Page 5 of Tempting God

“What a lovely drawing, Greer.”

“Thank you, Nanny.”

“Well, then. Let’s get you ready for bed.”

I hang the sign on my door and follow her to the bathroom.

“Did you have fun tonight?” she asks.

“I did. I made a new friend. His name is Grant.”

I love Nanny. She lets me talk until I don’t have any words left. By the time I’ve had my bath, and she puts me in bed, I have nothing left to say.

“Night, Nanny.”

“Good night, Greer. Sweet dreams.”

A few days later, Nanny comes to my room, smiling.

“Your new friend sent you something.”

“He did?”

“Yes. Your father brought it when he came in just now. Come and see.”

I go to her side and grin when she opens the white box.

Inside is a small piece of cake with purple icing.

Not just any cake, though.

Confetti cake—the best cake in the world.

My day immediately gets better. It doesn’t matter that Momma left bruises on my arm and stomach from when she got mad. It doesn’t matter that I broke my favorite doll trying to get away from her. No, I have a friend who remembered my favorite cake.

That was the moment I fell in love with Grant Carter.

2

Greer

Age 16

“Greer Arwen Blanc! You better be dressed and ready to go! This is an important night for this family, and I won’t let you ruin it!”

I drop the paintbrush in my hand. Crap! I was trying to finish this piece for my art class and thought I had enough time to get it done before we left. Guess I was wrong. It’s too late, though. The sound of Mother’s high heels slapping against the hardwood floor gets louder as she approaches my room.

The door hits the wall as she opens it.

I stand. “I’m sorry, Mother. Time got away from me.”

She crosses the room in five strides and slaps me so hard across my cheek that I hear a loud ringing in my ears. Tears fill my eyes, but I don’t move. Not when her breath reeks of alcohol.

“You disgust me,” she hisses. “Get dressed and be ready to leave in ten minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And make sure you wear the shape wear. I won’t have you embarrassing this family in any photos because of your weight!”

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