“I don’t know, Patricia Anne. This whole thing just scares the hell out of me. Snakes. Lord.” She held out a gloved hand and touched my arm. “Y’all be careful.”

“We will.”

It seemed like such a small thing to promise. Of course we would be careful. I thanked her for the Vatican story, for putting me in a better mood, went in my gate and checked Woofer’s water. A small rim of ice had formed around the side of the bowl during the night. But it was going to be a beautiful January day. I took his leash off and went inside to call Sister and E-mail Haley.

E-MAIL

FROM: MAMA

TO: HALEY

SUBJECT: THE POPE

Darling,

How wonderful. What an opportunity. I haven’t called St. Paul’s yet, but here’s what your Aunt Sister says. Lord only knows where she learns these things, but she’s probably right. A dark suit, a handkerchief on your head, not a necessity since you aren’t Catholic but you’ll probably feel more comfortable. No bow, no ring kissing. He’ll probably just take your hand in his, no shake, and you say your name, or if someone has introduced you, “How do you do, Your Holiness.” (This doesn’t sound right. I’ll check it out. I doubt Sister knows diddly about this part.)

The pope. Imagine. Sometimes I wish the Methodists had a pope, and robes and incense and chants and intercessions and infallible people. I think.

I love you,

Mama

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter
Thirteen

Betsy Mahall had given me directions to her house. Turn left on Three Fork Road, third driveway on the right. We’d see the name on the mailbox.

“I think we’ve missed it,” Mary Alice said after we had passed two mailboxes and gone at least half a mile. We were in her Jaguar, just the two of us. I wasn’t sure how she managed it. But when she blew the horn and I went out, got in the car, and asked where Richard and Luke were, she said, “Don’t ask. They’re meeting us on the mountain at 1:00.”

“Is Luke okay this morning?” I asked.

“He ate three poached eggs and half a pound of bacon for breakfast. You think I was going to let him in my car?”

So Sister and I had made the trip to Steele by ourselves. It was nice to have someone to talk to who was excited as I was about Haley and the pope.