room.
Nick doubled back. “I almost forgot, Vin, Ma wanted to know if Angela likes pancakes in the morning because she’s going to make them for breakfast.”
Kate stifled a laugh before pulling a grinning Nick toward the stairs.
****
Kate sat in the pew in St. Christopher’s church and tried to force her mind to focus on Father Dave’s sermon. It wasn’t working.
She kept remembering yesterday afternoon and the awkwardness around Edward. Everything had been fine while they were at the restaurant, but they were both silent on the ride back to her parents’ house. The lack of sleep from the night before had her feeling bitchy, and she hadn’t wanted to start another argument with him.
Although she’d invited him to stay for dinner, he declined, claiming he had plans later that evening. Kate wondered what type of plans he had and with whom. Clenching her hands, she tried to block out images of Edward with another woman. What right did she have to be jealous? None. Besides, maybe it was for the best if he had other distractions.
Following mass, she waited with her mother in the foyer until most of the congregation had left. Father Dave was talking with some parishioners, and her mother was lighting a candle. After a few minutes, the priest approached them.
“Carmen, Kate, thank you both for staying,” Father Dave said.
“We’re glad to be here, Father,” Carmen said.
“Let’s go to my office so we can talk,” he said.
They followed him through a side door that led to the back of the church.
“As you know, we often do various fundraisers to support St. Vincent’s orphanage. This year, in addition to the food drive, we want to have a toy drive and host a Christmas party for the kids.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Carmen said.
“How can we help?” Kate asked.
He paused at outside his office door and gave Kate a gentle smile. “Exactly the question I hoped you’d ask. Come, there are some people I’d like you to meet.”
They followed him into his small but tidy office. Prominently displayed behind his desk was a portrait of Jesus that appeared hand-painted. A stained-glass window cast light onto several small statues of the Blessed Mother surrounded by flowers. The light scent of incense permeated the air, and Kate had to fight to keep from sneezing.
Two adults and a child sat on the couch and rose when they entered the room. The man was tall with dark hair that stuck up in a cowlick in the back, reminding her of an adult Harry Potter. The woman came up to his shoulder and had long light brown hair.
“Carmen, Kate, I’d like you to meet Father Dominic and Sister Theresa from St. Vincent’s Orphanage. Father, Sister, this is Carmen and Kate DiFrancesco.”
They exchanged greetings and shook hands. The child had risen, too, and was hiding behind the sister’s skirt.
“And this little guy is Lucas Black, a resident at St. Vincent’s,” Father Dominic said.
“Come say hello, Lucas,” Sister Theresa encouraged, grasping his arm and easing him alongside her.
“Hello,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on the ground.
“Hi, Lucas. I’m Kate and this is my mother Carmen. It’s nice to meet you.”
He gave her a timid glance before staring at the floor again and moving closer to Sister Theresa. Kate cringed at the emptiness in his eyes.
“I asked you all here today to discuss the plans for the Christmas Party,” Father Dave said. “As I started to explain, this year we’re going to host a Christmas Party at the orphanage complete with food, a pageant, and presents for the kids.”
“What do you need us to do?” Carmen asked.
“I need someone to coordinate the food drive, the food for the party, decorations, and gifts. Sister Theresa is working on the pageant but probably can use some help with costumes.
“I know it’s asking a lot, Carmen, but I was hoping you could coordinate this with help from a few other members of the parish I’ve recruited.”
“I’d love to,
Nick doubled back. “I almost forgot, Vin, Ma wanted to know if Angela likes pancakes in the morning because she’s going to make them for breakfast.”
Kate stifled a laugh before pulling a grinning Nick toward the stairs.
****
Kate sat in the pew in St. Christopher’s church and tried to force her mind to focus on Father Dave’s sermon. It wasn’t working.
She kept remembering yesterday afternoon and the awkwardness around Edward. Everything had been fine while they were at the restaurant, but they were both silent on the ride back to her parents’ house. The lack of sleep from the night before had her feeling bitchy, and she hadn’t wanted to start another argument with him.
Although she’d invited him to stay for dinner, he declined, claiming he had plans later that evening. Kate wondered what type of plans he had and with whom. Clenching her hands, she tried to block out images of Edward with another woman. What right did she have to be jealous? None. Besides, maybe it was for the best if he had other distractions.
Following mass, she waited with her mother in the foyer until most of the congregation had left. Father Dave was talking with some parishioners, and her mother was lighting a candle. After a few minutes, the priest approached them.
“Carmen, Kate, thank you both for staying,” Father Dave said.
“We’re glad to be here, Father,” Carmen said.
“Let’s go to my office so we can talk,” he said.
They followed him through a side door that led to the back of the church.
“As you know, we often do various fundraisers to support St. Vincent’s orphanage. This year, in addition to the food drive, we want to have a toy drive and host a Christmas party for the kids.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Carmen said.
“How can we help?” Kate asked.
He paused at outside his office door and gave Kate a gentle smile. “Exactly the question I hoped you’d ask. Come, there are some people I’d like you to meet.”
They followed him into his small but tidy office. Prominently displayed behind his desk was a portrait of Jesus that appeared hand-painted. A stained-glass window cast light onto several small statues of the Blessed Mother surrounded by flowers. The light scent of incense permeated the air, and Kate had to fight to keep from sneezing.
Two adults and a child sat on the couch and rose when they entered the room. The man was tall with dark hair that stuck up in a cowlick in the back, reminding her of an adult Harry Potter. The woman came up to his shoulder and had long light brown hair.
“Carmen, Kate, I’d like you to meet Father Dominic and Sister Theresa from St. Vincent’s Orphanage. Father, Sister, this is Carmen and Kate DiFrancesco.”
They exchanged greetings and shook hands. The child had risen, too, and was hiding behind the sister’s skirt.
“And this little guy is Lucas Black, a resident at St. Vincent’s,” Father Dominic said.
“Come say hello, Lucas,” Sister Theresa encouraged, grasping his arm and easing him alongside her.
“Hello,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on the ground.
“Hi, Lucas. I’m Kate and this is my mother Carmen. It’s nice to meet you.”
He gave her a timid glance before staring at the floor again and moving closer to Sister Theresa. Kate cringed at the emptiness in his eyes.
“I asked you all here today to discuss the plans for the Christmas Party,” Father Dave said. “As I started to explain, this year we’re going to host a Christmas Party at the orphanage complete with food, a pageant, and presents for the kids.”
“What do you need us to do?” Carmen asked.
“I need someone to coordinate the food drive, the food for the party, decorations, and gifts. Sister Theresa is working on the pageant but probably can use some help with costumes.
“I know it’s asking a lot, Carmen, but I was hoping you could coordinate this with help from a few other members of the parish I’ve recruited.”
“I’d love to,
Similar Books
