“Well, I appreciate that,” I said.

“And we appreciate you,” Sonya said. “When God blessed me with this idea all those years ago to create this support group, I did it for women just like you.”

“Thank you,” I said. Feeling a great need to turn the conversation back to business, I added, “So I’ll have Lizzy, Jeremy’s assistant, get the program over to you.”

“It can be so overwhelming being a pastor’s wife,” Cecily said as if I hadn’t said a word.

"I agree," Sonya said. "God knows that my forty years of marriage has needed support from time to time. We all need the blessing of being around other women with like minds."

I couldn’t stop my eyebrows from rising with those words. Like minds? I had nothing in common with these women and this would have been a good time to bring up some of the issues I had with the Council, especially the gossiping. But again, I tried to steer the conversation to where I wanted it to be. “Well...being part of the Council has been...interesting for me. Especially because of the good work the Council does in D.C.”

“And I wouldn’t have survived without the Council and their support,” Cecily held up her hand as if she was about to testify.

Again, it felt like neither one of them were listening to me.

Cecily continued, “I mean, I haven’t had the issues that so many of the wives have, unfortunately, had to go through.” She paused and placed her hand on my arm. “I mean, my husband and I have had a good marriage, thank you, Lord. But still, sometimes a woman just needs other women to talk to. That’s what we want you to know. That we’re here for you.”

The way Cecily sat on the edge of her chair — I’d seen that stance before. I’d seen the hungry gaze from her eyes. I sucked in air. They knew about Jeremy and Katrina!

I pushed down the rising stone in my throat. “I’m grateful,” I said, “but really, today, I don’t want to talk about anyone or anything. I just want us to get to the business that we came here to discuss.”

Sonya leaned toward me. “We don’t have to talk about any of that today, Ginger. That’s not why I wanted us to get together. I knew you needed us without the other women around.” Reaching across the table, she patted my hand. “You don’t have to put up a front for us.”

They knew. Oh, my God. They knew.

I blinked, trying to think of something to say, trying to gain control of this conversation. There was no way I was going to talk to them about Jeremy and Katrina.

“I’m not...putting on any front. But the thing is, I don’t want to talk about any personal business.”