Chapter 12

Evangelina

Sunday morning, bright and early, I get Nate ready to return to his father’s house. I hate watching him go back there. I hate everything about this situation. As I pack his things, I try to keep my emotions in check.

“Nate, did you have fun this weekend?” I ask, forcing a smile.

His face lights up with a brilliant smile. “I want to go to church with you, Mommy.”

I shrug, trying to hide my excitement. “I guess I can call Daddy and ask him.” I mean, it doesn’t hurt, right?

I pull out my phone, dreading this call. “Hey, Chris,” I say after he answers on the first ring.

“What is it, Eva?” He’s all business, as usual.

“Nate really wants to go to church with me this morning. I can drop him off afterward?” I phrase it like a question, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Nate starts chanting in the background, and I hold the phone out so Christopher can hear him. “Church. Church. Church.”

Christopher breathes heavily into the phone. “Fine. Whatever. Just have him at my place by three p.m.”

I smile brightly, feeling a rare sense of victory. “Thank you, Chris. We’ll see you then.”

Hanging up the phone, I turn to Nate with a big smile. “Daddy said yes.”

Nate cheers, jumping up and down. “Hooray! Daddy always says no to everything. I’m so happy he said yes for once.”

His words break my heart. I want to ask my son what all his father says no to, but I don’t want to pry. After reading many online single-parent forums, they always say not to talk badly about the other parent and not to use your child as an informant. So I bite my tongue and focus on the positive.

“Let’s get ready for church then,” I say, trying to match Nate’s enthusiasm. I pick out his best outfit, and he excitedly helps me with his shoes.

As we walk to the church, Nate skips beside me, his hand in mine. The morning sun casts a warm glow over everything, and for a moment, the world feels right. We arrive at the church, and Nate’s eyes widen with awe.

“Wow, look at all the people,” he exclaims.

I smile down at him, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. “Yes. And it’s a place where we all can feel close to God and each other.”

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 is so good-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 are almost 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.

I head to Club Greed, my nerves bubbling through me. "I can do this," I say to myself, trying to muster the confidence I need.

When I enter the club, the dim lighting and pulsing music greet me, and my anxiety spikes. Adele is there, her familiar smile instantly putting me at ease. She walks over, leading me to a small server area tucked away from the main floor.

“I just want to make sure you’re up for this, Lina,” she says, her blue eyes kind and reassuring.

I nod, feeling a bit more grounded in her presence. “They won’t make me do anything I don’t want to do, right?”

Adele shakes her blonde head, her expression serious. “No. You’re in control. Just stick to taking drink orders and making sure they’re happy.”

I nod again, more vigorously this time. “Okay. I can do that.”

She leads me down a narrow hallway lined with private rooms on either side. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation and mystery. “Remember, Father Carmichael is watching,” she adds, her tone soft but firm.

That tidbit of knowledge makes my nerves heighten tenfold. Just knowing he’s there, watching, studying, making sure I’m okay, makes my insides tingle with a mix of anxiety and something else—something that feels a lot like desire. It’s bad to want a priest, right? Of course it is.

However, the way he looks at me sometimes isn’t how I’d expect a priest to look at a woman. There’s an intensity, a depth in his gaze that makes me feel seen in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.

As I follow Adele, I can’t help but replay our previous interactions in my mind. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at Nate, the genuine concern in his voice when he talked about helping others. It’s confusing and exhilarating all at once.

We reach the end of the hallway, and Adele stops in front of a door. “This is your room for the night,” she says, opening it to reveal a cozy, dimly lit space with plush seating and a small bar. “Just remember, you’re in control. If you ever feel uncomfortable, just signal, and we’ll get you out of there.”

I take a deep breath and step inside, feeling the weight of the night ahead settling on my shoulders. I’m doing this for Nate, for our future. But a part of me can’t deny the thrill of knowing Father Carmichael is watching over me, even from a distance.