For now, Matt and Katie had gone there separate ways. Matt went back home. He went back to working for his uncle's construction company. His uncle used him as a foreman. His sisters helped him watch the kids.
The church had invited him to continue to attend. He felt that it would be too confusing. He did not want there to be any question that he was not involved in the leadership of the church in any way. He wanted the church to fiction without him. He wanted the church to continue. To do that, he felt he had to step away. The deacons had taken over the day to day operations of the church.
They invited a well-known pastor in the I.f.b movement in the area to serve as interim pastor. Matt totally separated himself from the church he founded.
There were some independent fundamental churches out of town. He decided not to go to one of those. He felt that it would be awkward. He decided to look for a church outside the I.f.b.
There was a megachurch, Harris community church. The church was started by a man ordained by the southern baptist convention. The church was nondenominational. It leaned baptistic. Ironically, the foundation baptist church appealed to fundamental baptists and those who leaned that way who attended h.cc. because it was the only one around. Now he considered attending there.
He got the kids up. They had a quick breakfast. It was a forty-minute drive from there home in Morrison to Harris. They were greeted as they arrived. The younger kids went to the junior church. His son stayed upstairs with him. He was greeted by several attendees.
The church had a worship team. Then the pastor spoke. He liked the message. He decided to continue going there. People started to recognize them.
His family was a little taken aback. His parents hoped that he would go to there church. He had been a lay leader there and an assistant pastor. He feared the church people would look to him for guidance. He did not want that. His adult sisters and brothers wanted him to go to there church but he did not want to for the same reason. He decided to remain at h.c.c. no one knew that he had been a pastor. To them, he was matt, the single dad. That was what he wanted right now.
Katie continued to stay with her parents. She enjoyed reconnecting with her family. They visited frequently when they were married, it was not the same. She held back. She we careful. She had to set up walls. Now that the truth was out, she could go back to being herself. She helped her dad with his business. She was a huge dad's girl. She loved bonding with her dad. She and her mom had bounded as well. Chrissy got along famously with her grandpa. Chrissy was a grandpa's girl.
She was glad to be back home. She could have time to sort things out. Seeing Chrissy with her dad reminded her of when she was a kid.
They insisted she sees a psychologist. She agreed to see one. She set up an appointment with Dr. Leah Davis. She wore a purple t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops. She was told to go in. "Katelin?" The doctor asked. "Please come in. Sit down," she said. She sat down.
"I got your records from your previous counselor. I also got the report from the psychologist who evaluated you for the district attorney office," she said. "You know the story then. " Katelin said. "Yes but I would like to hear it form you. " doctor Davis said.
"I was kidnapped at knifepoint and forced to marry a man I had never met. We have a daughter and two twins on the way," she said.
"You said that rather matter of fact. Kinda like you were reciting a laundry list. "I have had to say it multiple times. I just boiled it down I guess," she said. "You were kidnapped at knifepoint, forced to marry, forced to be a slave, and forced to have children. " Dr. Leah Davis remarked."It was not like that. "She said.
" tell me what it was like?" The doctor asked. "He forced me to marry him. He was kind and gentile. He was lonely. He wanted a wife. He did it the wrong way. Other then the first incident, there was no hint of violence. " Katie said. "Your entire relationship was the fruit of violence. You were scared. Everything you did was my fear. You had no say in any part of this. Can you honestly say that you gave consent to sexual intercourse?" Dr. Leah Davis asked.
"It was consensual. He never forced me!" She said "didn't he though? Didn't he force you into this? I looked at your social media pages, you don't look happy. Did you ever feel safe?" Dr. Davis asked. "Why do you want to divide me from him?" She asked. "Why do feel I am against you?" Leah asked. "He is a good man. He was a good husband. Had he not kidnapped me, had he pursued me, I would have followed him." she said. " he did not. He did kidnap you. He did coerce you. "Leah said.
She was so glad to be out of there. He went home. She hugged her daughter Chrissy. Her family wanted to ask her a million questions. She just wanted time to process things.
She went to the fridge. Her dad saw her. " hi dad. "She said. "Remember, when you.could not sleep you raided the fridge," he said. "Usually before midterms. " she said. " you ok honey?' he asked. "I don't know daddy. Everyone wants me to say that he was a monster but he is not. He was a kind and a gentleman. One day we were in the yard, a drunk driver headed right for me. I tried to move but I froze. He pushed me out of the way. He almost got hit. I know he would give his life for me with no hesitation. Isn't true love self-sacrificing? 'She asked.
" he used violence to get his own way. "He said. " he had a psychotic break. He lost his wife. He snapped. "She said. " how do you know he won't snap again?" he asked.
She considered what he said. She got some ice cream and watched star trek voyager. She noticed an actor she recognized but could not place it. She grabbed the phone. She called matt.
Matt was reading his bible. He had put the kids to bed. The phone rang. He had got a lot of calls from tells, pranksters, and concerned citizens. He did not recognize the number but decided to answer it anyway.
"Hello," he said. "Hi matty. It's Katie," she said. He was stunned. "Hi," he said. "I am watching voyager. It's the one where a voyager rescues a Group of death row inmates. I recognize the nyerian security guard? Who is it? " she asked.
"It's Tim Dezarn.he was a frequent s.t guest star. His most notable experience was as one of the hijackers in the episode where the ship was being cleaned and the Picard gets stuck with them. " he said. "So that's who it was. Thanks " she said.
"Did you really call me to ask a star trek question?" He asked in a playful tone. "It was bugging me. I could have looked it up on memory alpha but that is not as fun as asking you." She said. He chuckled. "I totally understand," he said.
"How have you been?" He asked. "I am good. I feel like Australia but I am good. Chrissy is having fun with her aunts and uncles and she loves her grandpa. Things are good. " she said.
"Are things with the pregnancy?" He asked."it is going really well. I just had an appointment yesterday. Everything looks good. I am almost at nine months. Could be anytime now. "She said. " your thing it easy I hope," he said. "Yes I am," she said.
"The kids miss you. They are doing good," he said. "I miss them. I am so glad your back with them," she said. "Me too," he said.
"Well, I will let you go. It was good to hear from you." He said. "It was good to hear from you. It's good to hear your voice," she said. "We will talk again soon." He said. "You got.it. send my love to nature and the girls." She said. "I will. give Chrissy a hug for me." He said. "I will," she said.
They said there goodbyes. She wanted to tell him she loved him but she did not. She did not think it was appropriate. She was glad she talked to him.
The time was getting close for her to give birth. she had more appointments with her doctor. She was excited for the babies to be born.
She went back to the church she attended as a child. Her parents shill attended it there. Her dad was a member of the board of trustees. He was active in the upkeep. of the church. This included going on the roof to do repairs. This did not impress her mom but that was ok.
She liked being back. The church was a non-denominational megachurch. It started as baptist but became nondenominational.it still leaned baptist in theology and practice. It deviated hear and there. She liked the church. Many in the church remembered her. They adored her parents.
They quickly embraced her. They loved Chrissy. They had a baby shower for her. They were excited for her. Many in the church knew the story bit.gave her get slave. The Church was not given to gossip. They let her deal with this on her own. She knew that they were there for her.
Given that it was a bigger church, she did not know everyone.it was harder to connect. She knew everyone at the church her husband pastored. She was close to them. It was harder to get to know people at this church. There were so many people. She figured that she would context with someone eventually. There was time for that. Being pregnant seemed to facilitate that.
"Do you think it is Stockholm syndrome?" She asked. "Do you?" Dr. Davis asked. "I really don't. He did not brane wash me or indoctrinate me," she told him. "Did int he though? You said he made you feel loved. Kidnapers, cult leaders. That is what they do. They manipulate. They use kindness ad a weapon .he attempted a carrot and stick. You responded out of fear. Anything you did in response was because of fear. You were a captive, a slave a prisoner. Your free Katelin.you's safe. Why would you want to go back to that?" Dr? Davis asked.
"I did not feel like a slave. " she said."didn't you? You were sad, withdrawn. You were not yourself. You did not see your family as much. Your friends. he controlled you. He manipulated you. Can't you see that?" She asked.
She talked to her dad. "Why did int you come to us? You could have. All you had to do was morse code by blinking, ink in your hand anything. I am a vet, I could have taken him. " he told her. "I know," she said.
"Why did you not come to me? Why were you willing to put up with this?" Her dad inquired? She did not have an answer. She pondered that question that night.
One time he was in the shower. She figured he had no idea he was talking to himself audibly. "I know it was wrong. I don't know what to do? Do I let her go? I want to provide for her. If I divorce her I put her in a bind. I don't know, I don't know" he said. he cried. She did not know what to do.
Next up.
Katie goes into labor. Matt comes to see her.
