Page 10 of Sunday Morning

Too worried.

Too obedient.

We were eighteen: barely eighteen, but legal adults. In five weeks, we would have our diplomas.

Maybe that’s why he wanted me to convince my dad to let us go to prom. He was ready to take the next step.

“Just because I haven’t had an abortion doesn’t mean Matt and I haven’t done it.”

Guys who didn’t wear ties to Easter Sunday Service and ate Cadbury Creme Eggs during prayer should not have been on my list of people to impress. Yet, there I stood, lying to Satan because heaven forbid I let him think the preacher’s oldest daughter was a virgin.

“Done it?” He wasted no time mocking me.

“Sarah, what are you doing? Are you coming?” Matt called up the stairs.

Isaac’s grin nearly cracked his face in half. “That’s a problem,” he whispered. “Your boyfriend doesn’t know if you’re coming.”

I swallowed hard.

Don’t react.

“If youdid it,” Isaac scratched his chin before leaning closer to me, “you didn’t do it right.”

I turned sideways to slide past him without making physical contact.

“Sorry,” I said to Matt as I lifted the skirt of my dress on my way down the stairs. “Isaac was asking me about Jesus and if I truly believe He loves sinners like your brother.”

Matt chuckled. “Did he really?”

At that point, what was one more lie?

“Uh-huh.” I lifted onto my toes and gave him a quick kiss. “Bye,” I said before skipping past him, slipping my feet into my white flats, and heading outside.

“Sarah, how’s your head?” Violet asked as she, my mom, and my sisters plucked the croquet hoops from the grass while my dad and Mr. Cory assembled the mallets and balls in the wooden storage stand.

“A lot better. Thanks,” I said, using my hand to block the sun from my eyes.

“Honey, Violet has a job opportunity for you.” Momrested her arm over my shoulders as we walked toward the car.

“I thought you were fine with letting me pick my job since I’m an adult,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Just hear her out. I think you might like it better than working at Dixie’s.”

I shot Violet a fake smile when she approached me as my sisters piled into the back seat.

“Mary Lou Eddleton needs a hip replacement, so we don’t have anyone to manage the farm stand. How would you feel about doing it? We’d pay you more than you’ll make at Dixie’s.” Violet clasped her hands in front of her, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.

“Can you really pass up such a great offer?” Dad asked, opening the front passenger door for my mom.

The porch screen door creaked as Isaac and Matt stepped outside. Matt had changed out of his suit into cut-off sweatpants, a Devil’s Head baseball T-shirt, and a matching hat.

“Matthew, should Sarah manage the farm stand this summer?” my mom called in his direction.

Matt said, “Yes,” while Isaac said, “No.”

But nobody asked for Isaac’s opinion.

And I had no intention of saying yesuntilIsaac shared his unpopular opinion. He didn’t want me around the ranch all summer.

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