“I’m very proud of her,” the priest was happy to confirm. “Raising her was the best thing that I’ve done.”

And, while he appreciated the sentiment behind Tully’s promise not to bother her, he doubted that it would be a problem. Nettie was fully capable of handling herself and navigating bothersome people, he was sure, and… for all the trouble Tully had caused him, Malachi did not think that he was always so malicious.

Hoped that he wasn’t, at the very least.

“I… don’t doubt that she does,” Malachi said, hesitant, “she has a much better view of me than I probably deserve. And recently, I…”

God, he’d worried her sick. He knew he had. And all for what? Rejection, and all of the awful feelings that came with it?

“I’ve made her worry too much. I suppose I should apologize when I see her next.”