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"Are you serious?" Poppy looked her over "Wow, you are Look, this isn’t a date It’s church It’s broad daylight Even your provincial hang-ups can’t have a probleoAnd besides, this is Rhea’s brother He’s cool"

Poppy always talked about Tessa’s provincial habits as though they were cute, not primitive Usually, Tessa conceded to her friend’s advice, but this involved a line Tessa didn’t think she could cross It didn’tout alone with a boy was completely unheard of in Panama Even if Tessa kneas fine by Ges were hard to shake

SheCynthia after school and asking pero to church?" Cynthia was out soine her incredulous expression

"Is it okay?" Tessa hesitated before delivering the big blow "It’s with a guy Alone"

"Is he thirty or soo withwholesoure Tessa’d originally believed she was Justin had recently called his sister out on that, asking if she was doing a good job in parenting Tessa Cynthia had been indignant "What’s there to parent? She does her hoiveshe does is walk to school with that delinquent"

And so, Tessa soon found herself riding into doith Dennis Maybe he was Rhea’s brother, but he didn’t have much in common with her--much to Tessa’s relief Dennis see their aard senuinely interested in Tessa’s background and,to be ashao twice a week," he explained to Tessa, switching back to the topic of church "They think it develops character"

"Rhea goes too?"

"No, she just says she does, and I cover for her" He laughed to hio while she’s suspended It’s probably the worst part of the punishh the Church of Humanity had worship centers everywhere, its main cathedral was in don Vancouver The videos Tessa had watched of services had been in places that typified Geht She’d expected the saer scale So, it was a surprise to walk into the building and find that it resembled some of the churches back in Panama

The most notable part, to Tessa, was the abundance of wood and ed look so different fro else in the RUNA The vaulted ceiling was arched, and large s allowed afternoon sunlight to pour into the nave and onto its ornate wooden pews Pillars lined the sides of the rooether in h she’d been transported to some other country until she saw the hout the space That was more in line hat she expected She and Dennis sat down about halfway back in the pews, allowing her to notice one more notable feature: There were no sy

"Only about half-full today," Dennis told her "More people coht have been theto the RUNA "All of this, for no god It’s so strange"

"Why?" he asked, looking legitimately puzzled

"It’s just hoas raised, that’s all"

"You worshipped a god?"

It sounded weird when he put it that way "My fauess"

The officiant began the service He actually wore the kind of elaborate robes she’d seen on other priests, though these were done in the Gemman national colors Dennis leaned close to whisper in her ear, "Soela herself officiates here"

Tessa didn’t knoho Angela was and mostly felt startled at Dennis’s proxih her It was just so she had absolutely no experience with