Chirp(100)

“Austin.”

“Hmm. Nice city. How long you been here?”

“Two weeks. I’m staying until the end of the school term. I thought a move this soon might be too traumatic for my niece.”

The café came into view, and he parked near the entrance. Raynie got out before he did and met him at the front of the truck. Inside the eatery, every stool, occupied. Conversations hummed. Waitresses in black aprons worked behind a long wooden counter like ants gathering food for the winter. Jared pointed to a corner booth. “How about that one? It’ll give us privacy.”

She nodded and headed in that direction. Once seated, he opened the menu. “You want something to eat? I haven’t had lunch.”

She panicked. No money. No purse. But she hadn’t eaten either.

He peered over the folder. “My treat.”

“In that case, sure.”

“Great. I hate to eat alone.”

Raynie wondered what made a guy who looked like this go into the ministry. Harrowing experience? Family tradition? Low testosterone?

The waitress came for their orders, taking Raynie from her daydream.

When the server walked away, the padre rested his arms on the table. “So why are you a mess?”

“I can’t understand why she died. Celeste was the good one.”

“Compared to who—you?”

She nodded.

“So, you’re bad?”

Another nod.

“And why is that?”

“The short version? Two arrests. Two divorces. A penchant for bad boys.”

He chuckled. “You didn’t kill anybody, did you?”

“Public intoxication back in college.”

“Well, none of those things make you a bad person. We all make mistakes, especially in college.”

She wondered what trouble the good father had gotten into. Something really bad like staying out past curfew. Or was he wild before he converted? She’d like to have known him then. Lord. What was wrong with her? She had enough on her plate without wicked fantasies.

She leaned forward and threaded her fingers together. She should give him the long version. “I know I’m not a horrible person. But today I discovered Celeste’s marriage was on the rocks and now she and Evan are dead. A friend said the craziest thing. That God took them to avoid divorce. Do you think that’s true?”

“I think we interpret things to fit our needs.”

He looked as if he might say more, but the waitress returned with their drinks. Once alone again, Raynie went back to the conversation. “I’ve had this child put in my care, and I’m no good at it.”

“You’re asking for advice, so I’d say you’re not giving yourself enough credit.”

Raynie took a sip. “You know what I hate most? The constant uncertainty. I’m a strong, independent business owner. Ask any of my friends, and they’ll tell you I’m self-assured to the point of being a smart-ass. Oh, sorry. I’ll watch my language.”

She waited to be scolded, but instead he smiled, those deep cheek dents distracting her. She glanced away. “But in my current circumstance, I doubt everything I say and do. I’m so afraid it will be the wrong thing and Silbie will suffer because of it.”

The food came, and Raynie didn’t say anything else, just concentrated on eating, and he did the same. He wasn’t like any clergy she’d ever met. She expected him to sermonize, but he didn’t. Mostly listened.

He swigged his tea, then trained his deep blues on hers. “Well, you haven’t complained about your niece being a burden, or having to give up your so-called bad-girl lifestyle. I think you’ll be fine.”

“You know, padre, I thought you’d be all preachy, but you’re different from any minister I’ve ever met.”

He double dimpled her. “People forget ministers struggle like everyone else.”

For the next few minutes they fell into another comfortable silence, and Raynie tried to read his expression but couldn’t. He was so handsome, she wondered why he wasn’t married. The church didn’t prevent it, and first impression said he was a real catch. Oh God. Maybe he was gay. No. Her gaydar was pretty good, and no alarms had sounded.

He glanced at his watch. “I have an appointment, so I’ve got to go, but if you’d like to meet here again tomorrow, I’ll put it on my calendar.”

She shouldn’t agree, but he put her at such ease, and she needed adult conversation. But with a hot preacher? “I’d like that.”

“Okay.”

She drew a silent breath. How dangerous could it be? She’d bet he didn’t have a tattoo anywhere.