Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Something I’ve never felt before and until this moment, I think I was scared to say it or think it out loud.
“I’m in love with him.” The words echo around my small bedroom even as my brain is giving me all the reasons this is not right. Could never be right. The next words come easier, but they make my heart clench in my chest. “And I think he loves me.”
My mother’s words come back to me. Whenever I would be frustrated, unsure...she would always say when we have a crisis, be it of faith or something else, it’s there for a reason. It will propel us forward to something new and wonderful, or set us back to what we know. Comfortable, but without growth.
As I walk down the hallway and out the front door toward the church, I know I don’t want comfortable. I think whatever this crisis is right now, I will be propelled forward. Straight up and over William, but what’s on the other side, I’m still not sure.
A few minutes later, I’m through the darkened parking lot. The back of the church, where the fire started, is still covered in tarps and my gut is tight wondering if it could be true that Wrath started the fire either to get back at my father or to get to me.
I’m down the hall and a few feet from my father’s office door. It’s closed, but I can hear William’s raised voice coming through. I can’t make out what he’s saying, but it’s my father’s voice next and I stand flat against the wall to listen.
“That wasn’t the deal we made.” His voice is angry and scared at the same time, something I’ve never heard from him, and my heart breaks. Whatever else, he’s still my father, and until recently he’s always treated me well. “The deal was Kristina marries you. That’s what you wanted and that’s what I’m arranging. We didn’t agree on anything else.”
“Things change. It’s time, Leonard. The fire was a sign. Things are changing. If you step down, you can maintain your pension and a visiting Pastor’s privileges, but you will name me as your successor.”
“No.” I can hear the distress. “This is my congregation. I care about this church, about them. In time, you will have your own church, but we all have to earn that. You’re not ready.”
Growing up a Baptist Pastor’s daughter, a large church like ours isn’t without its perks. Our car is owned by the church; after all these years my father’s salary, perks and benefits are significant; our home is paid for and provided. A large church is a coveted position, but my father is right, it has to be earned.
William’s voice is hard when he answers. “Doesn’t seem you are in a strong negotiating position, Leonard. All I have to do is go to the Convention and show them the pictures. Tell them what’s been going on with you and Matthew. You’ll lose your teaching job as well. I don’t believe the church or the dean will take kindly to you having a homosexual affair with a student.”
“He’s not a child. Matthew is forty four years old. He’s come to the school to start something new. You make it sound so illicit.”
“It is illicit! The bible says you are an abomination, Leonard. It doesn’t matter the age, you will be an outcast. And what will Kristina think?”
Tears stream down my cheeks as I reach for the door knob. I don’t care who my father loves, but the hell if I’m going to let William blackmail him into oblivion.
As my fingers curl on the cool metal there’s a sound behind me.
I spin, gasping for breath, but Wrath’s hand is immediately over my mouth with his finger on his lips, tipping his head down the hall for me to follow him.
His hand wraps around mine and I fall in step behind him as he leans in to whisper in my ear.
“I heard it all. Just come with me. I told you I’d take care of you and that includes your father. You have to trust me.”
I swallow hard and nod, unsure what else to do or who to turn to. Something deep down tells me Wrath will take care of me. He will take care of this.
But first, I need answers and he best be ready to give them to me.
12 | Wrath
We’re sitting at a table in one of the back rooms at the bar, and Kristina’s been grilling me like a thick t-bone steak for a half hour about the fire, and I’m answering all her questions about that night and everything on my record which she seems to have memorized in detail.
Stella and Peaches gave me an eyeful when I came in but I don’t care. They smirk as they come in and see what we want to drink but once they deliver me a beer and Kristina a straight shot of Kessler’s, I tell them to close the door and leave us alone.