Page 34 of Hotter 'N Hell

Dots…he was typing. I waited.

Jude:

Will you come to the 10:30 Mass tomorrow?

I had been considering going. But now that he’d asked, I knew I would be.

Saylor:

Yes. Will there be more greenery we wave about?

I chewed my bottom lip while the dots appeared.

Jude:

That was Palm Sunday. Our services don’t normally involve plants.

Laughing, I quickly texted back.

Saylor:

Why the 10:30 Mass?

He’d been so specific, and I wanted there to be a reason why. It was his last Mass time of the morning. I was afraid to hope it was because he might want to see me after.

Jude:

Other than I want to see you?

My face was going to be sore from all the smiling.

Saylor:

Are you sure? You couldn’t getaway from me fast enough tonight.

He immediately began his response. So brave behind his phone.

Jude:

The walk to the rectory had never been so brutally painful. Yes, I would like to see you, and after, I’d like to take you somewhere.

Saylor:

What is a rectory?

I could have probably Googled that and looked less like an idiot.

Jude:

Where I live. The house supplied by the church. The woods behind the church have a short path that leads to it.

So, he was always there. At the church or on its property. No other life. Why would someone want that?

Saylor:

Where are you taking me?

I didn’t want the conversation to end.