Lighting another candle, Millie Barnswell said yet another prayer. The house of worship was quiet now. The seven o’clock service had long since finished, but she had remained behind, enjoying the solitude of her church. Returning to a pew, she sat and glimpsed at her watch, sighing when she saw the time. She’d have to leave soon. Doors on churches were no longer left unlocked at night, but for a few more minutes, she watched as the flames of the candles danced in the drafty old sanctuary.

Hearing a small commotion at the back of the church, she turned around and smiled at the sight of a familiar face. Watching as the woman struggled to control the cleaning cart as she pushed it up the aisle, Millie said, “Good evening, Joanna.”

Distracted as she tried to correct a misdirected wheel on the trolley, Joanna Sheppard nearly jumped out of her shoes when a voice broke the silence of the church.

“Oh, my God, Millie,” she said, holding her hand against her chest. “You scared the shi...um...living daylights out of me.”

“I’m sorry, dear. I thought you saw me.”

Jerking the cart as it veered toward yet another wooden pew, Joanna said, “No, I was too busy trying to get this blasted wheel to go straight.”

“Yes, it does seem to have a mind of its own, now doesn’t it?” Millie said with a snicker.

“It most certainly does,” Joanna said as she came to a stop. “So, what brings you here tonight? I usually only see you on Sunday.”

“Yes, well work’s been rather stressful this week, so I thought I’d stop by and light a candle or two. It always has a way of taking the edge off, if you know what I mean.”

“Alcohol does that for me,” Joanna said with a laugh. “That is when I can afford it.”

“How’s your father?”

“Oh, he’s okay, but still as cantankerous as ever, I’m afraid. That’s the reason I’m here tonight.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

“He apparently was quite a handful earlier this week, and one of the nurses said he ruined her shoes by pouring his lunch all over them. I had to buy her a new pair, and it wasn’t in the budget.”

“That’s too bad.”

“It’s all right,” Joanna said with a shrug. “As long as I can have him home with me, that’s all that really matters.”

“You do get some assistance, don’t you?”

“Of course, but it doesn’t take care of the debts he had. I’m still working to pay them off,” Joanna said as she began to push the cart toward the altar. “And speaking of that, if I want to get home at a decent hour, I’d better get this place tidy. I still have an office to clean on my way home. Nice talking to you, Millie.”