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It takes me a second to answer, mostly because something about the wayhe’slooking atmetoday has me totally flustered. “Isn’t it, though?” I venture after a while. “A lie?”
His breathing quickens as he continues staring back at me. He opens his mouth to say more when there’s a loud knock, making us both flinch.
“Seriously?” Blake yells through the driver’s side window.
JD and Tenley stand back, cackling at our expense. Blake turns to me one more time, but I panic and reach over to open my door. I hear him cursing under his breath before he hurries around the truck to help me out, glaring at his brother as he goes.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize I’d be interrupting something important,” JD says, looking remorseful.
“Just a discussion of how we’re going to face the priest in our current predicament,” I reply softly.
JD turns his mouth to the side before glancing over at Tenley. They have some kind of silent brainwave exchange, and she places her hands on my shoulders to lead me on.
“Let’s go inside. I don’t know about you, but it’s been five minutes since we left home, and I’ve already gotta pee.”
I look back at Blake before reluctantly following Tenley into the rectory for a potty break, probably my tenth of the day, and the guys join us in the front office a couple minutes later.
Father Conrad comes out to greet us, his eyes darting down to my belly as he declares remembering us from the wedding a few months back. “Well, it looks like I’m in for a two-for-one special,” he says cheerfully.
“Three-for-one,” Tenley corrects him. “Loren’s expecting twins, Father.”
“What a blessing,” he declares, and he sounds like he genuinely means it. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I say quietly, somewhat relieved. Blake only nods and gulps.
“So, are we all here for the same thing?”
Blake glances at me. We haven’t discussed whether we want to baptize the girls, I think because we’re both afraid of being denied the option with our current situation.
“We’re just here as potential godparents for now,” Blake finally returns. “But I was hoping to ask about our babies too.”
I’m surprised to hear him bring it up for the first time, but I chalk it up to convenience.
“Great. The two of you can come on back for a short interview. It’s all part of the process,” Father assures us. He gestures toward an open door down the hall, and Blake waits for me to stand before he clasps my hand. I’m not sure whether he’s overcompensating in front of the priest or trying to calm me, but I feel better knowing we’re going in together.
We sit in a pair of chairs across from Father’s desk, and Blake hesitates before dropping my hand. Father watches carefully before he dons a pair of reading glasses.
He shuffles a stack of papers on his desk. “Let’s see … have you been confirmed?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure either of us would be considered practicing Catholics,” Blake volunteers.
It’s a fair statement. I made my confirmation back in high school, along with Blake, Tenley, and the rest of my class, and I’ve always based most of my moral code on my Catholic upbringing. I just haven’t been so great about keeping up with some of the particulars since then, such as regular attendance at Mass. But my parents hadn’t exactly made our faith a priority when I was growing up. They sent my siblings and me to catechism, took us to church on a rare Sunday between Christmas and Easter, and made sure we’d received a few of the sacraments. And that was that. I’m pretty sure I remember Blake’s household being more devout than mine, though.
“Oh? What makes you say that?” Father asks.
“Lack of effort, I suppose,” Blake says.
“Would either of you have any problems renewing your own baptismal vows?” He hands us each a sheet of paper with a list of questions, most of them pretty simple and direct.
Blake glances at me again. “I don’t think so,” I answer this time.
“Then, we’ll just settle the rest. There’s still time for you to get back into practice, isn’t there?” Father smirks at both of us.
“Yeah, sure,” Blake admits reluctantly.
“Do you mind if I address the elephant in the room?” Father begins again, and my stomach turns. “Hmm, sorry, that was a poor choice of words,” he crawfishes, laughing softly and making me smile. “I probably should have said, ‘your current situation.’”
Blake and I trade nervous looks before he speaks up. “We, uh … well, we’re having these babies together, and we aren’t married, if that’s what you mean.”
