I understood why Father was so angry. I was angry at her too.
That’s why when he would raise his voice at me, I would give in. Make myself smaller so he wouldn’t be so angry. It’s the same reason I attempted to be perfect. Getting perfect grades. Smiling at all his guests when he would require that I attend dinner.
Still, he would find reasons to punish me.
Only recently has his punishments become more physical.
“Cheer up, child. Life isn’t always as bad as it seems. This is a mountain.”
I give Miss Kelly a tight smile. “This mountain is going to be married to a stranger.” I look down at my plate before looking back at her. “What if he is cruel?” I ask, finally voicing my biggest fear.
The look of pity in her eyes isn’t lost on me. She won’t tell me that he won’t be because she does not know.
“Think of this as an adventure. You’ll be marrying a stranger, but you will learn to love him. Arranged marriages have been going on since the beginning of time. There is a reason they work. Marriage isn’t always love and passion. It is about learning to be with another. To compromise and become partners. Instead of looking at this as the end of the world, look on the bright side. You will marry a man who will provide for you. You will create a life with him and one day have his children. Then your entire life will revolve around them.”
My eyes prickle with tears. “What if I want more from life?”
She pulls me into her arms, holding me to her. “God always has a plan. Trust in him. He would not give you more than you can handle. Remember that when you pray for patience, God provides you with situations to practice the requirement of said patience. Maybe he’s giving you a situation to test the boundaries of yourself so that you can find peace,” she says softly.
“You really think so?”
She smiles warmly at me as she pulls back, letting me go. “I do. I think maybe life here has become more challenging than it needs to be, and this is God’s way of offering you an out. Giving you somewhere to go where you can escape what your parents have become. Give you the option if you want to continue a relationship with them.”
“Maybe not with them, but I want to see you still. You think my new husband would allow it?”
She taps my nose. “Only one way to find out. Go to the party. Have fun. Get to know whoever your father requests. Then, look for the positive.”
“What would I do without you?”
She chuckles as she gets back to work. “You would be skin and bones, child. Now, if you are finished, you should go get some fresh air. Enjoy the day.”
Walking out of the kitchen, I smile to myself.
Maybe she’s right.
Maybe I need to look at this in a new way.
“You lying son of a bitch.” I slam my fist into the man's ribs, feeling the vibration in my knuckles.
He groans, falling forward as my two men hold him up.
I shake out my fist, looking down at the man.
“I didn’t do it. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Shaking my head. “You don’t have to admit it. We have you on camera. Now you have two choices. You can give up your partner or you can face my wrath alone. I’m not a patient man. You have five seconds to decide.”
Turning back toward the table, I grab my bolt cutters as my men start to count. They make it to two before I turn back around. Seeing the bolt cutters, the man’s eyes widen.
“Okay. I’ll tell you.”
His face has turned ashen, a sheen of sweat glistening on his face. As I move closer, his body tenses, his lip trembling.
“Talk then,” I demand.
“Johnny Walsh.”
“The Irishman?” I question, making sure I understand what he’s saying.
