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When she left after mass, the aroma of her perfume still lingered. He really could not get her out of his mind all day. He wondered to what family her husband was connected. Maybe he would find out from Danny. He knew his cousin would wonder why he would be interested in such information. He just had to know.
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Later that day Danny and Michelle came by to see him. They wanted to renew their vows. He was thrilled. They both looked so happy. Danny was teasing Michelle about her cooking saying he wasn�t sure if he should renew . he may end up starving to death. Michelle was not happy with that remark and Danny withdrew his statement.. claiming insanity.
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"Danny , you remember my asking you about that woman yesterday? Just who is her husband familiar with.. I mean.. what "
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Danny answered quickly.. not wanting Michelle to hear about family business.
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"Riviera.. why Ray?"
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"Oh, that�s what I was afraid of.. I just wondered.. "
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Danny leaned in toward Ray and whispered.. "Let�s drop this , shall we?"
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"Sure" Ray invited them to the office to discuss the renewal of their vows.
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Late that night the phone rang, he picked up fully expecting to be notified of a death or some one needing last rites.
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It was her.
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"Father , I need to talk.. can you meet me.. please.. I wouldn�t ask ..but he hit me and I think he finally left the house. I am afraid of him , really afraid this time. "
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"Where are you?"Ray asked. He knew this was going to be the biggest mistake of his life.
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"Meet me at the coffee house near the university. It should be almost empty by this time. I am sorry .. I really need to talk. I will be in a Porsche coupe.. silver.. I will wait in the lot"
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"I�ll be there in 15 minutes." Ray said
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Ray drove down the tree lined streets toward the campus. A block away was the small shopping center with the coffee shop. He pulled into the parking lot and saw the silver Porsche parked off away from any other cars. He pulled in along side. She was sitting in the car her head in her hands. Ray got out and tapped on the window. She looked up ,startled and then smiled and rolled down the window.
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He could see that her cheek was bruised and her eye was beginning to blacken.
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" What happened.. ?" Ray opened the door and she stood up next to him.
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" He hit me, Father.. I told him to get out. I am glad he did because I almost went for the gun in the night stand. He has never really done this before, grabbed my arm or twisted my wrist but never ,... he hit me with his fist this time. It is getting worse"
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They got back into Ray�s car and she started to cry. "I am so humiliated.. even more than hurt, you know? How could I let this happen to my life.. I know better. I am really quite smart.." she laughed
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"Emotion has nothing to do with smart ,Therese, I am afraid it rules us all sometimes"
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She leaned her head on his shoulder and cried harder now. He tentatively put his arm around her and he could smell that perfume again. She rested her hand on his chest and raised her face to him ,tears streaming down her face. Before he knew what he was doing he was kissing her. He felt her mouth open beneath his kiss and pulled away. He was strong.. but not this strong.
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"I am sorry.." she said moving away closer to the door.
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"My fault " Ray said in a whisper
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They both sat in silence. The sound of an occasional car passing on the street and the crickets were the only sounds.
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They both started to speak at once and then Ray said" No you go ahead"
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"Listen Ray, can I call you Ray.. I am sorry but I feel a little silly calling you Father after that.. I mean not that it meant anything I understand that.. it�s just , I don't know.. I am sorry that is all I wanted to say. I am upset and not really thinking straight."
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"I wonder what my excuse should be?" Ray mumbled half to himself. "You're a beautiful woman.. I guess that is my excuse and I am a human being and a weak one too I guess." Ray tried to smile at her.
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Therese took some cigarettes from her purse. "Do you mind? It is either that or drink," she laughed
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"Those things will kill you, but I guess you know that."
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" One thing or another gets us, huh?"
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They sat in silence again. Then Therese turned to him and said "Look, I just wanted to talk to someone. He has never hit me like this. It frightened me. I mean he is not a bad person but"
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Ray shook his head " My god, he hit you with his fist.. that doesn�t make him a good person"
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Ray was outraged that anyone would treat someone like that. Not that he hadn�t seen violence. He had.. it is what drove him to the priesthood.
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"Your husband is a sick person. You need to get out of there. Fast.. this is not going to get better only worse"
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Therese looked at him as if he were from some other planet. "You don�t think I know about abuse and what the cause and effect are? Oh please Ray, I know all the buzz words. This is a man who made my dreams come true. He gave me my career and he gave me......"
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Ray interrupted her.. "No , Therese, you gave yourself your career. You studied and passed the bar.. you went to school.. not him. You did this for yourself. He has given you nothing. Those gifts were yours given to you by God."
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She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands in her lap. She thought she had never raised a hand to anyone, never even really reacted in anger to anyone. A pacifist corporate lawyer. She had to laugh at herself. St Therese.. sure who was she kidding.
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"Ray , I am a lawyer.. a corporate lawyer.. not exactly all sweetness and light. I can be as cutthroat as any lawyer that ever came down the pike. I am so sorry that I dragged you into this.. did I say that already?"
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Ray told her that she could not go home. Maybe she should find a hotel and stay there. Give herself time to think. She agreed. Thanked him and said "I am fine.. I will find a hotel and get some sleep. Can I call you tomorrow? I know I will need to talk again and for some reason I find you very easy to talk to ,,,O.K.?"
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Ray drove home and his heart was heavy with guilt. He dreaded having to confess this to Father Tomas. He knew that he would have to do some soul searching tonight.
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