Chapter 4
Blair
“Yes, Sister Francis, I understand the obligations we must hold for tomorrow’s community Easter event.” My response was lenient and timed, making sure not to make her linger for too long nor make her feel ignored or rushed.
She squinted her eyes, the crow’s feet making their special appearance as she did her daily inspection routine. It was like she wanted to beat the lies out of us but couldn’t use brutal force, so she opted for intimidation.
Her quiet observance continued for several beats as my face remained intangible, focusing on the embroidery at hand, looping the thread through the needle, and continuing the intricate pattern.
Sister Marie, who was sitting next to me now attentively, had been teaching me this since we were making blankets and sweaters for the homeless.
Sister Francis, who came swirling into the dining room like she was looking to start trouble, as she had gone around the monastery like she did every morning and made sure all the sisters were doing their assigned tasks.
The yellow lighting of the kitchen had made her look older than usual.
The kitchen was the oldest part of the convent, dating back to the 15th century, so it had the classic Renaissance essence etched into the yellow sandstone cut walls elongated with curved arches and decorative tiles.
Mixed in with updated granite countertops, a newly installed island, and wooden cabinetry.
The place felt like a living piece of history.
Sister Francis stood still, assessing me in an all-black gown that fell to the floor, her white and black headset covering every inch of skin. Leaving it only to reveal her face.
“Good then.” She pressed her palms together in contemplation.
“We must flower the cross beforehand, create wooden baskets for the children, and hang it in front of the church, enlist members of the community for a potluck to see who will cater and market local businesses. Finally, we have the Easter party, which includes the scavenger hunt and sunrise service.”
Anything else? I wanted to sass but knew it would only end in a disciplinary action for me, so I turned the other cheek.
Sometimes it felt like a public service, as they were exploiting my kindness for free manual labor. But on the other hand, if I wanted to free myself of my sins, I would have to be giving and selfless.
Especially for him.
For Ollie.
“Alright, Reverend Mother.” I amicably agreed, lowering my head. “I’ll just finish this and will help you.”
She slammed her hand down on the wooden-cloaked dining table, making Sister Marie jump in her chair. “I need you now.”
I gawked at her hand before raising my gaze to hers. “But I’m doing this at the moment since this Friday we are going into the town to hand them out.” I argued, my brows knitting together at her insolence.
“I tell you what’s important. You don’t get to question it.”
“I’m not. I’m simply saying I’ll get to it when I’m done.”
“You do something when I tell you to do it.”
“Blair—” Marie attempted to cut in, but I didn’t let her.
“You will wait. For I am busy, and you are no one to tell me what to do.”
“Mother, please forgive her because she doesn’t know what she’s doing.
” Marie pleaded as she parted from her chair and put herself in between us like a barrier.
Preventing us from dragging each other. Which younger Blair from six months ago would already be doing.
Not caring who she was. You disrespect me, I disrespect you. Fair is fair.
Francis pinned her grey eyes at her as Marie automatically squealed and shut up. Her spiteful expression turned back to me. “How dare you?”
My glory, my patience, and whatever virtue I had went down the drain as I slowly stood up, the chair legs dragging against the cement as it made a screeching sound.
Planting my palms on the table and looking her straight in the eye.
“How dare you? Do you think you are God or something to be judging me? Last time I checked, you are not. You are another sinful, corrupted soul.”
Her mouth fell, horrified that I told her the truth. “You insolent girl!” She raised her hand, ready to strike, when Father Andrea came in and grabbed her hand back roughly.
“That’s enough, Mother!”
She gasped, shock bleeding into her eyes. “F-father, I was just—”
“I saw what you were doing, and I don’t like it one bit.
” He scowled, and he scanned her up and down.
He looked typically handsome as he did in his all-black buttoned robe pulled in with a similarly colored belt, a mantle draped across his shoulder, and a white collar tied around his neck.
His hair neatly slicked back, with one loose strand curling like Superman’s.
“B-but, she started it.” She whined worse than a child.
And they say children are bad. Adults are a thousand times worse.
Father Andrea's sight moved to me as I sheepishly wanted to avoid him but only ended up lowering my head.
“Regardless of that fact, you know violence is never the answer!” He reprimanded her. “You better than anyone know that. Don’t you?”
She blinked rapidly, stuttering, “Y-yes, but—”
“Then why are you not leading by example? Have you not given your entire life to this purpose?”
She swallowed, the apples of her cheeks turning as red as beet as she stayed silent.
“Answer me!” He demanded, his voice husky and rough, and his loss of control conjuring a vein on the side of his neck.
Well, absolutely a turn-on, as that reckless side of him that was unexplored, and, to be honest, the idea of turning a good man like him bad just made me aroused at the possibility.
Focus, Blair.
“Yes, Father. You’re right. I don’t know what happened. I lost control.” The answer nearly made her tongue bleed.
“Control yourself then.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good, or else your whole life would have been a waste.” His words were as cruel as a beating while he dropped her wrist. Opening his stance to see us both. “Now apologize to Blair.”
Her eyes rounded in retaliation. “Father, how could I? She—”
“I am telling you to apologize, Reverend Mother. Now act on your part.”
I could see her choking on her own fury, and well, I would have liked that. I liked that she had to humble and humiliate herself before me much better.
She clutched onto the rosary hanging on her waist harshly, like it was lending her some type of divine strength. The woman was literally clutching her pearls— couldn’t she be any more dramatic?
A long bearing moment passed.
She cleared her throat and licked her lips, her gaze askew from mine. “I apologize, Blair.”
Although there wasn’t an ounce of sincerity or authenticity in her words, I took them, proving to her and in front of everyone else the type of person I was, as I also said.
“It’s okay, Sister. I apologize as well if I did anything that might have offended you.
After the last few days, we have all been on edge because of the prison outbreak and the police being everywhere.
It makes us unstable, but we must find strength to unite us.
” My peaceful resolution was perfectly executed.
Light breezed through Father Andrea’s eyes while his expression became mellow and kind. “Well, would you look at that? That’s the exact attitude we must have concerning others. Something you may learn a tip or two, Mother Superior.” He said.
Sister Francis glared at me, nodding with a tight fake smile.
Suddenly a large bell struck, resonating not only through the hall and convent but also the entire town.
The bell rang every hour on the hour, every day.
Reminding me that there was a special pain-in-the-ass monstrous Russian I had lurking and hiding like a demon.
Which I was obligated to feed. Guess there was no better time since it was already noon.
“I’m not feeling quite well. I would like to eat in my room.” I mentioned softly, bringing a hand to my stomach, adding to the effect.
“Of course, Sister Blair. Go ahead. Come back to attend to your duties when you're done.” Father Andrea offered a smile.
I smiled in return. “Thank you, Father.” Swiftly, heading around the marble counter and grabbing my plate, loading it up with boiled sweet potatoes, Caesar salad, carbonara, and stuffing my bread in my dress pocket since there was no more room on the plate.
“That’s an excessive amount of food. You’re not going to eat all of it.” Sister Francis continued egging me on.
Frustration boiled in my cheeks, needing her to get off my ass, the annoyance seething through my teeth. “I didn’t eat breakfast, Sister, so I'm quite hungry.”
She clicked her teeth. “You should have. Truly, your greed is showing.”
“That’s enough.” Father Andrea's sharp inclination broke his calm composure. “Sister Francis, come with me now. Blair, continue and go to your room.”
On the spin of his heel, he turned around, exiting the room as his disappointed expression stayed on Sister Francis as the rage grew in her eyes as she looked at me once more, almost warning me to “watch my back,” as she had no other choice but to follow him and leave.
Good. She deserves a good beating or two.
Knowing she wasn’t going to get severely punished, just told off and be put in her place.
She might have been Mother Superior, but she was far from being superior to me.
Sister Marie cautiously trailed behind me, her tone just above a whisper as she stuck close. “You know, Blair, you shouldn’t have argued with Mother Superior.”
It felt like she was chastising me.
“I wasn’t arguing. I was defending myself.”
“Still, it won’t go well for you if you continue like this.”
What did she mean by that?
“Like what?”
“Well… you’re not exactly the ideal model.” She paused as my head snapped at her, observing her intently as she nearly squirmed under my sight. “None of us are, but in order to fit into the convent, we have to evolve, become superior to who we were, and forget the past.”
I went completely still.
Forgetting the past?