Jo senses she does not want to say more, so she moves on. ‘I think Malcolm would like a single malt whisky. Now I think about it, Uncle Wilbur has a couple of unopened bottles upstairs. I think people have given them to him over the years, but he hasn’t touched them. He only drank beer. When were you thinking of going?’
‘When do you close the shop? We could go then.’
Jo looks out at the darkening sliver of sky. She feels battered by her day; wrung out with relief at it all being well between herself and Finn, caught out and exposed from watching Eric meet Caramel Toffee Girl. ‘You know what – I think I could close up early. It’s been really quiet.’ She stands up, ready to clear the mugs away, then she catches sight of Finn’s bag. ‘Oh, I’d forgotten, Finn’s coming back for his things.’
Ruth peers over the counter at the bag. ‘Is there anywhere you could leave it for him?’ she suggests. ‘Or we could wait,’ she says, slowly, and she sits up straighter on her stool. Ruth’s eyes are starting to glint, and Jo can’t help feeling that Reverend Ruth has decided she would quite like to get a look at Finn.
Jo studies her warily as she contemplates asking Eric to hold onto Finn’s bag for him. He tends to work different hours to her – starting later and finishing later. But his shop, like hers, is small. He might not welcome the addition of a large holdall. Jo is also aware of a battle going on within her – she really wants to see Eric the Viking, yet at the same time cannot face the prospect.
‘I tell you what,’ she says, pushing herself to make a decision, ‘I’ll ask my neighbour, Eric, to give Finn my spare key. Then I can just text Finn.’
‘Ooh, is that Eric the Viking?’ Ruth says. ‘Can I come?’ She gets up from the stool and starts the job of rewinding the long, star-patterned scarf about her.
Jo grabs the mugs, dumping them in the sink at the back of the shop. As she sprints up the stairs to collect the whisky, she feels the rush of pleasure of a child being let out of school early.
When she returns to the shop, she realizes that Reverend Ruth is on her mobile.
‘Yes, thank you for calling. I am delighted you rang.’
Jo pauses, halfway down the aisle, unsurewhether to go forward or back. She doesn’t want to be caught eavesdropping.
‘Yes, certainly.’
Jo takes a cautious step backwards.
‘No, I’m glad you rang. I’d really like to talk to you. I think it would make a big difference to you …’
Jo stands stock-still. She can’t help herself; she wants to hear more.
There is a long pause, before Reverend Ruth continues, ‘Yes, it’s a good time now. It is always the right time to bring the love of our Lord, Jesus Christ, into your life. Please just open your heart …’
This wasn’t what she had been expecting – or hoping for.
‘… the Word will fill your soul with love and wonder …’
Jo is crippled with embarrassment. But what had she expected? The womanisa vicar.
‘Oh, if you must, okay then.’
The shop falls silent. All apart from a low cheerful humming that is coming from the Runaway Vicar.
‘You can come out now,’ Ruth calls.
Jo edges around the end of the aisle, the bottle of whisky clasped tightly in her fist.
Ruth nods at her phone. ‘Scam call. Usually does the trick. Can’t wait to get rid of me.’
Jo is still laughing as she and Ruth head towards Eric’s shop. She holds the laughter close; it helps combat the nervousness she feels about seeing Eric again. As they open the wooden and glass door (a replica of her own), Jo is aware that this is the first time she has visited Eric the Viking in his own shop. It occurs to her that she has been a bad neighbour too.
Inside, the shop is starkly different from her own: the interior is panelled in pale wood, with glasses suspended in rows around the walls. In front of them is a small, modern reception desk, behind which is a door, presumably leading to the consulting room. Jo is disconcerted not to find Eric behind the desk. But is there relief there too? Mixed up with disappointment? It hadn’t occurred to her he might be with a patient. Instead, they are met by the smiling face of a woman who strongly resembles the cook fromDownton Abbey.
Like Mrs Patmore, Eric’s receptionist is quick on the uptake and she is soon storing the key in an envelope and writing Finn’s name on it. Jo glances once more towards the inner door, before thanking her and turning to leave.
As they close the main shop door behind them, Jo can’t help wondering if Eric the Optician still has Caramel Toffee Girl in the consulting room with him.
17
The exceptional Eve
