Where the Devil Says Goodnight (Folk Lore #1) - K.A. Merikan Page 0,21

call them, but didn’t feel like speaking to Mother yet. And considering that in the past twelve hours, he’d been followed by a horse that wasn’t there, had been offered sex by another man, and lived in a parsonage where the pastor hung dead magpies from the eaves and the housekeeper believed in folklore demons, he knew he’d have to lie to her, or she’d freak out.

He shivered when his nose picked up an unexpectedly rich scent of cedarwood, smoke, and something musky, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t place where it came from. His gums itched and he salivated a little too much, even though the food had been in front of him for a while now. What the hell?

“Why are you fidgeting?” Mrs. Janina asked, but before Adam would have had to come up with an answer, someone knocked on the door, and the housekeeper padded to the main entrance to the parsonage.

Adam continued eating as he picked up another female voice. Moments later, Mrs. Janina led in a corpulent woman with black hair and a tan that had surely come from a bottle. The product made her crow’s feet more pronounced, but energetic movements added youthfulness to her appearance.

“I am so happy to meet our new shepherd! This is for you,” she said and offered him a cardboard box covered with a doily.

“Mrs. Stępień,” the housekeeper introduced her before pouring tea into a bonus cup and pushing it in front of the newcomer as she sat down.

Adam smiled when he saw that the box was full of homemade butter cookies. “That is very kind. I’m starting to understand that weight gain during my time here is inevitable.”

“Everyone is very friendly here in Dybukowo. You’ll see,” Mrs. Stępień said and helped herself to the tea.

Adam smiled, and Emil’s face emerged from the back of his mind and into the spotlight. He swallowed. “I noticed. So far I’ve only met a couple of the parishioners, but they’ve all been very kind,” with the exception of the grumpy shop owner, “One man even gave me a ride here on his horse, even though it was pouring down last night.”

Mrs. Stępień’s face froze. “A black horse? That had to be Emil Słowik, Father. That man is no good. He’s Old Słowikowa’s grandson, may God rest her soul. She’d be turning in her grave if she saw what he’s grown into.”

Mrs. Janina nodded. “True, true. Rotten boy. Didn’t accept a pastoral visit last Christmas.”

Adam exhaled with relief. So he didn’t have to worry about Emil watching him with that insistent gaze during mass. That was something.

“That’s not the worst of it,” Mrs. Stępień said. “My son’s friend said he saw him with a man. You know what I mean,” she said, lowering her voice.

Adam was going to be sick. So it hadn’t just been his own thoughts tainting an innocent invitation from a stranger. Emil had really meant what Adam had suspected. And the worst thing was that deep down it annoyed him. Emil likely propositioned many people, casting his net wide to see what got caught in it.

Mrs. Janina nodded. “Nowak should make sure he keeps an eye on his son. Emil and Radek seem far too close, if you ask me. Mrs. Golonko told me Emil gave him a lift to the bus stop this morning.”

Adam’s head spun from all the names of people involved in the gossip, but since he had no idea who the women were talking about, he chose to stay quiet and stuff his face.

Mrs. Stępień cleared her throat. “We better not speak of such depravity in front of Father Adam.”

The worst of phrases pushed at Adam’s lips. Hate the sin, love the sinner was terrible, but We all sin might be even worse, because it might make people suspicious of him. So he got up with a smile. “I think I need to familiarize myself with my new church. Please, carry on. Thank you again for the cookies, Mrs. Stępień.”

Adam needed to clear his mind of filth, but since he wasn’t dressed for jogging, he walked into the hallway and picked up a besom tucked into the corner, intent on sweeping the dust and fallen leaves from the church yard. He was at the door when he noticed a small bowl, which had previously been hidden behind the natural broom. Filled with carefully sliced radishes and pickles, it had no place on the floor, but he decided not to point it out