Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Doc Louis was ecstatic with Nico’s medical proficiency and the modern knowledge he brought to the clinic. He told Nico, “Over the next six months or so, I plan to help out in a secondary role to you, and gradually I will do less and less so I can spend more time with my lovely Marguerite while I still have my faculties intact. I am not getting any younger, you know. We will have to determine whether the workload is too much for you, and you might want to start thinking about hiring my replacement.”

Nico brightened up at that and answered, “I have just the man—Otto Schubert. He was one of my fellow students whom I admired tremendously, and he didn’t seem too happy to be returning to Idaho. He’s extremely bright and wonderfully personable with patients. They all seemed to trust him implicitly. I’ll write to him straight away and see if he’d like to join us here. Also, Eden has made some inquiries with her friends from nursing school, and she ought to hear back from them soon. We might have more help than we need if everyone is interested.”

“Oh, Nico, you can never have too much help around here. While you were gone, the practice became so busy I could barely wait for your return. People are always going to get hurt and be sick, and this city is growing every day. Let us get some help and do it soon. We might also think about expanding the property or moving to a larger location.”

So, as the letters from nurses arrived, and two of them expressed an interest and availability, offers for interviews were sent back immediately.

Otto Schubert answered back from Idaho that he could be there in a month. Nico was thrilled to hear that. He was already feeling the stress of overwork, and he’d just begun. Professionally, however, he was as happy as a clam at high water. He loved the challenge of his new medical practice.

Matty continued to be concerned about the diocese and the debt he owed them if he were to quit being a deacon and not go through with becoming a priest.

“Why don’t we pay whoever is in charge a visit and straighten things out?” Eden asked.

“Bishop Morrow is in charge of the Los Angeles diocese. I’ve certainly heard Father Andrew invoke his name often enough. It might not be a bad idea to go speak with him, but why would you want to come?”

“Matty, first of all, I like spending time with you, and second, whatever you find out will have an impact on not only you, but also on Nico and me. Is there a reason you wouldn’t want me there with you? If you don’t, I’ll keep out of it. Or I’ll come along for moral support, if you like. It’s completely up to you.”

Matty reached up and stroked Eden’s cheek. Looking into her eyes, he answered, “Normally, I would answer that I need to do this on my own, but I find I have this growing need to be with you as much as possible. So, if you really want to accompany me, I will gladly accept the offer.” He kissed her sweetly and then pulled back saying, “I don’t even feel guilty kissing my best friend’s fiancée. What has become of me?”

“I don’t feel guilty either. I feel just right.” They both laughed and she said, “Let’s go see the man.”

“Maybe I should first call for an appointment,” Matty answered.

An hour later, the two of them were headed downtown to the bishop’s office, but not before Matty changed back into his clerical attire. “I think for this meeting, I need to do this,” he explained.

“Father Deacon Matthew Remington, how good to meet you at last. I understand that condolences are in order. I was sorry to hear from Father Andrew that your father passed recently.”

“Thank you, your Excellency.”

“And who is this lovely young woman accompanying you?”

“I’d like to introduce Eden Godwin… the fiancée of my best friend, and a most dear friend of mine as well.”

The bishop held out his hand, and Eden was suddenly struck with the worry of what to do. Was she supposed to kiss his ring? Shaking her head inwardly, she took his hand and gave him a firm handshake, saying, “I’m pleased to meet you, Bishop Morrow.” If he expected someone to kiss his ring, he needed to speak to someone who wasn’t raised Lutheran, she told herself. Besides, Matty hadn’t kissed anything.

His facial expression didn’t reveal whether or not she’d made a faux pas as he exclaimed, “Eden Godwin. What a lovely name your parents blessed you with.”

“Thank you, your… uh… sir.”

“Please, have a seat, and would either of you like some coffee? I can have some brought in right away.”

“No thank you, sir,” Matty answered. “We don’t want to take up a lot of your valuable time and sincerely appreciate you taking a moment to speak with us today. I have a few questions that have been preying on my mind, sir.”

“That’s most understandable, young man, especially as we are so near to the date when you are scheduled to take your final vows. I am slightly confused, however, why you came directly to me and not to your personal confessor, Father Andrew. He knows you so well, and he’s had a vested interest in your continued success on the road to becoming a priest. He has kept me updated on your stellar progress throughout your education, and I congratulate you for that. Father Andrew has also repeatedly assured me that were he to advance in the Hierarchy of Order to become, say, a bishop upon my retirement or advancement, that his parish would be in excellent hands with you.”

“That’s just it, sir. Father Andrew may be too personally invested. I have repeatedly expressed severe doubts about taking final vows. I’m afraid he’s not listening to me. I apologize for taking up your time with this matter, but I’m not getting anywhere with him.”

The bishop’s face showed a momentary shock, and then he schooled his featured back into an inscrutable mask. “Interesting. Please go on.”

“I hope my coming here isn’t unprofessional, but what I wanted to speak to you about is that he has told me over and over that I have a huge debt I owe the diocese for having paid all of my tuition and living expenses for the past several years. I was led to believe that my debt even preceded seminary, though now I understand that the earlier grades were actually tuition free. In any case, I need to know how much I owe back to the diocese if—” Matty hesitated and glanced at Eden before squaring his shoulders and correcting himself, “actually, when I take a position as a teacher rather than as a priest. I want to teach in a lay capacity, not as a deacon. The Vincentian fathers have offered me a job at their boys’ school here in Los Angeles.”

“And what is to preclude you from becoming a priest if you plan to teach at a parochial school anyway? I don’t think I see the problem.”

Matty hung his head for a second to gather his thoughts. He took a deep breath and looked the bishop in the eye. “I cannot live a celibate life. I am deeply and irrevocably in love, you see, Excellency. I have deep faith, and I love the church, but I cannot serve my community as a priest or even as a deacon. In fact, I have never expressed an interest in becoming a priest, but I have felt compelled to do so by duty because of the debt I have to pay.”

“Well. That’s something, isn’t it?” Bishop Morrow nodded thoughtfully. “It’s not unheard of for a young man to have second thoughts about taking the final step to become a priest. Perhaps you need more time to pray and reflect on your decision before making it final.”

“No, Excellency. This debt was placed on me as a child, and I never felt I had a choice—I just felt trapped. Now that I am an adult, I cannot go through with it, and I am tremendously sorry to the diocese for letting anyone down.”

“I see. Well, I’m sorry if this experience has given you grief. Taking final vows is supposed to be a joyous occasion in one’s life, not a life sentence of frustration and doubt. But I must explain something to you that I’m surprised you didn’t know. All seminarians have their tuition paid by their local diocese. Some areas are obviously wealthier than others, so some dioceses can be more generous than the poorer areas, and you come from the wealthiest in all of California. Your tuition and simple living expenses were not a burden to anyone, and I deeply regret that you may have been led to believe otherwise. If a seminarian leaves the program and does not become a priest, sometimes they are asked to repay half of the tuition, but we don’t have that stipulation here in Los Angeles. We are satisfied that we have sponsored a bright young man who will go on to serve his community in some positive way, priest or no. You will still be a tremendous asset to the Catholic Church as a lay teacher, and we are proud to have been able to provide you with the means to do so.”

Matty blinked for a moment, clearly surprised. Finally, he croaked, “Excellency, are you serious?”

Bishop Morrow chuckled. “I am not exactly known for telling fabrications, young man.”

“No, sir. I didn’t mean to imply…”

“Of course you didn’t. I just have to assume that the subject never came up in seminary among your peers because everyone was in the same boat, so to speak. If money isn’t an issue, it’s not often discussed, especially when you all had so many fascinating topics to discuss with your studies. You did enjoy the education at least, I hope? ”

Matty beamed at the Bishop. “Yes, sir, I truly did enjoy it. I love learning about religion and history. I’ve had a recent follow-up conversation with the boys’ college, and if I accept their offer, they want me to teach Latin and religious history in the fall. I’m looking forward to it. Seminary gave me the perfect background to teach what I enjoy.”

“Well, that’s splendid. And I wish you well. I just have to wonder why Father Andrew was less than forthcoming with you about your supposed debt to society, especially when you’ll be contributing in a positive way.”

“Oh, well, Father Andrew doesn’t know about the offer from St. Vincent’s. He hasn’t been accessible for me to discuss anything with him lately. I’m afraid he’s been avoiding me, actually, sir.”

“Well, that’s a bit odd. I think a conversation with him is in order. But don’t worry. He’ll come around when he hears you’ll be serving Los Angeles Catholics in a positive way. He’ll just have to find a new protégé if he wants to mentor his own replacement. It’s not easy finding someone who wants to become a priest and who is qualified to do so. He probably felt he’d found a gold mine in you and didn’t want to consider the alternative. Now, I have another appointment, so I’ll have to say goodbye. It was a pleasure meeting you and Miss Godwin. I wish you both the best of luck in your futures, and may God bless you.”

“Excellency, I just have one more quick question, if you don’t mind.” Bishop Morrow nodded, so he continued, “My friends Nico and Eden would like me to preside over their wedding. Is it acceptable for me to be the officiant knowing that I plan to resign from my position as deacon? I don’t want to act in any insincere fashion or cause their marriage to be null for any reason.”

“I see no problem with your participation. You are still a deacon with all of the privileges that provides until I receive a written letter of resignation from you.” He looked at Eden and said, “May you have a long and happy marriage. Now, I must go.”

They all stood, and Eden suppressed a sudden desire to curtsy to the man. Instead, they both thanked him and shook his hand once more. When they left his office, Eden wanted to squeal with joy and throw herself into Matty’s arms, but she straightened her posture and walked as sedately as she possibly could. She knew it wouldn’t do to throw herself at a man in a clerical collar outside of a church, so she whispered in his ear instead, “Take me home and make love to me. Now!”

“Oh, Eden, I’ve never felt so relieved in my life! Let’s go!” They hopped into the carriage and off they went—home to the Stark-James estate. “I can’t wait to get out of these clothes for once and for all.”

Eden smiled and whispered, “I can’t wait to get you out of them either. Too bad Nico is at the clinic today. We’ll just have to pretend he’s with us.”