Read Online The Consequence of Secrets - Part Four: A Priest Romance by Eve Cates - Free Book Online

the cross on the steeple, sitting against the blue and white sky, like a beacon calling out to every lost soul, offering them guidance. It saddens me that I’m not a part of that anymore. I’ve been stripped of my Catholicism, and in a way, I feel as though my connection to Him has somehow been muted as well. When I pray, I don’t feel His presence around me, and I wonder why he’d do this when he led me to where I am now – did I do something wrong, or does He just feel as though I’m all right on my own now?
    Knowing He is fair and just, I can’t imagine that He’s left as a punishment, so I can only surmise that he feels he’s led me to where I need to be. But, why would he lead me away from him house? Why would he guide me to help someone when it meant I’d have my religion taken from me? I have faith in His guidance, but I am a man, and I do question His motives and long to understand exactly what he has in store.
    Kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk, the sound of it skittering along the pavement in front of me pulls me from my thoughts. I squint up at the sky, the sun beating down on me, warming my skin, a soft breeze blowing through my hair then I stop, because I’ve managed to walk all the way to the youth center I was helping to rebuild. The doors are open, and a group of teenage boys push through the door, dressed for a game of basketball then a mother exits, two small children are at her side, their hair damp from swimming in the pool. She leans down removes a pair of swimming goggles still on her child’s head.
    I long to go inside. But, it’s church property and I’m not welcome. I just want to see it. I want to see the smiling faces, the kids and families in there having fun, using it for what it was meant for – an outlet, a place that was safe and fun.
    A hand slips inside mine. “Why am I not surprised to find you here?” Emma asks. I turn to her, surprised to find her here beside me.
    “I thought you were in the city?”
    She smiles, her beautiful face shining as bright as the sun. She is my sun. She’s my everything.
    “I was. Then I went and spoke to Bishop Riley. Then I went home, and…”
    “What were you doing with Bishop Riley,” I interrupt.
    “Promise not to be mad?” she starts.
    “How could I be mad at you? Of course I won’t be mad. What’s going on?”
    “I went there to talk about you. I guess I was kind of bribing them with money.”
    “Bribing them?” I almost laugh at her audaciousness.
    She shrugs. “I wanted them to reverse their decision. I don’t think you deserve to be excommunicated for following the path God set you on. I sat there, and I told him my story. I told him how I was being treated and that I was hiding it from everyone. And even though I kept saying that I didn’t believe in God anymore, each day that I went to that church, I still prayed for Him to save me. I still hoped that He existed and could see the secrets I kept and find a way to free me. I told him that God sent me you, and that you’re the only reason I’m still alive.”
    “What did he say?”
    “He asked me if you actually read the letter you were given.”
    I shook my head. “I didn’t. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to see the words stripping me of my duties.”
    “Well, perhaps you should take a look inside,” she says, pulling the crumpled envelop from her purse and holding it out to me.
    I take it, looking at it then at her and frown. “How did you know I’d be here?” I asked.
    “I didn’t. I was coming here to speak to the Deacon’s wife. I was hoping to call you afterward and surprise you with some good news.”
    “Good news?”
    “Just open the letter, my love, read it.”
    Swallowing my nerves, I slip my finger beneath the seal and tear the white paper along the seam, sliding the paper out. When I unfold it and scan the words on the page, my hand moves to cover my mouth as my eyebrows lift higher on my forehead. “I’m not excommunicated,” I