Sinful Purity (Sinful Series) (25 page)

When Mass let out, Caleb said goodbye to his family and walked over to the great iron gates of MIQ.

“Elizabeth!” Caleb yelled, hanging on the gates just as he had the first time he visited me.

“Caleb, I’m coming. Get down from there!” I demanded. I opened the gates and let the brightly colored Price in. He immediately headed for my little table as if he were a well-trained pet.

“So, Liz. I’m sure you want to hear all the gory details.” Caleb smirked.

“I thought I did, Caleb. But now I just want to know, was it nice?” I asked serenely, still lost in my thoughts. My mood had become mellow, pensive.

“Yeah, Liz. It was really nice. You okay?” Caleb sounded concerned. His brow furrowed.

“I’ve just been thinking. That’s all.”

“You miss Zack, don’t you?” Caleb asked as he put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a little squeeze.

“I do. But that’s not it. I was just thinking about when I was younger, how nice Father Brennigan was to me.”

“Monsignor,” Caleb corrected.

“Right, Monsignor Brennigan. Anyway, he was always so wonderful, and now he won’t even look at me.” I put my head down in shame. I didn’t feel like I could look anyone in the eye right now, not even Caleb.

“Oh, Liz. Don’t think like that. Monsignor Brennigan is a nice guy. But what he’s done to you, the way he’s treated you, that’s not right. I don’t care who you are.”

“I sinned, Caleb. He has the right to punish me.”

“Liz, we all sin. You sin a lot less than most of us. Your relationship with Zack is normal. It’s not dirty or sinful. Even if it’s a sin according to our religion, priests are supposed to forgive. That’s kinda their number-one job, to lead by example and forgive.”

“I know, Caleb, but…”

“
No
, Liz. I don’t think you understand. He is wrong, not you.” Caleb’s words were firm but kind. I knew he meant them. Not just to make me feel better, but really meant them. He believed every word he said.

“Okay, Caleb. Thanks.” I gave him a weak but genuinely grateful smile.

“If you really want him to talk to you, my family is hosting a celebratory lunch in his honor. You could come. It’s at my house. He’d have to acknowledge you there; otherwise it’d just be rude. Plus, it’s my house, so there are no Sunday-Wednesday rules there. I’m inviting you.”

“Thanks, Caleb, but I want him to talk to me, to forgive me. I don’t want to ambush him. And what about your family? What would they say if you brought someone like me home?”

“Liz, that’s exactly the point—you’re
not
someone like you. You’re Liz, college student—smart, kind, wonderful Liz, nothing else. And don’t forget, my grandfather came from the same orphanage. If they looked down on you, they would be looking down on him. And no one looks down on Matthew Price.” Caleb’s motivational speech turned into laughter at the thought of someone disrespecting his stodgy old grandfather.

“Thanks, Caleb, really. But I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I would feel out of place. And I don’t even have anything to wear.”

“Liz, my family’s not like that. Hell, look what I’m wearing. And I’m not changing, either.” He lifted the lapels of his trench coat to show off his favorite ragged band t-shirt, complete with frayed neck. “I’m not taking
no for an answer, Liz. Here comes Sister now. I think I’ll go ask her if it’s okay. And if you don’t go, you’ll have to walk all the way back to the dorms. Then I’m sure you’ll just sit there all day, lonely and bored all by yourself. Come on, isn’t this better?” Caleb was very convincing.

“You’re right, Caleb. I’ll go.”

After talking to Sister Christine, Caleb and I walked to his car. “Oh, it’s the black beast again,” I joked.

“What! Don’t tell me you’re raggin’ on the Judge?” Caleb rubbed his hand along the front fender up and over the molding of the windshield until he reached the roof, where he gave his baby a little pat. It was obvious that he loved this car.

We chatted the whole way to his house, mostly about Lucy and Zack. I think Caleb missed Lucy almost as much as I missed Zack. I guess being so wrapped up in my newfound passion and love for Zack, I hadn’t even noticed how serious Caleb and Lucy had gotten. I thought it was wonderful. They were both my best friends and deserved to be with someone nice who made them happy. It looked like they had found just the person.

“Isn’t it great that the four of us have coupled up?” Caleb asked enthusiastically. “It’s really perfect, don’t you think?”

I smiled wide. “Yeah, I really do.”

“I knew you’d hit it off with Zack if you gave it a chance.”

“You were right, Caleb. You are always right. I will never doubt you again. I promise.” I smiled and crossed my heart.

“I’ll believe that when I see it. Doubting is kinda your thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t mean anything by it, Liz. I just mean you’re a skeptical person. That’s it, you’re a skeptic.” Caleb nodded, pleased by his summation.

“You really think so?” I pondered the thought and the truth behind it.

“Yeah, I do. It’s not a bad thing, Liz. I think it’s like your safety mechanism or something. You don’t get swept away easily, or you choose your actions very carefully. Either way.”

“Oh,” I said carefully, taking in the meaning of his words.

“That is, except when it comes to Zack. With him you just leap and never look back.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, I guess I did leap without looking.” My voice suddenly became sullen and withdrawn.

“You’re thinking about Brennigan again, aren’t you?”

“Caleb, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, shoot.”

“It’s sort of personal. Actually, it’s really personal.”

“Liz, I’m not a shy guy. You can ask me anything. I don’t care. You wanna know if you’re doing it right, huh?” Caleb said with a laugh and a devilish grin.

“No!” I gave him a glare to conceal the blush creeping up my cheeks.

“I’m just kidding. Anyway, Zack says you have no problems in that department.”

“Oh, he does, does he?” My voice cracked with both irritation and embarrassment.

“Hey, it’s a compliment. Thought you might like to know,” he retorted, still smirking.

“Seriously, Caleb, I want to ask you about you and Lucy.”

“Me and Luce? Whatcha want to know?” Caleb sounded confused but still open to the questioning.

“Have you two…I mean have you with Lucy…?” I prayed I wasn’t going to have to spell it out.

“You mean have we had sex?” Caleb asked, confirming my paranoia.

“Yes, that’s what I meant.” I sounded more than a little embarrassed.

“Liz, you know you’re in college, right? You can say the word now, no one will care.” Caleb sounded like he was giving me “the talk.”

“Yes, I know. I’m just not very comfortable talking about it. That’s all. Please don’t make this hard for me, okay?” I pleaded, still wanting the answer.

“Fine. Yes, Liz. Lucy and I have been together. Why?”

“Do you feel guilty?”

“Hell, no. I feel great about it.” Caleb accentuated the word
great
a little too much.

“Really, you don’t feel guilty about sinning?”

“Liz, it’s not the eighteen hundreds. Chastity, for most people anyway, disappears when you’re a teenager. That’s life.” Caleb was so nonchalant.

“But what about our religion? Our beliefs? How does Lucy feel?” My mind raced.

“Liz, times change. You can still be a good Catholic and make some concessions. As for Lucy, it wasn’t like I was her first. I think she’s fine with it.”

“You guys weren’t…I mean, it wasn’t your first time?” I was amazed.

“No, Liz. I think you just need time to get used to the idea. Your upbringing was more backward and stricter than most people’s nowadays. Maybe it was like you
were
growing up in the eighteen hundreds. Hell, I don’t know.” Caleb fought to understand my point of view.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I just need time and experience. I mean, sometimes when I’m with Zack I don’t feel guilty at all. My heart says it’s right. But then I see how Monsignor Brennigan treats me like I have the plague and then I feel horrid.”

“Liz, that’s his problem, not yours. You are an adult now. What you’re doing is normal. So relax, okay? Anyway, I have to know. You don’t think that Zack was…”

“A virgin?” I interrupted.

“Yeah. I mean you’re smart enough to know, right?”

“Yes, Caleb. I never in a million years thought Zack hadn’t been with other girls. I’m sure he’s been with plenty! And I’ve already accepted it.”

“Well, good. But if it is any consolation, I don’t think Zack’s been with as many as you think. I’ve known him for a while. And he could’ve had almost the whole school. But he’s pickier than you might think. Selective. That’s one of the reasons I thought you guys would be good together.”

“Really? He selected me?” I was so happy at that moment I could have hugged Caleb.

“What can I say? You’re his girl.” Caleb had a huge smile on his face, which was only a little smaller than the one I could tell I had on mine.

“Thanks, Caleb. Thanks for everything. I really owe you one.”

“Well, you can start paying up, because we’re here.” He laughed as he drove in the gates to his house.

The Prices’ house wasn’t a house at all. It was a full-blown estate, complete with a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a six-hole golf course, all right smack in the middle of Chicago. The real estate alone had to have cost more than the GDPs of several third-world countries. The grounds were breathtaking, second only to the house. The house itself could have been a stand-in for the White House. It was just as large and regal, and it too was white, go figure. When we walked into the foyer, I saw the largest chandelier I had ever seen in my life. It was at least the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. Caleb caught me looking up at it.

“It’s a little ostentatious, isn’t it?”

“That’s not it. I don’t like chandeliers,” I confessed.

“What? Why?”

“Don’t laugh. But I’m afraid of them.”

“I’m sorry. Did you just say that you’re frightened of a lighting fixture?” Caleb was laughing so hard he could barely keep his balance.

“Yes, I am. I always think that they’re going to fall on me.”

“Well, then you’re going to hate the rest of the house. My mother loves chandeliers. She puts them everywhere.”

“Everywhere?” I started, laughing at the thought.

“Liz, I’m not kidding. We have chandeliers in the bathrooms!”

“Oh my God, Caleb. Stop. I can’t breathe.” I was laughing so hard. Honestly, I was glad to be laughing. It took my mind off all the serious conversations and thoughts that had tormented me all day.

Monsignor Brennigan’s reception was out on the main patio. Even the idea of having a main patio was wild to me. It only meant that there had to be other smaller patios to compare. The Price home was unbelievable, just like the parties they threw. If only the reporters could have been invited here. They would have had enough stories for a year. It was like a conference room at a political summit and an entire lawn full of Nobel Prize laureates all gathered in one place, the main patio. The day was beautiful and unusually warm. The Prices seemed to be prepared for anything with large tents and patio heaters for the guests’ comfort. Uniformed servers traversed the area offering guests refreshments. The whole affair was lavish beyond my imagination.

As always, Caleb was right. His family was very welcoming. His father looked just like Caleb, only older and less decorated. He didn’t have blue hair or facial piercings, but he did have the same nose, jaw line, and crystal blue eyes. I imagined them having the same smile too. However, neither one of them even cracked a grin in each other’s presence. The tension between father and son was a recurring theme with the Prices. Caleb’s father and grandfather didn’t appear to get along any better. His mother was warm and friendly, albeit a little loopy. His grandmother was elegant and refined. Amazingly enough, she was really nice to me, almost approvingly nice. I don’t know if it was because she knew of my history with St. Matthew’s and the orphanage, or if there was something in my demeanor that reminded her of her beloved husband. Either way, Mrs. Eloise Price was a remarkably kind and respectable woman. I liked her very much.

Just as Caleb promised, Monsignor Brennigan was the guest of honor. He was very happy and jovial. His recent tribute had considerably lifted his spirits. I thought maybe it would be a good time to try to talk to him. However, being the guest of honor, his attention was in high demand. Caleb, who had been following me everywhere, trying to make me feel at ease, discovered my plan. He casually walked me over to where Monsignor Brennigan was hobnobbing with two other prestigious guests.

Caleb artfully interrupted the conversation to introduce me. “Monsignor, I believe you know Elizabeth.”

“Yes, of course. It has been too long. Is the young Mr. Price your beau, dear?” Monsignor inquired.

I knew what he was doing. He was casually but methodically trying to seek out whom it was who’d compromised my virtue. I didn’t mind his curiosity, only the false pretenses.

“No, sir,” Caleb interjected with his usual charm and good humor. Only I knew he was taunting the beast. “Elizabeth and I are classmates at St. Paul’s. She is dating my roommate, though.”

“He is a lucky man, if I don’t say so myself, young lady,” commented one of the distinguished gentlemen who had been conversing with Monsignor Brennigan before we barged in.

“Thank you, sir.” I nodded respectfully.

“Tell me—Elizabeth, was it? How do you know Monsignor Brennigan?” asked the gentleman.

“I was raised at Mary Immaculate Queen, next door to St. Matthew’s, sir.” I answered, although inside I hated every word I spoke.

“Yes, Congressman Reynolds. In fact, St. Matthew’s gave Elizabeth a full scholarship to study at St. Paul’s,” Caleb divulged masterfully.

I knew Caleb was trying to insure that word of monsignor’s generosity would spread, thus assuring my scholarship would stay intact. To our benefit, the gentleman who was so curious about me was our very own Congressman Reynolds, whose office was only blocks from St. Paul’s. Luck was in our favor today. Or it could have been Caleb’s miraculous planning. Either way, I owed him even more now.