Chapter 20: The Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of St. Luke's began at noon, after the last hymn.

The fellowship hall had folding chairs set out in rows.

There were two hundred people.

I sat in the fourth row with my friend on one side and Eli on the other.

The baby slept on his chest in a wrap.

Nobody turned around.

A few people did glance back, and then looked quickly at their hymnals.

Gail came in at five past twelve, in the plum coat, with her chin lifted.

She did not look at Ron's empty seat.

She sat in the front row, as she had for eleven years.

A woman beside her touched her arm and gave her a smile that was slow in coming.

The pastor stood at the lectern.

"We have the budget report," he said, "and the slate of committee chairs. Mrs. Dunning has been nominated again for the building fund."

"Thank you, Pastor," Gail said, and her voice rang out gracious and warm.

"Is there a second?"

"Second," said a man near the back.

"Is there any further nomination, or discussion, before we vote?"

The hall was quiet.

Then a chair scraped.

Ron stood up in the sixth row, in a suit I'd never seen on him.

Kendra stood beside him, in her green coat, with her hands shaking.

Between them, with a small hand in each of theirs, was the girl.

Gail turned around in her seat.

I watched the color leave her face.

"Ron," she said. "Sit down."

"I'd like to speak, Pastor."

"Mr. Dunning, this is irregular," the pastor said.

"I'm a deacon. I'm sixty-four years old. I've been sitting in that pew for thirty years." Ron's voice was rough. "I think I've earned five minutes."

The pastor looked at Gail.

She did not nod, and she did not shake her head, and after a moment the pastor said, "Go ahead."

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