Our conversation continues...

“You’d better have another glass of wine, Father,” Maxine said. She moved her chair so as to directly face the priest.
“We will answer your questions. But first, you must tell me:
Do you know where Felix Culpa is?”

Father Raynor glanced out the window, then turned to Maxine.
“I’m afraid what I do or do not know is under the seal of confession, my daughter.”
“I’m not your fucking daughter, and you’re not my father! However, Felix Culpa is my husband and a lot more than that to these people, and we need to know where he is! Where I come from in Italy we’re not adverse to chopping priests to bits!”
“Maxine!” I shouted and jumped to my feet.
“Father, excuse Maxine. Her experiences with Men of the Church have not always been pleasant.”
“Did you chop the bishop’s finger off, Maxine?”
“No. If it had been me, I would have cut his dick off, but it was too small for a decent whack!!!”
“Maxine!” I screamed again. “In the name of the Saints…”
“Ah, yes,” Father Raynor said, picking up one of the figurines, “the Saints. And who do we have here?”
“No one you or your church would recognize.” I sneered.
“Judging from what Bishop Bassanni told me, I would guess this is the mythical Sybian of Sybaris.”
“That’s SAINT Sybian!” Now I was shouting. “And I can assure you she is NOT a myth!”
“Maybe I should cut his dick off, Milo!” Maxine hissed and reached for the knife on the cheese board.
“Well,” the priest smiled, ”You’d be taking the least useful part of me!’
“I don’t know, Padre,” Esperanza joined the discussion, “You seem to always be surrounded by some pretty nubile altar girls.”
“They are things of beauty, eh? I am a great lover of beauty, but, I’m afraid, not a great lover. Doctors saw to that years ago. But I do love beauty in the female form and in the arts. You did not see me at Felix’s concert, did you? Felix himself invited me. He said, ’you’ve got to see Esperanza dance! But be careful! She’ll steal your heart AND your soul. I’m serious Padre Ernie!’---that’s what he called me. And may I say Esperanza he was quite accurate.”

“Well, Padre Ernie, you still have your heart and soul,” Esperanza smiled. She purposely brushed against him as she was leaving the room with Danny.
“At least for now,” she said quietly.

“Well, Milo, you seem to have great faith in Sybian.” Father Raynor returned to the subject.
“It’s not faith, Father, I have seen her. And, if I’m not mistaken, you will too, before you’re through. Maybe she’s hiding behind Samantha’s smile. No?”
The priest stood up and looked out the porch door at the woods and the lake down the road. He could hear the laughter of the girls.
He turned to Maxine and said softly,
“Forgive me, Maxine. May I have that glass of wine now?”