Page 99 of For I Have Sinned

He reaches around me, causing me to jump to my left and out of his way. When he twists the handle, causing the door to open, he steps behind it, gesturing for me to leave.

I look at it, then back to him, in silence. I want to get out of this place more than anything, but what he is doing is wrong. I mean, I have no room to talk because of what Alex and I have done, but what Father Keaton is doing is evil. Without saying a word, I walk through the door.

“I’ll take your silence as you choosing your freedom. Have a good night, Celine.” A cunning smile spreads across his mouth. “I know I will.”

And with that, he slams the door in my face.

Chapter 32

Father Alexander

Spending time with my mom these past few days had put everything into perspective. Not only about Celine, but my life in general.

If I weren’t in the priesthood, I could visit her more, and after the time we spent together, I want nothing more. Our days were full of was full of laughter, love, and good food. Leaving her to go back to the convent was hard because my life felt normal for the first time in awhile.

I wasn’t Father Alexander here. I was just Alex.

And as good as that felt, I needed to get back to the convent because there were things that needed to be taken care of.

Traveling from New York to Cali was exhausting, especially with the two delayed flights and the three hour layover. My eyelids feel heavy the entire ride back from the airport, and sleep threatens to drag me under, but that feeling dissipates as soon as I step inside the convent.

Because the need to find Celine is stronger than my exhaustion.

It’s overwhelming and the sensation almost becomes too much. My skin is on fire, the air around me is thrumming with electricity, knowing we are under the same roof again. As much as I’d like to race to her room, I want to put my bags away first.

The halls are dark, which isn’t a surprise given it is almost midnight. But, as I quickly walk down the corridor, I notice Father Keaton’s office light is off. I’ve only seen it this late on that one night I learned about him and Joanna. Seeing that it is off tonight, gives me some sort of relief.

When I turn the corner, the chapel comes into view. The right door is wide open and as I go to turn to head towards my bedroom, something inside catches my eye. Near the altar, a woman sits in the middle of the aisle with her back to the door. The moon is full tonight; its beams shining through the stained-glass window, coloring the woman in reds, yellows, and blues.

Slowly entering the chapel, I stand at the end of the aisle and immediately know it’s Celine. My heart begins to race as I stand here observing her. She sits on the floor, her legs criss-cross as she leans back on her hands. I quietly set the bag down next to the last pew, and make my way to her. I keep my footsteps light as I approach her and she remains oblivious as she stares at the wall behind the altar, adorned with a large golden cross.

Stopping directly behind her, I crouch down and whisper, “What are you doing, little sin?”

Her entire body flinches at my voice, and she whips around with rosy cheeks and panic etched on her face.

“Jesus, Alex! You scared me! I thought you were Father Keaton.”

“Afraid he would catch you out of bed past curfew?” I chuckle, bringing my hand up to pinch a strand of her hair between my fingers.

“Something like that,” she says, the fear in her voice disappears as her eyes roaming to the clothes I’m wearing. She lifts a hand, and pinches the fabric of my sweatshirt. “Well, this is different.”

“If you’d like me to go change⁠—”

“No,” she cuts me off abruptly, eyes meeting mine. “I like it. The hat is a nice touch.”

Another smirk tugs at my lips and I lower my hand. Raising her finger, she traces the curved bill.

“What are you doing in here?”

She sighs and I can hear the exhaustion flow through her breath. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Did your methods not work?”

“In case you forgot,” she gives me a playful stare, “I’m not allowed to use my methods.”

“We both know you didn’t listen.” My thumb finds her bottom lip and tugs it down slightly. “Touching yourself didn’t get you to fall asleep. Why?”

“There is a lot on my mind.” She hesitates for a moment, the playfulness leaving her body. “We need to talk.”