Time's a Wasting

By Kay Taylor

Holly Boyd has started her own business and has been successfully operating it for approximately six years. She is married to Reverend Declan Boyd and after seven years of marriage discovers her husband is gay and in a relationship. She has her marriage annulled and meets Jordan Mitchell a widower.
She tells Jordan her problems and soon after discovers her laptop has been stolen. She suspects her husband and his gay partner Bradley “Porky” Paterson. Jordan gives her some legal advice and the name of a reputable attorney. The laptop is later returned.
She moves out of home and into a two bedroomed cottage on Jordan’s property.
He helps her with her business and sells her the property on which her business stands. He advises her to expand the operations and she does so.
While washing her car one day Jordan sprays Holly with water. She chases him, catches him, and wrestles him to the ground. While lying on the ground she kisses him. His reaction is startling and she fears she might have overstepped the mark. He soon puts her mind at rest but does not reveal his aversion to forming a relationship. Holly sets about establishing the cause of the problem or problems.
Her attorney Walter Wellington tells her to read a particular crime novel. She does so only to discover that Jordan’s best friend, Tom Hooper, wrote the crime story in question and implicated Jordan in the death of Evelyn, Jordan’s late wife. She discovers the reason for Jordan’s wife’s demise and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Holly’s endeavours to break down Jordan’s fears fail until Mother Nature lends a hand and she drives them closer together. He does his best to keep her at arm’s length but she has other ideas.
They go on weekend trip together to Coffs Harbour and Holly breaks down a few more of his barriers.
A few weeks later after returning from Coffs Harbour Holly discovers she is pregnant and nine months later produces a son. Jordan gets castigated by Holly’s parents and Mrs Bathurst for not marrying Holly.
Jordan visits Holly in hospital whereupon he bursts into tears and asks her to marry him. It is then, and only then, that Holly realises Jordan’s greatest fear, and she has by becoming a mother, firmly and forever, put that fear, to rest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kay Taylor
• Release date: May 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9780620794442

Kay Taylor

Kay Taylor is a 46 year old married mother of two living in Zurich, Switzerland. She was born and educated in South Africa but travels on a British passport. Kay spent a number of years working in the corporate environment before deciding to opt out and start writing full time. She has written several novels but has only now, 2018, elected to publish.Travels with her husband has taken Kay all over the world and as a consequence her books are written with either an Australian or South African background. Her latest book, Deception, a romantic thriller, will be published on e-books in the second half of 2018, and the story line for this particular novel, takes place in the US of A.Kay is a very private person and for several years she wrote solely for personal pleasure. It took considerable persuasion from her family before she allowed her books to be published. Kay has emphatically refused to divulge her personal e-mail address and as a consequence, all correspondence can be channelled through her mother and secretary in South Africa. The address is as follows: [e-mail]

Book preview

Synopsis

Time’s a Wasting

ISBN No. 978-0-620-79444-2

Category: Romance. Location: Sydney, Australia.

Holly Boyd started her own business and has been successfully operating it for approximately six years. She is married to Reverend Declan Boyd and after seven years of marriage discovers her husband is gay and in a relationship. She has her marriage annulled and meets Jordan Mitchell a widower.

She tells Jordan her problems and soon after discovers her laptop has been stolen. She suspects her husband and his gay partner Bradley Porky Paterson. Jordan gives her some legal advice and the name of a reputable attorney. The laptop is later returned.

She moves out of home and into a two bedroomed cottage on Jordan’s property.

He helps her with her business and sells her the property on which her business stands. He advises her to expand the operations and she does so.

While washing her car one day Jordan sprays Holly with water. She chases him, catches him, and wrestles him to the ground. While lying on the ground she kisses him. His reaction is startling and she fears she might have overstepped the mark. He soon puts her mind at rest but does not reveal his aversion to forming a relationship. Holly sets about establishing the cause of the problem or problems.

Her attorney Walter Wellington tells her to read a particular crime novel. She does so only to discover that Jordan’s best friend, Tom Hooper, wrote the crime story in question and implicated Jordan in the death of Evelyn, Jordan’s late wife. She discovers the reason for Jordan’s wife’s demise and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Holly’s endeavours to break down Jordan’s fears fail until Mother Nature lends a hand and she drives them closer together. Jordan does his best to keep her at arm’s length but she has other ideas.

They go on weekend trip together to Coffs Harbour and Holly breaks down a few more of Jordan’s barriers.

A few weeks later, after returning from Coffs Harbour, Holly discovers she’s pregnant and nine months later produces a son. Jordan gets castigated by Holly’s parents and Mrs Bathurst for not marrying Holly.

Jordan visits Holly in hospital whereupon he bursts into tears and asks her to marry him. It is then, and only then, that Holly confirms Jordan’s greatest fear, and she has by becoming a mother, firmly and forever, put that fear, to rest.

Main Characters

Female: Holly, nee Norton, Boyd, and Mrs Bathurst.

Male: Reverend Declan Boyd, Bradley Porky Paterson, Jordan Simon Mitchell and Walter Wellington. {Wally Welly} and Henry

Acknowledgements

Nathaniel Goodchild. Thanks for the computer wizardry. Without you I am lost.

My family Nola, Janine, Charisse, Lisa, Barry, Daniel, Amy, Samantha, Martin, Bianca and Jodie.

Time’s a Wasting

Foreword

She looked left and then right to make sure there was no traffic and then looked left and right again. Under no circumstances did she want to be the cause of an accident. The accident would come later. The traffic eased and she expertly seized the opportunity and accelerated her car onto the slip road leading to the freeway.

She first braced herself, took a deep breath and then cast a quick furtive glance into the second rear view mirror attached to the inside roof of the car. The Thing, was still asleep. She thought of Jordan and almost did a sudden about turn on the freeway. Yes, he would miss her, but on the other hand would he be relieved? Maybe, maybe not. One thing was for certain, she was not going back! She had a job to do and nothing was going to stand in her way. Absolutely nothing, she was not going back and the subject was now closed.

Jordan had attached the second rear view mirror to the roof of the car and consequently it gave her a panoramic view of the back seat. She reached up and gave it a nudge. The view of the back seat vanished and she felt a sudden relaxation. The stress tendons that started from the base her neck and flowed to every nerve in her body suddenly vanished. A sense of euphoria and wellbeing engulfed her soul. She stretched legs and leant as far back as she could in the soft leather seat. Today was going to be a great day. Not only had she escaped, she had escaped with It, and It, was strapped into Its’ car seat.

The sign read thirty kilometers. Only thirty short kilometers to go. She checked her watch, the very same watch that Jordan had given her, the day It was born. It, was now sleeping and knowing It as well as she did, It would sleep for another few hours. She did not need another few hours, she needed less than one. She had done the run several times and on each and every time she only needed, at the very most, fifty two minutes.

Did she have any qualms about her intentions? No. Was she worried about her future? Definitely not. Had everything been planned? Yes. Anything left out? No. All systems locked up, and ready to go. She glanced briefly at her watch as another sign flashed by. She was on time and twenty eight kilometers to go.

The traffic unexpectedly started to build up. She quickly pushed up her indicator and slid into the middle lane. A flashing blue light in the far distance indicated a police presence and she involuntary tensed. No. she thought, there’s nothing to worry about, and I’ve done nothing wrong. In all probability, it must merely be a routine, stop, check and go. She fiddled in her handbag and as she slid out her driver’s licence, she automatically checked the expiry date. Two years to go. No problem there. Still clutching her credit card sized piece of plastic in her left hand she drew her car to a halt.

Morning Miss, driver’s licence please.

The policeman appeared to be in his mid-thirty’s with sandy brown hair, a sunburnt peeling surfer’s nose and the inevitable wraparound sunglasses. He certainly knew how to take his time and he appeared to exploit the fact that he was in charge. He casually leant against her car and stared, for what seemed an eternity, at the small plastic card. She knew he was supposed to stand up straight but she decided to keep her mouth shut and not to provoke the arm of the law. Eventually he looked down and smiled. His teeth were remarkably white and surprisingly even. They appeared to flash in the morning sunlight as he looked straight at her. Evelyn was a little disconcerted and because of the sunglasses, she had no idea where he was looking. She subconsciously fingered her pearl necklace and stared pointedly at his peeling sun burnt feature.

Evelyn Mitchell?

What, I mean I beg your pardon? muttered Evelyn not understanding the question.

Your name? queried the policeman as he tapped the plastic encased drivers licence on the roof of the car.

Evelyn Mitchell, answered Evelyn wondering where the conversation was going and hoping in all sincerity that the policeman would not wake It, from Its’ slumbers.

Thank you, he said and pushed the card through the half open window and vanished towards the rear of the car.

What Evelyn did not notice in her side mirrors was a second policeman who crept up behind her car and peered in side. After a few seconds he moved away, climbed into the police car in the emergency lane, and reported his observations on the police radio. Moments later the instructions came through. They were to let the Evelyn go but to follow at a discrete distance and to report anything untoward.

With a sigh of relief Evelyn removed her foot from the brake and with barely a murmur from the exhaust the car started to ease forward. She gently pushed her foot down on the accelerator and the car started to gather speed. Within a few seconds she was once more cruising along the freeway with the needle just hovering below the speed limit. A sign flashed by and she checked her wrist watch again. She was running behind schedule but then on the other hand she had allowed time for contingences. The road block was a contingency. As she crested a hill Evelyn looked to her left.

Nestled below was the gigantic Sydney harbour. From her position on the freeway she could not see the famous shell shaped Sydney opera house nor could she see the magnificent cast iron Sydney Harbour Bridge. No longer was this huge body of water used for both commercial and passenger ships, it was merely used by pleasure and passenger craft. She had often wondered how comfortable those house boats were. She decided grossly uncomfortable considering she lived in a five bedroomed house complete with a small, two bedroom cottage some thirty yards from the main house. Mom and Dad were staying in the cottage because Mom was helping her with, It. She did not bother with the mirror to see what was happening on the back seat. It, was quiet, and that was fine. A road sign flashed by and she checked her watch. Back on schedule.

Darling Harbour read the sign and Evelyn smiled to herself. In a few short minutes her troubles would be over. She checked her watch again and waited for the sign. Slow down, she muttered to herself, timing is everything. The signs were coming thick and fast and Evelyn, competent driver that she was, flicked her indicator and turned left off the freeway. She did not bother to check her watch again. At a steady speed of forty kilometers per hour she would arrive exactly on time.

The fish market slid into view and within a few seconds the market complete with its unique smell vanished behind her. Her right hand slid along the arm rest and she fingered the window buttons. All five were there. The master lock switch and the four individual switches. They felt warm and smooth beneath her probing fingers. Without looking in the rear view mirror she pulled well left but no vehicle zoomed past. She was, for the moment, alone on the road.

The stop street loomed ahead and as a good law abiding Citizen Evelyn slowed down and stopped. Not at the crossing, but in a loading zone just short of the road crossing. She looked up and to her right towards the tower clock. A large four sided time piece mounted on a fifty foot tower stood impassively on its dark green painted lattice legs informing all who gazed upon her the hour of the day. The second hand swept up and past the top centre of the clock and on doing so the minute hand lurched a few inches. While the well-crafted minute hand was still vibrating from the sudden perfect movement, Evelyn actions became automatic as she nestled her foot against the accelerator pedal. Fifty seconds to go and Evelyn was primed, and ready to go.

A police car pulled over and parked some hundred meters back up the road behind her. The radio crackled into life as the occupant with the sunburnt nose and wrap-around sunglasses contacted the control room. The instructions were clear and concise. Do nothing, merely observe and report back.

Evelyn stamped her foot hard on the accelerator. The car lurched for an instant as the wheels spun trying to gain traction on the metalled road. Evelyn looked to her left and then to her right as the car muscled its way across the intersection. Steering with her left hand Evelyn methodically depressed each of the four window buttons. Soundlessly the windows wound down and the salt laden air from Darling Harbour swept into the car. Above the rush of fresh harbour air flooding into the car she thought she might have heard a protest from the rear seat. It, was probably not happy about the sudden blast of cool sea air.

Evelyn rejoiced, she had almost done it. Weeks of planning and timing were coming to fruition. She glanced at the speedometer and noted with considerable satisfaction the needle moving rapidly past the national speed limit. The engine roared as she kept her foot flat on the accelerator and the last few buildings slid past in a remarkably short time. At last she was out in the open. Twenty meters of quay side and then all that stood before her and the cool waters of Darling Harbour, was a thin chain link fence.

Evelyn never hesitated. The car hit the chain link fence and promptly somersaulted high into the air. An immediate stillness filled the air as Evelyn took her foot off the accelerator and savoured, a few seconds of weightlessness.

Oh no, roared the owner of the sun burnt nose as he made a desperate grab for the microphone and called in what he had just witnessed.

Chapter 1

…………in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, amen.

Reverend Declan Boyd smiled benignly at his congregation as he descended the short newly constructed steel staircase and into the nave of the church. With his head held high he strode purposefully down the aisle to the entrance of the church. Declan marvelled at how far he and his flock of faithful worshipers had come these past seven years. The Rev. of the Central Sydney Methodist Church did not look to his left as he started his march down the aisle to the church entrance. If he had, he might have been dismayed by the look on the face of the young woman who sat primly in her seat watching her husband, descend the stairs and stride down the aisle towards the entrance of the church

Holly Boyd was not overjoyed with life. What she really wanted to do, or for that matter, what she wanted to be, was a mother. Unfortunately, at the rate she and Declan were working on the problem it was never going to happen. Not that she was unable to have children, on the contrary, there was nothing wrong with her. Her GP was delighted to tell her, that after extensive testing she was fit, healthy and ready to conceive. The problem was Declan. He too, was as fit and healthy as she. The only problem was, was that Declan was not interested in becoming a father.

Reverend Declan Boyd appeared to be completely uninterested in sex. She had seriously considered having an affair with one of the married men of church for the sole purpose of conceiving. The man had to be married, she did not want a romantic involvement. That plan collapsed within seconds of its consideration when she viewed the male members of the congregation. They gossiped more than the women. His involvement would never remain a secret.

The smiling waving congregation followed Declan out the church and as they gathered on the freshly cut grass outside the church tea parties were arranged and business deals concluded. Holly used the exit through the vestry and within seconds she was on her way to the manse. She did not want to stop and discuss the pending children’s school exams or the head masters indiscretions with the gym teacher. As she opened her front door of her home the savoury smell of roast chicken wafted out. Holly sniffed the air in satisfaction and quickly marched to the kitchen and peered through the glass oven door. The chicken was roasting beautifully and the potatoes would be added within the hour. She switched on the stove and lifted the lid on the pot resting on the stove and peered at the pumpkin that lay waiting to be boiled. She turned the switch to a medium heat and then retreated to her bedroom.

Holly’s actions were methodical and mechanical. After seven years of marriage she had done the same thing at least three hundred and sixty times. Her yellow summer church dress joined the dark blue woollen church dress in the cupboard. The white large brimmed summer hat was carefully replaced in its box and the box shoved back on top of the cupboard. In the winter months Holly wore a maroon beret with a long stylish pheasant feather slanted over one ear. She kicked off her shoes, stepped back and scrutinised the woman in the reflection of the mirror that was attached to the inside of the cupboard door.

She knew that she was tall and according to the latest census she was six inches taller than