Priest
The last personI expect to see when I walk into the church is my mother. She looks smaller than the last time I set eyes on her. She stares at the bulletin board as if anything on it is of interest to her. She’s in her signature pant suit, a cream colored one, her dirty blonde hair pulled into a tight knot at the nape of her neck. She smiles broadly when she spots me out of the corner of her eye. I close the distance between us, but neither of us makes a move to embrace. That is not the Michaels way. God forbid we should show our true feelings. She clutches her bag instead. “Priest, how wonderful to see you.”
“What do you want, Mother?” I sigh. There has to be a reason for her visit. Missing me is definitely not it.
“Is that the way to welcome me? I haven’t seen you in a month.” Folding my arms over my chest, I smirk. “Mother, I’ve been on a long drinking binge.”
“For heaven’s sake, Priest, the least you could do is be grateful.”
When I don’t respond, she clears her throat. “Your father has a press appearance in a month, and we were hoping you’ll be ready to make a statement, about this new lifestyle you’ve adopted.”
And there it is. The real reason she is here. I should have known it had something to do with my father and his campaign. When he announced that I’d be joining the church, he climbed up the polls.
“Whatever.” I say dismissively.
“He’s done all he can, son. You could show some appreciation and support for his work.”
There are so many things I want to say to her. “Fine.” I say instead which seems to appease her.
She looks around the church, and shudders. “This place gives me the creeps.” she scowls. “I’ll be on my way then.” She places a hand on my arm, patting it twice.
“I’ll walk you out.” I tell her. She gives me a tight-lipped smile as I lead her out to where a limousine is parked, waiting. I watch her walk away and wonder why on earth that conversation couldn’t have taken place over the phone.
Being an only child in my family is bad enough, but having a politician for a father is a death sentence. I jog out to the shed, grab a pair of gloves, and make my way to the old building that’s being refurbished.
“Priest. I thought you weren’t coming by today.” The handyman yells from the roof.
“I got bored.” I tell him. The truth is, losing myself in hard labour has been my saving grace in this place. I work myself to the point of exhaustion every single day to avoid thinking about my issues. No matter how exhausted, my thoughts continue to revert to Celeste. She might be just the distraction I need.
* * *
She’s on her knees working in the garden when I start out on my morning jog. I wait for her to finish her prayers then step outside. She spins around when she hears my footsteps, rising quickly. Under normal circumstances, I would never try to seduce a nun. These women commit their lives to their faith, and I respect that. But, Celeste, she’s no nun. She’s a sexy siren, luring me to my fate. I just have to make her see that she’s much more than a priest's plaything, unless the priest is me. She bows her head and tries to push past me.
“Not so fast, beautiful.” I tell her, gripping her forearm.
“Let me go, Priest.” she hisses. Ignoring her plea, I pull her close to me, securing her with an arm around her waist. She gasps when my erection presses against her.
“Can you feel what you do to me?” I run my nose along her face and down her neck, loving the way her breathing quickens. She stamps down on my foot causing me to stagger back. “I said leave me alone.” She says through gritted teeth.
I lurch for her, backing her up against the wall. “I bet your pussy is saying something completely different.” I say this as I touch her over the fabric of her tunic. She gasps when I grip her sex. I press my lips to hers, and she struggles for only a blink before giving in and letting me claim her mouth. I continue rubbing her over her clothing, and soon she’s moaning against my mouth, her eyes wide.
“Did I make you come?” I hiss in her ear.
She pushes me away and staggers away, out of breath, running into the convent. I laugh out loud. This is going to be a whole lot of fun. My laughter stops when I look in the other direction and spot Sister Concessa. “Fuck.” I say under my breath. How much of that did she see?
Chapter Five
Celeste
Sister Mary Concessa’soffice door is open when I approach.
“Come in, close the door behind you.” I have no idea what she wants with me, but being called out of mid-day prayers tells me that it’s nothing good. Adele had looked stricken when she came to get me. I have no doubt she’s been on the receiving end of this ghastly woman’s fury.
Concessa stands and makes her way to the window, staring out of it with a faraway look in her eyes. She doesn’t ask me to sit, and I dare not without her permission. Instead, I stand around awkwardly, waiting for her to speak. The seconds tick by on the grandfather clock that stands against one of the walls in her office.
“Do you know what it means to be in the service of the Lord, Celeste? Some women are born to take care of a household, mother children, sell their bodies out on the streets. But us, we were born to serve God, to be in tune with His commandments.” She turns toward me, smiling mirthlessly. “That, Celeste, means stripping yourself of worldly things. Not allowing yourself to be led astray by things most women are polluted by.”
“Yes, Sister,” I murmur, not quite understanding where this is going. There is no way she knows about Father Thomas and I. If she did, she’d make sure I was already out on the streets.