Page 91 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘Why would what we just did be a problem?’ Callum asks. ‘From my perspective it was far from problematic!’
‘Don’t tease me,’ I say, sitting up a little so I’m level with him. ‘You know what I’m talking about.’
‘Are you talking about what I told you this afternoon? Or the fact I’m a vicar?’
‘Both, really. I mean, are you allowed to do what we just did?’
Callum smiles. ‘Let’s just say sex before marriage isn’t exactly encouraged in the Church of England. In fact, it’s positivelydiscouraged. But it happens – a lot more than anyone cares to admit. So, in answer to your question, I’m unlikely to be excommunicated for what we just did, unless we go around telling everyone about it – and I’m pretty sure you’re not going to do that, are you?’
I shake my head.
‘We’re good, then?’
‘Not quite. What about what you said earlier at the church . . . you know, about your pact . . . with him upstairs,’ I say eventually.
‘Yes, I’ve thought about that – an awful lot since I saw you earlier – and . . . I’m a bit embarrassed to tell you, actually . . . ’
‘Tell me what?’
‘That I asked for a sign,’ Callum says, looking uncomfortable. ‘After you left. A sign that would confirm to me that what I wanted so very much right now was all right. That I wasn’tgoing back on my word or letting him down. And you should know, Ava, Ineverask for signs.’
‘Why not?’
‘I think he’s got better things to be doing than sending me validation when I have a dilemma I don’t know the answer to. But you mean so much to me that I felt on this occasion I had no choice.’
‘And did you get one?’ I ask, wondering what could possibly have happened to make Callum change his mind. ‘A sign?’
Callum nods. ‘I did. I was walking around the outside of the church – pacing might be a better word for it – trying to figure out what was for the best – for everyone, I might add, not just myself. Then I saw two doves billing and cooing over each other, up on the church roof.’
I like the way Callum refers to it as billing and cooing. I just thought the two doves I’d seen earlier were a bit randy; well, the male one definitely was. But Callum’s way makes it seem much lovelier.
Was this his ‘sign’, though? I’d likely seen the same two doves this afternoon as well. I couldn’t tell him that, though, if he thought this was his sign from up above.
‘And that was your sign?’ I ask calmly. ‘The doves?’
‘No, although if I hadn’t seen the same two doves hanging around the church earlier, I might have thought it was – they seemed pretty loved up. No, my sign was much clearer than that, and some might say pretty unbelievable.’
What kind of miracle had taken place in Bluebell Wood this afternoon that Callum considered so amazing? After all, this was a person who believed Jesus fed five thousand people on five loaves and two fishes, and Moses parted the Red Sea.
‘Go on, then?’ I encourage, feeling quite apprehensive about what he was going to tell me.
‘The doves eventually flew off together, but not before one of them had dropped something right in front of me.’
‘They didn’t poop on you, did they? I know that’s supposed to be lucky but—’
‘No, of course they didn’t,’ Callum says, looking at me with disbelief. ‘Look, let me show you what they dropped instead of telling you. It’s in the pocket of my shirt.’
He looks around the bedroom for his blue shirt.
‘I think it got abandoned in the sitting room,’ I say, feeling a little embarrassed now. ‘Along with a few other items of our clothing.’
‘Ah yes, so it did. Wait there.’
Callum climbs out of bed, and without pulling anything around him hurries downstairs.
I pray no one can see through any of the cottage windows. But unless someone is camping out in my garden, I think he should be pretty safe.
He returns and climbs back into bed next to me.
