“Will it be a problem that Theo’s older than most kids are when they’re christened?” I asked.

   Reverend Sheila shook her head. She was small and smiley and energetic—I’d heard from other parents that she’d had a successful career as a biochemist before becoming a vicar. “The only requirement is that the godparents have also been baptized. And that they’re prepared to take their duties seriously, of course. Can you vouch that’s the case here?”

“I’ll have to check with them—the baptism bit, that is. I’m sure they’ll take their duties seriously.” Something made me add, “We haven’t actually known them very long.”

Reverend Sheila raised her eyebrows. “Choosing a godparent isn’t a decision to be made lightly.”

“It wasn’t. Quite the reverse.” I looked around, but Theo was still engrossed in the nativity set, cheerfully impaling the Virgin Mary on the ox’s horns. “It’s quite an unusual situation, as it happens,” I said quietly. “They’re actually Theo’s real parents.”

For the second time that day, I found myself relating the story of the mix-up at St. Alexander’s. Reverend Sheila listened with a rather more quizzical expression than Justin Watts had.

“First of all, I think it’s wonderful that you’re all taking such a positive view of what could clearly be a very difficult situation,” she said when I’d finished. “But I have to tell you that this is not a good reason to have a child baptized, or indeed to choose a godparent. Godparents have very specific responsibilities—appointing one isn’t simply a gesture of friendship, even if it sometimes seems that way. And I’m very concerned that it will give Theo, not to mention yourselves, no protection if anything goes wrong.”

“We’re very much hoping nothing does go wrong. That’s one reason we want to formalize things—to show our commitment. And we’d been intending to have Theo christened anyway.”

“Hmm.” Reverend Sheila still looked unconvinced. “How about a prayer of blessing for the six of you—Theo, David, and the two sets of parents? That would seem a much more appropriate way of inviting God into this particular relationship.”

“We don’t actually have many other people we can ask to be godparents,” I said. “And I’m certain that Miles and Lucy are religious.” I had absolutely no idea if that was the case, of course, but I was pretty sure Miles wouldn’t mind telling a small white lie.

   “Well, given that it’s a highly unusual situation, I’ll speak to them before I make a decision.” Reverend Sheila reached for a pad. “What’s their number?”

32

   PETE

   ON THE WAY HOME Theo demanded a diversion to the park, and then it was time for us to make his tea—arancini balls, baked not fried, made with homemade breadcrumbs—so it was a while before I had a chance to phone Miles and warn him.

“Pete!” he said cheerfully as he picked up. He clearly had my name stored as a contact now. “How’s things?”

“Good, thank you. Look, this is just a heads-up. Someone called Reverend Sheila Lewis might call—”

“Too late. She’s already done it.”

“Really?” That was quick. “How did it go?”

“All sorted. She’s actually doing a couple of baptisms during the service this coming Sunday, so I said we’d muck in with those. That all right for you?”

“Er—I think so. I’d probably better—”

“Check with Maddie,” he finished for me. “Of course. You’ve got a great vicar, by the way. Really liked her.”

* * *

—

   “IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY,” I told Maddie when she got home. “With me, she was almost disapproving. But Miles seems to have had her eating out of his hand.”

“Well, he’s very charming. And for all we know, he is religious.”

“Or just very good at lying.”

“Persuading people to see things your way isn’t necessarily lying. Besides, I thought you really like Miles. The two of you are thick as thieves at the moment.”

“I do like him,” I said. “I like him a lot. I’m just slightly in awe of how effective he is at getting his own way.”

“Have you told him yet we’re not going to Cornwall for Easter?”

“Not yet. It never seems the right moment.”

Maddie raised her eyebrows.

“I know, I know,” I said with a sigh. “I suppose I keep putting it off because I feel bad about it. I think I gave him the impression we were definitely up for it.”

“Why not say my brother and his family are coming over from Australia? He can hardly object to that. But don’t leave it too long. He may need time to find someone else.”

33

   MADDIE

   I FIND THE CHRISTENING awkward. Because it’s a joint baptism with three other families, regular members of the congregation who know one another well, it feels like our group are interlopers. It doesn’t help, either, that the other children are all babies, only one of whom is even grizzling slightly. Whereas Theo…Theo simply doesn’t do keeping a low profile.

The church is one of those trendy ones that pride itself on having a box of books to keep kids entertained—there’s even a poster advertising something called Messy Church, every third week—but because this is a christening, everything is slightly more formal. Theo is overexcited from the start. As soon as he sees Lucy and Miles he shouts “Moles!” before running at them and trying to rugby-tackle Miles. Miles just laughs and ruffles his hair. Our friends Keith and Andy are with us—Andy has agreed to be the third godparent—so there are muttered introductions and handshakes, and I notice some of the regulars turning around to see who’s making all this noise.

   Lucy is carrying David. He lies in her arms very quietly, looking around with a slightly fearful expression. I reach out and stroke his fine, soft hair, itching to hold him myself. Like last time, he doesn’t react, just looks at me with his big, solemn eyes. But I like to think he’s a little less anxious after that.

Theo spots the box of books and makes a beeline for it. But since he can’t read, to him it’s just a big box of stories that require an adult to read them aloud. “Daddy! Daddy!” he calls eagerly, but Pete only puts his finger to his lips. The vicar has started her introduction now, something about the continued relevance of the Church and how important it is to welcome the next generation of worshippers. Theo takes out some books and starts throwing them at a side chapel like a knife-thrower, using the metal crucifix as his target. When he hits it, it gives an audible clang! and the vicar looks over, perturbed.