SIXTEEN
Tressa
“I hate to ask, but just how friendly were the dark hallways at St. Mike’s, T? There aren’t any virgin births in your future are there?”
My heart flipped at the thought as we walked the few blocks from the bus stop.
Bastien’s babies.
I couldn’t even fathom.
“You’re certifiably insane because there is a zero percent chance anything holy is finding its way inside this temple.”
She spat out a giggle before I joined her, thankful for some release from the ever-present gravity that floated around the topic of Bastien and me.
“But those hallways…” I sighed, the memory of Bastien’s thumbs working against my skin almost more than I could handle. “I would definitely be knocked up if they were any friendlier.”
Lucy whistled, rubbing her belly with both hands. “Ai, Papi!”
“You are ridiculous.” I rolled my eyes, utterly grateful for every over-the-top inch of her.
“Oh! I have my first baby appointment. Since you’re pretty much my work wife and my roomie, wanna come with me? It took forever for the free clinic to get me in, but—”
“Yes!”
“I haven’t even told you when it is yet.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be there.”
“We should make sure Father Bastien’s okay with you being gone that day, too.”
I waved a hand at the church, gothic steeple rising above the naked tree branches, spindly fingers imposing on the neighborhood shrouded at its feet. “I’ll probably have a new and amazing job by then anyway.”
“It’s next week.”
“Oh. Well, he’s going to have to get used to me being gone sooner or later, right?”
Lucy’s eyes fell. “When are you gonna tell him?”
“When I have a job.” My gaze drifted back to the cross poised at the top of St. Michael’s. “Is that wrong?”
Lucy slowed her steps, tilting her head to the milky clouds above. “He’s not gonna take it well.”
“He’ll be fine.”
In all honesty, I hadn’t thought about what Bastien would think.
I guess I’d been too busy planning my own escape route to think about the wreckage I might leave in my wake.
“Should I tell him I’m looking? Would it really help soften the blow?”
Lucy shrugged. “That’s something only you can answer.”
I scrunched up my face, deflecting her wisdom.
I didn’t have time to learn lessons in all of this.
If I stopped to think about Bastien now, I might never muster the courage to leave.
