‘Oh, drat. It’s some of the more vocal students.’
‘That’s okay.’
‘No, no. It’s not. I don’t want them assuming anything about my personal life. It’s not really anyone’s business. I like to keep things professional.’
Clara ducked down quickly. The punt was far too small for her to hide properly. Even though he didn’t necessarily see why she should be so concerned, Tom sensed her unease and protectively threw his hacking jacket quickly on top of her.
‘Is that Reverend Clara in there?’ said a voice from one of the boys. She recognised it as Matthew, a second-year history student she had spoken to a couple of times, who was friends with some of her churchgoing students. She thought it was him she had spotted on board. Why did she always get caught out when she didn’t want to see anyone from the university?
‘Is there someone else in there? I can’t see them,’ said another of the boys.
‘I swear I’m not seeing things. The Rev was in there. That’s so weird. Have I been studying so much that I’m hallucinating now?’
The other student laughed and splashed water at him.
‘You need to take it a bit easier, mate.’
Tom ignored the comments as he tried to pass by as quickly as he could.
‘Good day, lads,’ he said, and then whispered for Clara to stay down.
It felt like forever that Clara was cramped on the damp floor of the punt, but once they were gone, Tom let Clara know that the coast was clear.
‘Oh, Tom. Thank you. I know it’s silly... I just don’t want my private life made public. Gosh, this feels so clandestine.’
‘It’s okay. You don’t have to explain anything to me. I understand. I wouldn’t want you being uncomfortable with people knowing about us this soon. Apart from your friend, of course. She seems like a trusted person you confide in.’
‘Yeah, she is. We tell each other everything.’
Tom nodded. He was deep in thought and Clara watched him as he drifted into one of his daydreams again.
‘I’m lucky to have the best friends in my life,’ she added, trying to get his attention.
‘Oh... Yes. It’s nice to have a friend like that. Women are lucky in that respect. Men don’t always form those types of friendships. Stiff upper lip and all that.’
‘That makes me sad, Tom. Well, please know you can always confide in me and I won’t tell a soul. Not even Eleanora. I might tell her everything about me, but not other people’s secrets.’
‘Thanks, Clara. That’s very kind.’
His brain shouted at him to tell her a few things about his past now. It would be the perfect time. He could trust her not to tell anyone else. There was nobody around to overhear and she had practically told him to spill the beans, but the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth.
‘Shall we turn back then?’ said Tom.
‘Yes, we’d better get this back to Eleanora so she can lock up. I know how she likes to leave on the dot. I think she might have a hot date tonight. She’s met some chap on a dating site. I don’t know why she bothers though. They’re always hopeless and she ends up disappointed. Not that I’d say that to her. I try to live in hope that one of them will turn out to be half human.’
‘I could never imagine being on a dating site. It sounds so depressing.’
‘Yes, I suppose some people strike it lucky on them though.’
As they drifted back to the boathouse, Clara thought how fortunate she was. Long ago she had dabbled with the Christian site but that had been a waste of time. It was such a different experience meeting Tom, who was busy getting them back safely after a blissful trip down the Cherwell.
Eleanora was packing up by the time they arrived back.
‘How was it? Did you have fun?’
‘Brilliant, thanks again for being so generous. We definitely needed the cushions,’ said Tom.
‘Oh yes, we did. Does anyone actually sit on them without one? I think I’ve pulled a muscle getting out,’ said Clara rubbing her thigh that had gone to sleep.
