The quiet chatter amongst the women grows suspiciously louder, and I look up to find Alexander strolling across the cafeteria in his expensive suit and perfectly combed, slicked back hair.
“Looks like I’m too late to offer a helping hand.”
His voice is smooth, but no less annoying. He’s only here for good publicity.
“There’s always something to do around here. For instance, the bathrooms need modernising. Perhaps you could help with that?” I suggest, and his smile slips, just as I expected.
I keep my own smile in place and tilt my head slightly, giving the illusion I’m submitting to him, that I need him. He eats it up and looks around at the women.
Raising his voice, he proclaims, “Of course. I’ll see it gets done.”
I step around the counter and take my place beside Alexander. Keeping up appearances, I place my hand on his arm and call for everyone’s attention.
“Did you hear that? Mayor Alexander, my generous fiancé, is going to have the bathrooms remodelled!”
The women cheer, and I faintly hear Father Antonio snicker behind us. Alexander laps up the attention, giving me time to escape and grab my purse from behind the counter.
“I’ll see you at morning prayer tomorrow morning, Father.”
“Be safe, Mila.”
Joining Alexander, he extends his hand, and I take hold of it. When he looks down at the ring, his full smile returns.
We make our way outside. The urge to rip my hand from his when we’re out of sight is too much to bear.
“I haven’t seen you at the shelter before, Alexander. What’s the occasion? I ask, noting Trey’s eyes narrowing on my hand in Alexander’s.
“I was hoping we could discuss the wedding plans. I have a few ideas I want to run by you.”
“Don’t be silly, you’re far too busy to deal with the wedding. Leave it to me. I’ll be sure to plan a day neither of us will forget.”
“I’m sure you will, Jamila. I’ll have my receptionist send you a list of people who must be invited.”
“No problem. Now go on. Go do your important work and don’t worry about me.”
He strolls toward his car, where his driver is holding his door open. But before he gets inside, he turns back to me.
“I hope one day you will grow to love me, Jamila. I hold very dear feelings for you already, and I’m looking forward to you being my wife.”
He catches me off guard for a split second, and then I’m back to being the dutiful fiancée.
“I wouldn’t have come to you if I thought I’d spend the rest of my life in a loveless marriage, Alexander.”
Jesus. The lie flows from me like a snake slithering through the grass.
His smile grows before he ducks into the car and the driver slams the door shut. His windows are so heavily tinted, I’d be surprised if he could still see me. But on the off chance he can, I keep my smile in place and wait for his car to drive away.
Walking over to Trey, he opens the door for me, and I sigh heavily as I slide in and across the back seat.
“What did he want?”
The car pulls away from the curb and sets off for the nursing home.
“He wanted to go over plans for the wedding that’s never going to happen.” Opening my purse, I pluck out my pack of smokes and a lighter. Lighting up, I let the nicotine burn my lungs before I exhale and open the window, watching the plumes of smoke waft out into the air.
“You know I don’t like you smoking,” Trey mutters.
“You know I don’t like when you speak out of turn.” Putting the cigarette to my lips, I inhale a lungful of smoke and blow it out the window.
“I’m only looking out for you, Mila,” he says with a sigh.
“You’re paid to watch my back from the Marocchi’s. What I choose to do is none of your business. Remember that.”
The rest of the drive is unusually quiet, and I don’t attempt to fill the silence with needless words.
He climbs out first when the car pulls up to the nursing home, and I ignore his sulking eyes as I climb out and walk up the steps to the main entrance.
I sign myself in and follow the corridors to Father Luke’s room. His vison has been keeping me up at night, and I need to know what happens in the lead-up to my bones burning in the flames.