Page 98 of Sins of the Flesh
I clench my fists, resisting the urge to jump up and shout at her.Caleb's hand finds mine, his touch grounding me.
Charlotte continues, her voice rising dramatically."Father Nichols has betrayed our trust in the most heinous way imaginable.He has taken advantage of a vulnerable young man, corrupting him with his twisted desires."
Murmurs ripple through the crowd.I can feel the weight of their stares, some curious, others accusatory.
"This isn't just about morality," Charlotte declares."It's about the safety of our children, the integrity of our community.Can we really allow someone like this to continue leading our Church?"
"That's enough!"The voice rings out clear and strong.To my surprise, it's Caleb who's standing up."I would like to speak on my own behalf," he says.
Charlotte nods with a smirk, and Caleb stands facing the town."I have served this community for 14 years, as did my Father and his Father before him.I have only ever wanted what was best for everyone around me, my family, my friends, and my community.”Caleb takes a breath.“The picture in the paper is real, and I admit I selfishly chose what was best for me in that instance.You see, I have never chosen anything for myself until I met Cole and chose him.I accept that my being Gay may not be what you want in a religious representative.But no matter what happens here today I will always choose him.”Caleb looks up at Charlotte with no fear.
Murmurs ripple through the crowd.I can see confusion and uncertainty on many faces.Charlotte's carefully crafted narrative is starting to crumble.Emboldened by Caleb’s words, I stand up next to him."Everything between Father Nichols and I has been consensual," I say.“No one corrupted anyone here.”
The room erupts into chaos, voices shouting over each other.Charlotte's face contorts with rage, but she quickly composes herself."Please, let's all remain calm," she says, her voice syrupy sweet."I understand emotions are running high, but we must think of the children.What kind of example does this set?"
Josh strides towards us up the aisle to settle next to Caleb.“My Dad would never hurt anyone, much less a child.He and my Mom are divorced.So if Gay is the problem, then I am also a problem because I’m Gay and I support my Dad.”He winks at Charlotte and faces his Dad’s gawking stare.Josh claps his shoulder, chuckling.
The murmurs and whispers are increasing, the volume in the room like a loud humming.Not all of the sounds are negative, either.We could be changing the minds of these people one person at a time, or at least I hope that's what's happening.
“That's enough!”Charlotte shouts.The room falls silent.Charlotte’s face flushed with anger, her carefully crafted composure cracking."This is preposterous," she sputters."We can't allow people like this in our town!”She points at us.But her words seem to have the opposite effect.More people are standing up now, voicing their support.
"Father Nichols has always been there for us," Mrs.Johnson, the town librarian, calls out."He counseled my son through his divorce.I don't care who he loves."
"Cole's a good kid," Mr.Ramirez adds."Fixed my roof last summer.Never asked for a dime."Charlotte's eyes dart around wildly, like a cornered animal.
"You don't understand," she hisses."He's corrupting our youth, poisoning our community!"
“Charlotte, sit down and shut up,” Ally says, striding down the center aisle towards the stage, standing beneath the podium.I hadn’t even realized she left the room.Charlotte’s face goes bright red, and she sputters.
“I have watched you bully and manipulate everyone around you,” Ally growls with a sneer.Caleb steps up beside her.“I've never said anything about it.I've just waited for you to go too far.Well, Bitch, this time you have by attacking my family, and now it's my turn.”My jaw drops in disbelief.
Ally turns back to the crowd, her tone softer.“Four years ago, we started filming our Sunday services to post on our website.”Affirmative noises come from the crowd.“Well, Caleb can be a bit absent-minded and tends to forget to turn off the recordings,” she says with a chuckle, squeezing Caleb’s shoulder.
“We tend to run out of space on the video because of that.Soon Wednesdays, I edit and post the videos to avoid recording over the last service.”Ally continues.“Yesterday, I found something I thought might be relevant to this meeting.”
“Ashley,” she calls out, and the projector screen starts descending from the ceiling on the stage.The lights dim, and a video begins to play.The video shows the view from the pulpit, with Charlotte clearly standing in the empty chapel between the pews.The whole room watches in dead silence as Charlotte goes on her tirade threatening us and admitting to my poisoning.
The video ends, and the lights come back up.“I think Madam Mayor has pretty much covered it,” Ally says with a smirk.All eyes turn to Charlotte, who stands frozen at the podium.The sheriff grabs her by the arms, pinning them behind her back as the murmurs and shouts chorus through the room.
“Lock her up!”
“Monster!”
In the chaos I suddenly notice laughter coming from the direction of the stage.When I look up it’s Elle hunched in her seat holding her stomach.The laughter quiets the room as everyone stares.“Are you serious right now?”Elle gasps.“You believed that bullshit!”Her grin is wide, but her eyes are dark as she stands.
“I have to give you credit Mother, that act almost fooled me and I already knew it was BS.”Mother?Shocked murmurs go through the room.“Oh, don't let the ‘Mayor’” Elle says with air quotes.“Fool you, she's got secrets too.”
I am stuck staring at Elle, someone who I felt was so close to me, but now looks like a stranger.“Namely, my Mama was a bit of a hoe in college.”She stage whispers with her hand to her mouth.
“But I have to be honest here, this little act, no believe me when I tell you, this woman isn't smart enough to boil water, much less plot a murder.”She smirks, “I, on the other hand, find it rather fun.Here, let me explain.”Elle swishes her arm dramatically.
I feel like I have been thrust into a bad movie.“It all started when I was twelve, I was super pissed at my Grandad for making Mommy marry that idiot George.He was about as interesting as a sheet of paper.So when I found a box of rat poison under the kitchen sink, I would put some in his coffee every time I visited.The slow death was truly riveting.”Elle beams.
Gasps come from various places in the room as Elle continues holding us all hostage in her dead stare.“Don't let Mom fool you, she knew I did it.She covered it up just like George's death.Isn't that right, Mother?”She glances at Charlotte, who looks pained in a way I’ve never seen before.
“He was yelling at Mom about me… again.”She rolls her eyes.“So I hid outside her office, and when he came out I gave him a little shove.”She shrugs with a little chuckle.“Man, let me tell you the snapping sound when he hit the bottom…What a fucking rush.”She makes a motion like snapping something, her eyes going wild and utterly terrifying.
“But again, here I would like to remind the court that my mother isstupid.She tried to set a fire but didn't account for the sprinkler system!Rookie move, am I right?”Elle throws her hands up.
