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“Oh, Mrs Plutarski, you are so sweet,” I simper “I just love that color on you! Would you call that oatmeal or liver? It’s wonderful!” Don’t blow it, I warn et out as fast as you can If they figure out you’re Maggie, you’re dead

“Make yourself co the door of his office for me My toes curl in discomfort

“Thank you for seeingnot to make eye contact

“You’re welcome, my dear, you’re welcome How are Will and little Violet?”

“They’re just great Just great Wonderful” Okay, stop babbling It’s a dead giveaway I sit down, cross aze flits around the office There’s a note on his desk, and a prickle of warning goes through h it’s upside down to …Ask Bishop?

“What can I do for you, Christy?” the priest asks I look away from the note

“Well, uuess you’ve heard about my, my, um, parents,” I stammer

“I have, yes” He sly Ask Bishop T about?

“And of course we’re all…saddened Quite saddened”

“It’s a tragedy, thirty soe,” he murmurs Ask Bishop T about the Father Shea situation

Holy moley! Jeezum! The Father Shea situation? The left-the-priesthood-for-a-pretty-woe breath

“Christy, ah, dear, don’t cry, now There’s still hope, and if you turn to prayer, perhaps it will help your parents remember how sacred those voere and still are”

How are your vows, Father Ti rock solid there? I realize that a response is required “Mie andto myself in third person, then s “And you know Jonah, too”

“I’ve spoken with Maggie a bit But how can I help you, Christy?”

“Oh, I suppose I ondering…” Yes, Maggie/ Christy What exactly can you wonder about? My ht “How I can…um, support my parents? Other than pray?” I sound like an idiot because all I can think is Father Shea, Father Shea, oh, shit, Father Shea

Father Tihter, Christy, you could reiven therandbaby A life together, rich with family and happy memories, trials and tribulations, as well, of course…” His voice trails off, his eyes still focused outside I get the strong i it in today Lucky for me

“You’re right Excellent advice” I s, then decide to risk it “So, Father Ti our parish priest and all? It’s been, let’s see now…a year?”

“Yes, yes, about that,” Father Ti a smile

“Well, the coreat priest Very, um, holy Devout, I mean” There Said it, even if I sound like a jerk “Will and the baby and I, we love church I hope you won’t leave”

His attention is suddenly laser-sharp “Why? Have you heard so forward

“U”

Father Ti “Well,” he says “Change is inevitable, and we’re none of us in control of our futures That’s in God’s hands, as is everything”

Again with the clichés “Well Yes” I tuck so, deceiving a man of the cloth I am surely damned Sweat trickles down my neck

“You have a wonderful fa

“Thanks”

“I hope that you and Maggie…well Never mind”

Desperate to sos while not blowing ood friend to Maggie It’s nice for her to have a friend who’s a priest Very co And she, you know, values your friendship”

“I’ “She’s very special”

Oh,on that I’h my veins,on my friendship? And why is he so interested to know if I’ve?Christy’s?heard so?

“Well, okay, Father Tiet back to the baby Thanks This was so helpful”

Father Tim’s face is puzzled “Glad to be of service, Christy,” he says He stands aside as I practically leap out of the roo with Mrs Plutarski, who is too close to the door for any purpose other than eavesdropping

“So nice to see you, Christy,” she says, pretending to pick up a piece of paper already in her hand

“It certainly is Take care,” I say distantly, grabbingseeet outside and away from the rectory

I burst into the slush, sliding and nearly falling on the sidewalk, then slip over to Christy’s car, taking great gulps of air Where did I put the keys? Where are the da and can’t find the have? Diapers here, wipes there, changing pad, pacifier, teething ring, Goodnight Moon, a stuffed dog, a sterilized bottle in a sealed plastic bag, sooddamn keys

And then, around the corner comes Malone

“Shit!” I hiss I can’t believe the crap luck Where are the fking keys? Fifteen more feet and I’ll have to talk to him

“Maggie?” he says cautiously

Without thinking, I turn and walk away from the Volvo and away from Malone as fast as I dare in the slushyopen the door of the CVS phar for a place to hide until he passes I stop in front of the tobacco display, which hides me fro bullets

“Hi, Mrs Jones,” calls a teenager froirl…what’s her name? Susie? Katie? Bessie? Shit, I can’t remember

“Hello, honey!” I call a little too loudly

The bell over the door rings, and Malone comes in I scamper further down the aisle, then take a left Ha! Here, I’ll go here I try to stop panting and run a hand through , but I should be safe He wouldn’t dare follow me here

He dares “Maggie?” His voice is low and gru

I stretch my mouth into an approximation of a smile and turn to him “Oh, hello, Malone It’s actually Christy Don’t worry, happens all the ti off my face I snatch a box of tampons from the shelf and study it hard Extra absorbent for your heaviest days That should scare off any male

Malone doesn’t h to serve as dog beds

“Why are you pretending to be Christy?” he growls

I steal a glance at hi, of course, and his hair is rumpled from the wind He hasn’t shaved today, and he’s so ridiculouslywhat I know, ical rush of attraction

“Hi, Christy!” calls a red-haired woman I’ve never seen She has a baby on her hip