Chapter 16
1610 Words
Miguel
I blinked severally because it felt like I was dreaming. I knew the face that stood coyly in front of me but I could not remember the name. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to introduce herself and state her purpose in my office.
“I'm sister Matilda,” she said with a smile, “from St Jude's convent in New York? We have met a couple times already.”
I stared at her blankly, still confused, wondering why the hell she was here. Until, Father Jerome walked in afterwards.
“Miguel,” he had a smile on his face.
“Father!” I said warmly, “how was your flight?”
The young man replied, “it was the best. Thanks. About the parish…”
I stopped Father Jerome, “did she follow you?”
The young priest glanced at Matilda. I did not miss the heated gaze with which he stared at her. I recognised the look.
Lust.
I ignored it. He was a priest but he was a man also. One could not blame him if he wanted a little action now and then.
“Yes,” came his response, “she's here for Sister Penelope.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Mother Superior wants her back already?”
“No,” Matilda stepped forward, “I brought her rosary.”
I frowned. It did not seem a good enough reason to fly out here but I asked no further questions.
“Penelope's office is at the end of the hallway,” I said.
“Huh?”
I cleared my throat, realising my mistake.
“Sister Penelope's office is at the end of the hallway,” I repeated.
“Of course,” Matilda bowed her head slightly to me and Father Jerome before leaving my office.
I turned my sights to Jerome and waved him onto a seat opposite me.
“I wanted you to bless the small church attached to the clinic,” I said to him, “we should have a service this Sunday. I want patients to be able to go and pray there while at the hospital.”
Father Jerome frowned, “there are priests here, surely?”
“They do not like me very much,” I said with a smile.
They were privy to my shenanigans especially when Claudia and I would still parade around Oakridge, flaunting our promiscuity. I smiled as I remembered that on several occasions I had slept in jail for having s*x in public spaces.
“I see,” said the young priest, “well, I am more than happy to bless the clinic.”
A nurse barged into my office. From the look on her face, I knew at once that there was an emergency.
“What is it?” I asked, dreading the response already.
“There has been an accident at the lake,” she said, “an outdoor school trip… three students drowned, they're in respiratory distress.”
I stood up from my chair without an explanation to Father Jerome. It was time to start my day.
****
“You were amazing today, Dr Ramirez,” I turned to see sister Matilda standing behind me.
I stared at her for a while wondering why she always looked a bit familiar to me. Had I known her before she joined the convent?
“Thank you,” I said.
“When do you return to New York?” The voice belonged to Penelope who had creeped up behind Matilda.
A look of annoyance settled on Matilda's face but she covered it up quickly with a smile.
“I must stay until the weekend,” Matilda replied, “and I hate to impose but would you mind if I stayed with you till then?”
I could tell at once that the question made Penelope uncomfortable.
“No,” I stepped in as it did not seem like Penelope had the guts to refuse the request herself.
Matilda looked surprised that I had refused on Penelope's behalf but I quickly added so there was no suspicion, “I can rent a room for you at the motel Father Jerome is staying at.”
Matilda blushed, “that is very kind, Dr Ramirez.”
Then she turned to Penelope, “are you staying at the motel too? We could pray together in the evenings, keep the flame of faith alive here.”
Penelope turned pale.
“I… I…” she struggled to find words for Matilda.
“She will be working at the clinic in the evening,” I stepped in again.
Penelope may have qualms about lying but I had known.
Matilda looked at the both of us as though trying to spot the lie.
“I can assist while…”
“I assumed you would be taking care of your sick cousin?” Penelope stepped in this time, “Mother Superior called. She told me you had a sick cousin you wanted to visit? She said I should visit sometime to pray with you and your cousin.”
It was Matilda's turn to become pale. Her face turned white. She looked like she had been caught red handed in a lie.
“My cousin… My cousin is… he likes to keep a private life,” she replied with a stutter, “infact, I should call her. I'll see you both later.”
Penelope turned to me like she had something to say but I walked away before she could say a word. I could still feel her gaze on me so I patted a nurse I did not care much about and leaned in to talk to her.
From my side eye, I could see Penelope watching me and her gaze was intense and filled with quiet jealous rage.
“How are the parents reacting to the news?” I asked the nurse who looked at me surprised because we had never spoken before.
She blushed as she replied, “Uhm… the reverend sister handled them with care. Ahh! She's over there,” the nurse pointed to Penelope, “she was really great today.”
“Sister Penelope?”
“You know her name? Yes, she's the one. We should have her here all the time. She has great empathy.”
I nodded. I had brought her here for more than her empathy skills and I was hoping that her skills on bed matched her compassionate heart.
My phone rang in my pocket, jolting me from my salacious thoughts.
“Damien?”
“I just arrived at Oakridge,” I heard him say with a yawn.
“Oakridge?” I echoed.
All I wanted was some quiet passionate romance with Penelope. So why was everyone coming to Oakridge trying to sabotage my relationship with Penelope?
“Why are you here man?” I asked him.
“Ashley told me you were mean to her,” he said, making me roll my eyes.
“Is she a baby?” I was annoyed at my friends, “why does she have to report me to you?”
“I'll be coming to your house…”
I hung up.
He knew what I was planning and still he appeared determined to ruin my plans. As I placed my phone in the pocket of my white coat, it beeped with a message.
I'm in front of your house or should I come to the clinic?
I muttered profanities under my breath at Damien. I knew he took pleasure in annoying me.
****
“That was quick,” I saw Damien standing in front of a red Chevrolet car with a smirk on his lips.
“This is not funny, Damien,” I said to him, “you can't just show up here…”
“Why not?” he asked me, his tone teasing me a little bit, “afraid your woman may fall for me instead?”
I burst out laughing.
He looked offended, “what's that supposed to mean? She may favour a younger man.”
“Penelope likes me,” my voice was hard as steel.
He looked at me and shook his head like I was being delusional.
“Did she tell you that?” he asked me.
“She doesn't have to,” I replied with a lazy smile, “I know from the way she's jealous of me.”
“Jealous?”
“I have noticed that she hates having other women around me,” I said. I knew it was true in spite of the doubtful looks Damien shot at me.
“Perhaps I should make sure that she does,” he said, “or see if she is just…”
“What do you think of me Damien?” I asked him, “you really think I'm some weirdo trying to sleep with a girl who wants to be a nun so badly?”
He raised an eyebrow because I had just described myself in one breath.
“Hey!” I yelled, “she really does like me. I'm not crazy and I am only saving her from making the wrong decision.”
“And the wrong decision would be?” Damien asked me.
“Clearly, becoming a nun,” my tone was matter-of-factly.
Damien sighed, knowing already that he could never speak sense into me.
“And what if you're wrong?” he asked me, “what if she leaves the convent for you and you just end up hurting her?”
His question did not sit right with me.
“I love her,” I told him, my tone dead serious, “I would never hurt her.”
- Writer
