Her expression changed. The lines about her mouth softened. “Well, ain’t that right, Pastor? I never did tell no lie to no one in that church, now, did I? I never did tell June and Eddy what happened. They would have gone on about my being a foolish old woman, getting soft in my head. I seen what Margaret Hank’s children done to her, when she started getting forgetful.” Ida’s eyes grew wide. “She’s living in one of them old-age homes in Enka. I been there to see her.” She tapped her temple. “If anything will make a person soft in the head, it’s living in one of them old-age homes. Seems to me they sit around waiting to die.”

Denny nodded. He ought to ask her if her daughter and son-in-law had asked her directly if she had been scammed. He did not. Lord, forgive me. Sometimes it’s better not to know certain things.

Ida smiled, folded the plaid handkerchief, and tucked it into her purse. “I heard tell you been a good help to people around here.” She stood, smoothed her dress, and ran her palms across her hair, pushing it back from her face. “I didn’t tell June and Eddy, and I don’t intend to tell them. I’m hoping confessing to you is gonna quiet my mind.”

“You won’t tell them?”

She shook her head so hard it dislodged a bit of hair from the bun at the back of her neck. She tucked it away. “No sir, I ain’t gonna tell them nothing. It weren’t their money, and they don’t need to know. Done is done!” She rubbed her hands together as if she were washing them.

Ida was right, Denny thought, in her appraisal of how they would treat her. He felt sorry for her. She was elderly and didn’t need this stress. It was enough, what she must be going through with May.

“You’ve confessed to me, and I don’t think telling them about it now matters much. Why don’t we sit here a minute and pray about this? Ask God’s forgiveness and his blessing.”

They bowed their heads and prayed silently. Then he said, “Amen, Lord, and thank you for your blessing.”

“Amen, Lord, and thank you for your blessing,” Ida repeated. She opened her eyes and smiled at Denny. “Bless you, Pastor Denny. You done helped me plenty this day.”

“Ida,” he asked. “How is May? Have you seen her?”

“She’s going to get her certificate right soon. I’m going with June to see her get it.”

“That’s good. You’ll congratulate her for me?”

“Yes, Pastor, I’ll tell her you sent your best.”

“We’re all proud of her.”

She stood, plopped her hat back on her head, and left.