Page 12 of Priest

“Uh, the second street drop-in center.”

“I heard that was full.”

Lie better!

“No, I got the last bed.”

He gives me a pointed look, like he’s somewhere between scolding me for lying, and completely aware that I’m completely full of shit.

“Huh.”

“Yeah, so… thanks and all.” Go away.

“I know a place, that’s all…”

I stare up at him. “Let me guess, your place?” I snort and the second the words leave my mouth, I regret them.

Something crosses his face.

Horror.

Annoyance.

I don’t know, but none of it is good.

“Bella, I’m a man of God. I would never do something like that.”

“A man of God? You know, sometimes they are the worst kind.” Not Father Dan, though. He’s kind.

I just need him to go away. Stop talking to me and for the love of God stop drawing attention to me. People are staring.

“While I tend to agree in some instances, that wasn’t my intention. There’s a refuge on Quarter Elm Street. It’s clean and safe and I know someone who can help, if you’d like.”

Now I feel bad.

I swallow my shame as a lump forms in my throat. I set my spoon down and try my best not to lose it. He’s being kind. Decent. All the human things I’m not used to, and what do I go and do? Ruin it by being defensive.

I just accused this decent man of being a weirdo and he’s still being nice to me.

I don’t need a confession. I need a fucking exorcism.

I go to stand. “Priest, I’m sorry…”

“You don’t have to go, please,” he says. “I’m making you uncomfortable. I’ll send Stella over with the details.” He turns and points. “She’s my goddaughter.”

I glance over to the pretty dark-haired girl who’s still serving stew to the masses. She looks like I used to; clean, curvy and full of life. I’m just a shadow of the girl I once was, and it’s all by my doing.

I sit back down again. “That’s alright. I’m fine, honestly. I appreciate the offer though.”

He sighs. “Okay, but if you change your mind, you have the address. Did you want me to write it down for you?”

“No, thank you.”

He nods, looking like he wants to say something else, but then changes his mind. He takes two steps, then turns around. “If you wanted to help the girls clean up after, I know they’d appreciate it. So would Father Dan.”

My eyes light up. “Is Father Dan back?”

“You know him?”

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