ALWAYS FAITHFUL

by Isabella

  “Well, she has a fine mother who I know will help her through it all. I just stopped by to make sure everything was in order for tomorrow’s funeral. So if you will excuse me.” Kissing Claire on the cheek, Father O’Reilly turned to go into the church.

  “Uh Father, can I talk to you for a minute? Jordan you don’t mind, do you?”

  “No. I need to freshen up myself. See you inside. Bye Father, see you tomorrow.”

  “What’s wrong, Claire? I can see you seem troubled. Is it Michael’s mother? Would you like me to talk to her?”

  “No Father. It’s Nic. Have you seen her?” Claire looked down at her hands that were twisting a handkerchief. “I haven’t seen her since before she left to pick up Mike.”

  “I spoke to her briefly once after she returned but that’s been all. Odd she hasn’t been by to see you. Well, perhaps she knows you have lots of family and the last thing you need is someone else hanging around.” Father O’Reilly smiled warmly as he grasped Claire’s hands. “What is really bothering you, Claire?”

  “Thank God! Sorry Father, I was afraid she’d been shipped out.”

  Claire began to cry as Father O’Reilly led her to a nearby bench and sat down with her, putting a strong arm around her shoulders.

  “There, there Claire. Whatever has happened between you two surely can’t be that bad. Perhaps it’s a simple misunderstanding,” the priest said.

  Claire began to tell the priest about the conversation she had had with Nic just before she left for the airport, about the missed message Nic had left and about the fact that she hadn’t called Nic back until it was too late. Now Nic thought she didn’t want to talk to her because Nic didn’t answer her phone when she called.

  “Claire, what makes you think it is too late? Sometimes things happen for a reason and perhaps this has helped you to understand how you really feel about Nic. Before Nic left perhaps you weren’t ready to think of a life that included her, because of Nic’s career in the military, or perhaps because of what Mike’s death really means to you. You can finally live your own life, if you choose.” Claire looked up into the wrinkled face that seemed to smile when no smile was there. “But shouldn’t you let Nic decide what is good for her, if she loves you like she said she does? Nic will make the right choices. If not, then God has other plans for you two. But, I think you owe it to Nic to tell her how you really feel, don’t you?

  “Yes but…”

  “No, Claire, no buts. Promise me that you will talk to her. Promise?” Now the priest was smiling and his eyes twinkled.

  “I will, Father. I promise.”

  “Good. Now if you will excuse me, I need to take care of something for tomorrow.” Reaching down he kissed Claire’s cheek and left her to sit in the sun.

  Claire closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair, the warmth of the day feeling good to her tired body. She thought about Nic and wondered where she was. She needed to talk to her, to set everything straight and get on with her life one way or the other.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Nic sat at her desk finishing a stack of paperwork that had accumulated while she was gone. Forty-eight hours and someone would think all hell broke loose while she was gone. She knew she would be glad when she was done with this job and out of the Marine Corps. But for now she had a job to do and, until she had a date leaving military service, nothing was a guarantee. She had spent a good portion of the last couple of days talking to her friend at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. To her surprise, they still needed an anti-terrorism expert. After quizzing him about the surrounding area and the cost of living, she told him she would need a day or two to think about it but if the offer was still open he could expect to see her resume, which she had faxed to him that morning.

  Nic sat at her desk thinking about Claire and how she was doing. She missed her, missed her a lot, and it was all she could do not to call her, but Claire had decided for them when she didn’t call Nic back. Nic did a lot of things when she was interested in a woman but chase her wasn’t one of them. Although if she was going to chase, Claire would be worth it.

  Nic’s phone buzzed. “Major, Father O’Reilly is here to see you. Shall I send him in?”

  “Of course Sergeant. Please send him in.”

  Nic stood up and waited for the priest to come in.

  “Good Afternoon, Father. Shouldn’t you be at the church or with Mike’s family or something? I mean, not that I’m not glad to see you but I figured you would be needed somewhere else right now.” She motioned to the seat in front of her desk as she spoke.

  “Well, actually Nic, I am on a mission, so to speak.” Smiling, the priest declined the coffee Nic offered.

  Nic sat back in her seat and steepled her hands in front of her.

  “Okay, so what brings you to my neck of the woods, Father?”

  “Claire Monroe.”

  “Claire? Is something wrong? Is she okay?” Nic began to rise from her seat but the priest motioned her down and back into it.

  “Yes, but it seems she is having a problem, Nic, and perhaps you can help her?”

  “Well, I’ll do what I can Father, but at this point I don’t think she needs my help anymore.”

  “On the contrary, it seems there was some miscommunication recently and she is rather upset over it.”

  “Father, I don’t think I follow you,” Nic said, hoping this conversation wasn’t going where she thought it was going.

  “Nic, I think you do. I had a rather long conversation with Claire today. She was very distraught—”

  “Father, she just lost her husband so she is going to be distraught….”

  “Nic, do you remember when I told you that you and Claire had more in common than you might think? Well, I knew about Mike and Claire’s relationship.” Father O’Reilly waited while his words sunk in.

  “Let me get this straight. You knew about the Monroe’s marriage?” Nic couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Father O’Reilly had known all along that Mike and Claire were gay.

  “Yes.”

  “But you’re an officer and …”

  Cutting Nic off again, he said, “I wore a collar long before I wore camouflage Nic, and what is said in the sanctity of the church beats any “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.”

  Stunned, Nic sat staring at the priest. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Never had she been in a situation like this where a high ranking officer choose to overlook something so…so egregious.

  “Nic, if I didn’t keep the sanctity of the church what use would I be to my parishioners? I love my country, I love my parishioners, but most of all, I love my God and I don’t judge my flock. That isn’t my job. When Mike came to me and confessed in confessional, I couldn’t judge him. He told me he had left that lifestyle behind, and I chose to believe him.”

  Nic thought about the picture she had found in Mike’s possessions. She would never be the one to tell the priest that Mike might have lied, or maybe he didn’t lie. Maybe he thought he had, but it was just too hard. Either way, it wasn’t her job. Like the priest she had a duty, too, and that was to keep an old friend’s secrets.

  “I understand. So why are you here?”

  “On behalf of a friend. You.”

  “Okay, now I am confused. I didn’t call you, Father.”

  “As I said earlier, I spoke with a very distraught Claire. I hope you don’t mind, but she confided in me.”

  “Father, I am not sure I like where this is going. Didn’t you just say that you’re under some sort of order not to divulge private matters discussed with you?”

  “Well yes and no. Claire isn’t Catholic and it wasn’t said in the church.”

  “But you’re a man of the cloth, right?”

  “Minor technicality, but yes.”

  Nic needed to stop the conversation. If he told her what she thought he was going to say, she could be court-martialed at worst, or be given a dishonorable discharge at best.

 
; “Look, Father I can explain…” Nic got up and closed the door that led to Sergeant Ross’s desk and turned to face Father O’Reilly. “I’m not sure how to say this but…”

  “Stop, Nic. I’m not here to accuse you of anything so before you say anything else, please sit down and listen to me.”

  Nic felt a cold sweat break out across her body. Sitting down, she took a deep breath and held it as she tried to stop from blacking out. Never before had she imagined being caught and never by a Chaplain or another officer. She had always been discreet and now her whole career was flashing before her eyes.

  “Nic, deep breaths. Trust me on this okay? Good, nice deep breaths Nic. Relax. Are you okay?”

  Nodding, Nic looked down at her hands and wished she was anywhere else but there.

  “Nic, I had a long conversation with Claire, and before you say anything, remember I am here as a friend. It seems that you two have had some miscommunication in the past few days. All I am going to say is that I think you need to go and see her now. She is at the church until around eight tonight. I have asked her to come to the office right after that to talk about tomorrow. I want you to be there. That’s an order. You don’t have to say anything but I want you to listen. You owe her that.”

  Without another word Father O’Reilly got up and turned to leave. “See you tomorrow at the funeral.”

  Nic sat at her desk, her hands covering her mouth. Did Father O’Reilly just give her a pass on what he knew about her and Claire? Wait, did he just plan a clandestine meeting for her with Claire? Nic slumped back against her chair, suddenly spent. One minute she was watching her career pass before her eyes, and the next she was being ordered to meet another woman at the church rectory.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Claire looked at her watch. A few minutes before eight. As she sat there she was grateful for the few minutes alone to gather her thoughts. It seemed she had been on autopilot the whole time and rarely had a minute to herself. Grace had gone home with Jordan and Mike’s mom. They were glad for a small diversion, too. Everyone was on their best behavior, but it was trying at times. Never knowing what to say to anyone or how to respond when they offered their condolences made it hard to hold even a small conversation. Claire fidgeted as she looked back down at her watch. He had said eight hadn’t he, she thought. She heard the door handle jiggle as it was turned and stood up to greet Father O’Reilly. But it wasn’t Father O’Reilly that came through the door.

  “Hi, I guess you weren’t expecting me, were you?” Nic said softly, her eyes searching Claire’s for answers.

  “No, not unless the big thing you needed to tell me is that you’re joining the priesthood,” Claire said as she stepped closer to Nic.

  “Naw, I don’t think they would take me. Besides, I’m not Catholic, at least not anymore.” Smiling, Nic grabbed one of Claire’s hands and was surprised when she didn’t pull it back. Moving towards the chairs, she sat Claire in one and took the other that faced her.

  “How have you been?” Nic couldn’t take her eyes off Claire’s lips as she caressed the hand she still held.

  “Okay. Better now.”

  “I understand you needed to talk to me.”

  Before Claire could say anything else Nic was standing over her, her face being held in Nic’s hands. Leaning down, Nic slowly kissed Claire as she pulled her to her feet.

  “I am so sorry, Claire. Please forgive me,” Nic whispered between kisses.

  “What, wait.” Claire stopped Nic and gently pushed her back. “What do you have to be sorry for? I’m the one that screwed up and didn’t tell you how I felt. I’m the one that should be apologizing to you. Oh Nic…” Claire buried her head on Nic’s shoulder as Nic wrapped her arms around her. “I tried to call you and you didn’t pick up. I didn’t know you called, I swear, or I would have called you right back. I would never have waited so long to call you back but…”

  “Shhh.” Nic put her finger over Claire’s mouth.

  “It’s okay. I think I understand what happened. However, can you forgive me? My pride wouldn’t let me call you. I thought you didn’t want to be with me after I told you I was falling in love with you. When you didn’t call me back I just figured you didn’t want me.”

  “Oh God Nick, are you kidding? I love you.” Kissing Nic again Claire pulled back and, holding Nic’s face in her hands, said it again. “I love you. I think I have from the minute I saw you. Is that bad? I mean with only just losing Mike and falling in love with you. Do you think badly of me?”

  “I am guilty of the same, my love. We don’t get to choose when love finds us. Maybe we should just be happy that it did.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  It took a month to leave San Diego. It had taken longer than she had hoped for Claire to clear quarters in San Diego, but that had given her the time necessary to expedite her own depature from the military and move to the Reserve Corps. Three months later, Nic couldn’t be happier. They were together in Monterey and Nic was getting ready to start a new job with the Naval Post Graduate School. Once they had decided to take their relationship to the next level and Nic left the military, it became easier.

  “Nickie, Nickie,” Grace said as she ran to the back of the moving truck.

  Jumping down, Nic picked up Grace and swung her around. “Hi honey. What’s up?”

  “Mommy said I have to ask you if I can have this now.” Graced opened her hands showing Nic a roll of candy.

  “She did, did she?”

  “Yep. She said you’re the boss,” Grace said giggling as Nic tickled her.

  “Okay, but you can only have one. You’ll spoil your lunch if you eat more,” Nic said as she set Grace on the ground. Nic looked up to see Claire watching her from the fence.

  “I’m the boss huh?” Nic said as she closed the distance between her and Claire, wrapping her arms around her.

  “Well, she has to get used to having two mommies now, doesn’t she?” Claire questioned as she kissed Nic lightly on the neck.

  “If you keep that up I’m gonna put Grace down for a nap and show you who the boss really is,” Nic whispered.

  “Excuse me. Where do you want this dresser,” a burley man asked as he wheeled a dresser down the trailer’s loading ramp.

  “Guess I better get back to work,” Nic said, a little embarrassed at being caught kissing Claire.

  “Yeah, I guess you better. Come on Grace. Let’s go make lunch.” Claire reached up and gave Nic a peck on the cheek. “See you in a few minutes.”

  “Okay. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, baby.”

  Nic smiled as she watched her new family go into the house. She knew tomorrow was filled with a promise she never thought she would have.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

 

 

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