“That he and I were finished, as if we were finished with a counseling session, when he really meant that he’d never see or talk to me again. It was awful. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.”

“You must have been devastated. You poor darling. I’m so sorry.”

“Not so sorry as me. I should have listened to what you said instead of going off like a crazy woman.”

“Let me get you a wet washcloth to wipe your face and eyes,” Amelia said.

“I’d appreciate that right much.” May felt better. Embarrassing things happened to people and they survived. She recalled a time when she had stood to speak at a PTA meeting at Caster Elementary School and her mind went blank. She had stood there like she was frozen, feeling the perfect fool, until someone snickered. She’d sunk into her seat, wanting to shrivel up and die. But she’d survived that and more, and she’d survive this, sure as the sun would come up. She’d never gone to another PTA meeting, and she’d make sure she’d go no place near Pastor Denny.

“I never called in to my job to say I was sick,” May said. “Maybe I haven’t got a job no more.” She shrugged. “Who cares? I hate assembly line work. That’s what I was doing.”

“There’s money for women who’ve been divorced, so they can go to school,” Amelia said.

May laughed. “Go back to school? Me?”

“Yes you. You’re very bright, May. You should get some training so you can get a decent job.”

“Where have I got to go?”

“A-B Tech and talk to somebody.”

“Maybe I could train to work in a hospital. I always did like caring for sick people,” May said.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

May’s shoulders slumped. She was not nearly as brave as she pretended to be. She was afraid of the future, afraid of going to college, an impossible dream until this very minute. “How am I gonna live and pay the rent until I get me the money to go to school?” She accepted another wet washcloth from Amelia and ran it along her arms. “This feels so good. Guess I could use a shower about now.”

Amelia left her then, but not before she impulsively invited May to stay with the ladies at their farmhouse until she worked out new arrangements and her money for the tech school came through. It was a gesture, that was all, and it was inconceivable to Amelia that May would accept her invitation. Hadn’t May just declared that she never wanted to set foot in Covington, or anyplace where she might run into Denny Ledbetter? Inviting her made Amelia feel gracious and generous of spirit.