Taste Of Love

While continuing his stroll towards the church, Jason's attention shifted to the towering spire of St. Peters, prompting him to recall the envelope he had discreetly placed in the breast pocket of his jacket earlier that morning before heading to work. The perplexing urge to make yet another donation to the orphanage puzzled him. It was only a little over two weeks since his last contribution, which was already out of character for him. Jason was not known for his benevolence, yet this unexplainable compulsion to give a third time persisted. It defied all logic, much like the other inexplicable thoughts and actions that had consumed him in recent weeks. He couldn't shake off this restlessness that had taken hold of him six months ago and had only intensified over time. As he reached the intersection of Bright Street, Jason turned right onto Gamblers Way, his mind now occupied with thoughts of the young woman he had encountered during his previous visit to the church. He hoped she wouldn't be present today, as he preferred to keep his peculiar urges to himself. The last thing he wanted was for others to witness his actions and perceive him as a bleeding-heart do-gooder, which would undermine the intimidating image he had carefully cultivated in Golden Rock. Although he didn't anticipate her presence, Jason couldn't help but wonder if the young woman would be lingering around the church once again. Given her age, she likely had more important things to occupy her time than loitering in a place of worship. Despite not conforming to conventional standards of beauty, she possessed a captivating allure with her abundant sable hair and piercing blue eyes. Undoubtedly, she had numerous young men vying for her favor and sniffing around her skirts. He smiled slightly, reminiscing about the way she had stared at him. Her reaction was as if she had encountered the devil himself, startled and cautious. Clearly, he was not someone people expected to come across in what they considered a sacred place. Jason had seen the girl around Golden Rock several times before, usually in the company of Alan Brooks, who worked for Vaccaro's company. Judging by the family resemblance, Jason speculated that she was probably Alan Brooks' daughter. This would explain the worn-out condition of her dress. Brooks' earnings likely only provided enough for the family to barely get by, with little left for anything else. Jason refused to feel guilty about this. He paid his employees a higher hourly rate than any other company owner in Golden Rock, and although he hadn't verified it, he suspected that the prices in his company store were the most reasonable in the state as well. Along with providing safe working conditions for his men, he believed this was the best he could do for them. Considering that few other company owners did as much, Jason was praised for his generosity, which not only increased his workers' productivity but also brought him ample profits to compensate for the above-average wages he paid. Upon reaching the church, Jason quickly dropped his donation for the orphanage into the poor box. Determined not to question his actions or analyze his reasons, he shifted his thoughts to hurrying home, enjoying a long, hot bath, and spending the evening by the fire with a fine bottle of scotch within reach. Upon leaving the premises, a chilling breeze swept across the porch, accompanied by the faint, melodic laughter of a woman. Jason halted, tilting his head to catch the sound, inexplicably drawn to it. He couldn't help but think of it as the laughter of an angel, though he scowled at the notion. Despite his initial intention to continue walking, he found himself veering towards the church steps and around the corner of the building. He made a silent promise to himself, just a quick glimpse to satisfy his curiosity. A cobblestone path, dividing the rectory from the church, stretched between the two brick structures and led to the gate of the orphanage playground. The playground was enclosed on three sides by the rectory, the back of the church, and the three-story convent. Wild roses and shrubs grew abundantly along the narrow pathway, creating a sense of being enveloped in a verdant tunnel that seemed to lead to another realm. Judging by the increasing sounds of joy emanating from the playground with each step he took, perhaps it truly did. At the very least, it was a world vastly different from his own. Jason found himself captivated by the sound of laughter coming from the young woman sitting on the grass. Despite the cold wind and the threat of rain, she seemed completely unaffected, lost in the joy of the moment. Leaning against the white gate, Jason couldn't help but admire her. It was the same blue wool dress she had worn weeks ago at the church, a dress that had seen better days. Yet, she still managed to exude a certain beauty that left him breathless. This unexpected reaction surprised Jason. He had seen more conventionally attractive figures before, but there was something about her that drew him in. She had a curvier figure, a bit more plumpness than he typically preferred. Some might even describe her as voluptuous or resembling a milkmaid. However, Jason had always been more inclined towards a slender build. Despite her slightly irregular features, with a nose that was a tad too large and a mouth that was a bit too generous, her cheekbones were cut just a shade too sharply. However, when taken as a whole, these features blended together to form a face that was incredibly captivating, leaving him unable to look away. Even from a distance of twenty feet, Jason found himself entranced by her eyes, which he hadn't been able to see clearly in the dimly lit church vestibule. They were an uncommonly large, wide-set pair of eyes, adorned with thick sable lashes and a rare shade of dark cobalt blue. They were the kind of eyes that a man could easily lose himself in, he thought, before scolding himself for such a foolish notion. Nevertheless, he couldn't deny the sudden urge to smile or the warmth that washed over him, as if the sun had broken through the clouds and enveloped him in its radiance. As the girl continued to tell her story to the children, seemingly unaware of Jason's presence, he decided to linger there simply for the pleasure of watching her. Her hands moved gracefully, her eyes sparkled with life, and her face was animated with every word she spoke. And to top it all off, her voice carried the faintest trace of an Irish brogue. She was, without a doubt, an absolute delight to behold. The story she recounted revolved around a young boy and girl who found themselves imprisoned by a malevolent elderly witch in a vast house nestled within the woods. Jason initially dismissed it as a mere children's tale, but soon found himself completely engrossed. As he leaned forward, straining to hear her words over the howling wind, Jason couldn't help but curse the unruly weather. Suddenly, his attention was caught off guard when the Brooks girl directly addressed him. Startled, he quickly straightened himself and adjusted his jacket, feeling a bit flustered. "I apologize for the interruption," Jason responded, trying to regain his composure. "I actually came here to meet one of the nuns. When I heard voices coming from this area, I thought it would be prudent to investigate." The Brooks girl raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Oh? And which nun were you looking for? Can you provide me with her name?" Jason hesitated for a moment, realizing that he had never been given the nun's name. He extended his hand, using it as a visual aid to estimate the height of the fictional nun. "A petite woman with dark hair, perhaps?" The Brooks girl appeared amused by his response. "Are you certain she was a nun?" Certainly," Jason replied with a forced smile as he lifted the corners of his mouth. "I assume the description didn't jog your memory?" She shook her head, maintaining eye contact. "None of the nuns I've met have hair," she said. Jason realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself. "Oh, right. I was going by her eyebrows," he said, gesturing to his forehead. "They were very dark and bushy, and she had a big nose and brown eyes." She shook her head again and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I don't recognize her from that description. Was your business with her important?" "Not really," Jason replied. "Nothing that can't wait." He noticed the children around her beginning to squirm and took a step back as one of them yanked on another's pigtails. "Well, I should let you get back to your storytelling. I didn't mean to interrupt." "John!" the Brooks girl called out, grabbing the boy's wrist. "No hair-pulling. How many times do I have to remind you?" "It was just a little tug!" John protested. "It hurts, Lisa! He almost pulled my hair out!" the victim wailed. Lisa was her name. Jason couldn't help but smile as he observed her skillfully managing the children, a task that only a woman could handle with such grace. Once the chaos settled, she glanced back at him. "Would you like to join us?" she asked, patting the ground next to her. "We have plenty of seating available, as you can see. I think you'll have a good time." Jason was pleasantly surprised by her invitation. Considering his notorious reputation, he knew that most of the decent young women in Golden Rock avoided him like the plague. Being associated with Jason Vaccaro meant jeopardizing any chance of receiving a marriage proposal from a respectable man.