Susanna Cox sat in the Sacred Heart waiting room with her legs crossed. It was a cool day, so she wore a plaid coat over her dress, yet her legs were in pantyhose and she wore black heels. Her purse was beside her and her coat open, revealing a blue skirt with matching blazer and white lace blouse with the top button open. She checked her face in her compact: her brown eyes and delicate nose were perfectly made up, with soft eyebrows and her red lipsticked mouth with full lips shone in the flourescent light. She tapped her foot in the air over her crossed legs as she waited for her former pastor to see her.
A door opened and Fr. Christian Farnsworth emerged. He was a genial man in his late 50's, his face clean shaven and blue eyes danced under white hair and eyebrows. A warm smile creased his face as he extended a hand. "Susie, so good to see you again. It's nice to meet a familiar face from the Chancery for once."
She stood and extended her gloved hand. "How are you, Father Farnsworth? It's been ages."
"Fine, Susie, but don't be so formal. We've been through so much together, call me Chris again. Gosh, it must be cold outside today. Take your gloves off and spend a while. How long has it been?"
"A couple of years at least."
"Three and a half, I think. We had my going away party the same night as my fifty-fifth birthday, and I'm 58 and a half."
"You know best, Father."
He opened the door and ushered her through. "If only more people had that attitude, Susie." Turning to his secretary behind the desk, he said: "Hold my calls except in emergency ones, Becky. I'll be at least an hour."
They walked down a short hallway and he led her into a warm, richly appointed office. Susanna looked around before sitting down. "Wow, you've come up in the world. This is three times bigger than your office at St. Vincent's."
Chris walked around the huge, antique desk and sat in an overstuffed chair. "My predecessor had rather lavish tastes, and he wasn't able to take everything with him. My, it's good to see you, Susie. It brings back good memories."
"Is your new housekeeper better than I was?"
"No, no, no-one could be better than you," he said chuckling. "I miss your cooking dreadfully. Must have dropped 20 pounds since I got here."
"Maybe I could send you some cookies?"
"I think Mrs. Calvedos would be jealous."
They chuckled and he settled back, locking his fingers behind his head. "Now you're working at the Chancery. How's that going?"
She looked down and sniffed. "It's not good, Chris. I love the office, my boss, and the people I'm working with, but the job is impossible."
"Who wouldn't want to read the diocesan paper?"
A snort. "You're being sarcastic."
"Yes. Tell me your troubles, Susie."
"I'm in charge of parish relations, which means I have to go around and visit pastors."
"You should love that."
"Oh yes, but they don't want to see me. My job is increasing circulation, and I'm supposed to get 200 new subscriptions a month. But ever since they stopped giving it away and made people take subscriptions, people haven't signed up as expected. Putting the paper online hasn't helped, either. You know the bishop has instructed the priests to do everything they can to increase circulation, but every priest I've talked to has blown me off, and most don't want to see me."