Page 61 of The Layover

The voice carried through open air, and the speaker seemed to have a good grasp of how to use acoustics to his advantage. “Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be.”

I’d be a lot more concerned about the words, if a tiny smirk wasn’t playing on Carly’s face.

“What is that?” Diego asked.

“Boondock Saints,” I said at the same time as Carly.

He looked between us. “How do you both know that?”

Was he serious? “How do you not? How did I marry a man who doesn’t know Boondock Saints?”

“Sounds like a tragedy in the making.” A man stepped through the nearest doorway—the owner of the movie-quoting voice.

He was with Daria, which meant these were Carly’s friends. There was another woman with them as well, and two younger girls, one in her teens and one about Eloise’s age.

“You couldn’t pick a less threatening way to announce yourself?” Despite Carly’s question, her grin was broad now.

The man shrugged. “I’m in a church. It was the obvious choice. Would you prefer, I was the first angel, loved once above all others. A perfect love. But like all true loves... one day it withered on the vine…” He sang the last few lines.

“Boondock Saints again?” Diego asked.

“Prophecy,” Carly said at the same time as the man.

She was even sexier than I thought, and apparently my husband’s movie knowledge was seriously lacking. “We need to brush up on your movies,” I said to Diego.

“I’ll give you a list.” The man already had his phone out. “Better yet, I’ll be there. Name the time and place.”

Carly gave a light laugh. “Gentlemen, these are my friends. You’ve just met Adam.” The man bowed deeply. “The lovely woman on his arm is Brooke. You know Daria. And these are her daughters Alana and Harmony.”

Harmony, the younger one, curtsied. “Ciao.”

Eloise was going to like her.

“Hello.” Alana blushed and ducked her head.

I could wait an eternity for Eloise to reach the age where older men made her shy.

Carly pointed at us. “Raul and Diego. Now everyone knows everyone.”

The group of us took off on a tour of the building. Adam asked all the right questions about the stained glass and the architecture to make Diego light up, and Alana and Harmony were quite well behaved.

Until Harmony found the confessionals. “Mommy, I’m bored. Let’s play hide and seek.” She ducked into one of the small boxes before anyone could answer.

Alana yanked open the door. “They’re not for hiding. They’re for confessing your sins.”

“What are sins?” Harmony asked.

Alana crossed her arms and huffed. “They’re when you do stupid things. Like now.”

“I’m not stupid. You’re stupid.” Harmony’s response was shrill and loud.

Daria looked mortified. “I’m so sorry. We’re not church people.”

“I’ve got this.” I stepped between the girls and crouched in front of Harmony, who was still sitting in the confessional. “Do you want to learn something your sister doesn’t know?”

Behind me, Alana huffed again.

Harmony nodded.

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