Chapter 28

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

A few days after the wedding, Matty decided he’d better go see Father Andrew to clear the air and make sure there was no misunderstanding. He didn’t want Father Andrew to feel horrible, even if he’d been manipulative. Nico and Eden weren’t so sure about this idea. They pointed out that although Matty had a heart of gold, not everyone was as giving or forgiving.

Matty heard their concerns, but he firmly believed that the older man had been a valued friend until he’d gone too far. Matty wanted to make sure Father Andrew knew he still cared about the man’s feelings.

When Matty arrived at the church, Sister Mary Gertrude was nowhere to be found. The interior door was open, so Matty went straight to Father Andrew’s office. He found Father Andrew there, packing up the contents of his office into wooden crates.

The older man was startled by the sight of Matty standing in his doorway in street clothes. “What are you doing here?” he snarled. “Have you come to gloat?”

“Not at all, Father. I came to see if you were alright.”

“I’m not—thanks to you.”

“Where are you going?”

“Bishop Morrow has reassigned me to what he has assured me is going to be a ‘challenging and exciting new adventure’ for me.”

“Hmm. That sounds a lot like what you told me when you shipped me off to what felt like jail.”

“I was protecting you!”

Matty sighed. “I understand and I’m grateful, but you could have managed that without all of the lying. The classes were good, but the lack of contact with the outside world was stifling. I’ve made peace with it, though, and I’ll be using my education for something wonderful. I wanted you to know that.” Matty watched as Father Andrew stuffed some books into a box with a lot more force than was necessary. “So, where are you heading?”

“The diocese is trying to establish more of a Catholic presence in the Mojave Desert of all places, so I’m being sent to build a church in Barstow. Bishop Morrow told me I’d done such a good job working with you during your years of suffering and strife, I was a natural to go work in the desert where I’d no doubt find plenty of worthwhile challenges. He also encouraged me to brush up on my Spanish.”

“I wasn’t aware you spoke Spanish.”

“I don’t.”

Matty tried to hide his surprise. He knew next to nothing about Barstow—onlythat it was a new train depot, but the Mojave Desert always sounded to him like hell on earth. He imagined smothering heat and plenty of rattlesnakes. Apparently, the bishop hadn’t taken kindly to Father Andrew’s subterfuge and cloaked his “assignment” in words that made it sound like a splendid new experience.

“Well then, I wish you the best of luck with your new parish. Who’s taking over here?”

“I don’t know, but eventually it could have been you if you weren’t so pig-headed.”

“I never wanted a church, Father. I never wanted to become a priest either. I just went along with the process because I had no other choice and was led to believe some things that weren’t true. But now I’m happy to say that I’ll be teaching—in a lay capacity—at the Vincentian boys’ school where Nico and I were students, and I’m quite pleased about that turn of events. I hope you can be happy for me.”

“Delighted. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of packing to do.”

Softly, Matty said, “It never would have happened, Father. ”

The priest looked up sharply at Matty, and the pain in his eyes was clear. “Not if you never gave me… it … a chance.”

“My heart was always Nico’s, and you know it.”

“You gave it to him too young. You could have learned… if you had just listened…”

“I’m married to two wonderful people now, Father. I’ve never been happier. Maybe you can take some joy in that knowledge since you profess to care about me. A truly loving heart is not a selfish one.”

Father Andrew grumbled something unintelligible.

“Also, I never wanted to take vows and cast them aside by not remaining celibate. It’s just wrong, Father. I cannot lie to God.”

Matty realized that Father Andrew had a tear streaking down his cheek, so he reached out and grasped his hand. “Be well, sir. I wish you luck and happiness wherever you go.”

Matty turned to leave.

Father Andrew had no reply for him.