Page 67 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
That belief had been wiped out afterthat day, and until I’d come to Bluebell Wood and met Callum, I hadn’t really given it much thought at all. So contrary to what I’d expected, I’m surprised to find my reservations diminishing as the service goes on. As we sing cheerful hymns together, listen to Callum’s sermon, pray alongside him and wince at Mrs Bunting’s slightly dodgy playing of the church organ, I join in with everybody else and enjoy myself.
I’d never really considered what Callum might be like leading a church service. I’d seen him being both the parish priest and simply being himself, and although it’s still difficult for me to piece my opposing feelings for the two sides of Callum together, I understand that what he’s doing today is an important part of who he is.
As Callum leads the choir down the aisle at the end of the service, he gives me a quick wink as he passes.
I can’t help but smile back, but as Callum and the choir continue on by, and I sit with a silly grin on my flushed face, I inadvertently catch Jemima’s eye as she watches us from the front pews.
‘Thank you for coming,’ I hear Callum say several times as the congregation files out of the church in front of us. ‘And a Happy Easter to you.’
‘Ah, Miss Swan, what a pretty dress,’ he says formally, as Jemima arrives in front of him.
‘Thank you, Father,’ she says, swishing the skirt around a little.
Callum smiles serenely.
‘I do hope you don’t mind, but there’s been an unavoidable change of plan,’ Jemima explains quickly. ‘We’re now going to be eating with Ava at her cottage later this afternoon whenyou’ve finished visiting your parishioners. I’m afraid I’ve got issues with my cooker.’
Callum looks unruffled as ever. ‘I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m sure we’ll all have a wonderful time in Ava’s little cottage, and I don’t have evensong tonight, so there’ll be no need for me to rush off anywhere. Very kind of you, Ava,’ he says, looking over the heads of the elderly couple in front of me waiting to thank him.
I smile.
‘Perhaps we can postpone our meal to another time, though?’ Jemima says. ‘It’s been a while, hasn’t it?’
‘Of course,’ Callum says, nodding. ‘You know I’m always available for my parishioners. Ah, Doris and George,’ he says, moving on from Jemima to greet the couple in front of me. ‘Lovely to see you again. How’s the hip, George?’
Jemima continues out of the church.
‘Hello again,’ Callum says to Hannah and me as Doris and George eventually move along. ‘Did you enjoy the service?’
‘Man, you rock at this church stuff!’ Hannah says, making both Callum and me smile. ‘Never really been churchgoers, have we, Mum? But that service was amazing. I feel fantastic.’
‘Thank you, Hannah,’ Callum says smiling. ‘That’s certainly the best feedback I’ve had in a long time. I understand from Jemima we’re coming to yours to eat now, Ava? he asks, turning to me. ‘I do hope we’re not imposing?’
‘Not at all,’ I say. ‘It will be lovely to have you there, and like I said before, Hannah is cooking, so you’ll be in safe hands.’
Callum laughs and uses this as a reason to lean in towards me. ‘I always feel in safe hands when I’m with you,’ he whispers into my ear as he shakes my hand. ‘I’ll see you both later then,’he says in his normal voice, and quickly moves on to the next person waiting to speak to him.
As we walk out of the church together, Hannah is muttering something about what a great guy Callum is, but I’m still recovering from hearing his soft sensuous voice whispering in my ear to say anything at all.
Twenty-one
‘Is everything all right in the kitchen?’ I ask Hannah as she comes through to the sitting room wearing an apron and carrying a glass of wine.
‘Absolutely fine, Mum. Stop fussing.’
‘I can’t help it. Cooking for this many people would worry me senseless.’
‘Which is why you have me to do it for you. Now, let’s go mingle with your guests. I’m eager to know more about them.’
Lonan had been the first to arrive carrying two expensive bottles of wine. He was beautifully turned out as always, in a designer shirt and tailored trousers. He’d been closely followed by Jemima, who had changed from the dress she’d worn for church into a more relaxed outfit of casual black cropped trousers and a pink silk blouse. As promised, she’d dropped round earlier with as much of her original uncooked meal as she could for Hannah to add to our own. Finally, we are joined by Callum, who I’m happy to see has also changed:from his clerical robes into a smart pair of navy-blue trousers and a pale blue shirt.
‘I didn’t have anything suitable to bring,’ he says apologetically as he walks through the door carrying a cardboard box. ‘So I brought some Easter eggs left over from this morning’s hunt.’
‘Perfect,’ I say, taking the box from him. ‘I can’t remember the last time I had an Easter egg.’
While Hannah pops back and forth from the kitchen, I keep everyone’s drinks topped up. It has been so long since I’ve properly entertained, I feel like I’ve forgotten how to do it, so I’m relieved to find that all my guests are happily making their own conversation without needing me to intervene, and even happier to discover that yet again I’m able to cope with a number of people in a small space like the cottage, when a few months ago it would have freaked me out to be in this much company.
Was it the cottage that was helping me to cope? It was definitely a safe and welcoming space to be in. Or was it the village as a whole? Everyone was so friendly here that now I’d got used to it, I actually looked forward to the idle chitchat that always took place when you ventured out and about. Whatever it was, I had much to be grateful for on this Easter Sunday.
