And that should have been it. But the priest found himself tossing and turning with the thoughts that night, and contemplating what Catrina had said.
He had felt this strange thing when he first met Catrina; that much was true. But had he also felt it when he met Miss Lily? Surely not. Whatever he had felt around her was only butterflies in his stomach, like all the young men did when they saw her. It was a tugging of the flesh, nothing more. Something to be ignored and conquered, not given heed.
So the next morning when he went to the herb-shop, it was nothing but a coincidence.
His headaches, after all could have been nothing holy at all, but simple stress getting to him. He certainly didn't want to try and pursue a vision brought on by a bad cold, so it was logical to try material methods to cure it first. That was all there was to it.
Miss Lily was working in her garden as he walked up, the sun playing most beautifully in her hair. She had an assistant in Samuel, the woodcutter's boy. She was laughing most prettily at something he said, like a little bell, and he was grinning foolishly as the priest walked up.
"Good morning Miss Lily, good morning Samuel. It's a fine day out isn't it?"
Samuel jumped up immediately, looking guilty "Father Orrin. I was just helping Miss Lily mend the fence this morning."
The priest glanced over at the fence, which was well mended, but also several feet away from what they were doing at the moment.
"That was good of you, Samuel, helping someone in need. I'm glad you're behaving so virtuously."
Samuel blushed, and murmured something about needing to get back home. He ran off, looking quite chastened.
"Oh there was no need to do that," Lily said "He was being a perfect gentleman."
"I- didn't actually mean to." The priest said, looking frazzled "I meant it as a sincere compliment."
Lily laughed loudly, and pushed herself up from the garden earth.
"Well Father Orrin, what can I do for you today?"
The priest found himself blushing, and coughed several times awkwardly.
"Headaches." He said "I been having them and was wondering-"
He suddenly found his priestly collar very tight, and tugged at it awkwardly. Lily tittered and smiled sweetly.
"Yes of course Father Orrin. I'm quite sure I have several cures stowed away for that. Come with me?"
Lily's home was adorned with herbs in great quantity, drying on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. She had several cots laid out, and great shelves filled with everything from ointments to tonics to bandages and back again.
"Are there any other specifics you can give me?" Lily asked "Have you been experiencing them at any particular times, or are there any other symptoms along with it?"
The priest thought of the terror and flapping of wings.
"No other complaints." He said "They're mostly at night, when I'm finishing my prayers."
She smiled "Are you sure it isn't some vision from God?"
And the priest laughed, because it was so close to what he expected.
"I haven't ruled it out." He said.
She smiled again.
"Well, visions from God I don't have much experience with, but we all know you tend to overwork yourself. If it's an exhaustion headache, then this should do the trick."
She plunked a little bundle down on the counter.
"I work myself too hard?"
"And we all know it. Anyway, boil this for tea, and drink a cup morning, and one more whenever feel a headache coming on."
She gave him a pointed look, like a stern older sister: "But the best cure is good sleep and relaxation Father Orrin. I'll tell some of the boys to help with chores if you need it, just stay in good health, okay?"
The priest smiled, and nodded obediently.
"Thank you Miss Lily. I'll make sure to do that."
He handed her a few coins and she patted him on the head affectionately.
"Good boy."
And the priest had to admit it: there was an odd twinge of familiarity to this kind of scene. Something about the tone of her voice, or the look of her face. It was more than simple recognition, it was familiar.
She frowned at his expression, and furrowed her brow.
"Where there anything else your holiness?"
"Have you ever felt like you're supposed to be someone else?"
Her eyebrows shot up into her hairline, and the priest immediately felt like a dolt for saying it. Lily, however, tapped a finger on her lips, and appeared to think about it.
"Well… sometimes I do feel like there's something I'm missing out on. Like I'm forgetting something? But everyone daydreams every now and then. I think it's nothing more than that. After all, we take what God gives to us, right?"
The priest nodded, abashedly. He found himself unable to voice any of the thousand thoughts tumbling through his head.
"Of course. Sorry to ask you such a silly question."
And he left as if nothing at all was wrong, bundle of herbs in hand.
The priest wanted to immediately forget the whole debacle. But now the signs were showing up too clearly to simply ignore, even if it was nothing akin to proof yet.
He was craving some fish anyway, and it had been a long time since he had visited the seashore. A little trip to find the harbor wouldn't hurt, even if this was a fool's errand. And if he did happen to find this fisherman that Catrina had mentioned… well he'd deal with that as it came.