Bless This Love

by S M Mala

  ‘Wasn’t I interrupting a meeting?’

  ‘We were just gossiping,’ she replied. ‘Are you Suri Thomas?’

  ‘Yes,’ she replied, looking anxiously at Joe. ‘Is there a problem?’

  ‘You want the plaque for Rory McKeown?’

  ‘I do but I might be better off buying a park bench and putting his name there, which I’m seriously thinking about.’ Taking a deep breath she knew she had to be polite. ‘I hear Felicity Peters’ plaque is being revealed on Valentine’s Day. Her father told me.’ Then Suri bit her lip. ‘That was good of you.’

  Connie walked towards Jack’s supply of spirits and Suri noticed the old man scowl.

  ‘I was his girlfriend for four years and held him in my arms when he died.’ Joe squeezed her palm, and she wondered if that was a sign for her to stop speaking. ‘I’m not going to proceed further with anything because I’m the wife of a Vicar. I’ll find a way to get him remembered, one way, or another, but not on the place where he was killed, I mean, died.’

  His intake of breath was very loud when she looked at her husband, who had gone a little pink.

  ‘Have you eaten? Shall I fix us something?’ Suri asked, wanting to change the subject.

  ‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble,’ Connie said eagerly. ‘But are you sure?’

  ‘I’m starving,’ she smiled and quickly slipped out of the room, feeling herself break into a sweat.

  Heading to the kitchen, she pulled out the various meats and cheese Jack had in the fridge, and checked the bread before quickly putting together a platter. It was a hand touching her shoulder that gave her a little startle, before the lips headed for her neck.

  ‘I told you Jack, I’m not edible just because I’m chocolate coloured and in the kitchen,’ she grinned before turning her head. ‘Sorry Joe, I thought it was Reverend Pinter.’

  ‘Very funny,’ he mumbled into her skin.

  ‘I’ll do this then head off.’

  ‘You’re lovely,’ Joe sighed into her skin. ‘And I love you.’

  ‘That’s good because we’re married,’ she said, trying to make her platter look nice. ‘Edgar was fine about my news.’ Suri hesitated. ‘He said something was going on with Ted but I didn’t ask.’

  ‘Did you see him?’

  ‘I’ll see him when I go back in three weeks.’

  ‘With a baby bump?’

  ‘Carrying our child.’

  ‘You’re carrying a child?’ Connie said, walking in and making the pair jump. ‘But you’ve only been married for…’ She stopped. ‘I see.’

  Joe stepped away, and again, he went pink.

  ‘I asked Suri to marry me but we found out a few weeks later she was pregnant. I didn’t do the decent thing, as I was going to marry her anyway,’ he mumbled, avoiding eye contact. ‘And we’re very happy.’

  ‘Well, that’s a double congratulation then!’ she laughed out, heading straight for the glasses. ‘More booze for me and no booze for you!’

  ‘You’re not mad?’ he asked tentatively. ‘I know you think I’ve not been well behaved in the past but this is all-.’

  ‘Stop Joe,’ Connie said, flashing a smile at Suri. ‘I can see you’re very much in love, and I’m happy for you. Love is love! In the eyes of God, you’ve done extremely well. And so have you, young madam.’

  She walked off, holding four glasses and shut the door.

  ‘Now all we’ve got to do it tell your flock of God groupies,’ grinned Suri, looking at him break out into a sweat. ‘Then we’ll see if in the eyes of God, they agree.’

  ‘You’re back.’

  Denise didn’t look up from her lap top. ‘You’ve still got the same office, considering you’re working on the children and comedy channels. How you managed to get your hours reduced, heaven knows. Unless you really are sleeping with Edgar Peters.’ The sneer was priceless, even when she didn’t look at Suri. ‘I’ve hired some good writers, so you’re going to have to up your game. No job is safe, even yours. There’s an editorial meeting in an hour.’

  ‘Hello,’ Suri said, wanting to laugh at the beast, who was wearing an extremely tight and thin pink polo neck jumper. She wasn’t sure if Denise’s arms looked bigger than her breasts, from the size of protruding muscle. ‘Anita sent me all the information I need, so I’m on the ball.’ Just then, Denise looked up at her, and the mouth dropped open. ‘What?’

  ‘You look…’ The eyes started to turn into little slits. ‘…well.’

  ‘I am.’

  Turning on her heels, she went towards her office, which looked like it was being used to dump various merchandise for the channels. Suri didn’t care. All she had to do was keep her head down and do her job. Edgar had offered reduced hours and Suri accepted, knowing a full day was hard to cope with.

  She was now starting to feel tired in the afternoons and wanted to get home at a reasonable time, mainly to see her man, as well as getting forty winks.

  Joe was busy. Not only was he working hard in the parish, he was taking on extra work with the other faith leaders, and concentrating on the local families who were struggling.

  Then there was the choir.

  Rehearsals were coming thick and fast, plus they’d got through the first round of the competition, much to the shock of Jack and herself.

  They were good, but they weren’t that good.

  But it was a mission of love by Joe, who the ladies and two men adored, making them want to work hard on their warbling. Suri could still hear her mother’s out of tune, strangled cat, tone… but it was less harsh.

  Being smart, Suri had written the continuity scripts the week before when she was bored.

  Half of her didn’t want to return to work, the other half did.

  All she had to do was watch some programmes, check the scripts from some other writers and kill time until three.

  After lunch, she was aimlessly walking back to her office when she saw him.

  Ted didn’t look happy. Suri made sure her large jumper was baggy enough to hide the bump. She was going to smile, but he turned away and walked off.

  That hurt a little, though she knew it was expected. He didn’t want to be friends. Ted was probably embarrassed by the calls and declaration of love he’d made.

  It was understandable.

  Managing to do her first day without throwing up, she walked out of the building and headed off back home.

  When she walked past the green, she realised she’d not gone to see the plaque for Felicity. The ceremony was two weeks earlier, and she avoided any conversation about it. It still made her feel angry. But she was married to a Vicar, so anything she wanted regarding Rory would look inappropriate.

  Her phone started to ring.

  ‘Hello husband.’ She smiled on saying it. ‘How are you?’

  ‘I’m watching you walk down the road, looking lovely and wrapped up. How was the first day back?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘In the church.’

  Suri turned and tried to spot him. He was standing at one of the windows waving. She waved back.

  ‘What time will you be home?’ she asked, wanting to run inside and hug him. ‘Late?’

  ‘Late.’

  ‘Fine. I’ll make dinner and leave it in the fridge for when you get back.’

  Her heart sank as she wanted to spend some time with him. Since the honeymoon, they’d hardly been together, other than in bed.

  ‘I’m sorry but it’s busy at the moment with everything. Easter’s coming up in six weeks and we’ve got weddings and all sorts.’

  She continued to walk down the road and knew this was going to be her life.

  ‘Well, it could be worse. You could be a high flying detective then I’d never see you,’ she sighed, looking at the coffee shop she’d hardly entered, since finding out she was pregnant. ‘You will come for the scan on Friday, won’t you?’

  ‘I will come as you’ve told me.’

  ‘Was that a little dig?’
/>
  ‘I’d love to dig into you but I better go,’ he whispered. ‘Suri?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘When should we tell people about you being pregnant?’

  ‘I want to keep it under wraps as much as possible because I doubt the gossip has died down about us getting married. Mum was furious when she overheard them calling me the Vicar’s tart.’

  ‘What?’ He let out a gruff sigh.

  ‘Considering your love life has been full on, and mine’s been like a nun, it’s quite funny,’ she smiled, not caring what the witches of church thought. ‘I’m not going to let you down. I’ll keep in the background and help as much as I can, without treading on anyone’s toes.’

  ‘I love you very much. Turn around and come back to church.’

  ‘You want to pray for me?’

  ‘Come on.’

  She turned around and walked back, taking a short cut through the green as he opened the side a door, waiting for her. He wasn’t in his Vicar kit today. Joe was his rock star self, wearing a leather jacket, denim shirt and jeans. There was a thick red scarf hanging from his neck.

  Soon as she got to the door, he grabbed her, shutting it quickly and pushing her against the wall, before planting a big kiss on her lips. That’s when it turned a little amorous because Suri was still on heat.

  ‘We’ve got to stop,’ she mumbled. ‘Before I drag you onto the ground and mount you.’

  ‘It’s just kissing,’ he said, pushing his hand under her coat and fondling her breasts. ‘I’d ask you to wait up tonight but I know you’ll be out for the count.’

  ‘Just give me a quick nudge when you get in, and I’m all yours.’

  Then they wrapped their arms around each other, and she felt his tongue fill her mouth while his groin pushed against her.

  ‘Is nowhere safe from your groping?’ they heard Jack shout and pulled away immediately. ‘And I’m talking about the female one.’

  Suri was going to laugh then things got a little worse.

  Janet Peters and her friends, Mrs Markham and Mrs Rodger, were looking on with utter disgust.

  For once, Joe didn’t go red as he laughed out before saying, ‘This is the house of God, and he knows I’m in love with my very own little jam tart. Isn’t that what you ladies have been calling my wife? A tart? She thinks it’s funny whereas I think it’s pretty insulting.’

  ‘Joseph,’ Jack said in a low tone.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about Reverend Isley,’ Janet Peters replied with scorn.

  ‘Oh, I heard that too,’ said Mrs Henderson, walking in and looking for something in her bag. ‘Hello Suri. My, you do look well!’

  ‘She’s not a tart,’ Joe said seriously. ‘And I’d like you to respect my wife.’

  ‘That’s debateable,’ Janet Peters swiftly replied.

  ‘What? The tart or the respect?’ Suri asked, shaking her head from side to side then turned to Joe. ‘It doesn’t matter. These godly women will probably all end up in hell!’

  ‘Suri!’ shouted out Jack as Mrs Henderson started to laugh.

  ‘You see what sort of a woman you married! So disrespectful! Carrying on in the church and now being rude!’ snapped Janet Peters as her friends grumbled in agreement. ‘We all know where she’s going to end up.’

  ‘Leave Suri alone,’ Mrs Henderson intervened, walking towards Suri. ‘She hates you, and you hate her. Draw a line and let it go. She’s been through enough, and now you want to make her life a misery because she’s bagged the handsome young clergy. She’s right; that’s not very godly is it?’ Then Mrs Henderson winked at Suri. ‘Married and all loved up. That’s what this church needs. A happy couple.’

  ‘Ladies, can we please stop this?’ Jack asked, getting in a huff. ‘It’s not the right place and we have a meeting.’

  ‘Did you see Felicity’s plaque?’ Janet Peters asked, smiling brightly. ‘In memory of being murdered by your boyfriend, don’t forget.’

  There was silence as Suri looked at Janet Peters, not wanting to say anything as it simply wasn’t worth it.

  But something deep inside burned so hard, she couldn’t let the woman lord it up in front of her, especially with onlookers, judging her and Joe.

  ‘The boy she was in love with,’ said Suri, very quietly and watched the woman’s face start to turn red with rage. ‘Where are Felicity’s diaries? It will tell you exactly what sort of boyfriend Rory was and more. You know they slept with each other, don’t you?’

  ‘Suri, please don’t,’ whispered Joe, now looking concerned about the situation.

  ‘No matter what you say, no matter what you do Janet Peters, I know the truth as I was there. It’s not me that was the tart; it was you daughter.’

  ‘Why can’t you just stop?’ said Jack, slapping his hand against his forehead.

  ‘I won’t be persecuted and judged by people who don’t know the truth. I’ve kept my mouth shut but if I am pushed, I will circulate Rory’s diary and what he said about her. It’s a very interesting read.’

  ‘What a woman you married!’ sneered Janet Peters. Mrs Henderson looked furiously at Janet Peters and then glanced sympathetically at Suri. ‘She’s going to let you and the church down.’

  ‘Oh, I’ll never do that,’ Suri said, squeezing Joe’s arm and heading towards the side door to leave. ‘That you can manage all on your own.’

  ‘You can’t wear jumpers in April.’

  Her mother said and shook her head. ‘It looks very strange.’

  ‘It’s not showing,’ Suri replied, looking at herself in the mirror.

  She was in denial, trying to find ways of hiding the bump. But the weather was getting warmer, and her bulge was increasing in size, as were her breasts.

  Joe was very happy about the last one.

  Standing in her mother’s living room, to wish her luck before the semi-finals of the singing contest, Suri knew she had a point.

  ‘And no-one at work suspects?’ her mother asked, putting her hand on Suri’s stomach.

  ‘Only the people who need to know, know. Edgar and Human Resources, that’s all. I’ll tell them in a few weeks I’m leaving in the middle of May.’

  ‘Are you sure you don’t have a disorder, making you think you’re slim but you’re fat.’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ she replied, pushing the hand away. ‘I’ve been losing weight with the sickness, not putting it on.’

  ‘Didn’t Joe say your consultant thought you being sick was more mental than physical?’

  ‘That’s the consultant’s opinion. Shouldn’t you be practicing or something?’

  ‘Here,’ her mother went towards her bag, taking her purse and pulling out some money. ‘Go and buy yourself a dress.’

  ‘I can afford to buy my own clothes.’

  ‘Something nice and lightweight. The weather is going to get warmer, and you need to start dressing for when you get really big. And you will.’

  Waving her mother off as she got in the coach, and fiercely snogging her husband when everyone was out of sight, Suri headed for the shops in Richmond. It would be less hectic.

  All she wanted was elasticated trousers and some vest tops.

  A dress was something she didn’t want, but then again, it might come in useful.

  An hour into her shopping spree, where she’d got a few things that could be worn after the baby was born, she found herself looking at shops specialising in baby clothing. A warm feeling took hold of her as she opened up her jacket, stroking her stomach and examined the little outfits.

  ‘Suri?’ she heard and when she turned, Ted was standing there with his wife.

  ‘Hello,’ the woman said, smiling and walking towards her. ‘I’m Gillian, Ted’s wife.’ Suri was immediately wracked with guilt, knowing she’d had an affair with Ted. And the fact her husband was a lying, two timing, shit seemed so awful now. ‘Oh, when are you due?’

  It was Ted’s complete look of shock when he noticed Suri’s engorged
tummy that nearly led him to crashing into a display of toys.

  ‘23rd of June,’ Suri said, smiling at Gillian and ignoring the man behind but knowing she had to spit it out. ‘We were going to get married then but I found out I was pregnant. The wedding was in January.’

  ‘Congratulations!’ Gillian said, looking genuinely sincere. ‘You look radiant.’

  ‘I’ve only known Joe for a year. I married the local Vicar.’

  ‘We’re going to be late,’ Ted quickly said, looking like he was trying to compose himself before glaring at Suri. ‘You only got engaged a few months ago. Why are you keeping it quiet about the wedding and baby? No-one at work knows.’

  ‘Edgar does. He even paid for my honeymoon. And everyone at the gym because they think it’s funny I’m hitting the cross trainer. Denise? Well, she hates me, so she has no idea.’ She smiled sweetly at him. ‘And I’ve been back at work, after taking a sabbatical for six months. You know what? It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.’ Knowing Ted was getting angry, she turned to Gillian. ‘Edgar wanted me to take time out to rethink my career. Your husband has been most helpful with it all, guiding me, so to speak.’

  ‘You work in his department?’ Gillian asked, looking a little confused. ‘And Denise is the transsexual, isn’t she?’

  Suri burst out laughing, wishing she could tell the woman to ask Ted if it were true.

  ‘Are you shopping for baby things?’ Suri asked, feeling Ted stare at her and then the bump. ‘Is there any news you want to share with me?’

  ‘Oh goodness no!’ laughed out Gillian before whispering. ‘He had the snip years ago. We’re looking for a christening present.’

  Suri smiled through gritted teeth, knowing that Ted had bullshitted her about having kids. She made eye contact with Ted who now seemed fearful and tearful.

  ‘We better go. Bye Suri, see you on Monday,’ he said and escorted his wife out before she could say goodbye.

  ‘Bastard,’ she mumbled to herself, realising Ted had been full of secrets and lies.

  That’s when she wondered what she’d ever seen in him, then rubbed her tummy with a smile, knowing she’d been waiting for an epiphany.