A Marriage Left Behind novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Church Women

Maura's POV

St. Anne's fellowship hall smelled of burnt coffee and sugar cookies, the same as the night Judith pushed Brady across the floor to me.

I stood in the doorway on Sunday with the guest book against my chest and Thane one step behind my shoulder.

He had asked if I wanted him in the room, and I had said yes before he finished the question.

Forty church members sat at the round tables.

The old woman in glasses stood up from the front one and walked straight to me.

"You came," she said. "Good. Sit by the head table."

Judith was already there, in her good gray wool, with her pearl earrings and a plate of cookies she hadn't touched.

Brady's father sat two chairs from her.

He did not look at her, and she did not look at him.

The old woman stood at the microphone.

She did not say hello.

"I have one piece of paper to read to you," she said.

She lifted the yellow sheet of legal paper.

It was in Judith's handwriting.

"Seven names," she said. "I read them all that night. Single women of this parish, with their salaries beside them."

A murmur ran around the tables.

"I am number four," the old woman said. "'Widow. Teacher's pension. Too tired to resist.'"

A woman near the window stood up, white in the face.

"That's my name on it," she said. "Number two. 'Divorced. Dental office. Hasn't got anyone.'"

"We were the ones she didn't choose," the old woman said. "Maura was the one she did."

She turned and looked down at Judith.

"We want you to say something to this room. Not to us. To her."

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