Page 82 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘Fine,’ I say, trying to remain focused, but my mind is already filled with conflicting thoughts about Callum. ‘You carry on – for now. But I’ll be back.’
Colin grins. ‘Ah, yet again we reference my favourite movie in our delightful conversations. All right, Ava, or should I call you Arnie! You go for it,’ he says, pretending to stifle a snigger. ‘But I won’t worry too much about your chances of terminating this project. Get it?’ he says to Bert, who is still standing next to him looking rather uncomfortable. ‘Terminated –The Terminator?’
Bert gives him a pitying look. Then he turns to me. ‘Sorry,’ he says, shrugging.
I’m not sure if he’s apologising for Colin’s poor joke, Colin himself or the development in general, but I give him a half smile and look around for Merlin so we can leave. I find him currently relieving himself – but to my horror, it’s against one of Colin’s pristine Hunter wellingtons.
Luckily for me Colin is still commending himself on his play with words and hasn’t noticed. But Bert has. He glances at me and winks.
‘Merlin!’ I call, thankful when he comes at once to my side. ‘Nice to meet you, Bert,’ I say deliberately, smiling at him while ignoring Colin.
‘And you, love,’ Bert says, grinning now. ‘What a great dog you have there. Very good judge of character.’
Merlin and I turn and walk as quickly as I can in my inappropriate shoes back across the field. My mind races far faster than my feet, as I try to work out what Callum’s part in this mighthave been. Had he given his approval to this development just so he could get some money towards the church roof repairs and a new window?
No, he wouldn’t,I tell myself as we march back in the direction of the cottage.
But what if he had?If what Colin is suggesting is true, how many of Callum’s parishioners knew he’d sold out the village just to save his church?
Twenty-six
I spend a while back at the cottage ruminating over what had happened in the field.
Yes, it was good that there was going to be a new play park in Bluebell Wood, and yes, it was good the village hall was to be rebuilt, the church roof repaired and a new window added, but at what cost?
All these new houses would spoil the peace and calm of the village. Bluebell Wood was so quiet and remote, it just wasn’t designed to house a lot of people. From what I’d been told everyone in the village seemed against this development, so why had Callum allowed himself to be swayed into giving his approval to the council? It must have been him – otherwise why would the church be doing quite so well out of Cuckoo Land Homes?
I pace around the sitting room while I’m thinking, and my gaze falls on the mantelpiece and all the gifts the birds have left me so far. The Mars Bar wrapper stands out against all the pretty, shiny, colourful things. It was someone else’s rubbish, and that’s just what this development was going to be – a piece of trash, blighting the beauty of Bluebell Wood.
‘Merlin!’ I call, suddenly making a decision. ‘Get your lead. We’re going to pay a quick visit.’
We stride at a brisk pace towards the church. The bell up in the clock tower strikes twelve as we walk along Church Lane towards the vicarage. The stern sound of the chimes fills me with the courage I need – my resolve has already wavered several times as we’ve walked towards this vital confrontation.
I open the little gate that leads into the vicarage front garden, then I march up to the door. As I raise my hand with the intention of rattling hard on the knocker, I hear a voice.
‘Hello, Ava. Hello, Merlin, what brings you here today?’
I turn and see Jonah on his hands and knees doing some weeding in one of the beds behind the vicarage wall.
‘Jonah . . . ’ I say, as the determined wind that had carried me here quickly drops. ‘I didn’t see you there.’
Jonah stands up, removes his gloves, and brushes his hands on his gardening apron.
‘The borders needed tending to,’ he says, looking back at them. ‘So many weeds, I don’t know where they all come from. Callum and I try our best to keep the vicarage looking smart, but it’s a full-time job, I can tell you. Sadly, the budget won’t run to a gardener.’
Suddenly, I don’t feel quite so angry. Maybe Callum was only doing what was best for the church and his parishioners? Then out of the corner of my eye a robin lands on the wall next to us with something in his beak. He looks at me and cocks his head, then he opens his beak so the item floats down into the garden at our feet. It’s a sweet wrapper.
‘Well, of all the . . . !’ Jonah says, also seeing the robin. He picks up the wrapper. ‘Littering birds, whatever next?’
‘It’s not their fault,’ I say, my resolve returning. ‘It’s that building site up on the hill.’
‘Oh yes, the development. They’ve started work now, haven’t they?’
‘They’re about to; that’s why litter is starting to blow all over the village; it’s coming from there.’
‘Has there been more litter about? I hadn’t noticed it myself.’
‘I have, it’s been in my garden, and on the footpath that leads around the field, and now even the birds are dropping it.’
