Epiphany At St Michaels

Dear Readers!

After two and a half years, I have decided this will be the last of the Jenna stories. It's been a fun ride, but it runs the risk of jumping the shark and becoming repetitive. Taking a break from writing for a bit due to work and other real-world commitments.

I'm not ruling out Jenna making a cameo in future stories, and also Gordon the organist, one of my most popular characters. Thank you for all the nice feedback!

So, one more time, let us go to church...

It was the period of early January known unofficially as the post-Christmas slump. Too early for Easter or any hint of spring sunshine, the country was in a shallow drunken stupor after coming down from a mass high of seasonal merriment.

"Love me sweet with all thou art, feeling, thinking, seeing... Love me in the lightest part, love me in full being."

Mia closed the old poetry book and placed her hand on her belly.

"Going to tell Gordon tonight. Oh I pray he'll take the news about becoming a dad well."

At the church, Reverend Simon Morris was discussing the ways of St. Michael's church with the new verger, Eileen Hattersley.

"Nobody likes Epiphany do they?" He sighed, gazing at the rows of empty pews. "Not a good start to the 2025 church year."

"More likely nobody likes this winter weather," Gordon the organist interrupted, appearing from the vestry. Have you seen it outside? It's like Alaska. I doubt some of the older members of the flock will be able to get here. I had a struggle getting the car out. Roads haven't even been gritted on Stovepipe Avenue. Damned potholes are a nightmare too."

"Yes, you're right there," the vicar replied, whilst Eileen just meekly nodded.

"And this church is bloody freezing! Real brass monkeys!" Gordon added. "I'm going to need to wear fingerless gloves when playing the organ if it gets any colder."

"Well...steps are being taken to upgrading the heating." Reverend Morris turned to Eileen. "You'll get used to Gordon. He's known for being...outspoken!"

"Aye, I speak my mind alright. If you can't speak freely in a church, where can you speak freely?"

"He makes a good a point," Eileen said. At that moment, Jenna appeared.

"Good morning everyone! How are you liking it here Eileen?"

"Oh this church is lovely. Everyone has been so welcoming here. I never thought I'd end up joining a C of E church but...well, here I am. And your churchwarden Norman has been ever so kind. He took me out for a coffee yesterday."

"Did he?" Jenna raised an eyebrow and winked at her husband. "That's so nice." She turned to Gordon. "By the way, where's my cousin this morning?"

"Mia's got a bit of tummy trouble," Gordon said, rummaging through a pile of music sheets. "I'm sure it's something and nothing. But I told her to keep warm and have a lie-in...now where did I leave that piece I play for the choir?" He muttered something and hurried back into the vestry.

Sensing something was amiss, Jenna followed him.

"Penny for 'em," she whispered, as she noticed him rubbing his neck.

"Huh? Oh it's nothing Jenna. "Got a bit of a stiff neck. I think I must've been lying funny in bed, that's all."

"Gordon...that's a first-class porkie. Something's on your mind. I can tell. Female intuition and all that. And I do know you pretty well. I'm worried about you. You're not...ill are you? Is Mia alright?"

The organist took a deep breath. "Oh gosh no, nothing like that. I'm just trying to pluck up courage that's all."

"Courage? For what? Playing the morning service? You could play that organ blindfolded."

"No. He walked over to her. "I'm going to ask Mia to marry me, Jen. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I swore I'd never get married again. But...well, things have changed and I've been doing a lot of thinking. I overheard her talking on the phone to her mum last week. She was saying how getting married has been something she's dreamed about ever since she was a little girl. And that I'm the bloke who's made her the happiest she's ever been..."

"Oh Gordon that's wonderful!" Jenna replied, hugging him. "You are definitely doing the right thing."

"I'm glad you think so. We've...done some questionable things in the past haven't we?"

Jenna nodded. "Well yes. But...the key word here is 'past.' And I know how much you and Mia love each other."

"The huge age gap still bothers me. I'm not sure her mum will be too chuffed about things."

"Gordon, Kathleen accepted you a while back. She might not exactly show it, but she's cool, trust me on that. And Mia's always been attracted to older men!"

"Well, she's got herself an older man. Although I pride myself on being a fifty-seven year old who's got plenty of life in him!"

"I think you proved that last summer," Jenna added with a wink. I regret nothing. How about you?"

"Not a thing!"

"Then you'd better fire up the organ. It's almost nine-thirty." She reached up and planted a kiss on his lips. "You'll be a wonderful husband."

"Thanks Jenna," he said, wiping a tear from his eye as she left the vestry. "Thank you for...everything." As he put his black gown on, members of the choir started entering.

"Morning Gordon!"

"Alright, Geoff? Hello Phoebe." He sniffed.

"You okay Gord?" Geoff said, noticing the organist had tears in his eyes.

"It's this damned cold weather. Makes my eyes stream worse than cutting onions!"

The Epiphany service was rather uneventful, given that the church was half-empty. The weather hadn't stopped Mrs Wilcox from turning up, and she had some news to share, when the vicar was reading out the notices. He handed her a cordless microphone and she addressed the congregation.

"Good morning everyone. Firstly, let me give a bit of advice to you younger ones amongst us. "Old age. It's not for snowflakes. It doesn't have to be boring either. I'm eighty-eight and I'm just about to start a new chapter in my life. I'm moving house! And no, I'm not moving into the local nursing home. I've sold my bungalow and I'm moving into a luxury one-bed apartment at the new Rosebay Gardens complex. It's designed for the over-60s. I'm on the second floor, overlooking the park and boating lake. I'm so excited. And I've got a balcony and ultra-fast wifi too!"

The trio of old ladies known as the church gossips were sat on the front pew.

"I don't believe it, Mavis. How the devil did she manage to get one of those flats? I've been on the waiting list for one longer than I've been waiting to see my GP!"

"Some people have all the luck, Maud. Though I heard her grandson now works for the council. Amazing what strings can be pulled." She turned to the woman on her right. "I heard he has a criminal record. Did you hear about it, Maureen?"

"That grandson of hers is about as honest as a politician. So he'll go far at the council. Oh and I hear there's a flasher on the loose. He often lurks at the park. Leaps out of bushes and exposes himself to women. Not a young fella either. I'd say he's about sixty! The police have been after him for months, apparently."

"Good Lord. How shocking. Have you actually seen him?"

"Why yes. I was walking Matilda through the park last week. It was dreadfully cold, so I took the shorter route by the rhododendrons. And there he was. Like a bat spreading its wings, the black raincoat was flung open and there he was. Starkers! Well any way, Matilda started barking and I think that scared him off. She's fierce when she needs to be. Might look like a cockapoo, but she has the heart of an XL Bully!"

Mrs Wilcox continued. "I'm going to miss having Norman as a lodger," she said turning to the churchwarden. "But as the old saying goes, if you love someone -- let them go. It's time for Norman to regain his freedom. But gosh, we've had some fun times this past year and a half -- right dearie?"

Norman suddenly blushed. "Oh...yes. Very much so, Gladys. Happy to have been able to...er, be there for you."

Reverend Morris gave an awkward cough as he recalled what he'd witnessed the two of them getting up to that time in the garden.

"Yes...the times they are a changing," Mrs Wilcox said. "My age means I've decided to ease off doing so much, and that includes church duties. Oh I'll still be attending every Sunday for the Eucharist...wouldn't miss watching Gordon playing with his organ for anything..."

Gordon almost choked on the bottle of water he was sipping, and spilled some on the organ's manuals.

"...So without further ado, let me welcome Eileen, the new verger of St. Michael's!" She shook the younger woman's hand. "Good luck dearie. You'll really love it here. And it's good luck to her...and it's goodbye from me. Thank you Vicar!" She handed the microphone back and a round of applause broke out.

As the church began to empty and its loyal flock headed over to the hall for refreshments, Jenna appeared by her husband's side when he was shaking hands.

"Meet me in the vestry in five minutes."

Five minutes later, when Gordon and the choristers had departed, he did as she asked.

"You know, I left Eileen out there rearranging the hymn books. I asked her to make us a cuppa. I think she'll be an excellent verger...and she's chair of the local neighbourhood watch committee too..." He prattled nervously. "If she were to come in..."

Jenna leaned against a table and playfully ran a finger down the front of his white surplice.

"Then we'll give her something to watch!" She winked at him. "Besides, she's already got Norman in her sights. There was an instant spark between the two of them. With Gladys relocating, Norman will need a new woman in his life...and this one is the same age as him, and very lonely."

He nodded. "But is she into domination and whips I wonder?"

Jenna planted a bold kiss on his lips. He inhaled sharply, shocked by her action, but he couldn't help but respond to it, wrapping both arms around her waist and deepening the kiss. While his hold around her was gentle, and his movements slow, she was holding him painfully tight, and soon her tongue ran along his lower lip, practically begging for entrance. After a brief moment of hesitation, Reverend Morris allowed it, fighting the moan threatening to escape his throat as their tongues engaged in a battle for dominance.

She won this time, and emboldened, she slowly backed, pulling him along by his green stole, until she had him pinning her against the side of the table. As they broke apart for air, Jenna hooked her right leg around his hips, pressing them together in the most intimate of ways. The reaction was imminent: Reverend Morris felt himself harden, and let out a low groan, almost just a rumble deep in his throat.

"Oh...dear God!" He gasped.

"I love you, my dear Simon. I want you."

Feeling his hardness through the fabric of his vestments, she smiled and sighed as he kissed her back.

He grunted and nodded, his hands suddenly beneath her thighs, lifting her as though she was as light as a feather. As he lifted her onto the desk, she busied herself by ravishing so much of him as she could reach. She ran her hands down his chest and fingered his clerical collar, before planting more kisses on his lips.

Slowly, almost blinded by passion, the vicar's warm hands and lips were all over his young wife's body, and she fought hard against the obscene moans that threatened to escape her. Reverend Morris silenced her with a deep, slow, lustful kiss as he removed his surplice and hurriedly began unfastening the buttons on his cassock. With this garment also removed, Jenna wasted no time in unbuckling the vicar's belt and trousers; he never ceased to be astonished at how adeptly and confidently she accomplished this task.

Jenna found the opening in his underpants and snaked in her hand. He tensed when she grasped him.

"Ahh, once again, a Holy treasure!"

He moaned in joy as she stroked his shaft. "Uhhh...nothing holy about it, my dear. It is what it is...and you have made it so...oh Jenna, what you're doing to me...ohhh!"

She freed him from the constraints that were his trousers and underpants, and slowly began running her hand up and down his length. After mere moments he pushed her hands away, looking her deep in the eyes as he pulled her damp knickers down past her knees and she kicked them off as well.

Positioning herself at her entrance, Reverend Morris looked at his wife in silent question, and she nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck the moment he pushed in.

"Mmm..Ah!" Jenna let out a moan, leaning her head back against the desk as he began thrusting slowly and gently. His right hand came to rest just beside her head, the other grasped at her thigh, thus providing support for him to increase his speed and the power of his thrusts.

After just a few moments, they were both struggling to keep their moans quiet, as they rocketed together in a common, every increasing rhythm. Reverend Morris was being gentle, but Jenna wanted more, and she wanted it faster and harder, and all at once. Wrapping her legs around his middle, she surprised him by tensing her muscles and turning them around in one smooth motion, leaving him lying on the desk and her on top. He looked at her with lust-hazed eyes, his hands coming to rest on her hips as she slowly began riding him, angling herself to make him hit that perfect spot.

The vicar was gripping hard at her hips, thrusting against her in time with her movements, faster and harsher than he had experienced it before. He could feel a tightening in the pit of his stomach, and he knew what it meant. Judging by the hushed sounds she was making, she was just as close as he was.

Moments later, his young wife stiffened, throwing her head back in a moment of perfect ecstasy, her mouth open in a silent scream as she came long and hard, clamping down around him. Reverend Morris sat up, wrapping both arms around her as she coaxed him over the edge and he came within her, as they climaxed together.

Falling back, the vicar was unable to speak for a moment. All that existed was himself, the satiated Jenna lying on top of him, and their elevated breathing and heartbeats...he glanced to his left...

...and noticed the new verger stood in the doorway, holding two cups of tea. Her mouth was wide open, somewhat reminiscent of Edvard Munch's 'The Scream.'

"Um...I-I made you both a brew," she stammered.

"Oh! Eileen!" Reverend Morris spluttered, panicking.

"Things are...a bit different in this church aren't they?" the older woman added.

"Welcome to St. Michael's," Jenna replied.