feeling everyone around here is really serious about finding Jesus.
A priest like Gabriel really brings that out in a person.
I figure I don’t have much to lose except having the cookies withdrawn—God willing—so I say, “Ghana.” I look introspective. “God willing, Miss Langley, we’ll be changing hundreds of lives in that village.”
She clasps her hands again, her lips trembling. “Oh, you must be so excited.”
“I am.” I shift in my seat, nod my head a little. “But if it wasn’t for Father Gabriel, I wouldn’t even be here.”
“Father…” Langley sags in her chair. “I miss him so much. He was such a good influence on you young ones.”
Fuck, if she only knew. But I nod along, try and look as Catholic as possible, and even go as far as to toy with Trinity’s crucifix.
“Actually, I’ve never met him.”
Langley’s eyes widen behind her thick glasses. “You haven’t?”
“No. It was Trinity.” I pick up a cookie, break off a piece. “She told me all about Father Gabriel.”
“Trinity!” Langley lets out a long sigh as she sinks back in her chair. “How is she, the little lamb?”
“Oh, she’s doing wonderfully.”
“I’m so glad.” Langley shakes her head as she looks out the kitchen window with its lacy curtains. “I was so upset to hear what happened. And right here, so close to home.”
“The accident happened here?”
“Oh no, that was somewhere in town.” Langley waves a dismissive hand. “I mean, for such a gifted child to lose her parents. So young.”
“Gifted?” I sound incredulous, and Langley doesn’t like that one bit.
Her eyes are narrowed when she turns back to look at me. “Father Gabriel always said she was a gift from God. Her mother couldn’t conceive for many years.” Langley shakes her head, clucks like a mother hen. “But then Keith and Monica found God, and He blessed them with a child.”
Seems everyone knows everyone in this place. Hell on earth.
I don’t know how to react to what she said, so I don’t. Instead I finally take a small sip of lemonade and try not to think about how much sugar it has in it.
“Such a wonderful family,” Langley says. She stares out the window again, a fond look on her face. “That child was always so sweet. A true blessing. Never once when I looked after her did she as much as make a fuss.”
Looked after?
“Now I remember,” I say, nodding and toying with another piece of cookie. “I was wondering where I’d heard your name. Trinity mentioned you.”
“Oh, she did?” The old lady blinks rapidly. Dear God, is she fogging up? “How kind of her.”
“Said you were her favorite babysitter.”
Langley’s eyes start brimming. She hurriedly looks away, and then seems to come to. “Oh, uh, you’ll be needing that donation.” She stands before I have a chance to ask her what the hell she’s on about.
She disappears down the hall, and I take my drink and pour it down the sink. When she comes back in, I’m in my seat again, just putting the glass back on the table. Her already wide smile grows when she spots my empty glass. “Would you like another?”
“Oh no,” I tell her, patting my stomach like we’ve just finished Thanksgiving dinner together. “Folks around here are too kind.”
She giggles a little at this and starts writing out a check.
Like taking donations from the congregation.
She hands it to me, but doesn’t let go. “Where is your little…the clipboard? With the—” she gestures vaguely “—with the place for me to sign?”
I pat my pockets theatrically. “You know, Miss Langley, I think I left it next door.”
Her eyes almost goggle out of their sockets. With surprising speed for such an aging gal, she’s on her feet, her head whipping to that same kitchen window as before. “Father Gabriel is back?”
And then it’s as if her lemonade was spiked with fucking amphetamines. I’m standing a second later, ruthlessly suppressing the urge to run.
“What do you mean?” My voice comes from far away.
“Gabriel!” She turns to me, clasps her hands again. This time like she’s begging. “Oh, I thought… I thought you just came from him. I was hoping he’d come back.”
I want to shake her until her teeth rattle. “Back where? I don’t—”
“Didn’t Trinity tell you?”
My heart bangs into my breastbone as if to try and get me moving. “Tell me what?” I’m grimacing at her through my teeth, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
“Father Gabriel. He moved into their old house. I guess the estate put it up for sale,