“Ginger, why did I wait until the last minute to wrap gifts? I have to be at Emilio and Camila’s by seven tomorrow. Those boys will be prompt.”
He walked into the kitchen and noticed the red light blinking on his answering machine.
He pushed the button.
“Listen to me, you perverted sinner.” It was Maeve Sinclair’s voice. “Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael saw you two at the lights in San Jose holding hands. I told you to stay away from my boy. This is your last warning. If you come near him again, I’ll get a restraining order. Your kind can’t be trusted. Never contact him again.”
Bernard took deep breaths to prevent him from yelling at the phone.
Who does she think she is? She has no right to keep us apart.
He picked up the phone and called Rory. It went to his answering machine.
Bernard looked at his watch. It was midnight. Rory and his family would be at midnight mass at the church. He wouldn’t wait. He needed to confront this head-on. That woman had done everything in her power to keep them apart. He had to do something. Rory had to do something. They’d kept it a secret for months, but it was out. Rory’s mother knew. She would watch Rory like a hawk from now on. If he stepped out of bounds, Bernard was sure she’d be there to pull him back. He hated to think about it, but Rory had to make a choice. What did he want?
Bernard pulled into the parking lot of his former church at midnight. They decorated the church with poinsettias and a nativity scene. The church lights glowed white and lit up the sign, Saint Michael’s Roman Catholic Church. Baby Jesus was now in his crib, as the tradition called for. Bernard circled the parking lot for ten minutes. Cars packed the parking lot.
Typical. No one comes to church until Christmas midnight mass.
He parked across the street at the convenience store parking lot. It was closed, so he was confident the owners wouldn’t tow his car.
He made it to the large church doors. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Inside, he heard those who gathered singing the praises of Jesus.
When the song ended, the preacher looked up. “That was beautiful, we’re blessed today to have such a large turnout.”
The preacher looked out and his eyes locked on Bernard’s.
“Mr. Silva, you don’t belong here,” he said. “Unless you’ve come to repent for your wicked ways.”
“I’ve done nothing that warrants being kicked out of the church.”
“I would call attempting to corrupt our son enough to have you removed.” Mrs. Sinclair stood.
“You see.” The priest pointed. “Corrupting others in the church is grounds to uphold your excommunication.”
Bernard winced at the words. It’d been twelve years since they’d excommunicated him, and the words still stung. He knew the risk but came to the church.
“He didn’t corrupt me,” Rory called out.
“Dear, you don’t know what you’re saying,” Mrs. Sinclair said. “He’s filled your head with evil homosexual thoughts.”
The entire church watched the conflict unfold, but nobody moved to assist either side.
“You called me and told me to stay away from him,” Bernard said. “You have no right.”
“You called him?” Rory said to his mother, looking appalled.
“I have every right. You have evil thoughts and have given those thoughts to my poor sweet boy.”
“They’re not evil thoughts.” A voice next to Rory spoke up.
Mr. Sinclair stood and put his hands on Rory’s shoulders. Mrs. Sinclair stood speechless.
“Ronan, what has gotten into you?” Mrs. Sinclair asked.
“I will no longer sit by while you berate our son. I should’ve said something a long time ago.”
“How dare you,” she said. “Our son will be an abomination if he continues down this wicked path.”
