I NOTICE HELEN SLIP out of the pew after Communion and walk to the back. I am concerned that something work-related has come up, so I’m a little surprised to see her standing near the door when I finish recessing.
“Hi,” I say. “I saw you leave. Is there a problem?”
“If there is, I won’t hear about it. Dan’s on call today,” she says with a smile. Nodding towards the door with her head, she says, “Shall we?”
“Shall we, what?”
“Shall we greet your parishioners?”
I stare at her, dumbfounded for a moment. “You mean, the both of us? I mean, yes, I’d love that. I’ve thought about asking, you know, so people can get to know you better, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.”
“Tom,” she says, a serious expression on her face. “Remember what I told the Archbishop. I’m marrying you, but I’
