Brighton Beckons
Chapter 2
There was no snow predicted to fall that festive season which found the newly appointed Detective Inspector, Ben Jones acclimatising himself to more than just the weather. Ben exhaled deeply as he turned the key in the lock of his new apartment. The time had finally come. His ambitious drive had always nudged him forward, but it was his sharp, analytical mind which had gotten him to this point much quicker than many in his age group.
However, now that he was here; in a new town, in the new coveted position of DI, Ben was growing very aware of an emptiness deep within. It was a feeling which had intensified since he had left Midsomer. Of course, he knew it's perfectly normal to have feelings of homesickness from time to time, especially during the testing period of adjusting to a new environment…but somehow this feeling was more than just that. In his heart, he knew that it had everything to do with a certain pathologist by the name of Kate Wilding.
Grabbing a beer and some leftover pasta (which he had made from scratch), Ben eased himself down onto his sofa. Switching on the TV he found a replay of a recent cricket match being played in Australia. Outside the window of his 5th story room, he could hear the constant stream of traffic buzzing by.
As he twirled his fork around the pasta, Ben's mind wandered back to the time that he had surprised his friends by cooking a similar Italian dish. The occasion in question was John Barnaby's birthday last year. Sarah had jumped at Ben's offer to cook a special dinner. He smiled as he recalled how Kate had invited herself over and had shooed the Barnabys out of their kitchen…
….
"Now guys," Kate began, "You have to give our 'chef' some space to work."
"Hmm, I see what you mean." John replied with a wry smile. He observed the ingredients which Ben and Kate had managed to spread around, covering just about every square inch of bench space.
"Come on John, no need to be nosy," Sarah cooed, taking her husband's arm and leading him out into the living room.
That left Ben and Kate in the kitchen. From somewhere, Kate had retrieved a pair of aprons, one of which she promptly fastened around Ben's body before he had a chance to protest.
"There…now at least you look the part!" she smirked, brushing his arm gently as Ben pulled up his shirt sleeves.
….
That was the first real occasion where she had touched him, and it was the moment something deep was awakened within him. Even now, over a year later, Ben's feelings for Kate were still just as real. However, after months of good-natured teasing neither of them had purposefully addressed their feelings for each other. Not that there had been a lack of opportunity, the most recent being Kate's birthday a few weeks before he had left Midsomer. Yet the right opportunity never presented itself during that boozy party (to which too many people had been invited).
Ben didn't have Kate to himself for any length of time except for when he escorted her safely back to her rental in the wee hours of the morning. When they reached her front door, she instinctively kissed him full on the mouth as Ben sorted through her key ring.
"Would my knight in shining armor like to stay for the night?" she slurred, gazing up at him expectantly.
Ever the gentleman, Ben quietly declined her solicitous offer.
His grandma had bought him up to respect women and he would never take advantage of Kate however much he secretly longed to take her in his arms and love her for the rest of their days.
It wasn't much to ask, was it? All Ben longed for was to be in a loving and lasting relationship like that of both Barnaby couples. It had been a real privilege to get to know them. In one of the last conversations which he had with Ben; John Barnaby mentioned the importance of a stable home life in balancing a copper's lot in life. In the few months before Ben left Midsomer, John had seen a cynical edge in the younger man's outlook on life, which had made him restless and uptight. John wasn't surprised that Ben's relationship with the firefighter, Susie Bellingham, had fallen through. Yet he really felt for him. He could see that Ben was trying too hard to find the right girl in all the wrong places.
At a pub, a few weeks after Ben had not heard back from Susie, he let his frustrations known to John. The older detective listened empathetically before saying,
"We see too much, in this line of work, Jones. It makes a real difference being able to come home to the sanity and love of a supportive partner."
"I know that sir." Jones replied, his Welsh brogue thick with emotion. "I see it on display every day with the way you and Sarah interact. It's just been so hard to find that level of connection with someone."
"What about Kate?" John probed knowingly. Both he and Sarah were well aware of the feelings Ben and Kate had for each other, but it mystified John as to why neither of them had acted on them. Yes, on the surface, Kate has a blunt and no-nonsense manner about her, but underneath she operates from a deep level of warmth.
"She intimidates me." Ben admitted. "I mean…I'm way out of her league."
"Don't sell yourself short, Jones." John retorted. "Yes, I know she waltzes in and out of our cases with an urban efficiency, but she appreciates the enthusiasm of your 'country lad' charm. Why else would she make a point of emphasising that she wanted you at her birthday party. She invited tons of people, but it was you that she wanted to see."
"That may well be, but I missed my chance there." Ben rued.
"That's not the version of events which I got from Sarah," John replied. "Apparently the following day Kate mentioned to her how you were the perfect gentleman in not taking advantage of her inebriated state."
"I would have hated myself afterwards had I slept with Kate under those circumstances. Not to mention the fact that my Gran would have skinned me alive…she has her sources."
"Indeed, she does." John smirked. "Speaking of which, has Magic Mags offered you any further love advice?"
"Don't go there, sir," Jones retorted with a warning growl. "It's all a lot of rubbish, that star-chart stuff."
"Fair enough," John returned, "then my best advice is for you and Kate to go somewhere quiet, preferably away from our murderous villages, and to both lay your cards on the table. At least that way you'll be left with no regrets, wondering what might have been."
Ben nodded. "Once again, sir, I'm sure you're right."
"I usually am about these things," John smiled, nudging his friend, "and for that I'm buying us the next round."
….
As it turn out, Ben and Kate never got around to having the time to discuss their feelings before he left for Brighton. It was a mistake Ben hoped to address as soon as possible now that the settling in period of his new position had quietened down.
He rose to place his empty pasta bowl in the dishwasher. As he pulled the door of the appliance shut, his mobile pinged from the sofa. It was a text message, not a call, so hopefully not a case. Ben trudged back over to the couch and swooped up his phone. It was a message from Kate which included a picture of herself with John and Sarah and the new DS Charlie Nelson.
"Merry Christmas, Ben! Hope the job is all you anticipated it to be. Miss you already, Kate."
5