Chapter 4- The Right Hand Nun

"Stop!" Jude warned sternly, Mary Eunice thought her tone here sounded more like the Jude she'd been hearing so much about. "One more but and it will be a caning for all of you! Sins of the tongue are not befitting of servants of God! Mary Eunice was assigned to the toughest of the kitchen tasks: serving the most mad of our residents here at Briarcliff and you all know that…but since all of you nurses think kitchen duty is so easy you'll be spending your own breaks and free time serving meals to patients for the next month."

"But Sister…"

"And you'll spend your own meal times serving the rest of us. Have a good evening sisters. Except you O'Brian, I told you one more 'but sister' and it's a caning for you!"

Mary Eunice rolled over onto her side as she listened to Sister Jude reprimand the three nurses who'd been caring for her, but teasing her the entire afternoon. She was used to the subtle jabs from her fellow nuns now and would never complain about it. It wasn't much different from the treatment she received from her many adopted siblings and everyone she'd gone to school with: she could live with it. But she was perplexed with the notion that Sister Jude was so willing to come to her comfort and aid…almost as if she desired to do so.

"No Sister, please…" Sister O'Brian begged.

"That's another for begging!"

Mary Eunice flinched when she heard the door slam. Another for begging? That was harsh…and kind of uncalled for. Mary Eunice curled up into a ball, hugging her legs for comfort. She winced. It ached to comfort herself in this way but she needed the hug… She didn't know what to make of the fact that Jude would be so sweet to her and so horrible to one of her fellow nuns. Five minutes ago she'd been overjoyed at the idea of having a friend here and now she only worried about what made her different. Was it true; was she too stupid to be held to the same standard?

Two Days Later

Mary Eunice was glad to get out of the infirmary. She was still sore and tired from her ordeal, but she grew restless after a day of lying in bed with nothing to do but sleep. She was looking forward to getting back into some type of normal routine when she put on her habit that morning…that was until Sister Mary Agnes came in and informed her that she needed to be upstairs in Sister Jude's office at precisely nine-thirty.

'Oh great.' Mary Eunice thought. 'What could she want with me now?'

Perhaps the compassion Jude had showed the other night was simply a façade and she'd get her caning this morning as the other nuns had. She knew there had to be a catch or something more to the treatment she'd been receiving.

"Come in." She heard Jude call almost cheerfully as she began to knock on her office door.

"G-good morning Sister." Mary Eunice said shyly as she entered Jude's office.

"Good morning." Jude smiled. "Are we feeling better this morning?"

"Yes, thank you, Sister." She nodded.

"Good. Well sit down, and we'll get to the matter of why you're here."

Mary Eunice nervously took a seat in the chair facing Sister Jude's desk. If this wasn't about a caning then she could not for a moment imagine why she'd be called there.

"A job opportunity has opened up." Jude began.

'Oh no.' Mary Eunice thought. 'I knew it, she's going to send me away…perhaps its just as well…'

"And when it came up, the first person I thought of was you."

"M-me?"

"You. I've been watching you, you're bright, attentive…" Jude came around to the front of her desk and sat on its edge, facing Mary Eunice.

"With all due respect Sister…ask around…I'm thought of as anything but bright. In fact my direct supervisor…"

"Hush. I'm your direct supervisor now. As a matter of fact I'd like you to be my personal assistant. My right hand nun."

"M-me?"

"You."

"W-why me?"

"I just told you; now will you take the job or not Sister?"

"Yes, yes I will." Mary Eunice was happy, she'd never really been chosen for anything before: thought of. And while she was apprehensive, something inside, she wasn't sure what, pushed her to accept gladly.

"Good. You can start now." She said, turning to go through some papers on her desk. "Here, mail this. It goes to the personnel department of the diocese, notifying them of your promotion."

"But Sister, I'm not allowed to go to the mailroom because…"

"Never mind that Mary Eunice." Jude said pausing to lick a second envelope she was going to hand over. "You can go wherever you like now. You have access to every part of Briarcliff, and to everything that I have access to: different offices, even at other institutions, halls of records…" Records…did she just say church records?! Mary Eunice was elated to hear this, she smiled, hoping she wasn't blushing or anything. Sister Jude had just given her the greatest gift in the world and she didn't even know it! If she had access to halls of records it might be possible for her to find her family! Her real family! "And of course you'll be getting your own room….Sister…"

"Hum…?"

"Mary Eunice were you listening?" Jude raised an eyebrow, it was clear she was annoyed.

"Sorry I…"

"No apologies needed. I was saying you'll be getting your own room, third floor, but we'll talk about that later. For now, take these to the mailroom."

"Thank you Sister this is just…"

"And one more thing." Jude began, ignoring her display of gratitude and instead venturing on to the next task at hand. "I'm going to be going on a convention in New York next week, would coming along with me be a problem?"

"No Sister, not at all." Mary Eunice had always wanted to go to New York and had never been.

"Good." This pleased Jude. "We'll talk about it at dinner tonight, promptly at 8 just the three of us."

"The three of us?" Mary Eunice was confused, wondering who the third dinner guest could be and why they would be eating so late, after the other nuns.

"Yes. I'd like you to come and meet the Monsignor Timothy Howard."

"Oh." Mary Eunice exclaimed. In her short time there, she'd ascertained that Jude and the Monsignor were close. "I'd love to Sister." Mary Eunice was a little star struck by this idea. "T-thanks, I'll see you l-later."

Jude sighed as soon as Mary Eunice left the office. She almost couldn't believe that had gone so well. Part of her didn't think Mary Eunice would take the job and now that she had, she felt she could relax. It would be easier to protect her this way…and to come to know her too. This entire thing was wholly satisfying for Jude. Now not only was she going to be able to get closer to her daughter, but tonight she would introduce him to the man in her life…well, the closest thing she had to one…

…..

"This is delicious sister." Timothy complimented.

Mary Eunice watched amazed, trying not to stare as the Monsignor talked with his mouth full. In fact he was stuffing his face. She'd never really met him before in person and she revered him: he was a dignified almost inhuman figure to her. But now, at the dining table, he was much like any other normal man…and it eased her nerves a lot not just about proximity to him…but about everything, including her newfound relationship with Sister Jude. That was the other thing about the evening she found surprising. Mary Eunice had expected the evening's meal to be fully catered by a crew consisting of her fellow nuns: probably O'Brian and the rest who'd made fun of her the other night. Instead, Sister Jude had made the dinner…or, what was more like a feast herself.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it Father." Jude smiled.

Mary Eunice had at first not felt comfortable being part of this, but had been encouraged to socialize, so she interjected:

"It's really great Sister. But, what is it?" She took another bite. It was scrumptious and she couldn't get enough of it, but had never seen or eaten anything like it before.

"It's Coq Au Vin." Timothy explained. "Our very talented chef Sister Jude makes it for me nearly every Friday night and it's my favorite."

Jude blushed when he said this, but it went unnoticed by Timothy, who turned his attention back to the meal. Mary Eunice took note but tried to hide it as well…was she….did Sister Jude like him? It sure seemed that way to Mary Eunice.

"Sisters, would you like…" Timothy began as he started to pour some red wine for himself.

"No. No." Jude laughed. "No thank you for either of us Father…"

"N-no thank you." Mary Eunice thought she'd better refrain, given that Jude seemed to be insisting that she do so.

"Oh Jude it's not required that you free yourself of all indulgences." Timothy offered kindly.

"Well…we do have a trip coming up Father." Jude reminded.

"Oh that's right." He recalled, taking another bite. "The Nun's leadership conference in New York. Have you been to New York Sister Eunice, I'm sure you'll love it."

"No, no I haven't yet Father." Mary Eunice replied.

Jude was overjoyed that Timothy and Mary Eunice were getting along so well so far. She smiled bitter sweetly to herself as she watched them talk for a moment. In another life the three of them could've easily been a family sitting down to dinner together: Timothy could've been the father she'd found for Mary Eunice…and from the way this evening was going, she knew he would've been a very, very good one. This idea only made her sad and she shook off the thought, reinvesting herself into what the two of them were discussing.

"Don't be afraid to have a good time when you're in New York." Timothy advised. "Not all fun is sin. Isn't that right Sister?" He asked, looking back up at Jude, almost mocking her for her conservatism on this matter.

"Father, what is sin if not foolhardiness?"

"You think too much Sister." Timothy laughed. "You really should do something fun with your time, go see a play, go ice skating…something…I know you'll be extra busy when you return."

"Why?" Mary Eunice asked.

"Not this again." Jude was upset. Mary Eunice looked back and forth between the Monsignor and Jude. "Mary Eunice…the Monsignor and I have been having…a bit of a debate on whether or not we're getting a new faculty member."

"Oh?"

"Yes and I told you Jude, there are a lot of benefits to this."

"I just don't think Briarcliff is a place for a man of science…or a place for research to be conducted for that matter."

"You don't like the candidates I've chosen." He teased.

Jude was upset with this jab.

"No I don't..."

"Well there's no need to worry Sister. We've chosen one. And he'll arrive during your time in New York."

"One what? What's he going to do?" A confused Mary Eunice asked, looking back and forth between an amused Timothy and an annoyed Jude once more.

"You were in the infirmary the past few days Sister, didn't you notice that there was something missing?" Jude inquired.

"Y-yeah…come to think of it there was no doctor…" Mary Eunice didn't know why she hadn't realized this before, and now that she had she realized how strange the whole idea was.

"That's right. But there's no need to worry about that any further. You won't hate him so much Jude. In fact I hope you and Arthur will get along just fine."

….

Mary Eunice felt a little lost since she became Sister Jude's right hand nun. She had more responsibility now and was learning a lot. At the same time, she was a lot more isolated from the other nuns. They no longer mocked her as much because they feared her authority and Sister Jude's wrath. Mary Eunice was blown a way by the power she held now and tried hard not to dwell on it. Nonetheless, there was one privilege she couldn't quite get out of her head: her ability to go and look at records.

Today was Saturday and Mary Eunice wasn't so sure what to do. In her old job, she would've been working on Saturday with a short break to do things that she pleased. Now, as Jude's assistant, she wasn't sure if she had a break at all. Jude never seemed to. She crept out of her room early and walked into the hall, hoping that Jude would come out of her own room and tell her what she'd want from her that day. She'd given her no indication that she'd be needed or not. Mary Eunice was practically aching to go to the orphanage and begin her search for her adoption records, but she didn't want to disobey Sister Jude. She sighed, figuring she should just return to her own quarters and wait, but suddenly, Jude's door opened.

"Good morning Sister." Mary Eunice greeted nervously.

"Good morning." She smiled. "Its Saturday, isn't it?" Mary Eunice nodded. "Well then, its your day off."

"T-the whole day?"

"The whole day. Go do what you like. Do you have friends, family you'd like to visit?" Jude was dying to find out about this adoptive family and was trying to be somewhat subtle about it.

"N-no family, but there is something I want to do today."

"Do you drive?"

"Y-yes…."

"Good." Jude said, reaching inside her pocket and pulling out a chain full of clunky keys. Jude took off a single key and handed it to Mary Eunice. "But have the car back by sundown."

Without a word, Jude turned and left. Now she'd given her her car? Mary Eunice smiled, glad she wouldn't have to walk, catch a bus and then take another walk to get to the orphanage. What had she ever done to Sister Jude to deserve such favor and mercy?

"McKee, McKee, McKee…" Mary Eunice bit her lip as she began to go through the "M" files. She sat on her knees just where Jude had been several days before.

Sister Francis peered in through the window of the door, watching the unsuspecting young nun. Francis was a very suspicious woman anyway and found it odd that Jude and her personal assistant had both been there searching for records in the same cabinet days apart and she wondered what they were up to. Jude had told her she'd been there to do some research that would help a patient who'd been adopted out of that area, and Mary Eunice had confessed that she was searching for her own adoption records.

"I've gotta warn you, not everything's in there, kid." She Francis had explained, as she ushered Mary Eunice into the room.

"That's okay…I can try." She had said.

Mary Eunice used the front of her wrist to wipe away the tears that rolled out of her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She'd dreamed of doing this for years, but now that she was almost there: almost to her answer, her nerves were getting the better of her and she realized she was scared. Fear or not, she was also excited, and she couldn't wait to find out her mother's name.

'Mc…McA…McD…McL…McL?...Where in the world was McK?' Mary Eunice panicked and went back through the entire file cabinet again…there was no McK!...

"Sister Francis?" Mary Eunice asked, getting up when she was sure the McKee file was not there.

"Yes?"

"I don't see what I'm looking for, is there anywhere else that…"

"No. But I'll tell you this. If your adoption record was completed in this county…"

"Well it was…"

"Then it should be there unless of course it became part of your nun's file…" The grouchy old nun reassured. She walked down the hall leaving Mary Eunice standing there at her desk. She had more important things to attend to than the young orphaned nun.

"My nun file?" Mary Eunice asked, feeling as if she'd been struck in the face.

She'd seen it sitting on Sister Jude's desk just yesterday. Sister Jude's desk…she couldn't look through Sister Jude's desk. That would be dishonest, it would be betraying her trust…it would be soul settling…an answer to years of desperate longing…a direction down the right path….

'No, no…' Mary Eunice thought to herself. 'I can't do that…it would be wrong.' Defeated, Mary Eunice took the car key out of her pocket, pulled a few tissues out of the Kleenex box on Sister Francis' desk and headed back to the car. 'Oh no, not again.' She groaned, noting that it was beginning to rain outside and she didn't have an umbrella to shield herself from the pouring rain.