She was feeling relieved. She said, half-joking, there ought to be another team for the wash-up. Some men, for a change.
'Some hope,' said Daphne Beaton. 'They're all in their glad-rags, aren't they? We made the mistake of bringing our aprons.'
'I'd lend mine to anyone,' said Rachel.
'Even the rector?' said Daphne-and it wasn't meant to make Rachel blush, but it brought to mind that evening she'd called at the rectory and found Otis wearing nothing but an apron.
She managed to say in a calm voice, 'Him included. Specially him. No, to be fair, he washed up after the fete.'
'He's a sport,' said Daphne.
One of the others said, 'Wasted, isn't he, handsome young fellow like him, living alone in that rectory?'
'You want to help him out, Dot?'
'I wouldn't mind,' said little Dot, all of seventy-five, and toothless.
'More cider, love?' said Daphne, laughing.
From the hall came a timely chorus:
'Then fill up the jug boys, and let it go round,
Of drinks not the equal in England is found.
So pass round the jug, boys, and pull at it free,
There's nothing like cider, rough cider, for me.'
With the singing under way, it was time to start on the dishes. Some had already been stacked on the serving table. The four women set about collecting the rest and bringing them into the kitchen for the wash-up.
Rachel was running the water, wondering if it would get hot enough, when a voice at her shoulder said, 'I'll do that.'
A man.
She turned to see. That strange young man Burton Sands already had his jacket off and was rolling Up his sleeves. Now that there actually was a man on hand to help, Rachel wasn't sure if she wanted one there. Not this one, anyway.
She said, 'You'll miss all the fun.'
Nice try, but there was no stopping him. 'It's no fun watching people you know make fools of themselves.'
'Your clothes will be ruined.'
Daphne, returning with a stack of dishes, said, 'Don't turn the man away, for God's sake. We'll find you an apron, Burton.'
So he was kitted out for washing-up duties and took over at the sink, with two of the four women wiping up and the others tidying. He worked solemnly and thoroughly, saying little, while the others chatted as freely as before, or almost.
The stacks of dishes were steadily reduced and in a surprisingly short time the kettle was on for tea. Burton said he didn't want one, yet showed no inclination to leave. Only when Rachel got up and rinsed her cup did the young man roll down his sleeves and reach for his jacket.
'Are you going back in there?' he asked her.
'No, I thought I'd slip away now. I didn't come for the party.'
'I'll go with you.'
Daphne, not missing anything, said, 'Ay-up.'
Solemn as ever, Burton said, 'What's that?'
'Now we know why you volunteered-so you could walk Rachel home.'
It was meant as part of the banter that had been going on for the last hour, but Burton's response made it seem intrusive. 'I want to ask her something. Do you mind?'
'No prizes for guessing what,' said Daphne, to hoots of laughter.
Rachel kept quiet. When the sexual innuendos start, you're better off saying nothing.
'He was only the washer-up, but he went home with the best dish.'
Then Daphne's friend Dot said, 'Leave off, Daph. We'd still be washing up if it wasn't for the help Burton and Rachel gave us.'
It all turned into a chorus of thanks.
And Rachel, much against her inclination, found herself walking up the street with Burton at her side.
He came to the point at once. Small-talk wasn't his style. 'How much experience of book-keeping have you got?'
This night, of all nights, she could do without being quizzed about the job she hadn't wanted in the first place. Not wanting an argument, she said, 'Enough-if you're talking about the church.'
'You've done it before?'
'A certain amount.' Not quite a lie. She'd learned the basics at school.
He said, 'I was wondering why you put up for treasurer.'
There was an easy answer. 'I think we all ought to help where we can, don't you?'
'I could have done it.'
'So I heard,' she answered. 'At the time, I didn't know you were interested.'
'It was your decision, was it? Nobody asked you.'
'The rector asked me. I don't expect he knew you were a candidate.' Why don't you let go? she thought.. What's the point in pursuing this?
'He knew I wanted it. I told him myself. He said he'd already spoken to someone else-obviously you. He must think a lot of you.'
'That doesn't follow,' she said. 'He thought I could do the job, that's all.'
'If it were me, I'd do it on computer.'
'I'm sure you'd do it brilliantly, Burton, and I expect your turn will come.'
'Have you got a computer?'
'No.'
'The rector has. I've seen one in his study up at the rectory. He could let you use it.'
'Maybe, but I'd rather work from home.'
'It's easier on the computer.'
'It's easy, anyway, or I wouldn't have taken it on,' she said, irritated by his manner.
'Have you met the bank manager yet?'
'Look, I don't need you to tell me how to do the job, Burton. I'm sure it's kindly meant, but I happen to believe the most important part of being a treasurer isn't knowing how to add up columns or use a computer or talking to bank managers. It's to be independent of everyone, whether it's the rector or the other members of the PCC or someone like yourself with a professional training in accounts.'
They'd reached her cottage. She added, 'Thanks for your help with the washing up.' Then she put her key in the lock and went inside without looking back.
Twelve
The reek of curry was overpowering. She went straight to the kitchen and carried the casserole dish to the toilet and flushed away what was left. Then returned and ran water over the dish, switched on the fan over the hob and opened all the windows. A few squirts of air freshener helped, but it would be hours before she could feel the house was her own place.
The television was blaring some police programme, and Gary wasn't watching. She could hear him clumping about upstairs.
She called up that she was back and about to put on a kettle.
If he answered, it was indistinct. She switched on and got out the mugs. Personally she fancied tea at this time of the evening. She turned down the volume on the television and switched to the news, and watched without
