Women, Exes, Girls & Daughters.

By Paul Stansby

The second volume of the Harry Rockwell nine volume series . Harry who was a bookseller and combined CD selling together with a cyber cafe in the operation was put out of business by online selling with their suicidal discounts which aimed to put high street booksellers out of business to capture the market which they easily did, he moved onto France and so unsued another disaster.
We first meet him in Volume one experimenting how cavemen managed to exist with his friend BIll.
In this second volume after he's met up with old neighbours from the UK down in the Dordogne at a party where he connected up to his exploits and associations prior to bookselling which made for a return to the UK. The majority of this second volume is set in a private girls boarding school in the UK.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Stansby
• Release date: Mar 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005519421

Book preview

cover-image, Women, Exes, Girls & Daughters

© Paul W Stansby

Falmouth, UK 2016-2107

Women,

Exes,

Girls

&

Daughters

Vol II in the Harry Rockwell Series

In four parts

Fiction

Set in the Dordogne

and in the UK

  Part One

Chapter One. On the way to France

On the way to Luton Airport. Harriet and Julia. Julia driving.

Harriet

This has livened up the year, if not the decade, how was dad.

Julia

Cool, he likes the guy, everybody seems to, your sister guessing away your brothers wouldn’t notice a thing, place is heaving with girls, Uk netball team are there, you’ve got his eyes so rather intriguing to a sister, plus your named Harriet after him, that was me.

Harriet

Ah the origins of my name

Julia

After the nightclub, we were slipped Mickey’s, which has happened to Harry on occasions, normally a mix up with drinks meant for actresses or performers. We went back to his and got rampant, unknowing to me Harry doesn’t remember a thing about all the events for around 36 hours, so explains a lot. I admit to being rather besotted with him and I asked to shack up with him after the event, he declined

Harriet

Really, wow, you were turned down.

Julia

I was pissed, so went off which caused an incident for a lot people were looking for me. I wanted some time by myself, which evidently if you’re a girl is rather difficult as people jump to the conclusion that you’ve been raped and left dead in a ditch.

Harriet

Granddad was most likely on some top secret development of some strategic warfare application. So, you were a target for possible enemies.

Julia

I had a bodyguard, not on this night though, so this guy Harry had both drinks while I went to the ladies I had a sip and didn’t feel good with it, so, yes, an attempt on possible abduction. He’s younger than me and at the time had a tan and blonde hair.

Harriet

So I happened.

Julia

He was a really cool guy. I actually asked him twice as I remember. So I disappeared and unknowingly to everybody for a fortnight until they found out I wasn’t with him, then after two more days they found me with old school buddies in Mont Blanc

Harriet

How long did you know him?

Julia

A Fortnight, a good one, well the best one of my life, as soon as I set eyes on him i knew he was the one, gotta play kinda of cool though, or try to.

Harriet

Oh right, and he’d gone by the time you got back.

Julia

Yep, I laid low for another 2 months with my friends at Mont Blanc, and after 3 months I realised I was pregnant with you.

Harriet

27 years later he turns up in the depth of the French countryside, we’re making good time and should be at this place by midnight. I’m as curious as hell.

Julia

Me too, see what the ravages of time has done to him, he seems to know the headmistress of the school apparently

Harriet

That’s Felicity, that must have been before you meet him, a major gathering in France for sure.

Julia

Yes, the English selectors phoned the school late Saturday evening that they were coming to watch the next hockey match and Katrina who’s in Rebecca’s class is the key player and she had left for her sisters’s party a few hours earlier so Felicity took the opportunity to pursue her and of course the deputy head wanted to tag along because of the netball girls who had congregated in France.

Harriet

Susannah, Katrina’s sister and her friends from the school are all on the English netball team thanks to the deputy head, she’s called Jessie, and no doubt Dad is pursuing possible sponsorship possibly coupled with the hockey team I would think.

Julia

He does like showing off his jet, there’s strong possibilities on the sports kit front also the school are taking Polo, curtesy of some sheik who added a field, new facilities and ponies. In the right circles there’s a lot of money on this planet.

Harriet

Oh right, hockey sticks and mallets, one you flick and one you whack, the chukka, I need to familiarise myself with this. Opens up some good contacts this school.

Julia

It would certainly put it at one of the top schools to attend in Europe, especially if the selectors pick Katrina and some of others from the school team. I can see why the headmistress went down.

Harriet

Basketball and Netball are big business, handball has become fashionable, could be interesting if they get match together with French as the netball team are all down there, they're big in basketball and netball, I’m fluent with the French language and it was Felicity that taught me, certainly a good school.

Julia

The place does get the students to achieve, no complaints there, Rebecca’s very happy and a big weekend is being planned for the game next week.

Harriet

Be good to get the netball team down for it as well, no doubt this has occurred to dad, judging about the flurry of texts he’s sending out on his phone.

Julia

You’re getting them too, good he’s taking over as we’re speeding over to him and the party, obviously realises our minds are elsewhere than organising, marquees, caterers, bands and staging, getting the companies logos out wherever possible

Harriet

Ballet is a new one, we’ve never been involved in one of those before.

Julia

Harry has, girls love ballet generally and it’s a girl school.

Harriet

Turn it a huge weekend if he gets a company of dancers down, so we could be seeing more your Ex. I have never been to watch ballet. Felicity is mad about theatre, no doubt bumped into Harry before she went to university.

Julia

I wander what Harry is doing now, he must have stopped doing his thing with lights and sound, stage technician, roadie and any other links to entertainments which was appealing to him.

Harriet

Yes, you mentioned that in the house, a lot happens in 27 years. A load of stories, countless exploits, bound to have some half sisters and brothers no doubt, though I'm fine with the ones I’ve got.

Julia

Oh, nothing will change, a mystery unravelled for both us, cleared up a big misunderstanding on my part, though he was functioning perfectly just did not remember a thing for those 36 hours after the nightclub.

Harriet

Yep, I’m evidence of that, at least you enjoyed yourself

Julia

Did I ever. The outcome was the way it was meant to be.

Harriet

The weather’s fine as well, be lovely to dine alfresco under the stars tomorrow, Rebecca mentioned fawns in her text.

Julia

I can confirm, Tim mentioned those on the phone, we’ll see. I’ve got the new HD camcorder, Tim left his camera on his plane and the new foal is magnificent.

Harriet

I like looking at horses, leave the riding for those that are natural to the sport.

Julia

Rebecca is the same.

Harriet

Here’s the signs for the airport, I just caught my breathe.

Julia

My minds not on the driving either. We will be parked up and an airborne in another hour, got my little talk prepared in my head for the other three, though Rebecca will know as soon as she’s sees us.

Chapter 2      In  France.

Harriet

We’re getting to the place fast, one thing the French like, their roads.

Julia

I know, just add the hour one to get in sync, there’s the turning for Bergerac, we’ll be there in twenty minutes I think, I have Tim’s location on my phone, could be anywhere in the dark of the night out there, at least there’s no chance of getting lost.

Harriet

Yep I’ve just sent dad a SMS, he says there’s a big pig on the barbecue, should look good, not that I’m at all hungry, will be when I smell the food. Our weather is too unpredictable for September outdoor midnight feasts.

Julia

Wow, I know, an adventure, we don’t get too many of those nowadays, red wine, roast pork and all the other delights that will have been made for Susannah ’ s eighteenth party.

Harriet

My eighteenth was at school, wasn’t so bad, my twenty-first was a super bash with a band and disco, I was really spoilt there. I’ve brought the pictures of course, well lots of pictures.

Julia

I am apprehensive.

Harriet

Not me, I’ve never been so excited, not like Xmas or birthdays, or when new brothers and sisters came along.

Julia

Here’s hoping he’s not worse for wear, been a long day for a party.

Harriet

Most likely had a long siesta, must be getting closer the roads have become lanes.

Julia

Its now 3 miles to the place on my phone, do you want to freshen up before meeting him.

Harriet

Oh no, I’m fine

Julia

I am not, remember this man turned me down. I was a really special 23 years old girl, most men dropped at their feet for me, so I’ll let you introduce yourself and I’ll follow on or you can come and find me. Oh yes got to give my little talk to your sister and brothers.

Chapter 3  Arrival.

Fifi

Oh look, late arrivals or what.

Katrina

Oh yes, a taxi with people, women, no boys coming down late on.

FiFi

That’s looks like Rebecca’s mother, don’t know the other, hi Becky your mums here I think.

Rebecca

Really, must check this out, dad, mum’s here I think

TSJ

Yes, she’s got something to say to you and your brothers, come on let’s go and see, though you’ve guessed now I think.

Rebecca

Is this what is referred to as a reality check.

TSJ

Could be, let’s go over, give your sister some space, she’ll be checking out Harry, or vice versa.

Rebecca

I expect so, good party this one.

TSJ

Most memorable, one not to be forgotten, try and avoid Felicity and Jessie for a while. For non party-goers those two are doing the distance.

Rebecca

There’s a whole world outside the confines of the school dad.

TSJ

A pretty good world to be in though, all the old girls have an affinity for it, good set up and an irreplaceable one with its histories. Oh, Harriet’s met Jessie, who is taking her over across the lawn from the pool, no doubt there’s a few men watching match of the day in the one of the parked up RV’s, as we’re an hour forward here, now to your mum Rebecca.

The two walk up to the house where Julia has met her boys and has gone inside.

Jessie

Long time no see.

Harriet

I know, busy schedule, keeping empires burning bright at the forefront of the oncoming competition , no matter how good you are everybody needs promoting, not forgetting the three years getting to grips with Cantonese and some Mandarin.

Jessie

So, Harry is your natural father I take it due to your sudden descent to the wilds of France from Bedfordshire, you have his eyes, Felicity still smitten with him.

Harriet

Turned her down, did he?

Jessie

Oh yes, life would have been so different.

Harriet

Turned my mum down to, though I was actually happening which was my mums volition not Harry’s.

Jessie

I see, all seems to be a varied life of romance, passion and free will in the entertainments, appealing to us girls, now women. Though Felicity is acting like a twenty-year old around Harry, whose mellowed like a vintage bottle of wine.

Harriet

It’ll be interesting to see how my mum reacts.

Jessie

Some women like a challenge. I think Harry is one of those.

Harriet

Those look like fawns asleep by the motorhomes with the Roe lay next to them.

Jessie

Oh yes, last night’s story, settled in quickly, they're a couple of days old. Harry’s friend rescued them from the foxes. They're twins and need bottle feeding, together with the new foal have been the centre of attention, together with our netball team of course.

Harriet

A good party for you.

Jessie

Unforgettable, netball has always been my thing, I like horses too, so Polo will be an interesting diversion. Here we go, Harry’s looked up so I'm off, clueless of what to do or say to an encounter like this.

Harriet

Wow, certainly still looks like a free spirit, as he gazes over and he’s got up and coming over, what do I do. Hold my hand Jessie, I’ve thought about a moment like this, all girls would have of course.

Jessie

Oh yes, I’ve got tears welling up and I'm just a bystander, no handkerchief either .

Harry

Hi, so you’re the Salisbury girl, well, baby back then, the result of a beautiful fortnight. Presently I’m not in my best attire as we set off on Friday and this is now the third day of the party which looks as soon it will be the fourth, so hugs are okay with me if you can handle the aroma of garlic, onions and red wine oozing out from my body.

Harriet

Hugs are good.

They both hug. Grace appears from an RV, her and her husband met up with Harry earlier and are touring France with their granddaughters over from California.

Grace

Hello, what’s afoot here, two women balling their eyes out. I’ll go and get a box of Kleenex. Got another story on here, I’ll get my husband to get some chairs. Ralph we’ve got a new guest arrived so need two chairs and a glass or two of that Cognac would be good.

Ralph

Okay, just trying to download some pictures for Tina and .......... to the States.

Grace

Be back in a moment. I take it your related, either that or he’s a very popular man. You’re a little on the young side for him.

Harriet

He’s my natural dad.

Grace

Oh right, that’s thrown me, I’ve got tears now, quick the Kleenex.

Ralph

Here’s some chairs, I’ll get the Cognac, better get another of wine as well and a bucket of ice, all right Horace, got your fix of soccer.

Horace

Oh yes, just capturing the highlights of the Manu game, thrilling match today, so I’ve adjourned for a cigar, there’s an hour of soccer highlights, after a couple of matches I get confused. Ah a new girl, night is still young for the likes of around here who seem to stay up for most of it. We were five O’clock this morning, can’t beat this fresh air down here.

Ralph

I can hear you picked up on Soccer.

Horace (the judge)

That’s what we called it that at school, we all played it in lunch breaks, but out on the field it was the game of rugby and I do actually follow the American football, so soccer is fine for me. New girl I see, friend of Harry’s, we’re old so we have the privilege of being nosey, plus I’m a Judge so pretty keen on questions.

Harriet

I’m Harriet, Harry’s my natural father.

Judge

Oh right, interesting, my eldest granddaughter is Harriet, ties in with a party he threw, younger than you, got a Hattie as well but she’s fifteen, also ties in with the same party the children’s names.

Harriet

We’ve never met before

Judge

Oh right, our Harriet is in California, so we’ve not seen her for a while. So you two will have some catching up to do. More action down here than in a courtroom. They make a load of films too about courtrooms too but are as tedious as hell, outcomes are too predictable. Ah Cognac, very civilised, and I'm afraid we drank the Armagnac last night.

Ralph

I’ll get you a glass Judge, these are for the ladies.

Judge

Oh yes, of course, settle the nerves, a reasonably traumatic occasion I should think, should administer this it in court, I’ll just get a glass. I’ll not enquire further on how you two missed each other all this time but who is your dad here as opposed to father.

Harriet

He’s Timothy Scott-Jones.

Judge

Got it, I’ll leave the rest for Gertie to find out. I noticed Rebecca giving Harry more than curious glances. I recall, as men do of course, your mother is still a stunner, we’ve been to those school summer galas in the past. The whole family is going or went to the school, including my Gertie, I should have shares in the place.

Grace

I’m looking forward to the encounter of mum and Harry.

Judge

I may be an actual witness to a crime of passion for once.

Harriet

No mum is good about it, all made sense 27 years on.

Judge

Least she didn’t serve it behind bars, women spurned can lead on to consequences of a disastrous nature. The man of their dreams comes along and does not want to pursue them, causes mayhem.

Harriet

No, she left the country to cool down, choose the French alps.

Judge

Sensible lady, a place to get some new perspectives on life and a favourite of mine. I used to take a summer chalet there, good for the fresh clean air and Gertie is fluent in French, you’re quiet Harry.

Harry

Just listening as you’ve taken command of the situation.

Judge

It’s the initial impact of the situation. I’ve no emotion so an outsider looking in is healthy till you two get used to each other, keeps the encounter moving along. Then there’s going to be millions of questions and each others stories which are going to take forever, especially as this weekend is anything to go by.

Harriet

I’ve brought loads of photos.

Judge

You must show those to Harry with your mother, gonna have to learn to share this man, he’s popular and Felicity of all people is keen which preceded your mother’s encounter by 3 years.

Harry

Nothing happened

Judge

That’s evident, makes them all the more determined though, the never ending psyches of the human mind, kept me in a good job unravelling all the possibilities, and there’s brief moments of temporary insanity, where the mind just can’t take it and has a release, a strike out.

Harry

It’s finding an outlet that satisfies the mind to one that’s feel rewarding. Women have their role as a bringing up a family and the hierarchy that surrounds them on becoming grandmothers, so men seek their own dominance to establish their roles.

Judge

Great grandmothers have the illusion they can kick ass as well. Role playing in tight knit families can be formidable more so for outsiders wishing to become part of one, joining the Clan and becoming accepted is quite a means test, authors have written with intense fascination on the subject. Of course, arranged marriages happen between families making a closed door to outsiders. You sold books by the wheelbarrow load, many on these no doubt

never read

Harry

It was the bucket shop of books at the end. Would the writers have become mass murderers or major criminals had they released their minds into action through their written word, or in fact inciting crime by writing novels about it.

Judge

Not had that one yet, ‘I did it like she wrote in the book your honour, finished her of off good and proper, she had it coming’, not inferring any actual author but certainly there’s a great choice.

Harry

Fiction and fact are more closely associated in life than people realise .

Judge

One’s life leans towards fantasy for most and is not under your control as with the appearance of Harriet Scott-Jones was shown, she could add to that name now, more interesting if your surname had just been Rocker.

Harriet

You two are fascinating.

Judge

There’s Bill yet to meet, 24 years in the army leads to a whole lot of perspectives we never had to entertain, the two of them are currently entertaining being cavemen again as the world may descend into oblivion for the human race.

Harriet

So being a rocket scientist is irrelevant to survival.

Harry

They like to think otherwise, but far off constructing a space vehicle to discover other galaxies, my thinking we are all in different dimensions. Time is a measurement by our rotating around our sun which is our way of doing it.

Bill comes across the lawn.

Bill

You had this one bottle well stashed in the Audi, I see a female look alike has found you Harry. You’re a real ringer for a daughter of his.

Harriet

I am.

Bill

Oh right, posh one too, better get the cork out of this Armagnac, not that we’re alcoholics young lady, you couldn’t be desperate for a drink around here, it’s abundant, just partial to Armagnac.

Judge

In biblical terms this part of the country or rather planet would be the garden of Eden.

Bill

So, pleased to meet you, your father has some uncanny gifts so maybe they are lurking in you, plus I think you’re are not alone, meaning there’s more Harry’s or Harriet’s around; his wild, free, and days of casual abandon found himself being found by sultry temptresses who tried to whisk him off to some paths not akin to his liking.

Harriet

Okay, I think we were brought up in a somewhat blinkered life.

Bill

Yep, keep your fortresses built and leave the walks on the wild side afar. I think we’re going to one of these bastions next weekend, should be good, there’s a place for most things in present day society as we evolve.

Harry

The symbolism of buildings in our mind, first they were simple stone pillars that people looked up to, then churches coupled with places of learning as our minds transgressed further to present day culture using our comfort zone of this planet to do so.

Bill

The comfort zone is taken for granted by too many.

Judge

Universally we need our symbols, the Pyramids, Mayan temples, the Easter Island statues and churches to focus energy of our minds, therefore creating a relevance. This is now mostly replaced by learning and technology, maybe not the progress we needed as we’re destroying the world with it.

Harry

Everybody in their chariots of today, gleaming vehicles impressing others .

Harriet

Dad has a helicopter and a plane to impress others.

Harry

A more sophisticated approach than from our ancestors who perceived dominance as being the leader of the pack, troop or tribe, the strongest being male being the leader.

Harriet

It’s intelligence and talent which leads to ingenuity make the new kingpins, strength, physique and toughness is not so in today’s word

Bill

Though when harnessed together provoke wars with others, the tough got clever and vice versa. I personally think there’s some intervention along the way connected to our race, we developed whereas no other species did bar some those who of which have the necessary attributes to survive and communicate, not to progress or achieve though, kinda of uncanny

Harriet

Do you think we’re meant to be, my origins were not based on any plan.

Bill

Your mum wanted to mate with Harry here, how it happened is irrelevant, she saw him, instinctively wanted to bond, in that effect you were meant to be, a dominant female and her natural instincts took over. She will have some sort of bond with Harry forever cause it’s in our make-up. Of course if Harry had never gone to Salisbury you wouldn’t have happened creating a different chain of events, so in that case were accidents depending on the fates of others

Harriet

I suppose so, she went off to freshen up, instinctively making herself more attractive

Bill

Preening, the female getting ready for the male and maintaining a relevance to him. Many a war fought over a woman when a man is in pursuit of her affections, however distant and impossible.

Judge

That’s another area that kept me busy in an around about way, though for the commoners its divorce and not war, well it’s their little war.

Bill

Legal war-fare.

Judge

Going to be Felicity freshening up as well I expect, interaction, however it happens, between female and male is fascinating, and often everlasting. A two-way thing when both gel, which is often more one sided as with Harry here.

Harriet

Oh yes, I’ve had that with men, besotted with me and I’m not the slightest bit interested, not found one to be besotted with yet.

Bill

Now at last you found your father, maybe he can shed some light on those mysteries of life, cause one lady got him in the end.

Harriet

Really, so there is light at the end of the tunnel for being choosy or letting your heart lead you.

Harry

Ah, if you find one of those, phone me up now, I have around 35 years of pain for letting my goddess go who I should pursued with more fervour. I take women too literally but some use instances as a ploy, to test you out on the standards they’ve set in their minds a rule book that women follow, either written or in their mind. Women’s mags must be full of this sort of thing.

Harriet

Ah yes, make sure the man is genuine, we’re suspicious and cautious, curiosity getting the better of us in the end .

Harry

Works the other way, its certainly hangs around.

Bill

Take the plunge and go for it, two opposites can work, lots of fireworks that fizzle out or explode with a big bang.’

Harry

Ah your big bang theory, Bill, the emotionally charged universe where everybody can find fulfilment at whatever the cost or trauma one is exposed to

Judge

You could be missing out on something wondrous often