ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON TEN

Episode 16

Faith wasn't a church goer.  Not like her mother. Or her brother. And she certainly was not a Bible tosser hypocrite like her damn sister who apparently did not consider it a sin to reject and abandon her own child for being transgender. The only time in the past several months she had ever actually stepped inside a building of God was to attend an AA meeting. She smiled bitterly as she recalled her one and only meeting at her brother's church. She hadn't spoken up then. Just listened to others talking. Drank bad coffee and ate stale cookies. Thought she was better than the rest of them because she hadn't believed she had a real problem. She had thought Andrew was just overreacting. She thought he was just an old recovering alcoholic who saw drunks around every corner.

She stepped through the door to the large spacious meeting room that had a handful of people in it , all milling around chatting with each other. Her hands were tucked in the pockets of her jacket. One played with the one day chip they had given her then. She couldn't believe she kept that thing.

She saw that minister woman approaching her with a big welcoming smile on her pretty brown face. Reverend Joy Jones. She had the right name, Faith thought. The woman seemed to radiate joy really with her thick black curly hair that sprung about her head like it had a mind of its own and her sparkly intelligent brown eyes. Today she wore another of her long flowing had to be homemade cotton dresses and battered old workboots. A small gold cross hung around her neck and a gentle smile was on her face.

" Faith ! I thought that was you ! I was wondering what had happened to you. Your brother talks about you all the time. How are you, sister ? "

Faith smiled wryly. " I'm.... not so good, Pastor. In fact I'm pretty much shit right now."

Then she closed her eyes in much embarrassment. Yeah. Go ahead, Lane. Offend a damn minister by cussing. Good thing her brother was not here right now. Or God forbid her mother. Jenessa would be out back searching for a good thick switch.

" Sorry. "

Joy laughed heartily. " I've heard worse. Trust me. I'm glad you came back. "

Faith looked around the room. At the people she had thought she was better than before. At the big silver urn of coffee next to the chocolate chip cookies and napkins and plates. At the woman smiling supportively at her. " Yeah. So am I. "

She actually meant that this time.