The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(72)

“I see,” Abbie said with a smile. “I think I know what’s going on.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a marketing campaign,” Abbie said. “I suspect there’s a movie coming out about werewolves attacking humanity and this is just a way for them to promote it.”

“It was on the news,” Tim said. “The real news.”

“I’m sure it was,” Abbie said. “If the movie studio treated the entire thing like it’s real, I’m not surprised the media picked it up. Yesterday was Halloween, after all. I’m sure they thought it would be a fun Halloween story.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Tim conceded.

“Of course it does,” Abbie said with a smile. “I’m a very smart woman.”

Tim laughed.

Abbie looked around the chapel. Several other volunteers were in the room, all of them happily cleaning. “I must admit, I’m impressed with the amount of volunteers we have. And the donations to the drive were far beyond what I expected.”

“Good people live here,” Tim said. “We just needed someone to give us a little nudge.”

“Are you still in school, Tim?” Abbie asked.

Tim shook his head. “Nah. Graduated last year. I’m actually considering joining the church.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah,” Tim said. “I’m not sure about being a priest or anything as heavy as that, but I would like to work for the church in some way.”

“That’s wonderful,” Abbie said. “What brought you to that conclusion?”

“I was kissed by divinity last year,” Tim said.

Abbie stopped cleaning and looked at the young man. “That’s a unique way of putting it.”

Tim shrugged. “It’s just the phrase that shot into my head. That’s really what it felt like. It was before you came to town, but construction had already begun on the church. I was watching the workers build the foundation when something just… I dunno… happened.”

“And it felt like a kiss?”

“Not physically,” Tim said, “but it was the same emotion. Love just poured through me, Sister. I knew in that moment I wanted to help people and I knew the church was the best way I could do it.”

“Well,” Abbie said, “I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful addition.”

Tim smiled. “Thanks, Sister.”

Abbie looked at one of the church’s windows. “Wow. It’s already dark outside. I suppose I should let you folks go home for the night.”

“The drive’s tomorrow morning,” Tim said. “I think most of the people here are fine with staying until everything’s ready.”

“I’m already glad I came to this town,” Abbie said with a smile, “if for no other reason than it allowed me to meet the people of this village. I’ve been teaching at the school for a week now, and the children here are among the brightest I’ve ever taught.”

“You’re not what I expected,” Tim said.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t act like a nun,” Tim explained. “And you don’t look like one.”

Abbie looked down at her clothing. She was wearing blue jeans and a pull-over sweater. Her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The only thing that even suggested she had religious connections was the rosary around her neck. “Well,” she said, “it’s not always practical to dress like a nun. As far as how I act, I have no idea what you mean.”

“Most nuns I’ve met,” Tim said, “were much older than you. And if I’m being honest, they weren’t the most friendly women in the world.”

“People are different, Tim,” Abbie said. “I thought I explained that. Giving yourself to the service of God doesn’t mean you cease to be the person you were. As far as my age, I’m almost thirty. There are plenty of nuns younger than me.”

“I suppose,” Tim said. “I guess I’m just saying I like you, Sister.”

Abbie’s smile grew a little bigger. “Thank you, Tim. I appreciate—”

Before Abbie could finish her sentence, all the lights in the church flickered once, then went out, leaving them in darkness.

“If there are any smokers here,” Abbie said, speaking loudly enough to be heard by everyone in the chapel, “take your lighters and start lighting some candles. This is a church, after all. We have plenty of candles.”

As several people lit candles around the chapel, Father O’Reilly ran into the room from the kitchen. “What happened?”

“We lost power,” Abbie said flatly.

Even in the candlelight, Abbie could see the annoyance on O’Reilly’s face. “I’m aware of that, Sister,” he said slowly. “Why have we lost power?”

How should I know? Abbie thought. “I don’t know, Father,” she said.

O’Reilly looked around the chapel. “Does anybody know where the breaker is located?”

“The basement, Father,” Tim said as he picked up a candle. “I’ll go check it.”

“Please be quick about it,” O’Reilly said. “We can’t let that food spoil.”