Hearsay 20
Jean had first seen Dominic some years ago aboard Compton Castle, and remembered the parrot. Some three months ago they first met at a drama festival and she had told him about the signed book bought for her sister from the Harbour Bookshop around the time she'd seen him.

When Jean opened the letter her first thought was one of surprise at the number of pages. She was thrilled to have a reply, but a book? She ploughed through it. What a tortuous journey.

That evening she was again attempting to put it into her own sense of order.

He had found the obituary. Good. He said how he had read elsewhere it had been put in by the advertising agency for Bird's-eye. The company had made the decision to drop the captain from their commercials as sales were declining. But they needed a dignified exit for him, so they killed him off.

Yes he had found something for her on Joanna Southcott. The extract copied from newspaper she had put to one side. She noted though there was nothing mentioned about Dittisham, but she was pleased he had taken an interest. She suspected he might.

"He really is keen on talking to these women's groups.” She read he would be going to the library again soon because a group had asked him to talk about the Pilgrim Fathers and their connection with Dartmouth.

Then it just stopped. The next line read 'Dominic.', and the epistle was over. But not quite.

"P S .When you come in September I'd love to chauffeur you round. Say Yes.”

She felt a warm glow. " I will Dom.”