11
JED
Family dinner that week after church didn’t appeal to me.
At all.
Pastor Welker had preached about honesty and integrity—in the workplace and at home, not just as a face for other believers. His hypocrisy knew no bounds—and I hated being associated with him.
My stomach churned while he spoke, and my desire to sink into the floor and disappear where I sat behind him on stage ended up being more real than I’d ever experienced.
Even prior to the sermon while I took the pulpit to give the announcements and pray over our service, I’d felt out of sorts. Out of place. Wrong in the skin God had given me.
Walking into my parents’ home after service for a family meal only worsened my unease.
Aiden stood with Jacob across the living room.
Our gazes clashed, and I quickly looked away,
