What Should I Do

Posted on Sun Aug 16th, 2026 @ 9:53pm by Maureen Lennox & René Rouen & Father James Aldridge

2,381 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Justice
Location: Congregation Hall, Saint Andrew's Church, Thistledrift
Timeline: 29 December 2012, 11am GMT

René quietly sat having a cup of coffee and nibbling on a biscuit as he awaited the Bible study group following Sunday Services. His thoughts weren't really on the Bible. The last few days he had been thinking about his growing feelings for Lola.

Maureen smiled at René as she tidy up the table. She was starting to think that Cassandra and Juliet had done the right thing with the man and trying to get him to stay in the community. “And how are you this morning René?” She wondered.

René smiled at Maureen and nodded in a friendly manner. He took the last bite of his bisand proceeded to help Maureen tidy the table. "I am doing well Madame Lennox. I enjoyed Pere Aldridge's sermon this morning. I hope your day has been going well too."

“I feel like I have stepped back 15 years into the past as I was unable to get Cassandra out of bed.” Maureen laughed as she stopped tidying and came to sit down. “Church of England is very different from Catholicism I bet?” The woman wondered.

René nodded his head. "Oui Madame. My family attended service at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Mass is still given in Latin. Though most Parisians know Latin as it's required learning in Catholic schools and popular in the public schools as well."

“Latin has not been a language known properly since Henry IIV’s and his great matter.” Maureen laughed a little. “One day I would love to hear more about the differences but I think it might only be us today.” She said quietly. Most people were using the week between Christmas and new year celebrations to just enjoyed the season.

René glanced at the people finishing up their snacks and conversations with neighbors. The hall was clearing as families, couples and individuals began leaving. "You may be right." He had considered going back home after services, but Juliet, Travis and the kids had shown up at the cottage to keep Lola company. He had been reluctant to leave Lola alone whilst the Europa was in port. He looked down at his coffee mug in thought.

“How have you settled in over last month?” The woman said noticing how he sat there deep in thought. It made her sit down in the pew in front of him and turned to look at him hoping to work out how to help him.

René looked up at Maureen. He seemed a little surprised at the question. He finally smiled. "Honestly, it's seemed miraculous to be honest. Lola has been in contact with a girl in France over the shortwave wireless. It just so happens that the girl is my sister Chloé. I was able to learn that she and my father made it out of Paris to my Grand-pere in Rouen." He took a deep breath and released it with a smile that spoke volumes. "I can't help but feel that God led me here to this place, to the kind people who have given me hope I may see my family again." His smile grew a little sad.

“Oh René I am happy and sorry to hear that.” She said quietly as she touched his hand. “Are you going to try and get to France?” She wondered thinking that the Europa went that way often. Maybe they could help the man get there.

René's gaze went to the empty mug in his hand. "I want to. I desperately want to, but..." He looked up at Maureen with sadness on his face. "... there's a part of me that wants to stay here. I'm feeling something I've never felt before. Something I want explore. I don't know if I should. I don't know how this other person would feel if I told them. They're going through so much right now already. It might not be good or right to tell them. I don't want to scare or confuse them. Especially if they don't feel the same way I do."

Maureen chuckled a little. “Lola?” She questioned. “I brought up Cassandra.” She said as if that explained everything and to her it did. The girl had played everything close to her chest but she had always known when there was a crush going on.

René nodded slowly as glanced around. He was grateful nobody was close enough to overhear. He sighed. "I don't know what I should do. If I say something. It could ruin the friendship we have built and make things awkward. If she never learns how I feel about her...it would make it easier to leave on the Europa come spring. If the ship could drop me in Le Havre, I could make it to Rouen without too much trouble."

Maureen nodded. She would have never said anything if there was anyone around then. “I think as a man of faith it has never crossed your mind that anything like this would be possible at end of the world. But I do think you are not the type of man that could leave and the what if not haunt him.”

René was thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps God will give me a sign. If not I will return home to my family. It is the right thing to do.

Father James approached René and Maureen as the last of the parishioners departed. "Well, I guess it is just the three of us for Bible study."

“Well, I do not think that this is a group that needed spiritual study today. How about a walk?” Maureen offered, thinking René could use some air to get his feelings understood better.

"I...I would like that Madame Lennox." René wore a grateful expression.

Father James looked at both of them. He could tell that the young man seemed bothered by something and that Maureen had been in the midst of listening to the young man. "I have one or two things to do here. René, if you would be so kind as to ensuring Maureen makes it home safe and sound. I sometimes worry when the ground is slippery like this."

René nodded. "Of course Pere James. I'll wait for you by the door Madame Lennox." He stepped over to the exit to allow Maureen and Father James a moment.

"I am not dittery yet, James." The woman said kindly as she stood, shook her head, and gathered her long coat and scarf from beside her.

Father James nodded, a light chuckle emerging from his throat. "I said that more for the lad's benefit. He's been here nearly a month and still seems unsure he is really welcome here. I've seen him around town helping others. He deserves to know he belongs and I know of no better person to convince him of that then you."

"He is acting like that because he had fallen for Ms McDowell." The woman said, shaking her head at the man looping her scarf around her neck. "If you keep telling people that I need assistance, they are going to believe it sooner or later." She laughed, knowing it was all in good nature.

Father James glanced briefly at René, a concerned expression on his face. He turned back to Maureen. "You don't think he could be a danger to the girl do you? He seems like a proper lad, but we still don't really know that much about him."

“Why would he be a danger?” Maureen wondered quietly as she took in the concerned expression on his face. What was it with them worrying over René? Had he not proven himself enough yet?

James saw Maureen's expression. "I'm sorry for being overly suspicious of new people. René's been extraordinarily supportive of the community. Especially with the elderly and around the church. It's just with everything Lola's been going through. She's very vulnerable right now." He glanced at René once more. "I think the lad is ready to go. I will stop by tomorrow and we can discuss my concerns more then." He rose from the folding chair and headed to the Rectory office.

Maureen shook her head. “You worry to much. But if you are stopping by try and get Cassandra out of her office.” She called after the man and joined René. “Since it all came out Cassandra has been spending time alone ” Maureen sighed.

René looked up at Maureen as she approached. He opened the door and gestured for Maureen to go first. "After you Madame."

Maureen smiled and slipped out into the snow. "So tell me, René, what is going on?" She wondered quietly, making sure her scarf was around her firmly and her hat was back on before she stepped out from the vestibule.

René glanced at Maureen as they stepped outside. He wondered for a moment if he should tell Maureen how he was feeling. He wasn't sure if he should. "I am doing well. I suppose. I'm trying to work through something at the moment."

"That much is obvious, my dear." The woman said with a small smile and touched his arm. "You can talk to me, Rene. I brought up Cassandra." Cassandra had been headstrong just like her father so it had not been an east ride.

René nodded, his eyes on the snow covered ground before them as they walked. "I have been...erm...developing feelings for someone over the last couple of weeks and I am not entirely sure...what I should do about it."

"Lola," Maureen said simply with a small smirk. How anyone was not aware, including Lola, she had no idea but maybe she had been around young people for to long to know them better than they knew sometimes. She had spent years in schools teaching before she had retired.

René's cheeks flushed with more color than could be reasonably accounted for due to the cold. He glanced up at Maureen, embarrassed by her statement. She wasn't even voicing it as a question. "How...?"

"I was a teacher for 30 years, my dear, and how could you not fall for her?" Maureen laughed and shook her head. Why did people think that she had no idea how young people worked? "It is obvious to everyone other than her, I think. She is not a girl used to being doted on."

René's expression turned dreamy. "I'm afraid she doesn't feel the same way. She's been distracted the last week. Something has been on her mind. I thought it was stuff going on with Smith, but it seems like there's something more going on."

“Lola is young and she’s not experienced the world the way we have.” Maureen said quietly. She knew exactly what was causing her to be distracted but she was not allowed to say and even if she could it was not her place to.

René thought about that for a moment. He knew that Lola had come to Thistledrift shortly after the dead had begun to rise. He, while a couple of years younger than Lola, had spent a majority of his time moving from place to place as a courier. He had never thought or wanted to spend very long anywhere that wasn't his home. "I...there are times I think she might feel something for me. Then it seems like it was never there. It's confusing. I want to tell her how I feel, but I don’t want to lose her as a friend if she doesn't feel the same way."

“Sometimes you have to take that leap of faith my dear.” Maureen said sadly. “And that is scary but sometimes it can be worthwhile. I took the leap with my husband and we had forty years together.”

Rene quietly walked with Maureen to the Lennox cottage. He thought over Maureen's words. He had been doing his best to keep his feelings under wraps, but more people were finding out on what seemed like a daily basis. He would need to tell Lola how he felt before someone else let it slip.

René walked Maureen up to the back door and paused. "I want to thank you for your advice and kind words. I really need to find the right time to tell her. She just seems so distracted lately."

“She has lots going on.” Maureen said quietly. She was not going to say anything but she could at the very least reassure the man that it was not him. “It is nothing to do with you.” She murmured touching his arm. “Try to not to worry about the distraction.”

René couldn't help but think the reason for Lola's distraction of late was due to another man. It was about another man, but not in the manner he was thinking. His expression saddened. "I...I will do my best not to."

“It is nothing to do with you. It is purely all this trial stuff.” Maureen was not lying as it was a lot to do with that too. There was just a little more to it than that. “I should get inside and see if Cassandra is around.” She was worried about he woman and the strain this trial was having.

René extended his right hand. "Thank you again for listening Mrs. Lennox. I appreciate your taking the time."

“Maureen please.” The older woman said smiling. She never wanted people formal around her, polite but never formal. It was what she was trying to get the sailors to not be like with her but it was slow going.

René smiled. "Merci Maureen. My family taught me to respect adults. I will try and remember if that is your wish."

“You are also an adult René.” Maureen pointed out with a chuckle as she headed down the small garden path and went inside the house without looking back. She just holed the man would have the courage he needed soon.

René walked away from the Lennox cottage still not sure if he should tell Lola or not about the way he felt. He had never felt this way before. He had only been on a handful of dates in secondary school and only once kissed a girl at the end of a date. This was so much more different than anything he had felt before.

 

RSS Feed