“That’s what the Christian life is all about.”
“Now you sound just like your Dad.”
Emma smiled to herself as Jansy bid her farewell. What a compliment; to be compared to Dad. Thankyou, Lord, for Your work of grace. And thankyou, too, that I am fulfilling my dreams in a way I could never have imagined. I’m marrying the most wonderful man who loves me unreservedly. I am teaching children at school in my own village and I have the opportunity to indulge my artistic flair when I dress the shop windows just as I please and to cap it all I am carrying on the family tradition of running the Village Stores.
When her friend had gone Emma reflected that not once had the conversation included any aspect of Jansy’s life, it had all centred on her and Roger, their marriage and future together. Even when Aunt Maisie had mentioned that she still had Jansy’s wedding dress cluttering up hanging-space and it was about time she made use of it, did Jansy refer to Dave or the past.
In fact, seldom did anyone else in the village refer to Dave Ransome. He was still away from the village, fishing off the coast out of Brixham. Although his trips home had been very scarce over the last few months he faithfully kept in touch with his sister, Rachel and her husband, Ben.
“He’s heard nothing at all from Jansy,” Rachel confided to Emma, “and it appears on the surface that all ties between them are severed but when I last spoke with Dave he said ‘I can’t forget her, my heart still beats fast at every remembrance of her.’ ”
Dear Father God, I pray for my two friends who were once so close to You, and one another.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The morning of the wedding dawned through an autumnal haze. The chilliness of the air did not deter Emma from putting on her thick fleece and slipping out of the back door into the garden of Green Pastures. Retracing the steps of six months earlier, which she had taken with Roger following her graduation, Emma recalled with clarity the moment when, at the end of her graduation day, he so romantically proposed to her.
On reaching the river she stood in quiet contemplation at the water’s edge and savoured, with gratitude, all that had taken place in her life since the start of the year. She recalled the tragedy that had taken the lives of both her parents and turned her own life up-side-down. How Mum would have revelled in the preparations for this day and Dad would have spruced himself up to look important as the proud Father of the bride. ‘I’ll even close the Stores for you m’girl’ she could almost hear him tease. Tears spilled unbidden down her cheeks. She looked out across the water but saw nothing but the dearly loved faces of those precious people in the picture of her mind. Time seemed to hang suspended till other images nudged her memory and flickered into the frame.
The struggle of balancing study with the day to day running of the Village Stores; the supportive staff, Rosalie and Jilly who willingly went the extra mile; the decisions and new initiatives that overnight became her responsibility; the compassion and loyalty of friends and family, Alex and Graeme, Aunt Bernice and Uncle Roy and so, so, many more; the aggro with Drew and Morag; the anxiety created by obnoxious strangers and a possible takeover; the clearance of Kezia’s Wood and the astonishing finds that were being unearthed, all tumbled into view, vying for her attention.
Then she remembered Roger; remembered how he had stood in this spot and held her hand and vowed, ‘I love you now, my dearest Emma, and I will love you for always.’ He had then lovingly embraced her and sealed his declaration with a tender kiss. Never would she forget his next words. ‘You are very desirable, my luscious Carrots, but that loveliness is not mine to share until our wedding day.’
Now, today was The Day. Her heart sang. Briskly she returned along the pathway, in order to commence her preparations for celebrating the day, to be greeted on the doorstep by Aunt Bernice with arms opened wide.
“Dearest Aunt Bernice what would I do without you?” Emma said as she accepted the warm, motherly embrace offered to her.
Bernice kissed her niece’s head as she held her close. “My dear girl, God gives us each other for times such as these.”
Emma sniffled as tears threatened to tumble down her cheeks as emotions rose to the surface.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that He gave me you and Uncle Roy, you’ve been my rock during the last few months,” she whispered hoarsely.
Bernice hugged her tightly. “That’s what family is for.”
However, for Jansy, the day of the wedding was a strain. She had made no contact with Dave during their estrangement but seeing the radiant happiness of her brother and her friend, as they pledged vows to one another to last a life-time, confirmed in her heart what she had blatantly thrown away. Keeping up the pretence, that all was well, proved very difficult.
Unknowingly, over the last few months, Jansy had become unwittingly entangled with an unscrupulous young House Doctor, who along with a colleague, abused Jansy’s trust and undermined her professional integrity. However, it was quite some time before Jansy became aware of any misconduct.
She had reached the pinnacle to which she aspired and attained her Sister’s post on the paediatric ward. Always meticulous in her paperwork she picked up on discrepancies in the drug records that she couldn’t account for so, reported her findings to the management. The furore that followed was messy. When Jansy learned that the culprits were Doctors Stead and Hollis she was mortified. She was annoyed that someone she trusted had so treacherously planned to dupe and deceive her.
Although she was not directly implicated the incident still tainted Jansy and her position. I’ve been such a fool. Whatever will Dad say about my stupidity? She was so ashamed and hoped that her parents would not hear of her predicament, at least, until it was all sorted out. She certainly didn’t want anything to leak out at the wedding.
Seated at the top table enabled her to remain aloof from inquisitive friends and relatives. However, the interval between the Wedding Breakfast and the informal celebration on The Green in the evening was proving a problem till Stephen came up to her and said, “Jans, would you like to see the progress we’ve made in Kezia’s Wood?”
“I’d love to see what you’ve been up to. Let me just pick up my stole I think it may be a little chilly outside.”
“You look good, Sis. That colour suits you.”
“Thanks, Bro, you don’t look so bad yourself in a suit and that tuxedo is simply fab,” she complimented, knowing the difficult task Emma and Roger had had to persuade Stephen to wear such formal attire.
As they walked arm in arm away from the church hall Jansy quietly commented, “I understand, amongst other things, you’ve taken up prison visiting, Bro.”
Stephen shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Not really, just helping out a mate.”
“I’ve heard there’s more to it than that. It seems Josh has turned over a new leaf since you started to visit him regularly,” Jansy persisted.
Stephen shunned the plaudits directed at him over the change in Josh’s behaviour so didn’t willingly respond to his sister’s inquisitiveness about his involvement with Josh’s rehabilitation so muttered, “I simply suggested he channel his skills in more positive ways and get involved in the learning programme on offer at the institute and he took me up on the challenge.”
“That’s great, Bro’,” she congratulated.
“Oh, shush, Jans, it’s nothing.”
“OK, OK, so you don’t want to talk about Josh but what can you tell me about your other venture?”
The change in Stephen was palpable. As they continued walking down the lane to the site he chatted animatedly about the project their father had instigated. “For a depth of about twenty metres, the right hand side of the site has been cleared, along Main Street down to what appears to be a cobbled lane. All intact, lovely old, original cobblestones, probably straight off the beach. It’s taking longer than was first planned because it’s unknown territory and both Dad and Lord Edmund are anxious that nothing gets destroyed needlessly. The College boy
s had to stop coming because of exams but there’s been stacks of support from the village.
“They’ve discovered important trees and shrubs and also a rare orchid. I think that’s why Dad insisted on Chit supervising, because he’s knowledgeable about arboretal things, rather than have builders simply bulldozing their way through.
“Two weeks ago we found a wall. Turned out to be an outhouse and then to his horror Ryan stumbled into an earth closet as he was pulling at some brambles. He was even less enamoured when an irate mother rat scurried out underneath his twisted legs. The door had fallen off its hinges and bracken and brambles had shrouded it for years but it’s good solid wood so I hope eventually to do something with it.”
“It all sounds really good,” said Jansy when she could get a word in.
They sauntered passed the shrubs and trees on their left hand side. “It’s amazing how big the area is,” said Stephen gesticulating with his arms the width and breadth of the site.
“Well, here we are,” he indicated a clearing between the woods and a thatched property to the right.
“A cobbled lane here, too?” Jansy nodded towards a pebbled pathway emerging from the undergrowth to the right of the cleared area.
“Yes, isn’t it exciting? We’re not sure if this is on our land or…”
“Our land? Whatever do you mean?”
“Well, Dad had this idea to buy the land for my 21st Birthday with a view to me developing whatever was found into a woodwork studio and a storage place for all my books but Adam discovered that the land actually belongs to the descendents of Annie Kemp, which, in effect, is most of the village so Dad couldn’t purchase it. However, the property at the end of the row seems to have been deeded to Alex and Emma’s Great, Great Grandmother, so pro tem I have a temporary lease until the legal boffins sort out all the official jargon.”
“What an exciting project!”
“It is and new things are emerging every day. As I said earlier we’re unsure whether the cobbled lane is on this property or belongs to the cottage next door or may even be a public roadway because it’s been hidden for years. But can’t you imagine a cart and horse plodding down here?”
“You’re right, it seems very atmospheric, almost as though we’ve been transported back a 100 years or more in time.”
“I’m glad you can sense that, too. I sometimes feel I’m the only one who feels the history of this place so many just want to see the area cleared. Adam has also unearthed an ancient map of the village which suggests a row of properties on this site. We think, maybe, built from east to west.”
“That is exciting. I’ve love to see that.”
“It’s being treated like gold dust at the moment. He found it in Mr Capps-Walker’s grandfather’s old files that had gathered dust in the attic in his office building in Norwich.”
“What an astonishing find.”
“I won’t suggest you walk on the soil in case you spoil your wedding shoes but if you can manage the cobbles I’d like to show you our latest find.” Excitedly Stephen tucked his sister’s arm through his and supported her on the uneven surface. Slowly they made their way along the bumpy pathway till they reached a spot where a large cobbled area stretched out to the left like a courtyard before a single story building. It didn’t appear to have doors or windows, had many bricks missing from the walls but presented as a wide, open space that stretched a long way back to another wall under roofless rafters.
Jansy raised her eyebrows. “I see you’re opting for healthy outdoor living,” she teased.
Stephen grinned. “No, I’m still kipping down at the UEA midweek and lodging with Mum and Dad at weekends.”
Eagerly he pulled his sister forward then, knelt down on one knee spread out his arms before the derelict building and said dramatically, “Behold, my carpentry showroom!” He turned back to look at Jansy and said sheepishly, “Well, at least my woodwork shop in embryonic form.”
“You are such a joker, Stephen, but dream on.”
“You’ve got no imagination, Jans.”
“No need, you’ve got enough for both of us.”
Stephen got up and enthusiastically pulled her nearer to the building. “Look closer, what can you see?”
Jansy stepped forward but Stephen grabbed her arm protectively, “Not too close, we’ve had to erect an electric fence to protect the property from looters.”
“Looters?” she exclaimed.
“Yes, looters! What do you think this is?”
Jansy shook her head, “I’ve absolutely no idea.”
“A blacksmiths.”
“Really?”
“Yes, look there’s the chimney and place for the fire and anvil. This courtyard is where they brought the horses to be shoed by the farrier. We found all the implements and tools that would have been used in a smithy. I got Jilly Briggs brother-in-law, Rob Hawksworth, to come and photograph everything in situ as soon as articles were found, thankfully, because the following night we found a couple of fellows with a van trying to take everything away, hence the reason for the electric fence. As soon as Lord Edmund heard about it he offered us a disused stable in which to store all the finds. Someone from the Museum service came to identify, date and value them. They wanted to take them away but the PC objected most vociferously. So, they’re under lock and key up at the Manor until the project is complete and it is decided how best to display them.”
“Display them?”
“Yes, they’re a valuable part of the history of our village. There’s still a lot of practical work to be done as you can see but also an awful lot of research about this parcel of land we are rediscovering. The more I think about it the more I would like to display the history of our village in a living museum.”
“Stephen, that’s quite an undertaking.”
“I know and I can’t do anything about it until we have unearthed all the secrets this tangled jungle holds.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
By the following spring Laura Catton had made tremendous progress in her walking and talking but her right side was still proving difficult to respond. Daily, Adam patiently, yet persistently, took her through her exercises to increase her arm and leg movement and improve her coordination.
“Come on, Sweetheart, one more time. That’s good,” he lovingly encouraged.
Laura grimaced. At times she became exasperated with his doggedness but when they assessed how far she had come in the last year they shared tears of joy and thankfulness. Her speech too, was improving and Laura felt relief because she was able to make herself understood after months of frustration.
Together, they gave thanks to God for the encouraging signs of recovery. Laura looked up at Adam affectionately and put out her left hand to touch his face. “I-l-lo-love you. Th-th-thankyou for b- be-being so d-de-t-termined and m-ma-making me p-p-persevere. I-th-think on my own I w-w-would have g-gi-given up l-l-long ago.”
“Not you,” Adam held her flaccid right hand between his hands and gently massaged it, then tenderly lifted it to his lips. “I w-w-would, you know!” She grinned lopsidedly.
One day Ben called in to discuss further alterations that were needed to enable Laura to get around the house more freely. He quickly drafted the areas where more ramps and handrails were required on to his laptop, and then asked Adam, “What’s that lean-to on the left hand side of house?”
“Oh, that’s Dad’s old office. My mother had it sealed up after he died. I’ve never given it any thought.”
“Is the door still there?” Ben began to run an expert hand across the wall of the lounge tapping and listening as he did so.
“Might be, I’ll send her an email. After being a widow for almost ten years she remarried six years ago, as you know, and is now living in Canada as the wife of James MacDonald Todd. She gave the house over to Laura and me on her marriage. I guess she never thought of a time when we might require that space.” Adam refrained from adding that Mr Todd had insisted he pay his Mother the market price
for the property even though it was his inheritance by right as the only son of his Father. Had he been acting on behalf of clients Adam would have fought tooth and nail to uphold their entitlement but his Mother seemed so happy with the new man in her life he acquiesced because he didn’t want to create unnecessary friction between them. The loan he had taken out to meet this commitment was the reason for his current depleted funds.
“Mmm! I think it could be just here.” Ben’s fingers tapped a section of the wall to the left of the chimney breast which made a different sound.
“You could be right.”
“I’ll leave you to make contact about gaining access then, Adam, but I think that’s valuable space you could bring into family use. For instance, your computer desk could be moved into there, book shelves built to line the walls to accommodate all your books, files and the like, and as the children get older provide a quieter place to do homework, and so open up the lounge area more for sitting and relaxing.”
“You’re always forward looking, Ben.”
“I suppose in my job aiming to utilize all available space becomes a habit. Talking of which, have you any plans for the outhouses next to the kitchen, what looks like the old coal shed and washhouse?”
“Not given them any thought, to be honest.”
“Shall we go and have a look at them? I have one or two ideas that you might like to consider.”
“C-ca-can I c-come, too?”
“Yes, please do Laura. Perhaps you can keep us from making any too outlandish suggestions.”
Laura smiled and hooked her good arm through Adam’s extended one and accompanied the men through the open glass sliding doors that led from the dining area to the conservatory. Ben turned to the right, undid the French window, and stepped out on to the patio.
“Do you like where we repositioned your French windows, Laura?”
Out of My Depth Page 19