Page 114 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘Something the birds left earlier,’ I whisper. ‘Don’t worry about it now.’
But Callum pulls away to look. ‘Is that a locket?’
‘Yep, they left it on the bird table while Lonan was here. He actually saw a jackdaw land and drop it there.’
‘That’s a step up from the other stuff they’ve left, isn’t it?’
‘Just a bit.’ I try to put the locket on the side table, but in my haste I drop it and it slides on to the floor, falling open as it does.
‘Don’t worry, I’ve got it,’ Callum says, leaning towards the locket. He lifts it up and his gaze falls on the photo.
‘What is it?’ I ask as he stares intently at the picture. ‘What are you looking at?’
‘This man,’ Callum says, still looking at the photo. ‘I think I recognise him.’
‘How can you?’ I ask doubtfully. ‘That photo must be a hundred years old at least.’
‘I’m not sure . . . but I’m certain I’ve seen him somewhere before.’ It’s clear as Callum sits up that any amorous intentions he might have been harbouring have been put on hold. He stares hard at the photo. ‘And you say the birds left this for you?’
‘Yes, Lonan saw a jackdaw drop something on the bird table. When we went outside this was on there.’
‘I’ve got it!’ Callum suddenly says. ‘This guy was once a vicar to this parish.’
‘How do you know?’
‘When I moved into the vicarage, I did a lot of clearing out. The previous vicar died without any family, so the place was quite a mess – full of junk and other stuff that Jonah and I didn’t need to keep. One of the things we found, though, was a box of old photos – lots of them were of the previous incumbents to the parish. I’m sure this guy was one of them.’
‘Where are the photos now?’
‘At the vicarage, in the attic.’
Callum stares at me, and I hope he’s going to suggest what I want him to.
‘Do you want to go and look now?’ he asks a little sheepishly. ‘I mean, I know what we were about to do . . . ’
I lean over to him and kiss him firmly on the lips.
‘Let’s go,’ I say without hesitation. ‘That can wait. I’ve a feeling this can’t.’
We hurtle over to the vicarage with Merlin in tow, and I realise as Callum unlocks the front door that this is the first time I’ve come further than the garden.
The inside of the vicarage is much like I imagined it would be – slightly old-fashioned and traditional. But clean, and immaculately tidy.
‘Jonah!’ Callum calls as we enter into the hall. ‘Are you home?’
‘What’s wrong?’ Jonah asks, appearing in the hallway. ‘I thought you were— Oh hello, Ava.’
‘Do you remember that box of old photos we found when we moved in – the one with all the previous vicars?’
‘Er . . . yes, I think so.’
‘Is it still in the attic?’
‘I expect so, why—’
But Callum is already thundering up the stairs.
I smile politely at Jonah. ‘Do you remember this man from the photos?’ I ask, showing him the locket.
