The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (185) New Years Eve, Eve

 

On Saturday just after lunch there was a knock on the door at Cliff Haven and when Danny opened the door Reverend Arielle Archer, and her husband Harry were standing there.

“Hello, you two” he said “Come in out of the cold, you look perished”

“Thank you” Harry said

“Go through into the lounge” Danny said

“It’s lovely to see you” Molly said, and they embraced but she thought Arielle looked very pale

“But I don’t think you should have come out on a day like this”

“We have some news that we wanted you to hear from us first” Arielle said

“Oh?” Molly asked with concern

 “It’s a good thing” Harry interjected

“We’re having a baby” Arielle said

“That’s wonderful news” Molly said and kissed her

“Congratulations” Danny added and shook Harry’s hand before giving him a hug.

 

After all the kissing and embracing was over Arielle said

“There is some bad news”

“Oh?” Molly asked with concern again

“Yes, the Doctor has advised complete rest” Arielle said

“Is everything ok?” Molly asked

“It’s precautionary” Arielle replied

“It’s Preeclampsia and acute anaemia” Harry corrected her

“Then you must rest” Molly said “We’ll get someone else to cover for you, I’ve been thinking for some time that we need to get a curate to assist you”

 

If St Clara’s had still been a Church of England Church a locum would have been supplied, but they weren’t, so they had to make other arrangements.

In the past Henry Noble, for whom Arielle had been curate for several years, had stood in for her, and over Christmas, but he was working at the St Giles retreat on St Giles du Cabot so he couldn’t cover all of her parochial duties.

However there was a someone who had spent a prolonged period at the retreat following a long battle with cancer.

Forty-year-old Justyna Krajewska who was ready to leave the retreat but was unsure where her future lay so Henry Noble had suggested St Clara’s, and had introduced her to Arielle.

 

Arielle liked her and in turn suggested her to Molly, but obviously Molly would need to meet her for herself, however there was a slight complication, as only a very select few knew that Molly owned the Church, so a chance meeting had to be engineered, it was decided that the New Year’s Eve service would be the best time.