“RK reported the incident that took place in her garden and was given police protection until the men were apprehended. This was because police intelligence, having ruled out Joe and Josh Cook as the perpetrators of the Kemp murders, found that growing evidence pointed to the possible involvement of drug and trafficking smugglers in the car ‘accident’. Witnesses to their illegal activities proved to be a threat and had to be eliminated.
“I’ve only recently been able to piece together some parts of the jigsaw because for quite a time I had all but severed my links with the village so was unaware of the connection between furtive goings-on in Newton Westerby and missing drugs on the paediatric ward in the hospital. Nor was I aware that you had been attacked because you’d seen Billy with his dealers. It’s a shock to learn we’ve both been caught up in his net of deceit.”
“My dearest girl, I’m sorry you’ve had to cope with such humiliation on your own.”
Tears flowed uncontrollably down Jansy’s cheeks.
“Oh Dave, don’t be nice to me. I treated you horribly and all you did was show how much you cared.”
Dave moved closer to Jansy and touched her cheek. “I could never hate you, Jans. There’s a great deal of difference between you, Billy and Doctors Hollis and Stead.” Tenderly he lifted her tear stained face to look into his.
“There is?”
“Certainly; Billy, Stead and Hollis seem to be totally unrepentant of their actions and how they have impacted upon other people,” Dave said solemnly. “Whereas, with you, I see nothing but regret over the way you acted. I also see genuine sorrow for your behaviour towards your friends and family, and even me. In fact, I see a transformation in you and a real desire to be different.”
“You do?” Jansy whispered.
“Absolutely!”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I can see it in your eyes. There is a new radiance about you and you seem to be at peace with yourself and those about you. When you speak you say what you mean rather than take your time to weigh up what you think people want to hear before speaking.”
“How right you are! I always knew the correct jargon and developed a mask for churchified situations. I wanted people to think well of me.”
“Not until the challenge of conflict came into your life did that mask drop.”
“You’re so right. It was hard to continue pretending when what I wanted was not in accord with what God directed. Mrs Darnell saw through me and realized how false I was because she told me in no uncertain terms that in pretending Christianity I was deceiving you, God and myself.”
“Is that why you shut me out and ran away?”
“Yes, I couldn’t face being found out and the last thing I wanted was for you to know I was a fraud.”
“Was loving me all pretence?”
“Oh, no Dave, I genuinely loved you but my selfish ambition wouldn’t let me put God first in my life or consider your hopes and happiness above my own.”
“My dear Jans!”
“I deeply regret hurting you, Dave. I know God has forgiven me and my salvation is real. I’ve been amazed at how differently I now view things.”
“For the better?”
“Yes, I realise there can be no place for pretence in my relationship with God, with you or anyone else, for that matter.”
Dave’s face gave nothing away as his hands came gently to her shoulders. He bent forward and tenderly kissed her cheek. “I love you, Jansy.”
Jansy looked across the garden through glistening, unseeing eyes. She then turned back to Dave, brushed a hand across her face, in an attempt to stem the flow.
“I wanted to be free to do what I wanted to do but in all I achieved I was still restless and, so often, quite out of my depth. Now through God’s grace I’ve learned what true freedom is.” The words were uttered in a great rush.
Dave reached to take her hand, “My dearest girl, I am so very happy for you.”
Eagerly he reached to take both her hands into his, “Shall we start again?”
Jansy moved with a start, “Oh, no, Dave.”
“Jans? Please explain,” implored Dave, his face furrowed with consternation.
“We can’t go back to the beginning, that would be a backwood step, but we can move forward and build on the lessons we have learned, together,” Jansy’s eyes shone.
“You mean get married?”
“Yes, please.”
“Let’s go and talk with Rev. Hugh and then I have somewhere special I want to show you, where we’ll engage in a lifetime’s project that we’ll work at together, an anchor, that will ensure neither of us gets out of our depth again.”
This time it was Jansy’s turn to frown but he didn’t enlighten her, just held out his hand to her. Eagerly she grasped it.
“Let’s have an autumn evening wedding ceremony,” she suggested, “followed by a village barbeque on the beach.”
“And a honeymoon on the boat,” Dave teased.
“Dave!” Jansy tilted her head and shaped her rosebud mouth into a playful grimace.
“Are you leaving so soon? I’ve just put the kettle on for tea.” Jennifer Pedwardine called to them as Dave opened the back gate. He looked first at the former headmistress and then at Jansy whose blue eyes danced with love as she fought to suppress the giggles that were threatening to emerge.
“Miss Pedwardine, whilst a cup of tea would be most welcome, we find we have some urgent unfinished business to attend to. Perhaps we could come on another occasion and take tea with you?”
“Tomorrow, 3.30pm!”
“Yes, Miss!” Dave and Jansy replied in unison.
EPILOGUE
The ever shrinking days of summer were packed with arrangements for the planned autumn nuptials.
“We’ll never be ready in time,” Jansy fretted.
“Don’t get so het up, Jansy, so many hands have been offered to lighten the load I’m sure everything will be accomplished just as you desire in readiness for your big day,” Trixie calmly assured her.
Any spare moment, as far as work commitments permitted, was devoted to decorating and preparing the cottage that Dave had purchased more than a year ago as their home. Jansy was amazed that Dave had gone ahead and bought it. Yet she was pleased he had. She had to admit the cottage was proving to be every bit the asset Dave and RK had tried to convince her it was. Even the garden that had until recently been so resplendent in its summer garb now glowed peacefully, its vivid colour replaced by the gilded sheen of autumn, blending so splendidly with the colour scheme chosen for her special day; burnt amber and sherbet lemon!
As she walked from her parent’s home on the arm of Doctor John along the pathway towards the open door of the church Jansy seemed to quiver in the dusky light of evening as the gossamer threads in her billowing sleeves glistened with the iridescence of dragonfly’s wings. The busyness of the last few weeks was forgotten as she anticipated the joy of future days. The autumn gold of the trees provided the perfect backdrop for the gentle processional father and daughter were taking together backlit by the setting sun, its rays causing the fruits woven into the coronet anchored on her blond curls to sparkle with the richness of jewels. Branches moved playfully this way and that with every bit of breeze an accompaniment to the swishing movement of her ivory bridal gown.
A smile appeared on her rosebud mouth as she pictured the delight on Dave’s beloved rugged face as she walked up the aisle to join him at the altar. The year so recently passed had been a steep learning curve for them both, bitter experiences overturned into an arena of happiness. To their cost they knew that doubts and uncertainties cause confusion and mistrust leading to a complete breakdown in relationships. Fortunately, they had discovered the way of gladness and reconciliation when the oil of joy and forgiveness poured into their hearts and love was rekindled. Tenderly Dave courted his ‘dearest girl’ and the dormant spark within each of their hearts blossomed like the opening of a budded rose, fulsome and fragrant.
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The organ played, the choir processed, the congregation fidgeted, Emma came forward to greet her friend as she approached the church porch, her simply styled primrose coloured dress high-lighting her rich auburn hair. She wore it down, at Jansy’s request, and Rachel Durrant had woven lemon rosebuds into it. Both girls carried bouquets of burnt amber roses entwined with wisps of seasonal foliage and sherbet lemon nasturtiums.
“Am I OK, Em?” Jansy rushed up and asked nervously.
“You look lovely, Jans, doesn’t she Doc?” Emma smiled as she bent to straighten Jansy’s train and then reached out to titivate her shoulder length veil. Don’t cover your face, Jans, I want to see you clearly as you come up the aisle Dave had asked.
With that request in mind Emma carefully ensured the intricate floral circlet was firmly secured and the delicate lace veil would not slip. “These hips and haws glow like precious gems amongst the flower buds and perfectly match your amber tear-drop pendant.”
“Thanks, Em. Is Dave OK?” Jansy jiggled around trying to peer round the porch along the aisle towards the front pew.
“Stand still, Jans,” mumbled Emma with hair- grips clamped between her teeth, “while I secure this side of your coronet.”
Jansy let out a quiet sigh.
“There now, all done. Dave’s fine and he’ll think you look wonderful.” Her poise and self-assurance instilling calmness into her anxious friend.
John stood to one side beaming at his impatient daughter. He put up his arm. “All ready now?”
“Yes, Dad,” she whispered, “I’m ready.” She squeezed his arm and raised shining eyes which spoke volumes.
“Let’s go and join this man of yours.”
The notes of the organ crescendoed and the congregation rose as one to greet the bride who, had not Doctor John been sedately holding on to her firmly as he walked on the solid flagstones, would have flown to meet her groom.
Jansy was oblivious to the smiling faces that greeted her arrival, her feet barely touching the ground, as she winged her way along the nave towards the one waiting for her.
Her eyes fixed on his manly stature, the broad shoulders and dark wavy hair. Her stomach flipped and her heart beat faster. How I love that dear, dear man! Her brother Roger, resplendent as best man, leaned over and whispered in Dave’s ear. He turned. His eyes locked with hers. The love emanating from them drew her like a magnet. He mouthed, “I love you” and when she reached his side he squeezed her hand and for her ears alone he said, “You look so lovely, my dearest girl.” His special endearment for her. Her heart skipped with joy.
Side by side they sang the hymns of worship chosen for the occasion and when Rev Hugh invited them to stand before him and face one another to make their vows Jansy knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the right thing to be doing. The past is gone and forgiven; together we stand on the threshold of a new and sacred relationship.
After the legal requirements were dealt with and the vows of intent had been given, the congregation were surprised by an additional unscripted declaration by the groom to his bride followed by a response from Jansy to Dave.
“Jansy, I will always cherish and care for you. I recognise you are a person in your own right and have different needs to my own but I will endeavour to listen to you and learn alongside you the many things we, as yet, do not know.”
“Dave, I truly love you. I will support you in your role as the head of our family. I will learn to share my thoughts and feelings with you to minimize any future misunderstandings.”
Without taking his eyes from her face Dave reached out towards Jansy and took both of her dainty hands into his rough work-worn ones and as one they declared, “We love the Lord with all our hearts and thank Him for redeeming love and new beginnings. We promise to read His Word and pray together and by His help grow in Christian love.”
The organ began to play, ‘The Lord bless thee and keep thee,’ as hand in hand the young couple mounted the steps to kneel at the altar as man and wife.
The choir’s joyous anthem of praise filled the Church with a jubilation which was equally matched by the tumultuous applause that almost raised the rafters as the newlyweds processed down the aisle following the signing of the marriage register. Eyes brimming with happiness looked to the left and then the right along the rows of pews at the familiar faces beaming in delight. Jansy and Dave acknowledged the good wishes with nods and smiles punctuated by her infectious giggle.
Just as they reached the archway by the porch Ben Durrant called out to them, “Stop for a moment.” He focussed the lens on his camera then clicked the button to capture the radiance on their faces. “Nothing stiff and formal,” Dave and Jansy had instructed. “Just pictures of people as they are, enjoying our special day with us.” So, no set poses were planned but Ben, whilst intent on adhering to their wishes, wanted to ensure they had a worthy record of this day to look back upon. He had also entrusted his camcorder to Ryan Saunders who was a whiz with machines of any description and appointed Nicky Andaman as his able assistant to keep a look-out for quirky and interesting shots.
The joy of the occasion spilled over onto the Village Green then down to the beach as everyone followed the young couple to partake of the barbeque wedding supper masterminded by Uncle Billy Cooper and Jilly Briggs. Glowing coals on a brick built stove highlighted the venue and burning candles secured in jars wedged into the sand marked clearly the pathway to follow. Hand in hand they tripped across the sand towards the location that had been prepared for their celebration.
“It’s magical to be by the sea-shore as the sun bids goodnight and the moon begins to show it’s glistening light on the waves,” Jansy said playfully swinging Dave’s arm.
“It’s even more special, Mrs Ransome, to have you in my arms and melt into your shining eyes as I kiss you as my wife,” and Dave tenderly drew her to himself.
“Hey, you love-birds, break it up. It’s time to eat. We’re starving even if you’re not,” laughter followed Stephen’s declaration. Their brief romantic interlude was shattered as they were soon joined by friends and family, and the youngsters boisterously playing around them. Dave smiled at Jansy then caught up her hand as together they moved forwards to greet their guests as they arrived on the beach.
“What a marvellous idea, you two, to meet on the beach in the evening,” called Nicky as Ryan continued to film the newlyweds as they welcomed friends and family to the Wedding BBQ Supper.
“This is so lovely to be by the sea as dusk turns to night on so balmy an evening,” said Emma as she strolled arm in arm with Roger to the meeting place and her thoughts were echoed by many as they meandered from the church including Laura who valiantly tackled the sandy pathway, escorted by Adam, so that together they could offer their good wishes to the happy couple.
“Such a shame RK isn’t able to enjoy this special occasion,” Annette called over her shoulder.”
“Yes, she so loves the beach and the rolling sea.”
“Who’d have thought the warm weather would have lasted this late into autumn?” commented Trixie as she came forward to kiss her daughter and new son-in-law.
“Isn’t it good that we have a bright moon in a clear sky, tonight?” Jansy gazed across the shimmering glaze on the rippling waves.
“We’re fortunate, too, that we have very little light pollution spilling over from the village that would spoil the effect,” agreed her father.
“Yup, we be blessed with no street lights,” Dave’s father added as he joined them.
“The palette of the night sky is amazing.” Doctor John’s remark had everyone near to them instantly raise their heads to see the spectacle for themselves.
Jansy looked up in awe at a night sky becoming spangled with stars and constellations set out so plainly they could almost have been drawn there.
“Incredible!” she exclaimed.
“Yet, every so often when bright smudges appear in their midst you are reminded they are but the tip of the iceb
erg,” added John.
“It makes one feel so small and insignificant.” Jansy snuggled closer to Dave. He placed his arm protectively around her shoulders.
As they focussed on the vista above them the scent of the honeysuckle tumbling over RK’s garden wall was overpowering causing a number present to ponder on the absence of their friend. From Kezia’s Wood, sounding ever closer, were the cries of tawny owls twit-twooing in the dark. Along with the ever rippling tide each added to the perpetual reminder of the many components of God’s created world.
Dave nodded. “Dearest girl, you and I are a small, yet precious, part of the Almighty’s plan but as we learn to live in the centre of His love we will endeavour never to be out of our depth again.”
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Copyright © Gwenyth Clare Lynes, 2015
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ISBN 978-1-78623-982-2 in electronic format
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