Elara hurried into her yellow house, the early evening light still soft outside, a rare calm after a surprisingly easy shift despite having stayed late. Elara was tired from working an unusually early shift and wasn’t used to being off this early in the evening. If she’d been more prepared, she would’ve brought a change of clothes to work, but now, at least, she could get ready much easier than she was trying to get ready at a busy bathroom stall.
She slipped into a blue dress she hadn’t worn in years, surprised that it still fit as well as it did. After a quick braid and a touch of mascara, she rushed back out to Ben’s waiting Corolla, feeling a flutter of nerves at meeting his family.
As she slid into the passenger seat, Ben glanced over with a smile. "You look beautiful," he said softly, and it was true. To Ben, especially with her wearing that dress, she looked absolutely stunning and the blue sat well against her pale olive skin and braided chestnut brown hair.
Elara's heart skipped, warmth filling her chest.
A compliment from Ben meant everything to her. “You ready?” he asked as he started the engine.
She nodded, trying to hide her growing anxiety. The fact that they were heading to dinner with Ben's family so early in their relationship made her uneasy in a way she couldn’t quite place. Why were they so eager to meet her?
Ben was relieved that Levi’s questioning hadn’t scared her away. He knew Elara hadn’t done anything wrong—it wasn’t like they had strict rules about manager-associate relationships. His parents had met that way, after all. But with Elara, it was different. Her staying meant they’d need to find a replacement for her in three months, and Ben wasn’t sure if Levi would fully support him on this yet.
“So, as I’m sure you’ve realized by now, my family’s a bit… weird,” Ben began. “We come from a very strict and traditional branch of Christianity called Foedus Sacri Epuli—F.S.E. for short. Though, my brother-in-law Levi and my sister Esther aren’t big fans of the abbreviation.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” Elara said, her curiosity piqued. “How does it differ from, say, Protestantism or Catholicism?”
“Well… we believe Christianity got some things wrong—misinterpreted a few key texts,” Ben explained cautiously. “But we still go to church every Sunday. Purity is really important to us… and it’s very traditional.” He paused, hesitating. “Strict, even.”
Elara considered this. “Is there anything I should be worried about for dinner? Any questions I should be prepared for? Any obvious topics to avoid,” She fiddled with her bracelet nervously, her thoughts drifting back to Levi’s earlier interrogation.
The last question he asked her on redemption, still made her uneasy.
Ben reached over and gently placed a hand on hers, stilling her fidgeting. “It’s going to be fine. Esther’s great—you’ll love her. She’s outgoing and kind. And I’ll be there the whole time, I promise.”
Still, Ben bit his lip, his own anxieties rising.
He loved Elara and believed she could fit into the family, but he knew tonight was a test. Levi could change his mind about her at any moment. And if this dinner didn’t go well… Ben didn’t want to think about it.
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Upon entering, Elara took a moment to admire the decor. The house had a minimalist yet cozy vibe, which somehow made it feel both slightly eerie and comforting at the same time. There were very few photos on the walls, and the ones she did notice featured Benedict’s large family, all posed stiffly, without a single smile among them. Scattered throughout the home were religious scriptures written in Latin—at least Elara assumed they were religious, considering how devout Ben’s family seemed to be.
The house smelled absolutely delicious to Elara, though she wasn’t sure if it truly smelled that good or if she was just starving. Her last meal had been a hastily made bowl of chicken ramen and a hotdog from the night before, so her stomach grumbled in anticipation of something more substantial.
She found it strange how little Benedict had spoken about his family, especially since they seemed so close. Perhaps it was due to his strict religious upbringing, Elara thought. Then again, maybe that was just the norm for large families. She wouldn’t know—Elara had never really had much of a family herself. The only things she knew about close families were what she saw on TV or read about in books.
"It’s so nice to finally meet you! I’ve heard great things about you from both my husband and Ben," a woman who looked very similar to Benedict—just a bit older and with softer features—said with a bright smile as she entered the room, her long purple dress flowing gracefully behind her.
She greeted Elara with a warm hug that was tighter than expected. The woman didn’t look strong enough for such an embrace, but Elara knew appearances could be deceiving. After all, many adored her own mother, not knowing what kind of person she really was behind closed doors. Sometimes, Elara found herself wondering if things would’ve been different had her father stayed when she was a child.
Other times, she wondered if it was her fault that he left.
"Thank you for having me," Elara replied, feeling a bit self-conscious, especially in comparison to how dressed-up Esther—Ben’s sister, she presumed—looked. She hoped her more casual outfit wouldn’t leave a bad impression. Ben had told her she looked beautiful earlier, which helped ease her anxiety. He would have told her if she was underdressed… at least, she hoped so.
"We’re practically family now," Esther added as she placed glasses of water in front of them. "Fridays are important for us, especially family meals with Ben. Since I moved out, I’ve missed not seeing him as much. He’s always been my favorite sibling."
Ben felt a flush of pride at the comment. He held his sister in high regard, and her words meant a lot to him. Elara was about to ask more, given the oddness of the way Esther had phrased it, specifically the family part, but Esther turned her attention to Ben.
"How’s Mother? Has her condition improved?" Esther asked as she sat down.
Ben shifted uncomfortably. "She’s… doing okay. It’s getting worse, but Dad says it’s just part of aging. Nothing to worry about," he replied, his tone dismissive.
Elara glanced at Ben, concerned. He hadn’t mentioned his mother much before, and now she wondered if things were worse than he was letting on. She couldn’t help but compare it to her own complicated relationship with her late mother. “Worse? What do you mean?”
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Ben hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "She’s been forgetting things… more than usual. My older brother, Phineas, says it’s normal, but it’s hard to watch." His discomfort was clear, and though he tried to brush it off, Elara sensed there was more beneath the surface.
Before she could ask more, Levi entered the room, and the atmosphere shifted abruptly.
"Welcome, Elara," Levi said with a nod as he took his seat. "This is my wife, Esther, and our daughters, Agatha and Naomi."
"Nice to meet you," Elara offered with a smile, noting the two identical blonde girls who were staring at her with wide, curious eyes.
"Uncle Ben talks about you a lot," one of them said.
"Are you guys getting married? Mama says that’s what dating is for," the other added innocently.
Elara blushed, unsure how to respond, but Ben quickly answered. "Perhaps eventually," he said, smiling reassuringly at her. In his mind, it wasn’t a matter of if, but when. He was sure of it—especially if tonight went well.
As the small talk continued, Elara’s thoughts returned to Ben’s mother. She still wanted to ask more, but Levi’s next words brought a new tension to the room.
"So, Elara, we have a family tradition that may seem a bit odd at first, but it’s important to us," Levi began, his tone shifting to something more formal. "Ben has probably told you about our focus on purity."
Elara shifted slightly in her seat, her earlier anxiety creeping back. "He mentioned your beliefs briefly," she replied cautiously. Ben placed a hand over her knee under the table, a small gesture that did little to ease the growing knot in her chest.
Levi nodded approvingly. "Good. Purity is everything to us. We believe that anyone can be saved, but they must walk the path of purity." His gaze sharpened. "Part of that path requires ensuring the body remains untainted by substances like drugs. So, we’d like you to take a drug test."
Elara blinked, surprised. "A drug test?" she repeated, feeling her stomach twist with unease. She had already taken one for her job at Living Bread—was this really necessary?
"It’s a religious thing," Levi explained, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "I know you already took one for work, but this is more personal. It’s part of our tradition, especially for newcomers. This is for us. For the family."
Elara hesitated, glancing at Ben for reassurance. He gave her a small nod and squeezed the knee his hand was holding, his face calm but betraying the tension beneath. He needed her to agree—it was vital.
Levi’s smile widened, but his eyes remained cold, calculating. There was a pause—a beat too long—as if he was waiting for her to challenge him. For a moment, the room felt colder, the weight of the family's gaze heavy on her shoulders. Was this really a tradition, or something more?
"If it’s important to you, I’m happy to do it," Elara said, hoping she was giving the right answer. Inside, her nerves buzzed with uncertainty. Was this really normal for them? She didn’t want to offend anyone, especially not Ben’s family.
"Wonderful," Esther chimed in, her smile warm again. "Let’s eat."
Finally, Esther and the girls brought out the food, and the rich, savory aroma filled the room. Elara’s eyes fell on the plates—mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, homemade bread, and an unfamiliar dark meat.
Elara felt Esther’s hand clasp around hers, holding it as firmly as she had hugged her earlier. Ben did the same with her other hand, his touch offering some comfort in the unfamiliar and strange environment. As everyone bowed their heads for prayer, Elara stared down at the plate in front of her, uncertain whether she should close her eyes—she hadn't prayed before a meal in a very long time.
Levi's voice was steady and rhythmic, as if he had spoken the words more times than he could count, enunciating each syllable deliberately, as though they carried a deeper meaning that Elara had yet to grasp.
“Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. And may this food purify us, allowing us to be as you intended, in your son's liking, who died to show us the truth. Amen.”
A heavy silence followed the prayer, thick and suffocating, stretching longer than Elara expected.
The prayer had felt far more structured than anything she remembered from her own experiences, almost more akin to that of a mantra or a creed.
Ben gave her hand a quick squeeze before releasing it and starting to eat without hesitation. Elara followed suit, though her hand wavered as she picked up her fork.
“What’s this?” she asked, her voice soft as she gestured toward the meat.
Esther smiled pleasantly. "It’s a special plant-based protein. Our faith teaches us not to eat animal meat, so we’ve developed this substitute. It gives us all the nutrients we need to keep us pure."
Elara nodded, though she was still confused. The plant-based meat substitution had an almost overpowering aroma, too intense for something that was supposedly a simple meat substitute. Still, not wanting to seem rude, she took a small bite.
The texture was smooth but dense, the flavor deep and unfamiliar, yet oddly satisfying. Almost addictive.
"Good, isn’t it?" Esther asked, watching her closely.
"Yeah," Elara replied between bites, surprised at how flavorful it was. It tasted better than regular meat—so much so that she wondered how they managed to make a plant-based substitute this good.
She could easily see herself giving up meat if it all tasted like this.
As she finished her plate, Elara noticed the way Levi, Esther, and Ben were watching her. Had she eaten too fast? Was there something she had missed about their customs? Her mind buzzed with doubts, but she pushed them aside, determined not to spoil the evening.
"We’re glad you enjoyed it," Esther said warmly. "It’s a special part of our tradition. It brings us closer to purity."
"Mama means it makes us more like Jesus," one of the girls added with innocent enthusiasm.
"Hush, Naomi," Esther scolded gently. "We don’t want to overwhelm her."
Levi leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Elara. "Welcome to the family," he said, his voice carrying an unsettling sense of finality.
Relief flooded through Ben at Levi's nod—it seemed like approval. But Ben knew better than to fully relax. His brother-in-law’s support was never a sure thing—one wrong move, one hint of doubt, and everything could unravel. He had to ensure Elara stayed in Levi’s good graces. More than that, Levi’s approval would be crucial in swaying any unease his parents might still have about her. Especially considering her original purpose.
Elara’s heart fluttered. A family. The word filled her with warmth, something she hadn’t felt in so long. For years, she had longed for this—a place where she was welcomed, where people cared about her. Ben’s family seemed to accept her, and for a moment, hope surged through her chest. It felt like she had finally found the place she belonged.
But as quickly as the excitement came, it was tempered by a familiar knot of doubt, one that was harder to push away than she’d like to admit. Levi’s cold, intense stare stayed with her, like he was weighing her every word, every movement. It wasn’t just Levi—Esther, too, had been watching her closely, and not in the way most people watched a guest. It was more… deliberate.
Maybe it’s just their way, she told herself. Ben wouldn’t put her in a bad situation—he’d been so good to her, better than anyone else. This is your chance, she reminded herself. Your chance at something good, something real.
But deep down, she couldn’t shake the unease. A voice in the back of her mind whispered warnings, the kind she was used to silencing. She was used to doubting her instincts, brushing off the red flags—especially when things were going well. She’d convinced herself before that her doubts were just anxiety.
Still, Levi’s unsettling gaze and the eerie intensity from Esther were hard to ignore. They made her feel like she was being evaluated, not welcomed.
"Thank you," Elara smiled, trying to shake off the oddness of the moment. She wanted to believe she’d found a family here, even if their ways were a bit… different.
But despite her smile, the unease lingered, gnawing at the edge of her relief, reminding her that trust didn’t come easy, especially not after everything she’d been through.