Page 32 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
Jemima smiles at her, and turns to a sophisticated and very striking woman with a mane of bright red hair.
‘’Ello, I am Alouette Daw,’ a sultry French accent announces. ‘And I own this pub with my ’usband Jack.’
I can’t help smiling at her husband’s name; it seems very appropriate for a Jack Daw to be running a pub called The Daft Duck. I glance over to the bar and see a tall, thick-set man in a checked shirt pouring a pint.
‘Good evening, I’m Lonan Adler,’ Lonan pipes up next to me. ‘I’ve just moved to Bluebell Wood so I don’t really know any of you that well. Except Ava here, who I met tonight, and who was kind enough to accompany me on my walk here to meet with you all. Oh and I’m a writer,’ he says, just as I’m about to introduce myself. ‘Mostly novels – of the historical kind.’
There’s a murmur of interest in Lonan’s profession.
I wait to see if he’s going to add anything else, but he simply nods with encouragement at me as if I’m a small child.
I attempt to swallow my annoyance – not at Lonan so much as at myself. I’ve obviously given him the impression that I’m shy in crowds and nervous around people. That wasn’t true. It wasn’t shyness that was my problem at all.
‘I’m Ava,’ I say in a quiet voice, conscious that everyone is probably wanting Lonan to tell them more about himself. ‘And I’ve not long moved here either. I’ve met some of you already. But it’s good to meet you, Jemima, and you, Alouette.’
The women both smile warmly at me.
‘And last, and very definitely least,’ Callum says, smiling, ‘I’m Callum. And to my delight, I can say I’ve metallof you before.’
‘Father Crawford is the best priest we’ve had here in a longtime,’ Jenny emphasises for anyone that doesn’t already know this fact. ‘His sermons draw quite the crowd.’
‘Thank you, Jenny,’ Callum says, looking embarrassed. ‘That’s kind of you to say. But as you know the services at St Francis’s are a joint effort between myself and Jonah.’
Jonah looks surprised to hear this praise, but nods gratefully at him.
Callum and I both turn to Lonan to see his reaction to this news.
But instead of looking mortified at his earlier faux pas, he simply grins and lifts his pint glass at us. ‘Touché!’ he calls across the table. ‘Greetings, Father Crawford.’
As we await the beginning of the quiz, more and more teams seem to be piling into the pub. I hadn’t realised that Jonah had got us all here early so we could get to know each other, and the quiz didn’t actually start until eight thirty.
‘Are you all right, Ava?’ Callum asks me, as once again I cast my eyes nervously over the ever-growing swarm of people packing out the bar.
‘Yes,’ I turn quickly to him, ‘I’m absolutely fine.’ But my voice sounds stilted. ‘Thank you.’
The others around the table are discussing their specialist subjects, and Lonan seems to have manoeuvred Jemima into having a discussion about his books.
‘It’s just you look a little pale.’
I take a quick sip of my drink, and realise it’s nearly empty.
‘I’m not great in crowds,’ I tell him honestly, cradling my glass to me. ‘And the pubisquite busy, isn’t it?’
Callum looks across the bar. ‘I’ve seen it worse. But I guessif you’re anxious in crowded places then this might seem a bit much. Can I get you another drink?’
‘Er, yes. Please,’ I reply, looking down into my glass. ‘Just a sparkling water will be fine this time, though.’
‘Are you sure?’ Callum looks with concern at me. ‘I might be a vicar, but as you can see,’ he holds up his pint glass, ‘I still like a drink.’
‘It’s not you. I just think I’ll keep a clearer head if I only have the one.’
‘If you’re certain?’
I nod.
Callum stands up and heads over to the bar. I remain at the table, all the time feeling hotter and more uncomfortable.
I pull my shirt away from my chest to try to get some cooler air down there.
