“Or she was pressured into it. Ida’s still a force to reckon with. Imagine what she was like when her daughters were young. She ruled that house and everyone in it with an iron will.” Brenda paused, waved her hand to brush away a flying insect, and continued.

“I don’t think there’s anything going on between May and Pastor Denny. But if there were, would you give a hoot if they were having an affair?”

“Personally, no. I like May, though I hardly know her. She wasn’t much of a talker when we were getting ready for the weddings,” Grace said. “I don’t even know where she lives now.”

“Lord, but I hope nothing’s going on between her and Pastor Denny. I’d sure hate to see her get hurt and be humiliated on top of that.”

“Would Denny be so foolish as to overstep his bounds as pastor and counselor?” Grace asked. “He’s a dedicated pastor, and honest.”

Brenda’s feet kicked the porch deck hard again and they fell silent while the swing went up-down, up-down in a narrowing arc. “Bunch of narrow-minded harpies are what they are, Alma and the rest of the gossips. I just hope this doesn’t get back to Pastor Denny. He might just up and leave this congregation, and I’d hate to see that happen. He’s so well liked.”

“I wouldn’t have thought that Velma would be in on this kind of gossip,” Grace said.

“Lord, Grace, everyone around here’s got memories like an elephant. Back in high school, Charlie Herrill had a big-time crush on May. Everyone knew. He followed her around like he was a dog. He’d sit and stare at her in the cafeteria, and he moped around outside the classes she was in and the library. Only time he ever voluntarily went into the library was following May. Anyway, May never gave him a second glance. But Velma wanted Charlie, so she hated May.” Brenda shrugged. “Velma got him like she wanted, and I doubt he’s looked at another woman since. But Velma has that old memory stuck inside of her, and now May’s gonna be single. Maybe she’s worried about that.”

“Charlie’s crazy about Velma. Of all the couples who got married, I’d say they are the happiest,” Grace said.

Brenda shook her head. “Personally, I don’t think there’s an inkling of truth in all of this. May will move on with her life. The counseling will end, and people will gossip about someone or something else. It’s started already. They’re talking about how strange that Banks boy, Randy, is since he came home from the war.”