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Therese slipped into the confessional. She didn�t know this parish or this priest. That was the way she wanted it. What she had to say she could not say to her priest. She was too well known in her parish and wanted only to talk freely for the first time in a year.
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Ray slipped open the window and she spoke to him without any of the usual ritual.
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"Father I need to talk to someone. I really am not here for the sacrament exactly. "
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"I see... Ray paused and then said" all right.. go ahead"
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"Father , I am married to someone that I do not love. I am ashamed to say that I married him for all the wrong reasons. He is much older than I, he put me through school. He cares for me.. I know that. I feel nothing for him. Now I feel that my life is slipping away.. my youth.. is slipping away. Do you understand what I am saying?"
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Ray swallowed and tried to ignore the scent of her perfume.. he told her that of course he understood the words she was saying.. but what about the emotion behind them." Was she ready to leave this man and be honest with herself and her husband? " Ray asked.
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" I know I am being weak Father. I want to tell him. You have to understand he is very powerful.. he knows too many people. He is also very possessive. I am more than a little frightened of him."
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" Has he ever been violent with you?" Ray asked concern in his voice.
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"Yes" she whispered
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"You must leave then.. as soon as you can. Perhaps I can tell you of some women�s shelters. I can get a list for you"
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She laughed..."Father.. he knows every shelter in this city.. I told you he is very powerful."
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Ray was silent.
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"Maybe this is not the place to talk.. why don�t you meet me in the rectory.. or we can just talk in the church if you want." Ray suggested.
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"Father.. I ... what more can I say.. what is there to talk about .. never mind .. you can�t help me.. I am sorry.. "
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"No, don�t go. We can talk as long as you want. Just don�t leave now".
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"Father.. all right.. I will meet you outside the church."
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Ray left the confessional a few minutes later and looked around the church. It was empty. He crossed himself and knelt before the altar. After saying a quick prayer he walked outside the church and saw her sitting on the bench near the rose bushes. She was breathtaking. He felt a tightness in his chest. He didn�t think he had ever seen a more beautiful woman. Her black hair fell to her shoulders and when she lifted her head to look at him her green eyes were like cat like. She was tall and slender as a reed. She stood up and took his hand. Ray felt things he knew he should not be feeling. He tried to look concerned and priestly .. but it wasn�t easy.
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"Father, I came to your church because I am too well known in my parish. My husband plays golf with our priest. That have known each other since college. I knew if wouldn�t be safe to talk to him"
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"He couldn�t repeat what he heard in the confessional.. you should know that."
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She smiled and patted his arm in a motherly fashion. "I know that isn�t true Father, I don�t delude myself"
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Ray blushed. He felt she must think he was a naive fool. He didn�t like that feeling. In fact it made him a little angry.
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"Well, perhaps I should say I can assure that anything you tell me will not go any further"
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"I am sorry Father.. of course I know that. I was only speaking of the relationship of that priest to my husband"
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They walked together toward the rectory.
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He opened the door of his office and she walked past him to the couch. As she walked past the perfume again surrounded him. He tried to shake off the feeling that this might be a mistake.
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She sat on the couch with her legs crossed. He skirt fell away slightly and exposed her thigh to view. Ray cleared his throat and tried very hard to look away. She noticed and quickly covered her thigh. She crossed her ankles in a more appropriate fashion and a slight smile quivered on her lips. He was very attractive she thought and found it flattering that he seemed to find her attractive also.
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"Father , I don�t know what more I can say. I just have to find some way to leave. Some way that doesn�t cost me my life.. " she laughed in a sardonic way.
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"You really feel that you cannot talk with him? "
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"I don�t know any other way to say this Father.. he would kill me before he let me go.. and that is not just a figure of speech." She looked Ray and he could see the fear in her eyes.
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"May I ask your name?" Ray said softly
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"Therese.. I don�t want to give you may last name.. for obvious reasons."
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"Anyone call you Terry?" Ray asked
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"Not since I was five." she laughed
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Again Ray felt the color rise in his face. He must seem like such a fool , he thought.
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�Father, you have to understand this is a very complicated situation. I am not some scared housewife whose husband is a bit boorish and tries to control her. I am a lawyer and believe me I know my rights. That isn�t the problem. This is a man who is connected to everyone,and everywhere. He is running for office and needs me. I am the proverbial token wife.. the one who entertains ,the one who makes sure his friends are impressed by his courtly manners and fine wines.. do you understand what I have become?"
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Ray was trying to understand.. unfortunately he couldn�t take his eyes off her legs which were now crossed again and showing a good deal of thigh.
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She caught him staring and smiled. He turned away and tried to look for some papers that didn�t exist. Trying hard to compose himself.
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"Father, I am sorry.. I should put on my most convent like pose. I know the sisters taught me better than this. I am sorry if I have offended you. "
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She stood up as if to leave and Ray got up from the desk and walked toward her.
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"Please don�t run off. I am not offended.. just that you are a ... very attractive woman and I may be a priest.. but there is nothing wrong with my eye sight"
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Ray laughed and tried to sound off hand about it all.
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"Nor with mine." she smiled.
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"We just happen to be two very attactive people , right?" she was trying to make it sound as light as possible.
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Ray cleared his throat and said" Please feel free to come and talk to me anytime at all Therese. I really would like to be of some help to you. Let me think about the situation and maybe I can come up with something.."
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"Father , you have helped already... it really does help just to be able to express your fears out loud. Something I haven� t done in a long time.. I will come back. If that is really allright with you?"
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"Of course.. that�s what I am here for.. please , anytime at all" Ray took her hand to shake it and felt as though a bolt of lightening had gone up his arm. The electricity in that touch was amazing. She smiled knowingly at him and surprised him by kissing him on the cheek. A sisterly demure kiss.. but still a kiss. Ray�s face was red again.
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She walked out and closed the door. Ray sighed and turned to his desk. What he would do now may change things forever. He picked up the phone to call Danny.
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