Free Hold My Hand by Paloma Beck Page B

William to unveil his plan. I was content
to be patient.
    Sometime during the drive,
William reached across to hold my hand. The connection instantly
warmed me. I hadn’t been away from him for long but I’d missed him.
What would it be like once I returned to my apartment tonight? I
quickly pushed the thought aside.
    “You enjoyed mass?” William
asked.
    “Yes. I need the reflection
time. I can’t imagine not having it,” I explained, smiling.
    “Perhaps in the future, I’ll
accompany you.”
    “ Really? You would
want to come to mass with me?” I’m shocked by his offer and failed
to hide the surprise.
    William chuckled. “I only
wish I could see inside that mind of yours to see what you must
think of me. I do believe in God, you know.”
    “I – It’s just,” I bit my
tongue. Why have I begun this thought aloud?
    “Go on,” William
encouraged.
    “It’s just that you’re so in
control of everything. A belief in God requires a part of you to
allow Him control.” I watched him as I explained but his expression
remained unchanged.
    “I believe it was He who
brought you to me.” William’s words hit me hard. I wanted to
dissect his statement but instead I remained quiet. I had no
response equal to his declaration.
    We arrived then, pulling up
to a brownstone. As the garage door rose, William smiled and he
looked over at me. “This is my city apartment. It belonged to my
parents once upon a time before they retired to Florida.”
    “Most people would call this
a home, not an apartment. Why do you need the other?” I wasn’t sure
why I dared ask this. I knew he didn’t owe me an explanation and
maybe it was forward of me. I waited, looking at my entwined
fingers as William remained silent.
    Just when I thought he
wouldn’t answer, William slipped his finger under my chin to guide
it up. “Better,” he said and winked before continuing, “There’re
times when I need to get out of the city. I prefer the open air but
business keeps me here most of the time.”
    I nodded but was stunned
into silence. William winked at me. Was this a playful William? I
didn’t know how to react to this other side of him so I sat and
waited for his next move.
    After he pulled in and
turned the engine off, he continued, “I thought it easier to come
here for the remainder of the day rather than return to the house.
We can have dinner out. There’s a restaurant I love here in the Bay
Area.”
    “Okay.” I nodded. I only
wanted to be with him. It didn’t matter to me where we were. Still,
when we arrived at the restaurant later that evening, I didn’t
expect it to be a traditional Boston pizzeria. The Bay Area was
known as one of the wealthiest parts of the city so I laughed when
we walked in and I saw the clichéd red and white checkered
tablecloths, drip candle wine bottles and the bustle of wait staff
clad in jeans.
    “What has you giggling?”
William looked down at me, curious over my reaction.
    “I’m sorry. When you
suggested a restaurant you liked, this wasn’t at all what I
pictured,” I admitted.
    “Oh, Aubrey, you have so
much to learn about me,” William said just before a boisterous
older man with a bushy gray mustache and a near balding head made
his way to us. His voice was booming as he called out to
William.
    “Billy Boy!” the man shouted
in his thick Italian accent. He came right up to William and though
William put out his hand to shake, the man stepped around it to
wrap him in an embrace.
    William stepped out of the
quick hug. “Salvatore, let me introduce you to Aubrey.” William
placed his hand on the small of my back and presented me to the man
I now knew as Salvatore.
    “Salvatore, it’s so nice to
meet you. It seems as if you know William well,” I greeted him with
genuine friendliness and looked back and forth between the two
men.
    “ William, sheesh,”
Salvatore shook his head and laughed, “This is my boy Billy. He’s
been coming to eat in my pizzeria since he first