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The golden cord knotted itself tighter

"The blood of Christ," he whispered, softer than he’d spoken it to anyone else, so softly she leaned in closer to hear hiers touched as she returned the cup to him, and she soared back to her seat She picked her novel off the floor, closed it and stuffed it in her backpack

The Mass ended All were exhorted to go forth in peace But Eleanor felt no peace and she would feel no peace until she’d spoken to him

Him? Him who? When she reached the lobby of the church, Elle realized she had no idea what the new priest’s na to a group of older wo about how the new priest was too young, too inexperienced, too handso

"It’s a nice day I’ home," she said to her mother and beat a hasty retreat before her ation surrounded their new priest And yet she could still see him He towered over most of them He had to be six feet tall or more Over the top of the crowd hefor her in the crowd She mouthed, "I’ll wait for you"

She slipped out the side door and watched the cars filing out Soon nothing re blacklot she couldin the March sunlight She’d never seen anythingthe pavement toward it Careful to make as little sound as possible, she stepped from the shadows and followed him to his motorcycle

He’d abandoned the vest had alorn a plain black shirt and black jacket over it, usually without the white collar in place But this priest had on aand heavier black clerical shirt It looked European to her She’d never seen a priest who looked so … She couldn’t find the right word Elegant, maybe?

As he reached his motorcycle, he paused but didn’t turn around

"I ondering where you went," he said, taking his helmet off the handlebars He turned around and faced her "You said you’d wait for ht?" she asked

He raised his eyebrow at her Elle dug her hands in her pocket and stared at him

"Am I?"

He sat astride his motorcycle, and she stepped in front of it

"Do you have any idea what it is you have between your legs?" she des" He said the words without even breaking a smile She narrowed her eyes at hi the front wheel with her knees

"Then you know that this is a Ducati A 907 IE," she said

"Is it?"

"It’s in black Never seen one in black before" She walked a circuit around the bike "Do you have any idea how ine" He put the helmet back on the handlebars