Transcending Queen (2 page)

Upon reaching the stairs hope set in, hoping
someone would come out to let me know that Father Clayton had an
emergency somewhere else, anywhere else. I stalled as long as I
could, but with no one in sight I took a deep breath and entered
the church unsure what to expect. I forced myself to put one foot
in front of the other maneuvering around still holding my breath as
if toxic gas threatened to infiltrate my lungs. There was no time
to let ridiculous actions get in my way as I combed the area in
search of religious human beings and found two of them up front
reciting a chain of prayers under their breath. When I reached a
basin of water, I couldn’t stand it any longer exhaling due to the
burning sensation within my lungs as they begged for air. Catching
my hand resting near the holiest of holy water, I swiftly removed
it worried my skin might burn confirming more of my fears.
Bypassing all other options I went straight for a source to ask,
“Where can I find Father Clayton?” She pointed not daring to break
the prayer chant when I then saw it. Like a full moon over a dark
alleyway guiding a poor soul on a rainy, gloomy night, a light
glowed brightly within the church above the confessional. He had
indeed been detained longer than expected.

Waiting, I took in the magnificent
architecture wondering about people and if God really had this in
mind. How did it all become about donations, strict rules, pomp and
circumstance with a fistful of damnation thrown in for good
measure? I could just imagine being stuck with some poor sap going
on and on about sin they just couldn’t get over or better yet the
person who sins all the time thinking as long as they confess their
scandalous lifestyle, it can continue.

The longer I waited the more uncomfortable I
became. I tried to think about anything besides the church in which
I sat, desperate to get to a more comfortable place when it
happened. My throat swelled as that same pulsating knot came back
and grew from within making it harder to breathe as it squeezed out
air from every nook and cranny. I labored to draw in gasps as I
made my way out those final doors propelling myself back into the
sensation of warmth pouring down upon me. A cool gust of fresh air
blew through miraculously somehow calming my fears enabling the
knot to dissipate as I reclaimed my sanity and broke any
constrictions shackling me. Stooped over and shaking, I tried to
regroup and calm my nerves when I heard a deep voice pierce the air
forcing my attention.

“Good afternoon, how can I be of
assistance?”

“Ah no, I’m a little queasy, must have been
something I ate.” I answered between gasps overplaying the
nonchalant attitude.

“Yes well, I’m the local priest around here,
if I can be of any help you’ll let me know won’t you?”

Of course he’s available now when I’m not in
any shape for this, “Actually, I’m Melissa Greene. Jack set up an
appointment for me.”

“Ah, nice to meet you, I do have to apologize
then. Parishioners always take longer than allotted for. Come now,
the door is unlocked.” Father Clayton insisted.

Once inside his house I glanced around to see
a modest, simple home much like I expected.

He took a moment to fill a glass with tap
water while removing his clerical collar to get more
comfortable.

“Have a seat. So, Jack tells me you’re in
need of my help.”

I situated myself on the couch still not
knowing what I am expected to say. He looked at me patiently,
waiting.

“Um, yeah, that is correct.”

“Ok, so he already filled me in on your
situation of recently losing your husband. He says the grieving
process has been especially difficult for you. Is that
correct?”

“Yes.”

“What would you like to talk about? What do
you need my help with?”

“I’m not sure. I mean, Jack made this
appointment but I don’t know if I’m really ready to open up to a
stranger yet.”

A period of time crept by as we both peered
at one another until I slowly switched my gaze towards a picture on
the wall that caught my eye. I took my sweet time studying the
photo hoping he would get distracted. I awkwardly shifted my gaze
back his way only to find him still staring at me.

“So, you really don’t remember me do you?” he
asked.

His accent sounded familiar but I couldn’t
quite place it. “I think I’d remember someone like you with your
big frame and commanding voice.”

“Then you should be able to recollect who I
am.” He grinned.

Perplexed, I nodded my head sure I couldn’t
remember.

“Tupelo, the Catholic church your family
belonged to. I wasn’t there very long before they shipped me
here.”

“Oh, how could I have forgotten?”

“Grief does funny things to our memory. I
remember you though, ditching church to hang with your friends
around town. I always refused to come running after you. It seemed
harmless enough, not a whole lot of trouble to get into around
there.”

“A bored kid, I guess.” I said as my face
became warm and flush.

“You know, we need to get out of here for a
while. Let’s take a ride, I think your car will work just
fine.”

A little taken back, I decided to accept his
invitation and became secretly pleased he wasn’t the staunchly, old
priest I had expected.

“We can give these townspeople something to
talk about, for old time sake.”

I held back any comment I had concerning his
antics restraining myself. I needed time to get to know him better.
We enjoyed the drive as he gave the grand tour, which didn’t take
long. After, I just kept driving partly to get reacquainted with
him and reminisce about Tupelo until we ran out of interesting
conversation.

“So, what do you have for sightseeing?” I
asked.

“You’re joking right?” he chuckled.

“Not really?” I said in an unsure voice.

“Nothing, there’s a bar that serves food,
post office, a gas station and motel. The neighboring town about
thirty minutes away has a grocery store and coffee shop. That’s it
in a nutshell.”

“Not exactly what I had hoped for.”

“Tell me, why are you really here?” he
asked.

I took a minute to digest that question
before answering, “I guess a fresh start, getting away from too
many memories. Jack picked this place out, maybe he knew you spent
some time in Tupelo.”

“Fair enough, but I must warn you this is the
sticks and could very well end up being counterproductive. You’ll
have too much time to think.”

“No matter where I’m at that issue is going
to be the same. This place is no different than Tupelo and back in
Barrington there happens to be trouble hanging around.”

“I would’ve never guessed, so not much has
changed then.” He stated chuckling.

“I suppose not.” I said with a scowl on my
face thinking of Carl.

“So is Jack the new distraction?” He asked
with a hint of mischief in his voice.

“Just a friend, someone who promised John
he’d look after me until I got back on my feet.”

“Why don’t you turn here and we’ll go into
the bar to get a drink.”

As we entered the bar the first thing I
noticed was the drab, dingy environment that reeked of cigarette
smoke. Local people were firmly planted on faux leather stools
drinking and watching the most recent football game. The bartender
acknowledged Father Clayton as soon as we walked in.

“Tony, can we get two sodas over here and a
bowl of nuts?”

“Sure thing Father Clayton, I’ll be right
over.”

“You come here often?” I asked him.

“Just once in a while to pick up a burger. I
usually call in the order, manage to get a brisk walk for pick up
and take it home. Most people don’t like the idea of me in a bar
but when it’s the only food establishment in town, I have no
choice. Like I said before, let them talk.”

I glanced back to see them eyeballing us like
we were a main attraction at the local zoo. “This is why I have
disdain for small town living.” I assured him. Getting tired of
being the freak show I said, “Hey, Tony is it? Bring your nuts over
here with our sodas, let’s go.”

Tony gave an unofficial dirty look in my
direction but soon after brought our order to us. Once I had a few
handfuls I bellowed, “Tony, you have some stale, salty nuts.” The
guys at the bar laughed and jabbed at him, it worked in distracting
their attention from us.

“See what happens, I bring you to a bar and
you taste some other guys nuts. “Naughty girl indeed.” He
prodded.

“Father Clayton, did that really just come
out of your mouth?”

“I’m a priest, not anywhere near a saint.” He
confirmed.

“I suppose people get that confused, there’s
no way I’d walk a mile in your shoes. No thank you, sir.”

“You know what I really can’t stand? I do a
service, it’s my job and then later people send gifts of
appreciation or presents for extra thanks, maybe a nice note. I
wish people would leave well enough alone. I’m just doing what any
other priest would do and I have to live this job nonstop. It’s not
like I can go home somewhere else or have another life, this is it.
Am I even allowed a day off, a time to be cranky or even to be
human? It’s debatable.”

“I think people assume your confiding with
other clergy.”

“But they’re just as busy and needed as me,
it’s difficult.”

“Colin, I mean Father Clayton, we need to
make a pact. I’m here for a short amount of time and outside the
loop of the general population, we should be able to confide in one
another. You need me just as much as I need you. Is it a deal?”

He hesitated until he admitted, “Sounds like
something I might like.”

We both smiled and studied each other not
sure if either one of us could trust the other. We had a deal
whether we wanted it or not.

Chapter 3 – Where Are We Again?

Back at the motel I marched straight to my
room, plopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. There’s no
room service, no fast food to get a quick bite and no civilization.
This motel lacked a lot to be desired and like the bar was a dingy,
dirty mess. Jack showed up at my door while I still tried to fathom
how we were going to stay more than a night or two.

“How’d it go?” Jack asked.

“Unusual, yet somewhat usual. What
information should I be getting?”

“Again, you’re on a need to know basis, don’t
ask. Just tell me what happened as close to word for word as you
can.”

I explained the meeting as best I could.

“You mean to tell me you already got him to
let down his guard and move beyond the priest façade?”

“Yeah, I guess. Wait, what do you mean by
façade?”

“Never mind, he’ll confide in you because
you’re both in the same boat. This is working out better than I
could have imagined and exactly why you need to be kept in the
dark. We’ll have this case done in no time.”

It became essential to change the subject
tiring of his ego fast. “What about dinner?”

“The woman who runs the motel offered to cook
for us tonight.”

“Have you seen our rooms?” I asked hungry and
irritated. “They’re not exactly clean and tidy, yet you’re fine
with the fact that she’s cooking for us?”

“She’s our only option, unless you want to
eat grease mixed with even more breaded grease every day at the
local watering hole. We’re going to meet her as soon as we’re done
here. Let’s see if she’s as good a cook as she is a cleaning
lady.”

“That comment immediately made me nauseous.”
He laughed uncontrollably, but I really felt sick.

Her name is Luann and she looked to be about
fortyish, long brown hair and light skin. She would not stop
talking while I wondered if most people in this town were lonely.
Yet another reason I don’t like small towns, but remarkably enough
she could cook.

“I think you’ve missed your calling, you
should open a restaurant around here.” I offered.

“I would love to, but don’t have the money.”
She replied.

“How’d you get into the motel business?”

“My daddy, I took it over when he retired and
have run it ever since.”

“So you wouldn’t want to sell it and set up a
restaurant?”

“I’m the only motel in town, there’s already
a place to eat. I’m happy the way things are. Besides I meet way
more interesting people here than Tony does at his bar.”

The rest of the evening was spent helping her
clean dishes while she told stories of unusual people that had
stayed with her over the years. Jack and I took pleasure in the
entertainment and welcomed the opportunity to enjoy time away from
our main priority. She was a distraction taking our minds away from
the past and our current stresses to give us time to just be
ourselves. It made me think about the past with Max and John
knowing I could’ve never been myself and then fast forwarding to
the investigation we’re on now, always playing a role or acting in
some way. “When will I be able to be myself and figure out what I
want?” It seemed like a long, painful thought that started to make
my head throb. Abruptly, my phone went off surprising all of us. I
recognized the number from caller ID, “Hello Alice. Good to hear
from you.”

“Hey, where are you? I just went by your
house.”

“Let me call you back in a couple of
minutes.” I said staring Jack down in frustration as I hung up the
phone.

“Oh, what did I do now?” Jack asked knowing
my expressions all too well.

“Nothing, we’ll talk about it later.” I
thanked Luann for dinner and excused myself for the night before
hurrying back to my room.

“Alice?”

“Yeah, where are you?”

“Jack didn’t tell you?”

“Obviously not, why would I go to your house
if I knew you weren’t going to be there?”

“Right, stupid question.”

“So what gives?”

“We’re on another investigation that just
happens to be taking place in the middle of nowhere. Jack set it up
and thought it would be good to get away. He reminded me of how I’m
part of this business too.”