Eileen Wilks - Good Counsel

This snippet takes place after NIGHT SEASON and just before the free short story, Cyncerely Yours. Its more of a scene than a complete story, but I thought readers whove enjoyed the series might enjoy listening in on Cul ens counsel ing session with Father Michaels.

Abraham Michaels was trying yet again to access parish fhiles that the new software seemed to have scrambled when a knock sounded on his door. He glanced at the clock. Three already?

Come in. l

Dora opened the door. Mr. Seabourne to see you, Father.

Excellent. He pushed his chair back and rose.

The man who entered was lean, scruffy, and extraordinary. He wore ryouagged jeans and Reeboks with the panache of a box office star relaxing between filmsa notion supported by a face that could have earned him top billing in Hollywood or Madison Avenue. But it was his body women would watch. Cullen Seabourne possessed the physical poise of dancer, which wasnt surprising. He was onean exotic dancer. Or had been. Cynna said her fianc hadnt decided yet whether he would continue in that profession.

He was also a werewolf . . . no, Abe reminded himself. He should think of Seabourne as a lupus.

Thats what they preferred to be called. Thank you for coming to see me, Mr. Seabourne. He extended a hand and they shook. Please have a seat. Would you care for coffee or tea?

No, thanks. He took the chair Abe indicated, one of the pair set at right angles near the window. Abe never conducted counselling from behind his desk. What would be the point of that?

Abe took his own seat. The other man lounged in his chair with deliberate easea pose, Abe thought, but which of them was the pose directed at? Was lupus body language the same as human? Ill ask the standard questions first, Abe began, but there will be a few directed at your particular situation, which is not standard. I appreciate your willingness to participate. Are you willing to have your children raised in the Church?

Sure. Cynna would want that. It matters to her.

And youve no objections?

Your church is a valid approach to the Source.

What is your own faith background?

My mother was Wiccan. I dont identify myself that way, but I like their symbolism. I like the idea of recognizing both the male and female aspects of the One. In the clans, we usually see Deity as feminine.

Abe nodded. He had nothing against Wiccans, though he considered their faith overly simplistic.

The One being God?

Sure, though thats a word I dont use.

Why not?

He was still for a moment, motionless in a way that gave Abe the idea he wanted to fidget. That the subject made him uncomfortable. Expectations, I suppose. Baggage.

An honest answer, however limited. Abe tried another angle. I understand you urged Cynna to be married within her church. Can you tell me why?

What do you know about Cynnas childhood? No, unfair question. Even if you know plenty, you probably cant discuss it. He frowned, shifted slightly in his chair. Put it this way. We wont have the support of my clan for this marriage. Friends, yeah, weve both got friends who will back us, but she needs her community behind her. As I understand it, Catholics see the Church as the union of many faith communities.

Thats one way of putting it.

Cynna needs that, needs both the belonging and the acceptance.

And you dont?

I wont get it, not from my people. But your congregations are like clans, arent they?

Abes eyebrows climbed. You see a Catholic congregation as similar to one of your clans?

Sure. Not identical, obviously, but a church community satisfies some of the same needs. Youve got one big thing binding you togethernot the same thing that binds a clan, but an important commonality. Youve got priests instead of a Rho, but the role of the priest as head of the community has some correspondence to the role of the Rho. Your hierarchy is more elaborate than ours, but . . . A smile flickered at the edges of his mouth. I understand the need for hierarchy.

And you consider the support of the community important to a marriage.

He shrugged gracefully. Thats obvious, isnt it?

Not to everyone. Abe studied then man across from him. He certainly understood what Cynna saw here. He was himself thoroughly hetero, but Cullen Seabournes beauty was a fascination so strong, so inherently sensual, it made him uncomfortable.

Yet Cynna hadnt spoken of fascination or beauty in their counselling session yesterday. Shed mentioned Seabournes looks with a chuckle, a roll of her eyes, but her eyes turned soft when she spoke of their friendship. I wonder what marriage means to you . . . what you expect to receive from it. What you expect to put into it.

I get Cynna, he said flatly. I put into it myself.

All of yourself?

Not perfectly, not all the time. Its a practice, isnt it?

He was startled. Do you mean that in the Buddhist sense?

More or less. Not that Im Buddhistthey wouldnt claim me, anywaybut their idea of a practice works for me.

How would you define the, ah, the practice of marriage?

Its a commitment. You dont do it perfectly, but you dont have to. When you commit to somethingsitting meditation or mindful dishwashing or monogamy, whateveryou practice it whether youre in then mood or not. Its through the dailiness of the commitment that you get what the practice offers. Thats why community is important. Once you involve your community, make it witness to your commitment, they become part of it.

The community serves as a reminder or reinforcement?

Sure. An ongoing witness to the commitment.

Cullen Seabourne was far more sophisticated in his personal theology than Abe had expected.

He steepled his fingers and asked God for some help. And you believe you can offer Cynna sexual fidelity? Thats contrary to your personal beliefs, isnt it?

It used to be. It isnt anymore.

Abe waited, knowing that most people were too uncomfortable with silence to let it linger, and would rush to fill it with explanations, denials, or defensiveness. But apparently Cullen Seabourne wasnt most people. In the end it was Abe who broke the silence. You dont care to explain that change in your beliefs?

Some of its personal. Some of it isnt, and involves matters Im not free to discuss with you.

A polite way of telling him, none of your business. Still . . . You are asking yourself to change in a fundamental way. Youre an unusually attractive man. Sexual variety must have been a constant and important part of your life. Or do expect your love to eliminate temptation?

Cullens smile this time was both private and amused. I expect to be able to tell the difference between a hard-on and love.

Crude, but well-put. Also the first time hed spoken of love. You will be faithful because Cynna needs you to be?

He nodded. She does.

Its difficult to make a major change purely to benefit someone else. What will you get out of being faithful?

Other than Cynnas well-being? I dont know yet. Thats why its a practice. When you start a new practice, you dont know what the results will be. The outcomes you see at the start are pretty limited compared to whats really possible. He thought about that and added, Ive already started on that part of the practice, by the way.

Abe smiled slowly. An unconventional approach, but one the Church can support. I see no obstacles to performing your marriage ceremony.

It was only then, when the man truly relaxed, that Abe knew just how studied his earlier pose had been. Good. Thank you. Thats . . . it means a lot to Cynna.

And to you, Abe thought, but either wisdom or grace kept him from saying so. Not that there was much difference between the two.