Grace put her fork down. “Did you hear that, you two?”
“We certainly did,” they both said.
“And you’re right, Grace, the fontisbeautiful,” I carried on. “Tub-shaped with a herringbone decoration.” All stuff I’d learned way back when in history class at school, not once did I ever think I’d need it.
Leo and Bill stared at me, as if questioning my sanity.
“What?” I asked, wondering what I’d said wrong.
Grace, however, couldn’t have been more delighted. She put down her fork, reached over and put a hand on my arm. “I knew as soon as I saw you that we’d have loads in common.”
Having hoped to create a good impression, a warm glow swept over me. I felt as pleased for Leo as I did for myself. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
“Although I never imagined that Jesus would be one of them,” Grace said.
My smile vanished. “Excuse me?”
Chapter 31
“Ican’t believe you kept that from me,” I said.
With lunch over and the washing up done, Leo and I had decided to get out into the fresh air. Leaving his parents’ cottage behind, we made our way down the lane to the beach, with Otis in tow.
“Kept what from you?”
“The fact that you’re religious.”
Leo looked at me like I’d gone mad. “But I’m not.”
I stopped. “Excuse me, you were at that table back there.” I indicated the house. “All of us holding hands while your mum thanked the Lord for the food we were about to eat.”
Leo chuckled as he continued walking. “You mean when Grace said grace.”
“Yes.” As his words sank in, I shook my head, refusing to laugh. “It’s not funny, Leo. You should have told me.”
“Why? Jesus is Mum’s thing. Me and Dad just go along with it for her sake.”
“So, I knew what to expect. So, I could’ve been prepared.”
“Would it bother you if I was a believer?” Coming to a stop, Leo waited for me to catch up.
“No,” I replied, offended that he even had to ask. “But if you can keep something as important as your mum’s faith to yourself, I have to wonder what else you’re not telling me.”
“Rest assured, I have no secrets, religious or otherwise. Although I wouldn’t necessarily describe Mum as religious either.”
I looked at the man, incredulous. “How can you say that? The woman made us all pray.”
Leo smiled. “I meant in any organised sense. Mum’s simply… How do I put this? Found the Bible.”
“She’s a born-again Christian?”
“She’s not in the habit of getting a tambourine out, if that’s what you mean.”
“Come on, you know me better than that.”
Picking up pace again, we continued our walk.
“I’m not saying your mum’s beliefs bother me. I just think if you had given me the heads-up, she wouldn’t now think I’m coming from the same place.”
