B&B OF LOVE AND FUN-30
Hello everyone. Time to go back to our favorite B&B. Last chapter was a little soppy, so this one will be more cheerful, especially considering, that Beryl and Bill are coming back from their honeymoon. Lots of jokes, laughter and also a very nice surprise, by the end of the chapter (no, don't worry, Beryl is not pregnant ;-) ;-) ;-)
It was simply difficult to believe, that Beryl's honeymoon was already over. Charles and Elsie were so occupied with work and at the same time, so focused on pleasing their guests, in the absence of their cook, that they hardly noticed, that it was time to prepare some nice welcome for the newlyweds.
Since they were going to arrive in the evening, Elsie and Katie decided to prepare a delicious dinner for them and Charles focused on choosing the best alcohol.
Elsie still remembered, how warmly she and Charles were welcomed at the Abbey, when they got back from their honeymoon, so she decided to do the same thing for Beryl and she has prepared a huge "welcome" sign, which they were hanging by the door with Katie.
"It was a wonderful idea Mrs Carson. I'm sure that auntie Beryl will be delighted with it."
"I hope so, I remember how happy I was, when we were greeted the same way at the Abbey when we came back from our honeymoon."
"I hope that auntie and Mr Mason had a nice time there too. I've never been by the sea. Is Scarborough nice Mrs Carson?"
"It's a wonderful place Katie. So many lovely places to see, a lot of attractions...I hope that you will have a chance to visit it someday Katie. Maybe for your own honeymoon? Who knows?"
"That will not happen too quick...I do not intend to get married fast...I would like to work for a while."
"Whatever works for you honey, but my advice would be-don't wait too long...Because if you do, you can miss quite few important things in life, like I did..."
"Do you regret not having children Mrs Carson? Oh, I'm sorry...That is such a personal question..."
"It's all right Katie...I have no problem telling you about it...Actually, me and my husband were talking about it recently, saying that we both regret it a lot..."
"I'm sorry to hear that Mrs Carson, but with or without children, you are the most perfect married couple that I know...I hope that auntie and Mr Mason will be as happy as you are..."
"I hope so too...Although we are not totally perfect, as you know my husband has his faults.."
"Like what Mrs Carson?"-Katie asked, but before Elsie could answer, they heard Charles's voice coming from the other room...
"Elsie did you hide my bottle opener again? I asked you few times already, to leave it where it is, I'm really getting upset when I can't find it..."
Elsie smiled to Katie mischievously
"I think that this answers your question Katie...Excuse me...I have to go and help my husband, to find his favorite bottle opener, otherwise, we will have an evening of nagging, instead of a joyful time..."
Few hours later...
There were a lot of hugs and patting on the back, during the greeting of the newlyweds...The happy and casual atmosphere was palpable that night in the B&B.
Beryl and Bill came back and it was obvious, that their honeymoon was very enjoyable. They both had that special glow, radiating from them...After first welcome, Charles helped Bill to bring all the suitcases and Elsie told them, to take a bath, change and prepare for a dinner, that she and Katie made.
After a while, they all met again in the kitchen.
"What am I seeing? You two made dinner? Elsie, are you sure that we will survive, after eating a dish that you prepared?"- Beryl was clearly in a joking mood...
"Now, now Beryl...You shouldn't be like that...I'm sure, that Elsie has worked very hard on that meal..."- Bill decided to be supportive...
"It's really all right Bill...It is kind of our inside joke...Between me and Beryl...Living here with us, you will get use to that very quickly and you will learn to love it, like I did..."
"I'm sure I will Elsie...Is there anything not to love about my Beryl?"-Bill gently kissed his wife's cheek...
"Yes and you can tell at once, that they just got back from their honeymoon..."-Charles decided to join the general light and funny mood..."I believe, that I acted exactly the same after our honeymoon..."
"Strange...This is not how I remember it at all Charlie...If I recall correctly, you said something about being away from home for months..."-Elsie smiled warmly to her husband...
"Well you know how it was back then Elsie...We were with all of our Downton staff and I couldn't show too much of an enthusiasm..."
"Luckily, we are not restricted by that anymore Charles"-Beryl said.."So we can show as much joy as we like today...I want to thank you for recommending Scarborough to us. It is indeed a perfect place to spend a honeymoon...We had so much fun..."
"A fun of different kind I'm sure..."-Elsie grinned widely and Beryl turned red...
"Elsie, you better watch your tongue, remember, that we have an unmarried young lady here..."-Beryl joked, pointing at Katie..."But enough about us. How things were here? No victims in people after Elsie's dinner?"
"Sorry to disappoint you Beryl...All the guests have survived and some of them even said, that it was the best meal that they ever had..."-Elsie decided to share her cooking success...
"That's probably because Katie did it, right?"-Beryl winked to everyone...
"Wrong my dear...Katie was in bed with the flu, while my Elsie was cooking one of the best meals in our B&B"-Charles decided to defend his beloved wife..."There isn't anything, that my dearest wife couldn't do and I had to apologized for my lack of faith in her abilities...Which I gladly did..."
"I wouldn't go that far Charlie..."-Elsie stroked his hand gently, looking at him with love...
"I guess we can agree about one thing-we both have the most wonderful wives in the world, don't you think so Charles?"-Bill asked
"Most definitely...We are truly blessed..."
Excellent food, great wine and lots of jokes, filled this evening...Everyone were excited, as they knew, that not only Bill and Beryl were starting their life together, but also because they were welcoming the new resident of the B&B-Bill.
Katie was the first one who said goodnight. She was a little tired after all the preparations, Bill was next and then Charles, leaving Elsie and Beryl alone in the kitchen...
"Beryl, you don't need to help me clean...You are tired after the journey...Go to sleep..."
"Oh, I don't mind doing that Elsie...To tell you the truth, I missed doing that...The honeymoon was wonderful, but it felt weird, to be served by someone else all the time. So unnatural..."
"I know what you mean...When we were on our honeymoon, I couldn't stop myself from making the bed each morning, even though I knew, that it was something, that the hotel staff should take care of... Speaking of bed Beryl...How was the best part of the honeymoon?"-Elsie had a big grin on her face, asking that question...
"You would really like to know that, wouldn't you?"
"Oh yes, I would...And what a relief it is...Finally, you will not be the only one making jokes about my intimate life...Now I can repay you..."
"Oh Elsie...Not getting into any specifics..."-Beryl turned her voice down and got closer to Elsie..."It was wonderful...Maybe not the first night, as you told me, it was rather awkward and not entirely pleasant...But later...I'm beginning to regret, that I waited so long to get married!"
"How well do I know that feeling...I'm so happy for you Beryl...Welcome to the wonderful world of marital bliss..."
Elsie and Beryl hugged each other cordially and Beryl finally said goodnight, impatient to join her new husband. Elsie finished all the cleaning in the kitchen and she sighed with content, putting the light off.
When she finished her night bath and entered the bed, she nestled into Charles's back, knowing, that he was not quite asleep yet...
"Goodnight my sweet teddy bear...I love you..."
"Love you too Els...Very much..."-those were the last words of Charles, before he started snoring... As always, he waited for Elsie and as soon as she was by his side, he knew, that he can peacefully fall asleep...
The next day...
Charles just hung up the phone, being in the state of complete shock...The news that he just received, was beyond anything that he could ever imagine...He paced quickly towards the kitchen, when Elsie, Beryl and Katie were talking over the menu...Bill was not there, as he was impatient to visit the farm and check how Andy was handling all the duties during his absence...
"Charles, what happened? You are so pale? Who called? Any bad news?"
"On the contrary Elsie...You will not believe that! That was Mr Jenkins, from the national society of hotels and B&B's...He told me, that we will be given an award for the best debut on the B&B market this year...He said, that they received a lot of letters from our guests, who were praising our B&B, as the nicest place that they've ever visited...There will be an award ceremony in Ripon next week and we are all invited..."
"My, my! An award? This is just amazing...I can't believe that...Are we all suppose to come, or just one of us as a representative?"
"We will all go there, after all it's our mutual success...So, I vote for going there together. What do you say ladies? Do you agree?"
Elsie, Beryl and Katie looked at each other and the replied in unison: "Agree"
That's all for this chapter...So, Beryl and Bill are back, all the residents of the B&B are finally together, under one roof...Of course, this is only my wild guess, about the awards for B&B, I doubt, that something like that happened in those days, but hey...They deserved it, didn't they? ;-) I hope that you liked this chapter of good emotions. Have a very nice week!