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The wooden board of the fence was uncomfortable, but Mildred sat on it all the same. It was her and John's ritual; every day before mass started the two would meet here. The fence ran along the outskirts of the rectory, and the corner she always sat on was right around the back. It was their little spot, out of the prying eyes of the townsfolk. Here they could be themselves and together. It was quite early in the morning and a gentle mist blanketed the grass.
She soon saw him strolling around the side of the house. He was humming to himself as he always did when he was in a good mood. His smile brightened as soon as he saw her perched on the fence. Something about his smile always seemed to warm her, as strange as that sounds. A rogue black curl fell across his eyes when he leaned down to kiss her hello.
"Good morning my love." He whispered to her, his deep voice feeling like it was reverberating throughout her body.
"Hi. You're happy today." whispered back Mildred as she pushed the curl out of his face.
"How can I not be? Our lives are so blessed at the moment." She'd found out about the baby a week ago and finally worked up the nerve to tell John yesterday. In response to him now, however, Mildred just sighed.
"We have to hide that we're even together and soon we won't be able to hide the evidence anymore. I'm not sure how much of that is a blessing." Her right hand was resting on his shoulder and she played with the seam of his dress shirt. He took her hand from his shoulder and held it with both of his hands.
"This is simply a test from Him. We're both going to come out on the other side better people for it. And better prepared for our child." He squeezed her hand reassuringly. It never ceased to amaze him at how perfectly her hands fit in his. His heart swelled with love as he prepared to say, "Anyhow, I have some news of my own today." She tilted her head quizzically, brows furrowing. He'd always found this gesture of hers adorable, which gave him that boost of confidence he needed right now.
"This Sunday is going to be my last Mass."
"What? Why? Did something happen?"
"No, I've, ahh, decided to leave the church. I want to spend my life with you Mildred, and our child, and I don't want to have to hide it. You have never been an embarrassment to me and I don't want you to ever feel like that. And I don't care if this means we have to move off the island or stay here and weather the judgement of others because all of it means nothing if I get to walk down the street just holding your hand."
"John, I -" Mildred was lost for words, "I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. You're the backbone of this community."
"Darling, it was the easiest decision I've ever made. And I made it alone, it wasn't forced upon me. I want to be yours, and I want to be a father, and if the church won't let me then to hell with them." One of his hands left hers to brush away an errant tear that had escaped her eye as he spoke.
"I- I don't know what to say."
"Then say nothing. The choice has already been made, you and I can be together as God intended us to be." Mildred jumped down off of the fence and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He reciprocated, holding onto her as if he was scared she'd leave if he let go. Tears of happiness fell from her eyes and began to stain his shirt, but neither of them cared. They stayed like that for a while, so still and comfortable in their embrace that they looked like they had been sculpted for that one purpose. The mist began to fade into the grass and the warm sun peered over the tree line, bathing the young lovers in a vibrant orange. A new day, at the dawn of the next chapter of their lives as one.
They walked to Mass together before anyone else arrived. From the very front pew she sat in, it was easy for the two to share secret smiles during the ceremony without much suspicion being drawn to them. In his eyes she could see the house they would buy on the mainland: a cottage with plenty of rooms for their children and for when their friends from home would visit, a large garden where she could plant all kinds of colourful flowers for them to sit among and drink tea, and a living room big enough so they can dance together on those quiet nights where the rest of the universe seems to fade away. She'd never tell him, but when he announced to the congregation his plans to leave, she felt a wave of relief hit she didn't even realise was approaching. The guilt she'd been keeping inside for their whole relationship melted when he beamed as he passed on the message of his departure. He was truly happy, and so was she. Or, 'happy' wasn't quite the word she was looking for.
At peace.