Relieved that God seemed to be working things out in my favor.
As if this was where I was actually meant to be. As if my redemption could be found here with these people. As if following their beliefs and traditions might bring me closer to God who might absolve me of the blood that stained my hands.
There was a rap on the door before the doorknob squeaked, and I turned in my chair.
An elderly man’s gaze landed on mine before bouncing around the room and back to me. “Hello, dear. Does Theodore know you’re in here?”
“Um, yes. He’s just gone to the restroom I think.”
The man nodded, pushing the door fully open and inviting himself inside. He came to stand beside Theo’s desk, bracing his weight against it before clasping his hands in front of his belly.
“I think I recall seeing you this past Sunday. What was your name, child?”
“Olivia.”
He nodded with a smile and shifted his weight like he was uncomfortable standing. “And how did you find the sermon this week?”
I took a moment to recall anything about the sermon. “It was very insightful. I’ve never heard about the kind of love from God that Reverend Kit spoke about. How even before our very existence that we are valued. It gave me a great sense of peace knowing that God sees a need for me and has a purpose for me.”
“Yes.” He nodded emphatically. “God has had a purpose for you from the moment you were conceived. You’ve existed in His timeline long before you existed in ours, and every hair on your head is viewed as precious to him.”
“I was telling Theo, I mean, Elder Theodore, that I can’t help but question how skewed things have become in our country. It just feels so wrong the way the rest of the world is living. With the all the politics and division, it’s just disheartening, I guess, to see that the majority in our society is on the wrong path.”
“Yes, child,” he smiled brightly at mean, pointing at me. “That’s precisely why our Reverend Kit is on a path to step into politics. We need a voice in this country. One that will serve us and serve The Lord righteously.”
“I was expressing my eagerness to learn more about joining the congregation to Elder Theodore. He mentioned a study program.”
“We’re always looking for lambs to shepherd,” he said with a smile.
“I’ve already let Miss Olivia know that should she choose, she’d be welcomed with open arms at Eden.” I was startled at the sound of Theo’s voice and leaned over to look around the chair. His father was standing beside him in the doorway, and I nodded in greeting with a smile. My palms were so sweaty, I prayed no one wanted to shake my hand. “She’d need your approval, but I think she would be an excellent addition to our Reformed Life Studies program. I think she would really take to the program and all that it has to offer.”
“Hm.” Kit seemed to be contemplating his son’s words.
Fuck, don’t screw this up for me. Don’t screw this up for me.
“Father, I think that she will make a respectable, God-fearing, and husband-honoring, wife. She’s young enough to unlearn the sinful ways of her worldly life.”
I dared a glance and found Kit already staring at me. I quickly turned my eyes back to Theo.
“I agree wholeheartedly, Elder Theodore.” The elderly man beside me spoke. “The RLS program is designed to sow seeds of faith and weed out those who may hold too tightly to doubt and sin. She will be tested, just as Jesus once was, and the truth will be revealed. I’ve seen many fail and defy God’s will, but I believe I can always lead those very lost into the light. They just sometimes need a stronger shepherd to guide them.”
The statement felt ominous, and my stomach flipped.What the fuck do they do to ‘guide’ people they deem ‘very lost’ in the program?I shook the thought away. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be worse than anything Los Siete could do to me.
“I trust your judgment, Theodore.” Kit finally decided. I looked up to find Theo smiling. “Have her complete the preliminary screening before she is brought back to Eden.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kit gave me a nod with a smile before leaving the doorway and continuing down the hallway. Theo stepped into the office and took a seat in his chair.Wait. They’re going to take me right now?My stomach dropped.
Theo gestured for the man beside us to take a seat.
“This is Elder Mark. He teaches some of the courses at Reformed Life Studies.”
“Yes,” Elder Mark nodded. “The program, RLS, is a lot like school. You’ll be sponsored by an Elder’s family to attend full-time studies that will help to shape you into the woman that God intended you to become. To mold you into a beautiful wife for a lucky Reformed brother. You’ll live in a dormitory with other women attending the program for six weeks. At the end,once you’ve been saved and reformed, you’ll be offered a place at Eden and be given the chance to find a match to wed within our community.”
I nodded, my heart racing and my mind trying to catch up to the fact that they wanted me to join the program so quickly.
Elder Mark continued. “This program isn’t something you can take lightly. If at any time the Elders who lead your courses feel you are straying from the path, you will face the consequences. Nothing outside the scope of what The Bible has offered as a resource for punishment. But consequences nonetheless.”
