Read Online Fairytale of Headley Cross by Clare Revell - Free Book Online

That would be the best place to start. Of course, if he’d ridden off on his bike, he could be anywhere.
    She rang the manse doorbell and waited for an answer. She was on the point of leaving, when the door opened.
    “Oh, it’s you.” Carson left the door open and headed inside.
    Maggie took that as an invitation and followed him. “I brought your things from church.”
    “Thank you. Just put them anywhere.” His voice echoed from the kitchen.
    She hung his coat on the bannisters and put the bag on the floor. “Something smells good. How’s it going?”
    Carson shrugged, a mug of coffee in his hand. “Fine, I guess.”
    “OK.” Well, she wasn’t going to stay where she wasn’t wanted and there was a definite leave me alone vibe emanating from him. “I needed to make sure you were all right. Are you going to be in church tonight?”
    “No.” He picked up an envelope from the counter and held it out to her. “Can you give this to Nate for me, please?”
    “What is it?”
    “My resignation. I put it in writing. I did tell him earlier that I quit.”
    Maggie refused to take it, sliding her hands into her coat pockets. “Why? Because an elder took a dislike to something you said?”
    “Just take it.”
    “No. Deliver it yourself.” She turned her back on him and studied the lit Christmas tree through the hatch. “The kids asked after you this morning. They are so excited about this nativity. I think they’re inviting just about everyone they know. The church should be packed on Christmas Eve.”
    He didn’t respond.
    “Carson, you can’t quit.”
    “I have no choice.”
    She resisted the urge to stamp her foot. “There is always a choice.”
    He moved and stood in front of her. “Not this time. I shouldn’t be here.”
    “God put you here, Carson.”
    “Did He? Maybe my arrogance did. I assumed I was called to this ministry, but maybe I wasn’t. My sister was—” He broke off.
    “Your sister was what?”
    “Right. She said leopards can’t change their spots. Just like I can’t change my record or my past. You should leave before I paint you with the same brush. Kissing you, going out with you was a mistake. I should never have done it. I want you to leave now and never come back.”
    Shock resonated through her. He had a bad morning so he dumped her? “OK.” She turned and left.
    Back at her place, she clipped on Gypsy’s lead and headed out for a walk. Why did she feel like this? Like her heart was breaking. Why did him telling her to go away hurt so much? She’d let him into her heart, completely and utterly. He’d shown her what love was—what it was like to be treated considerately and tenderly by a man. They’d gotten close, yes, but at the end of the day, he was a pastor, not a man. She was out of his league.
    He was her own Christmas miracle, her fairytale of Headley Cross. And now it was over.
    Her stomach growled, but she ignored it. She wasn’t going home to eat just yet and besides, she’d eaten more in the last week than she had in a long time. Skipping a meal wouldn’t kill her. The phone in her bag rang. Maybe it was Carson. She pulled it out and her heart sank as she read the screen. “Hello, Jan.”
    “Maggie, I’m not interrupting dinner, am I?”
    “No, I’m walking Gypsy.”
    “Oh, I thought you’d be busy. But anyway, did you hear about Pastor Carson?”
    “What about him?”
    “Of course, you were in YPS. Well, he walked out before the service even began. Nate had to fill in for him again.”
    Maggie looked down at her feet for a moment, and bent to pick up a stick. She hurled it as far as she could. Gypsy bounded after it. “I’m sure he had his reasons.”
    “According to Frank, he wasn’t in an accident at all last week. He was in a fight. Frank says he’s not fit to be pastor after all and wants him removed. I really hope you haven’t fallen for him. I know you’ve been seeing him.”
    Maggie took the stick from Gypsy and threw it again.