Niamh sat on the barstool grinning intently at Assumpta who was deliberately giving all her attention to one spot on the bar.

"You'll wear it away." She said eventually.

Assumpta ignored her friend.

"So?" Niahm said eventually.

Assumpta polished harder. "So what?"

"So is he a good kisser?"

Despite herself Assumpta blushed.

"Will you ever bog off Niamh?"

"I know something has happened. You're almost glowing…"

Assumpta moved to the other end of the bar, she was just grateful there were no other customers.

Niamh wasn't about to let her off the hook and followed, a look of devilment on her face.

"What does he look like naked?"

"Niamh!" Assumpta said.

"Don't Niamh me! As your closest and oldest friend it is your duty to tell me!"

"It is my duty to do no such thing Niamh Egan. And besides, I didn't think you approved!"

Niamh waved a hand dismissively. "You know I was only angry because he couldn't take Kieran's christening… and it was a shock... My friend the priest seducer… I had no idea you even… but anyway now I have gotten used to the idea and I want more details…"

Assumpta stopped wiping the bar and tried to give her friend a stern look, but a smile kept trying to force itself onto her face.

"I have not seen him naked." Assumpta said.

"But you have kissed him?" Niamh pounced on the unsaid in an instant.

Assumpta raised her eyebrows a millimetre causing Niamh to squeal in delight.

They both turned as the door opened, like a couple of naughty schoolgirls.

Jennie eyed the two women warily.

"Did you have a good day?" Assumpta asked. Now that things between her and Peter were more secure she'd actually began to feel a little sorry for the young English woman. God knows Assumpta, of all people knew what it was like to be obsessed with the ex priest. How many times had he gently let her down, moved away, run away, she knew exactly how painful it was. If the roles were reversed would she be here trying to regain his affections? Assumpta didn't honestly know, she hoped her pride would have prevented it… would have allowed her to let him go. In her heart she wasn't so sure.

"Yes, I've been out walking." Jennie said simply.

"We have some beautiful countryside." Assumpta said.

Niamh looked between the two women. This was awkward, and she wanted to get back to questioning Assumpta.

"Are you staying in Bally K long?" Niamh asked with false brightness.

"I think I will stay a while longer." Jennie replied.

"Oh… Um… Good." Niamh managed with a half glance at Assumpta. Her friends face was unreadable.

"If you don't mind, I think I will go up to my room, it's been a long day and I would like a lie down before dinner." Jennie gave a cool smile and turned to go up the stairs.

"Do you think she heard?" Niamh hissed as the young woman was barely out of earshot.

"Heard what?" Assumpta asked.

"About you and Peter and the K.I.S.S.I.N.G.?"

Assumpta rolled her eyes. "She's not Kieran. I'm sure she can spell.

Half way up the stairs Jennie had indeed heard and definitely understood. She paused for a moment to blink the tears from her eyes. Sighing slightly she continued on her way.

"Evening Father." Donal said automatically as he passed Peter on his way to Fitzgeralds.

"I've told you before Donal, it's just plain Peter now."

Donal stared slightly confused. "Ah yeah, right of course."

Peter was continuing on his way, when Donal caught him up.

"Um… I was wondering Fa…." He stopped as Peter raised his eyebrows patiently. "Ah yes… I was wondering about, you know, now that you're not a priest… if you know anything about… you know?"

Peter looked slightly aback. "I may need a little bit more information than that."

Donal squirmed. "It's about… you know…" He glanced about nervously. "Women!" He said conspiratorially.

"Women?"

"Women."

"It's not as if they send you a handbook when you leave the priesthood Donal. I'm probably about as confused as the next man."

Seeing Donals crestfallen look, Peter sighed.

"What's the problem?"

"So how is he coping, you know with not being a priest?" Niahm asked taking a sip of her coffee. They had retired to the kitchen so that Assumpta could be cross examined properly.

Assumpta shook her head. "I'm not sure he's noticed the difference, I'm thinking of putting a confessional in the corner. People can't seem to get their head around it. He's always running off here to do something, or someone's coming in to ask his advice. There are days I can't get near my own kitchen."

"It's his nature, I don't suppose he can help it. What about Father O'Connell, doesn't he mind?"

"Doesn't seem to. Not that we see very much of him in here."

Niahm laughed. "Not like the last priest, couldn't prise him away from the place, but of course now we know why."

Assumpta ignored the teasing. "Father Mac on the other hand is absolutely furious, so every cloud has a silver lining."

"I'll bet! I thought he was going to explode when Peter refused to leave Bally k!"

"You're not the only one. Peter thought he was going to have another heart attack. You could hear them arguing from here, and I had the T.V. up full blast."

"Stubborn." Niahm said.

"You're telling me. It must be something they teach them at priest school."

"I meant Peter."

"So did I!" Assumpta stared over her cup. "I told him it would be better if he went away, even for a little while. I even offered to go with him…"

"You didn't tell me that!" Niahm interrupted.

"If you recall, you weren't speaking to me at the time?"

Niahm looked suitably abashed but she was saved any further embarrassment as Peter stuck his head around the door. He stopped suddenly.

"Hello Niahm." He said cautiously.

Niahm smiled. "Don't look so worried, I'm not going to hurl a cup at your head."

Peter relaxed slightly. "Wrong tack Niahm, Assumpta has my reflexes lightening sharp these days."

"Hey!" Assumpta said crossly although she was secretly pleased that her best friend seemed to have finally forgiven Peter.

Telling Niahm had not gone exactly as Assumpta would have liked. Unlike almost everyone else in the village, Niahm and Ambrose to some extent had absolutely no idea that something was actually between her and Peter. Niahm had seen the signs, heard the gossip, even issued warnings, but when it came down to it she never truly believed that Assumpta could tempt Peter away from his vocation. Add to that the personal slight that Peter wouldn't be conducting Keirans' christening and you had a very angry Niamh.

It had taken some time before Assumpta had managed to talk her around. Peter, desperate not to make matters worse, had just tried to stay out of her way.

There was a noise in the bar.

"Is someone in?"

"Donel." Peter said quietly. "He wants a chat."

"See what I mean?" Assumpta said to Niahm.

Peter looked between the two, confused.

"Anyway," He said eventually. "I'll keep an eye on things out here."

"Good." Said Niahm with a mischievous smile. "Then we can talk about you in here."

Peter gave an exaggerated look of terror. "I'll shut the door."

As the last customer left, Peter began to clear the tables.

"You really have to work on that wiggle." Assumpta said, taking the cork from a bottle of wine.

Peter glanced behind him. They were struck by a feeling of deja vue as they held each others gaze, both remembering a time when moments like this would have been so painful but so sweet.

"And have you swooning all over the place?" He said grinning.

"Be still my beating heart." She sniped back pouring two large glasses.

"I'm glad you and Niahm have made up."

"Yeah." Assumpta said taking a sip. "I knew she'd come around eventually. She's a romantic at heart and not knowing what was going on was killing her!"

Peter continued to clean up. "You know its more than that, it hurt her badly."

Assumpta walked around the bar and handed him a glass and made herself comfortable on a stool. "I know." She said.

Immediately Peter put the glass on the bar. Taking Assumptas' he placed it next to his own.

"Hey? Are you starting a temperance movement?"

"I wouldn't want you to spill it." He said.

Assumpta was suddenly lost in those green eyes as he moved towards her. His lips found hers as she pressed against him. They kissed urgently, drinking each other in.

"I have been waiting to do that all day." Peter said as they paused for breath.

"Mmmm." Assumpta agreed as she planted tiny butterfly kisses along the line of his neck. Peter closed his eyes and held her tighter.

She pulled his face back towards hers for another long passionate kiss.

"Assumpta..." Peter murmured.

"Mmm?"

He moved back to allow some space between them.

"What's the matter?" She asked as he visibly tried to regain control.

"Nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing?"

"It was just getting a bit…" He said, faltering.

"A bit what?"

Peter blushed slightly. "Heated… you know."

She looked confused for a moment, and then realisation dawned. "Oooh!"

"Oooh." He mimicked sarcastically.

Assumpta laughed and handed him his drink. "You look like you need this, or would you prefer I threw it over you?"

Taking the proffered glass Peter grimaced at her.

"Ahem!" The discreet cough from the stairs made them both jump.

"Jennie?" Peter said uncomfortably.

Assumpta slid from the stool and resumed the cleaning, one eye firmly on the intruder.

"I… err, I'm sorry to interrupt but, um, I seem to have slept right through dinner. I wondered if I could get a sandwich… but if it's too late?"

"It is very late..." Assumpta began. "Peter was just leaving…"

"But I'm sure we can get you something." Peter interrupted. "What would you like?"

"Oh anything that you have. I am really sorry."

"I'll bet you are." Assumpta muttered under her breath. "Cheese alright?" She said with a warmth she did not feel.

"Yes, yes anything that will be fine."

"Of you go then Peter, one cheese sandwich for our guest."

The ex priest seemed reluctant to leave the two women together.

"I'm sure Jennie must be starving." Assumpta said as she nudged him towards the kitchen.

The English woman settled herself on the bar stool so recently vacated by Assumpta. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

"You both seem very happy?" Jennie said breaking the silence.

When Assumpta didn't reply Jennie turned to face her rival.

"I know you're together. Peter told me."

"Did he now." Assumpta said.

"He needed someone to confide in."

'And I was feeling sorry for her.' Assumpta thought ruefully.

"Ah well, it was good a fellow countryman just happened to be around then." She said out loud.

"How did it happen?"

Assumpta looked into the apparently innocent face, but those eyes glittered dangerously. Had she ever been like this? When Peter was giving his attention to another woman, had she ever looked so… murderous?

"How did what happen?"

"You and Peter." Jennie gave a hollow laugh. "I mean, was it already going on when I was here last, when you so kindly brought the key across? I never dreamed it was so he could run back here to you!"

"Now just a minute! It wasn't like that at all!" Assumpta spat angrily, just as Peter arrived with the food.

"Thank you Peter." Jennie said brightly, hopping from the barstool. "I'll just take this up to my room, I don't want to be a gooseberry." And smiling sweetly and made her escape.

"Everything all right?" Peter asked slowly.

"Somehow I don't think so." Assumpta growled.

The next morning Peter arrived to find Fitzgeralds still locked up. This wasn't unusual in itself. Peter fished in the pocket of his jeans for his key as two men approached him.

"Father Peter Clifford?"

Peter looked up amiably.

"Just plain Peter." He said automatically.

"But you are the Peter Clifford who was formerly a priest in Ballykissangel?"

Something caused the hairs on the back of Peters' neck to stand up.

"Is there a reason why you want to know?"

The second man pulled out a camera, Peter blinked as the flash blinded him.

"And this would be the pub owned by Assumpta…" The man consulted a notebook. "Assumpta Fitzgerald, the married woman who tempted you away from the priesthood?"

"Who are you?" Peter said angrily.

"Liam O'Doul, Cilldargen evening news. Would you care to comment?"

Peter finally managed to get the key in the lock. "No. I wouldn't. Somehow I don't think I would come out of it very well." He snapped before slamming the door.

As his eyes adjusted to the gloom he could just make out the figure of Assumpta curled up in the armchair. She was still wearing her pyjamas.

"You wouldn't believe the cheek…" He began before noticing the haunted look on her face.

"They have been calling since six o'clock this morning." She said in a small voice. "I had to take the phone off the hook. Every newspaper from here to Limerick."

"There were men outside…" Peter said.

"They want to know what kind of evil bitch seduces a man away from god."

"What? They don't know anything!"

"They do Peter." She met his eyes for the first time. "Someone has told them everything."