Carnations in January by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online

her coat had a hood, which saved her hair a little as they ran from the car park around to the church. Set in a residential street in the heart of the town, its grey and red brick suited the greyness that fitted her life and the feelings inside her perfectly. Maybe Elliott was right and she was lost. What she needed was a map with an arrow that said ‘you are here.’
    Yeah, right, like that’s gonna happen .
    She followed Elliott inside the building, and watched with amazement at the way people greeted each other. The church was light and airy, decorated in pink and beige with chairs rather than pews. So unlike the stone building she’d attended in her youth. She couldn’t see any priests or candles or confessional booths. She hadn’t noticed any of this at the funeral. But today, the church looked different.
    A tall man, with blond hair, greeted her with a sheet of paper and a handshake. “Welcome to Headley Baptist.”
    “Thanks.” She followed Elliott down the aisle to some seats about half way down.
    “Sit here,” he said. “I’ll be back shortly. Just going into the vestry for the elders’ prayer meeting before the service starts. I won’t be long.”
    “’K.” She sat and unfolded the sheet of paper. It listed the order of service along with the hymns. She didn’t know any of them. A few minutes passed and she continued to take in the differences between this church and the darkness she’d always associated with church in the past. This one seemed…warmer somehow, despite the chill of the January morning.
    “In here, Bradley.”
    She glanced up at the familiar voice and watched as a small child, maybe around seven or eight, slid into the seats beside her. Elliott sat beside him. Even his overcoat seemed lighter now they were out of the rain.
    The blond haired child beamed up at him. “Daddy, can we go to the park this afternoon?”
    “In the rain? Your mother won’t thank me if you get sick.”
    Grace looked down. Daddy? What happened to his not married and no kids line? Divorce would cover the ‘not married’, but then most people normally say divorced or separated.
    “I’ll wear my raincoat and my hat. Please, Daddy. Mummy never takes me, nor does Uncle Bryan cos they are always too busy.”
    “We’ll see.” Elliott studied the service sheet, totally ignoring her.
    Well, fine. Invite me here, no, rather insist I come, lie to me, and then blank me. Why did I even think things would be different this time around? I don’t care .
    The problem was, she did care. Hurt and not caring who knew it, Grace stood and left the row of seats via the center aisle. She headed to the back of the church.
    She didn’t need men who had a secret agenda, or who lied to her face several times, any more than she needed a God. She reached the doorway and was about to step outside when a hand touched her arm.
    “Grace?” Elliott asked. “Where are you going?”
    “Home,” she said shortly.
    “Why?”
    “No offense, but has anyone ever told you, the mood swings are a bit much? I don’t appreciate being completely ignored like you just did back there.”
    Confusion crossed Elliott’s face. “I did what?” He drew her back into the lobby out of the rain. “I don’t understand.”
    “Also you told me you didn’t have children. That you weren’t married.”
    “Because I haven’t got kids, and I’ve never been married.”
    “So, I just imagined the cute kid sitting between us calling you daddy then, did I? I don’t know why I’m here anyway. You been very nice but then there have been times when I passed you in the street said hi and you don’t even acknowledge my presence. And the cold shoulder when I returned your casserole dish.” She sighed heavily. “I’m out of here, before you make a fool of me again.”
    Elliott shook his head. “I told you I was going into the vestry. I haven’t sat with you.” He glanced over his shoulder into the church and then grinned. “Oh.”
    “I don’t