Gaudete Read Online Free PDF

scenes and other display pieces, rings of trees and dancers and choirboys. It was an odd mixture of the useful but lovely and pure art, and every bit of it was made of unadorned wood. It made him want to reach out and touch, to feel the shapes in the wood the carver had revealed.
    Half the front of the stall was bare already, and the woman behind it turned round as he approached. “We’re packing up, love, but if you know exactly what you’re after, I can do one more sale.”
    She had the same dark curls as Callum, pulled back tightly into a high ponytail, and a face that might have looked hard until she smiled. This must be the sister. Jonah cleared his throat and said, “Actually, I was looking for Callum.”
    Her face lit up. “You must be his choirboy. Leanne.” She offered her hand.
    He shook, noting she had a good grip. “Jonah. Nice to meet you.”
    “Likewise.” She gave him a narrow grin. “Do I need to give you the ‘Don’t mess with my brother’ speech?”
    “Message received,” he said hurriedly, and then thought about it and smiled. She wouldn’t be overprotective if this didn’t matter to Callum a little, would she?
    At that moment, Callum came round from the back of the stall. He saw Jonah and stopped, grinning. “Hi.”
    “Hi,” Jonah said, feeling all foolish and flustered.
    “Oh dear God,” Leanne muttered.
    “This is great,” Jonah said, waving at the stall. He reached out to touch one of the bowls, one where the wood split into three waves, twisting after each other. “It’s like the shape of a song.”
    Callum’s grin just got wider, and he went a little pink.
    “That squelching noise you just heard,” Leanne remarked dryly, “was my brother’s heart hitting the ground at your feet.”
    “You made these?” Jonah asked, amazed. Callum had always wanted to be an artist, and he seemed to have actually realized his dream. “You’re a wood-carver?”
    “Woodturner,” Callum said, coming forward to gesture at the carvings. “You shape the wood while it’s still turning on the lathe, see.”
    “Art in motion,” Jonah said. He vaguely remembered seeing a demonstration once, and thought it suited Callum, who had never been still except when he was drawing. “That’s perfect.”
    Callum went pink again, and then said, “I have to finish packing up, if you can wait just a few minutes.”
    “Can I help?” Jonah offered, and saw Leanne nod sharply out of the corner of his eye.
    “I’ll do it,” she said. “Go on, Callum. You can owe me one.”
    Callum bumped elbows with her, smiling. “Thanks, Lee.” He came round the stall to touch Jonah’s elbow, turning him away from the stall. “Hey, have you eaten? Do you mind if I get some chips on the way? I’m starving.”
    “I haven’t, and that’s fine. Busy day?”
    “Craaaaazy,” Callum said with an exaggerated shudder. “Best sales I get all year, this, but it’s manic. Can’t wait to get back into the barn in the New Year.”
    “You work in a barn?”
    “Yeah, up on the edge of the forest, just north of Meeching. It’s part of the whole visitor complex in the country park, so I get a chunk off the rent for doing demonstrations in the summer, and they stock my stuff in their gift shop.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “Yeah, it’s a nice deal. But, hell, that’s me. I can’t believe you’re here. How long are you back?”
    “I live in Brighton,” Jonah said. “Got at least two more years until I get my doctorate. After that, I don’t know, but if the program I’m working for keeps their funding, there might be a postdoc place.”
    “So you’re back for good?”
    “Yeah,” Jonah said, and took a quick sideways glance at Callum. His smile was just getting brighter and brighter, so Jonah took the risk of brushing their hands together. Immediately, Callum took his hand, their fingers tangling, and Jonah blushed right down to his toes, the heat rushing through him.
    Then Callum let go, and said hurriedly,