Out of the Shadows by Betty Dargis

Author:Betty Dargis [Dargis, Betty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Betty Dargis
Published: 2021-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I christen thee Juan Mateo,” and Father Marcos sprinkled holy water on the nearly bald head of Mateo and Estevania’s four-month-old son, nene Juanito. For an instant, he lay stock-still in his father’s arms. Then he screwed up his handsome features and let out an outraged wail, bringing quiet chuckles from most of the family members assembled outside the chancel of the church. The calming coolness inside was a welcome contrast to the blistering heat outdoors.

“Bueno,” Gabi said, beaming. “It’s good Pedro didn’t make it. Now I get to be Juanito’s godfather.”

Isabella, just beginning to show she was in the family way herself, hugged Este. “In a few months, I’ll be asking you and Teo to do this for me and Claudio. Oh Este! I can hardly wait. I though it would never happen to me. Un esposo y un nene all in the same year!”

Estevania returned the embrace, hiding her face from Bella. As well as the two friends knew one another, it was so hard for Este’s disapproval of Claudio not to show in her eyes. He was nowhere near good enough for Bella, but in the euphoria that had obscured her usual good common sense since the day he had shown up in the village and claimed her heart with his brash shenanigans and wild schemes—whoever heard of an hombre like Claudio dreaming about raising prize bulls for the ring in a place like Sabana Grande—Isabella refused to see him as the rogue Este felt in her gut he was. How many broken hearts do you suppose he’s left in his wake? she wondered. And how many vengeful fathers have lain in ambush in a ditch, machete in hand, waiting to wreak justice for a fallen daughter’s honor? Dear Isabella. Pray God that Claudio won’t fracture this most pure and precious heart.

“You’d better ask us to be the godparents! This makes the fourth time you’ve been godmother for one of ours.”

Estevania broke away from Bella, announcing, “Let’s all get on over to our place. We’ll have dinner and some of Papa’s canita to celebrate Juanito’s christening. Then the menfolk who want to can mosey on over to the cockfights. Father Marcos, we’d be honored if you’d come too.”

“Thank you for inviting me, but I think I’d better stick close by here. Father Lucius is still pretty weak, and he might need me.”

“It was good to see him at Mass this morning, but, Ave Maria, from the looks of him he’s got a long way to go before he’s well,” Mama Consuela commiserated. “How long do you think they’re going to let you stay and fill in for him?”

“I would hope as long as he needs me. I feel really at home here, and useful too. Even though I’ve never taught children before, Father and I both thought it made sense for me to try my hand at it now that Sister Veronica has been recalled to Mayaguez.

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