Dark Side of the Cloth by Brooklyn Cross

In a daze, Yasmine hobbled down the street towards Mabel’s. She couldn’t take the silence of her house or reading about one more terrible thing that one human had inflicted on another. She’d spent the better part of three days reading one graphically horrific detail after another. The things in that folder would make anyone’s head spin: rapists, serial killers, pedophiles, abusers. The list of offenses was endless, and some were by people she’d thought she knew, people she’d brought comfort to in their time of need.

The bell jingled as she pushed open the door to the quaint diner.

“Well, hello there, darlin’! I’m glad to see you out of the house. I was going to bring you some soup tonight, but this works even better,” Mabel said.

The older woman smiled at her.

“Yeah, it sounds like it’s going to be a long healing process. But, look at you, you seem as good as new?” Yasmine teased.

“Sweet girl, I’m better than new. You can’t keep me down.” Mabel wiped her hands on her apron. “Go on and grab any booth. I’ll get you that soup and a coffee.”

Yasmine dropped down into the largest booth, placing the annoying and cumbersome crutches beside her. She stared at the sprinkling of snow falling outside and the people walking by the large window. Life kept on moving forward no matter what happened. Her sister's death didn’t stop the world from spinning, even if that was how it felt to her, and eventually, she learned to put one foot in front of the other again. Laughter caught her attention, and she looked up to see a family enjoying lunch. The little boy had his spoon stuck to his nose as he made a face. She smiled at the silly display.

“Penny, for your thoughts?” Mabel slid into the booth across from her and placed the cup of coffee and bowl of soup down for her.

“Have you ever been so conflicted about the right thing to do that it left you…” Unable to find the right word, Yasmine waved her hand around, making Mabel laugh.

“Darlin’, you don’t live as long as I have and not felt like that once or twice.”

“Fair enough.” Yasmine smiled at the older woman.

“This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a certain tall, dark and handsome priest, would it?” Mabel’s voice was low, but even so, Yasmine could feel the heat spread throughout her body. “It’s okay. You don’t need to answer that. I can tell by the look on your face that I’ve guessed right. Besides, the air practically sizzles with tension when the two of you are in the same room.” Mabel’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “You must know I’ve been hoping you two would get it on.”

“Mabel!” Yasmine looked around, hoping no one heard that as Mabel laughed.

“What? I’m just speaking the truth.”

Yasmine sighed.

“He’s just not who I thought he was, and I don’t know how to be okay with that,” Yasmine admitted.

“Darlin’, you deserve so much better than what the good Lord dealt you. What you went through, no child should have to endure. If he brings you a slice of happiness, then I say run with it. I, for one, think he is good for you.”

“But he’s a priest,” Yasmine whispered.

“I may be old, but I’m not blind. If that boy is a priest, then I’m the next coming of Christ.” Yasmine stared wide-eyed at the older woman, not sure what to say.

“Don’t worry, his secret is safe with me. I figured it out the moment he stepped foot in this town that he was not who he said he was, but I can tell you this, he has been good for this area.”

Mabel leaned back in the booth, and Yasmine had to wonder how much more Mabel had pieced together.

“The point is, does he make you happy? Does he make you want to get up in the morning with a smile on your face and howl to the moon at night with pleasure?”

Yasmine choked on her spoonful of soup and proceeded to laugh, the first real laugh she’d had since before her stalking trip to the woods.

“You could say that,” Yasmine said as she blushed.

“Then don’t let it get away. That’s my two cents, take it or leave it. I’m sending you home with dinner, no arguments. I owe you for helping take care of these old bones.” Yasmine opened her mouth to argue, but Mabel held up her finger. “I said no arguments, don’t you dare sass an old woman.”

Smiling, Yasmine clamped her mouth shut and watched the wily old woman wander away. Yasmine once more stared at the people outside.

When had she made a decision solely for herself because it was what she wanted?

She couldn’t think of a single time.

When has she been as certain of anything as she was of her feelings for him?

Never.

A resolution solidified in her chest as she made her decision. She knew what she needed to do. She gulped her coffee, and as fast as the crutches would take her, headed for the door.

“Sorry, the soup was great, but I have to go. I’ll pick up the dinner later,” she yelled.

Mabel smiled and gave her a wink. “Go get your man, girl.”

The walk took forever on the slippery ground with crutches. By the time she reached the church door, she was a panting, sweaty mess. She found the front door locked, and dread settled in the pit of her stomach. Maybe he had decided to leave. Finding the intercom panel, she pressed the button like a mad-woman.

“Dean, are you in there? Dean?”

“Yasmine?”

Yasmine spun around, and Dean caught her around the waist as she tripped over the stupid crutches. The heat from his hand singed her body, and her pulse instantly rose.

“I hope you’re not coming to ask me to leave.” Dean’s rough voice sent a shiver racing down her spine.

“And what if I was?”

“Then I would have to put up a compelling argument for me to stay.” He was holding her at arm’s length, but his voice was a caress stroking all her intimate parts. “Why are you here, Yasmine?”

She opened her mouth to speak but was struck speechless.

“We’re going to end up the gossip of the town if you keep staring at me like that because I’m going push you up against this door and ravish your mouth,” Dean said.

Heat flushed her body. She searched his face, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t picture him as someone she should be scared of ever.

“So how exactly would we make this work? You create the bodies, and I pretty them up?” she teased. Dean laughed hard, his voice a joyous rumble that rolled over her.

“First, I need a demotion.”

“A demotion, why?”

“I think it’s about time I leave the priesthood and get married, perhaps. Have a dozen children.” He cocked one eyebrow, and Yasmine blushed.

“Would you be okay with that?”

“This was only supposed to be a short-term gig. Meeting and falling in love with you is what made me stay longer. Besides, I don’t need the persona of a priest to do my job.”

She shook her head. She was really going to do this.

“What the hell am I doing?” she mumbled.

“Well, my sweet Yasmine, I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop, and then we’ll figure out the rest.”

“Father?” The sheriff called out as he walked up the path toward them. Yasmine made to move away, but he held her to his side.

“Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

Sheriff Daniels stared where Dean’s hand lay on her waist. He cleared his throat, looking completely uncomfortable. “There has been a very strange…situation with Mrs. Wilson.”

“Whitney? What happened?” Yasmine asked. She didn’t have any love for the woman but didn’t dislike her either.

“I can’t say right now. It’s an open investigation.”

“Oh right, of course, I’m sorry,” Yasmine stammered.

“Father, I need you to come with me. This house needs all the blessing it can get.”

Dean released her waist and reached behind his neck. He handed the white material over to the Sheriff, who stared at it blinking.

“I quit. I’m sorry, you’ll have to find someone else.”

Sheriff Daniels took the large Stetson off and smacked it against his leg. “What the hell is happening to this town? I’m too old for this shit. I think I need to quit too.” He continued to mumble to himself as he turned and walked back the way he’d come.

Yasmine stared up at Dean and couldn’t believe he’d just done that.

“Did you by any chance have something to do with…”

Dean placed his finger on her lips. “Don’t finish that question. You don’t want to know the answer.

As quick as she could blink, he pulled her in and kissed her as if no one could see them. The world faded into the background as all the emotions and feelings she’d been suppressing rushed to the surface.

Breaking the kiss, Dean pulled her inside the church and locked the door. She might burn in hell for her choice, but at least she would go to hell happy.