The counselling helped and Luna’s moods seemed to stabilise over the following seven years. She’d sworn off men, but threw herself into her job as a journalist and spent every spare moment doing charity work at the local Women’s Refuge, where the stories she heard, even worse than her own, were enough to put her off men for life. It seemed that in assisting women less fortunate than herself, she’d found some peace at last.
When Will and Serena moved to a bungalow in Lewisham, where Will had been promoted to the role of vicar at St Mary’s, Luna found herself a flat just two streets away from them so they got together as often as their busy schedules would allow. Occasionally Serena tried to set Luna up with a stray bachelor, organising dinner parties at which she would place her sister next to the man in question and would eye them beadily from the other end of the table.
But Luna was determined. She didn’t need a man. She would flirt, of course. That part of her was inbuilt, but any hopes she raised were quickly dashed when she failed to reply to texts or phone calls in the days and weeks that followed.
And although there were still hints of Luna’s moodiness now, it seemed that as she’d matured she’d certainly learned to deal with her temperament better.
She was actually very funny, although usually at the cost of others. Luna often joined Serena and Will for evenings in front of the television and had them both in stitches with her acerbic comments about the actors or presenters. Poor Nigella Lawson was one of her victims.
‘This cake is just oozing with sex appeal, don’t you think?’ Luna would ask, looking up mock-coyly from under her eyelashes. ‘Look at me, devouring it in the middle of the night like the saucy insomniac I am!’
Facebook was great fodder for Luna’s caustic commentary, as well. She would sit on the sofa with her laptop and look up old school friends, making retching noises as she read out their posts.
‘Feeling so blessed to have the best hubbie in the world and the cutest kids ever ! ’ she would read out. ‘They look like demons to me. Look, Serena, don’t you agree?’ She would pass the computer to Serena, who would cast her eye at a photo of two entirely blameless-looking little faces.
‘They look blessedly cute to me,’ she would giggle, and Luna would tut and move onto her next victim.
Serena, meanwhile, was coming to terms with remaining childless. Unlike Will, who was sick and tired of attempting to become a parent, she hadn’t quite got there. Various kindly friends asked whether they might consider adoption, but the thought of that lengthy and difficult process after all they’d been through already didn’t really appeal.
‘We’ll get a dog,’ said Will.
‘Maybe,’ Serena would say in reply. But they hadn’t got one so far. She had, however, picked up some holiday brochures. One summer evening, as she and Will drank Pimm’s in their tiny back garden, listening to the sirens of ambulances dashing back and forth to the nearby hospital, she showed them to him.
‘What are these?’ Will asked, flicking through the pile.
‘A trip. What do you think? I thought Australia. We could maybe visit Lisa and Todd in Perth and the Davidsons in Sydney. Hire a camper van and travel around for a little while?’
‘Now, that would be amazing!’ smiled Will. ‘How long for? A month maybe?’
‘Yes, I thought a month if we’re going that far. Just think: no responsibilities, no parishioners, no work, no chores – for four whole weeks. And sunshine too – wall-to-wall sunshine.’
‘Oh, Serena, that’s a fabulous idea! The only problem is money . . . We’re totally broke after the IVF . . .’
‘We’ve got the inheritance from my Dad, remember . . . I’ve kept it tucked away. It’s been sitting in the bank in case of emergencies, but how much better to use it for something truly memorable? I think we should be able to do the trip and have some left over as well. Shall we book it for next November, so we have ages to save and plan and look forward to it?’
‘Definitely!’ Will agreed. He wondered if this meant what he hoped it meant.
‘A new chapter in our lives,’ Serena said, as if reading his mind. ‘Just us. Not so bad, hey, after all,’ she smiled, nudging him. Will took her hand.
‘Just us.’
25.
SEPTEMBER 2015
Serena had just stepped out of the shower (glorious hot water, any time of day, now the boiler was reliable) when she heard the phone ringing. She shrugged on her dressing gown and lunged for the bedroom extension.
‘Vicarage,’ she said.
‘Hello, Vicarage, it’s Alice. Are you free tomorrow night? Terribly short notice, I know, but I’m hosting a house-warming party.’
Serena sat down on her bed. ‘House-warming? Alice, what are you talking about? You’ve lived in your house for years.’
‘Darling, I’ve left him.’
‘What? But when? You didn’t say anything last weekend!’
‘I know, I wanted it to be a fait accompli before I told anyone, including him. I’m renting a furnished house on the estate next to the health centre. I’ve never lived in a new build and it’s a revelation. So warm and snug. Serena, I feel so happy – liberated. That’s why I’ve decided to throw a party. I need to celebrate.’
‘Well, good on you! And how about the kids? Are they okay? And Rob?’
‘The kids are fine – enjoying the novelty and being able to scoot around the estate with the other children. And Rob is in bits. He honestly never thought I’d leave him. I gave him good reason to think he could have his cake and eat it, but enough’s enough. He can set up with Tanya now if he wants. She’s welcome to him!’
‘Alice, you’re so brave to have done it. I’m so impressed. And of course we’ll come tomorrow. Who else will be there?’
‘Oh, you know, various friends from the village. You’ll see. It’s just drinks, from seven. See you tomorrow!’
‘Bye,’ replied Serena, but Alice had already rung off, presumably to ring the next person on her list.
Serena was just applying a little lip gloss in the hall mirror before the party when she was accosted by Ashna.
‘Serena, have you got a minute?’ she asked. She was dressed in skinny black jeans and a pink tunic dress, her long dark hair shiny, her eyes clear and bright. She looked stunning.
‘Of course,’ Serena replied, smacking her lips together. ‘What is it?’
‘Well, you know nobody came to the first youth club?’ she started. Serena nodded, smiling inwardly. ‘Well, the thing is that Max and I ended up chatting and before we knew it, we were kissing, and . . . Oh, Serena, I’m totally mad about him. I just had to tell you. We said we’d keep it quiet for now, but I need to talk to someone about it. He’s in my head all the time,’ she said, the picture of a dreamy young girl in love.
‘I know,’ Serena giggled. ‘I caught you kissing! But you didn’t notice me so I skulked off.’
Ashna blushed. ‘How embarrassing!’ she laughed. ‘But isn’t he just divine? Isn’t he just the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen?’
‘Very tasty,’ agreed Serena. ‘Though you might have noticed, I’m partial to a redhead myself. But the two of you are perfect together. If you ever have children, they’ll be the most beautiful creatures on the planet. Here he comes now,’ she finished with a whisper, hearing Max’s distinctive singing as he emerged from the kitchen stairwell (he always seemed to be singing since he and Ashna had got together).
‘You’ve told her, haven’t you?’ he laughed, seeing their guilty faces.
‘I couldn’t help it,’ confessed Ashna, and they were instantly drawn towards each other.
‘I’m just so pleased,’ Serena told them. ‘And it was about time something good happened . . . There seems to have been so much stress recently with one thing or another. Do you think we’ll be snubbed by anyone at the party tonight?’
‘I’m sure Alice is a seasoned hostess,’ said Max. ‘She won’t have invited anyone who’d be hostile to you and Will. And we have you to
thank, actually, for getting us together.’
‘Really? But I definitely didn’t matchmake you. I was planning to get Ashna together with Pete!’ Serena confessed.
Max laughed. ‘But you listened to me. That day of the fete, when I had that breakdown and I told you about all the awful stuff that had happened with Lara. I’d been bottling it all up inside, not dealing with it. I’d moved on in so many ways, but I didn’t think I’d ever be ready for another relationship. Offloading to you that day, it was cathartic. And it made me realise that I was ready. And fortunately, Ashna seems to feel the same way about me as I do about her,’ he added, his arm around her. ‘Thank you,’ Max said to Serena in a more serious tone.
‘You’re welcome!’ replied Serena. ‘I really couldn’t be happier for you both. Now,’ she said, putting away her lip gloss, ‘we really ought to go or we’ll be late. Where’s Will?’
On cue, Will appeared from the study. ‘Sorry, just been finishing tomorrow’s sermon so I can let my hair down tonight. What about Pete?’
‘He’s going to meet us there.’
‘Come on then, let’s go!’
The house was lovely: miles smaller than Alice’s Georgian pile but very cosy and welcoming, far less minimalist in fact, and there were signs that Alice might be cutting herself some slack too – piles of laundry ready to go upstairs, unplumped cushions, untidy kitchen surfaces. She even looked a little more relaxed in her appearance, her hair wavy instead of ironed poker straight, and her make-up more natural. She looked years younger.
‘Come in, come in,’ she welcomed, ushering them through to the sitting room. ‘Now, what would you all like to drink? There’s Prosecco, wine, beer . . .’ They all placed different orders so Will went through to the kitchen with Alice to assist, while the others joined the merry throng already well and truly into the swing of the party. Max and Ashna immediately spotted Pete and Jake Hardy and went over to chat to them, and Serena, spying the Colonel sitting alone on a sofa, went to join him. He was smoking his pipe and Alice seemed remarkably relaxed about the distinctive, sweet smoke filling her sitting room.
‘Hello, Colonel,’ Serena said, greeting him with a kiss.
‘Hello there, dear. Audrey, isn’t it?’ he asked. ‘Sorry, terrible at remembering names these days.’
‘Oh, don’t worry at all, but it’s Serena,’ she said.
‘Yes, thought it was. Lovely to see you, Audrey.’
Serena tried not to laugh, accepting her drink from Will, who was then accosted by Bob the butcher. They chatted for a few moments before Will disappeared back to the kitchen.
‘Came from London, didn’t you? How are you finding village life? Not too dull?’ the Colonel asked, taking a sip of brandy.
‘I love it. I grew up in a village nearby so it’s not such a culture shock for me. We’re a little upset though that the villagers don’t seem to be taking to us,’ she admitted.
‘Yes, you seem to be settling in splendidly. As though you’ve always been here, part of the village,’ the Colonel replied, nodding. It seemed the cacophony of chatter and laughter from the other guests was playing havoc with his hearing. She recalled Mrs Pipe telling her recently, and rather alarmingly, that the Colonel was ‘afflicted with deathness, poor codger’. Serena had asked if he was unwell and Mrs Pipe had replied, to Serena’s relief, that he was ‘well enough, but thick of hearing’.
‘I’ll tell you what, Colonel,’ said Serena directly into his ear. ‘Shall we go and have a look at the garden? Such a beautiful evening.’
‘Cracking idea. You might need to help heave me up though. Hope you don’t mind.’
‘Of course not,’ Serena replied and she pulled him up off the sofa using his only arm. He reached for his glass and, with his pipe clamped between his teeth, the two of them went through the kitchen and into the utility room.
The door to the garden was slightly ajar and Serena was about to push it open when she heard Will’s voice on the other side.
‘She thinks the bloody house is cursed,’ he was saying. ‘It’s so ridiculous. I don’t know what’s got into her. We could do without that on top of the problems in the village.’ Serena, frozen to the spot, felt tears spring to her eyes. She wasn’t sure who Will was talking to, but this wasn’t like him. He was usually so loyal. She must really have got to him, for him to be letting off steam like this about her. Enough was enough.
‘Come along then,’ barked the Colonel, held up behind her.
‘Actually, Colonel, how about we take a seat in the kitchen – at that little table over there. It’s nice and quiet. There’s something I need to ask you about.’
‘Righto,’ he agreed and, once ensconced, she began.
‘Do you know about the curse on the Vicarage?’ she asked him, getting straight to the point.
‘Ah, yes, that story’s been around a long time. Certainly since I’ve been in the village. Thirty years. Worried about it, are you?’ he asked, and Serena realised the Colonel was more perceptive than he might at first seem.
‘It’s bothering me. I get a funny feeling in the nursery. And I can’t get it out of my head. Ever since Mrs Pipe told me, I can’t stop thinking about it.’
‘Silly woman, telling you. That was a mistake.’
‘Is it true though?’ Serena asked. ‘Is it true that a baby hasn’t lived at the Vicarage since the vicar’s wife died at the turn of the last century?’
‘Well, there’s not been a baby born into the Vicarage since I’ve been here, but as I say, that’s only thirty years. Tell you what. I’m a keen historian. Always have been. I could do with a project. Keep me busy. Why don’t you let me look into it for you? See what I can find out about the curse, the history . . . Would that help?’
‘Oh, it would,’ Serena told him, hugging him. ‘It really would.’
‘Steady on, old girl,’ the Colonel replied. ‘Here, you couldn’t just get me a refill, could you?’ he asked, proffering his glass.
Serena jumped up. ‘Of course,’ she told him, beaming as she located the brandy bottle. This was it. The Colonel was on the case. She felt a great sense of relief. Her proactive approach had begun.
After their conversation, the Colonel made his excuses and left the party and Serena tracked down Alice.
‘Come on, time to tell me all the goss,’ she said, while they settled down together on a sofa with a bottle of wine. Alice explained about her carefully planned departure while gentle music played in the background and a hum of chatter surrounded them.
‘So has he gone off with Tanya then?’ Serena asked.
‘Ha! Well, that’s the funny thing. Jake has left her too – he’s staying at some ghastly B & B down the road, poor thing. So she’s on her own and Rob’s on his own. But guess what? They’re not interested in each other now there’s no cloak and dagger about it all.’
‘Will you go back to him?’ Serena asked.
‘Do you know, I thought I would. Thought I’d just teach him a lesson. But now I’m not so sure . . . I feel like a different person. A better person. I’m not sure I want to go back. Anyway, we’ll see. Good heavens, what on earth’s that banging? Hang on a sec.’ Alice hopped up from the sofa and answered the door.
‘Miss Dawson!’ Alice said next. ‘Do come in!’
‘I’m not here to join the debauchery,’ she told Alice. Serena found the iPod and turned the music from low to mute. ‘I am here to give you an official warning as leader of the neighbourhood watch for this area. We do not have parties that last long into the night around here. And we do not disturb each other or cause a nuisance of any kind. Do you understand, or would you like me to involve the police?’ Miss Dawson asked, her wattle wobbling with indignation.
‘Golly, I’m awfully sorry. I didn’t think we were being terribly loud. I shall send everyone on their way,’ Alice promised her. Miss Dawson looked slightly taken aback, if not a little disappointed. Serena suspected she’d been rather looking forward to a good fight.
‘Right. Well. Much obliged,’ she announced, before turning on her stout heel and returning home. Unfortunately for Alice, she lived directly opposite.
Alice shut the door, checked her watch and returned to her guests.
‘Well, I’m sorry to tell you that it’s time you all left. It’s far later than you’d probably imagined. I know you’re not going to believe this but – wait for it – it’s a quarter past nine!’
Everyone burst out laughing, but the party was over, and they drained the remains of their drinks, collected their coats and, after no doubt a little too much in the way of raucous outdoor goodbyes, the guests headed home.
26.
DECEMBER 2013
By the time Will and Serena reached Perth on a balmy afternoon in December, they’d journeyed all over Australia by plane, bus and camper van. They arrived at Perth airport exhausted, filthy and extremely happy.
They took a cab to Lisa and Todd’s house in the suburbs, where Serena was amazed to see that utter chaos reigned. Lisa had always been incredibly neat and tidy at university, but it seemed the addition of a new baby had caused havoc in the household. Tess was only three weeks old and Serena and Will had offered to stay at a hotel rather than imposing on their friends when they had a newborn, but Lisa had been insistent they should stay.
‘You’re here!’ Todd grinned, pulling Will and Serena into a hug. ‘Sorry the house is a tip, but the nipper’s causing mayhem. But look, if you don’t mind the mess we’re just so pleased to have you here. Just make yourselves at home! You interested in the cricket? I’ve got it on. Have a tinny,’ he said, handing a beer to Will and another to Serena, who smiled appreciatively. ‘Don’t worry about your bags. I’ll take them to your room in a mo. Too easy.’ Todd was still the affable, easy-going guy she remembered from all those years ago when she’d met him on her course and then, later, fixed him up with Lisa.
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