Chapter Six
Colette
Emily and I caught a cab back to Grady and we had the driver drop us a few blocks away from our neighborhood.
Emily told me that Ajax kissed her, but when he tried to go further, she pushed him away. When she asked me about Xander, I decided to lie and say nothing happened, too ashamed of my wanton behavior.
When we got to our block, we shared a hug and went our separate ways. I managed to slip through my bedroom window without a sound and I stood frozen for a few minutes to listen for movement in the house. When there was nothing, I started to relax and went into my bathroom.
Suddenly, my bedroom door swung open and the door bounced off the wall with a resounding thud.
My father stomped toward me, anger like I’d never seen on his face. He gripped my upper arms and shook me. “Where have you been? How dare you sneak out of this house.”
“Stanley, don’t hurt her,” my mother pleaded from the doorway.
He threw me toward my bed and I fell on to it.
“I swear,” he started and pulled his hand back to hit me. I covered my head quickly to ward off the blow, but it never came. I peeked out to see him still holding his hand in the air and looking down at me in disgust. He dropped his hand and turned away. “Get downstairs. Pastor Dean is here.”
I froze. What would Pastor Dean be doing here?
I made my way downstairs and into the family room. I was met by my father, Pastor Dean, and there was someone else.
Sebastian. He had been my intended since I was eighteen. Our parents arranged it, as was tradition in Grady. We weren’t engaged or even dating, but it was understood that we would eventually marry.
He had never been involved in my discipline before so his presence, and the pastor’s, made me nervous. Sebastian’s face, which I considered cute with his boyish cheeks and light green eyes, was set in a deep scowl, making him look menacing.
“Sit down, Colette,” Pastor Dean instructed, his voice calm and serene.
I did as I was told, sitting in the center of the couch, knowing better than to question him. Pastor Dean was well-respected and considered to be a nice man. His round face and easy smile gave the impression of someone friendly, but I never felt right around him, like something was amiss.
“Colette,” Pastor Dean began. “You have always been a good girl and while we are willing to overlook some mistakes, I’m afraid this transgression cannot be ignored.” All three of them remained standing around the coffee table, looking down on me like a holy council of righteousness. “Since Sebastian was the one to discover you, he has made a request. Rather than punish you, Sebastian wants your marriage to take place immediately.”
My blood ran cold. “I thought I had to be twenty-two before the wedding.” I still had over a year.
“This stunt changes things,” Sebastian said with a sneer.
I looked at my father. “Please, Dad. We just went to dinner and the arcade. I know I left without permission, but isn’t this a little extreme?”
“And was disobeying your father the only sin you committed tonight?” Pastor Dean asked.
I gulped. “Yes.”
“What about lust?” Sebastian said, his words thick with constrained rage. “My brother was in Lockwood and saw you kissing one of those biker trash.”
“He must have been mistaken.” I said quickly, but I blushed at the thought of what he might have seen. The arcade’s patio had a few trees around it, but it was visible from the street.
“Are you calling my brother a liar?” Sebastian spat at me.
It was easy to see that denying what happened would get me nowhere. “It was just a kiss,” I admitted as I looked down at my hands. When Sebastian didn’t correct me, I knew it was safe to assume that his brother didn’t see all that happened between Xander and me.
“You have betrayed Sebastian,” my father said in a shameful tone.
“He may be my intended, but I don’t belong to him,” I said, my voice raising at the end. I couldn’t help but feel betrayed by my own father.
“You will belong to me a week from tomorrow,” Sebastian said with complete resolution.
I looked at my father, begging with my eyes to help me. But he simply nodded.
So that was it? We were really getting married? I looked at my mother who had been watching silently from the hallway. She gave me a look of pity as the men shook hands.
I immediately rushed to the stairs and went back to my room where I let the tears start to fall.
I cursed Emily and Xander, but mostly Xander. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t kissed me, I wouldn’t be getting married in a few days.
I should have just given Xander everything when I had the chance. At least I would have done something that truly justified this punishment.
The thought made me stop crying for a moment. Give Xander everything?
In a few days, I’d be starting a new chapter of my life. Once I was married, I’d probably get pregnant soon after and then my life would belong to my children. Not that I minded; I always knew that I wanted children, even before I was told it was my duty as a wife. But my life was still my own in this moment and I wanted more for myself.
I was raised to believe that every action in this life would determine my place in the next. But I believed that God loved me and I loved him. He would forgive me for giving into temptation, even if it was willful. At least I hoped so. Either way, I wasn’t going to let it stop me.
I lay in bed until I was sure my folks were asleep and then I reached for Bethany’s letter that was stuffed under my mattress. I grabbed my cell phone off my dresser and dialed the number.