The Least of These: Mask of Matthew

By K. E. Wass

"You never know beforehand what people are capable of, you have to wait, give it time, it's time that rules, time is our gambling partner on the other side of the table and it holds all the cards of the deck in its hand, we have to guess the winning cards of life, our lives." Jose Saramago
Lives collide in a horrific and unexpected way one warm summer morning. Everything Rachael thought to be true is shattered and choices she would never have imagined are forced upon her with little time to react.
"The complex emotions in this story about a convicted child abuser ring true and capture the rippling effects of child abuse, all the while taking on a familiar topic from a new point of view. The voice and premise of the novel are established in the first few pages, engaging the reader with the protagonist, Rachael, as she recounts a dream that sets the pace, adds terrific foreshadowing and creates the tension needed to move the reader to the end. Character development is excellent and lends to a complex plot. Excellent dialogue defines the different character voices." Booklife Prize in Fiction Note: the Least of These was a quarter-finalist in 2016.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. E. Wass
• Release date: Mar 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370088683

K. E. Wass

K.E.Wass has a Master's in psychology and taught high school before joining the real estate business. Now retired, she lives in California with her husband and her Jack Russell terriers, Chase and Toby. This is her second book following Learning To Like Yellow, a memoir.

Book preview

A novel about deceit and perversion

dedicated to the millions of victims

of child pornography and abuse.

"And the King will answer them,

‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it

to one of the least of these my

brothers, you did it to me.’"

Matthew 24 -40

The Bible

American Standard Version

Anticipation of Evil

"Fear is pain arising from the

anticipation of evil."

– Aristotle

Rachael sat in the doctor’s office appearing to be calm and relaxed, but that was only her façade, inside she was roiling with apprehension. It had started a few weeks ago, about the same time she began having the dream, and was building in intensity. She couldn’t look at any other person in the ro

om, especially, the men without wondering if they were one. She knew from painful experience that they looked like any other human on earth, outwardly, but their minds and their hearts were permanently corrupted. How it happened remained a mystery even to the experts. Studies and research lead to more new questions than to answers. She had the feeling that the why would not be known in her lifetime.

The first few years after calamity struck her family, Rachael was able to keep her focus and reestablish a somewhat normal life. Her children took their direction from her actions and were growing into well-balanced individuals. For reasons she could explain to them no better than she could explain what had happened to them years ago, she felt the need to come to Dr. Ford for medical help to deal with the growing anxiety overtaking her. Sleeping was difficult, leading to a tired feeling all day, which in turn caused her to be impatient and edgy. Brian and the kids understood to a point, but she could tell they were becoming concerned about her.

Dr. Ford had been her doctor since high school, so he knew her well and did not hesitate to give her a mild sedative. As they talked, he restated a suggestion he made immediately after the catastrophe about some counseling to carry her through the coming menace to her families peace. Rachael smiled in assent, but she knew she would not act on his advice. She had her own reasons for rejecting professional help and felt her group at church was a good substitute. She also knew she would never subject her children to the mental assault she regarded therapy to be.

As she drove back to her house, Rachael finally allowed herself the realization that she was afraid. At no time in her life had she been exposed to a situation that was so precarious, so unsettled. She didn’t think her actions could change the outcome, but there was always the risk she could do something to make matters worse. Nothing she thought was true; nothing she thought she could rely on existed; nothing was the way it had been before. The only certainty was that she had to be careful and to protect her children at any cost.

That night as Brian lay sleeping quietly; Rachael took her new medication hoping it would be a safeguard against the dream, but she was not to be spared it’s intrusion into her slumber. It began as soon as she dropped off:

Clang, clang rang the solid metal doors behind the tall handsome boy and the determined girl pulling him firmly over the threshold. The corrections officer led them to a bare table and pointed to chairs directing them to be seated. The room was as bare as the table, bars covered two highly placed windows, the only sound that could be heard was the clanking of doors throughout the large prison. The youngsters sat quietly, barely breathing until a door at the other end of the room swung only open and an officer pushed a middle aged man into the room. The man had the look of someone who had been in prison for a long time and had become hardened by the experience. He showed no surprise at seeing the youngsters, acting instead as though he was amused by it all. The officer sat the man opposite the pair and stepped back to observe the interaction.

Looking at her brother, then toward the man, the girl could manage to break the silence with only one word, which came out as a strangled cry; WHY? In spite of the many times she had rehearsed what she would say on this day, words failed her and she had to exert all her will to keep from crying. The boy beside her sat quietly until he determined that she was not able to go on and he knew if they were to get anywhere today he would have to speak up.

You didn’t care what happened to us. Why didn’t you care how much you would hurt us and our mother? How could you drag us into the terrible mess you made of your life again? We have waited all these years and now we want to know, he said in a strained voice.

The man sat silently and the girl, encouraged by her brother, leaned forward and looked the man directly in the eye, forcing him to turn from her stare.

Why should we even care about you? You did all the things that got you here without thinking about us, yet you acted like you were Man of the Year. All we want to know is why? What drove you? What made you think you could get away with it the first time, and then do it again after you were supposed to be rehabilitated? Tell us. We have the right to know.

The man looked toward the ceiling as if to avoid her eyes. He contorted his face to give the appearance he was contemplating his response but his words took her in an entirely different direction.

How’s your mom? Is she still with ole what’s his name? What does she say about me? Does she know you came today? Why didn’t she come, too?

This isn’t about Mom. This is about you and how you lied to us and tried to ruin our lives. You need to tell us the truth. Why can’t you be real just one time in your life? the girl spat the words out with a growing sense that this mission was a waste of time and effort.

When you get older you will understand but I am paying my debt to society and I don’t owe you anything further. Now I’m going back to my cell and you spoiled whiners can go home to mommy and leave me alone.

Rachael sat up in her bed with the dream still playing like a bad movie in her head. How had the beautiful life she anticipated when she accepted a proposal of marriage over 18 years ago turn so unexpectedly into something you would see on a Dateline or 20-20 television show? Everything she thought or was lead to believe about people; friends, family or acquaintances, had proven to be untrue. Trust given freely exploded with the power of a nuclear bomb and laid waste to the lives of everyone close.

Brian stirred and rolled over on his side looking up at her;

It’s back, isn’t it? I wish I could do something to help. Taking it one day at a time is all we can do now. You have given the kids a good foundation and I think they’ll trust your direction in the challenges to come.

I’m not real confident in anything right now, but thanks for your support through this. You have given them so much and I know they love you for being there for them. We have to have faith that we can make it as a family, Rachael replied leaning down to give Brian a hug before rising to face another day, another day closer to what they privately referred to as R-Day.

Bright Beginnings

The day of the wedding dawned bright and sunny which was typical for a June day in central California. Rachael hoped it would not heat up too much. She always took care with her hair and make-up but today she was taking extra pains to look her best and the oppressive heat could cause wilting. Her dress hung by the full length mirror in her room and she stood back to admire it again. The curve of the bodice, the fine beading and the folds of the skirt created perfection that left her breathless. Was this truly hers? This was the day she had looked forward to all her life. She wanted to be a wife and a mother. While her friends made college plans, she knew school was not in her future. Two years of community college reinforced her decision to get a job and leave higher education goals to her younger sister.

Her mother, Kay, knocked gently on the door before entering; telling Rachael it was time to finish dressing and head to the church. Rachael looked at her mother and smiled at the thought which jumped into her head; in twenty years maybe she would be helping her daughter dress for her wedding! She helped her mother with the dress, carefully taking it to the car, along with her shoes and veil. She would dress at the church with the help of her mother, sister and other bridesmaids. Everything was happening just like she had hoped and she was determined it would go as she had planned.

On the way to the church Rachael and her parents were quiet, each lost in their own thoughts. Rachael thought back to her days in school; competing in sports and showing her animals at the county fair. Best was the only level of performance that she would accept. Her parents supported her and with their help she had achieved beyond expectations because of the goals she set for herself. Now she was determined to have a family and exceed expectations as a wife and mother. She and Matthew had discussed their shared vision of married life. He supported her wish to stay home when they had children, as both their mothers had done.

Rachael was raised in what is sometimes called a traditional home. Her father worked for a large company, having started in the field after some college, and her mother worked retail sales until the girls were born. They lived in a middle class neighborhood, could afford trips to Disneyland and the beach and giving their girls some extras like travel team sports and 4H animals. They encouraged the girls to get advanced degrees but relented when Rachael strongly rejected furthering her college career. They couldn’t argue that being a mother was a worthwhile goal, in fact loved the prospect of being grandpa and grandma. Rachael knew they would support her new family and it gave her confidence that she was heading in the right direction. They liked Matthew and his pedigree was certainly above par.

Matthew’s family lived in the same town but definitely not the same neighborhood. His father was a farmer, which in central valley California, was money spelled differently! They had land, political power and economic cache. The fact that they got a lot of their wealth from government subsidies some years escaped scrutiny and they passed the wealth from generation to generation in the manner of the landed gentry in old Europe. Matt and his sister had the best clothes, cars, college and protection that money and influence could buy. He was good looking, athletic and smart which only guaranteed the succession was safe.

Everything Matthew did was evaluated for the positive or negative effect it would have on the family name, nobody messed with the McGovern’s. Rachael was aware that every small town had a family like them. Matthew’s father supported the athletic interests which validated Matthew’s masculinity and attended his games throughout high school. She was told that a crack appeared in family solidarity when Matthew failed to maintain good grades in his junior year of college. His parents’ frustration with this turn of events did not result in termination of funds to keep him attending school, just a change in colleges, because certainly, it was the previous school’s fault that Matthew did not succeed. Just before Rachael started dating him, she had heard that Matthew had graduated college and would be joining the family farming concern as a ranch superintendent.

Rachael acknowledged quickly that ranch superintendent fitted Matthew perfectly. He had a new pick-up truck, lots of free time and no one to account to but his father. He had time to play some golf, hang out with his friends at a local restaurant and the pay was exorbitant. Spending time with the McGovern family, she observed that pressure for Matthew to settle down that was starting to come from his parents but it was subtle so he could ignore it easily. His father would casually chat with them about his expectations and Matthew’s role in perpetuating the family lineage but no threats regarding inaction were overtly made.

Thinking back to their first dates, Rachael realized that Matt seemed to like the fact that she was a perfectionist and her attention to her physical appearance was matched by her strong faith and solid family. Even though the financial abyss that separated the families was well acknowledged, Matthew was undeterred. He was attentive, kind and they truly enjoyed spending time together and with their friends. Rachael, arriving home after one date early in their relationship, remembered remarking to her mother that he sometimes asked her so many questions she felt like she was on a job interview but she credited it to what he had been advised by his father regarding suitable marriage candidates.

Now, after a yearlong engagement they were getting married. They were both young and had limited life experiences but with the financial