Finding Angelo (The Wine Lover's Daughter, Book 2) by Christa Polkinhorn

Author:Christa Polkinhorn [Polkinhorn, Christa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookworm Press
Published: 2016-06-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

The following morning, Sofia and Miriam had a quick breakfast of cereal and coffee before driving to the Benedictine monastery nearby.

The trip in Miriam’s Fiat took half an hour. It was a sunny late spring day and Sofia, relaxed after a good night’s sleep, was able to enjoy the beautiful landscape. The dark-green meadows took turns with fields of colorful flowers. They passed a few vineyards where the vintners were busy checking and cleaning the vines.

She thought of her vineyard in Vignaverde, her sister Julietta, and the Italian family, working in the fields as were Nicholas and her American family. She missed them. She hadn’t been able to talk much with her sister or the Santuccis, and she began to feel guilty for abandoning them. Perhaps after her search for Angelo was over, she could extend her stay for a week to make up for her absence. She yearned to be with Julietta. Fortunately, Julietta would be with her in the fall. Sofia was looking forward to having her sister with her on a more permanent basis.

Sofia, still nervous about being followed, turned around and glanced back, but to her relief, there was no blue Honda anywhere. They came to the sign for the monastery and drove up the hill.

After parking the car, they walked toward the open gate of the monastery. Two monks stepped outside. One of them pointed a key at one of the few cars in the parking lot. The unlock mechanism made a quick beeping sound. Sofia was surprised to see monks drive what looked like a decent car. She had imagined they would walk, use a bicycle, or drive an old battered car. Then again, her education on priests and monks came from TV shows such as Father Brown, which she occasionally watched.

“Let’s ask them,” Miriam said and waved at the two men. One of them was young, tall, and clean-shaven and the older one had a bushy black-and-gray beard. Both were clothed in the traditional long black habit. Miriam greeted them in Italian and asked if they could speak to the abbot. The two men glanced at each other, then at the women. The older one smiled and told them that this was a monastery—for men.

“I know that,” Miriam said, laughing. “I don’t want to join. We are looking for a male relative who might have joined the order.”

The monks gave them directions to where they would find the abbot, then nodded goodbye and left. Sofia and Miriam entered through the portal of the abbey, which led into a courtyard with a three-span portico. On the right side was a chapel and a small room that looked like a foyer. A monk sat at a desk, reading something. He looked up startled when they entered, then greeted them politely.

Miriam explained the reason for being here. Sofia was glad she didn’t have to use her faulty Italian. The monk picked up the phone and pressed a button, then talked to someone, presumably the abbot.

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