by Ivan B
Peter shook his head.
“When I first came I thought that I might be able to woo her again, but I soon realized I wouldn’t. You see when I came here it wasn’t the Jane I loved; it was the memory of Jane as she was all those years ago. She has moved on in twenty years and so have I. She is a different person from the Jane I knew then, not a bad person or an unlovable person; just not loveable by me.”
They sat in silence for a time.
“When did you get divorced?”
Peter shifted slightly on the bench.
“Four years ago. I know it sounds silly, but we just never got round to it. I wouldn’t pursue it because I always hoped that by some miracle I could turn the clock back; she never asked because she made vows to me that she didn’t want to finally break.”
“So why did you get divorced?”
Peter shook his head.
“I don’t know. Jane wrote to me asking if I would mind if we set the legal record straight and get divorced. We had been legally separated for so long it was an easy formality. I suspect that at the time she had a boyfriend who she hoped would pop the question, but it must have never happened.”
Peter paused again. “I would have told you earlier, but I promised Jane when we I arrived here that I would not complicate matters by being open about having been her husband. It would have done neither of us any good. But we also agreed that we would tell the other if we got to the stage in a relationship when we felt our new partner should know. I phoned her this afternoon. It’s odd how things work out as it turns out she would have phoned me from her side; she has a serious boyfriend too.”
Jo nodded.
“Tom.”
Peter looked at her amazed.
“You know?”
Jo laughed.
“Daphne’s Japanese is good, but it’s not that good. Sometimes we need help in translating idioms and Jane has helped us out. Last time she came in the shop she had Tom with her.”
Peter looked at his watch.
“We’d better go to the restaurant.”
“Scrub the restaurant, let’s stay here and talk, we can have fish and chips later.”
Peter pulled out his mobile and apologized to the restaurant. Then they sat in silence.
“I thought I loved Jane, but when I met you I found out what love really is.” He murmured.
He put his arm round her again. Jo snuggled into him.
“So have I.”
After about five minutes Jo poked his arm.
“You said two things.”
Peter laughed.
“The next one is easy, but I am embarrassed about it. I’m worth somewhere in the region of a quarter of a million pounds.”
Jo punched him on the arm.
“Not a poor parson then? Bwhy be embarrassed?”
“Because I haven’t worked for it. When my Father died he had a half share in a little engineering company with my Uncle Bob. Frankly I wasn’t bothered about it. Dad had also left me his house and that gave me enough money to fund my way through Theology College and put enough away for what I thought would be a reasonable pension. My uncle insisted that I formally sign for my dad’s share, so I did, I then totally forgot about it. My uncle sold his company two months ago and then sent me a cheque for just over £250,000. I tried to give it back, but he said that I had a 12% share in the company and was therefore entitled to the money. I’ve given away £30,000 of it, but the rest is tucked away in an ethical investment account.”
Jo snuggled back under his arm.
“So not just any old divorcee, but a rich divorcee. Any more skeletons?”
They sat looking at the sea for some time and then Peter surreptitiously glanced at his watch.
“Time to go?” asked Jo, “it is starting to get dark.”
“One more thing.” He said softly.
He reached in his pocket and pulled out a little box. He opened it and showed it to Jo. In it was a ruby engagement ring.
“I’d get down on one knee, but I’d probably have to get you to lift me up, will you?”
Jo grinned from ear to ear.
“Will I what?”
“Will you marry me?”
Jo flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“Of course I will! I thought you’d never ask!”
Jo put the ring on her finger, it fitted perfectly.
“I’m glad Danielle gave you the right ring for size,” she said mischievously.
Peter just laughed.
A little while later, before it got too dark, they walked back to the Land Rover, Jo sporting her new ring. When they climbed into the Land Rover, Peter reached under his seat and pulled out an oblong box about eight inches long.
“It’s funny, but I haven’t given you anything as a token of my love.”
Jo waved her engagement ring and grinned. Peter ploughed on, obviously bashful.
“But I got you these.”
He handed over the box and Jo opened it. She stared at it for some time, long enough for Peter to feel unfomfortable.
“Don’t you like them?”
“Peter they’re wonderful.”
“The necklace is the nearest thing I could get to your Mother’s bracelet.” He said.
“Necklace?”
“Yes, necklace.”
Jo dissolved into a fit of the giggles and eventually fingered the article in question.
“You must think I’m very thin, it’s a choker.”
Now it was Peter’s turn to play echo.
“Choker?”
Jo took it from the box and held it up to her neck, rather than lie at the bottom of her neck as Peter had envisaged, it fitted around her Adam’s apple.
“See”, she said, “the connection between each stone is a sort of spring so that it can expand and fit any size neck.”
She put it back in the box.
“These,” she said pointing to three little pieces each mounted with a small ruby. “Are for use in the face, and this lone piece is an earring.”
She studied it closely and then looked at her engagement ring,
“Oh, they’re an exact pair.” And with that she flung her arms round Peter’s neck and kissed him.
When they separated Peter said to Jo, somewhat hesitantly.
“I don’t suppose you’d put that earring here,” and he rubbed the top of her left ear.
“Where the gold ring is?”
“Yes.”
“And what’s wrong with the gold ring?”
Peter opened his mouth to reply, but Jo dissolved into another fit of giggles. She took the gold-ring out of her ear and put the ruby mounted gold stud in its place. She leant over and looked in the mirror.
“Oh Peter, it’s beautiful.”
She turned to face him.
“They must have cost a fortune. All those rubies and I assume decent gold mounts. Don’t forget I know what this sort of stuff costs.”
Peter gave a foolish grin.
“Twenty-four carat gold mounts, and your worth it.”
They kissed again and Peter, conscious of the time, started the engine. They drove to the fish and chip shop and then to Jo’s. Peter was happy to go inside because he knew Danielle would be there. As they went in Louise came out. Peter noticed that Jo stayed in the doorway until she was sure that Louise was safely inside her own house, and then she came inside. They unwrapped the fish and chips and Danielle appeared.
Did you buy me some?”
“No, remember you are slimming.” Jo replied while nibbling on a chip.
Danielle’s face fell slightly. Jo then passed her a portion of fish and chips; Danielle looked at Peter.
“How do you stand her?”
They ate their food in a sort of silence punctuated by the odd phrase between Jo and Danielle:
“Have a good day?”
“Mmmm.”
“Got the party planned?”
“Sort of.”
“Ready for school tomorrow?”
/>
“Will be.”
Danielle suddenly stopped eating and looked at her mum.
“New earring?”
“Yes,” said Jo, “it matches this.”
She waved the engagement ring under Danielle’s nose. Danielle’s eyes widened. She looked at Peter.
“You’ve only gone and done it?”
She looked back at her mum, and then she stood up and kissed her on the cheek, “congrats mum.”
Danielle sat down and resumed eating.
“So when’s the great day and am I going to be a bridesmaid or not?”
The following morning Cameron’s disappearing trick was all over the front of the local newspaper, or rather his attempted disappearing trick. According to the paper the police had had an anonymous tip-off and located Cameron on the Harwich-Denmark ferry. When the ferry docked at Esjberg, the Danish Customs were waiting on the quayside and they stopped Cameron before he went through customs. He was now still on the ferry and on his way back, but now accompanied by two members of the Danish police. The paper also said one other interesting thing, they had located Celine De Bere in Cape Town and it was obvious that she had no idea of her husband’s shenanigans. Peter spent the rest of the morning finishing his wedding address for the evening and running through his administration. At about twelve o’clock the phone rang; it was Kimberley.
“Hello Father.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Oh yes. I’m just about to take an afternoon nap.”
Kimberley hesitated and Peter wondered what was coming.
“You know that we said that we’re not having a reception just now because I don’t think I could cope with it and that Damian and my parents and Tracy and Jeremy were having a take away Chinese after the wedding and that you were welcome?”
“Yes.”
“I wouldn’t mind if you bought your fiancée too.”
Peter was amazed at the speed and efficiency of the jungle drums.
“That’s very kind. I’ll ask her.”
Kimberley hesitated for a moment.
“And congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Peter phoned Jo at the shop, but she was halfway through a massage so Daphne took a message. She also offered congratulations.
“News certainly travels fast around here.” Peter remarked.
Daphne just laughed.
Peter had some lunch and then drove to Woodbridge; somehow he’d managed to break the lens on one of his rear lights and he needed a replacement lens. As Peter drove out of the garage after the quick repair he saw Danielle and Louise standing at a bus stop with their saxophone cases. He was also certain that he saw a cigarette arcing into the bushes. He stopped and asked them what they were doing in Woodbridge. They replied that they had been auditioning for the schools county band at the local high school and were now on their way home. As there were two of them Peter offered them a lift. As Danielle showed Louise all the hidden gadgets under the seats Peter had an idea.
“Do you two remember Mrs. Marten?”
Louise answered first.
“You mean Mrs. Marten from junior school?”
“Yes.”
“I’m about to pop in and visit her as she is not well. She always likes seeing her old pupils would you like to drop in with me.”
He then added, “It’s not compulsory.”
“OK, why not,” Said Danielle.
“We used to call her the chimney because she was always nipping off for a quick fag in the toilets.” Remarked Louise.
Peter pulled up at Mrs. Marten’s house on the outskirts of Felburgh and they went inside. Mrs. Marten was sitting in her old armchair connected to an oxygen cylinder. Her skin was the colour of yellowing parchment and her breath, even with the oxygen assistance, came in wheezes. She was delighted to see the girls and got them to talk about what they were doing and what they wanted to do. Every now and then she would stop for a not so quick lung-churning cough. They stayed for just over half an hour and then they left.
Louise said, “What happened to her?”
Peter replied, “Cigarettes.”
Danielle turned a sort of green colour and was promptly sick in the gutter.
They drove to Danielle’s home in silence and she shot out of the Rover like a jack-rabbit, just about muttering a thank you as she left. Louise’s exit was slower, but only just.
Later that afternoon Kimberley and Damian’s wedding went off smoothly. It was a totally different affair from the first fiasco. The Crippler’s did arrive in force, but they were all stone cold sober. Most of the congregation from The Fisherman’s Friend also came, including Taffy. Peter was also pleased to see a fair smattering of his normal church congregation, including, of course, Bunty and Harriet. There was just one anxious moment: when Peter got to the blessing after the vows it suddenly occurred to him that Kimberley may not be able to kneel safety, so decided on a totally different alternative. Instead of having the couple kneel he had them hold hands and he held their hands up high above their heads as he blessed them in a sort of triumphal pose. When he got to the section of the blessing where he said, “I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife” the congregation erupted into cheers and clapping. During the signing of the register Peter could just hear Tracy singing ‘Love Me Tender, Love Me True’, it somehow seemed rather fitting.
Afterwards, as Peter and Jo were walking arm in arm to Kimberley’s parent’s house Jo commented.
“I hear from my daughter that you employed some shock tactics this afternoon.”
Peter replied, hesitantly.
“I’m sorry; I thought it was a good idea, but I didn’t quite expect the reaction it caused.”
She squeezed his arm.
“Peter, she’s only fourteen. You may deal with seriously ill people all the time, but the only dead thing she has seen is her guinea pig, and she cried on and off for two days after that.”
“I’ll apologize to her.”
“Don’t you dare! She’s not upset because she thinks you set her up, she’s upset because you treated her like an adult, she made it quite clear to me that you gave her the choice, and she blew it.”
Jo paused, and squeezed his arm again.
“But next time Peter please try running the idea through me first.”
“Sorry. I usually run in where angels fear to tread.”
They walked a few more steps.
“She told you all about it?”
“Didn’t have much choice. I happened to be in when she dashed into the lounge and promptly threw up in the kitchen sink. She then confessed all. I think it will be some time before she can look a cigarette in the face again.”
“Do you know if Louise is all right?”
“Much the same effect, but her mum is dead chuffed. They had been having rows about smoking with Louise saying that it was a personal choice. One she thinks Louise will no longer pursue.”
Jo squeezed Peter’s arm hard.
“You got away with it this time matey, but in the future…”
“OK,” said Peter, “I’ve got the message.”
As they arrived at the house, Jo suddenly stopped.
“Oh, I’d better warn you. Margaret and Sid will probably invite you to dinner soon, look upon it as being vetted for suitability. Sid is threatening to ask you if your intentions are honourable!”
Before Peter could reply Kimberley opened the door and grabbed Jo’s hand and said, “Congratulations, after Damian you’ve got the best man in Felburgh.”
Thursday’s paper was full of the gory details of Cameron’s demise. According to the reporter (Peter noticed that it was Hannah and that she had been given a by-line) Cameron had not lost his client’s money as first thought, but he had transferred it all to a bank in Denmark. In Denmark he also owned a flat in which was a mistress half his age. The police had remarked that he had covered his tracks exceptionally well and would probably have got away with it had it not been for the a
nonymous call about checking the ferry. Celine and the children were said to be on their way home. Peter felt for them; he knew he would have to go round and visit, but he had absolutely no idea how to approach it. He discussed the problem with Jo over coffee, but she said that she had no idea either, apart from showing them general support. But Jo did say one interesting thing that Peter had not considered; she had pointed out that Celine was a victim of Cameron and not a co-conspirator, but that would not stop her feeling guilty as well as let down by her husband.
When they had finished discussing Cameron, Jo said softly.
“Peter I have been wandering around the house with different eyes. When we get married this will be my home. I know I said I would always support you in your ministry, but if I’m honest I don’t think I will be able to cope with the Mothers and Toddlers Group in my lounge. It feels like an invasion of privacy that is one step too far.”
Peter took her into the hall and they sat on the pew.
“That problems solved; the Mothers and Toddlers have their last meeting here on Monday, after that they are moving into the church. But it’s not just that is it?”
Jo shook her head.
“I suppose I’m being selfish, but if this is our home I want it to be our home and not a transit camp. There’s also Danielle. It’s going to be a huge upheaval for her regardless of what she says about being gone in four years. She’s had me exclusively all her life and now she will have to share me. She will need her own space and her own family privacy.”
Peter nodded.
“It’s always a problem I have never had to face, but my colleagues all moan about it. It’s their home and their place of work and the two don’t always intermingle well. I have thought about it and come to the same conclusion as you, the lounge must be ours and ours alone. However, I would like the use of the sitting room during the day, it makes a good place to see people.”
Jo kissed him on the cheek and Peter .
“I’ve also been thinking about upstairs and the main Bedroom…” Peter said till Jo stopped him by touching his hand.
“Correct me if I’m wrong but the main bedroom is the only one with a south facing window?” She said.
Peter nodded, Jo continued, “Then don’t move that lovely equipment, I’d rather sleep in a back room anyway. We can give Danielle the other back room and use you current bedroom as a spare room.”