The familiar stone walls of the convent finally appeared before Evelyn. She slowed her steps, forcing herself to breathe evenly, to walk as though her heart were not still splintering inside her chest. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and tucked her chin down, schooling her expression before circling around toward the kitchen entrance.
The back door creaked softly as she slipped inside.
“Oh dear!”
Evelyn startled as Sister Agnes turned from the counter with a wooden spoon clattering against the pot she’d been stirring.
“You frightened me,” the older woman said with one hand pressed to her chest. “Where have you been, child?”
Evelyn blinked, then smiled. She lifted the cloth bag in her hand slightly.
“I went to the village square,” she said softly. “I thought I’d bring s
