Page 58 of Take Me to Church
Last night she was a mess. A sobbing, shaking mess. Right until we crossed into Tennessee. And then it was like someone flipped a switch. A switch that still seems to be in the same position this morning.
Myra stares into the coffee cup balanced on the platform of the machine. As it continues to brew, she leans down and inhales against the steam rippling up. "God I've missed coffee."
"Missed coffee?"
Myra's lip curls. "I haven't had it since they moved me out to that fucking cabin." She pulls the mug from the maker as soon as it's done brewing, setting it on the counter before going to the fridge. "They literally took away anything they knew made me happy." She grabs the milk and pulls it out. "Including toilet paper."
"Why didn't you just act like you were sorry? I could have gotten to you sooner. They would've let you go back home."
Myra pours milk into the silver pitcher beside the coffee maker, pressing the lid into place before surveying the buttons across the front and making her selection. "Because fuck them, that's why."
I've never heard my sister say a single cuss word, let alone five over the span of a few minutes. I completely believed Myra would come out of the IGL worse off than I was. That she would struggle to break away from our old beliefs and teachings.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case.
When the milk is finished frothing, Myra pours it into her cup before taking a long sip, moaning as she swallows it down. "That is so fucking good." She opens her eyes, giving me a smile. "I think I want to go get my hair done today." She reaches up with one hand to ruffle her self-induced haircut as she takes another swallow of coffee. "I want it shorter and highlighted." Her eyes widen. "Do you think I can get my makeup done too?"
"Maybe? It might take a few days to get an appointment with somebody good though." She's really jumping in with both feet, and I'm not sure how to handle it. "I can try to even it out a little for you until then."
Myra shrugs. "I'll just pull it up. If we can't go to the salon then maybe we can go shopping for new clothes." She downs a little more coffee. "Does Christian have a fire pit? I want to burn the ones I had on last night."
My head is spinning. Trying to keep up with her right now is making me feel off balance.
And ashamed.
I didn't go through half of what Myra went through, and acclimating to my new life has taken me a year. I've struggled every step of the way, and here she is running into it head on. Determined and unafraid.
"We can definitely go shopping. But we’ll have to pace ourselves. I don't want to blow through my savings too fast." I've been pinching pennies in the hope Myra would join me, so I'm somewhat prepared to take care of her, but not if she's going to want regular salon visits and a brand-new wardrobe.
Myra's brows pinch together. "I would never expect for you to pay for that, Lyd."
"Well someone has to pay for it, and you don't have a job yet."
Myra's lips curve into a slow smile. "Do you think I didn't prepare for this?" She comes closer, leaning against the island between us. "I have thought about this day for three years. I knew the second our piece of shit father promised me to Matthias I was getting the fuck out of there one day." Her smile fades. “But I’m not sure Memphis is far enough away for me.”
22
CHRISTIAN
I STAND ON my stoop, a little surprised to see the men crowding my doorstep.
My hair’s still wet from the shower I rushed through and, since Myra was monopolizing my coffee maker, I haven't got a lick of caffeine in my veins. I am most definitely not prepared for what I think I'm about to face.
"Hey." I lean against the casing, trying to look casual and relaxed while doing my best to block my unexpected visitors’ view into my house. "Everything okay?"
I get together with my whole family once a month. My brothers bring their wives and kids and we all eat food and talk and laugh, just like millions of other families around the world. The only difference is it's not DNA that connects us. And while I normally enjoy spending time with my brothers, this particular visit doesn't feel like a social call.
Evan’s expression is serious as he looks me over. "You got something you want to tell us?"
The fact that Tate and Simon aren't part of this group is telling, and it makes me think these men already know more than they’re letting on. But my best bet is to continue to play stupid until I know exactly why they're here.
"No." I shake my head, offering a shrug. "Everything's fine."
Cody stands just behind Evan, his long hair looking a little wilder this morning than normal. I’m willing to bet his daughter has already had her hands in it, using him as her own real life Barbie doll. "Is that really how this is going to be?" His expression is disappointed. "You're gonna start keeping secrets from us?"
I was hopeful they wouldn't dig too deeply into the incident with Rodney. That they wouldn't trace the connection back beyond what I'd offered.
I should've known better.
