Page 24 of Halo

Then I committed a forbidden sin. I left my husband. Suddenly, my divorce is an ink stain on my life. Every kind action, every good deed means absolutely nothing. I broke my marriage vows and that pedestal crumpled beneath me.. And worse, I ruined my family’s reputation.

If they knew the whole truth …

The meeting starts as usual: a time for prayer; a time for accolades of years past, a time for a special photo montage of children holding up candy and bracelets that boast God is love. Jane stands before the sixty-something volunteers, discussing the theme and goals this year for the harvest festival, promising that this will be the biggest and best year yet. After thunderous applause and amens, she clicks to the next slide in her presentation. “Y’all got this in your email, but this is a list of our leaders and booth attendants. If y’all could please fill out the online form with the name of your booth and the activity. If you have any special requests, like Bible tracts or wordless coloring books that tell the story of salvation, let me know so we can put a word out to the congregation to donate.”

My stomach rolls with unease as a chill crawls up my neck. What email? What is she talking about? Every year, I host a fishing booth where kids use magnets attached to fishing rods to collect candy that have paperclips attached. It’s always a huge hit, but Jane hasn’t talked to me at all about this year.

“Did you get an email?” I whisper to Rachel.

She nods. “Yeah, but I told her it’d be best for me to assist right now. Didn’t she email you?”

I shake my head.

“It was probably an oversight on her part.” She grins softly. “Don’t worry about it.”

“... if y’all have any questions, I’ll be on the foyer. Be safe going home.”

The moment the meeting is adjourned, the room erupts with loud chatter and chairs scuffing across the tiled floor. Church members stand with their belongings and head toward the door while others collect trash and begin stacking chairs to store.

Rachel and I slowly mosey to the door as another friend of my mother’s talks about tentative baby shower dates. When Jane walks by with her arms full of presentation supplies and folders, I squeeze my sister-in-law’s arm, silently letting her know I was leaving the conversation. Rushing over to Jane, I grab a poster board from her hand and catch a pencil pouch about to fall.

“Thank you,” Jane croons with an exaggerated tone.

“Of course, I—”

She pivots on her heel and continues walking out the double doors to the parking lot, lit only by the street lights and distant hue of the city.

“Jane, I had a question, if you don’t mind. I was wondering—”

“Why you’re not in charge of the fishing booth this year?” She raises an eyebrow, giving a scornful eye while opening her trunk. She sets down her crates and folders, then grabs the posters from me. With a huff, she finally faces me. “Do we really need to have this conversation, Leah?”

I fidget with my hands, massaging my now-bare ring finger. “Well, yes, ma’am. I love running that booth, and everyone looks forward to it—”

“Which is why I asked Tabby Newsome to take over.” She folds her arms and steps closer. “Leah, I love you. I’ve known you since you were in diapers. But … you know what the Word says about your lifestyle.”

I blink. “My lifestyle?”

“You took a vow before God, sweetie …”

But what about his vow?

“... and the Bible says that God hates divorce.” She clicks her tongue. “And I know you know this from your father. The Bible calls leaders to be above reproach, that they are to manage their households. Leaving your poor sweet husband is in poor taste. And now I hear you’re helping people get drunk at that bar?” She scoffs. “You can’t be an effective witness for the Lord living in sin. I had no choice, sweetie. Maybe once you get your life right, we can let you serve again, but right now?” She blows out an exaggerated breath. “I’m going to pray for you.”

A bullet would’ve been more gentle.

Tears sting my eyes as emotions burn behind my nose.

I refuse to cry. Not yet. Holding my head up, I force my Christian smile. “Have a good night, Jane.”

She grins, but can’t get away fast enough. She gets into her car and takes off into the night.

“There you are!” Rachel saddles up next to me, a plate of cheese and fruit in her hands. “Did you get everything squared away with Jane?”

I’m too embarrassed to rehash what just happened. Not when I’m not sorry that I divorced my husband. I’m not sorry I kept the reason a secret for the past three years. And I’m not sorry for finding a job to help pay for the damage my ex has done.

I unlock the doors to my car. “Yep. Everything is crystal clear.”

Chapter 6