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Back Promises of Change Save as PDF
Chapters (53)
  1. Cover
  2. Everyone loves the ladies of Covington!
  3. Also by Joan Medlicott
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright
  6. Dedication
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. 40
  48. 41
  49. 42
  50. 43
  51. 44
  52. 45
  53. Discussion Questions

“No. He’s not done nothing like that.” May leaned forward, pain and embarrassment in her face.

Amelia gathered her thoughts. What would Grace say? She wished May had invited Grace to this meeting instead of her. She thought back to her own therapy after Thomas died in the auto crash. She’d done a bit of transference, developed a crush on one of her therapists, but she’d had the good sense to realize what was happening, and so had the therapist. Had Denny missed May’s growing infatuation? Amelia drew a deep breath,

“When a person goes to a counselor, they’re vulnerable and in emotional pain. The counselor cares about us, listens in a way that maybe no one has ever listened. It’s easy for any of us to project or feel love or anger on our therapist.”

How am I going to get out of this now? Oh why did I ever open my stupid mouth? May’s hunched shoulders straightened. Her face lifted and brightened. She’s given me a way out. “That sounds like it might be what’s happened. Yes, that’s probably what’s happened. Like you said, no one’s ever listened to me before. Thanks, Amelia, for helping me understand. I needed to talk to somebody, and you’ve been right kind. I thank you for listening and helping me understand about these things.” I have got to get out of here before I say more, betray myself, and really mess things up. Anxiety filled May’s eyes. “You won’t tell anyone about this, please.”

“I promise. I won’t say a word.”

May considered her lack of education and age, both barriers to Denny Ledbetter. The bleakness of her life struck her; she wanted to curl into a ball and die.

Amelia felt sorry for May. What would this woman do? Maybe she’d been too hasty leaving her husband. Amelia wasn’t going to get into that. They stood, brushed the grass and bits of soil from their clothing, and drove back to town. When they parted at May’s car near the flower shop, May waited until Amelia disappeared into the shop, then headed back to Covington.

12

May Persists

As she drove past Elk Plaza and McCorkle Creek, May looked neither to the right nor to the left. She didn’t care if the gossips on Cove Road saw her, or what they might say. But when she parked directly in front of Cove Road Church, her determination flagged, and her energy whooshed away like a leaf on a swift stream. She sat there arguing with herself whether to follow through on her plan or turn and go home. Go home, a part of her screamed. Go home! May turned the key in the ignition.