Sadie
TWO SUNDAYS FOLLOWING the driving lesson from Hades, I caught the bus down to Beaverton, guilt swarming since I’d been too tired to attend mass the weekend before. Admittedly, this was the first time ever I’d wished I’d had the thirty minutes a car would have saved me to sleep. I was exhausted. Ryder didn’t leave until well past one (the same happened the previous Saturday which is why I skipped mass) and even then, it was tough letting him go. I was falling hard and fast for the man and didn’t know how to stop it... not that I wanted to. We’d had another blissful week of togetherness and I loved every second. Well, every second that wasn’t spent driving. He’d insisted on two more lessons, which had gone better, but still, ugh. I hated driving, hated it.
Arriving at the Abbey, I let myself in and headed to my aunt’s office. I heard a man’s voice mingled with hers so I knocked even though the door was open. It sounded like Michael’s but he was out of town, so I was intrigued.
“Good morning, Sadie,” my aunt said, and rushed to hug me.
Father Michael stepped into my line of sight with a grin. “Hey stranger.”
“Hi!” I said in surprise, and walked into his hug. “I thought you were still in Florida.”
“Got back yesterday,” he said, and released me. “How are you doing on the outside?”
“Not bad, I think. I start my new job in seven weeks, so ask me then.”
“You’ll have to give me your new number in order for me to do that.”
“You’ve lost your power of telepathy?”
He chuckled. “It only works when you’re wearing your habit.”
“Dang it, I forgot that rule.” I giggled as I pulled out my phone and sent him my number. “Just texted you, so now you have it.”
“Thanks. I better go spend some time in prayer. It’s a heavy sermon today.”
“I’ll try not to fall asleep.”
Michael grinned. “Me too.”
He left my aunt’s office and I hugged her again. “I really hate not seeing you every day.”
“I feel the same way, honey.” She smiled and cupped my cheeks. “You look beautiful.”
“I do?”
Auntie nodded. “Happy.”
“I am happy. Ryder’s amazing. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
“Me too.” She released me and grabbed her Bible. “Let’s get inside. Mass waits for no one.”
I followed my aunt from the abbey across the courtyard and through the side door of the church. She had a few things to tend to before the service started so I left my Bible on the pew and headed to the restroom. As I turned on the faucet, it attacked, and I bit back a curse as water splashed onto my shirt. Grabbing copious amounts of paper towels I did my best to blot myself dry, but then the bells sounded, so I knew I had to get inside.
I continued to dab as I headed from the lobby toward the sanctuary, unprepared for strong arms to lock around me like a vice.
“Hey!” I squirmed but the arms held me tighter and I looked up to find Ryder grinning down at me like an idiot.
“Hey, baby.”
I gasped and turned to hug him. “What are you doing here?”
“A really smart lady told me it was important to go to church, so I wanted to surprise you.”
“Or size up the competition?”
Ryder chuckled. “I thought you said he wasn’t competition.”
I squeezed him harder. “Touché.”
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss me chastely. “More of that later.”
“Yes, please.”
“Why are you wet?” he asked, glancing at my chest.
“Attack of the ladies’ room faucet. I’ll tell my aunt after service. We better get inside.” I grabbed his hand. “Coming?”
“I’m following you.”
I led him to the seats I’d saved and saw my aunt give me an enquiring eyebrow rise. “Auntie, this is Ryder. Ryder, my aunt, Mother—”
“Just call me Sister, Ryder,” she interrupted. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“You too.”
Ryder took his seat to my right and, with my aunt on my left, I felt like all was right with the world. Ryder linked his fingers with mine and we stayed like that through most of the sermon, which as Michael warned, was a heavy one. He spoke on integrity and how most of us, Catholics and Christians particularly, were missing the mark in being honest. There was far too much financial and sexual immorality at the highest level of churches, and it needed to stop. I thought it was interesting considering the argument I’d had with Ryder the week before, but I chose not to give him a “told you so” look... at least not until later.
“Will you join us for lunch, Ryder?” my aunt asked as we filed out of the church.
“I don’t want to intrude on your time with Sadie, sister.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re more than welcome. It’ll give me a chance to scrutinize you.”
“Auntie,” I admonished. “You’re not supposed to tell him that’s what you’re doing. We observe and judge silently!”
“My word, sweetpea, you’re right. I’m sorry, I forgot.”
Ryder dropped his head back with a laugh. “I see where Sadie gets her sense of humor.”
Auntie grinned. “I’m a very bad influence, I’m afraid.”
“If you come to lunch, you can drive me home,” I said, hopefully.
“Or I could let you drive.” He grinned. “Want to take our lives in your hands?”
Before I could retort, we arrived outside and Michael called us over. Ryder grabbed my hand and held tight as we made our way to him. “You’re ridiculous,” I hissed quietly.
“Not even close,” he said.
Michael would never show me affection publicly, so I knew Ryder wouldn’t have anything to object to, but he still didn’t release my hand as I introduced the two of them.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ryder.”
Ryder shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too, Michael.”
“Father Denton,” I corrected.
“Not my father, baby.”
I glared up at him, but Michael chuckled. “It’s fine, Sadie.”
“Coffee this week?” I asked Michael.
I felt Ryder stiffen beside me, but ignored him. My irritation was growing and I was about to tell him to forget about lunch.
Michael nodded. “That’d be great. I’ll call you.”
“Perfect.” Tugging on Ryder’s hand, I led him away from the receiving line my aunt was still wading through, and faced him. “Stop it.”
“What, baby?”
“Stop posturing. Michael is a friend.” I leaned closer, adding in a whisper, “He’s also a priest.”
Ryder gave me a crooked grin and shook his head. “It’s all good, Sadie. He and I are clear now.”
“Holy mother of...,” I threw my arms in the air. “You are an idiot.”
“That’s one thing I’m not, Sadie.” He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “He may be a priest, but he’s also hot for teacher, so whether or not you see it, he and I are crystal clear now.”
I stared up at him in disbelief. “I cannot believe you.”
“Ask him.”
“I’m not going to ask a priest if he’s attracted to me,” I hiss-pered, glancing around, cognizant of the parishioners milling around us.
“Then trust me, baby, he’s into you.”
“You’re beyond wrong.” I raised my hand when he opened his mouth to say something. “No, Ryder. I never want to have this argument with you again.”
He chuckled. “Suit yourself.”
“Are you two ready?” Auntie asked as she approached.
I forced a smile. “Yes.”
“Why do you look like you want to kill Ryder?”
“Probably because I do,” I grumbled.
Ryder laughed, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. “She’ll get over it.”
“Not any time soon, bub.”
He kissed my temple and whispered, “Challenge accepted.”
“You’re a butt.”
Ryder laughed again and led us to his car.
* * *
Lunch ended up being an eye-opening experience. One that I’m not sure I liked. My aunt... the Reverend Mother... was a flirt. Not to mention a hopeless romantic. Ryder had her in the palm of his hand and if I ever decided he was not the man for me, I had a feeling my aunt would object. Strongly.
I mulled this information over on our way home. Once we dropped Auntie off at the abbey, Ryder loaded me into the BMW (he didn’t want my aunt to have to climb into his truck... indicating he knew all along he’d be invited to lunch), and we headed for my apartment.
“You okay?” he asked as we crossed into Vancouver.
“Honestly? I don’t know.”
“Break it down for me, baby.”
“I already did.”
He smiled as he switched lanes. “Ask him.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ask Michael if he’s attracted to you, Sadie.”
I huffed. “I’m not going to ask Michael if he’s attracted to me.”
“Then you need to get over this.”
“What?”
“If he’s any kind of man, babe, he’ll tell you the truth and then you’ll know I’m right,” he said. “If you don’t want to ask him, which is your right, then you can’t be mad at me.”
“He’s a priest.”
“He’s a man first, Sadie.”
“A man who took a vow.”
“I’m not arguin’ that. But just because he took a vow doesn’t mean he turns off his base desires. He may not act on them, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them.”
I crossed my arms. “Why are you pushing this?”
“Baby, I’m not, you’re the one stewin’ in the corner.”
“I’m not stewing, Ryder, I’m irritated.” As soon as I said it out loud, I realized it was essentially the same thing.
He chuckled. “I get it, but I needed him to know where we stood and now he does, so it’s done.”
“Is this what it’s like being in a relationship?”
“With me it is, yeah.” He glanced at me and then back at the road. “I protect mine, baby.”
I didn’t entirely know how I felt about that. Mostly because it made me feel tingly, but the logical side of me cautioned that his possessiveness might be dangerous.
Arriving at my apartment, Ryder parked and then faced me. “You gonna invite me up?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You don’t now,” he said, and climbed out of the car. Gone was his previous jovial countenance, replaced with the same guardedness he’d had a few Friday nights ago.
We didn’t speak as I unlocked my door and led him inside. He closed the door behind us and dropped his keys on the coffee table. “Have at it, Sadie.”
“I don’t want to fight, Ryder.”
“We don’t need to fight, but somethin’s crawled up your ass—”
I gasped. “Nothing has crawled anywhere near my bottom, thank you very much.”
He dragged his hands down his face and took a deep breath. “Break it down for me. All of it. Don’t filter; just tell me how you feel.”
I set my purse on the sofa and faced him. “I’m scared.”
“Of me?”
“A little, maybe, but probably not as much as I should be.” I shrugged. “Mostly I’m afraid of all these feelings I have for you, and then you and your possessiveness. Do you know how many women we’ve sheltered because their men were ‘possessive’?”
“Okay, baby, I hear you, so let me clarify,” he said. “I’m not possessive... I’m protective. There’s a difference.”
“Slippery slope, Ryder.”
“Maybe so, but not with me. I’ve said my piece, baby, it’s done.”
“He and I have plans to meet for coffee this week.”
“So, have coffee with him.”
I leaned against the sofa and bit my lip. “You’re okay with that?”
“I won’t say it doesn’t bother me, but you’re a grown woman and I trust you, so yeah, I’m okay with it.”
“Oh.”
“We done?”
“For now I guess.”
Ryder chuckled and closed the distance between us. “Damn, you’re cute when you’re losing an argument.”
“And you’re obnoxious when you’re winning one.”
He ran his knuckles down my cheek. “Don’t shut me out, okay? I know all of this is new to you... it’s not really old hat to me either, but you just need to talk to me.”
“Hello pot, I’m kettle.”
He sighed. “Point taken, babe. I’m not always good at that part.”
“So we both have stuff to work on, I guess.”
“I’ll try if you will.”
I leaned against him and closed my eyes. “Sure.”
“Am I hangin’ with you for the rest of the day?”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“Closed on Sundays, baby.”
“Oh, right. I forgot.” I squeezed him gently. “I need a nap, but you can stay if you want to.”
“I’ll find a game and you can nap beside me.”
I grinned up at him. “You know just what to say to a girl.”
“Only one girl I care about.” He leaned down and kissed me gently, then I changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt and curled up beside him on the sofa. I have no idea what “game” he found, as I fell asleep quickly and stayed that way for several hours.