Free Cherished (Adam & Ella) by Emily Jane Trent Page B

group. Knowing the family regularly attended the Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown Rio, it provided an opportunity to. Adam had never been a regular, but the others were, including Adrian and his parents. The bodyguards Adam had hired stayed close, but no one expected Claudio to do anything at church.
    The Catholic Church was a powerful force, and one he was unlikely to anger, even if he was not a believer. But that didn’t stop him from reaching through the protective inner circle to contact Serena. During the week, she often went to church since she was involved in many community activities that centered there. The women she’d known most of her life met in meeting rooms to organize fundraisers and other community assistance.
    The Metropolitan was a safe haven for Adam’s family, and they expected it to stay so. Not just the wrath of the Almighty, but the wrath of the community would descend upon Claudio should he violate the sanctity. But that didn’t stop him from using it to his advantage. One day, while Adam was still away with Ella, several notes were handed to his mother. The context was alarming, and the surfing trip was cut short, so Adam could be with his mother.
    Serena was not easily rattled and was familiar with Claudio’s disrespect. However, when he sent notes putting others at risk, he’d gone too far. He’d violated sacred ties by sending his vile communications, using her dear friends as conduits and the church as an avenue for personal gain. Fiorella’s text about what had happened brought Adam and Ella home immediately. They all met at the church to learn the full details.
    While waiting for his family to arrive, Adam showed Ella the interior of the church. The exterior was impressive enough. It was in the center of the city, a tall, cone-shaped building, “two hundred forty-six feet high,” Adam said. Rectangular stained-glass windows rose to the ceiling. Once inside, with the sun coming through the colored panes, the light refracted through the glass, the interior was lit like a rainbow.
    Church had never been part of Ella’s life, and she reflected that religion was another gaping hole in her formative years. While lacking formal religious guidance, she did feel spiritual. Riding the powerful waves of the endless blue ocean and smelling the salty air always transported her above this world and the everyday burdens. Experiencing such marvels of nature, how could she doubt a force greater than she?
    Her love for Adam extended beyond a few precious years, as she knew she’d love him forever. And standing inside the majestic church, she felt a spiritual power, one she couldn’t define. It wasn’t for her to do so. But the love she felt for Adam, for his family, for life, was bigger than she was. Standing in reverence, Ella looked up at the pulpit, sitting on a platform above the main floor. Polished wood benches arched in semi-circles in front of the stage area, covering the expansive floors, shining beneath the light streaming through the stained glass.
    Adam stood next to her, quietly holding her hand. The silence was calming, transcending the problems of life. The idea that his father had the audacity to use any part of the sacred organization for his own purposes was heinous. Breathing in the beauty around her, Ella saw with new clarity that there were forces at work that could crush Claudio and his petty life. As often was the case, evil, no matter how frightening, did not win out—unfortunately, not always before it wrecked havoc for others.
    Turning, Adam led her through the huge space where so many had worshipped, and back outside to look for his family. Spotting them walking toward the entrance, Adam strode to his mother and hugged her. “Mamma, sono qui,” he said, reassuring her that he was there.
    Ella watched Serena cling to him. “ Adamo…Adamo,” Serena said with her eyes closed, her arms around Adam. Looking over, she saw tears in Fiorella’s eyes, and noted Adrian’s