The Boy I Love (52 page)

‘It’s all right, I will help you. We will get through this together,’ Reginald told his sister as he handed her a cup of tea; he and Mary were sitting in the
front parlour. The vicarage was empty as John Charles had gone to visit a sick parishioner. Mary had poured out her story to her brother and was now once again collapsed in tears in her seat.

Although Reginald had always been the most serious of the brothers, he possessed a very kind heart. Deep down, there was a romantic streak inside him and he was currently in the throes of
falling in love, thanks to a meeting with a girl called Leonora Matheson, who came to his college for Bible Studies. But now was not the time to confess these feelings to his poor dear sister.

‘Leave things with me and let me have a think,’ he said, handing Mary a large handkerchief so she could blow her nose. ‘I have an idea already that could be a solution but I
need to find out more. Take heart, dear Mary. God will find a way and He will forgive you. Now stop crying and go and make yourself busy.’

Mary did as she was told, but nothing could take away her deep shame and sense of foreboding. What did life have in store for her now, she wondered.