Page 8 of Sins of the Flesh
"Yes, dear," I say with a chuckle as I kiss her forehead quickly before heading out the door and to my office.
The small three-bedroom house, the same house I grew up in, is conveniently located next door to the Church, and like the Church, the house is aging and requires constant maintenance and repairs.Despite my best efforts, I know very little about handiwork and home repair.Maybe I can offer Cole extra cash to fix some things around the house.
As I unlock the Church’s front entrance, my mind drifts to Cole.There's something about that young man, a sincerity in those intense green eyes that pulls at my curiosity.I knew him when he was younger but who is he now?I shake the thought away, reminding myself I'm here to work.
The Church is silent and my footsteps echo against the worn stone floor pausing at the bottom of the pulpit.I run my hand along the worn wood.There are so many memories here - Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, the joys and sorrows of an entire community, witnessed by these very walls.
And yet, as I look around at the peeling paint and cracked plaster, I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness.This place deserves better.
My eyes are drawn to a beam of sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air.The colors seem faded somehow, the once-vibrant reds and blues now muted and dull.I make a mental note to add "clean windows," to Cole's growing list of tasks.
Inhaling deeply I soak in the peace of this space, I've always loved this building in its quieter moments, when it feels like it's just God and I.
Making my way to my office a spark of excitement flows through me at the prospect of finally revitalizing this aging building.For years, I've dreamed of restoring St.Mary's to its former glory, but between budget constraints and my lack of skills, it's remained an idle dream.
But now, with Cole, things may finally start to change.It's strange how a single decision, hiring Cole, has given me a renewed sense of purpose.Humming, I stop at the small breakroom and brew myself a cup of coffee.Smiling, I imagine how the Church might look with a fresh coat of paint, polished pews, and maybe even some updated lighting.
I'm so lost in my thoughts that I nearly trip over a stack of hymnals piled haphazardly in the hallway outside my office.The wall catches me and I right myself, my heart racing.Taking a deep breath, I carefully step around the books and continue to my office.
My office is a modest space tucked in the back corner of the building, bookshelves lining the far wall, my Father's old desk filling the space on the other side of the room.
While leading the Church, he installed an en suite bathroom in the small office, he said it was to maximize efficiency.
My Father was a cold man.He may have been allergic to feelings but I didn’t know him well enough to know for sure.
Ally has tried adding warmth and personal touches to this office over the years, but I can still feel the weight of my Father's disapproval lurking in the dark corners.I have always strived to be different, a man who leads with warmth and understanding over an iron fist.
Settled into the old worn leather chair behind my desk, I shake off my Father's ominous presence.He has been gone 12 years now, but his voice rings in my ears as a constant reminder of my place.
A mix of anticipation and nervousness about Cole starting today gets my mind back on track.There's so much work to be done, and I want to ensure I utilize his skills effectively.
My watch tells me it's nearly nine, and Cole should be arriving soon.I've prepared a detailed list of projects, prioritizing the leaking roof, broken bathrooms, the sanctuary's water-damaged ceiling, and maybe finishing the kitchen remodel.My handwriting sprawls across the yellow legal pad, arrows and asterisks marking the most urgent tasks.
My mind drifts again to Cole's blushing, eager face yesterday.There was something about the way he looked at me, like I held all the answers to questions he hadn't even formed yet.It's been a while since anyone looked at me with such...what was it?Admiration?Hope?
Trying to clear my thoughts, I scrub at my eyes.I must focus on the tasks at hand, not dwell on my new employee.There's so much to do.Sermons to write, visits to make, and now a renovation project to plan.I am determined to revitalize this place and perhaps revitalize myself in the process.
Five
Cole
Follow You - Bring Me The Horizon
F
ather Nichol's...I mean, Caleb greets me at the side entrance of the church.Instantly, I am struck by how gorgeous he is dressed casually.He’s taller than I am by several inches, and in the thigh-hugging jeans he's wearing, I can see it's mostly in his long legs.He has on a button-down short-sleeve shirt that hints at strong biceps, my mouth is watering to lick.
"Cole?"Caleb asks me, but it takes me a second to snap out of my daze.Shit, did he catch me drooling?Frantically wiping at my mouth, I stammer out a response.
"Uh, sorry, just zoned out there for a sec," I say, desperately hoping he didn’t notice the flush creeping into my cheeks.Two minutes in, and I'm already a mess.Get it together, Cole!
Caleb's deep laugh fills the air, his kind brown eyes crinkling at the corners."No worries, Cole.Come on in."He steps aside, and I enter, my heart racing as I brush past him.A rich, woodsy scent envelops me, his cologne, a perfect blend of earthy notes and subtle hints of spice.
Caleb points down to the end of the hall, indicating where his office is.I nod, and we step through an open doorway where a small break room sits.The space isn't more than six feet by ten feet with a small bathroom on one end, a counter, and a refrigerator along the wall on the other end.Across from the counter, a tiny circular table is pushed up against the wall, surrounded by three chairs.
Leaving the breakroom, we enter another hallway.“This is sort of backstage.The door in front of us leads to the Chapel, and the one at the end leads to the Chapel right near the stage.”
I trail after Caleb through the door behind the pews.Inside, the Chapel is quieter than I’ve ever heard it.I can feel tranquility vibrating from the worn walls.
