Nettie didn't say anything or move for a moment. Slowly she reached out and took his hand in hers. "Alright. So some are true. Which ones, if I may ask?" She kept her voice soft and gentle.

"Drugs? I can see why you are so stressed and people expect so much. Is it the men? If... it makes you happy. That's such a foolish thing for them to judge you for. You deserve happiness too. And I can understand, I like men too." She tried to offer a weak smile.

"A priest should be just a job. No one should expect perfection, when imperfection is so human. And I've always thought you were perfectly human. I haven't believed in fairy tales in a long time. So I know you couldn't be as perfect as you always tried to appear. But you have genuinely been good and kind to me and others and that means so much. Good people aren't just good. They are people with lives and troubles like everyone else."

She sighed and stared down. "I will help you in any way I can. You don't have to hide from me any more. I mean what I said. I love you and support you."

She stared up at him. "What about the rumor that you held orgies in the forest to summon the devil and eat babies? Old lady Lucy at the last church said that one. It was one of my favorites." She smiled softly.