The Consequence of Secrets - Part Four: A Priest Romance by Cates Eve

Author:Cates, Eve [Cates, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eve Cates Romance
Published: 2015-08-13T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Braden

“So, this is how it ends?” Deacon Salisbury asks when I visit the rectory to collect my things. “You’re just throwing away everything you worked for to be with this woman? What about the youth center? What about your service of God?”

I glance up at him as I throw my street clothes and personal items into a bag. Emma and I have organized to stay in a serviced apartment while we get all of our affairs in order. It sounds funny to think that way – I mean, we started as an affair ourselves – but after her father’s death and the end of her marriage, she has a whole life in Newport that she and Jules need to work through. It’s the awful after where you have to go through the wreckage of what’s left behind of someone else’s life.

She doesn’t want to stay in her own house because of Gabe, and she doesn’t feel right staying in her fathers, or with Jules, and I agree. We need our own space, and I need to pay my own way. I don’t want to be ‘kept’ by her because of her family’s money. That doesn’t feel right to me. So after much discussion, she’s agreed to stay somewhere we can both afford, and the only thing left for me to do is collect my things.

“That’s a very interesting comment coming from the man who married a woman specifically to avoid becoming a priest.”

“Yes. That's exactly what I did. I knew a life of celibacy wasn't for me, so I took a position that allowed me to serve God and be a man to my wife. I didn't take vows and break them. I didn’t lie. I didn’t make promises and break them. Being a priest isn’t some job you can get bored of and leave. But, that’s exactly what you’ve done. You knew the score when you chose this path, Braden.”

My brow rises. “It’s Braden now, is it?”

“Yes it is,” he says, pulling a white envelope from his back pocket and handing it to me. I see the emblem of the Bishop in the top left corner. “Bishop Riley had it sent over to give you if you returned. Needless to say, he’s not very happy about how you went about things. None of us appreciated the photo in the newspapers of you being openly affectionate with Ms. Williams. As you can imagine, it was a bit of a slap in the face when we had all been supportive of you remaining in service after your previous transgressions. Father Matthew can’t even look at you. He feels heartbroken, deceived – we all do.”

With the envelope in my hand, I pull the zip closed on my bag. “I’m sorry, Deacon. Really I am. But, I know in my heart I’m on the path He set me on. I prayed for guidance from the moment I realized Emma needed my help.”

“But you did so by being deceitful,” he argues. “You could

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