We wanted more than anything to make you well, and the first chance you get you come up with some overblown scenario and then throw it in our faces you have turned further away from what’s right. You are going to burn in hell in spite of everything we tried to do to save you.
If this is the sinful, sickening and perverted lifestyle you choose, on your own head be it. Unless you repent your ways, don’t you dare ask us for anything. Not a single cent. You have taken Satan’s way, and you are a disgrace to this family. You are dead to us. Do you hear me?”
Ruben clicked the end call button, sliding the phone further down the table in disgust. “I’m sorry, babes. We had to tell them something.
“I know,” she replied thickly. “But she hates me more now because, not only am I a rug muncher, I’m living with two lovers of dick. I’m surprised she didn’t start throwing holy water on her phone.”
“Don’t let her influence you. That’s not what faith in God is,” Chris replied, absent-mindedly toying with the small golden cross he wore on a chain around his neck. “If I have to take a skip bin for your stuff, I promise you I will take every last bit of your belongings out of that house so you never have to think of them again. But we’ll sort that out. Now, another thing.” He paused here after taking a sighing breath. “Speaking of the Police. Did you want us to contact them?”
Ava ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t know. I mean, what if... I hate thinking this but what if I’m wrong? He was open to my parents. He didn’t try to hide anything. What if it was a medical thing and he wasn’t getting off on it? Maybe there is something wrong with me.”
Ruben gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Even if he wasn’t, that doesn’t make what he did right.”
Chris pressed down on the table with his index finger. “Don’t youeversay that or even think that. I’m serious. This has nothing to do with our sexuality. There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing. No doctor would ever try and cure someone of something that isn’t a physical or mental illness. If, and I mean if, you want to press charges, he would go to prison. No matter what your parents or his shitty sister say. Whatever you want to do, just know nothing is your fault.”
Ava nodded, her head swimming with endless possibilities. “I don’t know what I want to do. I don’t have a single thing to my name. I can’t even contact Jasmine. We drove past her place on the way here. I went up to the door and the house is empty. They’ve moved. They had to leave just to get her away from me.”
“Use our phone! My mobile! Go for it.”
“We tried, love.” Ruben said sadly.
“She’s not on social media anymore. No trace. Her phone is disconnected,” Ava replied. “She’s gone.”
Chris and Ruben didn’t look at each other but calmly reached for the other’s hand. A melancholy had settled over the three.
“Maybe it’s for the best. If I’m out of the picture, her parents will give her a fair go. I just want her to be happy.”
“What about what your happiness?”
Ava shrugged. “I wish I knew. I’m about as far away from that as I am from being straight. I’m not going to wallow, though. I’m not going to feel sorry for myself. This is fucked. I know that. But people out there have it a lot worse. I’m so lucky to have you guys. I’ve got nothing else, but that’s all I need right now.”
“What about your things? Isn’t there anything you need? Clothes that you want to bring?” Chris asked.
“No. Well yeah, but I’m not going to be staying that long.”
“What do you mean? Where are you going to go?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t put you guys out for too long.”
“Who says you’re putting us out at all? Why can’t you stay here?”
“Well... I don’t want to just be a leech on you guys. That’s not fair.”
“You’re not a leech. I’m gonna put you to work, missy. In the fields with the other slaves,” Chris said, gesturing with his thumb out towards the backyard. “Or we will make you our pool girl.”
Ava couldn’t help but react with a small smile. She appreciated his humour. “I don’t want to be a pain. That’s all.”
“You’re not. We won’t let you be. In fact, I’m going to eventually demand you come up with a way you can make a living, hopefully something that you want to do. No one under this roof slacks off. Until then, how’s about we work out a deal? You cook once a week and clean up after yourself, you can stay here as long as you like.”
Ava’s smile got bigger. “Deal.”
“Until then,” Ruben said, “if you’re tired, your bedroom is up the stairs, to the right.”
Ava nodded and hugged each of them before heading upstairs, following the directions she had been given. The bedroom was compact yet fluffy. At least the doona cover was. She loved it. The bed, the closet. The fact a bathroom was opposite her room. She couldn’t have asked for anything more.
She stripped to her underwear and slipped under the sheets.
Having held them back since the phone call, her tears flowed before her head hit the pillow. It was one thing to upset your parents, but it was another to be despised by them. Was she so terrible? Was she doomed to be sent directly to hell? She had gone to church with her family, and never did she think she would ever be hated by God or her parents. Even through her anger, her pain, she pictured them in her mind and apologised. To the room. To the air. Scrunching her face as her body succumbed to emotion once more, she repeated her apology to anyone and anything though she was alone.