“Well, she is a little scary.”
“A lot scary. Besides, I like these skirts you wear sometimes. Gives me easy access.”
“Says the man worried about a nun on the premises.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want to get under these things every chance I can.” He kissed me again. This time, the kiss was softer and longer. “I’m the luckiest man here. You’ll make every husband, dad, and priest think impure thoughts.”
“Priest, huh?” I raised my hands to his shoulders. “Would they splash holy water on a witch in their midst?”
“Witch?”
My eyes widened at the voice a few feet away. Oh, shit.
Caleb glanced down at the kid, who had to be around seven years old. “She’s kidding, Charlie.”
I stiffened.
Absently, Caleb drew circles over my lower back. “Where’s your mom?”
The little boy pointed toward the big tent.
“Think your mom would be happy you ran off?”
The boy wiped his nose, then he swiped it on his pants. “I want to hear more about the witch.”
I stepped back from Caleb and crouched so I was at the kid’s height. “It’s just a different religion. No scarier than yours.” I tugged on the little boy’s ear. “I just believe in the trees and the earth and giving back as much as I take from the universe.”
“God made the universe.” But his face was very uncertain.
Minefield alert.
“Everyone’s idea of God is different.”
“Like my friend Anna who’s Jewish?”
Well, that was easier than explaining my religion. “Exactly. Being different is far more interesting, wouldn’t you say?”
“Sure.” He gave me a gap-toothed smile. “Bye.”
And then he was off.
I glanced up at Caleb. I couldn’t read exactly what was going on with him, but we were saved by the bell.
Or airhorn.
“Attention teachers, make sure you check in at the blue tent.”
“Guess that’s my cue.” He held out his hand to me.
I let him help me up, and we crossed the field to the dark blue tent. Evidently, there were going to be some games for the kids and every teacher had to donate half an hour.
Caleb got to handle the lawn bowling. He rolled his eyes when he was handed a small disk that looked like something you would get from a restaurant when your table was ready.
“When this buzzes,
report to the east lawn, Mr. Beck.”
“Yes, Sister Linda.”