Fifteen
DURING MY SHORT DRIVE to the rectory, I decide that the first person I need to talk to is Anna.
I am so grateful that she has agreed to stay on as my housekeeper and secretary.
I hope she will agree to remain after this conversation.
“Anna,” I say as nonchalantly as I can as I enter the rectory, “You here?”
“Of course I’m here,” Anna says, walking out of her office. “Did you think I was slacking off on my job?”
“Of course not,” I say placatingly. “Have you started dinner yet?”
“You are demanding today,” she teases, “but to answer your question, no. Why do you ask?”
“Because I think it might be nice to order something in. Can you join me in the living room, please?”
“Tom, what’s wrong? Has something happened to someone? Your mother? Helen?”
“No, nothing like that, but we d
