I know he meant that as a slap in the face, but I’m over his words and how he uses them to hurt me to get what he wants.
“This is nowhere near the same thing.”
“Yes, it is. You just can’t see it because you’re blinded by the glitz and glamour that’s behind him.”
Is that really what he thinks this is all about? Being famous? I wanted to touch people with my music. That has nothing to do with glitz and glamour.
“You’re being ridiculous. Do you realize his daughter is the same little girl who sang on the stage with me a few weeks ago?”
His eyes waver, but he doesn’t change his tone. “I guess she was lucky to have those nannies. At least he was smart enough to hire them to raise her.”
This man is so frustrating. Will I ever get him to listen to what I’m saying?
“No, Dad,heraised her to be the little girl you saw. The nannies only watched her when he was onstage. Otherwise, he was by her side. He loves her more than anything. How can you judge him like that? Do you not practice what you preach? Matthew 7:Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“Don’t use a Bible verse on me! I can judge him because that’s who he is. I showed you the article in the paper about the riot they caused. I’m not judging because it’s the truth.”
I drop my shoulders, pleading with him to actually hear the words I’m saying. “No. If you actually read the entire article, you would have seen that they helpedstopthe riot, finished their entire performance, and then visited the few who had been injured in the hospital.”
“Oh, how nice of them. They visited the people they’d injured. So, if David had visited you in the hospital after killing your friends and trying to kill you, it would have made it okay?”
My face drops. “How dare you compare the two things. You know they’re two completely different situations.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. They are not. God is looking down on you just as he was looking down on them, guiding them on the path to righteousness.”
My blood boils as I clench my teeth and close my eyes. I know whatever I say won’t make a difference. He made up his mind before I even walked through the door.
I decide to take the high road. “That’s really sad, Dad. That you, a man of God, would not give another human being the chance to prove their worthiness before you toss them to the curb. But what about me? Your daughter. Doesn’t my happiness mean anything to you? I’ve been living the life you wanted me to live, and yet I feel like I’m dying inside. The person I am here is not me. Adam has made me happy. Why don’t you want me to live the life I want?”
I turn to leave, and he yells after me, “You tried that, remember? And someone tried to murder you for doing so. You will end this, Sarah. I forbid it.”
I stop and stare him right in the eye. “Well then, it’s a good thing I’m not a little girl anymore, and I get to live my life the way I choose. You have no say in the matter.”
He holds up his hand. “God is watching you.”
“I know. He’s watching you too.” I exit his church, not sure if I’ll ever step foot in it again.
27
Sarah
Once I’m able to breathe without fuming, I head to Adam’s to take Cailin trick-or-treating.
Cailin comes running out of the house. “Yay! Let’s go trick-or-treating!” She gives me a big hug, and it’s the final thing I need to get me back to my happy place, away from my dad and his close-mindedness.
Adam steps out of the house to join us on the front porch. “She’s been bouncing off the walls, waiting for you.” He leans in to kiss me and stops short. “Everything okay?”
I thought I’d be able to hide my emotions, but I guess my puffy eyes gave it away. I smile and lean in to kiss him. “Everything’s fine. We can talk later, but don’t worry.” I place my hand on Cailin’s shoulder. “Do you have your bag ready?”
She grabs it from the front step and holds it up high. “Right here! Now, let’s go.”
She runs toward Adam’s truck. We’re going to our downtown where they offer a stroll for the kids to get candy from the businesses and show off their costumes to the community.
Adam wraps his arm around my back and pulls me into him. He doesn’t say anything, but his touch is soothing and exactly what I need.
After we park, Adam hops out of the car with his hat pulled low. At the zoo in a bigger city, the hat worked well to disguise him, but in this small country town, he sticks out like a sore thumb.
I’ve heard whispers of people asking if they’ve seen him yet or wondering if the rumors are true, but there’s no stopping the gossip wheel now.
