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Flustered, DuBose quickly rose. “I... I just came in to pray, Father. The door was unlocked.”
He waggled a finger in her face. “You are not a member here. I don’t know you!” His expression was one of disgust as he looked her over. It was a countenance she was well used to and it made her face flame in anger.
As calmly as she could DuBose replied, “No, I’m not a member of your congregation. I was just driving by—”
“You must leave here right this minute.”
“Father Matthew?”
They turned to see a young priest walking toward them.
“A visitor?” he asked.
Father Matthew rushed over to him. “Father Kelly, this... person is not a member of our flock.” He glanced at DuBose with a disdainful look and added in a voice she could clearly hear, “And she’s a Negro. You know how I feel about them.”
“I believe I can handle this, Father. You can go to your meeting. Remember, the Parish Council? They’re expecting you.”
“Oh, right, yes.” He clenched Kelly’s arm and said in a cautionary tone, “Make sure she steals nothing. The chalices in the sacristy? Irreplaceable.”
“All God’s children, Father, the scriptures are very clear on that,” admonished Kelly, inclining his head in DuBose’s direction.
“Yes, yes, of course. But mind the chalices.”
“Goodbye, Father, please convey my good wishes to the council.”
The man hurried out, leaving Kelly and DuBose alone. The young priest walked over to her.
DuBose said, “Not to worry. I’ll be leaving now.”
“But have you finished what you came here for?”
“What, stealing the chalices?” DuBose shot back.
“My guess would be a replenishment of your spiritual faith, perhaps?”
“Excuse me?” she said, now looking puzzled instead of angry.
“I saw you from a window. I’ve noticed that sort of wavering before.” He smiled graciously. “I’m Father Kelly. And you?”
“Desiree DuBose.”
“Yes, I thought I recognized you. I read about you and Mr. Lee in the paper. I was horrified to hear what happened to his sister. I pray she survives.”
“Yes, it was horrible, Father. But horrible things happen, every day. Even in churches,” she added pointedly, looking in the direction of where Father Matthew had departed.
“Please, let’s sit.” When they did so, Kelly said, “So what brings you here today?”
“I’m not sure. Hence the wavering.”
“You must have some idea.”
“I... I just wonder what the point is. I mean, if a man of God can—”
“—can, by his actions, be in clear contravention with the teachings of the God to whom we both have committed our lives?”
She glanced sharply over at him. “It sounds like you’ve given this some thought.”
“Every day. Sometimes every hour. Certainly when I pray, which I seem to be doing with ever greater frequency. Which isn’t a bad thing for a priest,” he added, smiling.
