The Secret of Isobel Key (excerpt)

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

By Saturday morning, Lou was seriously questioning her decision to come home, and church that evening didn't help.

Sitting in the familiar wooden pew between her parents, Lou flexed her fingers and tried to ignore the droning priest.  She'd always felt slightly uncomfortable in their Catholic church, and recently her discomfort had shifted into a quest for a faith that felt less judgmental.  Lou had stopped identifying herself as Catholic two years ago, but she hadn't been able to tell her parents.  She wanted to fiddle with her silver pentacle, worn on a long chord and hidden beneath her shirt, but she felt her mother's sharp eyes on her.  As the choir began to sing a hymn, Lou seriously doubted that she'd ever tell her parents about the new faith that she had stumbled into in college.  Glancing at her mother's serious face beside her, Lou shook her head slightly.  No, she wasn't ready to have that conversation yet.  It was easier to just go to mass when she was home and avoid confrontation.

When her family queued up to take the host, Lou hung back.  She was willing to attend church for the sake of appearances, but she felt like she'd be insulting the faithful if she took communion.  When her mother gripped her elbow tightly and tried to tow her along, Lou whispered, "I haven't been to confession in months."

It worked.  Her mother shot her a terse frown that said they'd talk about this issue later, but she released her grip on Lou.  As she knelt alone in the pew, Lou lifted her eyes to the ceiling of the church.  While those around her looked down in submission, Lou prayed to her gods for the strength to deal with her mother.  She was almost calm when they left the church, but then her mother started talking.

"Why haven't you been to confession?" Her mother strode angrily ahead, smiling fakely at passersby as she walked.

Lou shrugged and rushed to keep up.  "I've been busy."

"Not too busy to see to your soul, I hope!"

"Too busy to do anything sinful," Lou murmured quietly.

Her mother spun around and glared at her.  "And when was the last time you had relations with a man?"

Stunned, Lou stared open-mouthed.  She so wasn't going to discuss her sex life with her mother.  "I've gone to confession since then, Mother."

Her mother snorted.  "So your love life isn't very good, is that what you're telling me?"

"Mother, can't we just go home?"

"Louisa, I asked you a question."

Lou gritted her teeth.  "I don't want to talk about it."

"What are you doing wrong?"  They had reached the car.  Lou's father quickly slipped behind the wheel and shut his door, not saying anything.  Much to Lou's annoyance, her mother followed her into the back seat and sat beside her like a school friend.

Lou gritted her teeth.  "Why do you assume I'm doing something wrong?"

Her mother took her hand and sighed.  "All that haste with your degree, and for what?  I was sure you wanted to finish up to get married."

Silently, Lou shook her head.

"When I was your age, I never had to look very far for a date."

"I've been busy with work and everything."

Her mother huffed.  "That job is such a waste for such a smart girl like you.  I don't know why you don't live up to your potential."

"I don't know what I want to do yet."

"That's an excuse for an eighteen year old, not a young woman."

Lou stared out the window at the slushy streets.  "Well, it's my excuse."

"Don't be such a fool, Louisa.  Men don't like girls who are lazy and distracted."

Drawing a deep breath, Lou started to retort, then thought better of it.  She lapsed into the same glazed silence she'd employed at church as her mother droned on and on about her faults.  Lou tried to ignore her.

At least she wouldn't have to put up with her mother for the next two weeks.