Chapter 1 #2
Something about how he said it and the way he looked at her made her feel special.
It was as though he saw who she was beneath the robes – something nobody ever did.
She was well known for being the Reverend Clara Bennett, who was married to the church.
As Tom looked at her, feelings of desire threatened to bubble back to the surface.
She could remember the first time she had seen him when he was hanging around outside the church looking bewildered.
He’d reminded her of a new boy at school.
She’d asked him if he needed help and he had politely asked if he was in the right place for choir practice.
Clara helped him find John, the choir leader, and then went off on her merry way.
Although, even during that brief encounter, she thought how he looked like a chap who could sweep a woman off her feet with just the glint in his eye.
Whilst she had always been wary of a handsome man, and most men actually, the appealing thing about Tom was that he didn’t seem to realise quite how good-looking he was.
He wasn’t conceited or arrogant; he seemed normal and kind, which felt like rare qualities nowadays.
The lines around Tom’s eyes crinkled as he smiled and then he took another sip of water.
‘I do hope my brownies haven’t made you thirsty.’
‘No, not at all.’
‘Must be all that singing then. Got to keep those vocal cords lubricated,’ she said, and then accidently let out a honking laugh. Clara cringed. Why was she so nervous around him?
‘Indeed.’
‘So, anyway, I hope you’re enjoying being a member of the church. I’m here if you need anything.’
She noticed that her boss, Lawrence, had just finished talking to a new member and she needed to discuss a fundraising plan with him.
‘Ooh, sorry, it’s been lovely talking to you but I just need to have a word with the big boss.’
‘God?’ asked Tom.
‘Ha. No, Lawrence.’
‘Oh.’ Tom looked crestfallen, which bemused Clara.
‘You can come and meet Lawrence with me, if you like. Shall I introduce you?’
‘No, it’s okay. Actually, it was you I needed to speak to. I wanted to ask you something.’
He stopped as he waited for her response.
‘What is it? Please, go ahead.’
‘It’s just that your sermon was so inspiring. What you said about seizing every opportunity for love and happiness. Did you mean that?’
‘Yes, of course. I don’t say things I don’t mean. That would be rather irresponsible of me.’
‘Right. That’s what I thought. I need to say something but . . . Oh, this is harder than I thought.’
‘Is something wrong?’
‘I’m not very good at this.’
‘Very good at what?’
‘I . . . I . . . Just wondered if you’d like to go on a date with me? Just a coffee. Nothing fancy.’ He hurried his words as he looked at his feet.
Taken aback, Clara almost did one of her famous little snorts again but managed to reel it in.
She stood back for a moment. The handsome Tom Hartley was asking her out on a date!
Goodness. She wasn’t expecting that when she woke up this morning.
She had to mentally recall his words once again.
A date? The only dates Clara had enjoyed for the past few years were of the edible variety and her favourite ones came in a special box that she ordered every Christmas.
This was a real date. A date with a human and, at first, Clara didn’t know how to respond.
Meanwhile, Tom started to panic. He knew he shouldn’t have said anything.
He cursed himself for thinking that she might be interested in him.
What on earth was he thinking? It was the sermon.
He’d got carried away in the moment. He knew all about getting carried away.
He had done it yet again. He admonished himself for his lack of self-control.
Why did he think asking his favourite reverend out on a date would end well?
He may never be able to come back here again.
His head was whirring away at great speed with all the consequences of what he had said.
The one thing he had come to enjoy was being a later-in-life Christian.
He had found a place of worship that he loved and was starting to settle in.
Yet again, he’d blown something good. What an idiot, he told himself as he continued to stare at his feet, willing them to allow him to run away.
‘Sorry . . . I shouldn’t have asked. I . . .’
What Tom didn’t realise was that Clara had thought about it. Hadn’t she just told the congregation to seize the day? She was almost obliged to say yes. Although the truth was that an offer like this hadn’t come around for many years.
‘I would jolly well love to have a coffee with you, Tom. Why not?’
Since Tom had by now catastrophised and managed to convince himself that she would turn him down, he had to ask Clara if he’d misheard.
‘Pardon? Did you say you would go for a coffee with me?’
Clara gave him a big smile.
‘Indeed. I would love to go for a coffee with you, Tom.’
‘It’s a date then,’ said Tom in a state of amazement.
He didn’t know if he was happier about the fact that he wouldn’t have to leave the country in embarrassment, or that the beautiful reverend with the gorgeous smile that lit up her face and had the most infectious throaty laugh, had said yes to him.
Tom and Clara stood staring at each other for a moment, neither knowing what to say or do next.
Tom hadn’t quite planned out the next part of this conversation.
Should he arrange the time now? Where should they go? He needed to think fast.
Meanwhile, Clara still couldn’t believe she was going on a date with the most eligible singleton in the church.
As they grinned at each other shyly, Clara felt her décolletage flushing and was grateful for her clerical collar. She coyly looked away, and then turned back to him, smiling.
‘I very much look forward to it, Tom.’
They paused as their eyes met and that unmistakable cheeky grin that Tom had been blessed with spread further across his face.
‘Me too, Clara, me too.’
It was as though the world stood still as Clara and Tom laughed nervously. For the first time in ages, Tom felt full of hope. Perhaps his life was finally on the up. Clara had similar sentiments for her own reasons.