“She worked at the boarding school I went to as a young boy.”

“And you’re still in touch? And you have a business meeting with her?”

“Another long story,” he said just as the small woman reached us, and tucking a folder under her arm, grabbed Xavier’s hands in hers. They spoke softly and affectionately, and I figured he’d introduced me when I heard my name and received her attention.

Her cool and papery hands took mine, and her rheumy blue eyes roamed me from top to bottom. I smiled a greeting, unsure what to say since she wouldn’t understand anyway.

Seemingly satisfied, she turned back to Xavier and motioned to a pathway that led through an opening in the cloister wall.

“She suggests we walk to take in the view,” he told me.

“You both go ahead,” I told him. “I’ll follow.”

He acquiesced with a grateful smile and offered Sister Maria his arm, and they began a slow stroll.

As soon as they turned away, I took a moment to gather myself. His meeting was with a nun? Honestly, I did not understand this man. But everyone we’d interacted with, apart from that creepy Morosto character and his father, seemed to put Xavier on a pedestal. If I wasn’t half gone over this man, discovering he was secretly funding some foundling orphanage run by nuns would seriously put me over the edge. Who was I kidding? I was already hanging over the damn edge. I was in so much trouble. My chest swelled watching his tall muscular frame, and let’s not lie, incredible rear-view, as he leaned down and attended to a tiny old woman. Who was this guy?

I followed them around the more recently built, cream stuccoed side of the chapel and up a set of rocky stairs toward a statue of the Madonna that rose high and white against a blue sky. They didn’t seem in a hurry. They chatted and laughed. I occasionally got the feeling I was mentioned. Especially when Sister Maria asked him something, and he grew very quiet and pensive.

Then suddenly, I wasn’t thinking of them.

I gasped.

We’d reached the top of a stone path and Notre Dame de La Serra revealed its biggest secret. It had been built overlooking the entire citadel and miles-long bay of Calvi. My breath caught as I took in the overwhelming view that ranged from the rocky outcrops plunging into the bright blue ocean, over the incredible ancient citadel walls of the city, and over a rolling valley. A turn to my left showed one could also see the towering boulder-strewn mountains behind us. It was spectacular.

I dragged my eyes away to look at Xavier a few feet to my right, only to find him looking at me over the top of the small nun’s head, watching my reaction.