Every Sunday without fail Jess went to church as well as confession on Wednesday. Jess is not what I would call a overly religious person but does believe in the spirituals of God. She feels that by being a good person with a good heart you are just as apt to go to heaven at the ones who preach on the streets of San Francisco. The church that Jess attends is small and on the out skirts of the big city. This is fine for her since she really is not into big crowds. What Jess likes most about this church is that she can come and go without feeling the pressure of having to approach or speak to anyone if she doesn't want to.
Now up until 4 months ago that had been how Jess was, until her mother became ill and suddenly passed away. Leaving her totally alone as she had no siblings. Jess was distraught at the loss of her mother and having no where to turn she turned to the church. Or should I say to father Montgomery.
Father Montgomery was a man in his early 40's and had been parishing at this church for the last year and a half. Father Montgomery had felt the calling in his mid twenties and had since been faithful in his beliefs.
Every Sunday he looks forward to seeing Jess in his audience. Thinking back to when he had first seen and met Jess. He thinks of other things but has never, never admitted even to himself how he feels or what he feels for her.
Sitting in his office now he thinks back to that first time of seeing her, his eyes in a far and distant time. He was in his office doing paperwork when there was a knock on the door. He looked up and saw this petite woman standing there looking like she was about to cry. He told her to come in and have a seat. As she sat he could tell she was nervous as she was fiddling with the straps of her purse.
"Hi, I am Father Montgomery" he stated.
"Yes, I know. My name is Jessica, but everyone calls me Jess."
After a long pause and realizing she was at a loss of words he finally asked, "What can I do for you".
"Well father Montgomery my mother is in the hospital and it doesn't look good and I was just well I just needed someone.......... As the tears started pouring out she couldn't finish her sentence.. He came around to the other side of the desk with a box of tissue handing it to her. He sat on the corner of the desk and waited for her to regain composure. After a few minutes he told her he was very sorry to hear about her mother. And asked how long she had..
"Anytime now. They said she had been ill for awhile but didn't want me to know."
As Jess relayed all the events of the last few weeks concerning her mother she cried many times having to stop to regain composure. He sat there patiently listening and watching. Feeling that this woman needed to get this off of her chest. When she had finished, both he and she knew there was nothing he could do but it had lifted a great weight off of her just to be able to talk to someone about it. She thanked him for listening to her and had stood up to leave. As she was leaving he stood up too and she hugged him, again thanking him for just listening to her. He told her any time he would be glad to listen to her.
After Jess left his office the aroma of her perfume still hung in the air. It was sweet but not overpowering. He liked the smell of her perfume. Suddenly surprised by his thoughts and the direction in which they were heading he left the office and went outside to get some fresh air.
The next Sunday during his sermon he noticed she was in the back row. Jess had on a solid dark blue dress that buttoned all the way down the front. Her light blonde hair was up in a bun in the back as it had been on the day she had come into his office. After the service he approached her and asked how both she and her mother were holding up. As well as can be expected came her reply. For a long moment nothing was said and then he said "Well if you need to talk or anything feel free to come by or call at anytime".
"Thank you father I will keep that in mind".
