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THE PRIEST SAT ON HIS brother’s patio drinking a sweet tea, half-listening to his niece, Pamela, drone on and on about her upcoming nuptials.

“Uncle Aaron thank you for agreeing to officiate,” Pamela said.

Hearing his name he turned toward her with a smile. “I’m honored you want your old uncle around.”

She hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I can’t imagine anyone else taking me through my vows. Love you.” She left him and her father alone with a quick wave.

“How are things going, Aaron,” his brother asked taking a sip from his glass.

“Good. Good. The organization is growing. We’ve our annual conference next week in Denver. You and Jill should come.” Stuffy Senator Mosely wouldn’t be seen dead or alive at a Leviticus Club function. He’d call the group a cult and made his disdainful thoughts quite clear.

“No thanks. You will show up for Pamela’s wedding, she’s been quite insistent that you handle it for her and Jonathan.”

Aaron waved his hand and frowned at his brother. “I’ve already agreed to do the blasted thing, why are you questioning me about it?”

“Because you’ve been jet-setting all over the country and missed the last three family get-togethers you promised to attend. I don’t want her big day ruined because you get a sudden itch to see Niagara Falls or some bullshit like that. Am I making myself clear?”

Aaron glared at his brother. “Crystal. Now I’ll make myself clear. Back the hell up and stay off my case. I’m not a child, certainly not your child, who runs at your beck and call. If I have other pressing matters to attend, that’s what I’ll do, just as you’ve canceled on us when your job demanded it, I’ll do the same. To me, what I do is just as important as what you do.”

“Bullshit,” his brother snapped and scooted closer. “You created this cult to assuage your guilt over killing your own child. It’ll never bring back the babe or change what you did or get you back in the Priesthood.”

Aaron held up his finger with an arched brow. “That’s where you’re wrong, I’m God’s priest, not the Church. Even you have to agree serving God is a higher calling.”

“I still say this whole thing is BS. Just don’t get in trouble again. I won’t help you a second time.”

Fury raced through Aaron at the reminder of his brother stepping in, paying off Amelia to remain quiet about the abortion, making a large donation to the church to release him of his duties gradually rather than a big media stink. “I didn’t ask for your help then and wouldn’t ask if I ever needed it. Plus, we both know you didn’t help me for me, you did it because it was an election year and you’d be hammered—”

“That’s right, and you didn’t give a damn about that,” his brother yelled.

“So my personal, intimate life should be put on a schedule around your career? Is that what you’re saying? Do you hear how ridiculous you sound? I fell in love with someone. That went against my vows. I assure you I wasn’t thinking of you or anyone else when I accompanied her to that doctor. She wanted an abortion, I refused to allow her to go alone. Get the fuck over yourself, it was never about you,” Aaron said in a hard voice.

Silence fell in the room.

Neither spoke for several minutes. Aaron pushed up from his seat and brushed imaginary lint from his pressed trousers. Still irritated and ready to be amongst people who understood his mission and passion he headed toward the door.

“I’m sorry, Aaron. I know you didn’t do it to get back at me. You’d called and tried to talk to me several times but I’d been too busy with the campaign. I’ve always wondered if I could’ve helped if we’d talked when you needed me before things went too far. Guilt rides me hard that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”

Surprised and yes, pleased. Aaron looked over his shoulder into his brother’s gaze and turned fully to face him. “I wanted you to tell me to step away from her. Needed you to remind me of my calling because things were so twisted in my head. The first time we had sex, I felt dirty, guilty and exhilarated. When I called you that night, I had questions, sexual questions. By then I knew I wouldn’t give her up, wouldn’t stop.”

His brother frowned as he stared back at him. “She was crippled?”

Aaron nodded. How to explain the euphoric joy that filled him when he had sex with someone completely dependent on him? There were no words. Quite simply he preferred sex with imperfects. Their deformity made him feel like a giant or a god. Amelia wasn’t necessarily beautiful, but she was good, untainted, pure. He had been her first and her virginal offering had been exquisite.

“Yes, a car accident when she was in elementary school.” He smiled in remembrance of their long conversations where she shared her life and history.

“The sex wasn’t... difficult?” his closed-minded brother asked.

“Not at all.” He waved off the comment and heaved a sigh. “She’s gone, back to her family I think. Haven’t heard from her since she took your check.” When Aaron saw the check in Amelia’s purse he snapped. After all, he’d given up to be with her, she sold herself to the devil. She had been the first person he stoned to death.

“Are you seeing someone now? Will you bring her to the wedding with you?”

“Her?” Aaron said teasing and fighting back a grin at his brother’s scowl.

“If it’s a he, leave him at home. He’s not invited to the wedding.”

“I’m heading to Denver for our annual conference. I’ll be there a week.” Several stonings would be done before the event and he would oversee the cleansings as Yahweh demanded. All 12 disciples were in Denver waiting.

“Enjoy,” his brother said.

“Believe me, I will.” Aaron smiled as he left his brother’s home.