Page 7 of Deadly Sins
“Yes, Papa?”
“Don’t cause any problems,” he tells me.“You conduct yourself in a holy manner that reflects on me.I expect you to remember that.”
He’s told me that since before I can remember.He’s always been so worried about what others might think of him.
“Of course,” I agree with a nod.
“It’s time you finally give value to The Fellowship.I’ve found a match that will please and unite the cause.The grandfather is a very important man who is coming into town in a few weeks, and we will seal your marriage then.”
I can’t stop my jaw from dropping.I’ve heard of arranged marriages, but until this moment, I stupidly thought it wouldn’t happen to me.
“But I?—”
“You will do as you’re told and what will please me, girl.You should be glad to have someone that will take you after what you caused on your mission trip,” Papa snarls at me.“They are willing to look past you being unclean and not as holy.”
His words are like a punch to my gut and all the air leaves my lungs.That closed door in my mind cracks open, and my body starts to tremble.
“Are you listening to me?”Papa’s voice brings me out of my nightmare, and I focus on him.He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of money secured with a metal clip and hands me some cash.“Get your head out of the clouds and start pulling your weight around here.”
I nod not wanting to add anything else to his verbal lashing that might bring up that horrible event.His name is called off in the distance, and he leaves without another word.
My legs are finally able to move from where they are planted, and I make my way to the row of white cars and trucks here on the property.They each have a designated number on the side to tell them apart.
Not much has changed in the small town since I left here four years ago as I drive down the main street.A few things have been updated and a few shops are new, but for the most part, it’s still the quiet little town.
Parking the car in front of the diner Mama and I used to come to for breakfast on Saturday mornings before she was sent away on her mission, I get out and make my way in.The chime on the door alerts the young waitress nearby of my presence, and she comes over.
“Table for one?”she asks.
“No, I’m meeting someone,” I tell her, and my nervousness starts to kick in.
“Sutton?”I hear over the waitress’s shoulder.
A beautiful girl with sapphire blue eyes comes over from a nearby booth.She’s tiny like me but very fit.
“Raegan?”I question, wanting to make sure that this is her and not someone else I’m supposed to remember.She nods, and I follow her the few steps to the booth and take a seat across from her.
“Hi,” she greets as menus are placed in front of us.
“Hi,” I return then busy myself looking over the selection.I haven’t eaten real food in what seems like forever.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.What’ve you been up to?”Raegan asks after we order our drinks.I splurged and ordered a Coke.
My shoulders sag but then I straighten.This could be a trap set up by Papa to see how I respond.No way am I going back on another mission.They’d have to carry me kicking and screaming.
“I just got back from a mission trip in South America,” I tell her.
“Really?Wow, that’s great.So your church went to build homes?”
“Something like that,” I mumble as our drinks arrive and place our order for food.
“What else have you been up to?”
“That’s it.As soon as I graduated, I was shipped off.”
Her jaw falls opens.“And you just got back?”She sounds so shocked and I nod.“But why the hell so long?”
I shrug my shoulders, “Kinda didn’t have a choice in the matter.Papa makes that call for the members.”
