This story comprises of 16 short chapters (all written) that will be released in turn as I edit them.
Like many of the submissions on here this could have been placed in a variety of genre's; Loving Wives, Fetish, Novels & Novellas but I felt it was best suited to Exhibitionist & Voyeur.
As always constructive comments are welcome but please don't tell me where the story is going after reading one chapter.... You might be wrong!
Please remember it is just a story and like with so many of them, there are always a few liberties taken with reality.
Enjoy
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Jessica's Epiphany
~~~ Chapter 11 ~~~
My plan had been to get away and find some space to sort myself out but, unfortunately, I hadn't considered what I would do when I actually arrived.
Now, standing on the empty platform, surrounded by my luggage, I suddenly felt completely and utterly alone.
'What was I going to do now?'
'Where was a Greg when I needed one?'
All of a sudden the flaws in my great plan became obvious to me but this time there was no one to help me.
It took me a while to drag my bags out to the cab rank at the front of the station and then, with them piled up, I had to wait nearly fifteen minutes until a lone taxi drove up.
"Where to love?" The cabbie asked getting out to load my cases into the boot.
"Err.... I'm not sure. Do you know a relatively cheap hotel?"
He laughed at my question, "Yeah, a couple but I'm not sure they'd be suitable for a well brought up young lady."
"Oh, no." I blushed when I realised what he meant, "Not one like that."
"Don't worry sweetheart, I know just the place. It's clean, respectable and at a decent price."
The friendly smile he gave me as he said it put me at ease.
Sitting back in the taxi I felt a little better, even though my driver's comment had me wondering just what sort of town my childhood holiday utopia had become during the years I had been away.
Taking a closer look at the town as the car wound its way through the streets I managed to recall one or two things from my visits here. There was the statue in the town square, the high street, although none of the shops were familiar, and the park with the boating lake.
However, much of it seemed very different to what I remembered and I began to reflect on whether I had made a wise choice or not.
"We're here love. The Ocean View."
His voice jerked me out of my thoughts and I stared out of the window at the hotel. It seemed to be what I had asked for, bright, fairly modern in appearance and not overly large. More importantly it wasn't some dark seedy building hidden down a back street.
"Could you help me with my bags please?" I asked after a moment.
"No problem love." Clambering out he started to unload the car, "You go in and get sorted while I bring them in.
Wandering in through the main doors I found an older man standing behind a reception desk.
"Good evening. How can I help you?" He looked up and smiled welcomingly.
"I wondered if you have a room. George." I read his name off the badge on his shirt.
"Oh, I'm sure we can accommodate you. How long did you want to stay for?"
It was another part of my plan that I hadn't really considered, "Perhaps a week and then if I need to maybe I can extend it."
Turning to his computer screen he tapped a few keys before looking up and smiling again, "Room 204 is free and should suit you nicely."
Glancing past me at the wheezing taxi driver carrying in my luggage he chuckled and continued, "Thanks Harry, I'll get them taken up to the lady's room."
"Will this do Miss?" The cabbie turned to ask me, putting my heavy bags down, "I think it's what you asked for?"
"Yes, it's perfect, thank you."
Paying my fare, I gave Harry a large tip and, after signing the hotel register and handing over my credit card, I was shown up to my room, George huffing and puffing along behind me as he brought my suitcases.
"Last orders in the restaurant are at eight." He told me as he retreated out of my door, adding, "And breakfast is from 7.30."
"Thank you George, I'll be down in a few minutes."
Checking my watch, I saw I had an hour or so, so deciding to take a moment to collect my scattered thoughts, I flopped down on to the bed.
In all honesty I had no idea what I was going to do now I was here.
I clearly needed an updated plan.
It was obvious I couldn't just sit in a hotel moping over my husband and my failed marriage. I had to do something to occupy my time and besides that my money would eventually run out at some point.
Making up my mind that looking for work would be my first priority I went downstairs to eat.
There were a few people in the dining room; two families and a couple of men by themselves. Wanting to maintain a low profile I kept myself to myself and took a table in the corner, tactfully avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially either of the men.
The last thing I wanted was to be recognised as Stephanie again.
That night I slept better than I had for ages and woke a little before eight the next morning. Feeling refreshed and a little more prepared for whatever the day would bring I slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
Taking my time to shower and get breakfast it was a couple of hours later when I eventually stepped out of the hotel's front door to explore Sandiford Bay.
Strolling down to the seafront first, I tried to remember how it had looked back when I had last been here. The family friendly emporiums selling beach toys, the ice cream parlour, the miniature railway, it had all seemed so perfect in my head a day or two earlier.
My disappointment as I turned the corner onto the promenade would have been obvious to anyone who saw my face.
The reality in front of me was a long way from the vision I had imagined.
The train that ran along the front had gone while the inviting stores I recalled had been replaced with loud amusement arcades and tacky souvenir shops.
Several pubs and bars, as well as a couple of fast-food places, were dotted along the esplanade while, much to my dismay, at the far end a red fronted building with darkened windows announced itself as 'Exotic Fantasies', a strip club.
Thoroughly disillusioned I turned into the main street looking for a coffee shop or café so I could sit down and determine what I would do next.
Wandering along browsing the various shop windows I paused when I came to a cobbled alleyway and noticed a sign part way down for a tea shop.
It was the first proper café I had come across and, wanting a coffee, I made my way down to 'Cassie's Teapot'.
My hand was already on the door handle when I saw the card in the window.
Help wanted
Full or part time
Apply inside
Pausing, I read it twice and then stepped through the door.
"Hi, take a seat anywhere and I'll be right with you."
A blonde, probably just a few years older than me, greeted me and I sat down to wait.
"Ok, what can I get you?" She asked when she finished with the man she was serving and came over to me a minute or two later.
"Err.... just a cappuccino please."
"Coming right up." The blonde went to walk away.
"And could I talk to Cassie or whoever's in charge?'
She stopped and turned, looking at me quizzically, "I'm Cassie. What can I do for you?"
"I... err... I wondered if the job was still available?"
"Let me get us both a coffee." Cassie gave me a friendly smile, "Then we can have a proper chat."
A minute or two later Cassie returned with two steaming mugs and held out her hand to me, "Cassandra Matthews."
"Jessica Prescott." I told her as we shook.
"So, have you any experience of waitressing?" Was her first question on dropping into the seat opposite me.
"Only back when I was at uni. I kept myself afloat waitressing at a pizza restaurant."
"Perfect." She grinned and took a sip from her cup, "So, where are you from? I know you're not a local."
For the next thirty minutes or so I did my best to answer all her questions as honestly as I could, without giving away too much detail about myself or why I was in Sandiford Bay.
"And your husband?" Cassie asked at the end of my interview, "You are married aren't you?"
"Separated."
She nodded but didn't pry any further.
"So, can you start tomorrow?"
Her question took me by surprise and I took a moment to answer.
"Err.... sure, if you're certain."
Even though the job didn't pay as much as I really wanted it would allow me to get by, albeit on a limited budget, and I had felt a real empathy with my new employer as we chatted.
"Fantastic." Cassie showed me to the door, "I'll see you at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
Walking out of the tea shop I could hardly believe my luck. I hadn't been here a day and I already had a job. I knew my next task would be to find somewhere a little more permanent to live but for now the hotel would do.
Spending the rest of the day exploring Sandiford I bought some sensible trainers and had a relatively early night so I would be ready to start work the next morning.
My first day passed relatively quietly, although Cassie assured me that it was still early in the season, and over the coming weeks we would certainly get a lot busier. Not that I was worried, the small number of customers gave me a chance to learn about the job and to spend some time getting to know my boss.
At 35 Cassie was divorced and had opened the coffee shop two years earlier with the money her ex-husband had paid her for her share of their house.
"So, what's it like living in Sandiford?" I enquired after hearing a brief outline of her recent history.
"Great once the Summer gets going." She grinned back at me, "The bars are always full of horny young men then."
I blushed remembering my recent encounter with Rob.
She noticed my obvious discomfort and snickered, "Still early days is it?"
Biting my bottom lip I nodded, "You could say that."
