Page 55 of Rags to Royals

Cian

“Hey, Greta, wait a second,” I hear Scarlett say.

I need to get Scarlett alone so I’m hovering in the doorway between the living room and kitchen. I’m eavesdropping too, obviously, but this group is pretty open about sharing the things going on so I don’t feel bad. Well, I don’t feeltoobad.

I’m just so fucking curious abouteverythinghaving to do with Scarlett. I want to know it all.

“Yeah?”

“Do you know that someone is offering a hundred dollars to whoever gets Mariah to go to church youth group?”

“Yeah. Actually, it’s to church or youth group or any church gathering at all,” Greta says.

“Gotcha.”

I can tell Scarlett is trying to sound calm.

“Do you know who’s making the offer?”

“Yeah,” Greta says. “Pastor Stevens.”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard too.” Scarlett pauses. “Does Mariah know?”

Greta’s voice is softer when she answers, “Yeah.”

“And how does she feel about it?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes. Please.”

“Okay, but don’t be mad.”

I feel myself frowning.

“Okay,” Scarlett says slowly.

“At first, she thought, or hoped I guess, that it was her grandpa’s way of getting her attention. Maybe getting a chance to spend time with her.”

There’s a long beat of silence before Scarlett asks, “Did she want that to be the reason?”

“I think so, kind of. But she’s over that now.”

“Over what exactly?”

“Over hoping he cares about her. She knows he doesn’t. She figures it's either his way of messing with you, or his way of proving something to the other kids. Maybe that he really does have a lot of power or something? I guess he told them that it’s a lesson in how difficult ministry can be sometimes. He’s exposing them to people who the devil has worked really hard on.”

I feel rage tighten my gut. Anyone who would say that the devil is working in a child is a piece of shit. But a man who would use his granddaughter that way? No matter what kind of family history is going on here, that is messed up.

Regardless of the feelings I might have about my grandfather and his manipulations, he would never say something like that. And if he did, he would be immediately denounced by the rest of the family, friends, probably our entire country.

Scarlett has been quiet for several seconds. Now she asks, “What made her realize that?”

“We saw him downtown one day. It was just us and him on the sidewalk. And he walked past her without even looking at her. It was like she didn’t exist. She figured if he was actually interested in her, he would’ve taken that chance to try to talk to her himself. Ask her to come to church himself. Obviously whatever he’s doing has to do with her having to interact with these other kids. She doesn’t like that it’s a whole big game to him. And she hates the way Leah and the other kids from church act. She said the idea that the way they behave and treat other people is the way to persuade her, or anyone, that they want to spend time with them in that church is ridiculous.”

I agree, wholeheartedly, and wish I could see Scarlett’s face right now.

“Exactly right,” Scarlett finally answers. “They use manipulation and guilt and lies to get people to do what they want. Instead of just living good, happy, generous lives that might pull people closer. But,” she sighs. “I fell for it. For a long time. So I’m not really someone who can judge others. I am so glad Mariah has you. And that she’s smart enough to see through all of that.”

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