Page 85 of Drag You Down
I’d taken five days off in total, and I’d heard a lot of complaining from the people who had to cover for me. A few clients had sent angry emails too, demanding to know where I was and threatening to take their business to somebody else.
I have never cared less about their opinions.
“It was fine,” I say to Levi. “A few ruffled feathers, but nothing more.” I give him a quick kiss, then ask, “How is your back?”
“Better,” he reassures me. “I barely even feel it.”
I give him a stern look. “Is that the truth? Don’t strain yourself before you’re fully healed, or you’ll get…”
Even more scars.
His back will never be smooth and unblemished.
The simmering hatred for Zachariah Carpenter bubbles up again, familiar and almost comforting.
“I did it to myself,” he says.
That doesn’t help.
Levi must realize that from my expression, and he nibbles on his bottom lip. “It’s really okay, Daddy,” he says.
“It isn’t,” I argue. “Either way, you need to heal.”
I turn my attention to the TV, and my lip curls in disgust as the televangelist goes on about the sins of the modern world and God’s righteous fury.
“Do you think he’s wrong?” Levi asks after several moments of listening to his rant. “I’m not sure what I believe anymore.”
“I think if he truly wanted to help people, he wouldn’t be taking money from them,” I say, not bothering to hide my disdain. “Men and women like him, they preach loudly, demand tithes, and then live in their luxury mansions while the people who need them most starve and suffer.”
Levi exhales slowly. “Father Zachariah lives like we do,” he says quietly. “He makes sure we all have food and necessities, and he doesn’t take more than his fair share.” He pauses, then adds uncertainly, “At least, I don’t think so. He always seems to live simply.”
I snort in disbelief. “He owns the entire building. That’s more money than most people have. And the watch he wears is worth several thousand dollars.”
Levi blinks at me. “Why would he need a watch that expensive?” His eyes narrow at me. “You thought I did. The one you bought me wasn’t cheap either.”
I smile at him. “I want to give you nice things. You deserve them.” I lean in to kiss him briefly. “I don’t care about spending money for luxuries. I only care when people likehimpretend to be righteous while stealing from their very flock.”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” he asks abruptly. “For believing him, I mean.”
I shake my head. “No. Men like Zachariah, men like…” I bite my lip and say, “like the one on TV, they take advantage of those who are better than them.”
Levi scoffs. “I’m not better than he is.”
I touch his chin, tilting his head so he has no choice but to meet my eyes. “But you are, little lamb.”
He smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. “How do you know so much about these things? You know as much as I do.”
My breath hitches, and I want to deflect, I want to hide, but who, if not my lamb, deserves to hear the truth?
“My parents,” I say quietly. “They preached, like that man on TV is preaching. They spoke the words from the Bible and made me perform with them in front of crowds. I had to pretend I was sick or injured, then become miraculously cured during their little plays in front of hundreds of people.”
“But didn’t people catch on?” he asks, frowning. “If you pretended to be sick again and again?”
“We took turns, my brother and me. My mother would dye our hair or make us wear wigs. A few times, she had me dress up as a little girl.” I clench my fists. “And when we weren’t touring, we were forced to memorize scripture. If we did it wrong…” I look down at my hands.
There’s a faint scar near the lower knuckles from where the ruler had cut into me harder than usual.
“There were punishments,” I say. “But none as severe as what Zachariah did to you.”
