Snippets of Downshire Life – Midnight Mass

 

The medieval Village of Withery, was located between Purplemere and Finchbottom, which was where at one time the Monks of St Vitus Abbey were the first to grow grapes in the county.

The Abbey was long ago reduced to rubble and provided much of the fabric of the Village cottages surviving from 15^th and 16^th centuries, and one of them was occupied by a 45-year-old woman, Annette Slocombe, who was Deputy Warden, at Withery Grange Nursing Home, which was the 21^st century incarnation of the old Manor House.

 

In the six months since her husband’s death, Annette had changed beyond all recognition, she had moved to the village, partly to fulfil a lifelong dream to live in the country, and partly to escape the marital home that she viewed as a prison.

She also did all the things her husband heartily disapproved of, so she was now the proud owner of a dog called Scamp, and a new car which she named Seve, because it was a Golf, and she also watched trash on television, and she was free to practice her faith without fear of ridicule.

However, at the age of 45, the one thing she had dared not dream of was falling in love, and that was something else Malcolm would have disapproved of but fall in love she did.

 

George Rushworth on the other hand hadn’t dreamt of falling in love for a very different reason, he had closed his heart to it, and had drawn a line under such emotions.

For the five years since the death of his beloved wife Katie he never thought of love for a second.

It wasn’t just that he was reluctant to fall in love, he merely accepted that that chapter of his life was over and done with because he felt when Katie died, part of him died too, and that he would never find another mate who would measure up to her.

And then he met a funny little mousy haired woman wandering the woods with a Spaniel and he felt alive again.

When Katie passed, George had pledged never to love again to protect himself against another broken heart.

But that was like living a half-life, yes there might be pain, but the joy far outweighed the risk.

 

Since Annette had moved to Withery she had discovered that life was actually rather wonderful, she had also discovered that there were a lot of trashy things on TV and a lot more on Television that wasn’t, and she realised that it was a Wonderful Life, when she kissed George beneath the mistletoe and they began their relationship in earnest.

 

On Christmas Eve, Annette drove “Seve” down to St Vitus’ Church, because of her shifts she hadn’t been a regular at the Church since she’d moved to Withery, but she had attended three Sunday services, the Christingle and the Carol service.

She had asked George to join her a couple of times, but he hadn’t been to Church since Katie passed, and he was still angry with God for taking her and he was quite unforgiving on the subject, and was totally unmovable on the matter, for now.

Annette thought she would probably wear him down eventually, but she didn’t want to push it.

Although George had declined, for Annette, Midnight Mass was an un-missable event, so she went alone.

 

Annette said a few hello’s and thought to herself that there was a good-sized congregation for the service.

She always found the Midnight Mass very moving and quite atmospheric, possibly because it was conducted in the semi darkness which added to the magic.

So, she took her seat and settled herself and then she bowed her head, closed her eyes and took a few moments to pray and when she opened them again she was not alone.

“You came” Annette said and took George’s hand and cried

“Don’t cry darling” George said

“But I’m so happy that you’re here” she said wiping her eyes

“I’m still angry with Him for taking her” he said defiantly, looking to the heavens.

“But now I know he only took her, so I would be free to love you”

George said, and Annette was crying again

“I love you George Rushworth” she said

“I love you too” he replied “and I really want to kiss you”

“There will be time enough for that” she said and squeezed his hand

 

After midnight, Annette and George shared the peace with their fellow worshippers and then when they went outside George got his kiss and then they went back to George’s cottage.