“Uncle Eldridge isn’t the only one stuck in old ways. I was raised to not challenge the pastor. He’s the leader. My role in the body of the church is to report to him.”

The excuses and justifications grated on me, so I said more than I intended. Maybe too much. “Is that why you told him we went to Commonwealth University? Just doing your job? Maybe me and my mom wouldn’t have had to leave if you could’ve overlooked that particular responsibility.”

I don’t know if I would’ve spoken to an adult like that in any other setting. She came here, though. She inserted herself into a night where I’d planned to do my job and go home and not bother anyone.

Sister Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. I figured she was about to check me for my disrespect. She said, “I didn’t tell on you and the Purity Pledge class, Del. I never even saw you at the event.”

“You didn’t?” Could I believe her? Should I? “Why were you even there?”

“New blood. New ideas. I’m seeking answers, same as all of you.”

“Answers? Like us?”

“Yes, I know about the others coming to you with their curiosities. With no Pledge, and you gone, there was no reason to keep it secret anymore.”

“And you still think me and Mom should come back?”

“I do.”

The door chimes sounded and several burly road crew workers in reflective vests over heavy coats filed in for dinner. Break time was over. I slid from the booth. Said, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Sister Vanessa. You’re nice, and I like you, but can you honestly tell me if I did come back, your uncle wouldn’t push me to ‘bare my soul’ before all was forgiven?”

She didn’t answer. Didn’t have to.

“That’s what I thought. It was nice to see you again, and if you like dessert, you can’t go wrong with the apple turnover here.”

I left her to her meal; filled the road crew’s order. It didn’t take long, but when I glanced toward Sister Vanessa’s booth, it was unoccupied and the table was spotless, like she’d never been there at all.

Chapter 28

SCHOOL COULDN’T END FAST ENOUGH.

Everything that had come at me in these last few weeks made my head feel crowded and mushy. Sister Vanessa’s visit to FISHto’s rattled me more than I liked. I didn’t think I missed First Missionary, and I hadn’t thought much about the Pledgers, but that was because I made myself not think about them. The task at hand became everything. At school I was like a bloodhound sniffing my way to class. Head down, eyes on my exact path, concentrating hard enough that I could almost ignore Mason’s taunts over his superiority, Kiera’s scowls over our last conversation, Jameer’s attempts at any sort of conversation, and so on. Even when I shared FISHto’s shifts with Mya I sought any and every task that kept me moving and quiet. She didn’t try to force anything different, which I was grateful for.