A few days later, Sisters Anna Marie and Theresa went to my house to discuss allowing me to live with the Sisters. Sister Anna Marie told me that my biological mother was entirely surprised by the request, as she had been wondering if they would take care of me for a few months.

Sister Anna Marie packed up a few clothes and my toothbrush. After all, I was only moving across the street.

When we returned to the Sisters’ home, Sister Theresa said, “Sister Agnes Louise and I discussed where you would keep your clothes and sleep. After some discussion, we agreed it would be alright for you to sleep in Sister Anna Marie’s bedroom. So, we asked Sister Anna Marie, and she agreed. So, with Sister Anna Marie, you will sleep.”

I replied, “Thanks very much, Sister Theresa. I will be a good boy, and you will be proud of me. I love Sister Anna Marie.”

So, this is how I came to live with Sister Anna Marie. Our relationship blossomed after the move. The longer we were together, the more I felt she was my actual mother. We were together most of the time. Soon, I saw Sister Anna Marie truly believed Holy Mother had sent her to Earth to love and care for me. I was happy.

One day, I asked Sister Anna Marie, “Mummy, why did you want to be a nun? You are so pretty that many nice men would have wanted to marry you.”

My question surprised her, but she answered, “My darling. No man would have wanted to marry me, for I cannot bear children. I never fully matured. I do not understand why. The doctor said it would be impossible to have children.

“Anyway, I have my very own child, whom I love with all my heart. You may not have come from my womb, but Holy Mother brought us together. I love you so very much. Perhaps, even as much as Lady Mary loved her human son, Jesus.”

I answered, “I am happy, for I love you very much, too. You are the best mother in the entire world.”

Sister Anna Marie smiled and lifted me, “Come, you little lady charmer, it is time for me to bathe you before the other Sisters need the bathroom.”

She carried me into our bedroom and undressed me completely.

Afterwards, she removed and neatly folded her habit and undergarments. She took her nightgown off the hook and put it on. Then, she would take me to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, Sister Anna Marie would turn on the warm bathwater. She would lift me over the side and into the tub, for I was quite a small child. She filled the tub a third full. Then she removed her nightgown and climbed into the bath with me. She would kneel, and I would stand in front of her. She would take a small pitcher and pour the warm bath water over me. Next, she dipped a soap bar into the water and washed me.

After I was nice and clean, Sister Anna Marie would give me the little pitcher to pour water over her front. After she was nice and wet, I would use the soap bar. Then, I would rinse her. Next, she would stand up, turn around and kneel so her back was facing me. I repeated the procedure.

After a while, she and I found a pleasant routine to share our feelings.

As I washed her, I would tell her, “Mummy, you are the prettiest, nicest, and smartest mummy in the universe. You have such smooth skin. I like taking baths together.”

Sister Anna Marie would smile and hold my little body against her own.

She would tell me every night, “My baby, you are the first person my heart has ever loved without being afraid. You saved me from my lonely and fearful life. True love will indeed heal all wounds of the heart and soul.

“Now, I am going to kiss you all over and make you laugh,”

And laugh, I did, for I was pretty ticklish. After my tickling, she would climb out of the bath, dry herself, and put her nightgown on again. Then, she would lift me out of the tub and dry me well.

As I stood before her, naked and clean, she would instruct me to turn full around.

Every day, she smiled and said, “Mummy has such a handsome boy. You will surely find a pleasant wife one day.”

I would reply, “But, Sister Anna Marie. I am going to marry you; did you forget already? You are only fifteen years more than me.”

Then, we would laugh, and she would wrap me in my towel and carry me to the bed we shared. I would sleep naked because I did not like wearing pyjamas.

At first, Sister Anna Marie wore her nightgown to bed, but I told her many nights that I wanted to lie next to her when she was naked. I desired this innocently, but in hindsight, I am sure it was because of my need for touching, as my biological mother was not affectionate.

As we got into bed, I would ask, “Sister Anna Marie, take off your nightgown and hold me close to you as I fall asleep. I want to feel your skin all night, for it makes me feel safe and loved. And when you are naked and are holding me, I imagine I am still inside your tummy. I wish I had been, Mummy.”

She would laugh, “Miguel, what would Sister Theresa think if she knew I slept naked with you? But I would like to lie with you naked, honey. I love how you feel clean and naked. I would also like to feel your back against my tummy and imagine that you are inside my womb waiting to be born.”

One evening after our nightly exchange, Sister took my hand, saying, “Darling, I doubt you realise how much your love and caring have helped me. For Miguel, you and I are alike in that neither had any affection growing up. My mother passed away, giving birth to me, and my father blamed me.

My family was very wealthy, and my father sent me away to live with a wet nurse, old cook, and gardener. After my weaning, the wet nurse left, and the cook watched over me until I was ready for a governess.

“Father told them to care for me but show me no affection. He told me many times that living away from people was my punishment for killing my mother. I could only leave the house to go to church on Sundays. My church was in the convent with the nuns.

“I did not mean to kill my mother when I was born. It just happened. But I believed my father, and I felt deep and endless guilt. Surely, I must be a nasty little girl.”

I saw tears begin to fall from the eyes of Sister Anna Marie. I did not know what to do or say. All I could do was kiss the tears away from her cheeks.