Page 59 (1/2)

"Eleanor, are you trying to use logic on Catholics?"

She tried to laugh but the sound didn’t coht

"I think soy" She smiled at him

"The whole world is a courtrooe, jury and executioner A Catholic priest sexually involved with a teenage ation? I will be crucified I’ve seen this happen over and over again And the only people on’t hate me will be the people who hate you instead"

"Is this my fault?" she asked, afraid of the answer She had pursued him, hadn’t she?

"No It’s destiny Or doom, perhaps Hard to tell the difference so"

"Perhaps they are" He looked into her eyes and she saw her doo in them One kiss Surely one kiss wouldn’t kill them She leaned in She knew Søren would let her kiss him She kneould kiss her back

But then she heard so so before but couldn’t name it or place it Hurriedly she pulled back from the embrace and put two feet between her and Søren

"I’ my answer," Søren said "It’s his fault"

"Who is that?" she whispered in a panic Søren did so she’d never dreamed she’d see him do He rolled his eyes

"‘La Marseillaise’--the French national anthehed heavily and rubbed his forehead

"I suppose tonight’s as good a night as any," Søren said

"For what?"

"For you to meet the in-law"

18

Eleanor

THE WHISTLING SOUND GREW CLOSER SØREN TOOK her hand in his

"Eleanor, allow ize? For what?"

"For hih the nearest door and right up to the"

Eleanor’s eyes widened at the sight of the man

"I love that reaction" He pointed at Eleanor’s face "That is the ‘you didn’t tell me how pretty he was’ look, oui?"

"Didn’t I almost punch you on a set of stairs once?" she asked him