Not.
“Fine with me,” I grunted, placing my hand on her back and guiding her into the double doors.
Of course, we’d arrived almost too late.
Meaning when we’d walked into the church itself, everyone and their brother turned to see who the latecomers were.
And that meant that I caught every single grimace, horror-filled look, and surprise that we’d come in all of twenty seconds of being inside the doors.
The whispers started immediately, and I grimaced.
I fucking hated church.
The only reason I’d come when I was young was because my grandmother had begged and pleaded, and sometimes my mom could goad me into attending.
Speaking of my grandmother, I immediately spotted her in the middle row.
Nobody was sitting around her, meaning she saved me a spot just like she had for likely the last few weeks since I’d arrived back home.
She’d always done that—saved me a spot next to her.
I’d always refused to attend once I was able to make that decision, but still, she saved the seat.
Today being no different.
Which immediately made me feel guilty for not going to visit her sooner. Though, admittedly, I hadn’t wanted to see the disappointment in her eyes that I knew was going to be there.
I walked up to my grandmother’s side—one of the only people that hadn’t turned around to see the latecomers, and dropped my hand on her shoulder.
She startled, looked at me, and her entire fucking face lit up.
Fuck.
“You saving me a seat?”
Her eyes filled with tears, and I realized two things.
One, I was a complete and utter asshole for writing her off like I’d done everyone else in this town. This woman loved me, and would never stop.
Two, I needed to spend more time with her. She was looking old, and that was saying something since she was old when I left.
She immediately scooted over, and I followed her in.
Hennessy didn’t hesitate to follow, which blanketed me on two sides by women that I knew for certain loved me.
It was a humbling feeling.
“I’m glad you came.” Grams smiled then, holding out her hand.
I took it and held it, thinking how delicate she felt.
She’d always been that way, though. She was a lot like my mom—or, I guess you could say, my mom was a lot like her. At least in the looks department. Both of them were petite, and fine boned.
Grams patted my hand and leaned slightly against me.
Hennessy patted my other hand, leaving me feeling comfortable despite having some of the most judgmental people in the town of Hostel staring at me like I didn’t belong.
“It’s good to see that some of the sinners could make it,” I heard someone whisper from behind me.
I turned, unsurprised to find Maria on the row behind me.
I smiled at her, and she scowled.
Turning around when Hennessy smacked my thigh, I wound my arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close, smiling widely when I heard the whispers pick up.
The music signaling church was beginning sounded, and I lifted my eyes to the front in time to see Reverend Hanes breach the top steps leading to the pulpit.
At first, he wasn’t aware of the whispers.
He smiled at his congregation. He waved, then he started his sermon.
It was about halfway through it that he realized that not only was his daughter in attendance, but accompanying her was the filth that he’d tried so hard to keep away from her.
The small smile that quirked my lips caused Reverend Hanes to falter in his words, causing Hennessy to follow his line of sight straight to me.
I squeezed her shoulder when she pinched my thigh, causing her to sigh.
“Stop it,” she murmured under her breath.
“Okay,” I agreed reluctantly.
Reverend Hanes looked away, and he continued where he left off, but it wasn’t lost on me that his shoulders kept getting tighter and tighter.
In fact, by the time he was done, I thought for sure he was about to lose his shit.
But he finished his sermon, giving the appearance that he wasn’t worried in the least.
Once done, he walked to the entrance and greeted his followers like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Only, when he got to us, he didn’t bother offering his hand.
“Hennessy,” her father took her hand and squeezed.
It was the squeak that left Hennessy’s mouth that had me latching onto the piece of shit’s wrist and squeezing right back.
He let go instantly and scowled at me.
“You’re unwelcome here,” he informed me.
I shrugged. “There are other churches that Hennessy can attend.”
My grandmother offered Hanes her hand, unaware of the tension, and said a few nice words.
The moment that she was through, we moved through the line and out into the hot, sunny Sunday air.
Grams took my hand and walked with us. Hennessy looked troubled, leaving me angry and unsure of what in the hell I was supposed to do.
If he was anybody else, I’d fucking off him. However, he was too much of a prominent member of the Hostel community to just go and take out like he wouldn’t be missed.
“You’ll both come to lunch with me?” my Grams interrupted my thoughts. “I’d love to talk.”
Hennessy immediately agreed for the both of us.
The smile that Grams bestowed Hennessy was enough to break my heart all over again.
“Excellent!” she cried. “I’m going to go home and change out of my Sunday finery, and then we can meet. Where would you like to…”
Loud murmurs broke out through the air, and I turned to see what was causing everyone to lose their shit, only to find myself staring at a very pissed off Reverend Hanes.
Reverend Hanes, still in his robes, was staring at me like I was a piece of crap that wasn’t worth the time to scrape off his shoe.
“God doesn’t like men who commit felonies,” he spat.
My brows rose, and suddenly I was tired of this man’s shit.
“Oh, yeah?” I asked. “How about cheaters? How about assholes that knock young girls up and then forget that the child exists?” I paused, really on a roll now. “How about men that beat their daughters for sins that only God is allowed to judge them for?”
“What are you talking about?” my Grams asked worriedly. “My Tate has paid for his sins. He’s asked for forgiveness, and is working to become one with God.”
That was a lie, but it was the thought that counted.
I wasn’t looking to become one with God. I was just looking to make it through the goddamn day without breaking.
“Bull,” Reverend Hanes said. “He’s a filthy piece of excrement that doesn’t deserve the likes of my daughter.”
I laughed.
“Your daughter seems to like this filthy piece of excrement.”
And that was when I realized my mistake.
I thought that Reverend Hanes was somewhat sane.
Turns out, he wasn’t.
***
Hennessy