Liam snatched the phone out of Deva’s hands and saw Catriona, her back to the camera, standing on the sidewalk. She seemed to hesitate, looking right and left, before bracing her shoulders and heading right.
“Isn’t that chapel she went to yesterday down the street? She may have gone there again.”
Aleksei nodded, but Liam was already out the door. As he reached the garage, his brother came to his side, his coat half on as they opened the door.
Half-skidding on the frozen sidewalk, avoiding people when all he wanted was shove them out of his way, Liam’s knee started to hurt, pain once again reverberating through his knee. Still, all he could see around the corner was the stone chapel, each step bringing him closer to where Catriona had most probably gone. This time, it was his turn to pray that she was still safe inside.
When he and his brother barged inside, the few people sitting in the pews turned their heads at the ruckus, but none of them was the woman he was hoping to see. One look at Aleksei had his brother nodding in understanding and they split, making their way toward the altar, examining every window and opening, but she wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Catching his breath, Liam waited as his brother made his way to him, shaking his head and cursed.
“Watch your language, young man, I won’t tolerate it.” A priest wearing a worn brown cardigan came at them, waving a finger. “You’re in God’s home, and He deserves respect.”
Liam agreed, but he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with panic. “Sorry, sorry. I was looking for someone. I thought she’d come here.”
The older man looked at the few parishioners inside and seemed to think for a moment. “A young woman? Light chestnut hair, lovely smile? She had a messenger bag and a brown coat?”
Liam’s sudden anticipation was squashed immediately when the priest shook his head. “I welcomed her this morning just I was unlocking the door. I believed she’d stay for mass, but when I returned, she was gone.”
“Do you know where she might have gone?”
The priest, again, shook his head. “I’m sorry, my son. I didn’t notice anyone with her.”
It was becoming more difficult to breathe now. His vision narrowing, Aleksei pulled him back by taking him by the shoulders.
“If she’s been taken, we’ll find her, brother.”
When he locked eyes with him, he didn’t like the feeling that was snaking up and seizing him by the throat. So many questions about why she’d left whirled in his mind followed by guilt for leaving her, but more tragically, why had he been stupid enough to push her away.
* * *
“It’skind of you to offer me a place to stay. You didn’t have to, Hazel.”
The older woman waved a hand in the air with a smile. “My pleasure, sweet girl. Lucky for you, I decided to come to mass this morning. I was feeling a little under the weather and almost didn’t bother.”
“If you’re feeling sick, I shouldn’t have asked you...”
“Oh no, dear child. The winter temperature is getting to me. It comes with old age, you see. The trouble is, the mind wants to stay young, but the body reminds you every day that you can’t fight each passing minute. Especially under the Chicago rain. Winter is barely more tolerable.”
Hazel continued to weave expertly through the light traffic, driving farther and farther away from downtown.
“I thought you lived closer to the church.”
“No, I prefer to be a little away from the city, with a bit more greenery around me. We forget too quickly how nature is calming, a prayer in itself, don’t you think?”
Catriona nodded, and when they reached a quaint neighborhood, all her sudden worries came to rest. The car slowed down, passing by kids playing on the driveways and sidewalks. Here, the snow was white, and the houses trimmed with glittering, multicolored lights.
“Why go so far out of your way for mass? I’m sure you could find a place much closer to your home.”
Hazel sighed. “I haven’t been here for long, only finding my home relatively recently. While I was looking around, I visited Chicago with my brother, and he’s the one who pointed out St. Philomena chapel. It stuck with me.”
“Does your brother worship at the chapel as well?”
Hazel’s expression closed down. “Not anymore. I hope he returns, but he’s lost his way, buried under the weight of responsibilities and troubles he must manage. He told me he couldn’t find peace before he resolves his issues. I offered my help and told him he could count on me when he does.”
The car turned into the driveway of a charming little house, almost picture-perfect with its festive decorations.
“You’re a good sister. I envy you. I never had siblings. You are so lucky to have had a brother.”
Hazel laughed. “Oh, I don’t know if you could say it’s luck. I think that similar souls find their ways to each other, especially brothers and sisters. I’m similar to my brother, but enough of that now. Let’s go inside and get you comfortable. If you feel like talking about why you suddenly needed a place to stay or any other topic, remember that I’m here for you.”
With a smile, she got out of the car, and Catriona followed suit, but even if everything fell into place so naturally, in the perfect setting, something felt off, as if her instinct was trying to tell her something. Pushing that thought away, still overwhelmed by what she’d found, and still processing all those numbers and emotions, she decided to let time sift through it all. After all, there was no rush, she was perfectly safe now.
