Chapter 25 #2
“Hey, boys,” Theo said with a confident smile tilting his head to me when they all slowly turned their gaze in my direction. I shuddered and tried to play it off as I crossed my hands in front of me. “This is Miss Olivia. The woman I told you about.”
They greeted me with various polite versions of hello, and I nodded with a smile hoping to hell I wasn’t making a fool of myself.
“Come, Miss Olivia. I’ll introduce you to the other women.”
I glanced from Beth to Theo who gave me a smile and a nod, and I turned to Beth for direction. She led me behind a closed wooden door where voices filled the space of a large kitchen. The women all looked up expectantly and studied me.
“This is Miss Olivia,” Beth introduced, pulling me further into the room with a light tug on my arm.
I gave a small wave and most of them gave me smiles in return. One of them, a younger woman, who actually looked younger than me, stood with her hand on her now visible pregnant belly and offered her seat.
“I’ve got to go check on the kids in the other room,” she explained when I hesitated.
I could feel an awkward tension in the room as I tried to take in the surroundings. My jeans made me stand out, everyone else was in modest long skirts and dresses, nothing too fitted or revealing.
I was startled by a baby crying suddenly and turned around to see an infant bundled up and laying in a pack-n-play behind the kitchen table and chairs.
From the island, I watched as one of the women quickly stood and picked up the baby, hushing and whispering in coos to it, trying to get it to settle.
I broke my gaze when the girl returned with a child in tow who was sobbing loudly.
The little boy ran to his mom, clutching onto her skirt speaking too muffled for me to make out.
“Says Cliff and John scared him. I’ll sort out the older boys. Lucas only wanted his mama.”
The woman nodded and scooped up her son in her arms. I looked away trying not to invade something so vulnerable to the child and caught the eye of Beth who was standing across the island from me.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Beth smiled softly and shook her head. “Everything is prepared, just waiting for the men to be ready.”
I nodded, swallowing to try and rid the dryness in my throat.
“We were just talking about Lucy and her upcoming wedding,” one of the women said, gesturing to the blonde sitting beside her.
“Congratulations,” I smiled.
She blushed and fidgeted in her seat. “Thanks, I’m really nervous.”
“Don’t worry. Michael will make a good husband. He’s a strong leader.”
Lucy nodded looking even more nervous, her eyes almost glassy with unshed tears. “I really want to start a family. What if I can’t get pregnant right away?”
“You will. Just follow the guide I gave you, take your temperature first thing and don’t skip any day to have sex.”
“Cassidy,” Beth gasped with wide eyes. “That’s crass.”
For saying the word sex? Or discussing how to get pregnant?
“I apologize for being so indelicate,” Cassidy looked down, her hands pulling into her lap beneath the table.
“We forgive you,” all the women said in unison.
Okay, that was weird.
“That’s alright, Cassidy. I know it’s hard to lose the ways of the world when you haven’t been raised in His Kingdom.” I looked at Beth and she continued. “Cassidy joined our church just two years ago. I joined four years ago.”
“What, um, what made you both join?”
Beth sighed, fidgeting with the sleeve of her dress.
“Well, I was lost. But He found me. God led me right to Reformation and I knew it was where I was meant to be.”
My stomach tensed realizing that her response sounded rehearsed.
“Yes. We are eternally grateful to God’s shepherds from Reformation for finding us lost sheep and bringing us into the fold.”
Neither of their answers actually explained how they wound up living here at Eden, but I just nodded like I understood.
“I feel lost right now. I think that’s why Theo invited me.”
The women gave me sympathetic expressions, several of them leaving their seats to put a hand on my arm or shoulder.
“You’re not lost anymore,” Beth said. “We’ve found you. God sees how special you are. Not just anyone has a direct invitation to Eden, and certainly not just anyone is invited by Elder Theodore Walsh himself. You are most definitely blessed.”
I forced a smile and nodded. Beth glanced at the clock on the stove and pushed away from the counter.
“Time to serve,” she waved her hands, to usher the women into motion.
Food was pulled from the oven and the fridge and the women lined up, each taking a plate to fill.
“Come,” Beth beckoned, handing me a filled plate. “For Elder Theodore.”
I took the plate with sweaty palms.
“Just follow our lead. You will do great.”
I followed the line of women to the living area where the men were seated talking and those facing us smiled.
“Wonderful.”
Beth made a beeline for the man who spoke and placed his food before him. I realized all the women were each doing the same and I quickly walked to Theodore, setting the food in front of him.
He smiled at me with a nod, and I glanced around the room to see all of them standing just behind the men. I copied and waited. Beth’s husband cleared his throat from where he sat directly across from Theodore.
“Let us pray.”
Most of the women had placed a hand on the shoulder of the man they had delivered food to, so I copied. Theo tensed beneath my hand and Beth’s husband flicked his eyes to me. My cheeks flushed and I realized all the women were staring at me.
Fuck.
I couldn’t see Theodore’s face, so I didn’t know if I should remove my hand. Beth’s husband bowed his head, and everyone followed suit.
“Heavenly Father, thank you for the food prepared and the evening gathered to worship you. Thank you for bringing us Miss Olivia, a lost sheep in need of your guidance. In your name we pray, Amen.”
I slipped my hand back to my side and followed the women out of the room, my ears hot and cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
As I made my way into the kitchen, I made awkward eye contact with several of the women who gave me smiles. I paused near Beth.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked softly.
She cleared her throat, putting down the plate she had been holding.
“Well, it was my fault. As your host I should have made sure you were aware of our social customs. I forgot that you weren’t familiar, that you aren’t a member of our community. I should’ve instructed you on our ways.”
“What did I do?”
She reached out and squeezed my arm. “It’s not anything really bad. It’s just, when we pray, we don’t typically touch men unless we’re married.”
I swallowed and nodded. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“All is forgiven,” She said with a smile. “This is why you’re here. It’s not your fault you’ve been led astray by the deviance of our sin-filled world. You will learn and you will find joy in obeying God’s commands.”
I nodded, chewing my cheek.
“Let’s eat. I’ll fix your plate,” Cassidy said, coming up to stand beside me.
Once we were all seated at the table, I waited with bated breath before picking up my fork to follow everyone’s lead. I didn’t want to make another mistake.
“Ladies, I think we owe it to Miss Olivia to educate her on God’s role for women. Introduce her to all that she was designed to fulfill.”
They all chimed in with enthusiastic yeses, and I tried to listen as I ate my meal.
Submitting to your husband, raising babies, keeping the house tidy, volunteering, hospitality…
All completely innocuous albeit uncommon for today’s standards.
But all the women seemed genuinely happy and content in their roles.
One even mentioned that she felt empowered by their way of living, that it was freeing and fulfilling.
As they spoke, I found myself trying to picture myself as one of them and I honestly couldn’t find fault in the fantasy. It wasn’t what I had necessarily pictured for myself, but it was miles better than what Los Siete had to offer me. I could do it. I could learn to be happy here.
When there was a lull in the conversation, I forced myself to ask, “How many of you joined the church as an adult?”
Six of the eight women raised their hands, and I was shocked into silence. It must really not be that bad if so many are leaving everything behind to be here.
The plates were cleared and suddenly the chairs were moved and highchairs set out.
A single file line of children, the oldest maybe seven, followed the pregnant girl from earlier into the room, some of them carrying an infant.
A couple infants were passed to mothers and immediately latched onto a breast to nurse, while the children who were going to eat were placed into highchairs or took a seat themselves at the table.
I awkwardly stood in the kitchen watching the women and children move in a practiced routine of serving and eating. I helped Beth and Cassidy with clearing the table and washing the dishes, listening to the women carry on various conversations.
There was a sudden knock on the door and Beth pulled it open to reveal Theo. He motioned for me to join him in hall.
“You alright, love?” He asked me with a soft smile, scanning my face.
I easily smiled with a nod despite the fact that my whole body tensed from the term of endearment. Holy shit. Maybe I can actually pull this off. Maybe I can escape Los Siete and live out here in the middle of nowhere.
“Good. I’ve come to collect you. I’ve got to get you back before curfew. I’ll wait by the door and give you a chance to say goodbye to the ladies.”
I nodded and slipped back into the kitchen. I gave Beth a tap on the shoulder, and she rose from her hunched position over one of the children at the table.
“I wanted to thank you for allowing me into your home this evening, and just say I hope that we meet again soon. I’m heading out now.”
She quickly pulled me into an unexpected hug and whispered into my ear.
“Be careful. The devil is near.”
She pulled back, allowing some of the other women to say goodbye and I was pushed towards the door. I looked back over my shoulder, her brown eyes staring deeply into mine.
Was that a social custom or was she trying to warn me not to come back here?
We made it back to the car and I stared out my window into the night sky. The stars were even more visible out here and I found myself replaying all the conversations I’d been privy to this evening.
None of the women seemed uncomfortable, all the children looked healthy and full of energy, and I couldn’t even find a fault in their idealist lifestyles. Everyone seemed happy. And other than that strange goodbye from Beth, I had a good time with the women and kids.
“Olivia?” I flinched, his hand moving down my head to the back of my neck.
“Pardon?”
“You know I’m not upset, right? About the prayer.”
I glanced around, clenching my nails into my fist as I realized we had made it out of the compound and were on the freeway already.
“Yeah. I understand. Beth explained what I did wrong and that it’s all forgiven now.”
He sighed, squeezing my neck before returning his grip to the wheel. “Good, good. I don’t want you to be dissuaded from joining us for church on Sunday.”
I licked my lips, stalling for the right answer.
“I would really love another chance to learn more about how I can better myself.”
I could feel Theo’s bright smile.
“It was such a blessing to have met you, Olivia. And I hope that you were able to feel welcome in my family’s home this evening. Did you connect with anyone in particular?”
“Yes. Cassidy, Beth and spent most of the night talking.”
“I’m so happy that you were able to connect with two of our lovely sisters. Cassidy was like you and was homeless when our paths crossed. She met her husband in the church shortly after and has been happily married since.”
I nodded.
“It’s hard to shed a life lived in sin, and no one expects you to be perfect. God seeks out those with the most flaws and accepts them with grace and forgiveness. The important thing is that you learn from mistakes and move towards a future that brings you closer to Him.”
“How do I do that? This world is so focused on money and success, but they were telling me tonight that God says I am designed to serve my husband and to create a family. How can I do that when the world expects me to work or go to college for a higher paying career?”
“You’re right. And that’s exactly why my father is involved in changing our culture.
We’ve strayed so far from the values that matter: God, family and obedience.
Our society is forcing women to lose their femininity, their true natures of nurturing, their duty as a wife and mother.
That’s why Eden is just that…a haven tucked away in a world of corruption.
And if you want, there can be a place for you too.
A family. We can give you a purpose to fulfill as a daughter of Eve. ”
I chewed my cheek, clammy and fighting the urge to shake my leg.
“Think about it, Olivia. I’ll be praying for you and that God will lead you towards the right path.”
I nodded, unable to speak. Holy fucking shit. One fucking night and he’s already telling me I can join? Is he interested in me though, or just the idea of me joining his church congregation? Was this how quickly everyone was asked to join?
“Have a listen to last week’s sermon.”
He didn’t fidget long with his phone before it was playing through the car speaker with the sound of his father’s voice. I focused on each mile marker on the road, counting them as they passed to distract myself from the bubbling anxiety in my chest.