fan_flashworks | Reunion Challenge: Miss Marple: Fanfic: A Trip to Normandy

Title: A Trip to Normandy
Fandom: Miss Marple
Rating: PG
Length: 690 words
Summary: Colonel Bantry is going to a reunion and Dolly and Miss Marple are accompanying him
I realise I have adjusted the Miss Marple timeline

Miss Marple finished unpacking her suitcase and then went downstairs to join Dolly Bantry in the lounge.

Arthur's gone out for a short walk,” Dolly said. “He wanted to stretch his legs.”

“I’m sure it must feel very strange for him, being back here after all this time,” Miss Marple replied.

“I’m not sure what he feels, to be honest. I’m just so grateful you agreed to come with us.”

“I’m very happy to keep you company. Do you know if any of his fellow officers are bringing their wives?”

“I know very little. All he’s told me is that they’re all meeting on the beach tomorrow morning and having lunch somewhere together. What I don’t understand is why he didn’t come by himself.”

“I think you’re here to remind him of the life he now has and stop him dwelling for too long on what happened all those years ago.”

“I think there’s more than that. I think Arthur asked me to come because he knew I’d ask you and he wants you to be here for some reason. Not that he’s said anything, of course.”

“I shall do what I can. Is there anything you want to do tomorrow while Arthur’s with the others?”

“We could look at some of the French fashions and then not buy anything, as it will all be entirely unsuitable for St Mary Mead. Although…”

“Yes?”

“I would like to go down to the beach. Just so I could say I’d been there.”

“Why don’t we go tomorrow afternoon, after lunch?”

“That would be ideal.”

Arthur Bantry came to join them, and they went through to the dining room for dinner. Whilst they were eating, he said, “I have booked a table for you both at the restaurant where we shall be having lunch. I was hoping… I’m not sure how to put this, but, Jane, I would appreciate it if you could be there. I don’t know, just doing what you do.”

Miss Marple, having been forewarned by Dolly’s words, said that she’d be delighted to do whatever she could and would look forward to having lunch in the restaurant. Nothing more was said on the subject.

The following morning, when Miss Marple came down to breakfast, she found Dolly was waiting for her, Arthur having already departed. After breakfast, the two ladies went shopping. They enjoyed the novelty of looking in different shop windows and both bought a few small souvenirs.

They were slightly apprehensive about lunch, but the restaurant was very pleasant, and they were seated at a small table by one of the windows, while Arthur Bantry and the other ex-officers had a larger table in the middle of the room. The ladies ate quietly, enabling Miss Marple to listen to some of the conversations at the main table.

After the men had eaten, they stood up to leave and Arthur, having said his farewells to them, came over to join the two ladies.

Miss Marple smiled at him. “I think I can relieve you of any worries you may have had. I heard one of your companions say, ‘Of course, Bantry, was very unlucky. Most of us had one lot of gunfire to contend with, he was caught in crossfire.’ And another replied, ‘Yes, it was amazing he got through with the number of men he did; they could have all been wiped out.’”

Arthur hurriedly took a chair and sat down on it. “Thank you, dear Jane. I’ve always worried that I’d made a mistake, which was why I lost more of my men. Not that anyone said anything, it was total chaos. It’s such a relief to know that it was just my damned bad luck.” He looked at Dolly. “Would you like…” He stopped.

Dolly smiled at him. “If you’re going to ask if you can show me the beach, I would very much like it.”

“Thank you. And, Jane, you’ll come too, won’t you?”

“I’d be honoured to do so.”

The three walked down to the beach. When they got there, Arthur said, “This is Sword Beach. I landed here on 6 June 1944.”