Assumpta snatched herself away. "Leo?" she yelled, her heart racing in surprise.
"Who were you expecting?" Leo deadpanned. But even he couldn't disguise the hurt evident in his voice.
"What are you doing here?"
"Saw there was a power cut. And since this was always my domain…" Leo tinkered with the fuse box and after a moment light flooded the cellar. A loud cheer came from upstairs.
Assumpta blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light. Sure enough, stood in front of her was her erstwhile lover, once best friend and all-too-present husband.
"I mean, what are you doing in Ballyk?" Assumpta eyed her husband suspiciously. He looked well – a vast improvement from when last they spoke. The sleeves were rolled on his white linen shirt, which was tucked neatly into his jeans – designer probably – and he'd had his hair cut.
"To see you, my darling wife" Leo's eyes danced with suggestion. "And to pick up my computer of course" he added honestly.
"Everything okay Assumpta?" called a voice from upstairs.
"Fine" she stuttered, staring at Leo incredulously.
"We'll be right out" the man added with a wink to his wife.
oooo
After the lights were switched back on, Peter attempted to edge past the scrum of locals congregating at the bar.
As he approached the stools, Peter saw what the commotion was about: Assumpta climbing up from the cellar closely followed by a familiar face. Leo. He was back.
Peter was struck dumb. What did this mean for Assumpta and him?
"Evening Father"
"Leo!" Peter exclaimed "What are you doing here?" he added, trying hard to keep his voice level.
"Back home, you mean?" Leo's eyes narrowed. "Do I need a reason?" He grinned falsely.
Peter could feel his face burning. The reality of their situation flooded back to him. He was in love with this man's wife and something told Peter that Leo was on to him.
"Leo! You're back!" Peter had never been so happy to hear Padraig's voice in all of his life.
As he and Leo chatted, Peter's eyes darted around the room, desperately seeking Assumpta. He finally locked onto her, standing sheepishly at the bar, looking as if she'd like the ground to swallow her whole. She glanced back at Peter and gave him a half-smile. More than anything, he wanted to go to her but he knew that Leo was just waiting for him to make a move like this.
oooo
As everyone began to filter out of the bar, Peter found himself incapable of vacating the stool where he sat.
Is Leo staying for long? He wondered. Then a worrying question entered Peter's mind. Where will he be sleeping?
"Walk me home, Father." A female voice interrupted Peter's thoughts. Niamh stood with her coat in her arms, her tone imploring the Priest to move.
"I … errr" Peter searched his mind frantically for a reason why he couldn't. He didn't want to leave Assumpta here alone ... with Leo.
As if reading his thoughts, Niamh interrupted "C'mon, let's give this pair a chance to catch up" she gestured to the awkward exes behind the bar and without waiting for a response, took Peter's arm and led him into the night.
oooo
As she saw Niamh lead Peter away Assumpta's heart dropped. She knew it was for the best. Leo needed to be tackled by her and her alone. She secretly wished for the moral support though.
Leo had never made a secret of his suspicions about her relationship with the Priest – he'd told her as much when she went after him to London. He had made painful allegations – accusing Assumpta of having a relationship with Peter since before they were married. She'd denied this of course but they were all the more tender because of the element of truth in what he said.
"Night-cap" Leo asked, rousing Assumpta from her reverie.
The landlady sighed impatiently. "I have to clear up"
"Leave it – we'll get a cleaner"
"Oh we will, will we?" She asked, enunciating every word.
Leo took a bottle of expensive scotch from the back bar and poured himself a large glass. Assumpta guessed by the measure that he wasn't going to be driving anywhere tonight.
"Something tells me you're not all that pleased to see me." He muttered eventually.
"Surprised to see you, more like. Didn't we do this already? Wasn't it painful enough the first time?"
"I told you, all I'm here for is my computer" he paused, examining the contents of his glass "and a wee dram of Lagavulin 16-year-old of course."
Assumpta sighed. "I assume you're going to stay – I'll make up the guest room" She moved to go upstairs but Leo snatched her arm. His eyes pierced into hers as he moved his thumb along her pulse point – a spot he knew left Assumpta weak at the knees.
"No rush" He implored. "Have a drink with me"
"Leo..." Assumpta began
"No shenanigans, I promise. Just have a drink with me – please"
Assumpta sighed. She knew this was a mistake. "One drink" She finally relented and pulled up a stool next to the bar.
oooo
Peter's mind was racing as he walked Niamh across the street. What could Leo want? Maybe he'd brought with him the paperwork for an annulment. Pah – fat chance, reasoned Peter. He was here to cause trouble.
"Are you even listening, Peter?" Niamh asked. Somehow they'd already reached the Garda's front door.
"I'm sorry – what did you say?"
Niamh paused, taking in the worried expression Peter wore. "Father – is everything okay?"
"Fine, just tired I guess..." Peter dismissed.
A flicker of guilt flew across Niamh's face. "I'd offer you our couch but..."
"No need" Peter quickly interjected. "I'm fine at the Church"
"Sleeping on a camper bed on a cold and dusty floor? I don't think you are..." Niamh began.
"Honestly. It's quite homey now" Peter joked "Besides, it really cuts down on my commute"
Niamh laughed in spite of herself. "Cup of tea, then? Before I send you on your way." she added.
"Love to but..." Peter desperately wanted to get back to the pub. If he couldn't go in, at the very least he could look through the window.
"C'mon, i'm sure a night on the vestry tiles can wait"
Peter saw by the assertive way Niamh was opening the door that she wasn't going to take no for an answer. With one longing glance back in the direction of the pub, Peter sighed and followed her in.
oooo
Later, as he left the Garda's residence, Peter caught a whiff of burning chimneys and damp earth; winter was definitely coming. It was well past midnight – probably closer to sunrise than sunset – and the streets were bare.
Tea with Niamh had been nice. Ambrose was in Dublin visiting his mother and Peter got the impression that Niamh wanted to delay her first night alone with the baby for as long as possible.
As he began along the cobbled streets towards home, Peter's eyes fell upon the bright yellow facade of Fitzgeralds. Like every house around it, the pub was shrouded in darkness. Only one light illuminated the brickwork: the overhead lamp hanging in the master bedroom. Peter stood for a moment on the other side of the street, fixing his gaze on the books that lined the window sill.
He'd never been in that room of course – it was Assumpta's bedroom after all and strictly out of bounds. At least for the moment, Peter reasoned with a smile.
He did remember Assumpta leaning out of this very window of course, yelling at him for waking her as he tried to catch a lift to a parishioner's house. The memory warmed Peter. It was the first time he realised Assumpta wore men's T-shirts to bed. He'd imagined her in one of his T-shirts... a thought that had kept him from sleep more nights than he cared to admit.
Another, less pleasant memory struck Peter - the night of the pub quiz. The dust had already settled on the news of Assumpta's nuptials but it still wounded him to see Leo at her window late at night. It was as if they were rubbing salt into a still very open wound, flaunting their relationship to spite the Priest.
As Peter relived the painful memory, he realised that he was still staring up into the window. He chastised himself for lingering too long outside the pub. He was sure he felt Kathleen observing the vista through the night-vision goggles he had long suspected she owned.
Just as he was about to leave however, Peter caught a glimpse of something that cut him to his very core.
Leo - in Assumpta's bedroom.
What the hell was he doing there this late? As Peter ran through the possible scenarios, just one made any sense.
Oh...
As if reading his mind, at that precise moment Leo looked down and locked eyes with Peter. After a beat, his mouth broke into a self-satisfied grin as he drew the curtains, leaving Peter to only guess at what lay behind them.
oooo
Oh no she DIDN'T?! Is it over before it even began for Peter and Assumpta? All will be revealed...
Thanks again for the lovely reviews you've all been leaving. This is my first ever attempt at Fanfiction and your comments really do help with the writing process - so keep em' coming!