A few days later.
***
"Jesus, I can't remember coming to church all my life," Alec said, from the passenger's seat.
"Well, you could start now to confess your sins." I told him and looked up at Zavi, "Baby, is your mom a nun?."
"My mom was an orphan who was brought up by the convent, she escaped and went into the hands of my father, and after finding out what he does, she went back pleading for her sins. I don't think she will ever be happy to see me, we were part of her sins." He answered and kissed my hair.
We were in front of the Convent of the Norbertine Sisters in Kraków, Poland. That was where Zavi said her mom was. I think I'm getting nervous, I hadn't noticed my hands shaking until Zavi held my hand in his.
"Don't be nervous, Nora, she might like you."
I exhaled, "I hope so."
The car drove into the convent, it stopped in front of the church, and nuns trooped out of the church to greet us.
I was the first to walk out, the december winter evening breeze chilled my skin, and my neck was the only place that wasn't covered.
Zavi came in front of me and carefully tied a black scarf around my neck. I mumbled a thank you to him and looked at the Nuns.
"Welcome, how can we help you?." One of them said,
"I'm looking for Eveline Coville," Zavi replied to her.
The nun looked at the others and turned back to us, "Come with us, we'll send someone to get her now." The nun said and began to lead us inside the church.
The church was empty, none of us here had ever been to church. It was weird sitting on one of those long benches.
"I feel like a sinner. Forgive me, lord Jesus, and let me live a long life." Alec said, making us look at him.
I shook my head at him and rested my head on Zavi's shoulder.
"I pray it goes well between you and your mother."
He squeezed my hand lightly.
"I've not seen my mother for 22 years. None of us did, except Andrea. I do not know how my dad got his hands on her."
"You might still ask her though."
The door opened and we all turned.
A beautiful older woman stood at the entrance, she was dressed in a nun uniform, and her blonde hair flew down freely. She had rosy wrapped in her right hand and another around her neck.
She walked nearer and stood in front of us. Her eyes were placed on Zavi the whole time.
"Zavi?." She pronounced slowly, her sea blue eyes looking into his face. She was so identical to Andrea, Zavi's sister. She is so beautiful, her face was kind, and small wrinkles grazed the edge of her lips.
"Hi, mother," Zavi called out emotionally. I wonder how it is for him. He's never had the love of a mother, not even of a father. His eyes watered, but they didn't spill.
The woman was stronger, not even her face showed any emotion, and no one could read her.
She surprised us by pulling him into a hug.
"My child," She called slowly, "You're grown now."
"Mother, I missed you."
***
Zavi's pov.
I remembered my childhood days, those days that my mother would sing for us and play with us, each time it happened, my dad would come and take me away.
He would scold me and told me not to go near my mom ever. He said she was going to make me weak as she made my elder brother.
Being in her arms, I felt my soul uplifted,
"The lord has answered my prayers, every day I pray for your sins, your father's sins. I pray to see you again."
"I knew you were here but didn't visit. You left us to die by his hands, he made me who I am." I told her, and she went out of the hug and made me sit.
Nora went away as she sat beside me.
"Your father was stubborn, he wouldn't let me see you, he drove me away every time I came. At a time, I gave up and continued praying."
I can't believe that man did that to us. He was horrible to his own family.
"What about Andrea? How can Andrea work with father?."
She sighed, shaking her head.
"He took Andrea the day I left."
"What?."
"That evening, he sent his men and took Andrea, since that day, I never met her again. I think your father hid Andrea somewhere, I don't know."
I still can't believe this. It was making sense now.
My dad used me, I was not only his successor, but he also had Andrea do his dirty work.
Now, I get why he didn't die, Andrea saved him. He must have made himself dead so I can take over the mafia. Then he came back seeing that I fell in love.
"Mom…Dad appeared back with Andrea last month. He came back because of her." I pointed at Vanora as she sat gazing up to the altar of God.
"Who is she?." She asked.
"The woman I want to marry," I answered.
She smiled, "She's beautiful."
I smiled back, "She insisted we get your blessings before we get married."
"I would like to know her more, son."
***
Nora's pov.
"Is that Alec?" Mrs. Eve asked, pointing at him.
Alec grinned happily and went into her arms. Alec is truly a child, look at how a big boy turned into a little kid.
"I missed you."
Mrs. Eve laughed, "You boys are all grown now. Look at you, Alec. How old are you again?"
"I'm 26, maa."
A year older than Zavi and acts like a kid.
I smiled at her as her eyes rested on me.
I curtsied, "Hi, Mrs. Coville. Nice to meet you."
"Vanora Campbell? thank you for making this trip to meet me." She said, her voice calm and smooth.
"My pleasure, ma'am. I wish we met sooner." I said as she smiled.
She had no problems, the woman was nice and kind.
"Where are you from?." She asked immediately as we settled down.
I bit my lower lip, not knowing how to answer her.
"She's Damien's daughter," Zavi answered for me.
Her eyes rose, "Damien had a daughter?." She asked.
I shook my head and answered, "I found out recently. My mother is Elisa Campbell."
Her eyes widened, "You're Elisa's daughter?."
I shake my head.
"You know my mother?"
"Yes. Elisa is a sweet soul, she never had any problem with anyone. She's a very good friend of mine. Now that I know, I can see the slight resemblance."
This was the first time someone said something sweet about my mother.
"When she died, I was pained. She suffered at the hands of Damien, they are all cruel. They are birds of a feather that flocked together, may God have mercy on their soul." She completed making a sign of the cross.
"Thanks for saying something sweet about my mother. This is the first time I heard what she's really like."
"She's a good woman. She came to me when she was pregnant for you, she asked me to pray for you, she wished well for you, she loved you a lot as a child. May God bless her soul."
Tears streamed down my eyes.
"Can I…can I hug you please?."
Zavi was trying to console me as he stroked my back.
I stood up and hug her sniffing.
"You're a blessed child. All your pains are taken away by God."
"Thank you," I mumbled and sat back down.
"I see it is fate that brought you two together. I wish you well and I'll continue praying for you."
I nod, running my hand on my engagement ring slowly. I looked at Zavi and smiled as he kissed my forehead.
I loved Zavi's mother and I'm glad they were able to sort out their differences.