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VIOLET
PRESENT DAY…
“Amen.”
The congregation speaks in unison with my father at the end of the day’s final prayer. I lift my bowed head and watch as the camera is pulled back from a close-up of my face. My cheeks heat with embarrassment, but I smile as expected. I’m starting my last year of college at Nevada State University in two weeks, and my father felt I could use the blessing of the church as I finish my Bachelor’s degree.
“Peace be with you.” My father’s voice booms from the speakers as he shouts into the microphone from the pulpit.
“And also with you.”
Now that the service is over, everyone moves to exit the auditorium. Hands shoot out, one after another, toward me, and I accept the heartfelt congratulations as I return all their handshakes before sitting back down. It’ll be another hour before my parents are ready to leave the church and go have our traditional Sunday afternoon brunch, so I kick off my heels and lean back, closing my eyes.
When I was sixteen, Dad led a small congregation at a little church on the outskirts of Las Vegas. All was normal until one Sunday, a member wasn’t able to attend due to being in the hospital. Nellie, the granddaughter of the member, asked if she could video the sermon and post it on her social media page for her grandma to watch. Dad agreed, and our lives seemed to change overnight.
Dad’s sermon caught the attention of a couple of people at the hospital who were taking care of Nellie’s grandma, and they shared the sermon on their social media accounts. Soon, the video garnered almost five hundred thousand views. Nellie continued to record the sermons every Sunday and eventually, the local public broadcasting channel came to speak to my dad about televising his sermons.
They wanted to test it out for three months to see if they’d be popular, and of course, Dad agreed. He wanted to spread the word of God to anyone and everyone he could. The three-month testing period went better than anyone expected, and within six months, a bigger network approached my parents, and now my father is one of the biggest televangelists on the West Coast.
I look around and take in how far my family has come in the last seven years.
What will my future look like after graduation?
Sure, I could teach at an elementary school, but my parents have been pushing me to take over the youth programs at the church. I know they’re worried about their only child searching for a job. Working for the church would be an instant paycheck, but I want to prove that I can be an independent woman.
“Violet.”
A deep voice shakes me from my daydream. I peek through my lashes to see Brad Coventry standing over me.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” His voice could melt butter. It takes everything in me not to swoon at his feet.
Brad is one of the most attractive parishioners in my dad’s fellowship. He’s around six feet tall and has the boy-next-door look: blond hair, blue eyes, and a swimmer’s build.
Rumor has it that Brad wants to become a pastor, so he’s been working alongside the church elders to learn the ropes. According to his parents, he’s a successful financial manager, but one night, the Lord spoke to him and told him that finances weren’t his path and to turn to the church. He even went back to school and completed his bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry.
“Hey B-B-Brad,” I stutter, and he smirks. I clear my throat and swing my legs over the arm of the chair. After sliding my feet back into my heels and standing, I still have to strain my neck to look up at him. At only four-eleven, heels only do so much. “Congratulations on your bachelor’s degree. Do you know what you’re going to do next?”
“Your dad is going to let me intern with him and take on more responsibilities around the church.” He gestures to the chair. “Until then, I will commute back and forth from my job to here. It’s not too far.”
I sit down, and he takes a seat next to me. “That’s great!” Clasping my hands in my lap, I do my best to keep from fidgeting. “I’m sorry you have to commute though. How long will you have to do that?”
“It’s not so bad. Hard work never hurt anyone.” Brad smiles. “Are you ready to finish your degree?” he asks.
“As ready as I can be.”
“What do you want to do when you’re finished?”
“I’m thinking about teaching elementary school, but I think my dad would like me to work for the church and take on the children’s ministry and youth groups.”
“It would be cool to work with you,” he says.
Stunned, I stammer, “It… it would?”
I didn’t know Brad really even knew I existed. Every Sunday, I dutifully come to church, and I attend most of the mandatory church activities, but other than that, my time is spent at school. I’ve always thought he was way out of my league.
“Actually, I’ve been working up the nerve to talk to you the last couple of weeks.” He leans closer to me. “I was hoping I could convince you to have dinner with me.”
“Me? You want to have dinner with me?” I shake my head in disbelief. “Why?”
