I figured she’d leave me alone when I didn’t answer, but I felt her gaze on me, probing. “Honey? Is something wrong?”

Ah, crap, I couldn’t do this right now. For the first time, I wished her cell phone would ring so I could have a few minutes to get myself together. I forced myself to talk. “No, I guess it’s just a little overwhelming. It’s our last church and it’s like they saved the best for last.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “Yeah, you’re right. Bittersweet. I’m just glad the trip is ending on a high note. And I’m sorry, sweetheart. Truly sorry.”

I cranked my head around, curious. “About what?”

Shadows flickered in her eyes. “A lot. Mainly shoving you to the side for work the first week. It was wrong.”

She’d apologized in the past. This was nothing new, but it was the way she looked at me when she uttered the words, making eye contact in a way that communicated honest regret I’d never glimpsed before. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t dump me again for work, but I realized she was finally being real with me. This time, she wanted to change.

Was it enough?

For now.

“Thanks, Mom.”

She nodded and we stood in silence for a while, drinking in our surroundings. “Ian seems very comfortable. You mentioned in the Vatican he was religious, huh?”

I let the admission tumble right out. “He’s going to be a priest.”

She let out a wild cough, and people nearby turned to give her a glare for breaking the hushed silence. “What?” she hissed, leaning close to my ear. “Did you say a priest?”

I almost laughed at her absolute shock. I half figured Nonni had spilled the beans, but I guess not. “Yep. He leaves for the seminary after this trip. It’s a long process—he gets another degree before he has to take his vows, so it’s not an overnight thing.”

“Oh my God!” She covered her mouth with her hand like she’d cursed. “I mean, holy crap! Sorry. I’m just surprised. I thought there was something going on between the two of you.”

I ignored my aching heart and shrugged. “Just friends. He’s going to Assisi tomorrow for two days. I wondered if he can come visit us? It’s only an hour away and he has a rental car. I know we have plenty of room, and it would be fun to hang out before we all return home. What do you think?”

She touched her fingers to her temples as if trying to figure out what to say. Guess I really blew her mind with my announcement. Especially since Mom wasn’t the religious type or too approving of standardized religion, no matter how much Nonni tried to bully her back into taking me to church or Bible school.