Summer Rain: The Season Series, #1

By M J Rutter

It is the wettest summer in the UK since records began. For young woman, Kelsey Spires, it's particularly hard on her. After losing her father she heads to the North Dorset village of Winterborne Kingston to house sit for her aunt. Her friend Jude takes her to a party at Buxton Manor hosted by Lord Buxton's son, Sebastian. While there, she meets a charming and devastatingly handsome young man by the name of Jeremy Buxton and it knocks her for six.

Trying to re-build his life after discovering his ex in bed with his best friend, Jeremy just needs something or someone to make him forget his mistakes. Kelsey makes him realise just what a fool in love he had been.

Set in the beautiful county of Dorset on the south coast of England, the steamy yet shaky romance for Jeremy and Kelsey proves that there is no such thing as a smooth road in love and that there is so much more to do when the rain just keeps falling.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M J Rutter
• Release date: Sep 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386581475

Book preview

Chapter One

At precisely 3:15 on the sunny afternoon of July twelfth, my father was lowered into the floor of Bournemouth Crematorium. It was a good turnout really: two of his brothers came, my uncles and their families, my Mum’s sisters and her parents. Mum felt it would have been too awkward as they had divorced years previously; since she had remarried, there would be no need to cause upset by being there.

I dropped my single, yellow rose on the top of the coffin feeling suddenly alone. My up-bringing hadn’t been hard, despite the fact that I had come from a broken home. Both of my parents had made the divorce as pain-free as they possibly could, but to be honest it didn’t stop my resentment of both of their new partners. No matter how happy they were, I felt alone.  The sun shone down on my head as I glared at the floral arrangements left for him. His new wife Eva cried into a soggy tissue and I didn’t have an ounce of sympathy for her. I couldn’t betray my Mum. After all, Eva had caused the break up in the first place.

I am not an idiot. I knew the death of my little brother effectively ended my parents’ marriage and probably caused my dad to have the affair with Eva. She was my mother’s friend and a nail technician from a shop in town. I couldn’t like her and I didn’t want to. I watched as my uncles hugged her, telling her how she was family and they’d always be there for her. Were they ever ‘there’ for me? Like hell they were! No, I was left to my own devices and really should have been a bloody screw up! Her thick, black eyelashes streaked mascara down her rosy cheeks and her black roots in her blond hair looked as though someone had drawn a Sharpie pen down the middle of her head.

Are you alright, love? my nan asked. She looked lovely in purple with her silver-white hair. Dad wanted no black at his funeral. I nodded quickly and brushed away an escaped tear. Are you going to the wake?

No, Nan, I have something I have to do. I replied and watched as the funeral directors spoke with Eva and handed her the cards from the flowers. Mine was red and white, simply saying DAD. After everything, my dad and I maintained a good relationship. He was there on a Saturday night after a rowdy night club jaunt or a Friday afternoon when I met the girls from work. He was my taxi, my friend and in occasional times of need, my bank, especially when my wages didn’t quite make it to the end of the month. But now, after a short illness, he was gone... a pile of ash. I gazed up at the chimney as the grey smoke plumed. Was that really him? Fifty-seven years and this was his grand finale?

Kelsey, we’re going to go, honey. Are you going to be alright?

I’m fine, Nan, honest, thanks for coming; I know Dad would appreciate it.

We didn’t come for him, we came for you, she smiled and hugged me. See you later, love.

See you later. I pecked her cheek, hugged my grandfather and watched them leave.

Kelsey, you will come to the wake, won’t you? Eva said from behind. I turned with chagrin, Nigel would have wanted you to support me. Rage began to bubble inside.

I have something to do. I grumbled and tried to walk away. She grabbed my arm, Let go. I ordered.

I need you there. Who else will make the tea? she whined.

Make it yourself! I snapped and pulled my arm from her grip, her long red fingernails scratched white lines on my skin. I walked towards my aunt Diane and she smiled sympathetically. Thank God I don’t have to have anything more to do with her. I sighed.

I know, love, she said rubbing my arm, she marked you too, cow.

You promised Mum you wouldn’t start on her. I stated as we both looked over.  Some girl in a brown-spotted dress hugged her and she began her crocodile tears again. We shook our heads and walked towards my car. My mum’s other sister Lin, had joined us too. They both looked like my mum, ash blonde hair and blue eyes - we all looked like sisters. I was grateful for that at least today, though my hair lightened every summer. Thank you for coming, I said hugging them both.

Wouldn’t have missed it, love, Aunt Lin smiled and pecked my cheek. Popping round this weekend?

I have work, I moaned.  I liked my complaints champion job at a huge insurance firm in town, except for two things; Sam Jackson and working every other Saturday. Sam was my team leader and we didn’t get on, he tried to make me take my compassionate time off as holiday. Because I went to Human Resources, he got the hump with me and hadn’t even wished me luck.

Two weeks and then you have a few weeks at my house, Aunt Diane added. She and Uncle Jeff were heading to the south of France for their three week vineyard tour. I had three weeks of peace and quiet with only Muffin their tabby cat to disturb my tranquillity.

You have no idea of how much I am looking forward to it. I smiled warmly. I loved my aunt Diane’s; she lived in a large house in the small village of Winterborne Kingston in North Dorset. As a child I would visit there often, spending my school holidays with my cousins having campouts in the back garden, pinching gooseberries and black currants from the bushes and making blackberry and apple crumble only hours after picking the fruit. My cousins, Stuart and Joanne, had flown the nest and they needed someone to sit the cat while they travelled France. I had a friend out there, Jude, she and I played when I would have a fight with Jo. I mean, I loved my holidays there, but kids being kids, we still had our moments and Jude always stuck up for me.

I grew up in the seaside resort town of Bournemouth and went to school and college there. I now owned a flat in the Canford Cliffs area of Poole that overlooked the ‘Millionaires Row’ of Sandbanks. My dad had helped me buy it and given me a huge deposit so that my mortgage was minimal. Because of my mortgage, I had to get a job that would be secure and the only firm around at the time that offered this was a huge insurance company. I worked in the complaints department and that suited me well. I always felt that hearing customer’s complaints and doing the best I could to resolve them, proved to me that I had a worthwhile job and the pay was excellent. In the area of Dorset, you needed it.

The Jurassic coastline that edged much of the county was full of beautiful beaches and cliff faces, small seaside towns with vibrant gardens earning Britain in Bloom badges and the treasured Blue Flag from the EU. It’s not until you are older that you truly appreciate the sheer beauty of this southern county - appreciate being born here and being  lucky enough to live in such beautiful,  varied environments.  There were amazing beaches, large towns, a university and a vast countryside all hand-in–hand, and, especially in the summer, Dorset was the place to live.

My return to work reminded me of just how much I was beginning to dislike my job or rather, dislike Sam enough to think that I disliked my job. I sat on the park and ride, truly not wanting to get off at the office. I had been there three years and had considered a new career on more than one occasion.  Sam was going to be unbearable, my friend Nicole was away for a few days and I knew Shawna and Louise were going to want to know if Eva managed to upset me again. I had spoken with my mother the night before, she and Dave, my step-dad, were leaving for Ireland that morning and it didn’t help knowing that everyone around me seemed to have a life when I clearly didn’t.

As I approached my desk, Sam glared over and rolled his eyes. I was prepared for anything he threw at me and inches away from telling him to shove his job up his arse. Shawna smiled slightly as I sat down,

How did it go, babes? she asked. Her blue top matched her eyes and she had her silky brown hair pinned up. Her black framed glasses perched on the end of her nose.

So, so, I shrugged, not really wanting to talk about it. I unlocked my drawer and Lou, my ginger-haired friend, placed a cup of coffee down in front of me.

Thank you.

No problem, she smiled. Her hazel eyes twinkled in the florescent lights of the office. I am here if you fancy a chat, okay? I nodded and watched her walk around the desk. Sam stood and approached. He had put on a little more weight since the spring ball and I noticed he had allowed his dirty blond- hair to grow. He leaned over me making my skin twitch.

There is a meeting at eleven and you have an e-mail. He said amicably. I frowned at Shawna and she rolled her eyes as he walked away towards the ‘Chill Out’ zone.

He is such a twat! she snapped. He went over your bloody head and reported you to Matt Goodwin.

Well, if that’s who the meeting is with, I will have access to my dad’s ashes by the end of the week. I can show him that I had to cremate my dad, if they want proof. I replied. 

I signed on to the phone and took a few enquiries. When the lines were quiet I sieved through my emails. I’d only been out of the office for two days and I had sixty three messages. It took me a while to find the one Sam had referred to. He had entitled it Disciplinary Hearing; With regard to a bad attitude towards superior workers. I was livid, how dare he? I signed off the phone and opened my drawer; I put away my stuff and slammed the drawer closed. I then walked around to his desk; his hair looked greasy where he had so much hair gel in it and his grey eyes frowned as I folded my arms over my chest.

A Disciplinary?

It’s to discuss your attitude towards me and how we move forward from it, he shrugged.

Is this because I wouldn’t get off with you at the Spring Ball? I demanded. I’m sorry, Sam, but I had just found out that my dad had refused treatment for his terminal cancer. I thought you were being a friend. I didn’t realise that by turning you down, you’d make my life a misery at work. The office seemed quieter and hundreds of eyes glared at us. I only cremated my dad yesterday and you thought I’d want to come back to work to face this shit afterwards? Well, you are mistaken. I am done. I quit! Lou and Shawna gasped. Maybe you could inform Matt. I will write a letter of resignation and you will be the only reason. So, Sam, I said picking my bag up from the floor, you can shove this job where the sun doesn’t shine. Sue, another team leader, came rushing over.

Is everything alright? she asked frowning and gazing at us both with her bright blue eyes.

No, I snapped, will you walk me out so I can give you my badge? I asked.

Okay, she nodded, I hugged Lou and Shawna goodbye and we walked through the office. What’s happened, sweet? she asked. Her silky blond hair swayed as she walked, I couldn’t help but notice the red blisters at the back of her heels from the straps of her new looking grey shoes.

Sue, he tried it on at the ball and because I said no, he has been a complete arsehole since. I don’t need this. I explained as my eyes watered. She rested her hand on my shoulder.

Oh, honey, no you don’t. Look, I will talk with Matt, you take some time off, we’ll sort something out. You came back to work too soon.

I had to. He wanted me to take the time off as holiday as it is.

Hmm, did he now? she frowned. Leave it with me, sweetie, I’ll call you later. She promised. I nodded and left as she insisted that I keep my security badge.

When I got to my flat, I kicked off my shoes and went to my room. I flopped down on my bed and closed my eyes. I didn’t need this shit, my life was complicated enough and the last thing I wanted was to sleep with my team leader and end up in all sorts of trouble. Sue called later that afternoon and Matt had agreed that some extended holiday time was in order. So I couldn’t wait for my aunt to go now. I called her and told her that night.

The following day she phoned me back to say that they were leaving that night and they would use the extra time to look for a holiday home while they were over there. Thrilled and raring to go, I packed and jammed all of my stuff into the small boot of my car before starting the engine and heading out of town.

Winterborne Kingston is a tiny village in North Dorset, surrounded by acres of farmland, trees, a school, Village Hall and St Nicholas’ church. On the outskirts of the village there is a huge mansion called Buxton Manor. The village no longer had a shop or a post office; they were closed back in the nineties, but I felt it added to its uniqueness.

My family’s house had been there for years, one of the first built in the village. The outside of the house was decorated in hanging floral baskets and flower beds filled with honeysuckle and rose bushes. It was painted cream on the exterior walls and the new garage doors were bright green. There were four huge bedrooms and an office, a large living room and a kitchen to die for. With marble counters and oak cupboards. The garden went on and on, filled with a vegetable garden and bushes of berries and apple trees, until it eventually met the graveyard behind it.

Diane and Jeff left shortly after my arrival and as I meandered through the enormous house admiring their latest pictures of their two granddaughters and Stuart’s extravagant wedding the summer before, I began to relax. They’d decorated the hallway a cream biscuit type of colour and laid a new wooden floor. The clock in the lounge chimed at four and shortly after I got a text from Shawna saying Sam was under investigation. I switched off my phone and ran up to my room. My uncle had already taken my bags up, so I changed into khaki, canvas, cropped trousers and a knotted, cream blouse, grabbing the keys before I headed up the street to Jude’s parent’s bungalow.

Blimey, Jude smiled, her apple red hair was tied up in a curly ponytail and her jeans had holes in the knees, would you look at what the cat dragged in.

Nice to see you too, I grumbled. Jude held her arms open. I fell into them.

I am sorry about your old man, she sighed into my hair.

Thank you, I replied as we parted.

Fancy coming out for a few hours tonight? Jude asked.

As long as there is alcohol involved, I am there. I smiled.

I was going to ask if you could drive, my car is off the road. She frowned.

Off the road, why?

I had a crash in it, stupid squirrel, I swerved to miss it and hit a bloody tree. It's being repaired.

I don’t mind driving, but where are we going? I asked.

The Manor, she gleamed, Buxton Manor, they are having a party.

Who are they?

Sebastian Buxton has his cousin Jeremy visiting, so they are throwing a bash, we got invited. Jude smiled.

Really? I asked raising my eyebrows; we used to be at war with the Buxton’s.

No, we are crashing it. She beamed a mischievous grin.

Perfect, we crash a party and we get arrested, nice way to start my holiday. I smiled wryly.

Come on, we can go and take the piss out of all of those toffee nosed gits. She chuckled.

I truthfully couldn’t see how this was going to be fun, but agreed to go. I dressed in black trousers and a light pink shirt, I felt under dressed and wondered if we should run for the hills while we still could. We climbed out of my little red Toyota Auris and closed the doors. I glared up at the large, grey, stone house. It looked like it could be haunted with its many dark windows and Gargoyles on the roof. Jude linked her arm with mine and marched us across the gravel driveway and towards the front door; she didn’t even knock on it. A tall, blonde boy with huge brown eyes frowned at us in the grand looking hallway.

Who are you? he asked.

Nobody, I shrugged and pulled Jude towards the door, I’ll take you anywhere, we could go to Blandford or Bournemouth clubbing, just please, can we get out of here, this place is freaky. I looked around at the red tiled floor and many pictures on the dark green walls.

Jude, another boy called out, he had blonde hair and cherub lips, his teeth were film star white as he smiled with sparkling blue eyes, please tell me you are not leaving.

Seb, this is my friend Kelse, she’s not feeling in the party mood tonight.

Hi, have you just moved out here? he asked me, I blushed, how could he be so handsome and not be a movie star or something.

She’s staying at her aunt’s house in the village. Jude replied for me, while I got over my dumbfounded moment. She’s from Bournemouth; you must remember her cousins Joanne and Stuart Lock.

And you are spending the summer out here? he frowned.

I love their cat. I replied. Duh! Idiot, what a stupid answer?

My cat is here somewhere, Monty; I named him after Monty Python, he grinned.

Muffin, I blurted. What the hell was wrong with me? Here in this huge house, he was just a local lad and I was acting like the village idiot. He shot me a smile. Sorry, the cat I am looking after is called Muffin. A stunningly beautiful girl weaved her arms around his small waist and kissed his cheek.

This is Caitlin, she’s my uh...

Girlfriend, she added.