She heard his abrupt intake of breath. “I’d prefer to wait until we arrive at our destination before answering your questions. If you’ll reach around on the back seat, I brought us hamburgers and fries. I thought we could eat en route.”
En route to where?
Sydney had thought he was taking her out to dinner. His cryptic statements were unsettling enough, but it was his mysterious behavior that was beginning to alarm her.
Thankful for something to eat that might take the edge off her frayed nerves, she undid the seat belt long enough to retrieve the large sack. Inside she found two colas and several portions of cheesecake packed with the food. She put the drinks in the holders between their seats, then handed him his meal.
After thanking her, he began eating with what seemed a healthy appetite, as if this were an everyday occurrence for him. Normally she was hungry after work of any kind, but right now her emotions made her stomach clench. She could only eat a few bites.
“This tastes good,” she finally murmured if only to fill the unsettling silence.
“You’ve hardly touched your food.”
Ignoring his observation, she cleaned everything up and put the sack on the floor of the back seat.
Shadows formed by the pines were growing longer. Soon night would fall.
A tangible quiet filled the car during the drive. She could hardly breathe for the tension between them. Though he was a stranger here, he seemed to know his way around.
He drove them into the little town of Ennis. In a few minutes they came to a tiny, white, nondenominational church partially hidden by giant jack pines. There were no cars or people. He pulled into the parking area around the side where they were away from the street, then he shut off the motor.
Once again he’d surprised Sydney by coming to this particular spot. Maybe she’d been wrong about his reasons for seeking her out. If that was the case, and he’d wanted to talk to her in a holy place, why a church located on the other side of town? What was going on? She simply didn’t understand him.
Unable to handle the silence any longer, she cried, “Father Kendall—I…I—”
“Don’t call me that,” he interrupted. “I have no more parish to minister to. I’ve left the priesthood.”
Sydney’s body froze.
“What did you just say?”
“Two months ago I laid my case before the Church. I’m no longer Father Kendall, and never will be again.”
She couldn’t comprehend it. The shock was so great, she wasn’t able to think or talk.
“I don’t question your incredulity, Sydney. If I hadn’t lived through this experience myself, I wouldn’t believe it, either. But it’s true.”
A rush of adrenaline drove her out of the car where she could breathe in fresh air and try to process what he’d just told her. She stood beside the car hugging her arms to her waist.
When he approached, she lifted tormented eyes to him. “Why did you leave?”
A stillness came over him. He studied her features for what seemed like an eternity. “You already know the answer to that question. I fell in love with you.”
Like the thrust of a lance, overwhelming guilt pierced her soul. Her body shook. “No—please tell me that wasn’t the reason.”
Lines darkened his face, making him appear older. “You were there when it happened because you fell in love with me, too. We suffered nine months in silence. Tonight I’ve broken that silence.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks. “It’s all my fault—” Her voice rang throughout the pines.
His jaw hardened. “What are you talking about?”
“After the first time I took Brenda to your office, I should never have gone with her again. When she told me she wouldn’t go for any more counseling sessions unless I accompanied her, I clung to that excuse so I could see you. But deep in my heart, I knew it was wrong.
“For that whole school year I deluded myself into believing I hadn’t crossed the line with you. But I did cross it!” she cried. “I crossed it every time I found a legitimate way to be with you.”
“We both crossed it, Sydney. I made certain we could be together under all possible circumstances.”
His confession caused her to groan out loud. “If I’d been a stronger person, I would have stolen away from Cannon without your ever knowing about it. Instead I sought you out one last time. I shouldn’t have done that.”