Page 26 of My Vows Are Sealed

“Yeah, my parents aren’t big on spanking either,” I mumbled.

But apparently someone else’s parents were. Or at least her father was.

“Anyway, you ready for the game on Wednesday?” she asked, changing the subject.

Seriously? How could she think about football at a time like this? How could she even concentrate on anything other than the psychobabble we’d heard coming from that pulpit this morning?

“Yeah, sure,” I muttered as I held the door to the youth room open for her, then followed her in.

My eyes immediately fixed on Darla, who was sitting in a corner with her head down, like she was purposely trying to make herself invisible. It broke my heart seeing the girl who was usually so in her element when she was in this room looking so uncomfortable. I really wanted to go find that asshole who called himself a spiritual leader and use the “rod of discipline” on him to see how he liked it.

Heading over to the table that had coffee, orange juice, milk, and donuts set out, I grabbed a small plate and threw a Boston crème donut and a powdered sugar one on it, then went to sit next to Darla. I took my Boston crème donut, then put the plate containing her favorite donut on her lap.

“Figured that might cheer you up,” I said quietly.

She let out a quiet huff. “It would, if I was allowed to eat it.”

Seriously? She wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone, and now she wasn’t allowed to eat a stupid donut either? This was beyond strict. This was insane.

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” I chuckled humorlessly.

“He could walk in any minute. He said he’d know everything that happened today,” she said, so quietly that I could barely hear her. “I’m surprised he’s even letting me be in here at all.”

“He doesn’t want anyone else to know,” I sighed.

She shook her head. “It’s family business, not anyone else’s. I’m not allowed to bring anyone else into it.”

Her voice broke at the end, and I could tell she was barely hanging onto her control by a thread. But he’d probably told her she wasn’t allowed to cry either. Because that would tell everyone that something was wrong.

That man shouldn’t have even been allowed to have children. Not even the worst juvenile delinquent deserved this kind of treatment, but knowing that it was happening to this sweet, kindhearted girl who wouldn’t have hurt a fly mademewant to cry.

I’d always been taught about a loving and merciful God. I’d been told that having a relationship with the Lord would change people for the better. But sometimes I had to wonder, if that was the case, why did so many people seem to get harder and meaner after “finding Jesus”? Where was all the change that everyone spoke of? Because I wasn’t seeing it.

“I’m going to give you a hug, Dar,” I told her. “I’m not letting you say no. You need a friend.”

She swallowed hard, and it took a second, but she finally nodded timidly. I took the plate off her lap, put my half-eaten donut on it, and set it on the chair next to me. Then I pulled her into my arms and squeezed tight.

“You know, if there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here to listen,” I murmured.

“I know. But I’m okay. I promise. It’s my own fault,” she sniffled quietly.

I sighed. I thought we’d been over this. But apparently it hadn’t quite sunken in yet. I guessed it would take a while for her to really see the toll that her father’s “discipline” was taking on her.

“Okay. I just want to make sure you know youcantalk to me. About anything,” I reiterated.

Peter walked into the room, and the corner of his mouth tipped up in a half-smile when he saw us. Marie followed him, and it seemed like she was looking for someone for a moment before her eyes landed on us and she made a beeline in our direction.

“Hey, you two,” she chuckled, flashing a friendly smile. “Brendan, do you mind giving Darla and I a minute? I wanted to talk to her about the kids’ service this week.”

Well, she was about to be unpleasantly surprised when she found out that Darla wasn’t allowed to participate in the children’s ministries for the next week and a half.

I looked down at Darla. “You going to be okay?”

Darla nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.”

With a sigh, I forced my arms to release her, then grabbed the rest of my donut off the plate that was still sitting next to me and went to sit on the other side of the room. I was so lost in thought, trying to figure out what I could say or do to help Darla, that I didn’t even notice someone else was next to me until I heard Peter speak.

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” he said. “Want to talk about it?”

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