Bedlam & Breakfast at a Devon Seaside Guesthouse

by Sharley Scott

  He moved to the other side to cuddle me while we stood in the dark, warmed by each other’s bodies.

  “Don’t worry, I’m alive everyone,” Kim called, her voice thick with alcohol. “Just in case any of you wondered. You there, auntie? Help me up.”

  As Jason chuckled, I heard what could only be Shona’s voice. Who else would shout, “For frick’s sake!” in a roomful of Kim’s family?

  This time closer. “You won’t believe it!” As Lucy’s guiding light appeared behind her, she said, “The fuse box won’t turn back on. Someone call the electricity board.”

  A few people groaned, while others muttered in agitation or anticipation. After telling me he wouldn’t be long, Jason disappeared.

  The tinny sound of music rang out as Emily held up her mobile phone, joined by Lucy who’d activated the torch on her phone – why hadn’t she used it earlier instead of the lighter? – and waggled it around like a strobe light. As a few others joined in, their lit-up faces strangely disembodied, I realised it was bright enough to find the wine glass I’d abandoned. At times like this only wine would do.

  Jason reappeared. “Western Power has been called. They’ll be a few hours though.”

  “Their batteries won’t last that long.” I nodded to the phones.

  Shona grabbed my shoulder, her hot breath pummelling my ear. “I’ve an idea! I’ve looked outside. You’ve got power, we’ve got drink.”

  Without further explanation, she jumped onto the settee and cupped her hands round her mouth to bellow, “Party at Flotsam! Everyone grab a bottle or two! Let’s conga!”

  “Yes!” Lucy’s voice, followed by Emily’s, “Party at ours!”

  Aghast, Jason looked at me. For a moment we stood in shock until we both shrugged. Kim and Shona had done so much for us and opened their house more than once. We should do this. I smiled at him.

  “Why not? There’s enough of us to clear up tomorrow morning. Will you take the lead?”

  He threw the keys to Shona, who fumbled and dropped them. “You can be the head snake. Just don’t make an asp of yourself.”

  A one-armed conga made it to Flotsam, each person clutching a bottle or glass. As we made it into the hallway, Lucy and Emily rushed off to turn on the music, while Jason and I welcomed friends and strangers into our home. Following her aunties, who gamely lifted their colourful dresses to join in the conga dancing, Kim brought up the rear waving an empty bottle of Prosecco. I gave her a hug. Bless her! Tonight she’d have fun, tomorrow would no doubt bring a hangover. She gave me a slobbery kiss on the cheek.

  As I wiped it dry with my sleeve, she said, “I’m so glad you both moved here.”

  Jason drew me into his arms and cuddled me. We were too. With friends and family like these, I couldn’t wait to see what the next year would bring.

  ♦

  About Bedlam & Breakfast

  While Bedlam & Breakfast is fictional, I am a guesthouse owner. Thankfully, we have been blessed with lots of amazing and kind-hearted guests, who are nothing like some of the characters featured in this novel. Many of our guests return on a regular basis and I look forward to seeing them. While unusual events occur in a guesthouse – as they do anywhere – most of the stories featured in Bedlam & Breakfast are imagined or taken from snippets I’ve heard in passing.

  The same applies to the B&B owners featured. Many guesthouse owners undertake work when they move into a property and our current B&B was not an exception. While, thankfully, our previous owners were nothing like Jim and Maureen, this also means we don’t get to live next door to the fabulous Shona and Kim. But we do have many lovely and kind B&B friends. B&Bers are a fabulous bunch.

  Torringham is loosely based on Brixham, a seaside town in South Devon famed for its fishing industry. All the people and businesses featured are fictional, but if you do visit Brixham you will find some of the scenery familiar, including the stunning harbour bowl. When I wrote about Shadwell Point, I pictured the stunning Berry Head, although many other locations are fictional. Brixham is a wonderful town and Devon is a gorgeous place to visit.

  A plea! If you do stay in a hotel or B&B, please book direct. B&B owners are couples and families trying to get by, so please fund a small local business rather than giving a substantial percentage of their fee to a global corporate giant, as happens when booking through a third-party. You’ll often get better rates by booking direct too.