Every Road Leads Back to You

The Sisters of Quiet Mercy

FP took a deep breath as he pulled into the parking lot of the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. The sun was shining brightly over the castle-esque building, but somehow it maintained the gloom of a prison. FP didn't grow up privileged in the slightest, but he couldn't possibly imagine what it would be like to grow up in a place this.

"Kinda creepy, huh?" Viv commented from the passenger seat, wringing her hands in her lap.

"Really creepy." FP confirmed as he pulled into a parking space. Once the car was in park, he reached over and took her hands in his. "You ready?"

Viv looked up at the building before back at him with a tight smile. She nodded.

"Let's go then."

FP had hoped the inside of the building would be modernized, or at least homier, but walking inside quickly dampened that notion. It was dark, the cinderblock walls overpowering the little light that the windows allowed in.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, welcome!" A nun walked up to them as if from nowhere. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm Sister Woodhouse. I'll be helping you through this process."

"Please, call us Viv and FP." Viv said cheerily, reaching out to take the older woman's hand. Sister Woodhouse seemed to wince at the informality.

"Why don't we continue this in my office?" She asked instead of commenting on Viv's demeanor. The couple nodded and followed her down a long hallway to her office.

"So, what exactly are hoping to get out of this, Mr. and Mrs. Jones?" The nun asked, ignoring Viv's request to use their first names.

FP looked to his wife with a smile before answering.

"We just want to be parents, Sister." He said sincerely.

She smiled and looked down at a stack of paperwork as if to suppress a laugh.

"Yes, that's very sweet Mr. Jones, but you can tell me what you want. We value privacy here. All matters are handled with the upmost discretion." Sister Woodhouse explained, and suddenly, FP felt offended.

"Really, ma'am, we just want to give a child a good home." Viv emphasized, laying a hand over FP's arm to keep him from demanding to know what kind of operation this woman was running.

Sister Woodhouse looked between them with narrowed eyes, letting out a small 'humph' when she realized that they were serious.

"Alright, well, what age range were you hoping for?" She conceded, looking at them expectantly.

"Well, we just want to make sure we feel a connection," Viv started, looking to a nodding FP before continuing, "but younger would be better."

"Okay. Why don't we go get you acquainted with some of the children?"

The soon-to-be-parents nodded excitedly and followed the nun out of the office, and down the hall to a recreation room where lots of kids were keeping entertained.

There were a few kids sitting at a table, working on art projects. Others were scattered around the room, playing games or with toys. FP couldn't help but notice the older boy, sweeping on the other side of the room. He had his back turned, but he was dressed the same as the other kids.

Viv grabbed FP's hand and pulled him towards the craft table, dropping into the small chair next to a little girl. She looked to be about four or five years old and she had long dark ringlets falling down her back. She could easily pass for their biological child.

"Hi sweetie! My name is Viv, and this is my husband FP. What's your name?" Viv asked in her best child-friendly voice. The little girl looked up shyly from the picture she was coloring.

"Cora." She answered quietly, but FP's attention was pulled away when he heard Sister Woodhouse's stern voice.

"I told you this floor was to be spotless. It's filthy. Do it again." She thrust the broom back into the hands of the older boy across the room before stalking away.

FP watched a trace of hurt flash over his face before being replaced with classic, teenage annoyance. Still, his crystal blue eyes had FP unable to look away.

"FP, did you hear that?" Viv's voice pulled his attention back to Cora. "Her favorite animal is a koala. Isn't that sweet?"

"So sweet, honey." He met his wife's expectant eyes, but was drawn back to the young teen yet again. "I'll be right back."

He ignored Vivian's bewildered expression and crossed the room. The boy looked up from the floor nervously as FP approached.

"Hi," was all that FP could seem to manage in the moment, thrown off once he could better take in the boy's features. He looked so familiar, but FP couldn't quite place him.

"Hi."

"Not much for chores, I take it?" FP attempted a joke. The boy rolled his eyes.

"I don't mind the chores, but I've swept three times this morning. Sister Woodhouse purposefully tracks dirt in here so I have to do it again." He complained naturally before seemingly realizing what he had said. "But I don't mind, really." He rushed to reassure FP.

"Hey, I'm not planning to rat you out for telling the truth." FP chuckled. "What your name, son?"

"Charles."