A moment later they entered her office. “Do you think there’s any way for you to dissuade Mr. Gutierrez from selling the vineyard to the developer? If not, can you convince him to donate the land he offered us adjacent to the grounds? You did find his niece. It’s not your fault she didn’t want to see him.” “I’m pretty sure he’ll continue to insist that I find his niece again first, Mother. He’s results-oriented. Our problems don’t concern him.” “The world is such a hard place these days,” Reverend Mother said. Sister Agatha could hear the weariness in Reverend Mother’s voice. Shouldering the responsibility for the monastery took a heavy toll on her. The darkened circles under her eyes attested to more than one sleepless night. “Mother, forgive me, but you look exhausted. Have you been getting enough rest?” Reverend Mother brushed the question aside with a wave of her hand. “I’m fine. Please don’t worry, child.” Sister Agatha walked out of Mother’s office feeling helpless and detesting her own inadequacy.
