The Consequence of Secrets - Part One by Eve Cates Read Free Book Online Page A

was her idea?” Carol asks, pausing her paint stirring to peer up at me when I tell her Jules can’t make it.
    “It was her idea,” I respond, feeling bad that Carol was roped into this with us. “I guess she just forgot that she had an appointment this week.”
    Carol lets out a humph and shakes her head. “You sure it isn’t more to do with the fact a certain young priest isn’t giving her the attention she’s looking for?”
    Reaching out, I pick up a set of painting overalls and pull them on over the top of my old jeans and sweater to avoid making eye contact with her. “She wouldn’t try something like that, Carol. She knows he’s off limits.”
    She dips her brush in the tin and begins working on the edge of a doorframe. “You’d be surprised how many women still try,” she says, focusing on her work.
    Even though she isn’t looking at me, I nod then move over to the paint and select a roller before getting to work quietly.
    I suppose Jules thought we’d be spending all our time with Father Daniels, and while we have seen him, it’s just only for a very short amount of time each day. And that obviously isn't enough for her liking when her entire reason for getting our father to suggest that we help with the youth center was to spend her time doing exactly what Carol was suggesting – trying to coerce him into breaking his vows. “He’s just too beautiful to be removed from the dating market. I’m doing the women of the world a huge favor here,” she’d said to me to justify her actions. But, I could tell by the look on his face when she tried to engage him in some flirtatious banter that he wasn’t going to fall for her temptation. I’m afraid my sister will have to admire the young Father from afar like the rest of us have to. Although, she is right about one thing, he certainly is beautiful.
    “How are we today, ladies?” Father Daniels asks, as he enters the hall and finds us whitewashing the back wall that some of the Catholic school kids are going to paint with a giant mural. I glance back at him and smile. He always looks so well put together in his black clerics and collar. His hair is always neat but fashionably messy, and he always looks freshly shaven. It’s like he’s this male anomaly that crosses the line from handsome to beautiful without looking feminine.
    “We’re missing a set of hands,” Carol responds, while I’m still busy admiring his broad shoulders, which is something I need to stop doing before Carol starts thinking I’m trying to lure the priest away as well – Carol isn’t exactly known for her discretion.
    “I can see that. Jules isn’t sick is she?”
    “I think someone thought this would be more exciting than it is,” Carol suggests.
    “Jules has an appointment,” I say in her defense.
    “No problem,” he says with a smile, reaching out to pick up a set of overalls where they’re draped over the rung on the aluminum ladder. “I’ll work in her place today. Where would you like me to start?”
    I half watch him as he steps into the protective gear and zips up the front as he looks over the large wall, finding it strange to see him in something other than his uniform.
    “This whole wall needs to be whitewashed,” Carol says, spreading her arm out to demonstrate its size. “So pick a roller and some bricks and paint away.” Then she stands and announces that she’s going to the hardware store to meet the deacon to pick up some more supplies.
    Father Daniels nods and does as she says, selecting an extendable roller like mine and dipping it into the paint.
    “So do we know what kind of mural is going on here?” he asks when he begins to paint beside me.
    “We’re getting the kids from the Catholic school to paint something for each grade. So we’ll start off with the kindergarteners down that end and increase in age as we go along.”
    “What will they paint?”
    “They’ve been asked to paint their favorite things. So this could get