“I’m no expert, but I thought it was good. He’s a good speaker, Father Gideon.”
“He is,” the woman agreed. “Should we expect you back next week?”
“Uh, I don’t… I’m not…”
Plum didn’t usually stammer but she wasn’t sure. Yes, she’d enjoyed seeing Gideon in action and they seemed to have a connection she’d like to explore but she didn’t know if he wanted her to come back to his church. Maybe he’d just want to fuck and fool around because she wasn’t exactly a preacher’s wife type.
Why was she thinking about that? They hadn’t even gone on a date for fuck’s sake. But he could’ve asked her out and not bothered to have her come to his church. Hell, there were probably a lot of guys who’d want to fool around and not have her anywhere near their place of employment never mind if it was a church. So, maybe he did like her. Likethat. Considered her, like that.
“I hope you’ll come back. It’s a very finechurch,” said the old woman, looking pointedly at Gideon who was talking to a few high school students.
He looked her way and smiled, put his hand up in an approximation of a wave when he noticed Plum staring back at him. She felt herself blush and gave a small wave back before returning her attention the the old lady giving her the third degree.
“In fact,” the woman continued, “I’ve never known thischurchto take as much interest in its visitors as it has since you arrived. It seems quite smitten with you. And if you hurt even one stone of thischurchby being callous, you won’t know what hit you.”
Plum dealt with customers all day almost every day and it wasn’t unheard of for her to be threatened. Some people took their steamed milk way too seriously. But somehow this old woman’s words were some of the most believably terrifying she’d ever heard.
“I have no intention of doing any damage to…the church,” she said carefully. “I’m not sure if I’ll become a member because I just started coming…”
A vision of Gideon’s head between her legs, his tongue working the same magic on her clit as he did with his words from the pulpit, flashed in her mind and she could feel her cheeks burning.
“But I promise to be respectful and take care.”
Gideon may care about his flock but apparently they protected him just as fiercely. He must’ve done something to earn that kind of loyalty and she liked him better for it.
“Good,” said the old woman, tipping her nose up. “I’m Cloris Symes and you can stick with me. I’ve been a member of this church longer than you’ve been alive and I know all the good gossip. Grab me a slice of that maple pecan and I’ll give you the 411 on which old biddies to stay away from.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Plum agreed as she reached for the remainder of the confection with a fresh napkin. She had a feeling Cloris Symes was a good woman to be friends with.