“Even worse. Clinton’s wife, Kayla,” Paula answered and then went on with her story. “I feel sorry for the woman, knowing what I do now, and he said that day he showed up here that he’d been faithful since our affair. It wasn’t nice—matter of fact, it was downright mean of me—but I hoped she’d catch him if he was having another affair. She deserves to know, but I don’t want to be in the middle of it. I never want him to know about the baby,” she said, and then continued her story.

“Holy crap on a cracker!” Mitzi threw a hand over her mouth. “He had the balls to blame you? That man is crazy. I’m glad you’re not tellin’ him about the baby.”

Paula opened her mouth to say something, but the doorbell rang.

“It’s early for Fanny Lou to pick you up for church, Mitzi,” Jody said with a glance toward the foyer.

“Granny comes through the back door, not the front.” Mitzi got up and started in that direction. The bell kept ringing, time after time, until she unlocked the door and slung it open, half expecting to see the backside of a couple of kids doing a “ring and run” prank. She recognized Kayla immediately and blocked the entrance.

Kayla put her hands on Mitzi’s chest and pushed, but it did as much good as a gnat trying to shove a horse out of its way. “I’m going to talk to Paula, so you might as well get out of my way.”

“Let her through,” Paula said behind Mitzi. “I’ll hear what she has to say.”

Mitzi stepped to the side, and Kayla stormed inside. “You are one hateful, unchristian, despicable woman. My poor Clinton told me that you’ve been comin’ on to him for months. Ever since his daddy took sick. He told me all about meetin’ you in the library over in Tulia and how you made advances. And since he wouldn’t be untrue to me, that you’ve been trying to ruin his life. Callin’ him at all hours and tryin’ to get him to come over here and sleep with you.”

“Oh, really?” Paula sat down on the sofa.

“You want to know the truth?” Jody’s eyes flashed pure anger.

“I don’t think she could handle it,” Mitzi said.

“I’m not here to listen to any of y’all’s lies. I came to tell Paula to stay away from my husband. No more calls. No more enticing him to cheat on me. We have an amazing marriage. No one will ever make me doubt Clinton again,” Kayla said.

“What about that woman in his hotel room yesterday?” Paula asked.

“How did you know about that?”

“Clinton called me,” Paula answered.