Short story
Justin and Sherri grow closer, but their budding romance hits a stumbling block
Sherri stacked the last box with the others in the kitchen of Wisteria Cottage. “Phew! Mabel – this moving lark is exhausting,” she told the dog curled up in her basket by the Aga.
It had taken Sherri months to tie up the loose ends of her life in London while still wondering if she was doing the right thing in returning to the place where she grew up. Looking round the familiar room, she announced: “The country is where we both belong, old girl. We’ll work it out somehow.”
Glancing out of the window she saw the familiar figure of the vicar walking past. For as long as she could remember Peter, as he was known to everyone, had been at the centre of village life, working tirelessly to promote family values and a sense of community. Behind him she glimpsed his curate, Justin Howlea, running to catch up with him. The two walked on, deep in conversation.
Sherri began to unpack the groceries she had bought from Mrs Coulson at the village shop. As she stacked them in the larder, she thought about her plans for Wisteria Cottage. She had already
Sherri blushed, telling herself not to get stupid ideas – ‘One does not hit on vicars’
decided to occupy her old bedroom with its view across the fields and the small box room would be her office.
Turning to pick up the last of the shopping, she was surprised to see Justin standing in the doorway with his arm raised, ready to knock on the open door. “I’m sorry I startled you,” he smiled. “You were miles away.” He bent down to stroke Mabel who had padded over to greet him.
“No, no – come in! I was just about to make a start on all this.” Sherri waved a hand at the piles of boxes.
“Mrs Coulson said you’d arrived. I came over to see if I could help.”
“Well, if you’re volunteering, you could help me carry some of these boxes upstairs. But be careful, some of them are heavy.”
Justin slipped off his jacket and hung it over a chair. He pushed up the sleeves of his jumper, exposing strong, lightly tanned forearms, and said: “Lead the way!” he joked.
Sherri was shocked to feel her heart skip a beat. ‘One does not hit on vicars,’ she told herself crossly, grabbing a pile of books and heading into the hall. After they had carried the last box upstairs, she brushed a strand of hair from her face and asked: “Can I make you a coffee?”
“I’ve got a better idea. Let’s walk over the hill with Mabel and get a drink at The Green Man.”
“Done!” Sherri replied.
“Just a minute,” he stepped closer to her and for a heart-stopping moment she thought he was going to kiss her, but he took a hanky from his pocket and wiped her cheek. “Smudge on your face,” he explained.
Sherri blushed and busily searched for Mabel’s lead, telling herself not to get any stupid ideas – vicars didn’t hit on parishioners either.
Over two glasses of cider, Justin asked if she would help him with the Youth Club. “They are having a dance and I rashly promised I’d do the burgers. One of the mums normally helps but she is going to be away and I wondered if you might step in?”
So the next time they met was in the village hall kitchen, slaving over a hot stove. They giggled a lot as they flipped burgers and served them to an eager crowd. Afterwards, the kids shouted, ‘Dance, dance, dance!’ and dragged her into the centre of a circle with Justin. As they did a jokey jive, Sherri felt lighthearted for the first time since her father died.
When Justin walked her home, he gave her a light kiss on the cheek and
said: “I’m glad you’ve come back.”
As she took off her coat afterwards, Sherri idly wondered what it would be like being a vicar’s wife. She giggled: “I’m getting way ahead of myself here, Mabel. He hasn’t even asked me out!”
But the next day her daydream was crushed by a visit from a distraught Justin. “What on earth has happened?” Sherri asked, seeing the expression on his face.
“I’ve come to apologise. I’ve been thoughtless…” he ran his fingers through his hair.
“What on earth do you mean?” “Peter had a word with me last night. He pointed out that you are in a vulnerable state, emotionally, and that I have singled you out. People in the village are talking.”
“But, Justin, nothing has happened for them to talk about!”
He gave her a direct look. “Is that true? Nothing has happened?”
Under his searching gaze, she reddened. “Is it me? Have I been guilty of putting you in an embarrassing position?”
“No! I think I am hopelessly in love with you, but Peter is right. I shouldn’t have carried on seeing you. It wasn’t professional when you are in my pastoral care.”
“Justin, Peter is wrong. I’m not a child and you haven’t done anything unprofessional.”
Sherri moved towards him, but as his arms raised instinctively to encircle her, he shook his head and stepped back. “I promised Peter I would go away on a retreat for a fortnight. He wants to talk to you – give you a chance to think things through.”
He turned and walked away rapidly, leaving a stunned Sherri standing on the path.
“Damn interfering Peter!” she cried to Mabel who flattened her ears and looked sheepish.
The next two weeks were the longest of her life. She and Peter spent hours talking about the loss of her father, the life changes she had made and her feelings for Justin. The vicar had known her since she was a girl and despite her initial outburst it was comforting to confide in someone who also knew
‘You’re vulnerable and I’ve singled you out. People in the village are talking’
Justin. Peter gave no indication of his own thoughts on the matter, but in her heart she felt more sure than ever that her feelings were real.
When Justin still hadn’t returned after three weeks, Sherri was forced to accept that he had not come to the same conclusion. To take her mind off things, she set about restoring the garden her father had loved. As she weeded, Mabel lay close by, offering her own brand of unconditional love.
Suddenly, she stood up and padded over to the gate, tail wagging furiously. An excited ‘woof’ made Sherri look up and there he was, thinner and paler, but still her beloved Justin.
“Sherri, I – Peter says…” but he never finished the sentence as she flew across the lawn and threw herself into his arms. Turning her face up to his, she saw the answer she sought in his eyes and all her doubts were lost in the promise of their first kiss.