Nothing to Report (51 page)

“John, sit please,” the priest said with a gesture to a nearby chair as he reached into a cabinet and took out a bottle of
Sambouca.

“I know you are not in uniform, so we will drink with our coffee,” Father Josef said with a smile.

“Okay, Father. I’m glad you remembered how much I like Sambouca with my espresso!”

Father Josef poured the Italian liquor into little shot glasses and handed one to John.

“To life and joy,” the priest said, toasting the moment.

“To life and joy!”

Both men spent some precious moments reminiscing their time spent together as well as times yet to come. John felt totally relaxed with Father Josef and, after a while, began to explain the real purpose of the visit.

“Father, years ago you helped my wife and I when we were going through some pretty rocky times in our marriage. You are the only person
I
have ever spoken to about my problems and I have always valued your discretion.”

Father Josef nodded as John continued.

“I’m here today because of a young man that I work with. He, too, i
s
going through a tough time with his wife. He had an affair and his wif
e
found out about it. She also began seeing someone where she worked. The
y
both faced their situation head on and have made a decision to come and see you as I did, if you are willing to help them.”

“My son, what is life all about? Why am I alive? As long as there is life
,
there is always hope. You know the pain I saw and endured in my past, yet, for som
e
reason, God has allowed me to go on. My only purpose in this life is to love and help all of my children, as I am proud to say I helped you. Have you told him anything about why you came to me?
”
asked Father Josef.

“No, Father. I just told him that I came to you because my wife and I wer
e
going through a bad period in our marriage. I really didn’t want to tel
l
him any more than that. He kind of looks up to me and I just couldn’t tell him that I had an affair, too.”

“Well, my son, I won’t say anything about you. If the young man looks u
p
to you it is because you have changed your ways and live your life the way our good Lord meant for you to live,” the priest said, offering John a reassuring smile.

Lt. A. had never told anyone about his previous relationship with anothe
r
woman. He had ended his affair long before he even met Father Josef, but afterward his marriage was never the same.

He had made a routine of visiting Father Krackowskiand finally decided to truly confess to this man because he knew the priest would not look down upo
n
him for his sins. Father Krackowski met with Lt. A. and his wife over the course of several months and, thankfully, the result was a stronger marriage that was based on love, respect and honesty. The relationship he had with his wife after talking to the priest was better than it ha
d
ever been before, and he hoped the same would be true for Charlie and Annette.

“So, my son, when do you think your young man will want to come and see me?
”
asked Father Josef.

“He seemed like he wanted to start as soon as possible. He did tell m
e
that his wife, Annette, has only agreed to try it once, saying she seemed a little doubtful because she would be talking to a priest and not a regula
r
marriage counselor.
”


“Are they regular church-goers?
”


“I’m not sure, Father, but if I had to take a guess, I would say no, although both of their children went to Saint Anne’s School. After that, hi
s
daughter went to Saint John’s Villa Academy and his son went to Monsigno
r
Farrell High School.
”


“That’s good. I always can fall back on why they chose to send them t
o
Catholic schools. Remember, I did that with you,” the priest said with a smile.

“You know, Father, it’s been so long that I had forgotten.”

“Well then, my son, it is settled. You tell Charlie to stop in after wor
k
tomorrow. I will see him after my 8:00 A.M. mass,” said Father Josef.

“Okay, Father, I will do that. Charlie goes on his swing now for his regular days off. I’ll call him when I get home so he can tell Annette. She ma
y
have to take a day off as she works Monday through Friday,” said Lt. A.

Both men stood and gave each other a long embrace. Lt. A. felt so at eas
e
and at peace with this man whenever he was in his presence. He knew that Father Josef, a simple priest who had endured so much, had all the trappings of a saint, and he would never understand how the priest had suffered so much yet still had such a capacity for love and forgiveness.

“Father, all I can say is thank you and give you my solemn promise tha
t
I will not let so much time elapse before we see each other again,” said the lieutenant.

“John, you know me. I am going to hold you to that promise, even if it means that I have to come knocking on your police
station’s door,” said Father Josef, his tone serious but his eyes bright with mischief.

“You won’t have to do that, Father, I promise!”

Both men said their final goodbyes at the door then John walked to his car. He couldn’t wait to call Charlie because it was early yet and he had no doubt Charlie would be up still, sitting by his phone
,
anxiously waiting for it to ring.

The phone booths surrounding the Jersey Street projects were no more than portable bathrooms with urine soaked floors and feces smeared on the receivers, if they even had them still attached. Lt. A. drove to the nearest one, which was in the Randall manor area and on his way home. Eventually he stopped in front of a known working phone on Forest Avenue near Oakland Avenue in front of
LiGreci’s restaurant.

The booth was unoccupied, so he got out of his car and called Charlie, who answered in on
e
ring.

“Hello?”

“Charlie,
it’s Lt. A. Listen, your meeting with the priest is all set up. Father Krackowskisaid h
e
would be more than happy to see you both. He would like you and Annette to come at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, which will be after he finishes his 8:00 A.M. mass,” said Lt. A. “Will that work for you?”

“Oh, Lou, that’s fantastic! We’ll be there. I don’t know what to say o
r
how to thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Charlie. I just want you to be honest. Sometimes it’
s
difficult to admit certain things, but if you are going to save your marriage, you have to be honest; sometimes brutally honest.”

“You’re right, of course, and that’s just what I intend to do. Thanks again, Lou. I’ll tel
l
Annette right away.
”


“Good luck, Charlie, and I’ll see you when you come back to work in a few days. Remember you can always call me at home if you need to.”

“I really appreciate that. You know, Lieutenant, you’ve been a good frien
d
to me. Probably better than any other friends that I have. I’ll neve
r
forget what you’ve done for me,” said Charlie candidly.

“Thanks, Charlie. I’ll see you at work in a few days,” said Lt. A. and hung up with a smile.

As the lieutenant headed home to his own wife, Charlie told Annette about their upcoming appointment with Father Josef.

Thankfully, Annette agreed to the time and said she would simply call in sick. The next morning Charlie was a bundle of nerves and it almost felt as thoug
h
he were going to a major dental appointment. As a matter of fact, he almost wished it
was
a dental appointment. He was nervous that he had agreed to be brutally honest, but he was going to keep his word.

Annette and Charlie climbed into his car and drove the same route he went each night for years on his way to work. However, when he reached the precinct on Richmond Terrace he continued driving the extra few blocks to York Avenue then made the left turn up the hill. H
e
parked in one of several spots he found available then both he and Annett
e
walked up the steps and knocked on the rectory door. This time, Fathe
r
Krackowski personally answered. Instead of wearing his usual sport t-shirt, the Father had on his priestly black coat and stiff white collar. He definitely looked the part.

“My children, please come into my home. I am Father
Krackowskibut you ma
y
call me Father Josef,” he said amicably.

“Good morning, Father Josef. I’m Charlie
Goodheart and this is my wife, Annette,” Charlie said nervously.

“Please, come with me,” the priest said as he led them through a hallway and into his parlor.

Father Josef had placed three comfortable chairs in the room and there was a box of tissues on a small wooden table between two of them. There wa
s
also a pitcher of water and two glasses on a tray on another table as well as a carafe of ice. He beckone
d
them to sit down.

The photos of the newly ordained Pope John Paul 2
nd
were still on the wall. However, the priest had added something afte
r
John had said his goodbyes just the day before. Now hung on the inside of the parlor door was a carved wooden plaque that his friend Pope John Paul had given him when Father Jose
f
had gone to Rome. On it was an original quote which had been attributed to Pope John Paul. Once the door was closed, the quote could be easily read by both Charlie and Annett
e
since Father Josef had positioned their chairs facing the inne
r
door.

It simply read, “The future starts today, not tomorrow.
”


For Charlie and Annette, it did.