“The house is great. It’s just quieter than I’m used to. I find that the lack of noise makes it hard to go to sleep,” I told him.
Pastor Carter and Daphne exchanged glances. “It is good that one should wait quietly for the Lord,” he stated with a condescending smile.
Uh okay, whatever.
“You’ll get used to it. Or you won’t. The choice is yours, isn’t it?” he went on.
What did that mean?
Before I could say anything, he got to his feet, Daphne following him. Everyone stopped eating and immediately bowed their heads until he left the room.
“Jesus,” I muttered under my breath.
David elbowed me. “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. It’s a sin, Baz.”
I swallowed the smartass remark that I wanted to lob back at him, knowing it would be of no use.
I stirred the now cold porridge with my spoon. “Why are you talking to Pastor Carter about me?” I asked my brother.
“He’s concerned about all of his flock. He wants to make sure you’re content. That you’re at peace,” David replied blandly. No feeling in his voice now that the venerated pastor had left.
“And if I’m not?” I hedged.
David went rigid beside me. “Then you’d need to leave. There’s no place at The Retreat for those who don’t believe.” His tone was harsh. I had no doubt he’d turn on me in an instant if he thought I wasn’t living by the rules Pastor Carter dictated.
The realization that I had lost the loyalty of my big brother hit me hard.
“David, what’s happened to you?” I couldn’t help myself asking. It seemed at The Retreat blood was definitely not thicker than water.
I glanced at little Rosie and her family.
The only bond that mattered was the one these people had with Pastor Carter.
My brother never answered me. As if an alarm had sounded, everyone got to their feet and silently left the room. Only Sara and the other women serving breakfast were left behind.
I knew it was time for quiet contemplation. Yet another round of useless praying.
I was expected to return to the building I was being forced to live in and stay silent until the call to chores.
Would anyone try to stop me if I walked out the door and kept on going?
Would David even care?
I knew the answer and it wasn’t one I liked.
I also knew I couldn’t leave him.
But the longer we stayed, the more I realized that getting him to go home was next to impossible.
Yet I wouldn’t give up. Not on David. Never on David.
Feeling despondent, I stood up and started to head for the door.
“Bastian, wait a minute.”
I was more than a little surprised to hear Sara call out for me. She came over, something tucked under her arm.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I asked her, feeling more tired than I could ever remember being.
