Page 4 of Sins of the Flesh

Mason:

Dude, did you hear that!

The church needs a handyman.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE

I groan inwardly..not him too, I type back quickly:

Me:

My chance to humiliate myself?

No thanks

The idea of working near Father Nichols is a dream come true in theory.But in reality it sounds like an excellent way to get myself outed or worse…

Mason:

Cole?I’m serious, this might be

your only chance for a handyman

job in this town

Mason:

It's been 3 years of you just doing odd jobs here and there.This could really be the push you need to be taken seriously and restart your dads business.Plus, you'll get to stare at Father Hottie all day.Win-win.

Me:

Fuck off!

Biting my bottom lip I consider Mason's words.He’s not wrong, working at the Church would mean steady income, something I desperately need.St.Mary's is well-respected in Baylee, and having them as a reference could open doors and reopening Dad’s shop would be amazing.We had to close it six months after he died due to lack of business.

But it would also mean spending hours alone with Father Nichols, trying to hide well..everything.The thought alone makes me shift uncomfortably in the pew."We will now rise for the closing hymn," Father Nichols announces, and I scramble to my feet, nearly dropping my hymnal.His eyes sweep across the congregation again, and this time I'm certain they pause on me.A small smile plays at the corner of his mouth before he looks away, and my heart nearly stops.Did he just—?No.I'm imagining things.I have to be…

As the final notes of the organ fade, Father Nichols raises his hands in blessing."Go in peace to love and serve the Lord," he intones, and the congregation responds in unison.I mumble along, my throat suddenly dry as sandpaper.

"You're going to talk to him," Mom says decisively as we file out of our pew, not a question but a statement of fact.Before I can protest, she's guiding me toward the receiving line where Father Nichols stands, greeting parishioners.

Not gonna lie I’m seriously contemplating breaking away from my Mothers hold and running all the way home right now.

My palms are sweaty, and my heart is pounding so loudly that I'm sure everyone can hear it as we get closer.Oh God we’re doing this, I think I might pass out.

Taking a shaky breath to steady my twitchy nerves, I concentrate on my feet trying not to trip over them and embarrass the crap out of myself.

Mayor Hendersen walks past Father Nichols to leave and it's our turn.Suddenly I'm frozen in place, Mom gives me a hard shove showing surprising strength for a woman her age and I stumble forward.

Two

Caleb

Take Me To Church - Hozier

F

or thirteen years, nearly every Sunday has found me on these steps, shaking hands and offering blessings to the good people of Baylee.Today, however, something feels different, I can’t quite put my finger on why.