Page 136 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Her husband was not the father of this child.

If he ever came back from wherever in the fuck he was,Affonso would know the truth. He hadn’t slept with his wife in months. Emmacouldn’t stick her head in the sand. Her husband was not a stupid man. Shewouldn’t be able to trick him like the first time.

Not that she wanted to.

The baby was Calisto’s child.

How was she supposed to tell him?

What would they do?

As the doctor continued talking, Emma was lost in herown thoughts. She didn’t know what to do.

“Forgive me, Father,” Emma whispered. “It has been twoyears since my last confession.”

Across the floor from her, Father Day sat with hisankle crossed over his knee and his hands in his lap. In his robe and collar,he was the very picture of patience and grace. Strangely, that helped Emma agreat deal to see him sitting there like that, waiting and not judging her.

“Why so long?” the priest asked.

Emma cleared her throat, willing away her emotions. “Ihaven’t felt a need to confess.”

“Yet, you do today, child.”

“Maybe I was too caught up in my own selfishness togive it the thought and time it deserved.”

Father Day smiled. “That’s probably more likely. Weall have those moments, however, so it’s understandable that you would have oneyourself. It’s a human trait we all share.”

“Thank you.”

“Who was your last confessor?”

“A priest from my family’s church. I grew up listeningto him every Sunday,” Emma said.

“So you trusted him,” Father Day replied.

“Of course.”

“I hope that I can offer you the same, Emma.”

Emma blew out a shaky breath, willing her nerves toleave. Above most people in her life, she would always trust a priest. His jobwas with God first, man second. His doctrine required him to keep herconfessions between him and God only.

She just needed to talk.

“So what’s made you come now, after two years, tobegin confessing again?” Father Day asked.

“It started fourteen months ago.”

Father Day’s head tipped to the side. “Right after youmarried Affonso?”

“Right before,” she corrected.

“Go on.”

“Everything changed, and not in the way I thought itwould.”

“Why did it change?” he asked.

Emma stared beyond the priest to the cross hanging offthe wall. “Because I met Calisto Donati.”