time Derek wondered what words to use. The Book of Common Prayer, the original version, supplied him.
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
… the ancient words sounded exactly right and appropriate, and Jeremy said a heartfelt ‘Amen’ at the end. They rose from their knees, and Derek recalled little Peter from his frolicking with the two young men. He and Jeremy shook hands. ‘One day at a time, old chap,’ he whispered.
It had been a good move.
Christmas was over, and the New Year yet to come. Mary Whittaker rang the doorbell of 25 Angel Close, half-hoping that Miss Johnson would not be in, but intent on doing her duty as a churchwarden. Beryl came to the door and stared blankly at her visitor.
Mary smiled. ‘Ah, Beryl, I’m glad to find you at home. Would it be convenient for me to come in and have a little chat? I won’t keep you long.’
‘All right, yes, er – Mrs Whittaker.’ Beryl opened the door and showed her visitor into a rather chilly living room, where Mary at once saw a photograph of the Vicar on top of the piano. Beryl noticed her glance, but said only, ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’
‘No, don’t bother. If we could just sit down for a few minutes, I want to know how you are, my dear.Tell me, how are you feeling now, Beryl? I mean after that little spot of bother on Christmas morning? Have you recovered? Forgive me, I don’t want to pry, but I’ve been very concerned about you, and so has Mrs Maynard.’
‘Yes, she brought me home in her car,’ said Beryl dully.
‘Yes. You do realise, don’t you, Beryl, that such a scene was very embarrassing, not only to the vicar but to Mrs Bolt and their two nearly grown-up sons. It really mustn’t happen again, you know.’
There was a pause before Beryl answered in the same flat tone, ‘The only way to stop it happening again is to stay away from the church, and that I’m not going to do.’
‘I’m sure nobody wants to make you feel an outcast, Beryl, though it might be a good idea to attend another church for a while. There’s the Methodist church in Everham, that’s very well attended, especially since Mr Peacock arrived – remember Christmas Eve, when his baby girl was born?’
Mary gave a little chuckle, but Beryl stared at the floor and did not reply.
‘Beryl dear, would you like to confide in me about how you feel? I promise you that it will go no further than this room, and you’d probably feel better if you can talk about it.’
She waited, and Beryl appeared to be debating within herself how to reply, but in fact she wasexercising a rigid self-control. Mary tried again.
‘We all know what a sad time you’ve had over the last year, Beryl, nursing your dear mother for so long, and then losing her and having to cope with all the formalities, the funeral and – everything. We all felt for you. Your brother came over from Canada, didn’t he?’
Beryl’s self-control suddenly gave way. ‘Yes, George came over, not that it affected
him
that much. He’s got his wife and kids, and kept telling me how much he missed them, couldn’t wait to get back to Ontario. Not like Mr Bolt!’ Her pale face flushed, and her voice rose. ‘
He
held me in his arms and kissed me. He comforted me as nobody else did, and I’ll never forget the feel of his arms around me, and the touch of his lips on my cheek! How can you wonder that I love him? How could I not? I adore him, he’s the love of my life, as God sees and knows. I don’t want to go to the Methodists, I want to go where I can see
him
, listen to him – I know you mean well, but you’ll never understand a love like this!’
Mary was taken aback, for this was a confession indeed, and she needed to proceed with caution. She got up from her chair, and went to place a hand on Beryl’s shoulder.
‘But my dear Beryl, he’s a consecrated man of the church, a married man with a
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
… the ancient words sounded exactly right and appropriate, and Jeremy said a heartfelt ‘Amen’ at the end. They rose from their knees, and Derek recalled little Peter from his frolicking with the two young men. He and Jeremy shook hands. ‘One day at a time, old chap,’ he whispered.
It had been a good move.
Christmas was over, and the New Year yet to come. Mary Whittaker rang the doorbell of 25 Angel Close, half-hoping that Miss Johnson would not be in, but intent on doing her duty as a churchwarden. Beryl came to the door and stared blankly at her visitor.
Mary smiled. ‘Ah, Beryl, I’m glad to find you at home. Would it be convenient for me to come in and have a little chat? I won’t keep you long.’
‘All right, yes, er – Mrs Whittaker.’ Beryl opened the door and showed her visitor into a rather chilly living room, where Mary at once saw a photograph of the Vicar on top of the piano. Beryl noticed her glance, but said only, ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’
‘No, don’t bother. If we could just sit down for a few minutes, I want to know how you are, my dear.Tell me, how are you feeling now, Beryl? I mean after that little spot of bother on Christmas morning? Have you recovered? Forgive me, I don’t want to pry, but I’ve been very concerned about you, and so has Mrs Maynard.’
‘Yes, she brought me home in her car,’ said Beryl dully.
‘Yes. You do realise, don’t you, Beryl, that such a scene was very embarrassing, not only to the vicar but to Mrs Bolt and their two nearly grown-up sons. It really mustn’t happen again, you know.’
There was a pause before Beryl answered in the same flat tone, ‘The only way to stop it happening again is to stay away from the church, and that I’m not going to do.’
‘I’m sure nobody wants to make you feel an outcast, Beryl, though it might be a good idea to attend another church for a while. There’s the Methodist church in Everham, that’s very well attended, especially since Mr Peacock arrived – remember Christmas Eve, when his baby girl was born?’
Mary gave a little chuckle, but Beryl stared at the floor and did not reply.
‘Beryl dear, would you like to confide in me about how you feel? I promise you that it will go no further than this room, and you’d probably feel better if you can talk about it.’
She waited, and Beryl appeared to be debating within herself how to reply, but in fact she wasexercising a rigid self-control. Mary tried again.
‘We all know what a sad time you’ve had over the last year, Beryl, nursing your dear mother for so long, and then losing her and having to cope with all the formalities, the funeral and – everything. We all felt for you. Your brother came over from Canada, didn’t he?’
Beryl’s self-control suddenly gave way. ‘Yes, George came over, not that it affected
him
that much. He’s got his wife and kids, and kept telling me how much he missed them, couldn’t wait to get back to Ontario. Not like Mr Bolt!’ Her pale face flushed, and her voice rose. ‘
He
held me in his arms and kissed me. He comforted me as nobody else did, and I’ll never forget the feel of his arms around me, and the touch of his lips on my cheek! How can you wonder that I love him? How could I not? I adore him, he’s the love of my life, as God sees and knows. I don’t want to go to the Methodists, I want to go where I can see
him
, listen to him – I know you mean well, but you’ll never understand a love like this!’
Mary was taken aback, for this was a confession indeed, and she needed to proceed with caution. She got up from her chair, and went to place a hand on Beryl’s shoulder.
‘But my dear Beryl, he’s a consecrated man of the church, a married man with a
Similar Books
