Broken Together (29 page)

The
hostess slipped away unnoticed.

Rafael
propped his shoulder against a braided stone pillar when he joined me. “That’s
Our Lord Jesus of the Stone Sanctuary.”

“Why
is it shaped like a hexagon?” Actually, the church contained three hexagons, a
large hexagon for the main sanctuary and two smaller hexagons, one on either
side.

Rafael
shrugged. “King Joao V commissioned the sanctuary after surviving an accident
where he evoked our Lord Jesus of the Stone. No one knows why he chose this
particular design.” He turned to face me. “There’s an ancient stone cross
inside the sanctuary that is rumored to have miraculous power. If you’d like, we
can see it tomorrow.”

My
palm brushed against his lightly stubbled cheek while I pressed the faintest of
kisses onto his lips. “A cross that yields miracles. I think I might like to
see that.” We settled in at the table. I still couldn’t believe we had this
breathtaking view all to ourselves.

The
candles on the table flickered when Rafael reached for my hand.

A
waiter slipped quietly through the heavy wooden door. He was carrying two
champagne flutes filled with what appeared to be pink champagne and a small
metal bowl filled with strawberries.

“Cherry
Kir,” Rafael explained.

He
set the champagne flutes and strawberries on the table.

“
Obrigada,
”
I murmured softly.

“Você
é bem-vindo.”
He exchanged polite nods with Rafael before
disappearing through the heavy door.

Rafael
handed me a strawberry and raised his glass. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

I
met his gaze. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” We tapped our champagne flutes, bit into
the juicy strawberries, and sipped the Cherry Kir.

Rafael
quietly considered the sparkling cocktail.

“I
can’t believe this is our first Valentine’s Day together.” He’d lavished me
with so many romantic escapes, it felt as if we’d shared a lifetime of
Valentine’s Days together.

He
set his drink aside. “This isn’t the first Valentine’s Day we’ve spent together.”

My
brow furrowed. “I’m pretty sure it is.”

He
smiled but offered no further response.

The
waiter returned with bread and two bowls of spicy vegetable cream soup.

I
tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the soup. “Okay. Explain.”

Rafael
feigned offense. “I’m crushed you don’t recall.”

My
spoon hovered above my bowl.

A
secretive smile played on his face. “It was the first time we slept together.”

I
abandoned the spoon altogether. “Your birthday was the first time we slept
together, and
that
was March 14th.”

He
chuckled softly. “I distinctly recall sleeping in your bed on February 14
^th
.”
He shook his head. “I really should have hand delivered those roses.”

I
raked through my memories from that night. Rafael had sent the most beautiful
long stemmed roses I’d ever seen to Dr. Sandstrom’s classroom. He’d written a romantic
note, but he didn’t sign the card. I didn’t discover he was the one who sent
them until we started dating in March. I gasped when the light finally clicked
on. “That was the first night you snuck into my bedroom… the first night I
smelled your cologne.”

Rafael
laughed. “Behavior hardly becoming a knight.”

I
shook my head. “Well, I’m glad you stopped sneaking around. I prefer knowing
you’re in my bed.”

The
waiter returned with breaded green beans and a bottle of wine. He held a brief
conversation with Rafael in Portuguese while he poured the wine.

I
tried the green beans. They were crunchy and nutty tasting, like parmesan
cheese. “How many times do we need to meet with the priest?”

“Twice,”
Rafael answered. “I think we should schedule the second session in March. We
just need to pick a weekend when you can return to Lisbon.”

I
reached for my wine. “I’ll be in Sierra Leone over spring break. Are you still
planning to join me?”

“Yes.
Chief D’Souza approved my leave.” He sounded relieved.

I
breathed my own sigh of relief. “Why don’t I fly to Lisbon first? We can meet
with the priest before we leave.”

He
smiled, obviously pleased. “I’ll see if Father Ramires is available on the
thirteenth.”

I
leaned forward excitedly. “We can celebrate your birthday in Lisbon since we
don’t have to be in Sierra Leone until the fifteenth.”

“Sounds
good.” Rafael piled a few more green beans onto his plate.

I
studied him over the top of my wine. “What would you like to do for your birthday?”

He
laughed. “The same thing we did on my birthday last year.”

“Rafael!”
I gasped. “What would Father Ramires say?”

The
smile slid from his face. We’d had sex eight times that day.

I
narrowed my eyes at him. “You do remember Cenia and Roger abstaining from sex
before they were married?”

“Yes.”
He choked down a green bean.

I
folded my arms across my chest. “And who do you think encouraged them to
abstain from sex?”

“Their
priest?” he answered weakly.

I
offered a solemn nod.

His
face blanched. “The priest is going to talk about sex?”

He
sounded so incredulous I nearly snorted my wine.

The
waiter returned with crab pot pies. He topped off our wine.

I
waited until he was out of earshot. “I’m afraid our days are numbered. You
should enjoy it while you can.”

Rafael’s
reaction was priceless. At first he looked physically ill. He didn’t say much
until the lamb arrived. Then, he just seemed frustrated. By the time the waiter
delivered dessert, he was eyeing me like I’d thrown down the gauntlet.

I
rather enjoyed the sexual tension, so I dragged coffee and dessert out as long
as I could. I informed Rafael, “
Crepe Flamejado
should not be rushed.”
The crepes were stuffed with apples, kiwi, and strawberries, all of which were swimming
in a rich, buttery sauce.

Imagine
my surprise when the waiter delivered a second dessert,
Sobremesa Namorados
,
a brownie type pie topped with toasted meringue and drizzled in a tart cherry
sauce.

I
was beginning to question whether we’d make it back to our room before we had
sex.

Sadly,
we did not.

*
* * * *

“What
did you pray for?” Rafael asked. We were lying side by side in the soft grass
watching eagles and falcons soar through the crisp blue sky. We’d stumbled
across a private garden after exploring the romantic village tucked inside the
castle wall. The weather held after all.

I
curled onto my side so I could study his handsome face. “I prayed we would
survive this separation, marry in May, and live happily ever after.” I felt
guilty about my greedy little prayer. I should have prayed for world peace, a
cure for cancer, or an end to pedophiles everywhere. “What did you pray for?”

Rafael’s
hand found mine as he rolled onto his side. “I prayed for a baby.”

A
smile tugged at my lips. “Well, you’ve certainly been working diligently toward
that goal.” My eyes shifted toward the castle wall. A falcon had just landed on
one of the merlons. His head cocked while he studied us. “Can we come back here
some day?” Obidos castle had proven the perfect escape.

Rafael
smiled. “We’ll spend every Christmas in Lisbon, every Valentine’s Day in
Obidos, and our summers in Saint-Tropez.”

My
eyes held his. “Even when we have a baby?”

He
pulled me closer. “We’ll ask Benjamim or Chief D’Souza to babysit on
Valentine’s Day.”

My
shoulders relaxed. “I’m irrevocably in love with you.”

His
smile widened. “I’m hopelessly in love with you too.”

The
falcon cried when his lips slanted over mine.

*
* * * *

I
sneaked a peek at Rafael. Father Ramires was quietly comparing our answers on
the compatibility test. The first few questions were designed to rule out
abuse. The remaining questions explored our religious beliefs, our perceptions toward
one another, our communication and conflict resolution styles, our physical
attraction, our plans for having children, our thoughts on discipline, and how
we plan to manage our finances. We spent the first two hours praying; discussing
the sacrament of marriage; discussing my previous marriage, the abuse, the
annulment, and how we first met. Then we took the test.

Father
Ramires chuckled while turning the page.

Rafael
and I exchanged glances.

The
clock ticked on the mantle.

Father
Ramires cleared his throat when he returned to the first page. “I don’t believe
I have met a more compatible couple.”

Rafael
slowly released his breath.

He
looked thoughtful. “Your conflict resolution styles are surprising given the
violence you’ve both endured.”

“I’ve
received extensive training in crisis negotiations, and Kristine is working on
a master’s degree in conflict resolution,” Rafael explained.

Father
Ramires nodded. “How do you typically work through your disagreements?”

“We
discuss the problem and generate solutions we’re both comfortable with,” I
answered. Really, there were very few disagreements between us.

He
jotted a few sentences in his notebook. “Do you work through these problems
face to face, from across the room, by e-mail, or over the phone?”

Rafael’s
brow furrowed. “We sit next to one another, hold hands or touch in some other
way.”

Father
Ramires looked pleased. “A reassuring touch can help immensely. It is difficult
to be angry with someone who is holding your hand.” He made another notation. “What
do you see as the most challenging part of your relationship?”

“The
fact that we’re currently living on two different continents,” Rafael answered.

“My
past,” I added softly.

Father
Ramires nodded. “Let’s discuss Rafael’s concern first. “How do you plan to
resolve this problem?”

“I’ll
be joining Rafael in Portugal as soon as I graduate in May. We’re getting
married the weekend after I graduate,” I answered.

He
leaned back in his seat. “Will you remain in Portugal once you are married?”

I
glanced questioningly at Rafael. “I don’t know. I guess it depends on how long this
assignment lasts.”

He
twined his fingers with mine. “We should be able to wrap up our investigation
by the end of June, although a new lead could always extend things. I’ll know
more by the time we’re married.”

Father
Ramires eyed me curiously. “Are you willing to remain here indefinitely?”

I
reflected on my family, my friends, and my position with Seeds for Peace. “Yes,
as long as I can do something constructive with my time and visit my family and
friends in the United States.”

Rafael
turned so he was facing me. “Something constructive? Like work?”

“I
could volunteer at the orphanage or work for that charity organization you’re
affiliated with.” I was hesitant to mention them by name in front of Father
Ramires.

Rafael
smiled. He knew I was alluding to the Templar’s charity organization. “I think
that’s a wonderful idea.”

Father
Ramires penned another sentence. “How will you maintain your relationship over
the next three months while you’re apart?”

“We’ll
talk on the phone every night and travel to see one another every two or three
weeks like we do now,” Rafael answered.

“Is
that sufficient for you?” he asked me.

I
smiled confidently. “We’ll make it work.”

His
tone softened. “What is it about your past that concerns you?”

I
sifted through my thoughts. “Sometimes my past taints my perceptions. I get
scared easily, and those memories can make it difficult for me to see the
things that are truly in front of me. And my instincts are off. I trust people
I shouldn’t trust. I seem to swing between the two extremes… trusting and not
trusting…scared and refusing to be scared. It’s like I’m overcompensating
because I don’t want my past to limit me or dictate who I am.”

Father
Ramires looked thoughtful. “You’ve endured a number of traumatic events. Have
you sought counseling in the past?”

I
nodded.

He
set his pen aside. “Do you think you could benefit from additional counseling?”

“Maybe.”
I admitted although I wasn’t sure when I’d find the time to add that to my
schedule.

“Rafael?”
he asked. “How do you feel about this?”

Rafael
took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I’ve taken enough psychology
classes to recognize that she’s struggling with PTSD. I think the worst of it
is behind us, but I know there are certain triggers that increase her anxieties.
Her coping skills have improved immensely, so I believe this will get better in
time.”