Page 44 of Relentless

“Your congregation respects you, dear,” Vera said in her usual placating tone.

Her mother constantly reinforced his fragile ego in a way that made Harper’s stomach turn molten. She ducked down the hall and into her room. Everything in her wanted to slam the door, but fear won out. Her temper usually only brought more wrath down on her bruised back.

Leaning on the door, she listened to her father’s angry tirade reverberating through the thin walls as though he were pacing just outside her room.

“The elders are talking about us,” he shouted. “It’s only a matter of time until it spreads through the congregation.”

The crash of something fragile smashing against the wall echoed up the stairs.

“They’re saying I can’t even control my own household, let alone a growing church.” he sputtered. “Thank God for Maeve because that little slut is making a fool out of me!”

Even Harper could admit that kissing Chet Davis behind the bleachers wasn’t her finest moment. The church and the small private school they attended were partnered so closely that it often made her feel like she was living under a microscope. Sometimes, it seemed like her parents had planned it that way — and she couldn’t help but push against theboundaries, stepping her toe over the line whenever she saw the chance.

Ofcourse,it had to be Susan who caught them together. The middle-aged woman wore long flowing clothes to hide what she deemed shameful excess weight. Her hair was always in a tight bun, making her angular face seem harsh and her dramatic expressions even more intense.

The smarmy youth pastor’s wife had wheedled her way into the position of school counselor, and Harper appeared to always be on her radar.

She yanked Harper’s armhard, dragging her all the way to the principal’s office.

“Susan, I made a mistake,” Harper yanked her elbow free, attempting to reason with the laser-focused, hard nosed woman. “Just give me a break for once.”

“And what would your father say?” Susan scolded, fuming at being addressed with such familiarity.

Harper mused about the many things said behind the closed doors of her household that she could never repeat.

Susan prattled on, pursing her lips together in a way that conveyed her every judgmental opinion. Pastor Underwood often made it a point thatmodesty mattered, and Susan consumed every word, frequently reinforcing the lesson to the young women in her influence.

“Just because you’re the pastor’s daughter,” she snapped. “Doesn’t mean you’re above the rules of propriety, young lady.”

“Wow,” Harper dared to taunt. “That’s one I’ve never heard before.”

Susan glared, and Harper knew the woman was hellbent on making her pay.

There was no point in defending herself to the principal of the school. The thin-lipped, flimsy little man prided himself in being Pastor Underwood’s best friend. He held the same stern lack of mercy for anyone who sidestepped from their rigid box of righteous standards. Harper knew every detail of her rebellious insolence would be relayed directly to her father. The church felt like an exclusive club, and there would be no exceptions — especially for her.

She climbed into her bed, hesitant to even flip on the light at the risk of again catching her father’s fury. Hot, angry tears stung her eyes as she brought her fists down on the soft mattress.

When I take over the ministry, the school will be the first to go.

She savored the thought of mercilessly firing them all, but it was shortlived. Her lack of closure created a lump in her throat, and her mind began to cycle through everything she wished she would have said that day but couldn’t.

Breaking through her spinning thoughts came a muffled knock through the door.

“Go away, Maeve.” Her annoying little sister was only fifteen months younger than her, but it might have well been decades. Maeve was so naive and innocent that she often made Harper feel worldlyand depraved.

“Harp,” Maeve begged. “Let me in.”

She sighed, reaching to unlock her door. Bolting back to bed, she pulled the sheets over to conceal her bruised body. The last thing she wanted was for Maeve to know how badly she had been beaten.

Harper couldn’t stomach another pitiful look from her empathetic little sister who insisted on sharing her burdens.

Most of all, she couldn’t bear to disappoint her.

The door ticked open, and Maeve stepped in, closing it quietly behind her. She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled back the sheet, placing a cool, wet washcloth on her back.

Harper reacted.

“Stop, Maeve,” she blurted. Flipping over, she grabbed her sister’s wrist. She was stunned to already see tears filling Maeve’s eyes.

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