Il Pane Della Vita (26 page)

“Or he could have bought it and wore it so
he would fit in.”

“Also, the cowl w
as up. They said the monks wouldn’t use the cowl unless it was raining or snowing.”

“How did he get in?”

“We’re still working on that, and we’re still trying to find out how he and Brother Pietro got out. Brother Donato was pretty sure he saw Brother Pietro at the gate as soon as the recessional broke up. But somehow Brother Pietro turned back and was replaced by the imposter. Brother Donato thought he heard the footsteps come up behind him and pass him, leading the stranger to Brother Pietro’s front door.”

“Did you ask any of the other
eremiti
if they saw Brother Pietro change his mind at the gate?”

“
Yes. No one else mentioned seeing him at all. I talked to a hermit who went back into the church himself. He never said anything about seeing Brother Pietro there either. It’s liked he disappeared. But how did he do it?” The nun suddenly stood up straight.
Maybe I do know
. “I’ll get back to you by email if I find out more about the weapon, Monte. I just thought of another lead.”

Russo put down his pen and rubbed his eyes. Trying to keep up with the younger seminarians was not easy. He looked at the framed picture of Regina that Ciana had sent him a year earlier. She was gorgeous. Then he reached into the drawer and pulled out the letter that came with it.

Dearest Dante,

All is going well here. I didn’t go home with Papà. I stayed here with Regina for three weeks before taking a job with a doctor in the village. He paid better and loved my background. I was able to hire an old woman in our building to watch Regina during the day.

I have included a picture of your daughter, and I talk about her incessantly. I know she can’t w
ait to see you. Hopefully you’ll be able to visit us on holidays. We don’t go to church here. I decided to go to the church where we were married to have her baptized. We’ll wait for a number of months before we do. Maybe you can plan to be with us there.

All our love,

Ciana and Regina.

There was
a knock at his door, and he dropped the letter back into the desk drawer before answering it. The framed picture remained.

Ciana bought cans of baby food at the store before returning to their apartment. The woman who babysat Regina smiled
and got up as Ciana walked in.

“Sorry I’m late, said Ciana.
“If you don’t have the time to fix dinner, I have leftover soup.”

The woman thanked
her but left Ciana and Regina to manage the meal on their own.

“We got a letter from
Papà,” Ciana said, reaching into her coat pocket. “Let’s see what he has to say about that visit.” After running her finger under the flap and unfolding the paper, she read the words out loud.

Dear Ciana
.

Thank you f
or the picture of Regina. She’s beautiful indeed. The wisps of blond hair must be soft to touch. All my seminarian brothers say they think she’s charming and ask to see a picture of you, my sister, too.

My
studies are going very well. I’m trying hard to make Father Valerio proud. The other students are so young, Ciana. I can’t believe the energy they have. I must work ten times harder to keep up with them. But I really feel I’m doing what God wants me to…

Ciana grimaced
but dared not say anything in front of Regina. She began to read again.

I’
m very concerned about you and Regina living there alone. You went to work so early. You have to make the money that you turn around and give the old lady when your daughter still needs a mother. Even though your father remains angry, I suggest that you go to your father and ask him to forgive you. Regina deserves to be brought up by her mother in a lifestyle you and your father can offer her. Perhaps you should ask Father Valerio to give you penance for putting your own career above that of your daughter.

Her voice broke. She gazed through the tears that flooded her eyes and could no longer make out the letters he so perfectly formed. She
shredded the papers and tossed them into the fire. Then she picked up her daughter, rocked her, and held her on her hip as she pulled the baby food from the boiling water.

Two and a half years past and all was quiet. The
n one morning when Ciana got to work, the doctor called her into his office. “Sit down, Ciana. I’m afraid things aren’t working out here. The woman who quit before you now plans to return. If you want a reference, I’d happy to write one. You have done a fine job here, but I believe it would be best if I bring back the woman who worked for me for so many years.

Ciana left the office in a daze. What was she to do now? She would not even be able to afford the rent at the end of the week. “She stopped to look at shop windows on her walk home, but instead of coming up with plans, her mind remained cloudy. As she rounded the corner to her apartment building, her eyes began to fill again.
By the time she climbed to her front door, she had made up her mind. She pocketed her last paycheck and packed as much of their possession as she could take in one bag. She and Regina took the train to Salvi and arrived soon after Russo, now Father Teo, was settled in his new church, San Mattia. Ciana rented a small apartment off the main square. When funds got low, she wheeled her toddler to the rectory and discreetly asked Russo to give her a portion of his paycheck.

“You don’t act like you want us around,” she said to Russo during one visit.

“What do you mean? I love seeing
you and Regina. We have to watch it though. She’s beginning to repeat everything we say to each other. What if she…”

“Nonsense. She won’t say anything to the old ladies in the office.”

“One of them already asked who the father was. She said Regina kept repeating ‘papà’ but there didn’t seem to be any father around.”

“We’ve stayed away from the church so you wouldn’t get embarrassed.”

“No, it’s important that you come. I’m supposed to be instructing you during our ‘appointment.’ They’ll wonder why you come here, but never show up at Mass. Did you get a job with one of the local doctors?”

“No, do I need to? The purpose of your getting a parish was so
you would make enough money so I could stay home and care for Regina.”

“I thought you were happier with a job. I think our agreement was that you go back to your father. You know he wants to be closer to his granddaughter. He only
claimed to have disowned you because he thought I only wanted your inheritance. Well, I’m out of the picture now. He’ll take you back without me there.”

“I like it here with you. I thought you loved us. Let us enjoy being together,” she insisted, pushing the stroller out the door.
“I’ll make an appointment for our next lesson with the secretary. See you soon.”

Father Teo
lasted only a couple of years at San Mattia. He left without telling Ciana where he was headed. The mother with auburn hair and small blond child would soon have no money on which to live. She would finally have to ask her father to take them in.