Shortly after they made love to each other, they got from the couch as Timothy's body pinned Jude's lightheavy one as they picked up their tossed garments from the ground, putting them on them swiftly as they didn't want to lose their time and miss their chance to soothe Ellie, Tristan and Agnes as they were already asleep. Jude and Timothy have wondered if they have already crossed the borderlines as their children have heard their parents' passionate, sultry cries of love making on the sofa in the living room. What if their children have awoken in the middle of the night solely because of their fervent cries and moans?

Afterwards, they collected the emptied champagne glasses as they headed up to the kitchen, putting the glasses in the sink as they washed them, thereafter walking out of the kitchen as their bodies verged to betray them as they were far from vigorous. Furthermore, Jude and Timothy hesitated if they should either take a quick, lukewarm shower or otherwise leaving it for the imminent morning.

They just stood against one another in the hall like puppets in awkward hush, locked up in one another's stares and smiling radiantly along.

All of a sudden Jude broke the ice as she emitted a guturral chuckle as Timothy joined her, enquiring him as she slapped lightly his shoulder.

"So honey, why that silence?"

"I overthought about either taking a shower or just leave it for the next morning." Timothy responded as he dithered about the dilemma that wasn't simple at all. Flooding his mind a question as its answer is his final decision, solving the dilemma at last. "Which would you choose, sweetie?" He furthered as he was inquisitive of his wife's response to his question.

"Mmm..." She thought for a while as it took her seconds to ponder about it until she culminated with its conclusion. "I think it's better now before bed." The former nun said in velvety voice as a smirk satured on her shining, fresh face.

"If you are going to shower now, why don't I join you?" He asked teasingly a rhetorical question as a smirk flashed across his lips as the both adults tittered inwardly.

"Of course, you can, Tim!" She couldn't help as her smug smirk grew on her face, looming like a sunrise in the sheer, dazzling sky in the wee morning hours. "Anytime!" The blonde replied gamely as she winked at him, taking his hand into her as her face was inches away from his, approaching it slowly as she kissed his lips featherly as her hand cupped his soft jawline as he threw his arms around her shoulders, pulling her to him.

Instead of receiving his reply in return, he merely, merrily hugged her as she dangled her arms around his waist, her chest pressed against his, sensing their steady heart beats in their ribs. After they broke off the hug, they took their time to admire one another's enthralling facial features, telling each other lovingly shortly before to flee to the bedroom to check quickly their children, making sure if they are still slumbering and then to grab two bath towels as their penultimate destination is the bathroom:

"I love you to the moon and back!"

"I love you more than to the moon and back!"

***

"Honey?" Jude inquired as she crawled to the bed after the fresh, lukewarm night shower with her silky red négligé, her hair tied in a messy bun whilst Timothy wore nothing but his boxers and plain white T-shirt to bed. She turned to Timothy as hazel eyes met chocolate, laying under the cotton blanket as the twins and Agnes were profoundly asleep, fortunately.

"Huh?" He inquired as he expressed perplexion, unable to realize what actually bothers her. "Anything wrong, sweetie?" He kept on as he clasped an arm around his shoulder.

"Yeah, we haven't used any kind of contraceptives when we made it on the couch an hour ago." Jude cautioned as she was beyond apprehensive for the impending consequences, letting her head to rest on his shoulder. "Just imagine to have a baby in the beginning of my fifties. Just imagine!" She remarked as on one hand, she would be tremendously content to have more children with Timothy and just to imagine the circle spinning from its beginning again. Just like giving a birth and starting over everything. While on other hand, the former nun's desperation didn't make an exception too. She already knew she was old to have children. She was in such tough age when the minority of the women could really be fecundating and give a birth unlike the majority which has already being in a rough menopause. Bittersweet tears menaced to well in her eyes.

Then Timothy shushed in attempt to reassure Jude, pecking a light kiss on her temple.

"Oh, sweetheart! It's okay. It will be rather wonderful to have one more child."

"But I am too old for this. I should have been through menopause, if I..." Timothy cut her off as she proceed with her silent sobs. In the meantime, he dangled his other arm around her shoulder, pulling her in a warm and comforting hug. He hated to bones to behold his wife in such desperate, vulnerable to melancholy and being tempted by the demons, condition.

"Shu, shu, my rare bird!" She shut her eyes, relishing and loving the moment as she felt somewhat better unlike moments ago. "You can be still fertile which means you can have children yet." Timothy stated serenely without hesitancy hue in his voice. A hand of his managed to rub her back to chill her nerves.

"Yes but what if I lost my baby? Sweetie, that's one of my worst fears if I am impregnated again." She hardly could imagine what kind of agonizing nightmare would be to lose her baby, not only due to the stress and the médicaments that Briarcliff clobbered her, but also her age was a factor. She was no longer in her forties. She was approaching the years of being a grandmother with grandchildren though there's a lot of time until she becomes one.

"No, no! Don't speak like that, Jude! I assure you, the baby won't be murdered in bleeding. All you need is.... to calm down!" He clarified her as he spoke in very velvety voice, meanwhile she took her time to cry as the crystal, bitter tears poured down her face like rain drops. Suddenly a lovely smile distorted across her naturally plump lips as he looked at her face as it gleamed with the spectacular smile, as he couldn't help but a smug, affectionate smile curling up in the corner of his lips. "if you are even pregnant again, I believe the child will survive. Just like Ellie, Tristan and Agnes!"

Instead of replying, she wiped the last dry tears of her mildly tear stained face with a thumb.

"If you say so," The blonde paused as she clasped her both arms around him, pulling him in a tight and warm embrace, sensing his secure, physically potent arms ensuring her protection, love and warmness thqt she lacked during her nunnery and before joining the church. "I believe you! The child is too strong to die spiritually." She added a couple of words to her utterance as she was encouraged by her husband.

"Exactly, Jude!"

Then they yawned as their eyelids grew heavy, unable to resist its urge to fall asleep as soon as possible. At last, they kissed each other and wished one another good night as they cuddled and fell asleep in a handful of minutes.

***

Jude was laying on the grass with dew as she wore a retro bright red polka dotted white dress with boat neckline , dropping down slightly above her knees as her manicured in ravishing red toenails were secured in black strapped stilettos. Moreover, her mane of flossy wavy golden hair cascaded down her shoulders as it ruffled around her, forming a hallowed golden halo. Her wrists were embellished with silver bracelets.

All of a sudden, she opened her eyes that protected her from the bright summer sun, her vision seemed somewhat blurry once she woke up. In a matter of seconds, her vision purified instantly as she was able to scrutinize her surroundings, realizing where she was. The blonde gasped in low voice, her hazel eyes watching around as she was laying in the middle of countryside's vendure fields. There was nothing else than an abstract, colorful grand tent past her.

It was an unusual one. Perhaps paradoxal! Lodging plenty of secrets! Possibly unsolved and dangerous ones! It was 5 meters tall as its width was incalculable. Nevertheless, it was just wide and tall. Just like a grand tent palace.

She scratched her head uneasily, bewildered. The bright summer sun illuminated the nooks of the countryside as its location was unidentified. 

Then she got from the ground as she wondered what's inside the vast tent, strolling over as her strapped stilettos stomped the short grass, the hem of her dress swaying as with each step she approached the palace tent, an echo inwardly warning her:

"Do you think it's a good idea to check in?" One voice evoked questionably. 

"If I check in, what awaits me? A surprise?" Another nonplussed voice called. 

Meanwhile Jude entered in the tent as she tiptoed as she didn't want to cause any trouble if anyone was here. Furthermore, she didn't know if somebody was actually there. Her curious, adventorous hazel eyes wandered around the almost vacant room as it was actually a hall with three doors in different colors as the first one was crimson red, the second one was apparently emerald and the last one lime green. 

Once she stepped in the middle of the large room, she hesitated as her forefinger played with her lips, chewing them in easiness. The blonde raised an arch eyebrow. Not only inside the tent was so arcane for her, but also it was a home of mysteries until they are discovered and revealed. 

The first inner voice in her head told her to go directly through the lime green door whilst the second one aimed her to enter in the second room- namely with the emerald door.

Then she preferred to aim at first to the crimson red door as she ambled, having sufficient amount of time though her curiosity was about to scorch. 

As soon as she stepped in front of the crimson red door, there wasn't a door, nor a keyhole to check through it what's inside the tent's room. Lifted down her hand as it met the cold doorknob, twisting it as it clicked, opening the door as she startled and refrained from making a sound when she beheld a young woman with turned back, seated on a boho rocking chair, her petite, deft hands wrapped around a glistening violet crystal ball as it was the sole light source in the partly lit room, illuminating its area around the crystal ball. She hummed unknown melody to herself, relishing the loneliness. 

Jude didn't even dare to move forward as she thought she was dreaming when she saw the young lady ignoring her sight though she knew she wasn't alone. The former nun gritted teeth through her shut mouth, pursing her mauve-coloured, plump lips. Scarcely blinking, scrutinized the other woman who was still sitting and doing some kind of witchery or...she was actually an oracle? Jude bemused. She knew right away she would be screwed if otherwise either she rendered a sound or moves.

"I know you are here!" In the interim, the unknown woman turned to the blonde, facing her as her passionate hazel eyes met the other pair of puzzled hazel eyes, inducing Jude as her heart raced in her chest, holding yet the door and hardly daring to enter in the halfly lit room. "Come here!" She ordered hospitably as the former nun was astonished by the secretive woman's benignity. 

Instead of arguing, Jude just mousily stepped in the room, closing the door behind and strolling over as she awkwardly surveyed the younger lady, meantime the brunette gathered a cigarette from the cigarette pack abreast the ball, picking up the lighter as she lit up her cigarette, took a draw of her cigarette, then she shifted her hazel eyes to Jude, realizing the embarrassed stare she gave her as she had enough time to study the mysterious lady. 

"Pardon me!" Jude chuckled bashfully as a sheepish smile formed on her face, excusing herself. "I was just looking at you." She furthered as she justified.

"Don't apologise, sweetheart! Take a seat and would you like a cigarette?"  She offered.

"With a huge pleasure." In the meantime, the brunette took another cigarette, handing it to Jude as she put it in her mouth, lighting it up for her, thereafter she dragged off her cigarette and placed it in the wooden boho ashtray. "Thank you!" She thanked from the bottom of her heart.

"No need to!" She puffed off her cigarette, consequently dim diffusing around her. "I am Sally Whigham, known as the most famous oracle in Massachusetts." Sally introduced herself graciously as her long black eyelashed oscilated regularly, her hazel eyes darted to Judy's hazel ones. She was just confused to behold an oracle plenty of years after the car accident with the little girl, who was alive yet. "May I know your name, Mrs?" 

"Ah, It's Judy Martin Howard! It's a pleasure, Sally!"  They stretched their arms as their smooth hands met, shaking together  as moments later their hands shifted to their cigarettes, taking a puff off them. Jude's sheepish smile still glowed across her lips. 

"It's mine too, Judy!"

It was true Sally was the most famous oracles in Massachusetts how she explained herself! She was actually 22 years old young woman with immense experience in magic and predictions as she worked as an oracle for almost 5 years. She has a long shimmering chestnut straight hair. Waist length.  Olive skin color layered her slender body. Her feline hazel eyes were like daggers for the others' eyes as she exposed each lie. She usually was keen to wear boho clothes such as a satin Bohemian Bordeaux red dress, ankle length with long sleeves and plunging neckline, wooden platform Boho sandals, bronze round hanging earrings, bronze Boho jewelries such as rings and bracelets. Moreover, Sally was natural as she didn't wear any gram make-up. She was as tall as Jude. 

In the interim, she crossed her legs as a part of the long dress's hem revealed partly her stark olive leg.

"What brings you here, Judy?" 

The middle aged woman was unable to speak as she attempted to sort her mind and thoughts in her head, building the sentence as she thought what to tell her directly before it was too late. Sally in first sight seemed sympathetic and eccentric woman in the same time. She never believed in oracles though she might give a try. Subsequently Judy scratched her head as she was almost prepared to say what she needed.

"I don't know really but I just laid on the grass in the middle of the field as nothing else encompassed me than your tent as I was beyond curious to discover this place." 

"Mhm!" Ms. Whigham paid utterly attention to the older woman, listening attentively as she wanted to carry on.

"And I just..." Cackled raspily. "...entered here as there was nobody. I thought it was abandoned until you know...I went for the crimson red door and I found you!" She kept on courageously, without hesitancy.

"Well, probably your curiosity took you here, if I am not mistaking, ma'am?"

"If you say so,"  She paused as she took another drag off her cigarette's length as she emitted tobacco smoke spreading around her surroundings including her interlocutor. "...yes!" 

"Good!" A smug smirk distorted across her naturally plump lips. "Is there something that torments you, Judy?" Sally enquired beyond inquisitve as she wanted to discover more behind the blonde's identity. 

"Hmm? Not too personal if you don't mind?"

"Come on! Trust me! I can predict it precisely for you since you are part of my business now."

"Okay! As you say!"

Seconds before to commence with her monologue, she took a final puff off her cigarette as she stubbered out the cigar in the ashtray, her hands on the round table with its bloody red compact cover. 

"Well, I have actually an issue which one of my old friends informed me and it has actually to do with a young priest who currently runs a mental hospital. His name is Father McKenzie as his full name is Alexander Stanley McKenzie."

"What about him?"

"Lana informed me about him that he's going to sue me and my husband as he hasn't put his signature on the doccument where it required his signature as well."

"Mhm!"

"Nevertheless he's known as the most notorious young priest in Boston, who steals funded money for his own needs as they must be invested in the facility's patients needs and renovation.  Even he had imprisoned former guards, sanitarians and nuns, tormenting each living, wretched soul inside the institution. Also he had tortured one of my friends, who used to be a security guard but luckily me and my husband rescued him from McKenzie's claws." Jude skipped the chance to tell to the juvenile oracle about her past including the fact she used to be a nun of the madhouse as she thought it would be a mortifying idea as she wasn't very proud to share her experience as a nun. 

"Just give me some time, Judy, okay?" She cut off the older lady as she nodded her head humbly.

The much younger woman who was almost 30 years Jude's junior was overthinking pensively, rolling her hazel eyes as she took her time to think about the person who Jude talked about. Father McKenzie. She recalled the explicit and graphic memories she had with the man who actually did such unbelievable things to her and to abundance of harmless people like her. 

The hush flooded the room as the former nun anticipated patiently for the younger lady's response until she came to her senses, remembering the horrid memories with the priest, sighing harshly.

"Anything wrong, Sally?" Judy questioned absent-mindedly.

"I think I know this man." Sally responded boldly as she struggled a bit to speak. 

"What about it? If you are way too ashamed to tell me, then don't."  The blonde clarified concerned as she noted something wrong.

"I am not too ashamed. It still haunts me like ghosts of the past. Hah!" A guturral, counterfeit cackle escaped her lips. "I know this harsh priest! I know him!"

"Go ahead!"

"I paid a visit to the church on Easter day four years ago until one priest accidentally bumped into me. A young, neat and good-looking one! It was him. Alexander Stanley McKenzie!" She began with her utterance as she inhaled briskily. Meantime Jude nodded. "He seemed amiable and interesting person until he informed me after a few minutes to come with him in his dorm room to pray together though I wasn't religious at all, but I did come with him. When I got in his dorm room and as we started with the prayers, reciting them until he shut and locked the door as I was with tightly shut eyes, felt a hand clamping my mouth, tugged me by my hair to the bed as he raped me without my consent. I opted to protest though my screams were unheard and he was stronger than me." She paused as she took a last drag off her cigarette before continuing with her speech. "When I was impregnated by him, he never returned back ever again as I didn't dare to step in the church ever again as I was horrified if he finds out that I am pregnant. Unfortunately, nobody even the authorities and the other priests and nuns never knew his little secret at all. I gave a birth to a healthy, wonderful baby that inherited the majority of my facial features."

Jude was beyond sinisterly shocked as the both women chewed nervously their lips as Sally shared her poignant, grim experience with the priest, who was not only a sadistic manipulator, fraud and liar, as an addition, he was a rapist. She has never realized how far from virgin-like he would be until his vows were broken after he lost his virtue to a stranger woman, who he has never known personally in his life. Judy was incapable of peeling a word.

"Let's not forget, I was way too ashamed to share with the authorities or inform either a nun or a priest about this sinner. Fortunately, my baby is a girl who I named after my mother Kaitlyn. She's now 4 years and she's an authentic little girl."

"Oh my god!" Jude whispered astonished. 

"I know how brash is Father McKenzie's action but he never even bothered to see his child once at least after Kaitlyn's birth. I have always desired to have a child and I got it though due to rape case!" Ms.Whigham said mildly emotionally than moments ago as the jaunty smirk abided on her face yet as she was tremendously lucky to have such improved self-mastery over her emotions, feelings and mind. "But do you know what will happen to this man when he's in the courtroom with you and the others who are by your side?" All of a sudden, haughty smile spread across blonde's lips as she speculated what the oracle would predict.

"This man...this pseudo man of the cloth...this lunatical rapist and manipulator will repent for his sins and pay for his crimes, I assure ya!" Sally commenced dramatically as her hands were wrapped around the glowing violet crystal ball, her hazel eyes darted to the ball as she was doing her task. Predicting Father McKenzie's downfall and future in the same time. In the interim, Jude contemplated the crystal ball as she was far from apathetic. She swallowed a shaped lump in her throat. 

"One day, the prison bars will be his new home! For his sins! For his crimes!"

Jude's stunning hazel eyes widened as she heard the oracle's last words as she predicted the juvenile priest's miserable future that awaited him sooner or later. A grin flashed on blonde's face.

To be continued...