Elijah looked away by the topic and shrugged. "Mass? I haven't made any plans.. "

He was quick to ask her in reply, "What about you?"

"Well, we'll have a Christmas dinner, of course. You should come. Shouldn't he, father?" she turned to look at her father.
Ben had almost dozed off, but sat up. "What? Yes, yes of course ye should."

Elijah smiled warmly. "Thank you for the invitation. I think I will take it. I do enjoy spending it with my loved ones." A part of him felt pathetic that they were the closest he had but he pushed it aside. They were good people after all.

"Wonderful." Ben said, and Anne, Bram and Will smiled at him.
"We'll put up mistletoe and find you a lady to kiss!" Bram said.
"Bram, that's enough." His father scolded. Not a bad idea though.

Elijah laughed softly. "That is very kind of you, Bram, but it isn't nice to make someone feel forced to kiss someone they don't like. I am quite happy being alone. I am grateful you're thinking of my happiness though."

"Okay..." Bram said sheepishly.
"You could come to church with us beforehand, Elijah." Ben offered. It was hardly the first time he had suggested Elijah'd come to church with them.

Elijah patted Bram's shoulder to try to let him know it was no hard feelings. He looked towards Ben. He thought about it but then the idea of missing Gabriel doing his sermon, especially all the hard work to make up for the missing money.

He blushed and cleared his throat. "Ah, I will think about it. Though, I admit, I've been enjoying my church more recently."

"Oh?" said Ben. Well at least he was going to church...

Elijah nodded. "Maybe I can go to mine for Christmas even mass, and I can go with you on christmas if you wish..."

Well that was something. "We'd be delighted." Ben said. One day, he was convinced, Elijah would leave his papist ways behind.