You swallow back your pride and look from the Reverend to Claire and then back again. It feels impossible to fight back at this point. You focus on the thought of Lance’s Peacemaker still hidden in the bathroom and begin to speak.
“Yes.” You mutter. “I did this to myself. I wasn’t thinking straight and—”
You notice that Claire is staring at you.
“I’m thankful that your dad was here to stop me.”
“Good, good. That’s right,” the Reverend nods. “He was of a different mind.”
Claire reaches out and takes your wounded arm in her hands.
“Thank goodness.”
She then begins leading you toward the bathroom, only to be stopped by her father within the first step.
“Claire,” he says. His face becomes hard and focused. He waits until she is looking him straight in the eyes before he continues.
“You get him cleaned up and ready for this wedding. Do not, and I mean this, do not turn your back on him for even a second. He may have seen the light but I’d prefer he not go walking into it just yet.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good.”
He turns on his heel and begins walking toward the door to leave the room.
“We will help this degenerate, yet.”