Abel’s mom is of the super-religious variety while his dad is more lax about things. The fact that my name is Lilith does not put me into Abel’s mom’s good graces either. His mom’s name is Eve, which is short for Evelyn, and she will tear into you if you call her anything but Eve. The woman is fucking delusional.

His mom went on church outings about one week a month with Azura and Seth, Abel’s younger siblings. I’m pretty sure it was some sort of purity bullshit. Cain, Abel’s older brother, was in college and not at home. Which meant for about a week every month it was just Adam and Abel at home and I was allowed to spend the night, so long as I slept either on the couch in the living room or in the guest room on the first floor. I looked forward to that week every time it came up.

Abel and I went back to his house after school, usually his mom and siblings were getting ready to leave by the time we showed up and I’d assure Mrs. Chambers that Abel and I were going to do our homework together then I’d go home. She hated it. She didn’t even like that Abel pushed so hard to be able to attend public school as she saw it, and me, as utter filth.

We settled in on the living room floor and pulled out our books while Mr. Chambers loaded up the car. Seth was throwing a fit about not wanting to go and how it wasn’t fair that Abel didn’t have to go. Eve started to argue with Adam about the twins being right and I thought for sure he would cave like he always does and make Abel go with them. He surprised me and said no. I think it was the first time I’d ever heard him say no to her.

“Bel’s 18, guys. You’ll both get to make the choice to go or stay just like Bel and Cain did when they were 17,” Adam said.

Azura whined, “That’s not for two more years! Dad, it’s just not fair.”

Adam nodded, “There’s a lot about life that isn’t fair. There’s a lot we do for family that doesn’t appear to be fair, but it is. ‘Bel was 17 when he got to choose, Cain was 17 too. It looks unfair right now because ‘Bel isn’t being made to do something you are, but he didn’t get to make that choice, in spite of Cain being permitted to stop going 3-years before him, until he turned 17 too. If I caved to you now, it wouldn’t be fair to either Abel or Cain because you would have that option available to you before they did.”

Eve groaned, “I don’t understand why they get to have that option at all. I always wanted to go with my parents.”

Adam smiled and kissed his wife on the cheek, “You can blame me,” he said as he grabbed the last of their bags and headed out to the car with them, “I’m the heathen that lost their faith and decided I didn’t want them being forced into something they don’t believe in just because we did.”