The Unholy Oath

full week

t of cedar that still lingered in the guest room when you entered

shone, ignored Maggie's pointed looks and Mrs. Henderson and her min

e came

vodka, when the door opened, cutting off the afternoon sun. I di

I called out, shovi

tretched, thick and heavy. When I finally glanced u

in a week. His hair was messy, his jaw tight, and his gaze lowered. He hel

itorous leap before I trie

n didn't flic

I stood up, my knees stressing me

deemed it a 'crisis of faith,' not a true calling. They've mandated I return to

reading a court order.

g forgotten in my hand. "The

rectory is still uninhabitable." He didn't mo

ssity' made it sound

ant to be, to come back and apologize for causing a scene the enti

The arrangements are unfortunate. I

d, spitting the word. "R

ly looking directly at

ty like shit the first time, remember? You screamed my house down, shut me out, walked out wit

ad no control over the decisi

want me to believe you had no say in how you treated me? You shut me out, Daniel. Or should I call you Father now? You made

ed on the strap of the duffel. "

ft, it almost didn

se. "No. Go find somewhere else. Sleep in the church basement

if he was swallowing something h

s Henderson will be glad to

ared like he was bracing against a storm, then he t

the entire time, the rag still clenched in my hand like a weapon. M

s when Maggie slipped in through the side door. She l

tside,"

need to

d, tossing a rag

oks like a damn stray dog waiting for someone to kick

other chair to stack. "Yes. Tha

ive him. I'm saying don't let him freeze his ass off. You

harder than necessary.

er forgive yourself if he got sick or something worse happe

asn't wrong, and that

my way. If he breathes wrong, I wouldn't hesitate to throw his pri

satisfied. "I'

still in hand, looking every bit the penitent. He didn

as I grabbed my keys. "Come

silently, his ste

at him. "Guest room. Same rules as before. Don't both

was low. "

snapped. "Just...

fore he could s

guest room do

back under my roof, the hou