Thanks all. For all disappointed by/ wondering about Elsie being so mean to Charlie, take comfort in knowing that the root cause will be explained next weekend. I know, I know...what's a weekend?

In the meantime, continuing in the words of Reviewer Suzie after Chapter 26: "Could there be a better BF?" Welcome deeper into Fantasyland…featuring a series of short, but rapid post chapters.

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Monday, 23 April 2018

Like unwelcome snowflakes in the middle of spring, a chill had descended on the budding romance between Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes bringing all their progress to a halt. Certainly Charles thought it was rooted in the moments between when he inadvertently released Igor's leash on the beach and when the dog was sprayed by the skunk. Though Elsie hadn't acknowledged it, she recognized those were accidents. Really her tailspin had begun before then, when Charles was picking at the wall in the cottage's waterside main bedroom and accelerated in that brief, last chat with Martha.

When they parked the car for good Friday evening, she let Charles walk her to her door but sent him home right away without a kiss goodnight.

She proceeded to take a long hot soak, the proper venue to think more deeply about what she really wanted and wanted to deal with. Yes, Charles seemed perfect in a lot of ways but was she really ready to pursue a truly serious relationship again – a full relationship? She needed Zen in her life, no surprises, and in her experience that did not come with a man, let alone by way of having sex with that man.

Charles had texted her Saturday morning, asking about going for a walk. Not today was her reply. Tomorrow? I don't think so, Charlie…please I need some space.

Charles on the other hand had spent a lot of time in the last weeks thinking deeply. He was coming to realize what he really needed: to live again – with all the excitement and surprises that came from being in a true, committed and full relationship…he thought he would want that with Elsie, was almost ready for that. Now, however, he was confused by her attitudinal change. Hormones, he wondered?

After fretting away multiple hours over where they stood after this most recent trip to Brighton, he did the one thing he thought would help him guide him out of his confusion without disturbing Elsie's space: he called Isobel. She cancelled her date with Dickie Grey Saturday evening and agreed that Charles could buy her that fish & chips dinner he'd promised her some weeks back.

Charles recapped all that had gone right, and the little that had gone wrong in the six weeks he'd been seeing Elsie. With all they'd done and how anxious he sounded about spending time with her, Isobel thought he might be inadvertently smothering Elsie.

She thought more deeply. Had they had sex yet? Charles was aghast at her audacity to ask; further, what had he just said – they'd only been together six weeks! She realized that's a 'no.' Isobel was impressed with his – their – restraint. She couldn't say as much about her with Richard, or Dickie, in their respective first six weeks together.

In the end, Isobel's advise was to tap into his right brain and figure out a clever way to apologize as only Charles Carson could and woo Elsie back in an unexpected, yet gentle, non-smothering way. Give it his best shot, and if he did, it would surely work; if not, he would know he tried his best. Let her know how she might help were Isobel's parting words.

Charles spent the better part of last Sunday working out ideas on a stack of Post-Its that he then transferred to the Moleskin. That evening, he called Isobel again, asking if he might swing by with a delivery for her to relay on to Elsie's office in the morning. When he outlined his plan for the week, Isobel told Charles she was impressed (again). His reply, "I am not a complete stranger to romance, Isobel, if that's what you're implying." On the contrary – Isobel was thrilled – thrilled to oblige and that he was going for it! EYE OF THE TIGER rifled through her head!

7:20 am

Isobel arrived to the office extra early and left a minimally, almost architecturally-wrapped package in front of Elsie's door. When a despondent Elsie arrived asking no one but herself, "What's this?" she picked up the package and was surprised it was cold. She hadn't seen Charles's handwriting yet to know it was his, but the message inside the handwritten card clued her in of its source.

I'm sorry our cottage visit did not end well. Please indulge me in a little "cottage humour" as I attempt to thaw the chill between us.

She unwrapped the ribbon and found a frozen cottage pie from Hampstead Hearth bakery.

Okay, she gave him credit for something beyond apology chocolates.