Jesus Freaks: The Prodigal (Jesus Freaks #2)(22)

Greg smiles warmly, a smile that finally reaches his eyes as he stares at my daughter in slight wonder. “You’re an incredible young woman, Ms. Sawyer. A lot of people in your position might run and hide or use their new found fame to promote an agenda, but that doesn’t seem to be your goal.”

“No,” she answers calmly. “ It’s not. My goal is to learn where I came from and decide where I want to go. Running won’t fix that.”

My eyes volley back and forth, following their conversation. Repressing the urge to dash in and save her, I sit back. Kennedy doesn’t seem to need saving in this moment.

“Your father and this school—Carter University—they’re quite different from the Episcopalian churches you’ve attended in your life. In form and function.”

“They are.”

“What do you think about all of it?”

Kennedy huffs a slight chuckle out of her nose and grins. “There’s a lot to think about. And, for now, that’s all I’m doing. Taking it all in.”

“No doubt you have friends and roommates who have far more conservative opinions than you do.”

She shrugs. “Sure. The same can be said for any of my friends.”

Greg’s eyes move wildly across Kennedy’s face, as if growing frustrated that he can’t make her say the wrong thing. Whatever he perceives to be the wrong thing.

“So,” he presses, “what becomes of your friendships when you’re seated across the political aisles from them? I see you’ve got some pretty impressive activist work under your belt for such a young person. Marriage rights rallies, reproductive rights marches … your mother is just as well known in these progressive circles as Roland is in the evangelical community.”

“I suppose so.” She takes a deep breath. “As to what happens to the friendships? If they’re based in love, Mr. Mauer, we’ll be able to learn something from each other, I’d hope, and policy will unify us rather than destroy us. Isn’t that what Jesus preached the most about? Love?”

Check mate.

Greg shifts his gaze to mine and adjusts his position. “Let’s switch gears here for a moment.”

Because you’re not getting the sensational story you’d hoped for?

“Roland. You live and breathe a biblical, fundamental way of life. Your daughter was raised in one of the most liberal political hotspots in the United States. What influence do you hope to have on her life?”

Though she’s in another room, I swear I can hear Wendy’s teeth grind together. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Kennedy close her eyes for a moment, as if she’s saying a quick prayer. I don’t have enough time to decipher what she might be praying about. Though, an educated guess would lead me to believe she just doesn’t want me to embarrass her. She is still a teenager, after all.

Still, I’m on television, and I’m an honest man. I have to give an honest answer.

“To tell you the truth, Greg, I want to have as little influence on her as possible. I want God to be the ultimate influencer in her life, and if she needs me to guide her along the way, I’ll be happy to do that.”

He sits forward. “But you admit you want to influence that God takes center stage in her life?”

With a calm smile, I instinctively reach out and take Kennedy’s hand. She tenses at first but relaxes, gripping my hand back. Eyeing her as I answer the interviewer, I give her hand a tight squeeze. “Yes. I absolutely want God to be the center of her life. Before her mom, her friends, or me. I want God to be number one. At all times.”

Kennedy’s eyes widen, and before I know it, her hand slips out of mine and joins the other one on her lap.

While the cameras are still rolling.





CHAPTER TEN





Heavy in Your Arms


Kennedy.




All I want to do is get the hell out of here and go to class.

That’s it. That’s all I want to do.

Instead I’m kicking myself for letting go of Roland’s hand before the interview was over. What I wanted to do was shake away from it. Brush it off like it was the lava it felt like. I tried to slyly slip out of the most physical contact Roland and I have ever had. But, instead I did it in front of the nation and right after Roland suggested God should take top billing in my life.

It may have been better if I brought a picture of Trent and I making out on the hammock behind his house—taken by Mollie—rather than suggest through my body language that I do not, in fact, want God in the center of my life.

I don’t even know how I feel there, but now the nation—including most of CU, from talk around campus—will think they know how I feel.

Sigh.

Once the cameras stop rolling, Greg Mauer—who is far less attractive in person and smells like the cologne my grandfather wears—turns to me and extends a hand.

“You’re a very brave girl, Kennedy. Thank you for the interview. We’ll be in touch about an in-depth piece when you’re home for Thanksgiving or Christmas break.”



I’m overjoyed …



“Thank you,” I flash a forced smile. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

About as much as I look forward to my period.