family was large and all were in the States now, most of them married, all of them pursuing education and careers.
He’d seen her frequently over the summer, bringing her fruits and vegetables as frequently as he could. He’d been doing so for years now. Honestly, she stirred something in him. He had not stopped being a man when he took his vows. But it was more than that. She made him buzz with happiness. It was probably no secret—he had a crush on her. But if she knew, she never let on.
“Well, Father, I didn’t expect to see you again this year,” she said, flashing him that beautiful smile. “That has to be the last of your garden.”
“I might have one more visit in me, if the garden holds up,” he said. “Most of it is picked clean and I should save the pumpkins for the kids, but there are still a few things hanging on. Some squash, some melons, even some tired-looking peppers and intrepid artichokes. We are one freezing night away from ending the days of the lettuces, but I have a nice laundry basket full for you.”
“Great! My friends need the greens in their diets. You didn’t by any chance grow any disposable diapers or formula?”
“I scraped together some donations and bought them,” he said. “I know how badly they’re needed.”
“Oh, bless you, Father! There are never enough. I tell the families not to ration them, not to let the little ones get a rash or infection. I have a list of places they can get those items. Let me help you get these things shelved. Let’s clear the way. I have a couple of trucks coming in today and we’re open for business first thing in the morning.”
“I was hoping you had a minute for a conversation,” he said.
“Always,” she replied, grabbing a box of vegetables from the church van. “Shoot.”
“For this, I want your full attention,” he said. “I can wait until you’re free.”
She put the box on the ground. “Let’s not wait if you have something on your mind.” She focused on his eyes. “It’s okay. It will all get done.”
It made him smile with true joy. Angela was accustomed to helping people in trouble; people who were needy and hungry and frightened. She was focused. Half the time just having someone being attentive and listening was as much help as people really needed. “I would like to speak in confidence.”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Isn’t it usually the other way around? A person asking the priest for confidentiality? But of course, Father. I owe you more than that.”
“You owe me nothing,” he said. “Your work is a godsend and I think you are an angel.”
“My father named me for the angels, but I’m sure I’ve fallen short. What’s on your mind?”
“I haven’t talked to many people about this. My parishioners don’t know yet. I’ll be leaving the priesthood after Christmas. Christmas can be a stressful time for people. I won’t add to that by leaving them without their priest. Father Damien will assume my position. More and more of my duties are falling to Father Damien and the lay pastors, but there are still those who rely on me. And I know you’re incredibly busy this time of year, but I was hoping... I don’t know how to put this. You’ve been in service to the community your entire adult life.” He laughed lamely. “I don’t even know how old you are, Angela.”
“Thirty-four, Father. I never told you, I considered the convent at one time, but that would have been a bad idea. It was a brief consideration. Besides, I was a child. Why, Father? Why leave the priesthood now?”
“It’s nothing concrete. It’s not a crisis of faith or dissatisfaction with my work or unhappiness about celibacy or loneliness. But as the places I can go become more bureaucratic, I become less so. I have found myself in a selection pool I didn’t apply for.”
Shock registered on her pretty face. “Well, that’s a first,” she said. “You’re quitting because they’re threatening to promote you?”
“The bishop considers it an elevation of status. And I’m not interested. I guess that sounds ridiculous,” he admitted.
“Yeah, because I’ve never met a priest who didn’t want to be a cardinal,” she said.
“I bet you have, but never mind that,” he said. “You’ve been feeding people for years and I’d like to know how it happened. I’m going to be looking for options pretty soon. There are lots