Chapter 7 #2
Before Eleanora could continue, there was a furious knocking at the door. Clara wasn’t a stranger to random people turning up at all hours in desperate need, but she knew who it was before opening the door since the knocking was accompanied by the voice of her next-door neighbour.
‘Clara, I know you’re in there.’
Eleanora rolled her eyes at Clara and whispered, ‘What’s wrong with her now?’
Clara tried not to giggle and opened the door with the stern demeanour that she normally only saved for the more serious chapel matters.
‘Julie, to what do I owe this pleasure?’
‘It’s bin day and I’m not very happy with you, lady.’
Clara heard a chuckle from Eleanora behind her and hoped that Julie didn’t notice. She was always accusing Eleanora of making fun of her, and Clara was usually caught in the crossfire.
‘Okay. I put my recycling out like normal last night, so what’s to be the problem?’
‘Indeed, you did. But your bin was placed exactly one foot over on my side of the fence. I measured it. Now, I’ve moved it back to where it should be, but I ask you not to do that again.’
‘Oh, gosh, did I? I was in a bit of a rush last night going to bed.’
‘Yes, well, it didn’t go unnoticed that you were out for some time yesterday and didn’t get back until later on.’
Clara felt her neck flush, even though she knew that she didn’t have to be accountable to Julie, of all people.
‘Like I said, I will be more careful in future, Julie.’
‘So you should be. So you should be.’
Julie sensed someone else was in the house and strained her neck until she worked out who the shadow was that had been lurking behind Clara.
‘Good morning, Eleanora. I know you can hear me. I’m sure you’re listening to every word.’
Eleanora popped out from the safety of the hallway and wished she had been more discreet. ‘Oh, hello. How’s it going, Julie?’
‘It would be going fine if everyone accepted the boundaries around this place.’
‘Yes, I’m sure Clara has learned her lesson. Now, was there anything else you wanted? We were in the middle of a very important chat.’
‘Hmph,’ snorted Julie as she turned on her heel.
‘Goodbye to you too. Nice seeing you,’ shouted Eleanora after her.
Once the door was shut, Eleanora turned to Clara. ‘Now, do you want to live next door to that woman for the rest of your life? Or do you want to consider applying for that fabulous job in Cambridge when it comes up?’
‘Point taken.’
‘Good. I know there’s heaps of time but if I were you, I’d at least show a bit of interest for now. Anyway, on another note, you have to tell me more about Tom. You’re so lucky to have met someone like that . . .’
Eleanora was thrilled for her friend and her enthusiasm was obvious as Clara recounted the little she knew about Tom.
Eleanora had taken an instant liking to him, and she hoped that Clara might have finally found someone she could connect with, although she was still fearful that she could get hurt.
She had only ever seen her this smitten so early on once before and that didn’t end well.
While everyone loved Clara, relationships weren’t her forte and Eleanora always wondered if it was because she let her heart rule her head and ignored any red flags.
She knew that Clara would never hurt anyone and so never expected other people to do bad things to her.
Clara was just too kind and giving for her own good sometimes.
She would always see the good in people, even when the bad was glaringly obvious.
You could never judge a book by its cover and Tom seemed lovely, but if she were being sceptical, she might consider that Tom was a bit too good to be true.
For now, though, she was satisfied with what she saw, and Eleanora headed on her way to work delighted with all the opportunities that were coming Clara’s way.
The moment Eleanora left, Clara decided to bash out her response to Lowri’s email. Besides the prospect of the job, it had been lovely to hear from her and she couldn’t wait to tell her that Lawrence’s Morris Minor had recently overheated in the middle of town, although it was now back on the road.
Eleanora had also twisted her arm and Clara decided the least she could say was that she would consider applying when the position officially opened.
She told herself not to get too carried away and what was meant for her would not go past her, which was something her late mother had always taught her.
Besides, she felt there would no doubt be tons of suitable applicants for the post.
Although Clara was flattered by the surprise proposal, by the time she got to the university where she was about to hold a Bible study session for some of the students, Clara felt a teeny bit guilty that she’d even considered applying when she saw Charlie.
‘All right, Clara. Looking ever so radiant today, may I say.’ Charlie was one of those people who never sat still and spun around on his revolving chair, playing with the arm, as he spoke.
‘Well, thank you, Charlie. Amazing what a good night’s sleep and the finest coffee can do.’ She omitted the part about her radiance possibly coming from all the other events in her life too.
‘Oh, while I’ve got you here, I promised Sian I’d pass on a message. She was looking for you earlier. Think she’s having boy trouble and wanted a word, but you didn’t hear that bit from me. She told me to ask you if you had time to have a chat with her in the next day or so.’
Sian was a first-year Welsh student who seemed to be having trouble settling in, even as the academic year drew to a close.
She was a lovely lass but her taste in boyfriends wasn’t always the best, which Clara felt was part of the problem.
She knew how easy it was to be blindsided when you wanted to see the best in someone.
‘Of course I will. You know I always have time for the students.’
‘Any news then, Clara? What you been up to? Any mischief I should know about?’
For a moment Clara worried that word had already got around about her and Tom.
She suddenly feared that gossip about the reverend might not go down well if she wanted the prestigious new post. She wouldn’t want anyone thinking she was acting like a floozy with her flock.
There was also the fact that she was so used to being single that being the topic of relationship gossip filled her with dread.
Unless this relationship was to be serious then she didn’t want the cat out of the bag and a couple of wonderful dates was hardly marriage material.
‘Goodness, no. Busy working, as always. You know me, Charlie. Home in bed by nine with my cocoa.’
‘That’s what you say.’
Charlie winked and tapped his nose as if he was in on a secret.
Clara was convinced that he couldn’t know what she had been up to but news did travel fast. Had the boys punting said something about her ducking down?
Was she already part of a ridiculous video on TikTok with her bottom sticking up in the air as she hid under Tom’s jacket?
What if it had already received thousands of views and she would forever be known as that ‘vicar who went viral’?
Her rational side reminded her that she surely couldn’t be on TikTok.
However, the thought of being filmed sent shivers down her spine and she would still check social media this evening to be sure.
Even though she knew she was over-reacting, she decided that she must focus on work more.
Although even with the best intentions in the world, that was easier said than done when a very attractive, kind and funny man had suggested another date and it was as much as she could do to get on with her day.
She hadn’t daydreamed about anyone since secondary school when the rugby captain, Miles Barclay, had sat opposite her in maths class and she was too timid to do anything about her secret crush.
This was different though and the feelings were even more intense and, best of all, reciprocated.