Page 90 of Breaking the Sinner

“Come in,” Mother said softly, gesturing for Cobra to sit in the arm chair. “We don’t receive guests very often. This is a blessed surprise.”

Cobra eased into the arm chair, a smile flashing across his face. “Thanks. Nice to meet you guys. You’ve got a nice house.”

Father nodded long and slow, his foot starting a slow tap against the floor.

“Well, thank you. I appreciate your compliment. Labor is discipline, and discipline is the trait of all believers. Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Gen’s mother smiled at Cobra, but it seemed strained. Her gaze swept toward Gen. “Prudence, your bed is ready for you upstairs, just as you left it.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Gen gnawed on the inside of her lip, gaze skating over her family. Almost nobody would look at her. Not except for Mary and her mother. “Is Thanksgiving dinner on as planned tomorrow?”

Her mother nodded, her red hair glinting in the low light of the living room. “And we’ll have your favorite. Green bean casserole.”

Her father cleared his throat loudly. His continued silence wasn’t abnormal, but the thick tension clogging the air was. He turned abruptly to Cobra.

“You are a friend from that Los Angeles?” He pronounced it like “Angel-eez.”

Cobra’s shadowy gaze darted between Gen and her father. “I am, sir.”

Her father nodded more, never stopping, his toe tapping a loud rhythm. And then he left the room, his dress shoes landing hard against the floor, hands shoved into his pockets. Gen rubbed at her forehead. She’d known he wouldn’t take her surprise visitor extremely well, but his reaction hid a deep well of disappointment. It was only a matter of time before he revealed it.

“Prudence, dear,” her mother tittered, turning her way again. “Would you or your guest like a beverage?”

Gen looked over at Cobra, who was the focus of attention for all four of her sisters. “Cobra?”

“Um,” he said, wetting his bottom lip, “water?”

“Me too,” Gen said. Her mother nodded and hurried toward the kitchen without another word.

Gen offered a smile to her sisters on the couch. Seated from eldest to youngest, they also formed a natural continuum of most to least upset with Gen’s decision. Abigail, the eldest sister, wouldn’t even look at her. Charity and Hope, the two sisters directly below Gen, were miffed but curious. Only Mary seemed excited to see her.

“Hey, sisters,” Gen said softly once her mother swished out of the living room. “It’s good to see you all again.”

“Why did you come back?” Hope asked, her sharp green eyes slicing over to Gen.

“Because I missed you all.”

A heavy silence filled the room. Then Mary spoke up, “Prudence, why are you wearing those clothes?”

Gen looked down at her outfit: jean shorts and a loose blouse. The most conservative of her current wardrobe still stood out here. “Because these are my clothes.”

“But that’s not how you used to dress,” Mary said.

“Shush, Mary,” Abigail snapped. “That’s how they dress where she’s from now.”

“I’m from here,” Gen said, staring Abigail down. Her eldest sister refused to look her in the eye. “I’m from this home. I’m your sister.”

“I know that,” Mary offered.

“I wasn’t talking to you, Mary,” Gen said. Cobra leaned to one side, tapping his thumb against the arm rest. His haunted gaze jumped from her to her sisters and back to her again. She could practically hear the questions in his head already.

“Are those tattoos?” Hope leaned forward a bit, straining to look at the exposed designs on Cobra’s arms. Her glossy red hair formed a picture-perfect braid down the center of her back. He nodded, holding a forearm out.

“Yeah. I’ve got a lot of them.”

Hope’s brows formed a hard ridge. She drew back into her seat, saying nothing more.

“Do they wash off?” Charity ventured a moment later, her blue eyes wide and innocent.

Cobra shook his head. “It’s permanent. It’s in the skin.”

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