Save the Date! by Heather C. Myers Page B

they could overhear their conversation. "I never took you for a joker, Code Blue."
    When he heard that familiar nickname slip out of her mouth, he rolled his eyes. "Yes, well," he began. "You give me so much material, it's hard not to indulge in a little amusing behavior."
    "I'm not exactly sure if I should take that as an insult or a compliment," Gemma told him honestly, looking at him for clarification.
    Dixon shrugged. "Take it as you will," he murmured. He glanced around him, his hands loosely in his pant pockets. "Are you Catholic?" he asked, trying to make conversation. He would never admit it, of course, but Dixon was just as bored as she was.
    Gemma shook her head. "Are you?" she asked, genuinely curious. Because if he was Catholic and it was easier for him to get married in a Catholic church (even if it was fake marriage) then she might change her mind and take some kind of test each couple was supposed to take in order to get married at a specific church. If there was such a test, of course.
    She would never admit it aloud, least of all to him, but Gemma was actually growing used to Dixon's presence. They had known each other for two weeks now, and though Dixon was kind of boring, he could make her laugh occasionally. And if it was easier for him to get married in a Catholic church, she would do it because she realized that Dixon was in the same boat as she was. Whatever she could do to make him comfortable, she probably would.
    It wasn't like she was actually getting married to the man.
    "No," Dixon told her. "But I find their churches beautiful. And each one seems to be unique in its own way. I am not a religious man, Gemma, but I find that each time I walk into one, I feel something beyond my own being."
    Gemma nodded, allowing his words to sink in. She had to agree with what he had said, even though she wasn't very fond of the Catholic religion. They did build beautiful places of worship though.
    "I just don't believe in the guilt they instill in their followers," Gemma told him, her eyes finally reaching Dixon again. "I don't think a person can get forgiveness from a man, even if he is a priest. I don't believe that having an abortion is the same thing as murder and I don't believe that homosexuality is a choice. I stopped going to church when I was a kid. I… I just couldn't go to a church where they believed that stuff – Christian, Catholic, Jewish. It doesn't matter. I also don't like some man interpreting the Bible and then telling me this is how I should live if I want to get into Heaven and avoid Hell."
    "Are you religious then?" Dixon asked, surprised they might actually have something in common.
    Gemma thought about it for a moment. "To a point, I suppose," she replied. "Maybe spiritual more so than religious. I believe in God and Jesus and Heaven and Hell. But I think that if you're generally a good person, there's no reason why you can't get into Heaven. If God is really our Father, shouldn't he love all of his children, regardless of sex, race, sexual orientation? At least, that's what I think. And I think a lot of the main religions share more similarities than differences so it's ironic that they seem to be in this kind of war with each other."
    She paused in her speaking and looked at Dixon with a look of utter surprise. The only person she had deep conversations with about things like this had been Gillian. Occasionally she would share her views with her parents, but they didn't like talking about controversial things at the dinner table. And she had just said all of that to Dixon in five minutes, give or take.
    "I'm sorry," she said, avoiding his eyes. "You probably didn't want to hear all of that."
    "That's all right," Dixon said. If she had actually looked at him, she would see that his lips were curled up into a soft smile. "You know, I believe you have actually exceeded my expectations just now." Gemma gave him a dry but partly confused look. His smile broadened. "I mean, your parents are