Page 257 of The Italian Obsession

We sit down behind his mother and Francesca. An older woman is with them, who I am assuming is Enrico’s grandmother, and his two brothers sit to the left of them.

The priest appears and the worshipers all watch on with love.

They adore him, I can feel it.

He addresses the parish. His voice echoes through the majestic church like a rock star singing the crowd’s favorite song.

He seems kind and knowledgeable, although I can’t understand anything he is saying. It’s all in Italian.

For the next hour, I sit silently through the service as everyone seems to know a secret protocol—one I don’t. They stand and sit in perfect unison. They know all the songs and they sing proudly.

Enrico doesn’t look my way. His focus is completely on his priest, and it becomes clear very quickly why he wants me to be catholic.

Religion is important to him.

His family is all focused as they watch on. My eyes roam between them, and I wonder what was it like growing up in this family.

A heritage based on tradition.

Rules and regulations that cannot be broken.

I watch Bianca from behind, her back ramrod straight. She’s wearing a black pencil skirt, a blouse, sheer stockings, and sky-high stilettos. She looks like a super model.

She fascinates me, to have lived the life she has lived. I can’t wait until I get to know her better. His grandmother is in black, too; Enrico explained that they are in mourning and will wear black for three years after their husbands died.

It seems so bizarre, and is yet another tradition I don’t understand.

The service ends and people begin to leave the church. Bianca turns and smiles. “Hello.”

“Hi,” I reply nervously. I grip my bag tightly.

The priest walks down to us and shakes Enrico’s hand. “Hello, my child.”

“Father, this is Olivia. The one I told you about.”

“Ah, yes.” He smiles as he shakes my hand. “You are right, Enrico, she looks like an angel.”

I fake a smile. What the hell? He has his priest on speed dial?

“Friday night?” Enrico asks.

“Yes.” The priest bows his head. “Our first meeting will be on Friday night.” He looks over at me. “We will start your communion then, Olivia.”

“Okay.”

“Lovely meeting you.” He disappears from the church, and I look up into Enrico’s proud eyes. He gives me a sexy wink, and I bite my bottom lip to hide my smile.

I think I passed.

________

Enrico pulls into the parking space and turns the car off. His eyes come to me.

“You’re quiet.”

I clench my hands together on my lap. “I’m okay.” I shrug casually, as if going to Nonna Ferrara’s house with the entire family on a Sunday afternoon is an everyday occurrence. “A little nervous, perhaps.”

He leans over and kisses me. “You’ll be fine.”