would have had children, maybe he wouldn’t have left,” Jody said as she entered the kitchen that Sunday morning.
Mitzi had been standing at the back door, staring out into the yard, and Jody’s voice startled her so badly that her heart had to slow down before she could speak. “Good mornin’,” she finally said.
“Truth is I went off birth control six months ago. On the day of the Christmas party, and now I find out that’s the very day his little fling started.” Jody went to the refrigerator and looked inside. “Irony at its best. Only thing better will be if I’m pregnant after all this time.”
“Jesus!” Mitzi gasped.
“I’m going to church. Lyle didn’t believe in religion any more than he did eating anything that has a face. I might as well just burn all the bridges this weekend,” Jody said.
“Good for you.” Mitzi didn’t know whether to wish that Jody was pregnant or to hope like hell that she wasn’t. “You can go eat with us at the café after services. Daddy and Granny will be glad for you to join us.”
“Join us for what?” Paula yawned as she entered. “I’m going to have hot tea this morning. Anyone want in?”
“No, I’ve already got a pot of coffee brewing,” Mitzi answered.
“Have you lost your taste for coffee?” Jody asked.
“That dark roast kind gives me heartburn,” Paula said. “Now who’s joinin’ who for what?”
“I’m going to church,” Jody announced. “How about you?”
“If you’re going, then I am. I wouldn’t miss that show for the world.”
“What show?” asked Mitzi.
“Her mama is going to be there,” Paula said.
“So’s yours,” Jody reminded her.
“Which is the very reason I usually don’t go,” Paula said. “But today we need to be there together.”
“Exactly. I got your back.” Jody grinned for the first time since Mitzi and Paula had arrived at the trailer the day before.
Covering her yawn with a hand, Mitzi tried to focus on what the preacher was saying, but her mind kept jumping around from one thing to another. She thought about the possibility of Jody being pregnant. In some ways she envied her friend for even having the chance, but how would Jody ever move on if every day she saw a reminder of Lyle right there before her? Then she wondered about Paula’s decision to quit drinking anything with caffeine and all liquor. Maybe she should have a physical to be sure her heartburn wasn’t something serious, like a malfunctioning gallbladder. Graham Harrison and his girls crept into the circle of worry, too. Should she keep the relationship with the twins on a professional level, or was it all right to get into a deeper friend-type relationship with all three of them?
Jody poked her in the ribs.
“What?” she whispered.
“I think you’re supposed to listen to the preacher,” she said out of the side of her mouth.
“I was!” Mitzi frowned.
“You were thinking about Graham. Your whole body language changes when you think about him,” Jody said.
“Shhh.” Jody’s mama, Wanda, tapped her on the back.
Mitzi sat up straighter and did her best to pay attention, but it was impossible. Wanda had disowned Jody when she and Lyle moved in together right after they’d graduated from high school. How was she going to take the news of him cheating on Jody? It was bound to get out real soon, if it hadn’t already.
The preacher finally ended his sermon and asked one of the deacons to give the benediction. The minute the last amen was said, Mitzi’s father was on his feet, shaking hands with those around him.
“These old pews get harder on my backside every Sunday.” Fanny Lou stood up and groaned, then nodded toward Wanda.
“Mama.” Jody nodded as well.
“I told you this would happen, that no man will buy the cow when he’s getting the milk free,” Wanda hissed at her.
“Are you braggin’ that you’re right or callin’ me a cow?” Jody asked.
“You’ve disgraced yourself again. Where are you stayin’ since he’s married someone else?” Wanda’s mouth was set so tight that it was a wonder the words could escape.
“She’s stayin’ with me and Paula,” Mitzi answered.
“That’s where she should’ve been all along or else livin’ with me.” Wanda’s high-pitched voice grated on the nerves. Poor Jody didn’t need that when she was trying to sort out everything.
“We’ll take good care of her,” Mitzi promised.
“Why do you care anyway? You haven’t even spoken to your daughter in years,” Fanny Lou asked.
“She could have been a help to me, but oh, no, she had