Into the Shadows

Chapter 21: The City

When we arrived in London, we settled in a hotel in Seven Dials. It was cheap enough for a group of five and was more like an apartment than a hotel room. There were two bedrooms, each having two double beds, a full kitchen, a full bathroom, a half bathroom, and small living room. It was 450 pounds for the night and we checked in as soon as we arrived at three in the afternoon. 

The boys were ready to drop and I left them filter out of the living room into the bedrooms, so long as they promised to keep the bedroom doors open just in case. While they slept, I made a call. 

"Pronto, Questo è il segretario di padre Bianchi, come posso aiutarti?" the woman who answered the phone said. 

"Buon pomeriggio signorina, parli inglese?" I asked hopefully. 

"Yes, this is Father Bianchi's office, how can I help you?" she sounded a bit miffed, but quickly seemed to get over it. 

"Hello, ma'am, my name is Amelia Cauldwell. Can I-" she cut me off. 

"Cauldwell, as in Porter Cauldwell?" I could hear the surprise in her voice.

"Yes, he's my dad. Can I please speak to Father Bianchi?" I asked nicely. 

"Please hold for just a minute, I will transfer the call to his office phone."

I heard the hold music, an eerie piano version of Ave Maria, and waited for a moment until I heard the woman again, but it was distant and muffled and she was speaking Italian. All of a sudden she stopped and a familiar voice came through the phone. 

"Amelia? Amore? Is that you?" His voice made me smile. 

"Hi Uncle Leo, how are you?"

"My dear girl, I am great now that I hear your voice. I missed you very much, what can Uncle Leo do for you?"

"I missed you too," I laughed a bit, "My friends and I are in London right now and some stuff happened so I wanted to come and talk to you. Are you still at the Vatican?"

"Yes, I am still here. Come and visit, I would love to see you. I will get you accommodations and have my secretary book a train for you. How many, amore?" 

"Five, please, I'll pay you back when we arrive."

"Nonsense! This is the least I do for you! Do you want anything else? I know a lot of people."

I laughed again, "Can you have a Father here in London bless us before we leave? Like a safe travels and protection from evil blessing?" 

"Easy! Where are you in London? I send you to the best and only the best, Amore!" 

"We're in Seven Dials, near St. Giles. Do you know the priest there?" 

"No, my dear, but we know the Father at St. Patricks in Soho. It's Father Wright, he is fresh out of the seminary now and is the residing pastor there for the moment."

"Daniel became a priest?!" I was flabbergasted. I never saw that one coming. 

"Yes, he did very well in his studies and is also a part of the program if you need help in that department, amore. I have my secretary book the tickets out of London for tomorrow afternoon. You have to transfer trains in Paris but you should be here the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll see you then Uncle Leo!"

"Ti amo, Amore mwah." he made an exaggerated kiss sound into the phone. 

"Ti amo!" I replied, mimicking his kiss before hanging up the phone. 

This one is going to be a doozy to explain to the boys. I'll just tell them at dinner. 

Two hours later, I got a call from a restaurant confirming a reservation I had never made. I was very confused until the hostess the meal was already put on a 'Mr. Bianchi's' card. I laughed and confirmed the reservation for six o'clock before waking the boys up. 

They were tired and confused, but also hungry so the mention of free food made rousing them from their beds a piece of cake. Just as we were ready to go, a call came from the front desk. A car had come to pick us up. 

We rushed down and hopped in the big black Mercedes SUV and arrived to the restaurant 20 minutes later. The chauffeur opened the door and helped me out and the boys followed me into the restaurant. It seemed pretty nice, maybe a little too nice. Uncle Leo always was a little over the top. 

"Hello," the hostess waved as we walked in, "How can I help you tonight? Do you have a reservation?" 

"Yes, I confirmed one about an hour ago under Amelia for five." I replied. 

"Hmm, let me check that for you and then we'll get you seated." she smiled and looked down at her list. 

She made a strange face. 

"Is there a problem, miss?" I asked. 

"Oh, sorry, seems we got the reservation wrong. I have an Amelia listed but the table is for six." 

"That must be a slip up on my end, sorry," I smiled, "It's just the five of us."

"Mellie!" I heard a voice behind me, "I hope you weren't trying to get rid of me!"

My eyes went wide and my hands started to shake as I turned around to see Danny Wright in the doorway, all dressed up in his priest collar. 

"Danny!" I threw my arms around him, "I missed you! I thought I wouldn't see you until tomorrow!" 

"No way, kid, I wasn't going to wait that long knowing you were in London. It's so good to see you." he held me tight. 

"Hey, Lia, who's this?" 

Right. I forgot. I haven't told the boys anything yet. 

"Sorry," I turned back to them, "Introductions are in order. Sam, Colby, Jake, and Corey, this is Daniel Wright. He's the new pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Soho here in London. Danny, these are my bosses, I work on their film crew. Did Uncle Leo send you?" 

"He called me this afternoon and told me to meet you all for dinner. I rushed right over after five o'clock mass finished. It's nice to finally meet some of Mellie's friends."

"Nice to meet you to," Sam spoke up, "We will be glad to accept any kind of blessing, even though Lia hasn't really explained what's going on yet." 

"I haven't heard the full story either, let's take our seats and have a chat." Danny smiled and motioned for us to follow the waiting hostess.