Page 44 of For the Love of a Boy

Chapter Thirteen

Seth hadn’t been able to think straight all week. Daddy had fawned over him more than usual—which had been so sweet of him—but he was beginning to feel like a burden. A broken thing that no one could fix.

He went back to watering the plants. He’d already gone through and picked out the dead leaves and given them food. Daddy had encouraged him to take over the room and do whatever he liked with it. When they’d visited Florence right after Christmas, they’d found a striking tabletop fountain to add to the décor.

The natural stone base had been carved into a bowl shape and the middle was filled with quartz crystals. In the center of that, a large amethyst orb spun when the water surrounding it bubbled up. A light beneath that made the sphere glow, illuminating the varying purples and interior of the large crystal ball.

Seth switched on the power, waiting for the fountain to warm up. Ever since Daddy had told him what his father and the others had accused him of, he’d taken to sitting in the room when he could to try and banish some of his anxiety. He tried not to get too lost in his head, but staring at the fountain seemed to calm his mind.

Even though they’d done an emergency call with Dr. Clay, Seth didn’t feel as if he could truly continue planning the future he’d been dreaming of with Daddy. Not that he thought Daddy would give up on or stop loving him, just that he was terrified of what the outcome of the whole situation might be. His father had been conniving and lying for years. He was an expert at it. Who knew what he might be able to convince the detectives of?

Seth lowered himself onto one of the dark wicker chairs with the thick, floral-patterned cushions. He’d already cleaned the house so thoroughly he’d run out of chores. He’d baked a banana bread, spaghetti sauce from scratch—freezing half of it for later—and about a dozen other recipes he’d never tried before. Concentrating on his studies or reading a book was out of the question. He couldn’t even enjoy a movie. Sitting still wasn’t an option.

Every day, from the moment they woke up until it was time to go back to sleep, Daddy had been there whenever Seth had needed him. Daddy would hold and bathe him, touch, kiss and tell him how much he was loved and adored. Seth still wasn’t convinced he was worth so much trouble. Yet, he knew he wouldn’t have made it through the week without the care of his Daddy.

But Daddy had needed to stop by Nate’s office to pick up some papers Seth would need to sign. Although he’d reassured Seth over and over that he doubted it would be necessary, they were being cautious by officially making Nate his attorney. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

Daddy knows what to do.

Seth had come to understand what giving his worry to Daddy meant. That still didn’t mean he was very good at it yet.

He opened his eyes and his attention was caught by the fern perched on a wrought iron plant stand next to the fountain. One of the leaf stalks had snapped in half somehow, the top of the leaf bent over and already half-dead. Seth leaned forward to break it off when the bell to the door rang. He started at the unexpected noise, but then he remembered that Daddy had ordered a new piece of gym equipment. Perhaps he had to sign for it.

With a sigh, he pushed up from the chair and made his way to the front door. Maybe he’d ask Daddy to set up another appointment with Dr. Clay for him. He hated the helpless state he’d fallen back into, the sense of futility. He’d sworn to himself after he’d escaped the camp that he was going to keep pushing forward, that even when circumstances brought him down, he’d keep fighting.

Seth reached for the knob then choked on his own spit when he saw who was on the other side.

“Jenny?”

He blinked repeatedly, not sure if he was hallucinating his ex-fiancée standing before him.

“Hi Seth.” She appeared nervous and kept glancing around as if something might jump from the bushes and attack her. “Uh, I…I was wondering if I could come inside? Talk for a bit?”

Seth crossed his arms. Not so much in anger, but like he was trying to keep himself form falling apart. His leg jiggled and he was having a hard time swallowing.

Breathe.

Nothing about Jenny’s appearance on his doorstep made any sense. Of course, nothing about his former life and the people in it ever had.

“Why the hell are you here?”

He’d used the curse word on purpose, and it had worked. She’d flinched. Then another thought occurred to him. Not only why, but how had she known where he was? The blood seemed to drain form his body and he also checked the surroundings, gripping the doorknob as he took a step back.

“Wait, Seth!” She advanced, her expression pleading. “I came to beg you to take back your accusations. Just let it go. How could you do that to your own father?”

Seth gave her a derisive snort. “You should begin by asking how my father could do everything he did to me. And I don’t know how you found me, but you and anyone else from the congregation had better stay away. I have nothing to say to any of you.”

Seth stumbled back with a yelp as his former so-called lover Andy, and Darryl, one of the camp goons, burst from the shrubbery.

“Yeah?” Darryl sneered. “Well we’ve got plenty to say to you.” He shoved Jenny aside as he loomed over Seth, his bulk and sheer strength one of the things that had made him such an excellent guard. “You’re coming with us, you sick deviant. Then, you’re going to tell the police that it was all a horrible mistake, that you made it all up and you won’t testify.”

Seth clenched his jaw, determined to stand his ground and not be bullied. “No. You all need to be stopped, to quit hurting people.”

“Hurting?” Darryl grunted. “We’re helping save their filthy, black souls.” He jabbed a finger at Seth. “You in particular. If you’d been grateful and resisted Satan the way we taught you, then maybe there would’ve been some hope for you.”

“Taught?” Fury rose up in Seth, and for the first time, he wanted to hit someone, to hurt them. But he was better than they were. He refused to be like his abusers. “I’m not having this argument. Get out of here before I call the police.”

Darryl lunged and Seth’s self-preservation instincts kicked in. He whirled around and ran, Darryl grabbing the collar of his T-shirt. Seth twisted his body, struggling free and realizing he was physically stronger than he’d once been. He shot forward and out of Daryl’s reach. If he could only get to the garage that was connected to the kitchen, he could lock himself inside then figure out his next move.

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