Page 26 of On Your Knees

We enter the church, and Sandy is there to greet us, like she is every Sunday.

“And who is this handsome angel?” she asks, her eyes bright and shiny.

“This is Nate, my son,” I say as I introduce him. “Nate, this is Ms. Sandy.”

Sandy smiles wide, sticking out her hand for my son to shake. “Nice to meet you.”

We exchange pleasantries as my eyes scan the crowd, looking for Benedict. I spot him standing not too far away, and when he sees me his face lights up.

He really issogood-looking.

He crosses the church, making his way over to where we stand near the entrance. He glances down at Nate. “Good morning, Nate. Welcome to our church.”

Nate beams up at him. “Good morning, Father.”

“He’s excited to be here,” I add with a smile.

Father Carmichael chuckles, looking right at my son. “We’re excited to have you here, too.”

As the service begins, Nate sits beside me, his eyes wide with curiosity and wonder. He listens intently to the hymns and the sermon, and I can’t help but feel proud of him. This is a new experience for both of us, and I’m grateful for the chance to share it with him.

After the service, we spend some time talking with Father Carmichael and other parishioners. Nate is full of questions, and I can see the genuine interest and kindness in Father Carmichael’s responses. It warms my heart to see Nate so engaged and happy.

As we leave the church, Nate is still bubbling with excitement. “Mommy, can we come to church every Sunday?”

I squeeze his hand gently. “We’ll try our best, sweetheart.”

We make our way to Christopher’s house, and although I dread the handover, I focus on the joy of the morning. When we arrive, Christopher opens the door, his usual stern expression in place.

“Did you have a good time?” he asks Nate, his tone begrudgingly neutral.

Nate nods vigorously. “Yes, Daddy! I loved it. Can I go with Mommy again?”

Christopher looks at me, a flicker of something—maybe surprise, maybe something else—in his eyes. “We’ll see,” he says noncommittally.

I kneel down to hug Nate tightly. “I’ll see you soon, okay? Be good.”

Nate hugs me back just as tightly. “Okay, Mommy. I love you.”

“I love you too, Nate.”

As I walk away, my heart aches with the bittersweet pain of parting, but I hold onto the hope that today’s small victory is the start of something better for us both.

As I get ready to head to Club Greed for my first night as a Greedy Girl, I can’t tamp down the excitement coursing through me. Butterflies dance in my stomach, a mix of nerves and anticipation. I don’t know if I’m more excited to see Father Carmichael or to earn some extra money to help aid my case.

It’s the money. Yes. Definitely. Who am I kidding? I’d do anything to steal a glance at the Father’s baby blues one more time. Why does he have to be so good-looking? It’s kind of unfair. A man like him—gorgeous and compassionate—never being allowed to have a relationship with anyone. I wonder what made him decide to become a priest. Was it a calling? A moment of clarity? Or something else entirely?

I want to learn everything about him, but as I slide on a simple black dress, I try to remember the task at hand: gain the Delgados' trust. The dress clings to my curves just right, exuding a subtle allure. I fix my wig, ensuring it's perfectly in place, transforming my appearance with the short, sleek strands.

As I apply my makeup, I focus on creating a look that’s both captivating and mysterious. Heavy smokey eyes that draw attention to my gaze, fire-engine red lipstick that adds a bold pop of color. Each brushstroke and application feels like donning armor, preparing myself for the night ahead. The persona I’m crafting is confident and alluring, everything I need to be to blend in at Club Greed.

My mind drifts back to Father Carmichael. The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles, the warmth in his voice when he talks about helping others. The conflicting emotions inside me arealmost overwhelming. How can someone so dedicated to his faith also stir such feelings in me?

I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts. This isn’t the time for distractions. I need to focus on the mission. Gain the Delgados' trust, get the information Father Carmichael needs, and help secure the future I want for Nate and me.

Stepping back, I take a final look in the mirror. The transformation is complete. Gone is the struggling single mother, replaced by a confident, enigmatic woman ready to take on the night. I grab my purse, checking one last time that everything is in place. Wig secure, makeup flawless, dress perfect.

Check. Check. Check.

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