Title: Scenes from a Courtship
Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just playing.
Summary: A series of scenes from Sam and Martin's relationship. In the same universe as "A Long Weekend."
Rating: If you are old enough to use the internet you are old enough to read this.
Chapter 4
A special thanks to Claire and "she who wishes not to be named" for beta reading.
Meeting an Old Friend
Martin was a little nervous walking into the coffee shop. He was happy that his old high school friend Paul had looked him up after being out of touch a number of years, but surprised by the fact Paul had become a priest. It wasn't that he uncomfortable being around a priest. Years of being an altar boy and a Jesuit education put Martin at ease around a priest, but a priest who had been his co-conspirator in adolescent mischief was a whole other thing. He couldn't quite wrap his head around Paul being a priest. Paul was the one who managed to steal copy of Playboy from his older brother and shared with Martin and the others. Paul was the one who could summon up the nerve to talk to public school girls at debate matches.
As soon as Martin walked in the door, Father Paul waved Martin over to his table. They exchanged a manly half handshake/ half hug. Martin blurted out "So what do I call you?" Paul laughed and said, "I do still answer to Paul. Most of the people in my parish call me Father Paul."
Father Paul and Martin caught up on each other's lives. Martin was surprised how easy it was. They managed to pick up there friendship like almost nothing had changed. They made plans to get together again to play some basketball.
When Martin met up with Samantha later that day, he filled her in about catching up with Father Paul. Samantha asked, "What parish is he in?"
"St. Margaret's which is not too far from my place," replied Martin.
"Maybe we should go there for Easter Mass," said Samantha. She wasn't quite sure what made her say that. It was something that felt at the moment she said it.
Martin was stunned. He knew that both he and Samantha considered themselves Catholics of some variety but neither one had been much on attending Mass for years. Although in the back of his mind, Martin had always thought he'd go back once he had a family of his own.
"If you want to we can, but you don't need to do this for me," said Martin.
"I just think it would be nice to do and Father Paul sounds like a good priest," said Samantha.
"Well, this will thrill my mother," said Martin smiling.
Samantha and Martin found their way to St. Margaret's on Easter. Sam and Father Paul hit it off. They had a similar sense of humor and both enjoyed lighthearted teasing of Martin. When you added Danny to the mix, they reverted to one-step above unruly adolescents. Besides that, Father Paul had a knack for saying just the thing that Sam needed to hear on occasion.