Page 41 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
“Blessedby God, Zoe Page. Can you say the same?”
Gladto see we aren’t standing on formality or manners. “Same heathen I’ve alwaysbeen.”
Hermouth puckers in disgust as her gaze sweeps over Ethan. Instead of speaking tohim, she regards me. “What are you doing here?”
Ican’t help but smile when I respond. “Oh! You haven’t heard? I own thisbuilding. For now, anyway. Mr. Day is here to check out the place, see if itwill meet his shelter’s needs.”
I’dbe lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the look of horror on her face. “You own thechurch annex?”
“No,I own this commercial property that was formerly used as an annex.”
“Youcan’t take from the church!”
“Ironic,since it’s only ever taken from me, but I’m not here to argue.” I turn toMartin and Ethan as Pastor Hale approaches us. “Ethan, why don’t you showMartin around while I talk to the pastor?”
“Sure.”Martin follows Ethan toward the back of the building.
“Ms.Page,” Hale sneers. I don’t think I’ve ever been hated by another person theway this man hates me and Ethan. He was the driving force when it came to ourparents’ decision to disown us, so it goes without saying I can’t stand him.“I’m sure we can come to some arrangement. You are expecting rent now from us,I assume?”
“Youassume wrong. I informed you, as did my lawyer, that this property had changedhands and would no longer be available for the church’s use. I’ll give you afew days to clear out whatever you need to move.”
Tryingto control his anger, his teeth are gritted as he asks, “And why would you dothat? We can pay you rent.”
“Ethanand I agreed that we should do something good with the space, and give back tothe people who helped us. I’ll be donating the building to Every Life Counts.”
Smokeshould be rolling from this self-righteous prick’s ears. “We will not stand forthis! We can’t have immoral sodomites across from our church.”
Ifthere’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can’t argue with people so miredin hate. It’s pointless. “You’ll have to take that up with the new owner. I’llbe changing the locks Sunday night, so you’ll want to be moved out by then.”
Mrs.Frances shakes her head. “Your parents would be so ashamed.”
“Good,because that’s how I feel about them.” Martin and Ethan approach, both wearingwide smiles.
“Let’sgo, guys.” They follow me out to the parking lot where we can talk withoutbeing glared at.
“So,should we expect torches and pitchforks?” Ethan asks, as we climb into the carand head back to the shelter.
“You’regoing to have trouble from them, Martin,” I warn.
“I’lldeal with it. They can’t keep us from moving there. Zoe, this is amazing. Youhave no idea how many people this is going to help. Thank you so much.”
“Wewouldn’t be where we are without you and your volunteers. I’ll get with you ina few days to sign the papers and it’ll be yours.”
Martinclimbs out of the car. “You’ll have to come to our grand opening party.”
“Wouldn’tmiss it,” Ethan replies, hugging him before he heads inside.
He’squiet on the ride home, lost in his thoughts. I imagine seeing Martin and theshelter brought back some memories. “You okay?”
Ethannods, then shakes his head. “I don’t know. Colin invited me to go to churchwith him Sunday. I didn’t know…didn’t expect him to be religious.”
“Whichchurch?”
“UnitarianUniversal. He says they’re inclusive, that no one will care I’m gay, but that’seasy for him to say when he’s not out. I don’t think he understands how bad itcan get.”
Iunderstand his fears, but there’s something I want him to understand. He gazesat me from the passenger seat as I park in front of our apartment. “I don’tknow what the UU church believes or teaches. I understand why any invitation tochurch would freak you out. But you have to know that all religious people orbelievers aren’t like the people we were subjected to our whole lives. Thereare caring, loving, accepting people who go to church, just like Colin. Youcan’t paint them all with the same hateful brush.
“Youdon’t have to go to church to make anyone else happy. It’s up to you to figureout what you believe and what you stand for. I don’t think it would hurt you togo with him to get a better understanding of what he believes. Just make surehe respects your beliefs or lack of them as well.”
