Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 24

Phthartic
Deadly

Aria stood outside staring at the path that skirted the wood, and ran along the crest of the hill through two meadows, and round the churchyard wall. This wasn't something she had taken notice of yesterday as she stood at the bench talking to the priest.

Veronica took Aria's shaking hand into hers and gave it a gentle squeeze as to reassure her nervous cousin.

"I'm right here for you cuz," Veronica let out a small smile.

To say the girls were mesmerized when they stepped in the church would be an understatement. The fantastic architecture and exquisite murals reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption's house. Rows of benches lined up both flanks of the path that led up to the alter. Everything was clean, bright, and tasteful except for the booth at the far back of the room.

This booth was the antithesis to that room—constrained and formal. The mere look of it made a person want to confess. Aria guessed that was the exact point of it anyway.

Aria stepped into the booth, taking a seat on the hard wooden bench.

"Father?" she called out a little unsure.

"Speak my child."

"So how to I do this?"- Aria chuckled, "- is this the part where I say, forgive me, father for I have sinned?"

"Close, but the truth is I didn't call you to the confession booth for your confession but rather for mine."

Aria sat there in confusion. What could a priest possibly have to confess to her?

"Do you know the reason why the Toretto's never shed blood in a church?"

"No. It's an unspoken rule among us," Aria stated plainly.

"It's because a Torreto left the life of crime for the path of God."

"Do you mean-"

"Do you know how the confession booth works? Whatever is spoken within this booth is private and confidential and cannot be carried out of this room."

"I understand."

"My name is Fernando Torreto. I'm Antonio's and Andres papa. Your grandfather. When I left the life to become a priest I changed my name to Fernandez. Father Fernandez."

Aria opened her mouth to speak but she could form the words. Tio never mentioned his dad and whenever she and Veronica asked he would just shrug and say he left. It all made sense now.

"Aria," the older man called out.

"Yes, Father."

"The reason I called you here is to end an era for good. Anthony, Veronica, and especially you need this to be finished. This is the only way you all will be able to carry on with your lives. And so going against my much better judgement as a priest, I'm here to tell you as a grandfather, the one you seek is here. In the nunnery, she just gave birth to a beautiful daughter. She plans on leaving tonight, I cannot tell you her exact plan but I hear it will be around midnight. So end this Aria, for once and for all."