——–

"Erm… Can I offer you something to drink?" Asked Annabelle as she had finally came out of the bathroom.

"No thank you Annabelle. Well, yes, a tea maybe?" responded Father Harris in a pleasant voice.

Annabelle made her way to the kitchen and started filling up the kettle muttering under her breath ‘cmon cmon cmon Simone… Hurry…’ Deep in her thoughts, she didn’t even realise the kettle was filled and water was now dripping over the top into the sink. "Fuck!"

"Is everything alright?" asked Father Harris.

"Yes. I’ll be right with you." responded Annabelle cleaning up her mess.

"Do you need some help?"

"No, no, I got it. Thank you."

Finally coming back with the tea, she poured them both a cup and left a third one, meant for Simone, empty. As she sat on the couch, she felt the Father’s eyes burning her, she suddenly went bright red. It’s not like she was catholic and feared the man. No, it was about respect, she respected him, and she respected Simone and her religion. She knew their coupling was condemned by the Bible. For the first time, she wondered if they hadn’t made a mistake.

"You don’t have to be scared, Annabelle. I am not going to put your heads on sticks and parade down the road with them." said the man smiling warmly "I’m not here on a witch hunt."

"I erm… Why are you here?"

"I’m here to talk with Simone and you of course. I do not wish to be the reason of secrets between you two."

Annabelle looked at him, her expression betraying her confused mind. When she realised it might be rather rude to stare at people that way, she lowered her eyes on her steaming cup of tea.

Father Harris had not expected to be alone with Annabelle, he knew his presence made her feel uncomfortable, but he had to talk to Simone. He didn’t want to scare the girl either, and so, he tried his best to do small talk with her, waiting for Simone to arrive.

"What are you planning on doing next year?"

"Erm, I don’t know yet."

"Are you willing to stay with Simone, here?"

"Yes and no. We’re supposed to move in to another home in a couple of weeks." Annabelle had answered firmly. She needed the man to understand she wasn’t going anywhere, that Simone was not a teenage fling she’d get bored of. She cared about the woman, and the woman cared about her.

"It has quite changed here since the last time I came. A lot of ghosts have disappeared" noticed Father Harris absently.