Summer Loving (12 page)

‘So what –’ Gill began.

‘Found a lump, didn’t he? If it had been any one of us we’d’ve been straight down to see the doc. But men don’t want to know so they pretend it isn’t happening –’ She burst into tears and dropped onto the sofa. ‘I’m all right.’

‘Course you are,’ Annie said, and passed Viv the tissue Jess handed to her.

‘I been that worried thinking he’d gone off me. And all the time –’ she wiped her eyes. ‘If I didn’t love ’n so much I could ’ve killed ’n for what he put me through.’

‘Has he seen someone about it?’ Annie asked.

‘Too bleddy right he have. I had ’n down the surgery next morning. Doctor was good as gold. He said Jimmy should have an appointment to see the oncology consultant within ten days.’ She blew her nose. ‘Where’s Claire? I thought we was choosing Mor’s wedding present tonight.’

‘She hasn’t phoned to say she can’t make it so she should be here any minute.’

Gill leaned forward to make space for the tea-filled mugs as Jess brought them over. ‘Linda Trewearn was in the post office this morning. Singing your praises she was, Jess. Cissie Cottrell was in the shop and I could see her coming closer trying to listen. Not that she needed to. Linda want everyone to know that little Jamie’s colour is one of they genetic ano-flukey things, and anyone who thought badly of Karen should be ashamed of themselves.’

They heard quick footsteps approaching up the path.

‘That’ll be Claire,’ Viv said.

After a brisk knock, Claire whirled in, closing the door behind her. ‘Hi, all. Sorry I’m late. I am so angry I could spit.’

‘Dear life, that’s some arrival,’ Annie said. ‘Here take the weight off.’ She moved up to make space on the sofa.

Claire sank onto the cushion and blew out a breath. ‘Thank God Mor isn’t here because I’ve got bad news. Paul has decided he can’t marry her and Ben after all.’

‘
What
?

‘You’re joking.’

‘I wish.’

‘Why ever not?’ Jess asked.

‘Ben is – or very soon will be – divorced, and Paul’s conscience won’t allow him to marry a divorced man in church.’

‘That’s not fair,’ Viv blurted. ‘Ben haven’t done nothing wrong.’

Gill nodded. ‘Michelle went off with someone else.’

‘I know the church used to be against any divorced person having a church wedding,’ Jess said. ‘But I thought that rule had been relaxed.’

‘Had to, didn’t they?’ Annie said. ‘Once they brought in this “no fault” divorce there was bound to be more people splitting up. I’ve never believed in this staying together for the sake of the children, especially when there’s violence or emotional abuse. But why should Mor suffer when Ben wasn’t the guilty party?’

‘You’re pushing on an open door, Annie,’ Claire said. ‘I feel exactly the same as you do. Honestly, I don’t know what’s got into him. The church
has
relaxed its ban on divorcees marrying in church. But even if the bishop has no objection, every vicar has the right to decide what happens in his – or her – parish. And Paul is against it. He says it’s nothing to do with Ben as a person. It’s the principle.’

‘I’m sure that’s a great comfort to us all,’ said Gill. ‘Sorry,’ she touched Claire’s arm. ‘It’s not your fault. You’re just the messenger.’

Jess got up to refill the kettle. ‘What will this do to Mor? It’s like another slap in the face.’

‘We’re not having that.’ Claire’s tone was flat. Jess and Annie exchanged a questioning glance.

‘It’s the only date we can have the reception in the village hall,’ Viv reminded. ‘It’s booked up every other weekend.’

Claire nodded. ‘I know. So I’ve got a plan. Ben and Mor are regular chapel-goers so they know the Methodist minister –’ her gaze sought Jess’s.

‘Reverend Eric Bowden,’ Jess supplied.

‘Someone should warn Mor and Ben before they receive Paul’s letter so it doesn’t come as another shock.’

‘By someone, I suppose you mean me?’ Jess eyed her.

‘Who better?’ Gill said.

‘She’s right.’ Viv nodded. ‘You seen her through all her troubles, Jess. She trusts you.’

‘All right, so Jess tells them. Then what?’ Annie wanted to know.

‘Then Mor and Ben must go and talk to Reverend Bowden. If the chapel hadn’t been damaged in the storm, he would have conducted their marriage there. That’s not possible now. But they don’t want a register office wedding. So they ask Reverend Bowden to ask Paul if he will permit him – Reverend Bowden – to conduct the marriage service in Polvellan church. That way Mor and Ben will have the religious wedding they want, and Paul doesn’t have to go against his conscience.’

‘Claire, that’s brilliant.’

Claire nodded. ‘It’s devious, but not a bad idea if I do say so myself.’

Jess returned to the worktop. ‘Do you think Paul will agree?’

‘He will if he knows what’s good for him. Pretend you didn’t hear that. But it ticks all the boxes so I can’t see any reason for him to refuse. I need tea, and –’ Her gaze fell on the raspberry and chocolate tart. ‘A
large
slice of that.’ She rummaged in her large shoulder bag. ‘You know we decided that as Mor already has a fully-furnished home we’d buy her and Ben something personal as a wedding gift?’ She handed Jess a slip of paper. ‘Switch on your laptop and let the others have look at these.’

‘It’s not the original one, is it?’ As soon as it booted up Jess entered the website address. ‘I know they’re beautiful but we’re all on limited incomes and –’

Claire shook her head. ‘This company offers a very similar range in sterling silver but at much lower prices.’

Gill and Annie moved plates out of the way, Jess set her laptop on the low table, and they all crowded round.

‘So, just to be clear,’ Gill said. ‘We all put £25 in the kitty towards Mor’s bracelet and Ben’s cuff-links as a joint gift from us all. Then each of us buys a little charm of our own choice for Mor?’

Claire looked round. ‘If everyone’s happy with that?’

‘I love that one,’ Viv pointed. ‘Dear life, look at them all. I could spend a fortune if I had one.’

‘I dearly love those pretty painted glass beads,’ Gill said.

‘I’m going to buy her an elephant,’ Annie announced.

‘Course you are.’ Viv peered at the screen.

‘In India, Ganesha is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati,’ Claire said. ‘He’s the god of prosperity and learning and a remover of obstacles in new undertakings.’

‘Well I never! How do you know all this weird stuff?’ Viv demanded.

‘She reads,’ Annie said.

‘That’s perfect for Mor, Annie.’ Gill smiled.

‘I read,’ Viv defended. ‘I dearly love my romances.’ Her mouth thinned. ‘But I’m tempted to have a go at murder.’

‘Anyone in particular?’ Gill enquired.

‘Brianna Pellow.’

‘I meant which author –’

‘Why, what’s she done?’

‘I shouldn’t really tell you –’

‘But you’re going to,’ Annie said.

‘You’re my friends. Who else would I tell? But you mustn’t breathe a word – though I bet Cissie Cottrell have been putting it abroad.’

‘What? What’s happened? Have I missed something?’ Gill asked.

As Claire caught her eye and they both hid a smile, Jess crossed to the sink to refill the kettle.

The End

Rachel’s Recipe

Cornish Fairings

4oz butter

4oz sugar

8oz plain flour

4tbsp golden syrup

½tsp salt

2tsp baking powder

2tsp bicarbonate of soda

2tsp mixed spice

3tsp ground ginger

1tsp cinnamon

(Some like to add the grated zest of a lemon)

Sieve together the flour, salt, spices, baking powder and bicarb. Rub in the butter and add the sugar. Spoon the syrup into a cup, stand it in shallow water in a pan and heat gently until the syrup is runny. Pour the liquid syrup into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Flour your hands and roll the mixture into small balls. Place these, well spaced out, on a greased baking tray. Bake at 400*F (200*C/gas mark 6) for ten to twelve minutes, moving them from the top to the bottom shelf the moment they begin to brown. Cool on a wire tray.

The Polvellan Mysteries

by

Rachel Ennis