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By the tirocery store, AJ rubbed at his eyes, ready for a nap

“Soon, littlehim into his car seat

As she loaded groceries into the car, a voice called her name “Brooke, hello I was just about to call you”

The pastor’s wife ca as she hurried her pace Dressed in a classic beige pantsuit with her short dark hair neatly coiffed around a serene face, Laura West was the poster child of enteel

A frisson of alarht?”

Macy popped out of the backseat, eyes wide “Is my mama—?”

“Your reat,” Mrs West reassured Then to Brooke she said, “Reverend West asked me to track you down if I could He told rees one hundred percent He can visit with Macy this afternoon”

Brooke’s anxiety drained away Confident Reverend West would handle the situation better than she could, Brooke had requested counseling for Macy Given the trau from Darlene’s illness and the terrible uncertainty, the child needed all the wisdom they could provide

“That’s terrific”

“But first—” Mrs West tapped Macy’s nose with one finger “—you and I are going shopping for those shoes you need So about a pair of sneakers with hot pink laces?”

“How did you know?” Macy asked and then immediately said, “Mama told you”

“Yes, she did”

“I can take her, Mrs West”

“Of course you could, Brooke, but I can’t let you have all the fun with Macy, can I?”

The pastor’s armed Brooke’s heart There were sootten that “AJ is long overdue for a nap, so I suppose this is great ti”

“The Lord knoe have need of,” the woman said “Ready, Macy?”