Page 71 of Intimately Faithful

It was more surprising the choir weren’t singing a religious song. As it went on, she realized it was the Beatles “Here Comes the Sun.”

“Rock and roll songs?” She whispered to Cora sitting on her right holding a rambunctious Misha.

“Oh yes, that was Pastor Murphy’s idea years ago. The choir grew in leaps and bounds after that. He said a song doesn’t have to be about Jesus to have uplifting qualities.”

Aoife grinned to herself, love rushing through her.

That was typical Danny knowing how to reach people not in the traditional way.

As she went on watching him long after the choir finished singing, seeing how he interacted with every person who waited to talk to him long after his sermon ended. The smiles, the laughs, the hugs, the way he made them feel like they were the only person who existed, she knew he’d found his place in the world.

He was far from the Galway boy she grew up with.

Danny Murphy had found his purpose in this world and he was soaring so very high.

God. She was in love with a pastor.

She hadn’t fully recognized his job until now, seeing him in full pastor action talking to a packed church and how they loved him.

Would he have space for her? She wondered worriedly.

“He’s really changed our church, we barely had four attendees two years ago,” Cora filled in with a beaming smile.

It was obvious the old woman was devoted to her pastor.

“I can see that, he’s amazing.”

“Hello, Cora. Who’s your new friends?” She heard and turned to see a woman with hair redder than her own, and in a frizzy ball like she’d been shocked several hundred times. “You’re new.” She pointed out to Aoife with borderline nosy curiosity.

“Yes, I am.” Aoife said. She didn’t like nosy people, and not nosy old biddies who were looking snootily.

“Darlene, this is a friend of Pastor Murphy. Aoife and darling Misha. Aoife, meet Darlene, resident nosy parker and fruit cake runner up 1998 in the Christmas fete.”

Aoife swallowed her giggle at Cora’s sass. Did she mention already that she loved Danny’s housekeeper?

“You know I was robbed! You cheated by adding apricots.” Huffed Darlene, pointing a ring bearing finger.

She couldn’t tell yet if the pair were friends or cake enemies.

“Yeah, yeah. Cry into your pillow. It’s me who has the winners’ cup.”

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to piss off Darlene, because she turned her beady eye on Aoife, giving her that up and down look like she was judging and found her lacking in every area.

“Friends of the pastor? We haven’t heard of you before and we’ve met a lot of pastor Murphy’s friends already.”

“Are you ladies grilling my girl?” The deep, gorgeous voice said from behind them, and that answered that she supposed, a warm glow coming from inside.

Danny’s hand landed on her shoulder and stayed there. Aoife moved closer to him as he plucked Misha from Cora, much to the little girl’s delight.

She really did have a crush on him. Aoife couldn’t blame her.

Her own heart was pitter-patter fast at his nearness.

“Your girl?” Darlene asked. “This is new, pastor Murphy.”

Oh, how she judged, Aoife thought and wanted to tell the old biddy to go suck on lemons…or worse, as Aoife of old would have done. She rounded her shoulders and smiled at the woman. She would have to expect this, if she wanted to have an out in the open relationship with him. She had to accept he didn’t only belong to her anymore.

“We’re old friends from Ireland.” She told her at the same time Danny answered. “Yes, my girl, Darlene. So you’ll be seeing a lot of Aoife and this beautiful princess. I hope you’ll make them both feel very welcome as I know you will, because Armado Springs residents are the friendliest people I know.”

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