Gerald kicked himself for being late. He passed through the cathedral doors some three minutes after the service had started which meant that the procession led by the choir were already in their places. He hated missing the prelude played by the organ as people filed in to their pews, sat quietly praying or meditating before the service began.
It galled him all the more because this evening it was his very good friend Dorothy Ochola who was playing. Nevertheless he enjoyed singing the first hymn, as he knew it well. Sometimes they sang hymns that he had not heard of at the Presbyterian church he frequented. So now he sang full-throatedly hardly noticing that the people around him turned inquisitive eyes towards him; they were too polite to turn their heads fully.
He and Dorothy had gone to the same primary school many years before, but had been parted in their later education. He had, after high school, gone to Australia for his degree and stayed on for the second one. He then worked there for ten years before deciding to return home.
Some two months before he had attended this evensong service for variety's sake and spotted someone he thought might be his old school friend. After the service he had waited outside the choir room until she came out. Dorothy recognised him instantly unlike his own uncertainty. They had clung to one another noisily. Over the next few weeks they had seen each other many times.
The congregation were bade to sit for the reading of the Collect, Psalm and the Epistle. He followed this last on the Bible app on his phone, taking opportunity to send Dorothy a text congratulating her on her playing. The Choir did a rousing Easter song, accompanied by the organ as usual. He loved this evensong service because it was packed with music. In all, seven hymns were sung, much to his delight.
At the end of the service he strolled to the organ console to give his congratulations to Dorothy. To be selected to play was a high honour, as there were four regular organists who were all very highly accomplished. He gave her a tight hug and kissed her tenderly. She had to go into the choir room to change out of her vestments before they could leave.
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He drove out first, leading her. It was exciting that they went past his usual church on their way to connect to the highway. Less than ten minutes later he got off the highway to head to his house, making sure she was still following him. Today being a Sunday the traffic, despite the road construction going on, was not heavy. On a regular weekday it would have taken them three-quarters of an hour to make this journey. They had to get through the congestion caused by matatu before the road swung away and down the valley. Leaving the hustle and bustle behind, they entered abruptly an area whose dwellings were of the better kind. Huge ornate gates led into long tarmacked driveways bordered by well trimmed shrubs and flower beds. The houses hid behind mature trees. He turned smartly into his driveway and the house could be seen in the headlights of the cars. He parked in the garage, beckoning her to come in alongside. The doors closed automatically.
They walked into the house through the side entrance, coming out into the main corridor, down which the bedrooms were. But Gerald, kicking off his shoes, turned right into the living room. She almost gasped at the beauty of the seats, covered in cream leather. The parquet floors shone with a rich lacquer.