Peter had not gone directly back to work after leaving the main chapel. He could hear voices there, Molly's and a man's. The man's arrival had come just as Peter sat down. Rather than stand again, Peter had decided to remain where he was -- Molly seemed to be quite capable of directing and entertaining worshipers.
When the knock came at his open door, Peter looked up from his looseleaf papers with a genuine smile. "Come in," the priest invited, raising to his feet. His knees ached threateningly; Peter did his best to ignore them. He stepped forward, hand extended with its palm up in welcome.