Mother Gertrude reached across the desk and gently took one of Catherine’s hands.

Madeleine’s heart ached. It wasn’t a surprise that Catherine was ready to step down, but what an awful reason to do it. “How can I help you, Sister?”

Mother Gertrude and Sister Catherine looked at each other. Then they looked back at Madeleine. “There is something you can do, actually,” Gertrude said. “I’m considering you for the position of Superior of Sacred Heart.”

Superiors General weren’t known for joking around. Madeleine waited for the punchline anyway.

Gertrude smiled. “You’re surprised.”

“You’re kidding.” That had come out wrong. “Uh, Reverend Mother.”

Gertrude chuckled as she let go of Catherine’s hand. “I figured you’d say that. Sister Catherine and I have discussed this at length. I’m serious.”

Madeleine couldn’t speak, only stare, while Gertrude and Catherine looked back expectantly. Finally, she found her voice. “But how could I be worthy of such a responsibility when other sisters are more…um…”

Catherine asked wryly, “More eager?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“No, you didn’t. Well done.” Mother Gertrude folded her hands in her lap. “I know you’re relatively young. You nevertheless have a good head on your shoulders—except for when you bonked it last year and fell in the ocean.”

She and Sister Catherine both chuckled while Madeleine’s face burned. She fought not to touch her forehead. It still bore a scar, about half as long as her pinkie finger, from when she’d hit her head on the dinghy. The doctor had said it would likely never fade completely.

More seriously, Gertrude said, “You’ve ably filled every position of responsibility we’ve given you. Teaching, chairing a department, helping Sister Catherine balance the budget—these are no small things to ask of someone. Now, instead of being grateful, we’re asking for more.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” Catherine interjected. “My only reservation is about your besetting sin of pridefulness, which we’ve discussed—that, and your stubborn streak.”

“Yes, Sister, but I really don’t think I’m the best fit for the job.”

“I rest my case.”

“May I share my concerns, Reverend Mother?” Madeleine asked desperately, hoping that these concerns would come in a coherent form while she spoke of them. Right now, they were just a jumble of no and wrong and can’t they see?

What was there to see, though? Mother Gertrude and Sister Catherine were wise and discerning. If they saw potential in Madeleine, it had to be there. Why did this proposal make Madeleine want to flee?

“You may,” Mother Gertrude replied.