Page 104 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

“She is, but only sometimes.”

I let go of the chains as I move to take the swing next to Ava and give her an incredulous look. “How?”

“She used to teach at a bunch of boys’ schools when she first decided that was what she wanted to do with her life. Be a nun, I mean.” Ava tucks her hair behind her ears before she continues. “Anyway, after Momma and Daddy left, the state asked her if she’d be willing to take me in. She agreed, and after some haggling with the Archdiocese, they basically released her from the ‘draft’ to take care of me. They’ve been good to us about it so far.”

I turn my eyes away and stare at the seesaw in the middle of the park. In a weird way, I feel that basically what she’s telling me in layman’s terms is that her aunt got stuck with her, so she took it out on me?

It only makes me angrier for some reason.

“Oh.”

“Hey, how did you know that Aunt Celeste was a nun?” she asks me suddenly.

I force a smile onto my face and shrug. “She has that look, I guess.”

Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out toward Ava and lead her over to the seesaw. “Come on, let’s have some fun.”

Chapter 7

Celeste

Iturn over on my side and pull my pillow over my head. It’s damn near impossible for me to fall asleep—again—and I’m going to end up taking it out on Ava if I don’t get some rest.

I had to grow up quickly when she became my responsibility. I was barely able to care for myself, but when the state awarded her to me, I knew that the last thing in the world I would allow myself to do would be to let her down.

It took some doing before I was brave enough to request a meeting with the Archbishop, and when I finally found the nerve, I knew that he would have to see things my way.

At least that was my hope.

And when he did, I almost fell out of my chair. Granted, he stripped me of my privileges in the Church, however, every day that I wake up and see Ava blossoming into the young woman that I know her parents would have been proud to call theirs, I become less bothered by it.

Outside, a car door opens and closes, followed by the sound of tires slowly moving down the street.

I roll the other way and hold the pillow tighter against my ears.

It’s not unusual for people to be out at all hours; it’s just grating on my nerves tonight, a little more than usual.

Probably because I never had the chance to be a wild, free spirit myself,I think glumly.

My parents raised very good children.

We weren’t allowed to swear under their roof, drinking and smoking were absolutely out of the question, and we attended Mass every Sunday as instructed.

I fell so in love with the concept of Heaven at such a young age, that I knew the only thing I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a nun.

And now I can’t even be that anymore.

I sigh heavily as I toss the pillow to the floor and brush my hair out of my eyes. A single tear rolls down my cheek as I think about everything I gave up to achieve my dream, only to have it snatched away.

But I refuse to blame Ava.

She needed a home, family to take care of her, and I happened to be the only one around.

And I know it’s not having to give up my life for Ava that’s bothering me.

It’s what he did to me in that room.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about any of it.

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