The Gospel According to Luke by Emily Maguire Page A

example.’
    â€˜Aggie is hardly an unfortunate. She’s an accomplished young woman. She is not an object of pity, I assure you.’
    â€˜So she
has
been saved?’
    â€˜Not yet.’
    â€˜Then I pity her.’
    â€˜But she will be. It’s my mission.’
    Belinda came around to Luke’s side of the desk, bent low and embraced him. He sat unmoving, allowing her to press his head to her chest. Her breasts were soft and warm beneath his face, but he felt nothing. ‘You’re a good man, Luke.’ Belinda straightened and smiled down at him. ‘If you say you’re going to save her, then I believe you will.’
    She left the room. Luke put his head on the desk. He stayed like that for an hour or more. When helifted his head again, his vision was blurred and his temples throbbed, but his mind felt clearer.
    â€˜Ag, it’s me.’
    â€˜I was just thinking about you.’
    â€˜I’ve been thinking about you too.’
    â€˜Good things, I hope?’
    â€˜I want you to sign up for introductory Bible study classes.’
    She laughed. ‘What?’
    â€˜Classes for people from a non-Christian background. We hold them at –’
    â€˜There’s no way.’
    â€˜It’s very important that you do this.’
    Silence.
    â€˜Aggie?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s me. Who are you?’
    He closed his eyes and asked God to fill him up. ‘I’m trying to help you.’
    â€˜You want to help me, then go get me some noodles from down the road. I’m starving.’
    â€˜This is serious. I’ve been neglecting my duty. Your soul is in –’
    â€˜Enough, Luke, okay? Drop it.’
    He was silent.
    â€˜Are you going to say anything?’
    â€˜Why, Aggie?’
    â€˜Because I don’t like one-sided conversations.’
    â€˜Why won’t you open your mind to the possibilitythat I might actually know what I’m talking about? I truly have your interests at heart here.’
    â€˜I swear to God, Luke, I’m going to hang up if you don’t stop this shit.’
    â€˜I don’t mind the swearing, but can you please not blaspheme?’
    Click
.

13.
    â€˜How can anyone be so completely – ugh!’ Aggie stalked the length of the clinic, glancing at the NCYC each time she passed the window. She had been doing this for so long her legs were getting tired, but sitting down felt like giving up. ‘He doesn’t seem to have the slightest clue how to talk to other human beings. It’s like he’s been brought up by wolves!’
    â€˜Maybe if you did some work you’d feel better?’
    Aggie pulled a face at Mal, who was intent on his monitor and so did not see her anyway. ‘I have a client at twelve. Until then, I intend to pace.’
    â€˜Can you do it elsewhere? I’m trying to concentrate.’
    Aggie stuck her tongue out. ‘You’re a shitty friend.’
    â€˜You’re a shitty employee. Do some fucking work.’
    Aggie sat on Mal’s desk, pushing several thick folders to the floor. He swore. Aggie lay down, her head on his keyboard, her feet hanging over the edge. Mal poked her in the ribs. ‘Get off my desk.’
    Aggie spread her arms, knocking something cold and heavy off the desk and crumpling several papers under her elbows. ‘I just don’t get it. The chemistry is out of this world. Every time we see each other it’s like . . . God, you’ve seen us together, Mal, don’t you think he seems keen? He seems so . . . ah, I don’t know.’
    â€˜He’s a wanker; you’re great and deserve much better. Now get off my fucking desk.’
    â€˜I feel like Luke’s the one. Like this is meant to be, you know?’
    â€˜You said that about Matthew.’
    That was true. But she had only said it because he kept coming back to her, and it seemed impossible that someone as brilliant as Matthew would keep