Page 52 of Consequence of One Reckless Night

“That is some strong smell,” she complained, pinching her nose with her thumb and index finger.

Alexandre chuckled. “But tell me you love curried dry fish, and dried shrimp stir fried with onions and curry leaves.”

She moaned. “Oh, yes! It’s one of my favorite things to eat!”

They spoke of their favorite foods, and Raquel was so immersed in the conversation that she hardly noticed when the car stopped. Outside a church!

“Do your friends live around here?” she asked, curious why he’d brought her here.

“Yes.” Alexandre exited the car and walked around to her side before opening her door.

Getting out, Raquel looked up at the small Portuguese style church, reminiscent of the colonial Portuguese era, dedicated to the Holy Virgin. The church had a steeped pinnacle with walls painted in white, while the doors and windows were a dark shade of brown. It was a small church, hidden in a grove of trees with the beach a few feet away. Birds sang in trees around them, and the crashing of waves on the beach provided a beautiful background score as the church stood proudly under the brilliant sun.

Raquel cupped one hand against her forehead, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight, looking up at the huge bell which hung in a tower attached to the church.

“Ah, finally you brought your bride for a visit.”

The cheerful voice had her looking around, and she immediately recognized the priest—he was the one who’d officiated their wedding!

“Father Lobo,” she greeted him, dipping her head reverently, while Alexandre clapped a hand over the priest’s shoulder.

It was obvious that Alexandre and Father Lobo were friends because the cleric enthusiastically shook hands with Alexandre before turning to smile at her.

“I knew you would come today,” Father Lobo said, and Raquel looked at Alexandre, one eyebrow raised in question. “He always visits us on his birthday.”

“Today’s your birthday?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“It’shisbirthday, but we’re the ones who get the presents.”

Raquel watched—stunned—as Father Lobo and Alexandre popped the trunk of the car and began removing shopping bags from it. Some boys—teenagers—appeared out of nowhere, and together they hauled the various bags she didn’t know occupied the trunk.

With great enthusiasm, the boys carried the bags to the small building which stood right next to the church, with Father Lobo leading the way while Alexandre chose to stay behind with her.

“I didn’t know it was your birthday today,” Raquel said, miffed that she was the last to know about his birthday.

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