His voice rose. “And then, someone saw Sarina on the grass in front of the church and our good pastor had his arm about her. That was the day Sarina had a letter from Zachary saying he wasn’t ever coming back, that he wasn’t cut out to be a husband or father, and not to count on him. She was frantic, as any of you might have been, and took off running from the house to find Hannah and me. She plowed into Pastor Denny as he was coming from the church. They fell to the ground, and our good pastor put his arm about her shoulders to keep her from falling flat on her face and to comfort her. I’d have done the same under those circumstances, wouldn’t you?”

Heads nodded, and Max threw up his arms.

“I’m ashamed for my son. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to help my daughter-in-law and grandchild. If she wants to go home to her family, I’ll see she gets there. If she chooses to stay and make her home with us, it would please me more than I can tell you. There isn’t a sweeter, kinder young woman than Sarina. As for Pastor Denny, we’ve got a good man here. There isn’t a dishonorable bone in his body. Whatever rumors you’ve heard are wrong, misguided, and cruel. And that’s all I have to say.”

Max felt as if he were a balloon that someone pricked, and the air was seeping out of him. Slowly, he walked from the pulpit and took his seat beside Hannah in the front pew. The church was silent. Then someone clapped, and the entire congregation began to clap. Only when Denny stepped to the pulpit and raised his hands for the benediction did they stop.

Later, at home, Sarina found Max in the living room watching a ball game. “Excuse me,” she said softly.

Max shut off the set. “How you doing, my girl?”

“I want to thank you. I heard all you said at the church. It must have been hard for you to speak about Zachary. I am so sorry.” She began to cry.

“Now, now.” Max pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “It had to be done, and now it’s over. I don’t believe the innocent should suffer for the guilty.”

She buried her face in her hands. “I am so ashamed. How will I ever face them?”

“You haven’t a thing to be ashamed about.”

“They must think I was a very bad wife to drive my husband from me.”