The Guardian by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed Read Free Book Online Page B

a phone call.”
    She reached for the phone and noticed that Father Vin was smiling from ear to ear.
    Anna grabbed the receiver, still cupping the mouthpiece. “Who is it, Vin?”
    “Someone very important.” Father Vin seemed almost giddy.
    Anna put the phone up to her ear. She could hear rustling around on the other end. She looked at Father Vin as he was giving her a “Go ahead and say something” look. “This is Anna Riley. Who is this?”
    The voice that echoed through the earpiece was soft and gentle. At the same time, it was also authoritative and tough as nails. “Anna, this is Pope Paul VII. I have been eagerly waiting to talk to you.”
    Anna’s eyes went wide as she dropped the phone. Father Vin was horror-stricken at her reaction. Quickly, he leaped at the phone lying on the floor and picked it up. “Hello? Hello?” The line had gone dead. “Anna, you just hung up on the pope! What were you thinking?”
    “Me?” Anna replied in shock. “What were
you
thinking! How about a heads-up next time? I mean you could’ve at least told me who it was, Vin! How am I supposed to know it’s the pope? I mean it’s not like we’re buddies or something. I don’t just go around talking on my phone, ‘Oh hey, Pope! How’s the weather over there? What’s been going on? Seen any miracles lately?’“
    Father Vin picked up the phone and began to fumble with the numbers when it started ringing. “Hello …. Oh yes, Holy Father. I’m sorry about that. There must have been a bad connection. Hold on. She’s right here.” Father Vin cupped the mouthpiece once again and handed the phone back to Anna. “Anna, it’s the pope,” he said sarcastically. “How’s that for a ‘head’s-up’?”
    Anna took the phone and smiled at Father Vin. “That’s a little better.” She winked at Vin, took a deep breath, and put the phone to her ear. “Hello, ah … sir.”
    “Your Holiness!” Father Vin hissed.
    “Sorry … Your—Your Holiness.”
    “Hello, Anna,” came the reply. “I’ve long been looking forward to this moment. Your grandfather spoke of you very highly.” “He did? He didn’t even know me.”
    “You were not able to know him, and it grieved him every day of his life. But he knew you, and he loved you.”
    Anna blinked back sudden tears. “Thank you.”
    “My child, it’s a heavy burden you’ve taken. I wanted you to know that I, too, mourn the loss of your grandfather, and I pray for his soul to be in safe-keeping with God. Thank you for taking his place on this vitally important journey.”
    The pope was thanking her? Suddenly, her reluctance and fears seem small, petty. Larger, more important things were at stake. “You’re welcome.”
    “We will meet soon, and we will talk more.”
    “I would like that … Your Holiness.” And she realized she actually meant it. There was something gentle and wise about this man. Like a grandfather. Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard. “Do you need to talk to Father Vin again?”
    “No, that will be all. Just tell him to check in again in the next couple of days. May God bless you, dear child.”
    She handed the phone back to Vin and walked into the kitchen to fix a snack.
    “So, what did he say?” Father Vin stood and followed her into the kitchen. “You two didn’t talk very long.”
    If she tried to explain how she really felt, she’d end up crying. She blinked back tears and put on a teasing smile. “Ah, you know.” Anna shrugged her shoulders. “He just wanted to see how the weather was over here, that sort of thing!”
    “Anna.” Father Vin stood there with his arms crossed.
    “I’m just kidding, Vin! He said that he looked forward to meeting me and he was glad that I am doing this.” Anna took a bite of her toast. “You know, this could be kinda cool. I mean, hanging out with the pope!”
    Father Vin didn’t look fooled by her superficial joking. He walked over and kissed Anna’s forehead. “Good night, Anna.