Page 24 of Vespertine

Down on my knees for you

I give you my soul

All my rock and roll

And you give me…

You give me the vespers

Adrian sang along as they passed Jasper’s church. Nickygazed at it, thinking of Jasper’s hazel-green eyes and light-brown hair glowingin the light from the stained glass windows.

Over the years, the kids had managed to make the schoolcafeteria a little more cozy by adding couches, slouchy chairs, rugs,bookshelves filled with just about anything but books, and sets of oddmismatched tables and stools. The kitchen sat to the right of the cafeteria,with a large counter dividing the two spaces.

Jasper boiled the kettle and prepared cups with the rooibostea and honey Thomas liked so much. He hadn’t eaten after his run and he wasstarving, so he peered into the large fridge. Every day at noon a bunch ofretired ladies from church came over to help him get lunch ready. Mrs. Wellsgot the kids up in the morning and made sure they were in bed at night, butlunchtime was her well-deserved break.

Large containers with cut-up fruit filled the whole bottom shelf,and by the looks of things, Mrs. McDonald had stopped by again with a fewbatches of her shepherd’s pie. That was lunch taken care of. On another shelf,four whole chickens were defrosting. They would be prepared by the husband andwife cooking team the church had hired to take care of dinners six days out ofseven. Sundays were take-out days, and Jasper peered into one of last night’spizza boxes, but the congealed cheese didn’t look too appealing, especiallysince he knew whoopie pies were on their way.

The kettle boiled, and on cue the large front door to theschool creaked open. Gentle footsteps echoed through the empty halls, andBishop Thomas Murray was preceded by a large white box wrapped in Jasper’sfavorite kind of blue ribbon.

“Father Hendricks,” Thomas said, resting an age-spotted handon Jasper’s forearm. “You look younger every time I see you.”

“It’s all that virgin blood I bathe in,” Jasper said, eyeingthe box.

Thomas rolled his eyes and handed over the pies. “You betterkeep those jokes to yourself when you need to.”

Leading the way to a small round table by the window, Jaspersaid over his shoulder, “I save all the inappropriate ones for you.”

“I’m touched. Tea?”

“On its way.”

Jasper left the whoopie pies with Thomas and went to makethe tea and grab some plates. After a second’s hesitation, he filled a smallbowl with some fruit.

“Now it counts as lunch,” Jasper said when Thomas raised adark eyebrow at the bowl.

“Are you still running three times a week?” Thomas asked,accepting the tea.

“I am.”

Thomas lifted his deep blue eyes at Jasper and smiled. “Makesure you keep it up.”

Jasper sputtered a protest, but Thomas opened the box and heforgot what he was about to say. “You got the ginger pies with lemon cream!”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you have a problem,Jasper. Come on, sit down and eat. I need to talk to you.”

Jasper sighed and sank down in the orange chair oppositeThomas. “If I’d seen that photograph I’d have told them to delete it.”

To his surprise Thomas smiled. “I don’t think it’s that bad,really. Have you checked your e-mails yet?”

With his hand in the box, Jasper shook his head. “I’ve beenputting it off.”

“Well, don’t be surprised if it’s full of fan mail. We’vehad quite a few people express interest in coming to your church.” Jaspergroaned but Thomas ignored him. “The archbishop isn’t thrilled, however. Heparticularly doesn’t like the ‘gay priest’ in all the headlines. I talked tohim and explained that none of these new articles were sanctioned and that wecould try to have them taken down, but that it would probably just stir up moremedia interest.”

“I don’t like them using these pictures without permissioneither, obviously, but what difference does it make? Everyone in the townknows. Some people don’t like it. As you recall we lost a few members of thecongregation early on because of it, but we’re making strides in the community.You know that I’ve never made a secret of it even though my orientation shouldbe of no one’s concern. I live a celibate life just like any other Catholicpriest.” He bristled. “And I’m not the only out gay priest in the world. Aslong as we don’t commit sexual acts, just like heterosexual priests, we’reallowed to serve. Has that changed?”

“No, that hasn’t changed. But the archbishop is still of theopinion that the Church took a risk appointing you, and it’s not wise to flauntit.”

“Flaunt it?” Jasper dropped his pie to the plate. “Thomas,I—”