Salvation (Joseph Seed)

5. Lonny

After speaking with her parents, Evelyn knew that she had to officially join the project. It wasn't that she didn't want to joined them, she was actually more than tempted to, but she just wished that it could be her decision instead of her parents.

It wasn't a Sunday so there would be no sermon at Joseph's church, but Evelyn made her way down to the compound anyway. She wanted to discuss joining them with Joseph personally, get some more information about what they stand for. Evelyn wasn't sure why, especially since she had only spoken to his man twice, but she knew that she would be able to talk to Joseph about this and he wouldn't mind. In fact, he made her feel like she could talk to him about anything.

Evelyn knew that Joseph probably wouldn't be in his church but she didn't know where else to find him, so she just hoped she would have some luck.

It was just after midday as she walked up to the church, being ignored by Joseph's flock. The church doors were closed and when she tried to open them, they wouldn't budge. "You looking for The Father?" an unfamiliar male voice asked.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I should've known that he wouldn't be here, it's not like he lives here" Evelyn laughed awkwardly as she rubbed the back of her neck and turned to face the unfamiliar man.

The man was pretty young, probably about 20 years of age. He had dirty blonde hair, trimmed on the sides but longer on top. His eyes were a light shade of brown, and his skin was naturally tanned. Evelyn had to look up to make eye contact with him, he was perhaps a little shorter than John Seed but definitely not much.

"Actually, he might as well live here. He is in his church more than he is at his home, you came on one of those rare occasions" the man told her, laughing quietly to himself. It was no secret that Joseph could usually be found in his church from the early hours of the morning to the late hours of the evening.

"Oh...I see...do you think that he would be alright to speak with me?" she asked, not wanting to intrude on Joseph when he was in his own home.

"He usually has time for his followers. And John has mentioned that The Father has taking a liking to you, wants you to join us, so he will definitely speak with you" he assured her.

"That's...that's actually what I want to talk to him about" Evelyn told the man.

"You'll be joining us?" the man asked with a warm smile. There was no denying that he was attractive, Evelyn was sure that he must be rather popular with the women around here.

"I suppose so..." she nodded with a small smile of her own, he seemed nice enough.

"You don't sound so sure" he frowned slightly, tilting his head to the side.

"Oh I-well it's..." the young woman hesitated, not really wanting to share her doubts with the man she had only just met.

"Don't worry, I understand, it's more of a conversation that The Father should have with you. Sorry" the man apologised, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"No, it's okay" she shook her head, letting him know that everything was alright.

"My name is Lonny, by the way. I work for John" the man finally introduced himself, holding his hand out for the woman to shake.

"I'm Evelyn" she smiled as she shook his hand.

"Come on, I'll take you to Joseph's house, it's just a short walk up here" Lonny offered, gesturing over to a dirt path. Evelyn nodded before following him along it.

"Are you sure I won't be bothering him?" Evelyn asked as he showed her the way to The Father's house.

"I doubt it, he will always welcome somebody who needs him" he assured her with a small smile.

"He sounds like a good man" she smiled back at him. The more she heard about Joseph Seed, the more she liked him.

"He is. His followers worship him and his brothers would do anything for him. We can trust The Father, he's given us so much and would never lead us wrong" Lonny told her as they walked up to the wooden structure.

Evelyn glanced up at the home, a two story wooden house. It didn't seem to expensive or fancy but it had a comfortable feeling around it. A welcoming feeling that made you feel right at home before you even went inside.

"Thank you Lonny" Evelyn smiled up at him as they stopped walking and turned to each other.

"Anytime, I'll see you Sunday?" Lonny asked with a soft smile.

"You will" she nodded. They both smiled at each other before Lonny turned around and walked away. Evelyn thought that it would be nice to be able to actually have a friend who was part of the church as well.

Evelyn walked up to the house and knocked on the door, waiting patiently for someone to open it. Joseph opened the door with his usual smile but his smile only grew when he saw the young woman on his doorstep.

"Evelyn...what do I owe the visit?" Joseph asked as he opened the door fully and stood in the centre of the doorway.

"I was wondering if we could talk about, uh, joining the church. If now is a bad time, I could come back when you are free" Evelyn told him, shaking her head slightly. She didn't want to seem rude, she understood that even the Father needed some private place and that would be his home.

"No, no, now is a perfect time. I was just about to have a cup of tea, would you like one?" he asked as he stepped back into the house, stepping to the side so that Evelyn could enter.

"Sure, thank you" she smiled back at him as she stepped into the house, letting Joseph close the door behind her.