Free Sinful Purity (Sinful Series) by K.A. Standen Page A

I had never been allowed to leave the orphanage to find a job. Though I worked many tireless hours between MIQ and St. Matthew’s, I was not receiving a paycheck. I hoped that if Father Brennigan and Sister Christine were in favor of my attending college, maybe they would help me find a scholarship and a part-time job. My grades were excellent, and like all the charges at MIQ, I had a spotless record. All my hopes now hinged on their charity. I was confident that Father Brennigan would be an ally. It was Mother Superior I was concerned about. It was no secret that she didn’t like me. She didn’t like anyone. I had become the oldest ward at MIQ, a very fortunate turn of events for Mother. My hard work and service at MIQ offset the workload of the sisters. It was like asking a plantation owner to free one of their hardest-working slaves. It wasn’t going to happen, at least not without a flogging.
    Confirmation day arrived. My countdown to freedom was in full swing. Brett and Kelly both came like they had promised. I hadn’t seen Kelly in so long that I’d forgotten how unusual her features were. She really was quite beautiful, with her fiery red hair and freckles. She looked older and more mature than I remembered. But Brett was just the same, wonderfully the same. I was so excited to see their smiling faces as I took my place in the procession. Father Brennigan exited the confessional to my right, closing the ornately carved wooden door. He rushed past me down the aisle toward the bishop, who was waiting at the front of the church. St. Matthew Cathedral was full.
    “Standing room only,” the ushers announced.
    Several different parishes had gathered together for the sacrament, each offering their Confirmation candidates. After the ceremony I walked with Kelly and Brett to the reception. We each filled a paper cup with punch and grabbed a napkin and a cookie as we walked to the grassy knoll between St. Matthew’s and Mary Immaculate Queen. We sat down together and began to laugh and talk like the old days, a joke here and jab there, all in good fun. As the conversation began to wane in places, I could sense Kelly’s uneasiness growing. Being this close to the prison where she had spent so many terrible years ate away at her, brought too many bad memories to the surface.
    “It’s okay, Kell. You don’t have to stay,” I said. “I just appreciate you coming. I have missed you so much.”
    “Go ahead and go. I’ll stay with Liz a little longer,” Brett urged.
    “All right. If you don’t mind. I do have a lot of work waiting for me back at the dorm.” Kelly excused herself. Halfway to the parking lot she turned back around. “Hey, Liz, you looked really pretty out there today. I’ve really missed you too. I promise to call you more, okay?” She waved.
    “Thanks, Kell. I would like that. Maybe I’ll see you in a few months if everything works out.”
    Brett got up to walk Kelly to her car. “I’ll be right back.”
    As Brett and Kelly walked off, I noticed Father Brennigan standing by the church door, talking to a couple who seemed very familiar. I got up and went toward him.
    “Mary Elizabeth, this is Mr. and Mrs. Perkins,” Father Brennigan exclaimed as I approached.
    My chest began to pound with excitement. Finally, the day I had waited for, the day Kelly had said would never come, was here. There they were, my family, in the flesh. My unnaturally long stay at MIQ was over. I was going to be free, just like Kelly.
    Oh my God,
I thought,
I can’t believe that Kelly is going to miss this. At least Brett will be right back. I’ll be able to introduce him to my family. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that this would happen.
A huge smile broke across my face.
    I was so busy mentally planning my new life that I didn’t even notice the Perkinses and Fr. Brennigan staring blankly at me.
    “Mary, this is Mr. and Mrs. Perkins,” he repeated.
    “Yes, yes, I know,” I replied anxiously.
    Father