Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Clara was always punctual and never missed a day’s work.
So Lawrence was mystified when she needed a day’s leave in the middle of the week.
He figured it must be down to the fact that she was no longer smiling the way she had been.
He didn’t want to ask questions in case it was what he called ‘female stuff’.
It also dawned on him that there might have been some sort of lover’s tiff if she had been in love as he had previously suspected, and he didn’t want to hear the gory details.
He was her boss, not her counsellor, after all.
* * *
Clara had arrived twenty minutes early for her interview and rehearsed all the questions she could think they would ask as she sat in the car.
However, as she drove home, she dissected everything she had said.
Should she have told Bryony that she was so dedicated to St Peter’s?
She had intended for it to come across as her being a diligent worker, but now she began thinking that they may not take her application seriously.
What if they assumed she wouldn’t take the job if she was to be successful since she was so committed?
Then, when they asked her what she would bring to King’s College, she had gone blank.
She was frustrated with the interview nerves she had encountered.
Although the one question she hadn’t been prepared to answer was how she dealt with theological differences within the congregation or her leadership.
That was a tricky one on the spur of the moment, as the truth was that it usually involved some kind of food offering.
Her brownies solved any conflict but she wasn’t sure that was the answer they were looking for.
In addition, how she managed the ministry work and maintained a healthy work-life balance was another question she found difficult.
For much of her life she lived for work and had never really worked to live.
Although she was pleased with the fact that she had answered the questions about student welfare satisfactorily.
After all, nobody could do more for the students than Clara.
When the interview had finished, Bryony had taken her on a show-around and Clara liked what she saw.
Everyone had been lovely and welcoming and, after such an efficacious visit, Clara could see that King’s College would be a great place to work.
From the little she had seen of the city of Cambridge, overall, she felt she could be happy there.
Although she wasn’t sure that she would ever be as settled as she was in Oxford, but that was only natural when you were living in your home town and your best friend lived close by.
Clara thought about it all as she got stuck in traffic on the way home on the A421.
She tried to be positive about so many aspects, including seeing Lowri again.
She had been super helpful with the interview advice.
It was obvious Lowri had been rooting for Clara to get the post from the start so that they could work together again.
Clara could imagine that Bryony would also be easy to work with.
Overall, the visit was positive and when Clara said goodbye, Bryony promised her that she would hear about the post in the next two weeks since there were still others to be interviewed.
She was curious as to whether she knew any of her competitors, but she could hardly ask around as she needed to keep her application low key for now.
She hoped nobody would let the cat out of the bag, and that she hadn’t been spotted by anyone.
There was no reason for anyone in Oxford to know, apart from Eleanora who had made her promise they would go to the pizza place that Amy, everyone’s favourite student, worked in, the moment she returned.
‘This is on me,’ said Amy, handing Clara a glass of Prosecco as soon as she sat down.
‘Ooh, what have I done to deserve this? That’s very kind of you.’ It was exactly what Clara desired after a stressful day.
‘You’ve earned it. You’re always so amazing . . . And it’s also to keep you sweet. Make sure you’re still coming to my graduation. You are still coming, aren’t you? It wouldn’t be the same without you.’
‘Of course I’ll be there. Do you really think I’d miss it?’
Eleanora was never too far away and arrived as Clara chatted to Amy.
‘Amy’s giving out free drinks, Nora.’
‘Am I heck, the boss would kill me. It’s only as a thank you for what Clara’s done for the community and for me.’
‘Ah, I thought it sounded a bit too good to be true. I do good things for the community too, you know,’ said Eleanora.
‘To be fair, you have perfected getting most of us inebriated students out of the river a few times. Maybe when you retire, I’ll give you a freebie,’ teased Amy.
‘It’ll be a long time before that happens. I’ll be out there come rain or shine in my eighties, just like Dad was.’
As Amy turned to hand out menus to a large group in high spirits, Clara and Eleanora finally caught up.
‘So, how was the interview, my wonderful clever clogs?’ she whispered.
‘It was good. I’m happy with how it went. I mean, it seemed to go okay but you can never tell with these things. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.’
‘Well, cheers. I wish you the best of luck. Fingers crossed, even though I’ll miss you like mad if you do go. But, hey, don’t let me stop you.’
Eleanora raised her glass. ‘To you getting this wonderful job.’
‘Cheers.’ Clara took a sip and put her glass down. ‘Ooh, I’ve something else to tell you too. I haven’t seen you since this arrived.’
Clara removed the letter from Tom that she had put in her handbag for safekeeping.
Eleanora put her glasses on and read it through. She paused for a moment, then handed the letter back to Clara.
‘Wow. What a situation to be in. At least I’m glad he’s getting the help he needs. Would you not go and visit him? I mean, if it was someone at church you would. He is someone from the church at the end of the day.’
‘I’m too emotionally involved. I think it’s best we don’t see each other. Not for now – and the last thing I need is any complication when I’m waiting to hear about the job.’
‘Yeah, it does look as though he needs some time alone. He needs to work on himself.’
‘That’s exactly what I said. He’s got too much on his plate at the moment. I guess it just wasn’t the right time for us.’
‘Oh, that’s sad.’
‘It is. I was starting to fall madly in love with the man. Silly me. I knew I was never made for a loving relationship.’
Clara took a huge sip of Prosecco. She didn’t want to burst into tears in the middle of the restaurant.
‘Of course you are. Who knows what the future has in store for you both? Never say never.’
Clara flung her arm out and her napkin landed on the floor.
She bent down to pick it up and then looked sadly at Eleanora.
‘You know, it’s probably too late for us now.
It wasn’t meant to be. I could be off on a new adventure and I guess I realised once and for all that I need to prioritise my future.
I’ve always been single; why change the habit of a lifetime? ’
‘You can still have it all.’
‘I don’t think so. I’m not sure I’d trust anyone any longer. I thought Tom was Mr Perfect, but he only showed the version of himself that he wanted me to see.’
‘Yes, but that’s understandable, given the situation he’s in. He’s had a rough ride. He’s not exactly going to tell you that he drinks himself into a stupor on his first date with you, is he?’
Clara frowned. It sounded so terrible.
‘I do feel for him. You don’t suddenly wake up one morning and decide to drink. I guess it takes something to end up like that. I feel a bit guilty for not visiting him, but I think it’s for the best for everyone.’
‘I get it. Don’t feel guilty. He’s in the best place. You saved his life. Imagine if nobody had found him.’
‘Yeah. I guess I’ve played my part. Maybe that’s why we were meant to meet. I was there to save his life.’
‘You certainly did that.’
As Clara finally tucked Tom’s letter away back in her bag, she felt confident that he was in the best place and wondered if they were both better off without each other.
After all, both were where they needed to be at this point in time in their lives.
Maybe this was a moment for them to grow and embrace their futures, even if that meant they were not together.
‘So, this fabulous interview of yours . . . I think we need to celebrate with a pizza each instead of our usual sharing one,’ said Eleanora.
‘You know what? That sounds good. I have worked up quite the appetite today. I was too nervous to have lunch.’
‘Do I even need to ask what you’re both having,’ said Amy, coming over to take the order.
‘You do actually. I’m having ham and mushroom pizza,’ said Clara.
‘You forgot the pineapple,’ said Eleanora leaning over the table.
‘Nope. I didn’t.’
‘Really? You always have pineapple.’
‘I know, but maybe it’s time to embrace change. Shake things up a bit. A friend of mine doesn’t believe pineapple belongs on pizza,’ Clara said to Amy. ‘I’ll give it a go, in memory of him.’
‘Goodness, I am impressed. Where did my Cautious Clara go and what have you done with her?’ said Eleanora, laughing.
‘Yeah, this is freaking me out now,’ said Amy with a giggle.
‘I think I might be having a wild moment,’ said Clara. Her honking laugh made the bartender look over as the three women bonded. Then Eleanora raised the glass in front of her and clinked it with Clara’s once again.
‘To change. Well done. I’m so proud of you.’
It dawned on Clara how much she had been through these past few weeks and how she had successfully dealt with it all.
‘You know what? I’m proud of me too,’ said Clara with a big smile.