O' for the love of Shakespeare (8 page)

“Well maybe you will find some magic this
weekend.  It can be an incredibly romantic place; I mean just look at those two
this morning.”  She says making a pretend horrified look referring to Chris and
Helen.

“I know call the public signs of affection
police please.  I thought they were going to start humping on the breakfast
table in their full English breakfasts at one point.”  We both laugh.

“Perhaps we are both just a little jealous.” 
Angela says with a sigh.

“Yes you may be right.”

“You never know Ryan might be up for a bit of
PDA?”

I laugh.  “Fingers crossed.”  Fingers, arms,
toes everything crossed that might be true.  Although perhaps not legs crossed.
 If only he would just get a little crush on me.  “Thank you so much for dinner
it was delicious.”  I say with a yawn.  How long have I been sat here?

“No thank you, it has been a real treat being able
to sit for an evening and have a good chat with another woman.  I’m ashamed to
say it has been more years than I would like to count since I have done this.”

I wish her a goodnight and head off back to my
room.  Getting ready for bed I remember Vic’s suggestion of the buff and
smooth.  Suppose it doesn’t hurt just in case, not that I am even thinking that
might happen tomorrow with Ryan.  But a girl can always hope for a nice birthday
present from the sexy actor.

I grab my collection of Shakespeare plays
before I crawl into bed, opening it at
Romeo and Juliet
. Friar Lawrence
stands and delivers the lines, “These violent delights have violent ends and in
their triumph die, like fire and powder which, as they kiss, consume.”  Well I
very much hope the good Friar is wrong and that these delights won’t come to a
sudden end with Ryan.  I stop reading give the book a little squeeze and place
it down on the floor next to the bed.  Hopefully I don’t have to read about
Romeo anymore.  I think I may have found him for real.

That night I dream of a warm summer afternoon. 
Ryan and I are sprawled out on a tartan picnic blanket in the middle of a
park.  Ryan propped up with one arm lies next to me reciting Shakespeare’s Sonnets. 
With his other hand he gently runs his hand over my body.

When I wake up at half seven the next morning I
cannot remember the last time I slept so well.  I feel so bright and awake.  The
chat with Angela last night must have been cathartic.  I get dressed in my new
skinny black trousers and blue vest.  Brushing my hair, I decide to leave it
down today but just tuck one side behind my ear.  I feel like I am bouncing
around the room I am so excited.  As I am adding my usual quick flick of my
mascara I hear my phone ping.  A message from Vic flashes up on my phone.

“Happy Birthday beautiful, wish I was with you
today but we will celebrate when you get back.  Go get him lovely xx”

Yes, go get him. 

Act II Scene III

‘They are in the very
wrath of love, and they will together; clubs cannot part them.’  As You Like It

I head down for breakfast and sit in the same
spot I had yesterday.  A couple of minutes after I arrive Mr and Mrs Newlyweds
arrive but today I do not find them as annoying.  They give me a little wave
and a smile then sit down at their table.  They whisper and then giggle.  The
wife Helen looks over at me.

“Have you eaten yet?  Would you like to join
us?”  Her voice has a musical quality as if she is always about to burst in to
song.  Why not?  It’s my birthday and I also have the feeling like it is going
to be best day of my life so far.

“Thank you - yes - I would love to.”  I get up
and walk over to their table.  Just as I sit down Angela comes out from the
kitchen and she looks different.  She is wearing black leggings with a long
floaty bright pink shirt.  She looks stunning and even more surprising she looks
happy.  Even Helen and Chris watch her in astonishment as she comes into the
room.   Perhaps the talk last night was cathartic for her too.

“Hello everyone, I hope you all slept well last
night.  What can I get you all?”  After a few moments of stunned silence, I
feel like I have to say something.

“Morning Angela, yes I did thank you, can I
have a bacon sandwich please and a coffee?”  I can be a little bit naughty, it
is my birthday after all.  Helen and Chris seem to have regained speech and so
place their order with Angela.

“Wow!”  Helen mouths at me.  “Has Angela been
replaced?  She’s been horrible to us since we arrived.”

“Oh I think she’s just been having a bit of a
tough time of it.  It can’t be easy looking after a place like this all on your
own.”

“No I suppose not.”  Helen says thoughtfully. 
“Well I’m all up for the new and improved happy Angela.”

“So when did you two get married?”  I change
the subject not wanting to betray Angela’s confidence. 

“About a month ago now, so this is a slightly
belated honeymoon I suppose we are having.”  Chris turns to Helen and smiles.

“What made you choose here for your honeymoon?” 
Even as a Shakespeare fanatic I would maybe choose say the real Verona for my
honeymoon rather than this Bed and Breakfast.

“We came here on our very first holiday away
together six years ago, to a Bed and Breakfast very similar to this that has
unfortunately now closed.   It is where I told Chris that I loved him for the very
first time.  Stratford-upon-Avon has so many special, happy memories for us and
when we looked at places to go for our honeymoon nowhere else even came
close.”  She looks so sincere whilst telling me this that I can’t help but like
her just a little bit.

“That’s lovely and although I have only been
here a day I can see why you love it here so much.”  Perhaps in a year’s time
this will be Ryan and I, sat right here waiting for our breakfast after an
amazing night of sex, telling some poor lonely wretch how we met. 

“Yes we think it is a very romantic place.”  Chris
places his hand over Helen’s on the table.

“You do both seem very loved up.”  My eyes dart
to their hand holding and I hope that this does not come out sounding slightly
sarcastic.  Although I also really hope they don’t start petting each other at the
table again.

“We are now.”  She pauses a few moments looking
as though she is thinking about her next words and pulls her hand away from
Chris.  “We are now but we very nearly didn’t get married.”

“Helen do we really need to talk about this, I’m
sure Jane doesn’t want to get involved.”  Ignoring her husband’s comment Helen
continues with her story.

“Chris has always been a tad on the jealous
side.  Well on the day of the wedding Chris went berserk accusing me of having
an affair with this guy that I know who was just a bit down on his luck.”

“For god sake Helen he was obsessed with you,
he made out that you were sleeping with him and that you and he were in love. 
It was completely messed up and not surprising that I lost it for a bit.”

“You nearly ruined the wedding.” Helen looks
pointedly at Chris.

Shakespeare’s Hero and Claude from
Much Ado
About Nothing
sit opposite me at the breakfast table of The Verona Bed,
Breakfast and Balcony.  However, as they stare at each other I see their
breathing become deeper and faster and before I know it she has leapt from her
seat and in to his lap.  She tugs at his hair with her hands bringing his face
up to meet her hers.  They kiss each other passionately desperately trying to
prove their love for each other.

Well this is awkward.

Finally, they remember my presence at their
table and Helen slides from her husband’s lap back to her own chair.  She
blushes and glances back at her husband and in that moment there is unspoken
promise to each other that says to be continued when we are alone.  I can feel
my face blush.  I really shouldn’t be here.

Helen giggling says, “sorry Jane.”

“No problem, I’m glad everything worked out for
you.  At the wedding I mean.”  I blush even harder.  We all laugh.

Angela re-emerges from the kitchen arms
brimming with delicious smelling breakfast for the three of us.  As there is a
spare seat at the table I suggest that Angela come join us.

“I would love to thanks Jane; I’ll just go grab
a coffee.” 

After a few minutes we are all sat around the
table chatting and laughing and I think to myself that so far I am having a
lovely birthday.  And of course there is the tantalizing promise of more to
come with Ryan.

“So is this the new outfit Jane?”  Angela says
turning to me.

“Yes what do you think?”

“I think you look beautiful; the colour suits
you.  You’ll have him falling at your feet in no time.” 

Helen’s ears prick up. “Him?  Jane have you got
a date today?”

“Yes, I mean sort of, I only just met him
yesterday so not sure if you can call it a date so soon.  I like him but I
don’t really know him but we are off out to lunch so I suppose you could call
it a date.”  Stop with the nervous rambling Jane.

“Oooo!” Helen and Chris say in unison.  I take
it back they are completely annoying and idiotic.

“It’s nothing.” I add sullenly.

“Well OK we better go, Helen you all done?”  I’m
pleased they have taken the hint that I do not want to talk about it.  I don’t
want anything to jinx today.  Chris stands and holds out his hand to his wife. 
I look at Angela and she rolls her eyes at me.  I’m pleased I’m not the only
one who thinks they need to give the public signs of affection a little bit of
rest.

“Have a nice day.” I say after them.

“You too.” Chris calls back over his shoulder
as he puts his arm around Helen’s waist.  Helen stops and turns back to us.

“Angela do you want anything while we are
out?”  Helen asks.

“Oh yes if you don’t mind.  Could you get a
bottle of wine for tonight, white or rosé I don’t mind?  I’ll give you the
money when you get back if that is alright?” 

“Tonight.  Yes of course.  I nearly forgot, no
problem at all, see you in a bit.”  Helen seems delighted that she can be of assistance.

“Thank you that is a big help.”  Angela gives a
little wave as the couple head off. 

“Can I give you a hand washing up Angela?”

“Are you sure?  Don’t you need to head off to
meet sex-on-legs?”

“No I have time.” I say laughing.

I am really starting to like Angela, we stand
at the sink her washing me drying and she tries to teach me how to ensnare a
man.  Apparently I need to be myself and not be too easy too early.  Well it
has never worked for me before but I can give it a go.  I grab my bag that I
have slung on to one of the kitchen chairs to check the time on my phone. 
There is an answerphone message from mum.

“Hello my darling, just a quick message to say
we hope you have a wonderful birthday and that you are enjoying your break.” 
The message ends with a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ sung by both mum
and dad.  They must be drunk.  Although it is early even for them. 

Angela must have overheard the singing on the
answerphone as once I have ended the call, she says, “Jane was that ‘Happy Birthday’
I could hear?  Is it your birthday today?”

“Yes it is.”  I was hoping I could get away
with my strange Bed and Breakfast family not finding out.

“Well Happy Birthday dear.”  She comes over to
me and gives me a quick hug.  “It’s Midsummer Day today isn’t it?” 

“Yes that’s right.”  I say surprised.  Why
would Angela know that fact? I feel like it is fate that I was born on
Midsummer’s Day, I was born to be part of Shakespeare’s magic.  Just like
Bottom.

I do not hug back as I am too much in shock that
Mrs McCree has just embraced me.  Realising I am still holding my phone I check
the time, as that was the main reason I had gone looking for it.  Oh no it is
nearly twenty to ten. 

“Sorry I have to go; I’m going to be late.  See
you later.” I grab my bag and dash out but I hear Angela behind me call,
“pumpkin time!  Good luck.”

Ryan is already waiting outside the theatre
when I get there, he stands checking his watch, looking nervous.  When he sees
me his expression turns to relief.  He was nervous that I was not coming.

“I thought you had stood me up.”  He takes my
hand at my side and steps towards me.  Just before he kisses my cheek he
whispers in my ear, “you look beautiful, Happy Birthday Jane.”

“Thank you, you look nice too.”  He looks more
than nice.  He is wearing dark denim jeans with a pale blue shirt.  The blue
makes his eyes look even brighter. 

He steps back and runs his gaze down my body. 
I would normally feel embarrassed someone looking at me like this but instead I
feel like I blossom as he looks at me.

“I’m glad you did not wear a dress again; I
have plans for you.” OK that is a little odd.  Still holding on to my hand he
pulls me through the park.  He gently strokes the back of my hand with his
thumb.  I quickly realise we are heading towards the river.  What on earth are
we doing?  Why do I need to be wearing trousers?

We walk through some large willow trees and
then everything makes sense.  Smiling, Ryan turns to me.

“You game?”

I look down at three small wooden rowing
boats.  I feel like I am going to burst with excitement.  I cannot even speak;
all I manage is eager nodding.

Ryan hands over some money to a young lad and
he steps in to a rowing boat called ‘Olivia’.  Once he gains his balance, he
holds out his hand to me so that I can climb in.  My balance has never been
good, even on a solid floor, but this is heightened when stepping in to a very
small boat that is already rocking.  On unsteady feet I quickly try to sit on
the bench in the middle of the boat but I completely misjudge the position of
my bum.  The back of my knees hit the bench and I go flying backwards, my feet
flapping about above me.  People watching from the bank must see a gorgeous man
standing effortlessly in a boat with two random legs sticking up in the air. 
How embarrassing.  I contemplate jumping overboard.

“Now aren’t you glad you didn’t wear a dress?” 
Ryan says laughing.  He holds out his hand to me to pull me up.  “Let’s get you
to somewhere where you are safe.”

“Yes that would be good, thank you.”  I say
staring up at him from the floor of the boat.  I can’t remember ever being so
embarrassed.  I really hope no one saw that.  Although the one person who I
definitely wouldn’t want to see me like that definitely did.  Ryan must think I
am some kind of ungainly buffoon. 

Holding on to me tightly he swaps position with
me so that I am seated on a smaller bench at the front of the boat.  Once I am
safely delivered to my seat he steps and sits with ease on to the bench that I
had so completely failed to sit on.  He then starts to row with effortless movement. 
I can see the definition of his muscles through his shirt as he stretches to
pull the oars back.  I strongly consider throwing myself at him right there on
the little rowing boat.

“You OK?” he says obviously trying to work out
why I am gormlessly staring at him.

“Yes you are a god.”  Shit did I just say
that?  “I mean you are good, at rowing a mean.” 

“Thank you, maybe take a look outside of the
boat?”  He grins.  How awkward he knows I was staring at him.  Ryan drops the oars
and leans forward gently touching my knee.  For a moment I think he is going to
kiss me but then with his other hand he points over to my right.

“Look Jane.”

I follow the direction that he is pointing and
we are next to the Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare’s Church.  Large willow
trees overhang and are reflected in the water.  Geese and ducks float by us. 

William Shakespeare was both baptised and
buried in this Church. It is fairly definite that Shakespeare worshipped here
during his early years and then again when he retired back to Stratford-upon-Avon. 
The scene is just breath-taking and I feel like I should be a heroine in a big
romance.  The clear blue sky, the shaded river banks, the handsome man rowing
me though the picturesque scene.  Ryan is watching me, looking for some kind of
response.