I manage a hesitant smile.
“Thank you for having me, Elder Jessop.”
He nods, and stands aside so I can enter his home. Oh wow, this place is nice. There’s a foyer with a chandelier, and then beyond that a double-height living room with dark, masculine furniture. A giant big-screen is hung on the wall, and to my surprise, there are fewobjets d’arttoo. I had no idea Elder Jessop had an appreciation for the finer things in life.
He chuckles, seeing my gaze.
“I like to travel and when I went to Africa last year, I picked that up,” he says in a casual tone. “It’s a mask from Benin.”
I stare at the carefully molded features.
“Is it male or female?” I ask in a hesitant tone.
Bridge chuckles.
“Good question. The figure is female, although images of women are very rare in Benin. As a result, I decided to snap it up and it’s a nice addition to my collection, don’t you think?”
I nod, looking around the living room which has artfully placed sculptures scattered about.
“It is,” I say sincerely. “I had no idea you were interested in African art.”
“I’m interested in a lot of things,” Bridge says in an amused voice. “But please, have a seat, sweetheart, because we have a lot to talk about. Can I get you something to drink?”
I nod, choking a bit.
“Maybe just a water?”
“Sure thing,” he says with a grin. Then, he disappears for a moment into the kitchen before reappearing with a glass of ice water.
“Thanks, Elder Jessop,” I murmur, taking the frosty glass.
He nods. “Please, call me Bridge,” he replies. “Elder Jessop sounds too old and fusty. It’s a title for a grandfather.”
I giggle despite myself.
“Okay. Thank you, Bridge.”
I take a long sip of the water and set it down on the wooden coffee table before inhaling deeply. Goodness, what do I say now? The silence seems to be stretching out for an eternity, although I know it hasn’t been more than twenty seconds. I decide to get right into it, and nervously smooth my skirt over my knees.
“Bridge, I am so sorry you had to see what I was doing yesterday,” I say in a low voice. “I’m so embarrassed and I’ve been thinking about what happened non-stop.” That’s true at least because working today was nearly impossible. I sat in my office, re-living the events of last night again and again in my head. Did it really happen right here, in this chair? Oh god. But then I take another deep breath and meet Bridge’s piercing blue gaze because I have to own up to my faults, and accept the consequences.
“I promise you, that was the only time I’ve ever done something so crass on church property. It was totally uncalled for, not to mention unprofessional, and will never happen again.”
Bridge nods.
“But how do I know it’ll never happen again?”
I gape for a bit, my lips opening and closing like a fish.
“Um, because I promise? I swear, it was the only time and I don’t know what came over me.”
Bridge’s blue eyes gleam.
“No, I get it. It’s okay, Renee, because every woman has urges. I understand that. But you do have to be punished for behaving like a wanton whore in our sacred space.”
I deflate. “Punishment?” I ask in a weak voice. “Does that mean you’re going to tell everyone?”
He thinks for a moment.