stanhopes' most proudest and happiest days she could ever remember. It was 1982 and the group finally graduated from training college. Parents and other family members arrived to support their loved ones and take photos and offer words of congratulations. The usual hustle and bustle you would expect at any such event.
For Vera however, she didn't have a family member present to wish her well. It didn't bother her at all. She didn't expect anybody to turn up but she had the one person there that mattered.
She was ten years old when her mother passed away and her Dad, an odd character was against her joining the force.
He was convinced she was doing it to 'spite him'. Vera grew up an only and lonely child and she was glad to get away from the house, glad to get away from him. There was many a night she would be dragged from her warm bed to chase birds halfway across Northumberland in the freezing cold. He would go missing for days sometimes, when she was a little older, leaving her home alone with very little food.
Their cottage was isolated and she hated living there with him. He didn't hide the fact he disliked being a single parent and he often took it out on her. His life wasn't to single handedly bring up a child, he had hobbies and interests of his own and he just got on with them. He took her where he could but not because he wanted to but because he was obliged to. ' The police, you want to go into the police. What are you crazy lass, its not a place for a woman. What will folk think'. That was his response when she was accepted into the force. She was so thrilled at being accepted and she didn't let his response bother her. She was used to him by now, used to his moods, his comments. She nearly grew to feel sorry for the miserable sod. She didn't see much of him as she practically lived with Peter by this stage in his small rented flat over the butchers on the hight street.
His parents weren't aware as they were quite religious and Peter never felt the need to tell them. He knew he would marry Vera and he was waiting for the right time to ask her, then at least it would cushion the 'living in sin blow' when he would confess their co-habiting situation. He was a people pleaser and disliked confrontation, it wasn't that he was in any way ashamed of their situation. He just thought as far as his parents were concerned, ignorance was bliss.
Vera worked hard to get in and she trained hard. She would go running everyday across the fields and along the coast. Her work paid off and she knew her life was going in a new direction. At the college she made friends, lots of friends, like minded people who she got on with, and then there was of course Peter.
She knew from the moment she set eyes on him that she wanted to be with him. He finally asked her out a few weeks into the training and she accepted. Since then they became inseparable. He made her laugh, he showed her what it was like to be loved and to love. It was all a new experience, an adventure and she never wanted it to end. She was in her mid 20s and he was a couple of years older, and as she called it wiser.
He was tall, a lot taller than her and his hair was almost black. He had bright blue eyes and a contagious smile. He wasn't overweight by any means but he was muscular, manly looking. She thought he could have his pick of the women but she was ecstatic when he chose her.
They would chat for hours, go for long walks and she had fallen for him hook, line and sinker and the feeling was mutual. It was the first time since her Mam had passed away that she felt loved again He looked after her and got a job in the same station to be near her. He was very protective of Vera but by no means possessive. Peter always encouraged her when she doubted herself.
She loved watching him chat to others. He brightened up a room with his presence alone. His touch would send shock waves through her whole body, even if he just brushed past her. She remembered the first time they slept together. She was nervous and he put her at ease. He was gentle and reassuring and he made it special, he made her feel special. Any insecurities she had vanished when she was around him. Peter came from a lovely family and she would often join them for dinner. He had one older brother who she got on well with. His mother became very fond of Vera and treated her like the daughter she never had, she would make a fuss over her and was always forthcoming with conversation.
"Lets go celebrate". A voice interrupted and it made her jump. Peter was standing in front of her, his beautiful eyes watching her. "What is it". He asked slightly concerned by the look on her face.
"I'm just really happy". She responded and it made him smile. He gently kissed her on the forehead before taking her hand and leading her away.