THE FIRST THING I NOTICE when I get to the Conways is Catherine and her brothers playing outside under the watchful eye of Miriam.
The second thing I notice is that Dan’s car is gone.
I pull into the driveway behind the van that is the vehicle of choice for large Catholic families. Catherine, Max, and JP all run up to me.
“Hi, Father Tom,” Catherine says breathlessly. “We were playing tag. Wanna play?”
I laugh. “Catherine, I’d love to, but I think I’m a little too old for tag.”
“Well, what games do you and Miss Helen play?” she asks with wide-eyed innocence.
“Mainly Monopoly,” I say with a smile. “It’s like Candyland for adults.”
“Oh,” she says, nodding her head. “Do you and Miss Helen play Mommys and Daddys?”
“Ah . . . Mommys and Daddys?” I ask, slightly startled by the question.
