Page 57 of Priestly Sins

“New commercial grade fridge and freezer will arrive in the next week.” I wink and follow Clara into the living room.

Thirty

The very next day, the smell of sugar invades the house. Thank God it’s not coming from my coffee. I love Clara’s heart, but her coffee could use some help. Cotton candy isn’t as sweet as yesterday morning’s concoction.

When I come in from visiting Killian, I can almost taste the sugar hanging in the air.

Clara is noticeably quiet and I rush toward the kitchen hoping everything is all right. I quickly discover that she’s quiet because she’s elbow-deep in batter. Her hands, her arms, smeared across her face, and her clothes. Everything on her is crusty.

“Whatcha got there?”

She peels her tongue off the roof of her mouth to answer. “Cupcake batter.”

“I figured that out. What flavor?”

“White.”

“Is white a flavor or a color?”

“Both, silly.”

“Oh, I’m silly?” I reach with my fingers, careful to avoid the sticky bits, and tickle her. She has little defense since she’s covered in goo and holding the bowl and a spoon. I, on the other hand, stay out of kicking distance so little feet don’t meet my junk.

We’re interrupted by a tsking from the corner.

“Who are you tsk-tsking?”

“Both of you!” Her responding smile is glorious. It stuns me just enough that I let down my guard and, as I do, a little shoe grazes me just below the belt. Shit!

My recovery is slow but not so slow that Clara notices.

“Why did you choose white cake?”

“I love ambrosia cake. It’s my favorite. We can always add food coloring —”

“Pink!!”

“—as I was saying… We can always add coloring but since it’s for us, I thought not having our fingers stained would be just as good.”

“Pink! Pleeeeasse!

“Yeah, pink. Please,” I mock.

Sirona groans, “You two, together, are a bad idea.” But her smile says otherwise.

* * *

Later that evening,I text Bobby and catch up. Seems the New Orleans police are looking into the missing persons case of Enzo Calabrese. There’s no love lost there so they’re not looking too hard, but it hit Bobby’s radar and he knew my hatred for the man, so he brought it up.

Bobby:You know they probably think ‘good riddance,’ but he’s too high profile for that.

Me:Miserable piece of shit.

Bobby:Tell me how you really feel.

Me:LOL

Bobby:The other thing?