“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Amadou.”
“Merry Christmas, Father Desjardins. It’s really good to hear from you. Are you enjoying your first Christmas in Ireland?”
“Yes, I am. The people here are very warm and friendly and I’ve been invited to Christmas lunch and dinner with two different families.”
“That’s good.”
“How’s everyone?”
“Everyone’s fine. My daughter’s visiting from Porto-Novo.”
“That’s nice. Mrs. Amadou, how’s Ede?”
“She’s fine.”
“May I speak to her?”
“She isn’t here. She’s in Portland.”
“Portland?”
“Yes, she’s spending Christmas there with Pastor Hank and his mother.”
“Pastor Hank?”
“The man she’s dating.”
Father Desjardins’ heart sank.
99 Words
This post is for the Friday’s Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. You can find this week’s prompt here. To read other stories or to participate, click here.
Notes to Women 
Great take. Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Bear. Happy New Year to you too 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Adele,
Poor Father Desjardins. Quite a bit of story told in the short dialogue.
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Rochelle,
Yes, poor man. He’s in love with Ede but he was called to the priesthood.
Shalom and Happy New Year to you and your family 🙂
Adele
LikeLike
it looks men of the cloth are attracted to her daughter. enough said. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, two men of faith are in love with her grand-daughter 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Methinks Father Desjardins should not be thinking of Ede in such a way… The pastor she is visiting is allowed to marry, at least.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Methinks you’re right but poor Father Desjardins. He’s in love with her and although he knew that she would find love with someone else, it still hurts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah yes, indeed. The heart is the heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great reason not to go down that road. Life’s tough enough without a “call” to celibacy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree 🙂 Hopefully, one day priests will be allowed to marry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a poignant story. Whatever way the priest heard the news, it was going to be heart-breaking for him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, Jilly. Perhaps it was best that he heard the news from the grandmother but still it was heart-breaking even though he knew that it would happen one day.
LikeLike
Father Desjardins has a difficult vocation. I hope Ede can be happy with someone else – maybe Pastor Hank – and never realises the burden of sadness that Father Desjardins has carried.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, he has. Ede will be happy with Pastor Hank and although she has an idea that Father Desjardins has feelings for her, she wouldn’t know about the burden of sadness he has been carrying all this time.
LikeLike
Are we to assume that, by his title, Father D. is not permitted to marry? Indeed, a difficult vocation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, he’s a Catholic priest and they aren’t allowed to marry. Maybe one of these days, that will change and it becomes a choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person