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Welcome The Inquirer

12/15/2024

‘She’s absolutely beaming.’ Grace looked across the center aisle at the Murray family.

Emma leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I wonder what has Mary so excited.”

“I don’t know. Sarah looks amazing, though. She said she doesn’t have anything to wear to church, but this is definitely something.”

“A rose petal skirt suit for Gaudete Sunday? Mary must have put her up to that.” Emma smiled. “And the boots. She’s definitely part of the club now.”

Grace’s eyes popped. She looked at her sister and then back at Sarah. “I don’t see a ring.”

“Is she even Catholic? I didn’t see her take Communion last week.”

Grace threw her hands up over her mouth.

Emma took another look. “Do you think…”

“Why else would Mary be preening like that? He can’t propose to her until after she joins the church. If she’s glowing like that, it has to mean she’s converting. It’s a twofer.”

Their mother turned to scowl at them.

Grace whispered, “Cover me.”

Emma shifted forward in her seat to hide Grace’s actions. She slid her phone out and pecked away.

The sisters looked over at Sarah.

Are you joining the church?

Sarah smiled and nodded.

Emma and Grace shuffled their feet excitedly until their mother glared at them again.

“Wow, that was quick.” Emma whispered. “Didn’t he meet her like a week ago?”

“I guess when you know, you know.”

“I figured Chris would be the next one married.”

Grace shrugged. “We’re going to have to find somebody for Josh. Mom’s going to freak if Mary gets more grandchildren than her.”

“Don’t look at me. I can only do one at a time.”

Their mom leaned over and pointed at them.

#

Grace was tuned out of Father Tom’s homily. He had a tendency to drone on. The hypnotic monotony of his speech had lulled her into a contemplative reverie.

She was still struggling with Dr. Hu’s guidance on professional detachment. She wanted to be a friend to Sarah, but the ethical implications gave her pause.

“Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!” He concluded. “The very word ‘Gaudete’ in Latin means to rejoice. We have special reason to rejoice on this Third Sunday of Advent. Will the Inquirer come forward with her godparents and her faith advocates.”

Emma grabbed Grace’s hand as Sarah, Leo, Mary and Murray rose to approach the altar rail. Josh looked at them in confusion when their own parents rose to join them.

“What is happening?” He hissed.

Emma shrugged, and Grace just gaped at the little parade.

“Good people of Saint Casimir’s Church of Pine Hollow, we have an Inquirer to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Miss Sarah MacInnes has begun her faith journey anew. With the help of her Godparents, Stanisław and Elżbieta Chmielewski, and of her Faith Advocates, Murray, Mary and Leonard Murray, she will receive the sacraments and come into full communion with the Church.”

Staś and Elka held a rose-colored taper over the flame of the Rose Candle on the Advent Wreath and presented it to Sarah. “Sarah, this light is to remind you that Christ is always with you, and we, as your godparents, are here to walk with you on this journey of faith.”

Murray and Mary handed Sarah a single pink rose and said, “Sarah, may this rose remind you of the joy that comes from walking in faith, and may it also symbolize the love and unity of our parish community as we welcome you.”

Leo slipped a simple silver cross on a delicate silver chain over her head and said, “May this cross remind you of God’s love and the path we are walking together.”

Father Tom raised his hands, and the congregation applauded as they returned to their seats.

Grace watched Sarah return to the Murrays’ pew with hugs from Joan and Leo’s brothers. ‘They knew.’ She grimaced at her parents as they returned to the pew. ‘So, that’s where they rushed off to yesterday.’

Josh leaned over. “What just happened?”

“Looks like you just got yourself another sister.” Emma patted him on the shoulder.

He looked at his parents and back at Emma and Grace. “We probably should have recorded that for Ronny.”

“It’s okay. We can get a copy from Mr. Wojciech. He records everything.” Emma smiled. “So, what does that mean?”

“I think my prayers have been answered.” Grace whispered. “Maybe Dad and MQM will finally bury the hatchet.”

“You sure about that?” Josh whispered.

“Sarah’s folks are deceased and she doesn’t have any other family. I think Mom and Dad kind of adopted her, churchwise.”

Their mother scowled at the three of them and put a finger to her lips.

The Chmielewskis were riding home in Dad’s pickup. The kids sat in the back seat, as they had since they were actually kids.

“Um…” Josh caught his dad’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “Are we going to talk about that?”

“Sarah needed godparents.” Mom said. “Father Tom thought that since we live right across the way, we could help her.”

“Why not the Murrays?”

“Her sponsors aren’t supposed to be current or future family. They can help her with OCIA, but she needs guidance from people who don’t have an ax to grind.”

“What ax?” Josh looked at his sisters.

Mom twisted to look over the seat at him. “Father Tom wants her to learn how to be more than just a Murray. We’re going to help her join the Catholic Church, regardless of whatever’s happening between her and Leo. God willing, your father will walk her down the aisle.”

“Why you?” Grace asked.

“Father knows we live across the street. If anything should happen and she needs somewhere to go, she can come right over.” Mom rolled her eyes and turned back around.

“Father is wise.” Dad nodded. “Sarah, she has no family, poor girl. Even if things don’t work out with Leo, she’ll always have Chmielewskis and Gajewskis to lean on. If things do work out, she can still come over. Who wouldn’t need a break from MQM?”

Mom pushed on his shoulder. “Staś, you said you were going to be nice.”

“I’m nice to her. We’ll see how it goes with Murray.”

“Will I be in her wedding party?” Josh asked.

“Depends if you’re nice to her.” Dad shrugged.

Mom twisted around again. “We’re counting on you to help, too. We need to set a good example for Sarah and to answer any questions she has. She’s been to church before. One of her friends is the pastor’s wife over in Laurel Ridge. Still, she needs to learn from all of us. Right?”

“I will until I go back to school.” Grace looked out her window.

“What’s the matter?” Emma nudged her.

“Dr. Hu kind of chewed me out for giving Sarah his card.”

“What’s it to her?” Josh asked, his brow furrowed.

“She wanted me to be sure I had considered the ethics.”

“Sounds like sour grapes to me.” Mom said as she turned around.

“No, that’s not it. It’s for my benefit. I have to learn how to anticipate how things I say and do could impact someone in Sarah’s position.”

“Sounds like a formula for a headache.” Josh took a tissue out and blew his nose.

“What he said.” Dad poked a thumb over his shoulder. “Can’t she separate work from personal life?”

“This is a special case, because it was sort of both. I knew Sarah as her patient first. Even though I’m just an intern and only there for a couple weeks, it’s sketchy territory for me to be any kind of friend to her outside of the office.”

Emma rubbed Grace’s shoulder.

“I mean, I really want to be her friend, or at least socially friendly. You know? She seemed so sad and lonely…”

“And if she and Leo don’t work out and she gets worse, that’s technically your fault.” Mom said, without turning around. “We’ll have to figure out how to work around that.”

“Yeah…” Grace watched the passing houses with a numbness overtaking her.

“Are you ready for this?” Leo held her hand.

Sarah took a deep breath and nodded.

He opened the front door and led her inside. The vestibule was floored with a dove gray marble tile. The walls were a warm white, reaching up to the second floor where a white carpeted staircase led to the bedrooms. There was a nook under the stairs with an amber-toned bowl where everyone dropped their car keys. She noticed that there were more keys than people.

‘Surprise party.’ She braced for impact.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Sarah MacInnes.” Leo said to the crowded living room.

His parents and siblings were there, naturally. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and Joan’s parents and siblings had all come to welcome her.

‘There’s no way I’m remembering all these names.’ She smiled as she shook hands and hugged her way through the extended family. “Hi, hi, hi, how are you, hi…”

Eventually, everyone took their leave. Leo’s immediate family tidied up and settled down. Joan was bouncing Jenn on her knee and John was play-wrestling with Jim.

“Everybody.” Leo said, holding her hand. “Sarah has something to present.”

“After breakfast last week, Leo and I stopped at Pine Hobbies and got something that I hope you’ll like.” She handed the little box to Murray.

“Oh, my. What can it be?” He smiled as he unwrapped it. “Jim, can you help me?”

Jim ran over and tore at the paper gleefully. “It’s a train thing.”

“Let’s see.” Murray turned it to read the label. “Ooh, it’s a hopper. Can you read that word? I think that’s one you know.”

“That’s Santa.” He turned to his little sister. “Jenn! It’s a Santa train!”

“Let’s see.” Murray slid the lid from the box to show it to Jim. “There he is. Ho, ho, ho.”

“Jenn, he’s got a whole hopper full of coal for you. What did you do?” Jim pointed an accusing finger at her.

Everyone laughed. Joan asked, “How do you know it isn’t for you?”

“I’ve been very good. Santa has a boxcar full of presents for me.”

“We’ll see about that, young man.” Murray patted him on the head. “What say we go downstairs and show Aunt Sarah where this goes?”

Jim motioned to be picked up, and his dad swept him into his arms. “Let’s fly to Trainland, you little monkey.” He made plane noises as he perched Jim on his shoulder and flew him to the basement with the family close behind.

Sarah squeezed Leo’s hand. ‘Aunt Sarah?’

He smiled at her and led her downstairs with the others.

The train set was no simple loop. It took up most of the free space downstairs. Leo pointed out details of construction and layout.

With three architects, an engineer and an interior designer in training, things were unquestionably to scale and fully operational. Train crossings flashed as the train approached. Houses lit from the inside as Joe turned the dimmer switch on the overhead lights to give the layout a semblance of night. The little light on the engine blazed as it charged along the intricate tracks.

“Show Aunt Sarah how we get Santa’s coal hopper onto the train, Jim.” Leo said, squeezing her hand when he said ‘Aunt’.

Murray placed the hopper on a spur. Jim and his dad supervised as his grandfather backed the train up and coupled the new car to the end of the train. “Ready?”

Jim gave him the thumbs up and Murray drove the train back onto the main line and charged away with the little coal hopper at the end. Everyone clapped and cheered.

Mary led Joan and Jenn to the staircase. Sarah gave Leo’s hand a squeeze and headed upstairs with the girls. ‘Escape from the Kingdom of the Nerds.’

Mary closed the basement door. “Boys and their toys.” She smiled. “Can I get anyone some punch?”