Page 83 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘That’s not good. Perhaps someone needs to have a word.’
‘I already have. It didn’t make a lot of difference. What do you know about what’s happening there?’ I ask, suddenly wondering if Jonah might be in on it too. ‘How did they even get permission to build all those houses if the village was so against it?’
‘I don’t know. We put up a good fight, but the council had the final say. Perhaps one of them wanted it and managed to swing the vote? You should ask Callum; he was more involved in the campaign than I was. He went to a couple of the closed council meetings on behalf of the village.’
‘Did he now? Is he around at the moment?’
‘He’s at the church doing some maintenance. But perhaps today isn’t the best day to bother him.’
‘Why?’
Jonah looks uncomfortable. ‘Just best not to. He’s been away for a few days, and he has a lot to catch up on now he’s back.’
‘I didn’t think I’d seen him around much since Easter.’
‘We’re allowed to take time off after busy seasons like Easter and Christmas,’ Jonah explains. ‘Even we vicars get paid leave!’ He grins, but I don’t feel like returning his smile, so he hurriedly continues. ‘This year Callum took some of his. Butthings mount up when you’re away, don’t they? His to-do list is as long as your arm.’
Like my new young friend, I think my favourite of all the birds who come to visit me in my garden is the red-breasted robin. He had such a knowing, friendly way about him, and to see him dropping litter from his little beak had pushed me so far over the edge that there was no going back. Whether Jonah thought it was a good idea or not, I had to see Callum and establish what part he’d had to play in the Cuckoo Land Homes development.
‘Sure,’ I say, pretending to understand, ‘I’ll come back another day. Not a problem.’
Jonah nods. ‘Are you all right for the quiz night this week?’
‘Yes, of course. I’m looking forward to it.’
‘Good. You’re a valued member of our team now, Ava.’
‘Thank you,’ I say, smiling at him. None of this was his fault. It was Callum I had issues with, not Jonah. ‘That’s kind of you to say. Right, we’d better be going. Merlin!’ Merlin appears from behind a bush, wagging his tail.
‘See you Thursday, then,’ I say to Jonah as he watches us go.
‘Yes, Thursday.’
When we’re the other side of the vicarage gate, I pretend to be clipping Merlin’s lead to his collar; but what I’m really doing is waiting for Jonah to kneel back down again to attend to his weeds, so I can head in the direction of the church without him knowing. When his head has finally disappeared from view, I turn and hurry with Merlin down the road towards the church.
The churchyard is quiet as we enter, but even the calm and tranquillity I immediately feel doesn’t knock my determination, and I walk with purpose along the path towards the church. I can hear birdsong coming from the treesdotted around the ancient gravestones, and this only helps to strengthen my resolve.
There’s the sound of banging coming from the back of the church, so we walk around the gravel path that encircles the ancient building, until we discover the source of the noise – a hot and sweaty-looking Callum hammering a nail into the side of one of the long wooden church pews.
Merlin pulls towards him, so I let him off his lead and he gallops over to Callum’s side.
‘Hello, you,’ Callum says, ceasing his hammering to ruffle Merlin’s head. He glances up with slightly less enthusiasm in my direction.
‘Hi,’ he says carefully. ‘Good to see you again.’
I can’t help but notice the damp patterns on Callum’s white T-shirt as it clings to his sweaty chest.
I swallow hard.No, Ava, this is not the time! Concentrate.
‘Is it?’ I ask airily. ‘You didn’t give me that impression the last time I saw you.’
Callum thinks about this. ‘Right . . . yes . . . Easter Sunday. Gosh, that seems like so long ago now.’
I wonder what he means.
‘It was just over a week ago, actually. Not that long.’
‘No, indeed. Not that long at all.’
