The last month or so has seen an increase in the number of people reading Blood on the Bulb Fields and Murder in Morocco – the first books in each of my travel mystery series. Both are moving up in Amazon’s ratings, so if you have enjoyed any of my novels, please do keep up posting reviews even if it’s only a short sentence. Those star ratings make such a difference.
At the beginning of the year, I received some very positive emails about the short story I posted on my blog in January for the New Year. This, together with the recent increase in sales of all my Fiona Mason mysteries, to, I thought I’d celebrate Easter as a time of new beginnings by posting a short story as a prequel to the series.
New Beginnings
At long last people were beginning to leave. More people had come back after the service than she had expected. So much for a quiet family funeral! Having to shake hands with so many people, many of whom she didn’t even know, had been a trial in itself. Right now, all she wanted was to be left alone to begin to grieve properly.
‘You’re going to have a lot of time on your hands now that Bill’s gone. I do hope you’ll come back to the church choir.’ Muriel Thomas, the vicar’s wife, was at her elbow. ‘We’ve all missed you the last few months.’
Fiona forced a smile. ‘Perhaps in a few weeks.’
‘I appreciate there’s an awful lot of paperwork to cope with after a bereavement. You must let Humphrey help you. You’d be surprised at how many of his older parishioners have benefitted from his expertise.’
‘I’m sure, but please don’t trouble the vicar on my account. I have everything in hand, and I do have my sons to help me if need be.’
‘But Adam and Kirstie will be going back to Canada in a few days and Martin lives such a long way away.’
Take a deep breath. Count to ten. ‘Can I temp you to another drink or something to eat before you go? We seem to have quite a bit of food left over.’
‘Oh no thank you.’ For the first time, the woman seemed to appreciate that the only other people in the room were Adam and Kristie who were busy collecting up the dirty plates, glasses and cups and saucers dotted around on various surfaces. ‘I suppose it’s time we thought about leaving. I must go and find Humphrey.’
‘I think you’ll find he’s talking with Martin out in the garden.’
Fiona watched Muriel reluctantly step through the French windows and disappear out of sight.
‘Would you like something to eat before we clear everything away, Mum?’
‘No thank you, Kirstie.’
‘But you’ve been so busy talking to everyone, you’ve not had a chance to eat anything yourself.’
‘Don’t fuss, Adam. I’ll have something later if I feel hungry, but right now, I could murder a cup of tea.’
‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ said Kirstie. ‘Now everyone’s gone, I think we could all do with one.’
‘Don’t speak too soon,’ I muttered half under my breath as Martin came back from the garden with the vicar and his wife in tow.
The Reverand Thomas held out his hand, ‘Mrs Mason do please feel free to call on us at any time if you need help at all.’
‘That is very kind. Thank you for a lovely service.’
Not content with a mere handshake, Muriel gave her a clumsy hug. ‘I shall expect to see you at my little bereavement group. You really need to think about getting yourself a little job to fill your time now you don’t have Bill to care for anymore. I know Victoria Callaghan is desperate for more volunteers to help with hospital visiting. I’m seeing her tomorrow afternoon. I’ll have a word with her.’
‘Please don’t trouble yourself on my account.’
Her sharp retort sent Muriel’s eyebrows rushing to her hairline.
‘I apologise. That was rude of me, but it really is much too soon for me to even consider such a commitment.’
‘Well, yes. I understand.’ With an embarrassed smile, Muriel scootered out of the door scurrying after her husband already halfway down the drive towards his car.
Fiona closed the front door a little more firmly than she’d intended. ‘That woman!’
She heard a wry laugh behind her. ‘What’s Mrs Thomas been saying now? From the little I’ve seen of her, I have to say for a vicar’s wife she insensitive to the point of being downright crass. Her overheard her remark about older parishioners. Blooming cheek!’
‘She means well, but less just say she wasn’t at the front of the queue when God was giving out tact.’ Fiona gave a long sigh. ‘But she did have a point. I am going to have to find something to fill my time.’
Kirstie slipped her arm through hers and gently guided her mother-in-law towards the kitchen. ‘But not today. Right now, let’s have a cup of tea and a sit-down. Everything else can wait for another day.
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