Keeping Faith by Cindy Bradford (serial 32)
Chapter 11 Part II
Cindy Bradford
By the end of September, Patrick was thoroughly immersed in his studies. When the phone rang, he jumped. It rarely rang and he had considered not even having it connected, but decided it was a good idea in case someone from his family needed to get in touch with him quickly.
“Patrico, how are you?”
He recognized Stefano’s voice immediately. “Very well, studying hard.”
“Can you take a break and come to the opening of crush this weekend? I would like for you to do the ‘Blessing of the Harvest.’ It would mean a great deal to Carmella and me.”
That was all Stefano had to say to Patrick who felt a keen sense of respect and love for the couple.
“I would be honored. My last class ends at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. I need to check the train schedule, but I’m sure I could get the first one after four o’clock.”
“I will look at the schedule here and assume that is your train and be at the station to pick you up.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
“Carmella sends her love.”
“And I, mine,” Patrick offered.
“See you Thursday.”
“Thanks, Stefano.”
After he hung up the phone, Patrick began to worry, realizing he had never been to a harvest. He made a note to ask someone at the seminary how he needed to prepare.
Both Stefano and Carmella were at the station to pick him up.
“It is so good to see you, my love,” as she kissed him on both cheeks. Stefano shook his hand hard and then pulled him into his usual bear hug.
“How is Elisabette?
“Patrico, she is doing wonderfully. Only two and a half more months and we will have a grandbaby. I am so excited. I am going to Milan as soon as the first labor pain hits. Guliano promises that he will call. It is going to be a marvelous Christmas this year with the new little blessing. I know that you want to be with your family, but we are glad you agreed in your letters to share the holidays with us. I might let you hold the baby a minute,” she teased.
“With a grandbaby, the house will never be the same again,” Stefano managed to get in.
“You must see the nursery. Elisabette and I painted and decorated it on her last visit. I really liked it as it was, but I admit it was dated. Elisabette wanted to use some brighter colors. I rather liked the soft, subtle ones, but this is a new generation.” Elisabette told me, “I must get with the program!”
The crush was even more enjoyable than Patrick expected. For two days, he ate and drank and visited with the locals. When it came time to do the final blessing of the harvest, he looked down at his hands, stained red, smiled and began:
“God watereth the hills from above; the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works. He bringeth forth grass for the cattle, and green herb for the service of man; that he may bring food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man,” – Psalms 104:13-15.
On Sunday morning when it was time to leave, Stefano handed him a large envelope.
“What is this?”
“It is an early Christmas present.”
Fumbling with the envelope, he finally managed to see what was inside: two round-trip plane tickets from Boston to Rome.
“I’m sorry, but I guess I don’t understand.”
“They are for you to bring your parents here. If you cannot be there for the holidays, they can be here. They may already have family plans for the twenty-fifth, but they can come here whenever is best for them. We will be here during the entire holidays.”
Stunned, Patrick said, “No, this is too much.”
“Patrico, it is a gift. You must take it or our feelings will be hurt.”
He paused, thinking about his parents. “It would truly be a wonderful opportunity for them. My mother is in the beginning stages of multiple sclerosis. If she is ever going to see the Vatican, it must be soon. I hope they will accept. Seeing Rome is a dream for all Catholics, but they would never allow themselves to spend that kind of money. There has just not been much money left over ever for anything that they would deem unnecessary.” He stopped, overcome with emotion, “They’ve never treated themselves to life’s extras. I’ll call them in the morning and let you know as soon as I know what they decide. You are such wonderful friends and much too good to me,” he said, turning to hug both Carmella and Stefano.
“You are a special gift to us. Now we must go if you are not to miss your train,” Carmella added, wiping tears from her eyes.
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After much persuasion, Patrick’s parents agreed to Christmas in Italy, although Patrick knew the decision had not come easy for them. At first they told Patrick they needed to stay until the 26th so the other children could be at the family home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but his brothers and sisters convinced them that they needed to be in Rome for the Pope’s blessing on the 25th and enjoy the sights during the most holy of holidays. Once the decision was made, Patrick’s mother, in her excitement telephoned every few days, with questions.
“Mom, if you keep spending all your money on long distance calls, you won’t be able to buy a pizza here,” Patrick teased, obviously pleased that they were thrilled about this once in a lifetime trip.
He called Stefano and Carmella again to confirm the plans and then sat down at his desk.
Dear Mom,
Here are the tickets, as you can see. I have made your plane reservations for the evening of the 23rd. You’ll arrive in Rome early the morning of the 24th. You’ll probably want to rest some and then we will go to dinner on Christmas Eve and back to my apartment. There is a vacant apartment here which I have rented for you on the 24th, 25th, and 26th. I want to show you around the Vatican, including St. Peters, the museums and the Sistine Chapel. Also you’ll want to see the Colosseum and the best of Ancient Rome. We’ll go to the annual December 25 Urbi et Orbi Blessing from the Pope at his window, overlooking St. Peter’s. I have to take you to the Christmas Fair on Piazza Navona. It’s a holiday market that you just need to experience. On the 27th we’ll take the train to Stefano and Carmella’s. So you do not have to ride the train any more than necessary, Carmella said she’ll drive you all around Tuscany on the 28th and then to Florence to see the Duomo on the 29th. The 30th will be a nice day to just relax or see whatever you have missed. We’ll ride the train back the next day for some light sightseeing and then you’ll fly out the next day.
Hope this sounds good to you. I can’t wait!
Love,
Patrick
His mother called as soon as she received the mail. “Patrick, we are so excited. Please tell Carmella and Stefano we can’t wait. This will be the best trip of our lives. Your dad’s beside himself. Everybody at the station is going to be sick of hearing about this,” she laughed.
≈≈≈
Seeing his parents’ faces made the hectic week worth every minute. The excitement in their voices filled Patrick with gladness. His dad seemed more relaxed than he had seen him in years, smoking cigars with Stefano and swapping stories. Although it was physically difficult for his mother to keep pace, she was a trooper and pushed herself to see everything Patrick had planned, snapping pictures as fast as the shutter allowed.
It gave him an odd feeling to see his parents in Italy. He tried to understand why. Maybe because as a kid he never saw them stray far from Boston satisfied to center their whole world in a few square miles. Now, he was showing them places they had only read about and that pleased him.
At the airport, he felt incredible loneliness as he waved good-bye to them. Slinging his jacket over his shoulder, he walked away aimlessly.