Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel (free ebook reader for iphone txt) 📗

Hattie saw her in the rearview mirror as she headed toward the road and waved. Melissa was standing there, still strong and tall and beautiful, as she always had been, no matter how badly she had been injured, or how scarred she was as a result. In all the important ways, she hadn’t changed. They were still sisters. There was only one thing Hattie wished that she could do for her now. It seemed impossible, but maybe it was feasible. As she drove back to New York, thinking of the sister who had done so much for her when they were young, she knew she had to try, no matter how impossible it seemed.

Chapter 4

Hattie had been called Sister Mary Joseph for the last eighteen years, which her sister, Melissa, had continued to ignore. Her friends in the convent called her Mary Joe, and those closest to her simply “Joe,” but her convent life didn’t exist to Melissa. Hattie thought about her older sister constantly for the week after their visit, and sent her an email, telling her what a lovely time she’d had and how much it meant to her. Melissa responded warmly for the first time in years.

Her confessions had brought them closer, and had given Hattie new insights into Melissa. She had known about the baby she had given up for adoption, but had never realized the hell she’d been through while she was away, or that she still mourned the baby girl thirty-three years later, and how deeply she regretted giving her up. She had no idea that Melissa had reached out to the convent, and that finding her now was beyond hope, with all the records destroyed in the cover-up. Hattie didn’t like the sound of it, and hoped that it wasn’t as mercenary and sinister as Melissa thought. It didn’t sound like a proud moment for the Church.

Fearing she would lose her beloved home in the recent fire had humbled Melissa somehow and made her feel vulnerable again, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. She was more open as a result, and grateful to see the sister she had shunned for nearly two decades. Hattie had seemed as sweet and kind and innocent during their visit as she always had been, and Melissa thought about her a lot in the ensuing days.

Hattie was tormented by what she had learned, and finally went to see the mother superior about it. She knew what she wanted to do, but had no idea if they would allow it. It seemed unlikely, but she was a dedicated serious member of their religious community, and had never asked for anything before. She had given all her worldly goods to the Church when she entered the convent, much to her older sister’s disapproval. She had even given up the little she had left of what her parents had left her. She had spent a good part of it on college, as her parents intended, and acting lessons to further her budding career as an actress. But she willingly gave up what she had when she took her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. There was a very small trust left that she couldn’t assign to the Church and would go to Melissa or her heirs when Hattie died, and if Melissa had no heirs and predeceased Hattie, only then would the remaining money in the trust go to the Church. Hattie had never touched a penny of it and it was still intact. She had written a will, leaving the small amount in trust to Robbie, and then changed it to Melissa after he died according to the conditions of the trust, and to the Church, if Melissa didn’t outlive her. Melissa was not in need of money, but it was all Hattie had to leave her. Hattie had never requested to take money out of the trust and intended it all to go to her sister. But if the mother superior allowed her to use it now, it would be a gift of sorts to Melissa in her lifetime, and put to good use.

The mother superior, Mother Elizabeth, was a stern woman, but she cared deeply for the nuns she was responsible for, and was fair, even if strict. The younger nuns were in awe of her, and afraid of the punishments she meted out for serious infractions, but the nuns who’d been there for longer, and were wise to her ways, knew her better and loved her. She was a role model for them all, a traditionalist, but compassionate as well. Hattie had no idea how the older nun would react to what she had to say. She made an appointment to meet with her early one morning, before Hattie left for work. Hattie had thought of the trust on her drive back to New York after she saw Melissa.

“Peace be with you,” the mother superior said as Hattie entered her office, and Mother Elizabeth invited her to sit down. It made Hattie feel like a novice again, or even a postulant. She seemed worried, as the older nun smiled at her. “What can I do for you?” They saw each other constantly, but all of the nuns were busy, most of them were nurses or teachers, and she couldn’t remember Hattie ever asking to see her. She quietly observed the way Sister Mary Joseph fingered the rosary beads at her waist as they spoke.

“I’d like to take a trip, Mother,” Hattie said in a trembling voice. It had been years since she’d been able to make her own decisions and do as she chose, and she knew this was a big request to make.

“A trip?” Mother Elizabeth looked puzzled. “What kind of trip? A retreat of some kind?” She knew how much the younger nun had loved her years in Africa, and wondered if she wanted to go back for a visit. It wouldn’t