A Paper Plate at My Own Table novel · Chapter 18 of 24
Chapter 18: Grace
"Let us pray," I said.
Ninety heads bowed out of habit.
I kept mine up.
"Lord, thank you for this food, this house, and these friends. Thank you for the truth, which we are about to have."
"Meredith," Norma said sharply.
"Amen. Kristen?"
Kristen pressed a key.
The big television on the far wall lit up.
It showed a ring-light logo, and under it, in white letters, a count: *LIVE. 61,402 watching.*
The number kept climbing as I looked.
"Mom," Kristen said. Her voice shook but carried. "I'm sorry. I'm doing this on my channel because it's the only place you'll never be able to say I made it up."
"Kristen, turn that off."
"No."
"Turn it off right now, or so help me..."
"I haven't got a thing left to lose," Kristen said.
She pressed another key, and the speakers filled the room.
It was her own voice, crying in a garage.
*Twenty thousand. Mom said Timothy never had to know. She said it twice.*
The room heard it all the way through.
Every head turned slowly, one by one, to Norma.
She stood at the head of the table with her hand flat on the back of a chair.
"That is a doctored recording," she said.
"It's my voice," said Kristen. "It's your name. It's the day you paid me."
"She is confused. She's been under such strain..."
"Mrs. Ellery." A woman's voice at the back of the room, thin and clear. "May I add something?"
The crowd parted.
The notary stood in the hall in her good navy coat, leaning on her cane.
Beside her was a man in a gray overcoat, with a badge clipped to his belt.
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