She made some polite and untrue remark about the pleasure of being with him. He didn't reply.
After he'd gone she had some anxious moments going over what she'd said and wondering if he would spread it around. When her coffee and scone were served, she finished them and hardly noticed.
When Gary finally discovered the stain on the carpet and said, 'What happened here, for Christ's sake?' Rachel gave him most of the truth, explaining about her new responsibility as treasurer to the PCC and how the rector had wanted to show her the account books and she had felt obliged to offer refreshment in the shape of wine and finger food.
'You what?' he said with a glare. America hadn't mellowed him at all.
'He wanted to go over the figures. You can't do that in ten minutes. I had to offer something and it was a choice of coffee or wine. I decided wine was easier. Coffee's such a performance and you can't serve instant to a guest.'
'So you bought a posh Wine and knocked the bottle over. Clumsy cow.'
Blocking out the insult, she went into her prepared bit. 'That's it. So embarrassing, too. I could have died! Most of the stain has gone as you see. There's just this tidemark at the edge. We can buy a small rug and cover it.'
'Not out of my money, we won't.'
'Have you got another suggestion?'
'Work some bloody overtime and pay for a new carpet. How come you got lumbered as treasurer anyway, dozy bitch? You're crap with figures-you know you are.'
Let it pass, she told herself, though she felt the crude words like a series of body blows. He wants me to react. 'I don't do much for the church. It was hard to say no. He took so much trouble when I broke my arm, driving me to hospital and everything.'
'Don't do much for the church? You're there every Sunday putting our hard-earned in the plate. Isn't that enough?'
'Most of them do a lot more. The choir, the flower rota, bell-ringing, helping with Sunday school. I've never done any of that.'
'You rattle a box for Christian Aid.'
'That's nothing. Some people have prayer meetings in their homes every week.'
His eyebrows shot up. 'Don't even think about it, right?'
She could have mentioned that his jazz friends came and played their music when she was trying to watch the gardening programmes, but she didn't want a row. He was working up to something and he could get violent. She'd been pushed around before; not blows, exactly, but strong, frightening pushes.
He actually started a new conversation. 'Speaking of the vicar-'
'Rector.'
'His name is Otis Joy, right?'
'So?'
'Bloody stupid name.'
'If you say so.'
'But memorable. There can't be more than one pillock with a name like that-or so I thought. Now listen to this. There were these Canadians staying in our hotel. Good blokes. Three of them, from Toronto. We had a few Buds with them, got talking, as you do. I don't know how we got around to funny names, but we did. My old doctor, Screech, and that dentist of yours called Root.'
'Stumps. His name was Stumps.'
'I thought it was Root. Well, I told them it was, and it seemed hilarious when we were half-pissed, as we were. Then one of these Canadians said he once knew a guy called Otis Joy who was training to be a priest. He went through school with him.'
She was amazed. 'You're kidding.'
'Straight up. Otis Joy.'
'It can't be our rector. He's not Canadian.'
'Didn't say he was. It's just coincidence, the name.'
'What age would he have been?'
'How would I know?'
'The man who spoke to you. If he went to school with this Otis Joy they must have been about the same age.'
Gary thought for a moment. 'Younger than me. More like your age. Pushing thirty.'
'That's another coincidence, then, the age. Otis can't be any older than I am. A Canadian, you say?'
'If they were at school together in Toronto he must have been.'
'Did you tell him you knew a priest with the same name?'
'No, it would have spoilt his story, wouldn't it? I mentioned it to the lads later on. They;reckoned Otis is a more common name over there.'
'Is it?'
'No idea. There was Otis Redding, the soul singer.'
'I've heard of him.'
'You have? Big deal. He only sold about a billion records.'
She was silent, pained by his sarcasm.
He said presently, 'Are you going to tell your precious rector?'
'I don't know.'
'I might, when I see him next,' he said. 'Just because he wears his collar round the wrong way people don't like to go up to him in the street. I don't bloody mind. I'd like to see his face when I tell him. Probably thinks he's unique.'
She called his bluff: said he was welcome to come and talk to the rector at the harvest supper on Saturday. 'There won't be black-eyed beans, but it should be warm food. I offered to help with the cooking.'
'You're going overboard on the good works, aren't you?' he said. 'What is it with this vicar? Don't tell me you've got the hots for him.'
She said, with a force that gave too much away, 'It's nothing to do with him. The WI organise it.'
'You're not WI.'
'I was asked to help.'
'And he'll be there. You said he would.'
'Of course, but only as a guest.'
'Admit it. You fancy him.'
'That's absurd, Gary. I'll be working in the kitchen, preparing the food. I won't even see him.'
He stepped towards her and pressed the flat of his hand against her chest. The push was a light one, but frightening. 'Lying cow.'
'Don't do that.'
'I'll do as I like. You'll feel the back of my hand if you've been up to anything, you slag.' He pushed her again, harder. 'Getting in wine like that. It's bloody obvious what you had in mind.'
'No, Gary.'
'It's a come-on, isn't it? The old man's in America, so come and screw the arse off me. I tell you, Rachel, if that randy preacher got inside your knickers while I was away, I'll give him such a hiding he won't be able to hobble into his pulpit again. Ever. And after I finish with him, I'll sort you out.'
Her voice shook. 'Will you listen to me, Gary? You couldn't be more wrong.'
'No? You want to see your face when you say that.' He stabbed his finger towards her several times. 'You're lying, woman, and it shows. 1 said I'd beat the shit out of Otis sodding Joy, and your red face just bought him a month's worth of hospital food.'
'Don't. Don't be so stupid.'
He leered at her. 'We'll see if his reverence tells the truth or not. You're really wetting yourself now, aren't you?'
'Please, Gary.'
