Sinners and Saints

Sinners and Saints Chapter 11 - Big Old Jet Airliner

Half an hour after my take-off was scheduled, the monitor blips from “Delayed” to “Receiving.”  My heart sinks.  I was so hoping to see “Cancelled.” 

The front-desk attendant walks in the room, “Right – those your bags, Miss?” he points to my luggage. 

“Yes,” I nod, “Do you need me to get my carry-ons now?” 

He snorts, “Naw, it all gets stowed in the cabin on private flights.  I’ll just weigh it and get it to loading.”  He manages all of the cases at once, looking like a Sherpa in the process. 

“I’ll be back and then we can do the security screening,” he tells us.  Jamie clutches my hand harder. 

“Sounds like we need to start saying our goodbyes then,” Father Jonas stands, “A moment with you, Claire?” he asks. 

I nod and stand shakily.  I really, really don’t want to get on that plane. 

He walks me to the edge of the security line and Jojo, Clark and Jill descend on Jamie to engage him so we can have our privacy. 

“I want to talk to you about Eddie Bartholomew,” he says in a low voice, “I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but you saved that boy’s life that night, Claire.” 

I roll my eyes, “That’s a little extreme, Father,” I tell him, “I gave him a quickie in a convenience store bathroom.” 

He sighs.  I know he hates when I get vulgar or cuss, but even though he’s a priest, he knows that the Saint family doesn’t get its information over tea and finger-sandwiches, “Claire, the boy was suicidal.  He wasn’t panicked that he’d get fired from his job, he was panicked because he locked his gun in the car.  Jose is handling his case and he said that if it weren’t for you, he would have done it.” 

“Why me?” I ask. 

“He said that if a woman as beautiful as you took an interest in him then maybe he wasn’t as worthless as he thought,” Father Jonas puts his hand on my shoulder, “Considering everything Jose has been through and his own personal struggle with faith, I thought he would be the one to help Eddie the most.” 

I nod in agreement, “Jose knows about struggling with faith when it’s let you down,” I agree, “Anything on the other boys or that priest?” I ask, unable to keep the venom out of my voice over what that man did. 

“I believe the incubus at our meeting was the Martin that Eddie mentioned,” Father Jonas says, eyes sad, “Another one who slipped through the cracks.  We’re still working on finding the others.  Saint Anne’s isn’t being forthright with their records, but we’ll continue to push.” 

“Thank you, Father,” I reach up and plant a kiss on his cheek – a rare move for me, “Everything else ok?” 

“Yes,” he chuckles and his eyes sparkle at our long-disused affection, “Lupe and Armando and Jose are fine.  My office has been ‘updated’ and so has the parish vehicle.  I’m worried about you, Claire,” he sobers and looks at me.  It’s a look I haven’t ever seen from him, and a look that I haven’t seen ever since Dad sent me out on my first assignment. 

“Why?” I ask, “I’m a pretty tough cookie, ya’ know?” I try hard to keep it light with him, but he’s having none of it. 

“Do you love that man, Claire?” he asks me.  It makes me gulp and blush and force my tongue to the roof of my mouth and my eyes to tear up all at the same time. 

“I do, Father,” I manage in a whisper. 

“Claire,” he pulls me into a one-shouldered hug, “I so wish things were different for you, my dear.  I love you like you were my own daughter.  My own smart-assed, stubborn, aggravating daughter,” he chuckles, “But my daughter just the same.  I’ve never seen you so happy and you’re going to get your heart broken and you’ll be three-thousand miles away when it happens. I can’t do anything about it, and that breaks my heart also.”