Page 123 of For I Have Sinned

Alex begins to walk away, but then something pops into my head. “The event Father Keaton is planning, what is it?”

“He’s been very vague about it.”

“You don’t have any information?”

Inhaling a deep breath, he says, “Just that it is an experience that will bring the women here closer to God.”

“Lovely,” I say sarcastically and then bat my eyes at Alex. “Do I have to go?”

“It’s mandatory. No way of getting out of it.”

My mouth opens to say something else when I hear Sister Greta coming into the main library. Alex’s eyes slide to where she stands, and when I glance over my shoulder, she is giving him a terrifying warning look.

Whipping my head back to him, he dips his head. “I’m going.”

He backs away with his hands raised in defense and spins on his heel to leave the library. When I turn around, Sister Greta is staring at me the same way she was staring at Alex.

“Do you want me to leave as well?”

“No, I want you to get back to cleaning,” she snaps and goes to her office.

With the attitude she gives me, I waste no time getting back to it. As I wipe down shelves and books, my mind works on overdrive as to what Father Keaton has planned for us.

Chapter 39

Celine

The entire time I’ve been in lunch, I have pushed my food around the plate. I got word this morning from Sister Alice that my mother wasn’t coming to visit until the afternoon. Which meant I had to sit through breakfast, my lesson, and now lunch, coming up with all the lies I’m going to tell her.

The past couple of visits have been good. I pretended to be the Godly daughter she always dreamed of, and I can tell she is on the brink of actually believing me. I’m hoping that this visit today will be the one to push her over the edge and convince her that I’m ready to leave this place. That way, Alex doesn’t have to worry about getting me out.

While my mother may believe that I’ve changed, my real worry is that Father Keaton will twist her mind into thinking I need to stay longer. Although I have avoided Father Keaton and been on my best behavior, I have a feeling that my not getting into trouble won’t stop him from keeping me here. The man is messed in the head. He is too far gone for things to work out in my favor.

Beside me, Joanna continues to talk, as she has been throughout the meal. When she noticed I wasn’t eating, she made a point of asking if I was feeling alright. Ever since she apologized for slapping me, she has been acting like my best friend.

It’s been quite annoying, and Bekah has been giving me the cold shoulder because she noticed the attention shift onto me.

I poke at a cut potato on my plate when my ears perk up at the sound of Joanna mentioning something about Father Keaton’s plan.

“I’m so excited for it!” she says with excitement. My eyes flick to Esther, who is looking at Joanna with annoyance.

“Do you know any of the details?” I ask Joanna, turning my gaze on her.

Father Keaton has been so secretive about it, even with Alex. The only people who probably know all the details are Sister Alice and maybe Joanna. Depends on whether Father Keaton tells her these things or if he only uses her to get his dick wet.

Joanna shakes her head, chews on a piece of food, and then swallows. “All I know is that it’s happening on October 31st.”

My teeth clench together roughly when I hear the date. As I tighten my grip on the utensil, I feel eyes on me. Looking at Esther, I see a question of her eyes about my sudden change in demeanor, but I will have to wait until lunch is over to tell her.

“I love surprises!” Bekah chimes in.

“Me too,” Joanna agrees. “Father Keaton says that if all goes well, he wants to keep doing it. Like a tradition.” She turns her body towards me. “Do you know anything about it?”

“Only that his plan involves us getting closer to God,” I repeat Alex’s words to me.

Joy spreads across Joanna’s pale face. “I love how devoted he is to helping us grow our relationship with God.”

I’m sure she loves something else about Father Keaton, too, but I bite my tongue to stop myself from saying something.