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I sat for the remainder of the mass in a daze. Waiting for a minute alone with him without the watchful eyes or the priest's voice echoing throughout, when I heard, “The mass has ended. You may now go in peace.” I breathed deeply, hoping I could do as he’d said.
Go in peace.
We stood, he shook a few hands, smiled and nodded a few more times, and then he pulled us away from the main room. Taking us toward the left side corridor where we waitedalone.
“Was any of that real?” I voiced my thoughts.
Lucca’s inked fingers held his wrist together in front of his relaxed body, and all I could focus on was the black ink rose on his hand.
“What was real, Katia?”
“You, here? Your devotion?” I spat quickly, with my back avoiding any chance of being seen. “Was it real, or was it just for your need to place your claim?”
Lucca took a step away from our distance and pulled my gaze away from his black rose to his eyes with his fingers on my chin.
“Don’t question my faith.” His low tone warned with displeasure. “And if you must know, all I tried to do was calm your worry by stating it wasn’t your duty to pay tithes anymore. It’s mine. It’s very simple, Katia.”
He dropped his hand from my face, along with the connection.
“It’s for the best,” he replied coldly. “Now turn around and smile, the priest is coming.”
Right, the lie. The lie I had to tell even in front of a priest. It felt wrong, so instead, I turned, took one step back to Lucca, and faced the priest with a slight but genuine smile.
“Mr. Moretti, a pleasure as always. Do you mind introducing me to the woman who filled the seat next to you this morning?” Big brown eyes and a wide smile turned to me.
The priest appeared to be in his late fifties to early sixties, and welcoming. The wrinkles on his face showed the joy and sincerity he’d given over time. With ease, his aura soothed me, and I relaxed in his presence. I wouldn't offer that easily to anyone, even to a priest, but it came almost naturally.
“Father, this is Katia, my fiancée.”
“A pleasure,” I said.
“The pleasure is all mine. Welcome to the church.” His hands stretched by his sides in offer. “Now, Lucca, what's this rash engagement you haven't mentioned to me? I must remind you there’s an order you must follow to vow this union before God.”
I glanced up to Lucca, eager to see how much truth he would reveal.
“It was quite sudden, but I brought her here as soon as I could, Father.” Not a lie. “I am aware of the order, and I will be sure to be here for the marriage class. Although, unfortunately, we will both be taking a step back from Sunday mass. Please understand, I wouldn’t be missing it if it wasn’t necessary.”
“I believe you, son.” I stared at his black cassock robe and his white Roman collar as he reached his hand out for Lucca. Lucca shook his hand, and the priest wrapped his free hand over Lucca’s inked fingers. “I know you are the faithful man your mother raised you to be.”
Lucca tensed behind me, and with a curt nod, their hands fell apart.
“Now, as for you, Miss Katia, may God be with you, and it was a pleasure meeting you.”
We left the church in silence and took each step down the small stairs until we met his running car. One of his men exited the driver’s side while Lucca opened the door for me. Our hand met as he helped me inside, and the door quickly shut. I watched him from the window as he spoke to his men before he walked in front of the car until he sat inside with the doors locked.
We sat in silence for a few long minutes before I asked, “How do you do it?”
“Be specific.”
“Walk into the church with the sins you carry?”
“How do you?” Lucca asked instead. He didn’t have to elaborate.
“I guess we do have something in common.”
He dropped the shift in gear but kept the car from moving forward, and he turned. “What’s that?”
“Both our mothers introduced us to the church.”
