Page 47 of The Fete of Summer

“Fine by me,” said Nathan.

“Good then,” said Jenny, smiling. “I think you’ve set the bench quite high today, Nathan. Sometimes I snap hundreds of shots and never get the one. From what I can tell, at least ten of these are perfect. Unless one of the other players pulls something out of the hat, I think we may well have our centrefold.”

Nathan gulped while Jaymes beamed triumphantly.

“And?” asked Jaymes, a smug look on his face, obviously waiting for Nathan to tell him he was right.

“You’re taking me for a drink before driving me home.”

“Duke’s Head two doors down?”

“Fine.”

“But you might want to put some clothes on. Don’t want a bunch of half-drunk ladies trying to get into your pants. That position has been filled.”

Chapter Thirteen

March

Living in the church-owned house adjacent to the village hall, Father Arbuthnot Mulligan always arrived first to committee meetings to unlock the doors and put out chairs, drinks and snacks. By the time Nathan arrived, Arlene and Doris had usually joined Father Mulligan. Polly and Mikey invariably turned up last. Despite Nathan being later than usual that evening, courtesy of Jaymes’ horniness, Doris sat alone.

“Did I get the wrong night?” said Nathan, hesitating in the doorway.

“Arby’s gone to fetch a bigger table for Arlene’s fancy snacks. She called and doled out instructions. Said she’s running late,” said Doris, rising slowly from her seat and moving stiffly over to him. “She’s picking up the photographer, who’s got pictures from your saucy calendar. Can’t wait, can you?”

“Hmm,” said Nathan, looking away. As she reached him, she hooked her hand under his arm.

“Come and join me. Try a glass of Arby’s cooler.”

For a previous meeting, Father Mulligan and Doris had made up a jug of cranberry fruit mix, a berry flavour Arlene detested and not something any of the others cared to sample.

“Not for me. It’s one of the few things Arlene and I agree on. I find cranberries a tad on the sour side.”

“Which is why Arby and I shake things up a little with our secret recipe. Just try one glass. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And I wanted to have a chat with you, anyway.”

As Nathan settled back and took a tentative gulp of the juice, his taste buds exploded and a burn hit the back of his throat.

“For heaven's sake, Doris! What is in this?”

“Shush, dear. Arby ran out of Smirnoff, so he’s using something called Balkan 176 this week. But I find a cup or two of what he calls Mulligan’s Holy Water helps take the edge off Arlene’s meetings. Amazing the little things that man picks up in his religious circles. Now, let’s talk about you. I knew I was right last month. I’m seeing almost pure red tonight. Energy mixed with passion. More vibrant than this cocktail. I’m right, aren’t I? Somebody’s having fun in the bedroom department, if I’m not mistaken. Your aura’s blazing brighter than a bonfire.”

“Is it?” said Nathan, his cheeks burning. “Thingsarerather looking up in that aspect of my life.”

“Goodness me, I’m worried if I sit too close, I might catch fire.”

Nathan gave a shaky laugh and polished off the rest of his drink as Doris’ cool hand landed on his wrist.

“Nathan Fresher, you have always been such a lovely boy. Anybody else your age would have run a thousand miles from this village. But that’s not you, is it? Loyal to a fault. Your father would be so proud. At my wedding to Ned, my late husband, my mother told me that if our child ever found someone special, I should pass these family heirlooms on to them. Unfortunately, we never had any, so I hope you’ll do me the honour of standing in for the son I never had.”

Doris handed over a small, deep blue velvet pouch tied together with black drawstrings. When Nathan opened the bag and tipped the contents into the palm of his hand, out fell two silver claddagh rings, with the classic design of hands holding a heart and topped with a crown.

“Hands, heart and crown. Hands for friendship, heart for love and crown for loyalty. If you’re single and looking for love, you wear this on your right hand with the point of the heart away from the wrist.”

“Upside down?”

“If you like, yes.”

“Now, if you wear it pointing towards the wrist—the right way up—that indicates you’re in a relationship. Of course, it could also mean you’re just not looking. On your left hand, pointing to your wrist means you’re engaged, and the right way up means you’re married.”

---