The flowers arrived were delivered on Friday in a glass vase adorned with a ribbon. Among the white asphodel was a stake bearing a white card that simply said:
Sorry
"Now that has to be the florist's handwriting," Anna thought, along with the vase and ribbon choices, but despite the light-hearted thinking, she felt like an ass. Which is why she was standing outside of All Saints Congregational at four in the morning.
"Proinsais?" she called to announce herself. There was no answer, but when she ventured through the church's lobby, she saw him mopping the church floor. Not a single light was on in the building and Anna noticed a rank smell lingering underneath that of cleaning chemicals. Upon further inspection, Anna noticed Jesse passed out on the floor and a large black trunk she had never seen before. She remained silent, waiting for Cassidy to acknowledge her. If she started it would turn into an interrogation and the scene shouted at her to not ask questions.
Cassidy finished getting the blood out of the wood and stuck the mop back into the bucket. He had been aware of Anna from the moment she called his name- anyone else who called him Proinsais was flirting with death. He was more concerned, though with the chance that Jesse might recover from the moonshine concoction.
"Did yeh get the flowers?" Cassidy asked her.
"Yeah, thanks," she answered. "They were beautiful. Did you- did you know asphodel is associated with death?"
Cassidy's eyes widened. "What? Shite, no. I'm sorry, I just didn't think yeh'd appreciate roses is all."
Anna laughed. "No, don't apologize. I loved them! Besides, I think I should have been the one to apologize. I shouldn't have been offended the other night. That's why I came here to talk to you-make sure we're alright, but you seem to be in the middle of something."
"Yeah! These fuckers come in 'ere with a fuckin' chainsaw an' they're gonna kill Jesse- a poor, unconscious, minister of the Lord- so I chopped them up into about a dozen pieces an' they're in the trunk," he explain failing around and without stopping for breath. "I mean, can yeh believe it?"
"About as much as an apocalyptic war between angels and demons," Anna shrugged.
"Ah, fine. I'll give yeh tha' one." Cassidy grinned, but was quickly distracted by his blood soaked clothes.
With a groan he shrugged off the vest and peeled off the tshirt. He cracked open the trunk and threw them inside with the other evidence. Anna didn't miss the opportunity to admire the view.
"Alright then. All that's left is to dig a wee spot of sod-" Cassidy grabbed a shovel and dragged the trunk behind him while Anna followed. They opened the church door to be greeted by the sun peeking over the horizon. Cassidy sighed and sat on the trunk. "Good morning, yeh right bloody bastard."
Anna moved to stand in front of him. She placed one hand over his on the shovel. "I've got it."
"Are yeh sure?" he asked. "It's my mess."
"I've got it," Anna said and he relinquished the shovel. "Go get some sleep."
With only a nod, he moved from the trunk and trudged back to the attic.
†††††
By the time Anna had finished it was late morning and she was surprised no one had seen her, even if she had chosen a spot under a tree in the back. Her hands were covered in blisters and she could feel the sweat dripping down her chest. "Last time I do a favor of anyone," she grumbled as she cleaned the dirt off in the bathroom using the sink and paper towels. She peeled off her sweaty shirt as she walked to the attic, tugging off her boots and socks when she got there. Cassidy was fast asleep- snoring on the cot. Not really caring if she woke him, Anna squeezed into bed beside him.
Cassidy stirred as she slid beneath the sheet next to him. He moved and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her tighter against him. The cot was barely big enough for all six feet of him, but he didn't mind her laying on top of him even a little a bit. One of his hands rested on her arm that wrapped around him and his other held her hip.
"What're the chances you have an alarm clock?" She murmured with her cheek pressed against his bare chest.
Cassidy scoffed. "Why?"
"Bingo is in six hours-at four," Anna answered him.
Cassidy chuckled again, still without opening his eyes. "Yeh really are old, aren't yeh?"
Anna didn't answer, though, she had already disappeared into the world of dreams.
