by Clare Revell
But still her imagination wandered. What would it be like to date someone like him? A world famous athlete who was a household name and got recognized everywhere he went. Did he get preferential treatment in theatres or restaurants? He was someone who’d been to places she could only dream about, never mind attempt to pronounce. The furthest abroad she’d ever been was a school geography trip to Interlaken in Switzerland when she was fifteen.
Holidays were spent with Aunt Laurie and Uncle Reg in their cottage on an island off the south coast of England. Someone famous would never fit into her quiet, boring existence, where the most exciting thing that happened was the washing machine breaking down or the freezer door being left open and the kitchen flooding.
She slid into the back row of Headley Baptist, and scanned the service sheet. Mrs. Jefferies was back in hospital again. She should go and visit her at some point. Aaron Field and Meaghan Knight were getting married in a few weeks. Perhaps she’d be able to take the afternoon off to attend the wedding.
There was a list of local churches on the noticeboard in the guest house, including this one, but she’d never run into any of her guests here. That was probably a good thing.
Enough of this—she wasn’t here to worry about which church her guests attended. She opened her Bible to the passage Pastor Jack would be preaching on. Isaiah forty verses twenty-eight to thirty-one. She loved that passage and the imagery it provoked in her mind. Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. She read it through twice, closing her Bible as Pastor Jack rose to his feet on the platform.
Someone slid into the pew next to her just as the service started, but she didn’t turn to look, knowing how much she hated the sidelong glances when she was late.
She stood to sing the first hymn, based on the passage she’d just read, and was more than a little surprised by the voice next to her. It couldn’t be Mr. Trant, could it? She risked a sideways glance. It was.
****
Cal had gotten lost trying to find the church. He’d perused the notice board after breakfast and found the list of churches. Admittedly, he’d done a search on churches in Headley Cross before leaving home and found the website for Headley Baptist, but he’d been pleased to find it listed at the guest house. Although this one was called a Baptist church, it was a member of the FIEC and thus more Evangelical than the strict Baptist church he’d grown up in.
His navigational skills had let him down after he left the map on his bed. He’d taken a left instead of a right somewhere and got hopelessly lost. He just prayed that the lads back at the lifeboat station never found out about this. He was the helm officer after all and he’d never live it down. Still, he’d found the church in the nick of time and took a seat on the end of a pew on the back.
And ended up sitting right next to Miss Steele. He felt rather than saw her glance at him during the first hymn. He turned his head towards her and smiled; the smile fading slightly as she blushed and looked down at her hymn book.
That was a reaction he hadn’t seen in a while and had hoped he’d never see again. The ‘Oh-Wow-I’m-Sat-Next-To-Callum-Trant’ look that he hated so much, which had followed him around for so many years. Yes, adoring fans came with being famous, and most of the time he didn’t mind. It was just women. He thought, hoped, that Miss Steele was different, but maybe all women were the same when it came to the adoring fangirliness. Unfortunately, all they would see would be the fame and fortune and not him. He turned back to the hymn, focusing his mind on his reason for being here.
As the children left after the first twenty minutes, he noticed a few of the older boys look at him twice and he smiled, flustering them. A few of the parents recognized him and nodded or smiled and he returned the smiles. Then he immersed himself fully in the service, finding the teaching speaking to him.
After the service, he sat in prayer for a moment. He straightened, reaching for the sheet, he’d tucked into the pew in front.
“How did you find the service?” Miss Steele’s voice made him grin.
“Almost didn’t,” he said, playing on her words. “I got lost on the way here.”
She giggled. “Oops. I’ll have to put a better map on the leaflet.”
“The map was fine—or it would have been. Except for the fact the leaflet it’s on the back of is still on my bed.”
“Ah. It’s not much good there.”
“No, not really.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But the real answer to your question is the service was good. Your pastor is a gifted man.”
She smiled. “That he is. He’s always full of joy and love and zeal for the Lord, no matter what is going on around him.”
“Excuse me, sir?”
Cal turned. A kid of about fourteen stood there, several others partway down the aisle looking at him with anxious anticipation. He must have been elected spokesman and had hands shoved into his pockets, hopping nervously from one foot to the other.
Cal smiled to put him at his ease. “Hi.”
“Are you Callum Trant?”
“Yes, I am.”
The kid beamed and did a thumbs up at the others. “Told them you were him, but they didn’t believe me. Can I have your autograph please?”
“Of course.” Cal pulled a pen from his jacket pocket. Soon he had a whole gaggle of children there, but he kept signing, offering each one a smile and friendly word. After they left, he sat for a moment to compose himself.
“You could have said no.”
He almost jumped, but caught himself in time. He’d forgotten she was there. “I could have, but that wouldn’t have been the Christian thing to do. Jesus never turned anyone away when He was recognized.”
“You’re on holiday.”
“Technically so was He, when He went across the lake to be alone. The crowds followed Him everywhere He went, but He still welcomed them.”
Miss Steele nodded. “And He even fed them.”
“All five thousand of them. So I can’t begrudge a few kids an autograph. Besides, it doesn’t happen as often now as it used to.” He stood as rain started to pound against the church windows and laughed. “Another typical summer’s day in England.”
She nodded. “I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t forget it’s an hour early tonight so I can make the evening service. Five o’clock rather than six.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Oh, and before I forget, thank you so much for the extra tea in my room. I noticed last night you’d replaced the coffee with teabags.”
“You’re welcome. It makes sense as you don’t drink coffee. Have a good day.”
“You, too.” He pulled his collar up and headed out into the storm. Lightning flashed and thunder roared shortly afterwards. The rain bounced off the pavement, splashing his legs. He walked the short distance to the café he’d planned on visiting for lunch. Storms here seemed almost tame by comparison to the ones he was used to at home. Yes, there was wind, driving rain, thunder and lightning, but with no twenty foot waves and his feet planted firmly on solid ground, there really was nothing to fear.
Was there anything on land that could rattle him?
Falling in love came the unbidden response. This was why he wasn’t going to do it. He’d seen the fear in the eyes of the wives, girlfriends, and husbands as he and the others left parties, dinners and functions to go to sea.
He couldn’t, wouldn’t ever do that to anyone. Especially not to Miss Steele.
4
Hattie sat in church with her brother, seven days later, exhausted. She hadn’t stopped all week. Every room was full, every bed taken and even with Steve and Penny working alongside her, the work never stopped.
However, half way through this week, Penny had gone to stay with her sister, Di, while her brother-in-law was away on maneuvers with the Territorial Army. One by one the children had fallen sick with chicken pox over the last several weeks, and now Di had gone dow
n with it, too. Penny had had it, so she was the obvious choice to go and help. It just left them shorthanded.
The church was warm, and Hattie knew she’d be in serious danger of falling asleep during the sermon if she wasn’t careful. This wasn’t advisable, as Pastor Jack had a habit of randomly using members of the congregation as examples of his points. Never in a nasty way, but Hattie had a morbid fear of waking as he mentioned her name.
The previous Sunday evening, she’d stayed in and streamed the service over the internet. The service had gone seamlessly from Pastor Jack praying, to Pastor Carson preaching. The only problem was she hadn’t heard the two hymns and Bible reading that came in between the two. And although she knew Pastor Jack’s wicked sense of humor would love that, it was bound to end up in a sermon a few years down the line, if he ever found out. So it was best he never did.
Brown brogues appeared next to her black floral sneakers and she glanced up at their owner. Chocolate brown eyes sparkled at her and she smiled. “We must stop meeting like this. People will talk.”
“Let them.” He picked up her teasing tone and continued it. “I mean we see each other so many times a day as it is.”
“Exactly my point,” she said, trying not to laugh. “I do have my reputation to consider. This is a small town.”
“Not as small as the one I live in.”
His grin was infectious and oh so charming. They’d had celebrities stay at the guest house before, and she’d never been affected like this. What was wrong with her? She didn’t even like football. So why did her pulse race, her breath catch and her stomach do cartwheels whenever she saw him?
He leaned closer to her. “Besides, surely being seen with me will do wonders for your street cred and your reputation. Everyone will want to sleep in the same room as the famous Callum Trant.” He winked. “Although my brother would say that was infamous.”
She tucked the service sheet over the edge of the book rack in the pew in front of her. “And you’re so modest with it.”
Cal grinned. “Modesty is one of my faults, I’m afraid.”
Was he flirting with her? She found herself replying in kind. “Just one? How many faults do you have?”
“According to my sister, Jess, I have two. Sophie, on the other hand, said she stopped counting at one hundred and fifty.”
Hattie took off her cardigan and folded it before setting it on top of her bag under the pew in front of her. “Ouch. That’s a rather big difference.”
“That’s the difference between sister and ex-girlfriend.” He undid his jacket, revealing a white shirt and a plain navy blue tie with a crest of some kind on it. Not often these days you had a bloke wear a tie to church, unless he was preaching.
“Ah, yes, it would be. Not that I have a sister, except Penny.”
“Sister-in-laws count just as much. But then, thinking about it, Jess’s ‘only two faults’ is more of an insult than a compliment.”
“How can two faults possibly be an insult, when too many to count isn’t?” She furrowed her brow in confusion.
“Her favorite quote is ‘women’s faults are many while men have only two. Everything they say and everything they do.’ I get that at least twice a week, if not more frequently.”
Hattie laughed quietly. “I shall have to remember that line and wind Steve up with it.” She fell silent as the service began.
He’s so easy to talk to, Lord. My heart is running wild here reminding me he’s a man, a striking man at that and I’m a woman. I admit I’m attracted to him. I don’t think it’s the fame thing. At least I hope I’m not that shallow. And he can’t possibly be interested in me. Let my head overrule my heart here.
Concentrating on the service was hard, but not just because she was tired. She was aware of Cal’s every movement. The way his long tanned fingers held his Bible and turned the pages. The angle his head was tilted at and the strands of hair falling across his eyes that her fingers itched to push back out of the way. And the way his left ankle hooked over his right knee, cradling his Bible.
She pushed a hand through her hair. She was here to worship God, not the attributes of the man next to her. Even if he was the first man to notice she was a woman and not part of the furniture. That’s if they noticed her at all. She took a deep breath. If he was going to invade her thoughts this way, then she was going to pray for him.
As the service finished, she picked up her bag. All she wanted to do was go back home and sleep for a couple of hours before starting dinner.
Cal turned to her. “I was wondering if you had anything planned.”
“Right now?” She held his gaze.
“Right now,” he repeated. “Because if not, would you like to come for a walk along the river with me?”
“Me?” Flabbergasted, her mind froze and she was sure she had a stupid look on her face to match. And suddenly she wasn’t as tired as she had been a few minutes earlier.
Cal nodded. “I don’t make a habit of asking hoteliers out, but you’re here and I’m here, the sun is shining and—”
“OK, thank you. A walk would be nice.” She agreed quickly before he could change his mind.
“If nothing else it might enhance your street cred.” He winked and her heart melted into a gooey mass on the floor by her feet.
From the other side of her, Steve caught her arm and squeezed it, an unspoken message that he needed a word.
“I need to speak to someone first.”
Cal stood. “Sure. I’ll wait outside.”
Hattie smiled as he edged out of the pew and headed down the aisle. Then she twisted and raised an eyebrow at her brother. “Yes?”
His normally smiling eyes were hard and cold. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m going for a walk. I’ll be back in time to make dinner, don’t worry.”
“He’s a guest.”
“I know that. What’s your point?”
Steve’s scowl deepened. “You’re crossing a line. You don’t date the guests. It’s one of the rules, remember?”
“For crying out loud, it’s not a date. I don’t date anyone, do I? It’s a walk.” She reined in her irritation, remembering where she was. “Steve, is this just because of who he is?”
“Hattie, he lives differently to how we do. He’s doubtless used to having a pretty girl on his arm and getting what he wants.” He lowered his voice. “He’s probably only after one thing.”
“That’s more than a little judgmental, don’t you think? You don’t know the first thing about who he really is. He’s a Christian anyway.” She lowered her voice. “He can hardly take me back to his hotel room now, can he?”
She stood up, pleased at the shocked look on her brother’s face. “I thought you knew me better than that.” Shouldering her bag, she stormed down the aisle, blinking hard.
Her own brother didn’t trust her. Maybe she wouldn’t bother to go back to the guest house at all and let him cope on his own. She hadn’t even had ten minutes to herself all week, except when she slept, and he was begrudging her this?
But her sense of duty prevailed and kicked in hard. Just because Steve was being an idiot of the first degree, didn’t mean everyone had to suffer. She loved her brother, she always would, but he really could be thoughtless at times. With him it was himself first, then money. Or was it money first, then self? It was hard to tell sometimes. Despite being his twin, she seemed to rate bottom of the pile.
She headed out into the bright sunshine and put her shades on to hide her tears. She shook hands with Pastor Jack on the door then crossed over to where Cal sat. “All done.”
He nodded, sliding off the wall. “Shall we, Miss Steele?”
“Yes, let’s.” She glanced over her shoulder as she felt her brother glaring at her again, and then turned her attention to the bloke who wanted to spend time with her. Nothing would come of it, she knew that, but like he said, he was here and so was she. And it was just a walk. “And it’s Hattie.”
*
***
Cal smiled at her. “Then you must call me Cal.” He’d noticed the too bright and glistening eyes, as Miss Steele—Hattie he corrected— left the church, before she’d hidden them behind her shades. But being a gentleman he wasn’t going to mention it. He assumed her brother had said something from the look he’d given the pair of them from the doorway, but again he wasn’t going to ask.
“Cal?”
“Short for Callum. It’s what my friends call me. And I’d like to think you’re a friend, Hattie.”
“Thank you, Cal. Did you get lost on your way here again, this morning?” Her voice wobbled slightly before she managed to get it on an even keel.
He laughed. “No, I remembered the map this time. I’m one of the rare breed of men who learn from their mistakes.”
“Where are we going?”
“Along the river, if that’s all right? And I brought a big enough picnic for two. Although I’m not averse to eating it all if needs be.”
“Both sound wonderful.” She eased her shoulders slightly. “I could do with a break.”
“Busy week?”
“No more so than usual, but with Penny away since Tuesday, the work load increased a fair bit.”
“I didn’t think I’d seen her. She isn’t sick, is she?”
Hattie pressed the button at the road crossing. “No, her sister is though. Her brother in law has gone away on maneuvers with the TA. Penny’s gone to look after Di and the kids.”
“Did she have to go far?”
Hattie nodded. “Not too far away. They live about forty-five miles from here. Normally Di manages fine by herself when Brendan’s away, but with a small baby, and being sick, she needed a hand this time.”
“I can understand that.” He paused. “I know people sometimes mock the TA’s, but they are just as important as the regular army blokes.”
She nodded. “Yeah, they are. Brendan loves doing it. Says it gives him a focus outside of home and work and is a way for him to give something back to his country.”
The lights changed and they crossed the road. “How many children do they have?”