Page 69 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘I know, I’m like the loaves and fishes story, right? Feeding the five thousand on barely anything.’
Callum grins. ‘Yes, exactly that. Jesus would be proud of you.’
‘Too right he would.’ Hannah grins back, lifting her glass.‘Miracle worker me.’ And she continues on into the sitting room, but not before winking at me behind Callum’s back.
I shake my head. ‘Sorry.’
‘About what?’ Callum asks. ‘I’m all about having fun with the Bible. The best way to teach people is to make them laugh and enjoy themselves.’
‘You’re a special man,’ I suddenly hear myself saying, before I have a chance to stop myself.
‘And you, Ava,’ Callum whispers, looking secretly pleased, ‘are a very special woman.’ He moves closer to me, and for one tiny millisecond I think we’re about to kiss. But then Jemima appears in the hall.
‘Oh, sorry,’ she says, looking startled to find us out here together. ‘Just looking for the ladies’ room.’
‘The bathroom is upstairs,’ I say, leading her to the staircase. ‘First door on the left.’
‘Thanks.’ Jemima looks briefly at me and then at Callum. ‘I hope I didn’t interrupt anything . . . ’
‘No,’ we both insist, a little too quickly. ‘Not at all.’
Jemima doesn’t look convinced, but says nothing before hurrying up the stairs.
I look back at Callum and pull an awkward expression. ‘Perhaps we’d better get you that drink?’ I whisper.
He nods. ‘I’ll just wait in here, shall I?’ he says, gesturing back to the sitting room.
‘It might be best. I’ll be right back.’
I head into the kitchen and try to pour some wine into Callum’s glass, but I find my hand is shaking, and I have to stop and put the bottle down for a moment to calm down.
‘Oh Lord,’ I say, taking a deep breath. Then I realise what I’ve said and I smile. This time I look up while I speak. ‘Look,I really don’t know if there’s someone or something up there controlling what we do down here, like some grand puppet master.’ I pause for a moment to think. ‘And if you really are up there, then I have some big issues I need to take up with you sometime. Although you probably know what they are already, don’t you?’ I pause again: although I hated myself for doing so, talking like this was actually making me feel better. ‘But at this very moment, if Callum is some sort of test you’re putting me through to see how I fare, then you’re making it extremely hard for me to resist.’
The dinner party goes really well; better than I’d hoped.
We’re just pausing before we have dessert – a combination of apple pie and ice cream from our original dinner and a chocolate mousse and whipped cream from Jemima’s.
‘That dinner was truly wondrous, Hannah,’ Lonan says, patting his full stomach. ‘And you’re not a chef by trade?’
Hannah shakes her head. ‘Nope, I work in the litigation department for a law firm in Lincoln. Cooking is simply a hobby of mine.’
‘What a wide and varied group we are . . . ’ Jemima says, waving her glass airily around the table. ‘We have someone who works in law, a handsome priest, a best-selling author, and me a little ol’ teacher.’ She tilts her glass towards me. ‘What is it you did again, Ava? Before you moved here?’
‘I worked for an advertising company doing promotions and events,’ I say, unsure where this is heading. Jemima has had a tad more wine than everyone else, and has been quite forthright with her questions and opinions during dinner.
‘How fabulous. And that was in London, wasn’t it?’
I nod.
‘Your two worlds: BBW and ABW.’
We all look at her, confused by this.
‘Before Bluebell Wood and After Bluebell Wood!’ she cries in delight, seeing our confusion. ‘Those worlds must feel very different to you, Ava?’ she goes on, with a serious expression. ‘However do you cope?’
‘Yes, they are a bit,’ I reply calmly, although I can already feel anxiety beginning to manifest itself in the pit of my stomach. ‘But I really like it here. I’ve met some lovely people who I’d like to think of as friends.’ I look across at Callum, who smiles back at me, and then Lonan, who lifts his glass. ‘So I have no desire to return to London at the moment.’
‘But why did you leave in the first place?’ Jemima continues, unabashed. ‘It’s such a huge decision giving up what must have been a well-paid successful job, and moving from the capital to this tiny village in the middle of nowhere.’
