Persecution: God's Other Children. Book 2

by Rob Mclean

  Zeke spoke with confidence, with certainty, stating that he and God had a special relationship. God looks after me and whatever God wants of me, I’ll do. He then went on to say that God hadn’t been very demanding lately.

  He finished up by saying that he was looking forward to meeting everyone and making lots of new friends. Angela remembered that he had made a point of looking straight at her when he had said that. She also remembered how breathless she had felt as her chest tightened and her ears had embarrassingly glowed red hot. She also remembered him smiling at her discomfort. He had since told her it was then that he had first known that they were ‘destined’. Back then, she had thought he had meant destined to live happily ever after, but now she realised with hard earned cynicism that he most likely meant destined to share his bed.

  Later, Libby had told her how she and Zeke had made out last year at the same summer camp. They had messed around a bit, sneaking out of the dorms at night but she had drawn the line when he had pushed things too far. He had not been happy about it at the time, but she said that he seemed nice enough this year.

  After the small group introductions, Zeke had sidled up to Libby, asking loudly enough for Angela to hear, who her gorgeous friend was. Angela remembered feeling so flattered. Out of all the girls at the camp – and there were over a hundred – this suave, cool guy wanted to get to know her. She had never had a boyfriend before and Zeke’s attention made her feel important, special and worthwhile. It was all so thrilling.

  When she got back home, after the camp, she had been a bit worried about telling her mother about this incredible guy she had met. But her mother had just smiled that serene, knowing smile and said that was just what she had hoped would happen. Angela then gushed incessantly about Zeke for the next few weeks until her parents agreed to go along to Zeke’s church in order to meet him and his family. She knew that for her mother to forgo her traditional fundamentalist church for a more liberal, progressive one was a fair indication of how serious she was to see her daughter married to a good Christian man. She hoped like hell that he wouldn’t be at Libby’s engagement tonight.

  Libby had met her man the same way, at one of the youth camps, either a summer camp or an Easter one, Angela couldn’t remember. At the time all she could think of was Zeke.

  In Angela’s frequent wedding day-dreams, Libby was overjoyed to be one of her bridesmaids, since she was the reason that Angela and Zeke had met. Along with Zeke’s quirky, reserved sister Chelsea, Angela had the wedding all planned. She now saw that her fanciful dream had crashed and burned on the sharp rocks of reality.

  Libby hadn’t announced who her bridesmaids would be yet and Angela now half hoped she wouldn’t be asked. It would be an honour, but the thought of running away from it all kept passing through her mind.

  Aaron pulled up to the kerb outside Libby’s parent’s place. A nice, quietly upper middle-class two-storied gabled home with a glimpse of a slate roof veiled behind stately cool trees, a lush lawn and a white gravel driveway. Not as ostentatiously grand as Zeke’s place, but more reserved and tasteful.

  Christy had been asked to perform at the engagement party, so they had arrived early. All Christy had brought in preparation for her performance was a bottle of water. Aaron carried their joint engagement present, a big box wrapped with a wide bow. Their footsteps crunched as they walked up the driveway to the front door. Angela felt that the vase she had for them was rather inadequate by comparison. She reassured herself that she had hand-made a lovely card with a thoughtful, heartfelt message inside.

  Her fears were swept away by the effusive welcome they received from Libby’s parents. She and Christy were kissed and hugged as long friends of Libby’s. Aaron even received a warm handshake and a clap on the back from Libby’s father, Henri, and a tentative peck on the cheek from her mother, Monique.

  They were shown the gifts table, a covered dining table dragged to the side of the tiled meals area. It was already filling with gifts of all shapes and sizes, presumably from the relatives who had already arrived. Their conversations, punctuated by laughter, could be heard through the open French doors from the patio. Angela was happy to put her present discreetly towards the back.

  Christy was then ushered to the formal lounge, where an ornate grand piano stood. Monique took a vase of vivid, blood red Mr Lincoln roses from atop the piano, rearranging them on an antique sideboard before returning to prop open the piano lid, all the while thanking Christy profusely for agreeing to play.

  The formal lounge also had French doors that Henri opened fully to allow the patio guests in and the music out. As if on cue, people started to wander in.

  Christy put her water bottle under her piano stool and without any prompting, started playing. She launched into a jazzy repertoire that Angela had heard before and rather liked.

  Angela was standing, with Aaron next to her, tapping her foot along with a familiar tune when Libby walked in. A drinks waiter trailed behind her carrying a silver tray of champagne flutes.

  Libby wore a royal blue silk three-quarter, off the shoulder dress with diamond earrings to match the ring on her finger. She looked fabulous, but Angela thought it looked more like an evening dress, rather than something she’d wear at an afternoon function. Angela suddenly felt drab by comparison.

  Once Libby saw Angela, she spread her arms wide for a hug. They air-kissed and told each other how wonderful they looked. Angela politely asked to see ‘the ring’ and told her how lovely it looked. She asked all the right questions; did you choose it together? Did you get it especially made? Where did you get it from? All the while telling her how lucky she was and how lucky her fiancé Joshua was.

  Angela made a deliberate effort to be happy for her friend. She really was happy for her, but all the while she couldn’t help but to compare her friend’s happy relationship that was going forward with silky planning, with her own train-wreck. She hoped her forced smile came across as sincere.

  If Libby sensed her chagrin, she brushed over it with a bright smile, asking “Can I get you two a drink?”

  “Oh? No,” Angela shook her head. “No, we’re not together,” Angela blurted, “not like that.” She gave Aaron an apologetic smile.

  Aaron gave her a bemused smile in return, then said to Libby, “Three glasses of champers would be sweet.”

  He passed a glass of bubbling rose coloured champagne to Angela. She pressed the cool glass to her burning cheeks as he took a glass to Christy.

  Her embarrassment turned to anger when Aaron went on to add, “I doubt even Angela could handle three boyfriends.”

  “Three?” Libby arched an eyebrow, then leaned in closer. “I had heard that you and Zeke were having problems…”

  “We’re on a break.”

  “Well, I hope you work it out.” Libby shot a look at Aaron, who was grinning at Angela’s discomfort.

  “He’s with Christy,” Angela said in terse, clipped tones. She sent out a silent prayer for John. She regretted not having him pick her up. It would have been so much better to have come with him.

  “And you?” Libby put her hands on Angela’s shoulders. “Are you okay? You should’ve called me if you needed someone to talk with.”

  ‘You knew about Zeke, you could have called me’, she thought, but she only said, “I’m okay.”

  Angela managed a shaky smile, but the more she thought about her own relationship problems, especially when she saw how beautifully Libby glowed on her special day, the more she felt like a hopeless failure.

  Libby gave her a hug. “Hang in there girl,” she whispered in her ear. Angela felt her eyes filling and blinked back tears.

  Over the babble of background voices, the jazzy piano music, Christy’s bluesy song and from the midst of her embrace with Libby, Angela heard Libby’s mother, Monique say, “She’s just over there. Come, follow me.”

  At once she knew that Monique was talking about her and that John had arrived.

  She opened her eyes to see
Monique leading John through the crowded room towards her. His broad shoulders parted the crowd, making a path straight to her. He was wearing a white t-shirt that was a little tight across the chest and shoulders, but hung loose over his jeans. A broad smile spread across his face when their eyes met.

  Angela broke off her hug with Libby and took a step towards him before she was scooped up in an enthusiastic hug that left her breathless.

  Angela knew she had pressed her head against John’s chest for a little too long when Libby interrupted her. “I’m only guessing,” she said with exaggerated caution, “but maybe you two are… together?”

  “Whatever gave you that impression?” John said, giving Angela a kiss on top of her head.

  “I can’t imagine,” she smiled and put out her hand. “Hi, I’m Libby.”

  “John Hunter.” John took her hand. It looked so small and delicate compared to his.

  A mop of orange hair popped out from behind John. “Hi, I’m Jarred.” He already had a glass of champagne in his hand.

  “You brought your brother?” Angela frowned at John, then to Libby, “I’m so sorry…”

  “No, don’t be silly,” she said, extending her hand to Jarred. “Any friend of yours is most welcome.”

  Jarred ignored the proffered hand, instead stepping in to give Libby a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  Aaron passed his glass of champagne to John with a “hey man,” by way of introduction. He then slapped Jarred on the back and introduced himself by grabbing his hand and shaking it vigorously.

  “Let’s go find me a drink, man,” Aaron said, dragging Jarred away towards the patio.

  “Uh, sure, okay.” Jarred allowed himself to be led away before calling out to Libby, “Nice place.”

  John watched his brother as he trailed behind Aaron out the door with a concerned look. “Sorry about him,” he said to both Angela and Libby with a nod in Jarred’s direction. “I couldn’t leave him at home, not the way he was.”

  “Is he okay?” Angela asked.

  “Oh sure, he just gets a bit down sometimes.” John said, but seeing their concerned faces, added, “It’s the alien thing. He thinks all our science is worthless now and the only field that he thought might have some hope isn’t working out for him.”

  John then turned to Libby. “Look, if it’s any problem, I’ll take him home. I just didn’t think this would be so formal.”

  Libby dismissed his worries with more reassurances, but it didn’t improve Angela’s pique.

  “So where’s the lucky man?” John asked in a not entirely subtle attempt to change the subject.

  “Joshua is outside with the boys,” Libby waved in the general direction of the patio. The smell of barbequing marinated meat had drifted in along with outbursts of raucous male laughter.

  “We should go say hello?” John asked. He craned his neck trying to see outside.

  “There’s no rush,” Libby said. He’s settled in out there, cooking the ribs with his friends, so he’ll be a while.

  A call from her mother drew Libby’s attention. More guests had arrived, so she excused herself to greet them. Angela watched Libby as she swished her way across the room. She couldn’t ignore feeling more than a bit envious. One day it would be her turn she told herself, but with who?

  Angela let the question linger in her mind as she let her eyes wander, appraising the man who stood before her. Yes, she thought, she could see herself with him, if only…

  She saw that John was not paying her any attention. His eyes were methodically scanning the room. Was it a habit learned from his job, or was he looking for something, or someone?

  “The washroom’s down the hallway,” Angela swung her glass of champagne around to point to an open doorway.

  “Uh, okay,” John said distractedly. He threw a quick glance down the hallway, then took a few steps to get a better view of the people outside.

  “He’s not here,” Angela said watching John’s face. His features soured at the thought of her ex. “He was invited, but this isn’t his scene. He would’ve only come ‘cause I would have made him. Now we’re not together, he’s got no reason.”

  “Except to make trouble.”

  Angela shook her head. “No, that would be too much effort. I don’t think he’d care enough.”

  “He was at the MacArthur Park job I had the other day.”

  “Was he?” Angela frowned. She knew that event had been billed as a public debate but after the President had been killed, the religious speakers had decided to stay away out of respect. “Why would he be there?”

  “That’s what we want to know.” John stared at her. “We found a home-made bomb there. It was rigged up to a cell-phone.”

  “And you think Zeke had something to do with it?” Angela knew Zeke had some radical militant ideas. He’d been organising protests and even been arrested, but a bomb?

  “We confiscated a wiped clean cell-phone from him before he escaped. We can’t prove it, but we suspect he was planning to detonate the bomb. It was only a small one and would have been loud and scary, but innocent people could have been hurt or killed. Is this something he’d be likely to do?”

  Angela felt increasingly uncomfortable under the weight of his scrutiny, like she was under interrogation.

  “No, he wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s a Christian. We don’t do those sort of things.” Her anger lent conviction to her words, but she hoped she was right about Zeke. She didn’t like having to defend him like this or having to explain Christian ethics to someone who didn’t understand.

  “Did you tell him I’d be there?”

  “No.” Angela pursed her lips and frowned. She felt her anger giving way to defensiveness. “I haven’t seen him since…” She paused to think. She didn’t want to tell a lie by accident. “Since the other day at church.”

  In the background Christy started up another familiar, upbeat, jazzy tune.

  “He said that you two had hooked up only a week or so ago.” John’s blue eyes narrowed and his harsh stare didn’t falter.

  Angela felt her face flush with anger at Zeke. Why would he say something like that if not out of hatred and spite? Is that how he felt about her now? She knew the flip side of love is hatred and fear. Had he turned into a revengeful monster, trying to sabotage her new relationship with John? Did that mean that he’d never want her back? Did she even want him back? Whatever happened, she felt she only had herself to blame. She had fallen for Zeke’s promises and her mother’s reassurances and now she was being judged. Her guilt forced her eyes to lower.

  John slipped his hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze. His solemn expression was lanced with concern. “Is it true?”

  “It was the day before we went to the Observatory.”

  John’s eyebrows pinched together, trying to remember. “But that was the day we made our chastity pledge.”

  “Yes,” was all she could make herself say.

  “So you went straight from an afternoon with him to pledging yourself to me?” John laughed and shook his head ruefully. “Wow, that’s incredible.”

  Angela noticed that the music had stopped a while ago. Angela saw that Christy had stopped and it was apparent from the guilty look on her face that she had been listening closely. With a remorseful cringe, she went back to playing.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” John continued, “I don’t have a problem with that, being in the past and all, I kind of assumed that would have been the case,” he scratched his head, “but you sure moved on quick.”

  “I made a mistake, okay? I knew right from the start that Zeke wasn’t ready and I should never have pushed him.”

  “But he was pushing you,” John said, his tone much gentler, “for what he wanted.”

  “Oh, I wanted it too.” Angela gave him a brittle smile. She felt her eyes beginning to fill with tears, but she was determined not to spoil her friend’s day. “You see, his mother was absolutely right.”

  “They alway
s are,” John said as he wrapped his arms around her. She noticed that the music had stopped again and she soon felt Christy stroking her hair.

  “Don’t,” Angela pushed them both away. It’ll only make me cry.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be with someone. It’s only natural. On one level, we’re just like every other living creature on this planet; we’re made to reproduce, to have children.”

  “Made?”

  “Designed or evolved, it doesn’t matter. The point is that the sex drive is natural. We’re different from all other life in that we can choose.”

  Angela nodded. “In the Bible it says…”

  “The Bible, the Koran, the Kabala, whatever,” John said, “they all say ‘no sex before marriage’ for the same reason.”

  “Because it’s a sin,” Christy said.

  She drew a deep breath and looked ready to launch into a long soliloquy, but John held up his hand.

  “Because it’s not about you. It’s about looking after the children.” He paused and looked to Angela, searching hopefully for understanding.

  Angela had often been told what ‘a sin’ was or what was allowed, repeatedly, to the stage where she didn’t have to think anymore. It was all ingrained. Now, with John’s simple words, she realised that she had never gotten any answers to her ‘why?’ questions other than ‘because the Bible says so.’ By the look on Christy’s face, neither had she.

  “Regardless of religion or morals, it is better, from a practical and a survival point of view, especially back then, for children to have two committed parents.”

  Angela nodded. His words resonated with her religious teachings and she had to admit, her mother’s.

  “Basically,” John shrugged, “don’t have sex with someone you don’t want to, or isn’t interested in being the parent of your child.”

  “Is that’s why we have a chastity vow?” Angela smiled, “because you don’t think I’ll make a good mother?”