Page 1 of Sinned
CHAPTER ONE
Ava
A gust of wind ripped down the street, carrying debris that stung my skin and whipped my long dark hair across my face. I hadn’t expected a cool, windy day in July. Especially not with how hot summers in New Jersey usually were.
After all this time I couldn’t believe I was just across the street from him. I looked up at the tall steeple that cast a large shadow along the block. Above the center set of doors was a wide stone with Sacred Heart Church etched on it.
This is it, I thought. This is where the love of my life has been for the past six years.
I groaned at myself for using such a sappy phrase. It wasn’t like me to think like that. Sappy was the last thing anyone would use to describe me. But whenever I thought about Charlie, those words came to mind.
Charlie McArthur changed my life. I owed the past six years to him and every day I loved him more for it. He didn’t know it though. He left me years ago for this church. I could have tried fighting it. I could have convinced him to stay, but I let him go.
I wasn’t sure what to expect once I found the place. I only knew I didn’t have a choice in the matter. I made my decision and I was sticking with it. No matter how nervous I was, nothing would change my mind.
As I looked at the tall red stone building and wondered if he was inside, that sappy phrase popped into my head again, but this time it taunted me.
The love of my life is a priest.
A gusty wind sent chills through my body. I rubbed my arms wishing I had more on than a thin short sleeved t-shirt and a skirt as I tried to warm up. Behind me was a small cafe that looked like a good place to think.
The bell over the coffee shop door chimed as I walked in. It was a small place in an old building with a few empty tables and a long green formica counter. It was quaint with homey decor that probably hadn’t been changed in thirty years. I ordered hot water as I looked over their tea selection.
“You don’t look like you’re from around here,” the woman behind the counter said.
She had smooth dark skin, curly grey hair, and the kindest eyes I had ever seen.
“No, I’m not,” I said. “I’m just visiting.”
“Where are you from?”
From everywhere and nowhere used to be my stock answer. I lived for traveling and new places. In the thirty years of my life I never stayed anywhere for long. For a moment I almost said that, but then I realized how wrong it was now.
“Southern California,” I said.
“Ahh,” she said nodding. “I knew it. Is this your first time to Jersey?”
“Actually no, it isn’t. I lived here once, a long time ago. I’ve lived in a lot of places.”
I took my tea and sat down at a table near the bay window facing the church. As I took my first sip, the woman walked over with an oversized piece of coffee cake.
“You look like you need this,” she said. “I even brought you some of my homemade apple butter. Just spread it on and you’ll swear you’ve gone to Heaven. If you need anything, just call for me. I’m Evelyn.”
She set the plate down in front of me and turned to walk away. I couldn’t explain why, but I stopped her.
“Evelyn, wait,” I said. “There’s no one else here, why don’t you sit with me?”
With her head tilted to the side, she gave me a long look.
“You sure?” she asked.
“Yes, and bring an extra fork. This piece is big enough to share.”
Once she was seated across from me, I slid the cake to the middle of the table.
“I’m Ava,” I said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ava. Now if you don’t mind my asking, what brings you here? As you can see we don’t get many visitors in this part of town.”