Summary

Chapter 15 opens two hours later, with Evelyn waking up and Father John is there to say he is proud of her. Evelyn feels defeated. Father John is hopeful, since her defending Mercy House made it onto the news. When Evelyn wakes later still, her Mother Superior is there. She chats with Evelyn about the shooting, then urges her to prepare for Mercy House’s closure. Evelyn and the other sisters will come to work at the motherhouse and care for the aging nuns. Evelyn resists, but Mother Superior tells her to reflect on this change over Lent. Despite her heroics, Evelyn feels guilty for Angel’s death, and that “she’d failed to be brave with the bishop” (204).

Evelyn answers her ringing phone. The caller is Derek Harding, a reporter from the New York Times, who covers Vatican-related news. They arrange an...