Chapter 23 - WHEN DANTE FINALLY KNEELSThe chapel was empty except for Eli.
He sat in the front pew.
Dante entered.
Eli looked back.
“Rosalie okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you here?”
Dante sat beside him.
“I need to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“What did you say that day?”
Eli frowned.
“At the courtyard?”
“Yes.”
“You heard me.”
“Say it again.”
Eli looked uncomfortable.
“Why?”
Dante stared toward the small cross above the altar.
“Because I don’t know how.”
Eli understood slowly.
“Pray?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve never prayed?”
Dante almost laughed.
“Not properly.”
“There’s no proper.”
“Of course there is.”
“No.”
Dante looked irritated.
Eli smiled.
“You really like rules.”
Dante sighed.
“What do I say?”
“The truth.”
“What truth?”
Eli shrugged.
“Whatever you’re actually thinking.”
Dante looked toward the altar.
For a long time, nothing.
Then he knelt.
Not elegantly.
A forty-three-year-old man in an expensive suit lowering himself beside a ten-year-old boy.
Eli knelt too.
Dante folded his hands.
Then stopped.
“This feels ridiculous.”
Eli whispered:
“That can be the first thing.”
Dante almost laughed.
Then closed his eyes.
“I don’t know if You’re listening.”
Eli remained quiet.
“I don’t know what happened to Rosalie.”
His voice weakened.
“I don’t know why Isabella died.”
Silence.
“I don’t know why Eli’s father died.”
Eli’s eyes filled.
Dante continued.
“I’m angry.”
A breath.
“I’m grateful.”
Another.
“I’m ashamed I stopped listening to my daughter.”
His voice broke.
“I’m sorry.”
No thunder.
No light.
No answer.
Just the truth.
Dante sat back afterward.
“That’s it?”
Eli nodded.
“That’s disappointing.”
Eli laughed.
Dante did too.
Then he looked at the boy.
“Thank you.”
Eli shrugged.
“For what?”
May you like
Dante smiled.
“For not trying to be impressive.”
