A Night to Remember
Chapter 1
Judy Martin's life had been a roller coaster ride of bad decisions. It had all started in her younger years, when she worked as a singer at a local bar. Judy knew that she was beautiful, yet she needed constant validation from those around her, particularly men. The only way that she knew how to receive that was throwing herself at every Tom, Dick, and Harry that glanced her way while she sang. Her life was an endless string of sleepless night and days filled with regret. The only thing she had to numb her feelings of self-pity was the sweet solace that alcohol provided her with. She was in a steady routine of drink, sing, fuck, repeat until that night. That night when everything changed. That night when she ended the life of an innocent child in a small blue coat and couldn't even bring herself to get out of the car. The images of the child lying on the side of the road still haunted her, even now as she prepared her specialty for the Monsignor's dinner.
After the horrible accident, Judy turned to a life of the cloth and prayed for forgiveness, although she had yet to forgive herself. But now, she focused her mind on lighter matter, like sautéing mushrooms to perfection and drizzling red wine and olive oil over them, just how he liked it. There was one man that Jude desperately wanted the approval of, and he would be coming for dinner rather shortly. The visits from the Monsignor were like little bursts of light that made Jude's time at Briarcliff seem like time in heaven. She had admitted to herself long ago that she had an undeniable crush on the handsome man of God. Of course, she knew that she couldn't act upon it and these instances were one of the few that made her regret choosing the life of a nun. And Jude knew how much the church meant to Timothy and that he would never be willing to throw all of it away. But there was no harm in day dreaming.
Soon the meal was prepared and it sent an aroma of decadence through the room. Jude began to ready herself and slipped on her veil and began buttoning her up her habit. She then laid out the table settings for the two of them, placing them slightly closer than what would be considered appropriate. As she did so, a vision of Timothy grabbing her at the hips and hoisting her onto the table, sending the plates smashing to the floor in the process, flashed through her mind. She could practically feel his hands trailing the buttons of her habit and his mouth pressed tightly against hers. Jude shook herself out of the impure thoughts and poured a glass of water in an effort to calm her racing heart. The coolness of the drink did little to slow her heart beat or to stop the heat from spreading through her body. At that moment she heard 3 raps on the door, the signature knock of the Monsignor.
Jude tried to compose herself as she glided to the door and opened it to his beaming smile. He sauntered in and placed a polite peck on her waiting cheek. She gazed at him eagerly as he said,
"Good evening, Sister Jude, it's a lovely evening isn't it? I've brought these to help brighten up the dreariness of this room." He handed Jude a bouquet of violets, baby's breath, and tulips wrapped elegantly with soft pink tissue paper and a silver ribbon. Jude failed to notice the solitary red rose that was placed delicately in the middle of the arrangement. Timothy stared at her with his dark, sparkling eyes from behind the thick frames of glasses. Even through his traditional priest's outfit the muscular and toned nature of his chest, arms and legs was clearly evident.
"Why thank you Monsignor these are absolutely lovely. Let me put them in water. I think they'll make a lovely center piece while we eat." Timothy smiled slightly as he watched her bustle into the kitchen and search for a vase that suited the flowers. She chose a crystal vase with small shapes cut into it that caught the light and cast waves of shimmers onto its surroundings. He took a seat at the table, pulled the napkin out of its ring, and placed it onto his lap. Jude then came out with plates of steaming food and began piling his plate high with the sautéed mushrooms and Coq au Vin. She then poured Timothy a glass of the special Communion wine that she saved for his visits. As soon as Timothy cut into his food a smile spread across his handsome face.
"Your talents never cease to amaze me, Jude." Although I want you to do more than cook for me, he thought with an internal smirk. Jude's face began to flush at the compliment. He loved the way she would react to his endless praise.
"You're too kind, Monsignor, too kind," she replied with a hint of demureness in her voice.
"Come now Jude, call me Timothy. We've known each other for long enough, have we not?" he gave her a reassuring smile as he took a sip from his glass.
"Well yes I suppose we have…Timothy." Jude was amazed at how quickly he could change her composure from strict nun to giddy school girl. The two of them dove into conversation about the triumph of Briarcliff as they enjoyed their meal together. When they had eaten their fill Jude stood to clear the dishes, but Timothy gently placed his hand on hers before she could. His hand lingered there for a few moments before he said,
"Please Jude, let me. You've done enough this evening, let me do something for you for a change." Jude looked up at him and he gave her a charming, debonair smile. He gathered the dishes and floated back into the kitchen. Jude placed her hand on her heart, which was racing from the excitement of the brief contact she had had with him. Jude felt the blood rushing to her face and reached for her glass of water. She knew there was nothing she could do to calm herself, but she made a feeble attempt regardless of that fact. When Timothy once again entered the room he casually managed to sit down while scooting the chair closer to Jude. Once again he reached for her hand, but this time he took both of hers into his warm, strong hands. He could tell the effect that this action had over Jude, but he ignored it. In a soft and soothing voice he cooed to her,
"Our successes here at Briarcliff are not going to go unnoticed by the church. I suspect they are planning on naming me Cardinal of New York and when they do, I want you to come with me. You are my right hand and where I go you go. With you by my side I don't see why I couldn't arise to the office of first Anglo-American pope. But I need you with me Jude. Are you willing to do that?" Timothy's speech had caught her completely off-guard. Jude would do anything for the Monsignor; there was no question about that. But just before she answered, she noticed the single red rose in the middle of the bouquet. It was then that she realized the implications of what Timothy was asking her. No, Jude told herself, he can't mean anything romantic by that. It's only because I want him that this thought is even crossing my mind.
"I would do anything for you Timothy, you know that," Jude replied strongly as the shimmers from the vase danced across her face. Timothy's lips pulled into a smile and then, without any warning, he leaned in towards Jude and gently placed his lips on hers, kissing her softly with an undertone of desperation and need.