just that I’ve already got commitments this Saturday, Millie.”
Elena stood at the desk to give herself more confidence. “To be honest, I...I’m not sure if your interpretation is correct on this.”
“Are you doubting the very word of our Bible, Mrs. Winters?”
More people were gathering in the hallway, sensing a catfight. Elena did not want to engage Millie, but she also refused to be bowled over by her. “Well, you know as well as I do that the Bible was written thousands of years ago, from a man’s point of view—I mean—somehow we have to look at these passages with some kind of context to the times—”
“That’s just the kind of mealy-mouthed thinking that’s got us into this place—” Garret, Millie’s favorite minion, had joined in Millie’s fight.
Diana confronted Garret. “Elena is entitled to her opinion.”
But Millie walked past them and got right up into Elena’s face. “Not when it’s at the expense of our safety! You are the wife of a pastor. Your husband works every day to spread God’s fine word and what do you do? You put ‘interpretation’ into question? That’s the oldest trick in the book.”
Elena stood, trying to back her way out of the room but Millie, sensing weakness, went in for the kill. “They are tearing us apart with all their marriage talk and liberal judges ruling willy-nilly in their favor. Oh, no! We are not going to stand by and allow it, Mrs. Winters. Shame on you. Shame on you for undermining—”
But Elena could not bear to hear another word because all she saw was crazy. She was vaguely aware that Barry was just outside in the hall and was now jumping in as well.
“Millie, please—I appreciate your support...thank you.” And then moving to Elena, “Come here, dear.’’
But the room had started to spin.
“I...I think I need some air.” She cleared theapp cleare huddle of congregants as she heard Barry continue to apologize for her. “You know she’s been so tired and overworked lately. I’m sorry if she’s offended anyone...Diana, can you help the ladies get squared away?”
*
Peyton sat in her black slacks, her blouse sleeves rolled up, blazer crumpled off the side of Wave’s couch, and deep into her second glass of wine.
“I don’t think staying shit-faced is the answer here,” Peyton decided.
“I know, my dear, but at least it’ll ease the pain for the time being.”
“No…no more.” She raised a hand against Wave’s attempt to refill her glass. “I want to clear my head.”
“Whatever for?”
“I…I need some air, okay?”
“Sure. Let’s go for a drive.”
“Alone.”
“Why don’t I go with you?”
“Wave, you know how much I love you…but I just need… just need to get my thoughts in order…or just out of my head altogether. I need some time alone.”
Wave wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. “Okay then, but as soon as you get home, call me?”
“Sure.”
*
Elena was packing the remainder of the filing boxes in her car outside the church when she heard Barry walking up behind her.
“That was quite a performance.”
Elena kept her back to him.
“You know better than to tangle with Millie—”
But when he moved so that he could see her face, his own face fell and he quickly changed topic.
“Elena...sweetie...did you...”
Elena nodded, put her head down in shame. Barry came to her, put an arm around her.
“When?”
“I...started.” She cleared her throat in an effort not to cry. She would not have any of these people see any sign of weakness in her. “This morning.”
Barry took her in his arms, held her tightly, sighed, “Oh sweetheart.” He continued to hold her gently, kissed her forehead.
“I...I don’t know how much more of this—”
“Shhhh…come here.” He held her close to him and she knew he was trying to take charge and be there for her.
“Look Barry,” Elena said, “I know how much you want this—but do you think we’re trying too
Elena stood at the desk to give herself more confidence. “To be honest, I...I’m not sure if your interpretation is correct on this.”
“Are you doubting the very word of our Bible, Mrs. Winters?”
More people were gathering in the hallway, sensing a catfight. Elena did not want to engage Millie, but she also refused to be bowled over by her. “Well, you know as well as I do that the Bible was written thousands of years ago, from a man’s point of view—I mean—somehow we have to look at these passages with some kind of context to the times—”
“That’s just the kind of mealy-mouthed thinking that’s got us into this place—” Garret, Millie’s favorite minion, had joined in Millie’s fight.
Diana confronted Garret. “Elena is entitled to her opinion.”
But Millie walked past them and got right up into Elena’s face. “Not when it’s at the expense of our safety! You are the wife of a pastor. Your husband works every day to spread God’s fine word and what do you do? You put ‘interpretation’ into question? That’s the oldest trick in the book.”
Elena stood, trying to back her way out of the room but Millie, sensing weakness, went in for the kill. “They are tearing us apart with all their marriage talk and liberal judges ruling willy-nilly in their favor. Oh, no! We are not going to stand by and allow it, Mrs. Winters. Shame on you. Shame on you for undermining—”
But Elena could not bear to hear another word because all she saw was crazy. She was vaguely aware that Barry was just outside in the hall and was now jumping in as well.
“Millie, please—I appreciate your support...thank you.” And then moving to Elena, “Come here, dear.’’
But the room had started to spin.
“I...I think I need some air.” She cleared theapp cleare huddle of congregants as she heard Barry continue to apologize for her. “You know she’s been so tired and overworked lately. I’m sorry if she’s offended anyone...Diana, can you help the ladies get squared away?”
*
Peyton sat in her black slacks, her blouse sleeves rolled up, blazer crumpled off the side of Wave’s couch, and deep into her second glass of wine.
“I don’t think staying shit-faced is the answer here,” Peyton decided.
“I know, my dear, but at least it’ll ease the pain for the time being.”
“No…no more.” She raised a hand against Wave’s attempt to refill her glass. “I want to clear my head.”
“Whatever for?”
“I…I need some air, okay?”
“Sure. Let’s go for a drive.”
“Alone.”
“Why don’t I go with you?”
“Wave, you know how much I love you…but I just need… just need to get my thoughts in order…or just out of my head altogether. I need some time alone.”
Wave wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. “Okay then, but as soon as you get home, call me?”
“Sure.”
*
Elena was packing the remainder of the filing boxes in her car outside the church when she heard Barry walking up behind her.
“That was quite a performance.”
Elena kept her back to him.
“You know better than to tangle with Millie—”
But when he moved so that he could see her face, his own face fell and he quickly changed topic.
“Elena...sweetie...did you...”
Elena nodded, put her head down in shame. Barry came to her, put an arm around her.
“When?”
“I...started.” She cleared her throat in an effort not to cry. She would not have any of these people see any sign of weakness in her. “This morning.”
Barry took her in his arms, held her tightly, sighed, “Oh sweetheart.” He continued to hold her gently, kissed her forehead.
“I...I don’t know how much more of this—”
“Shhhh…come here.” He held her close to him and she knew he was trying to take charge and be there for her.
“Look Barry,” Elena said, “I know how much you want this—but do you think we’re trying too
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