Page 38 of Living for Truth (Broken Shelves #2)

Morgan

“ K endall Eugene Fowler, what on earth are you doing here?” Mom sets her hands on her hips and scowls, trying to look intimidating. It still works on us even though we’re almost a foot taller than her.

Kendall grimaces at the use of his middle name but flashes Mom his best golden-boy smile.

It doesn’t work on her.

“Can’t a guy crash his family lunch and come see his beloved mother?” Kendall asks, setting Aly down on the ground and giving Mom a bear hug.

“Considering you didn’t call or text to tell me you were traveling all the way from Pennsylvania, I don’t think this is a good-will visit.”

“Well, I have some big news to share with everyone, so I—” he stops when his gaze lands on Hannah.

The change in his demeanor is instant as he turns on the playboy charm.

“Hello,” he croons. “I don’t think we’ve met before.

I’m Kendall.” He extends his hand to Hannah who takes it in a firm handshake.

“I’m Hannah.”

“Hannah. Lovely name for a lovely girl,” he says, and all three of my sisters gag.

“She’s Dad’s girlfriend, Uncle Kenny. Get your own,” Aly, my sweet angel of a daughter, says, standing in front of Hannah like she can protect her from my brother.

Everyone laughs at Aly’s declaration, including me and Hannah.

Kendall’s head whips around to me, at least having the decency to look a little apologetic as he mouths, sorry.

I walk over and wrap my arm around Hannah. I know there’s nothing to worry about, Kendall would never try to steal her, and I can tell Hannah has no interest in my brother.

“How long have you been together? Why didn’t I know about it?” Kendall asks as he doles out hugs to the rest of the group.

“We made it official last night, actually. And you would know things if you ever checked your freaking phone.”

“Well, congrats, bro. I’m happy for you. As long as this isn’t another situation like Witch-ney where you’re only with her because she’s knocked up.” Kendall winks at me, and I feel Hannah stiffen beside me.

As much as I want kids to be in our future, the topic is a sore spot for Hannah after everything she’s been through, and my baby brother just had to go and put his foot in his mouth.

To take the spotlight off of Hannah, I say, “I think we’re all more interested to know about your big news.”

“Yes, yes, let’s all get a plate filled, and Kendall can give us the news.” Mom claps, ushering us to serve ourselves buffet-style.

Once we’ve loaded up our plates and gathered around the table, Kendall tells us Utah is the new home to a Major League Rugby team, and he’s been recruited to join. He’s here looking for a place to live while he trains for the upcoming season.

“Doesn’t the Union season start in September? That’s a pretty quick turnaround,” Asha points out.

“While waiting for the facility to be completed here, we've been training in PA for the last few months. We only have two weeks off to find housing and get situated,” Kendall explains.

“Well, you’re more than welcome to stay here until you find a permanent place to live, honey,” Mom offers.

Kendall gives her a grateful nod, and the conversation switches back to my girlfriend.

Everyone asks Hannah a thousand questions about herself. How many siblings does she have? Where does she work? Did she grow up in Utah?

Once Hannah mentions she grew up Mormon, the questions come even faster.

My family isn’t unfamiliar with the church, but none of us have ever considered joining.

Being surrounded by the culture is fascinating in the way a car wreck is fascinating.

You want to know more information, but you’re glad you’re not part of it.

“So your parents are still members of the church even though you’re not?” Dad asks, and Hannah nods.

“They’re not happy about it. They even kicked me out when I started dating Morgan because he’s not a member, and they think he’s a bad influence on me,” Hannah explains. I squeeze her thigh under the table, letting her know I’ve got her.

“What the hell does that matter? Morgan’s not a bad person just because he doesn’t believe whatever the Mormons believe,” Alice scoffs.

“I know,” Hannah sighs. “But there’s a certain standard in the church people are expected to uphold, and non-members are looked down on unless they show an ounce of interest in joining.

I married my ex when I was eighteen because he was a respectable member, and I thought that’s what I was supposed to do.

I would never encourage an eighteen-year-old to get married so young. ”

Everyone’s jaws drop at that bit of information.

“Can I ask a personal question about something I saw on Tiktok?” Sarah asks.

Hannah nods.

“Is it true there are secret ceremonies done in the temple? Where they strip you naked and pour oil all over you? And you vow to cut out your bowels if you deny the church or something?”

Hannah nods again, fiddling with her necklace anxiously.

“The oil ceremony changed around 2006, where they had you completely naked.

When I went through before I got married, I was naked underneath a cloth that looked like a pillowcase with the head and arms cut out of it.

Instead of pouring oil all over my body, they just poured it on my head.

They would do it a few times, ring a bell, say some words, and then I got to put on my church-appointed garments.

“The bowel thing is real. They even make you do a slashing motion over your stomach to solidify the whole thing. They make a lot of veiled threats about what will happen to you if you deny the gospel, but I honestly have so much of it blocked out because it was so traumatizing.”

I’m grateful Aly finished her food and went to play outside for a bit. This is not a conversation I want her to hear.

“That sounds like a super scary violation of privacy.” Asha shakes her head.

Everyone murmurs their agreement, various levels of disgust and horror on their faces.

“Is it true you don’t get to wear your own wedding dress when you get married in the temple?” Sarah pipes up again.

Hannah’s leg bounces anxiously, so I set my palm on her thigh to try and calm her.

“It depends on what your dress looks like. It has to be white as paper—they even hold up a piece of paper to compare it—and long-sleeved. There are other articles of clothing you have to wear during your sealing ceremony over the dress, too, so the dress is covered anyway. Taking pictures or videos isn’t allowed in the temple, so it’s not like anyone knows. ”

“What kinds of things do you have to wear over it?” I ask.

“Well there’s a robe that looks like a half toga, a white sash, an apron that’s made to look like it's made of fig leaves to represent Adam and Eve in Eden, and women get a veil while men get a hat that looks like a chef’s hat.

For shoes, the men have white loafers, but the women get literal slippers to wear in the temple, all with white socks. ”

“So basically you have to cover the expensive dress you bought or not wear it during the ceremony? That seems like a waste of money,” Mom says, shaking her head.

“Yeah, it can be. For me, I just picked out a simple white dress that didn’t cost a lot.

My ceremony was made of only close family members that had temple recommends, and the reception took place in the gym of my parents’ church.

Not exactly my dream wedding, but I didn’t know I had any other options at the time. ”

When we get married, she will have the wedding of her dreams. If she wants to have a big party with an expensive-ass dress and a live band—it’s hers. If she wants to have a destination wedding in Ireland—done. Whatever she wants, I will give her. She deserves to have the wedding she wants.

The conversation luckily changes from Hannah’s religious trauma to lighter topics, and before we know it, it’s time for me to get Aly home and to bed.

My mom sends Hannah home with a grocery bag of leftovers and makes her promise to come over again soon so they can get to know each other further.

Alice, Olivia, Asha, and Sarah coordinated a lunch date and shopping with my girl so they can get to know her without me or my mom around.

When Hannah runs to the restroom before we leave, Mom pulls me in for a hug and whispers, “I can see why you’re so smitten. She’s amazing, Morgan. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Kendall gives me a hug next, saying we need to grab lunch so we can catch up, and I make him promise to answer his damn phone next week so we can.

Once we’re in the car, Aly talks our ears off the whole way to Hannah’s apartment, telling us all about the jewelry she helped Aunt Olivia make and how she made Bean and Bagel matching collars.

As badly as I want Hannah to spend the night again, I haven’t talked to Aly to see if she’s okay with us having sleepovers, so I’ll be patient and wait.

Aly agrees to wait in the car while I walk Hannah to her door. When we reach the top of the stairs, I double check to make sure Aly can’t see us before I push Hannah into the door and smash my lips against hers in a frantic kiss. It’s been too long without her lips on mine.

It’s messy, desperate, and over too quickly for my liking.

“Thank you for coming today, Butterfly. My family loves you already.” I trace the slope of her nose, the swell of her cheeks, the line of her jaw.

“They’re great, Morgan. Thank you for inviting me.”

I nod. “I don’t want to leave you,” I whisper.

“I know.” She cups my face. “But you and Aly need to have clear expectations and boundaries, and she deserves to have a say in whether or not I sleep over. So go spend time with your daughter, and call me tomorrow, okay?”

Fuck, this woman is amazing.

“God, I love you.” Oh shit. That was supposed to be an inside thought, but I don’t apologize for the outburst, waiting to see how she reacts.

I won’t apologize for loving her.

“I love you, too, Morgan,” she whispers, tears brimming behind her glasses. “It feels a little crazy to say it so soon, especially since we only made things official last night, but if you can be brave enough to tell me, I can be brave enough to say it back.”

“You love me?” My own voice is thick with emotion. I’m so relieved she didn’t go running.

“So much it scares me.”

I kiss her again, tenderly this time, and taste the salt of her happy tears on my lips as they trail down her face.

I reluctantly pull back. “Now I really don’t want to leave you.”

She smiles. “Go. Text me when you get home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

I sigh. “Okay. I love you.”

“I love you, too, you big goof.”

Aly asks why I have a big grin on my face as I settle back into the car, and when I tell her it’s because Hannah loves me, she rolls her eyes and says, “Duh.”

I text Hannah when we get home, then call her once Aly’s in bed, promising myself that I’ll talk to Aly tomorrow after school about Hannah spending the night.

I can’t believe this is my life now.