Page 44 of Holly Jolly Heresy
“I know what it’s like to have someone regret changing their life for me.”
“Molly—”
“I don’t think I could take it if you ever looked at me that way. And I don’t want to ever look at you that way either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I have a job offer,” she blurted as she dashed away a tear. “A really great job offer. In Boston.”
“You what?” He sounded like all the air had been knocked out of his lungs and his face went white. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I haven’t decided whether or not I’m going to take it yet. This is all happening so fast. We could both use a minute to be sure this is the right decision. I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes I’ve already made. I don’t want to wake up in threeyears and wonder if we rushed into changing our whole lives. You’re too important—this is too important for that.”
The muscle in his jaw twitched, the sparkle gone from his eyes. “Why does it feel like you’re saying goodbye?”
“Not goodbye. Just some space to be sure.”
Her hand slipped from his grasp and he stumbled back a step, looking like he’d just been sucker punched. “If that’s what you need.”
She dashed away a tear and left, telling herself it was the smart decision, that a break wasn’t abreakup. Her feet slid on the gossamer angel wings as she fled the church, tears streaming down her face and her heart screaming for her to go back. She fumbled with her keys, turning out of the parking lot on autopilot, but she was crying too hard to drive. She pulled over on the side of the road a few blocks from the church, the steeple with its stained-glass window taking up most of her rearview mirror, and for the first time in years, she prayed.
Chapter sixteen
“What are you still doing down here?”
Caleb looked up from his computer at the sound of Father Murphy’s voice. The office was dim, lit only by the small lamp on his desk and the blue glow from his computer screen. When had the sun gone down? How long had he been sitting in this room fumbling through paperwork and hoping Molly would come back? Why hadn’t she told him about her job offer? Would she really move to Boston?
“What time is it?” he asked.
“It’s nearly seven o’clock. The Church is full and you’re not even wearing your chasuble yet.” The older priest tsked.
Caleb glanced at his computer screen, the open email to the Bishop’s office staring back at him. Just a few clicks and it would be done. Just a few clicks and this would be the last time he’d put on his vestments.
Was Molly somewhere also changing her life with a few clicks?
“Have you sent it in?” Father Murphy asked.
“I needed to speak with the Superintendent first. Now that’s done, I was just about to.”
“Then you’ve taken my advice.”
Caleb gave a wan smile at Father Murphy’s obvious relief. “I have. Thank you for your counsel. The last thing I want to do is cause additional distress to the parishioners by hijacking their Christmas Eve service for my own needs.” His smile faded. “I suppose I had some romantic notions about grand gestures and happily ever afters.”
“And your young woman…”
“Molly.” Even saying her name made his stomach flip.
“Molly. She wanted a grand gesture?”
He shook his head. “She didn’t know what I was planning. But given she didn’t want me to quit for her…”Maybe she doesn’t even actually want this life with me…“It’s better this way. Less showy.”
Father Murphy studied him, years of hearing confessions and providing counsel to the parishioners at St. Anthony making him too observant. “You wanted the show.”
“I love her. I would shout it from every pulpit in the country if I thought it would help her believe it.”
Father Murphy hummed in thought. “I fell in love once.”
Caleb’s attention snapped to the older priest. “You—what?”
