Chapter 14: Order of Business

The woman with the cash box was back at the sign-in table, and she stood up when she saw me.

"This is a members' meeting," she said.

"Rhonda Hornback," Rhonda said, behind my shoulder. "Dues paid since 1998. I brought a few friends."

I looked back.

Eighteen women in cardigans were crossing the parking lot, bingo bags on their arms.

Rhonda had called them at 6:55 from the cabin porch, and not one of them had asked why.

The woman with the cash box sat down again very slowly.

We walked into the banquet room together.

A row of women sat along the long table with pens in front of them.

Joyce sat at the head in her powder-blue suit, with a gavel and a sheet of paper, and her sister in the chair at her elbow.

Her curls had been set that morning, and she looked exactly as she had on the night of the party.

She did not look at the bingo ladies.

She looked at me.

"This meeting was called for members," she said.

"Under new business, Madam Chair," Rhonda said, "I move to hear a guest."

Joyce's mouth opened.

"Second," said the pastor's wife.

She was taking the minutes.

She looked as surprised as anyone that she had said it.

Joyce couldn't refuse in front of a room that full.

"Briefly," she said.

Becca stood up from a chair at the back.

She carried a manila folder, and she walked to the table and set it down without hurrying.

"Item six is a motion to remove my father from the Lodge," she said. "It says he has neglected the Lodge's good name. It has a dozen signatures."

"Becca, dear, this isn't the place..."

"It's a Lodge phone bill, Mrs. Irwin."