“What’s rosary?  Confession I know.  Or are they the same thing.  I can’t really think of anything I’ve done to confess to.  Oh … wait.  Yeah, thinking.  My mind hardly ever stops working.  You know I have woken up in the middle of the night and come up with an idea of a solution to a math problem and been unable to sleep until I work it out?  You know, I didn’t mean I was going to act on thoughts…  Maybe I should just shut up.  I see what you mean about a guilty conscience.  I bet confession would end up taking hours.  And kneeling for me is hard.  Physically hard.  Bending my left hip is painful.”

Duncan had a very literal mind.  He turned to the Sister.  “Again sorry.”  He thought for a moment.  Then he searched for a piece of paper and ended up finding a bookmark with a white backside.  He pulled out his pen and wrote his name and number.  “If you ever need a small miracle - the sort mortal man can manage - call me.”

He gestured.  “This was just me honoring an agreement I made for our first date.  She put me on a budget.  What went in the poor box was everything left over.”  He offered Aliyah an arm and wrapped it around her waist.  “Have a pleasant evening.”

Gary was shaking his head ever so slightly at Duncan.  He’d kept them in sight more for security than anything else.

“Back to the hotel.  She left her bag there.  She does have to work tomorrow.”

“Of course,”  Gary nodded and got the doors for them.”

As Gary was getting back in Duncan started laughing softly.  He turned to Aliyah.  “You know, I really didn’t mean that quite as bad as the nun took it.  I never really considered thinking about bad, or rather naughty, things … a sin.  Actually doing them?  Maybe.  You know, if you ever WANT to go to church, we could take you.  I mean, I’d attend if you wanted.  But I am guessing you work.  Maybe once we take off and start travelling.”

The Casino staff seemed a little surprised to see Duncan back so soon.  But he was smiling and Aliyah didn’t seem to be not smiling.  They walked more together than they had on the way out.  All in all, it must have gone well.  Duncan wasn’t a player.  Or if he was, it was the long game.

Duncan led Aliyah to the private elevator he so dearly enjoyed having access to.  When they got upstairs, Duncan spoke up.  “I may make use of the whirlpool spa.  All that walking.”  The shower had no tub.  But the room did have a jacuzzi.  And for Duncan’s hip it was a godsend.  Of course, odds were he was hinting at an invitation.  “I figure that plus the massage chair and I’ll sleep like the dead.”