The warm breeze sweeps across the sparkling water, the Lake is beautiful this Spring evening. Sitting here I can see and hear the Grandchildren playing and the ducks in the water weeds. I love my home as from the Veranda, I can relax and watch nature. Goldie our Labrador is lying lazily next to me, loving the fresh spring air.

The lake is relatively small with trees surrounding it, but it is our piece of heaven. Everyday we are grateful for what we have. The spectacular view and the wildlife that we have seen.

We have lived here forty years now, I will be sixty five this year. The years have been kind and we have had a good life. Growing up in a village in Kent I always wanted to live in the country, so when I met Fred, we hoped for the country life. This was exactly what we wanted, a small cottage overlooking a lake with trees surrounding it.

The children always knew to be careful near it and as they grew older, they liked to swim in it. We then got a small boat which we have enjoyed spending time together on.

Sitting here reflecting on time gone by, I can hear the birds singing in the trees. The Spring evening weather has been good this year. As the day draws into evening the trees cast their shadows and the birds start to quieten.

Fred is still just as noisy though, running around kicking a football with Julie and Lewis. Still as active as he was at thirty, the children are lucky to have an energetic Grandad. I love Spring evenings like this one, the calm and the love of family life.

We often have Julie and Lewis here, they enjoy the country air and seeing the ducks and small animals. They love to put their nets in the lake and find small insects. The water boatmen, the water striders and the dragon flies. The wood running alongside it provides us with a nice woodland walk and it is about two miles to walk all the way around.

Listening now to the evening breeze in the trees, I now get up to put the kettle on and make a pot of tea. Reaching into the cupboard for some crumpets I am reminded of years gone by. Happy evenings of jam and crumpets, swimming competitions and exploring with the boat. Evenings of friends visiting and the children’s friends.

Then concerns of the lakes hazards and reminding all the children to be careful. To never venture down there alone just in case there was an accident. We have only had one incident and that was bad enough, when Gareth at age ten decided to make a rope swing to swing from a tree over the lake. Unfortunately, the swing broke and he fell, breaking his arm on a rock.

The emergency services had a little walk to get to him as they can’t land a helicopter or drive an ambulance through the wood. Once the paramedics had put his arm in a sling, Fred had then carried him back to the car and driven him to the local hospital.

From that day Gareth and Rosie were much more careful, more responsible. The pain of a broken arm was not something that Gareth wanted to repeat, so no more rope swings. This story has been told time and time again.

After spreading the jam on the crumpets and putting the water in the pot. I think about Gareth and Rosie. Both have done well with their lives. Gareth is now an Architect, married to Ruth and lives in a nice house on the out skirts of London. They have two daughters, Susan and Rachel. Rosie lives near by and is married to Roy. She is an Estate agent and Roy works at the hospital.

They are here most weekends but this weekend they have gone away for a quiet break in the New Forest alone. Remembering the stress of parenting we understand why they need the time. However, we do enjoy having the children here for quality Grandparent time.

Walking back out now with the tea, crumpets and a jug of squash for the children, I gasp in awe at the sun setting across the lake. A reminder of the beauty of nature. It is now that my mobile phone rings. Recognising my ring tone, I knew it was Rosie. She was either checking on the kids or something was wrong. Putting the tray down, I answered the phone,

“Hello Rosie.”
“Hi Mum, is all alright there?”
“Yes, we are fine, dad is playing with the kids and I’ve just done some drink and crumpets. Is everything alright there love?”
“Oh mum,” Rosie was sniffing, I could sense she was crying, “Mum, they have found a dead body in the chalet next door, so we are coming home.”
“Is it being treated as suspicious?” I was worried now.
“Yes, they are treating it as murder, some mad chalet murderer in the New Forest. We are just packing the car and heading back. We will collect the children tomorrow. It will be late when we get home.”

“That’s ok, try and drive safely, just get home, phone me in the morning, ok?”
“Yes mum, I will phone you tomorrow and we will come for the kids then.”
“Ok Rosie, bye for now, take care.”
“Yes mum, we will see you tomorrow, bye.” With that she hung up, leaving me in shock, was there anything on the news?

I could now hear Fred and the kids approaching. They had seen the crumpets and now wanted to eat. All three were tired, sweaty and muddy but all laughing in the lovely spring evening weather. As they started grabbing the crumpets I wondered if I should be discussing the phone call in front of the kids. I then decided no, it would scare them and then they then would not sleep.

Sitting eating the food, Julie and Lewis were excited. Talking about tomorrow and going down to the lake with nets and a walk in the woods. I kept quiet, I was worried for Rosie and Roy, hoping that they were safely now making their way home. I wondered about the body in the chalet. Tapping into a google search, ‘body found New Forest’ nothing recent came up. I guessed that the media were not on to it yet. It had only just been found and the first course of action was clearing all the other chalets. I assumed it would be on the morning news.

“You ok?” woken from my thoughts, Fred had noticed how quiet I was.
“Yes sorry, just tired, it’s been a long day.” Then I added, desperate to tell him what had happened. “I think its bedtime now kids, we will have more fun in the morning”
“Oh Grandma, I don’t want to go to bed”
“Sorry Lewis it’s getting late, come on take your sister and start getting ready for bed.”
Six year old Julie got down from her chair quietly and ran to find her pyjamas. Eight year old Lewis, not as willing now followed her.

“Ok Rachel, what’s wrong? I can see something is not right, you are too quiet.”
“Oh Fred, Rosie has phoned. A dead body has been found in the chalet next to them, they are now on their way home. We will see them in the morning”. Fred stood there shocked.
“Oh my god, no wonder you were quiet. I will sort the kids out, ok?” The children could be heard noisily getting ready for bed. I nodded in agreement.

I looked out across the lake, watching the moonlight dancing on the calm water. Dark objects could be seen swimming across, which I assumed are ducks out for a swim as the peaceful spring evening turns to night.

Clearing the table and then loading the dishwasher and switching it on,  I was grateful that I didn’t have to stand at the sink. I then went and found the children and kissed them goodnight. They were soon peacefully asleep in their beds.

Fred now came and joined me on the veranda. We tried to enjoy the evening and the sounds of the lake, but  were both wondering about the body. I phoned Rosie, she answered after a few rings as Roy was driving.

“Hello mum, ok?”
“Yes, we are alright, what’s happening there?”
“We are about an hour from home now, haven’t seen anything on the news yet.”
“Yes, I imagine it will be all over the news by morning. Did they tell you anything?”
“No mum, just a girl’s body has been found next door and you need to go home. We should get a full refund on our weekend though, that poor girl.”
“Ok, well I’m pleased you are out, we will see you in the morning.”
“Yes, see you then mum, bye.”
“Bye love.”

“Well they are at least safe Fred, I wonder who the girl was?” Fred nodded,
“I’m sure we will find out soon enough.”

Not the best ending to a calm spring evening by the lake. The next day, Rosie and Roy appeared late morning. The children were disappointed to be going home but Rosie wanted them with her. Roy and Fred took them down to the lake with the nets and they looked for insects together, so Rosie and I could talk. Goldie went to the lake with them and was enjoying a swim.

The story had now hit the news and the police were searching for evidence of who the murderer was. The young woman was twenty year old Lillian Drew, she had gone away by herself, wanting to be alone after a bad relationship. Her ex boyfriend was the chief suspect. However, they had no real evidence. Her tearful parents had appeared on the television appealing for witnesses. Roy and Rosie had not seen or heard anything so could not help with the case.

Deciding now that we had discussed this upsetting case as much as we could. The police are investigating and it is all over the media. We now tried to relax and enjoy the spring day. Watching the light reflect on the lake as we sat, we felt a sense of inner calm. Thinking about Lilian’s parents, I could not imagine what they were going through. I knew that I had a lot to be thankful for as my family were safe.

Sat here now, drinking tea and eating biscuits, we both enjoy the scenery. We could see the others down by the lake and could hear the children.

There would be other weekends when we would have the Grandchildren. Other times for exploring and enjoying the lake and woods. For now, we are enjoying the time we have with them and trying to live life as best as we can. Trying to stay active, walking in the woods with Goldie and loving the beauty of our surroundings. Watching nature and time go by, we are living for the moment. Living for now and are happy that we can.

I wondered about Lilian, I wondered what her story was and whether the ex boyfriend really did do it. He was the obvious suspect, but did he really murder her? I had read plenty of novels with a twist at the end of the tale.

☆              ☆                 ☆

It was weeks later, that we found out that the ex boyfriend was indeed innocent. Other bodies had been found in other locations in the same area all linked to the same man. She had been hitch hiking. The driver had tried to come on to her as he had left her at the holiday site and she had refused his advances. Later he had returned and found her chalet and tried again. This had turned nasty ending in her murder.

I have always been too scared to hitch hike anywhere. You just don’t know whose car you are getting into and what danger lie ahead. I felt relieved that they had found him before he killed anyone else. A shame though that it happened in the chalet next to Rosie and Roy. I shuddered at the thought of losing Rosie. Poor innocent Lilian, she had only wanted time to herself and it had ended with her death.

Now making the most of this beautiful spring evening, I listen to the sounds from the lake. Watching the shadows as the sun sets. Fred and Goldie now come out and join me. We now all sit quietly, relaxing together enjoying the peace, the tranquillity and the beauty of nature.

For more see, The little girl in the snow