Day Seven I Signed It novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Pew Four

I took the church steps two at a time.

The sanctuary was cold and smelled of floor wax, and fifteen women sat in the first six pews with their phones in their laps.

Nobody was talking.

My mother sat in the fourth pew on the left, in her church coat, with her hands folded on her handbag.

The pastor stood at the front with his own phone held down by his thigh, and he did not know where to look.

I stopped in the doorway.

My mother looked back over her shoulder and found me, and gave me the smallest shake of her head.

Stay there.

Behind me the heavy door opened, and Gavin came in and stood against the back wall.

I hadn't asked him to follow me.

I didn't tell him to leave.

"Well," my mother said.

She got up.

She did it slowly, one hand on the pew in front, and turned around to face the room.

Fifteen women looked at her, and fifteen phones went dark.

"I understand some of you have read something about me this morning," Joan said. "I'd like to save you the trouble of whispering."

The pastor said, "Joan, we don't need..."

"I do, Reverend. Sit down, please."

He sat.

My mother's voice was the one she had used for thirty-one years across a school office counter, calm and carrying.

"My husband had another family," she said. "A woman, and a son by her. I knew there was a woman since Colin was small. I found out about the son last month, in a desk drawer."

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