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Tonya
Church bells? Tonya looked out the bathroom window but couldn’t see anything. She went into the kitchen and looked out a bigger window. But what was she looking for? She knew there was no church within sight.
Except that there was. The old abandoned church on Providence Ave. She stepped outside and looked up. She could clearly see the old steeple peeking out above the neighboring roofs. It certainly sounded like the bells were coming from there, but why? Had someone started that church up again? She looked at her phone. It was ten-forty. Who starts a service at ten-forty? Had some kids broken in and started ringing the bell? She almost laughed at the foolishness of that theory. Kids did get up to mischief, but not usually on Sunday mornings.
She looked around for Emma and saw her slipping through the hedge across the street. She thought about following her, but she knew she looked a fright, and she feared there was liquor on her breath, so she slipped back inside.
Fiona was back in the kitchen. “What do you make of that?”
Tonya shrugged. “No idea.”
“You churches don’t talk to each other?”
“That’s the thing! We do. I know what’s happening at every church within twenty miles, but I have no idea what’s happening over there. That place has been empty for years. It’s not even owned by a church anymore. Someone bought it privately.”
“Who would want that place?”
Tonya shrugged. “I can’t imagine.” A small panic fluttered through her. Would a new church pilfer the people from her church? Then she was reminded that her church wasn’t her church anymore.
“I take it you’re taking this Sunday off?” Fiona said gently.
Tonya nodded. “I can’t go.”
“Sure you can, if you wanted to. You can do anything you want.”
Tonya sighed. “No, if I went, it would be like saying that I support their decision to terminate my husband.”
“Well, don’t you?”
What? Of course she didn’t. Wait. Maybe she did. A little. “I don’t know. But I can’t walk in there. I can’t face those people, knowing what they know. I could barely stand it last week, but I had to do it to help us keep our jobs, to help us keep our home. Now there’s nothing to fight for.”
Fiona was studying her.
“What?”
“You said our. Our jobs. Were you employed there as well?”
“No, but I might as well have been. It was a full-time job.”
“Without pay.”
Tonya held her arms out to her sides. “My rewards are eternal.”
Fiona looked skeptical.
Emma came rushing back inside. “Did you guys hear that?”
They both nodded.
“There’s some weird lady standing on the front steps inviting people inside.”
Tonya laughed. “Weird lady? What does that mean?”
“Okay, well, she’s not weird exactly. She was just ... I don’t know. What she was doing was weird, that’s all. And there were about ten cars there.”
“Ten? Really?” So maybe they were starting a new church. Though who “they” were was a complete mystery.
“Whose cars?”
Emma gave her an incredulous look. “I don’t know! I don’t know what everyone in Carver Harbor drives! Besides, I didn’t even look at the cars, just noticed that they were there. You want me to go back and look? Take down some plate numbers?”
Tonya looked at her quickly. She didn’t know if she was joking.
“I’m kidding. But not about going. Wanna go check it out?”
Tonya was beyond surprised at the question. “Do you?”
Emma shrugged, looking sheepish. “Let’s go see what it’s all about. If it’s creepy, we don’t have to stay. And remember, we’ve got to find a new church.”
“Not today we don’t.”
Emma looked disappointed.
“I’m sorry, honey. I just woke up. I don’t have a change of clothes or my makeup ...” She didn’t add the concern about liquor breath. “I can’t go anywhere right now, let alone a new church.” The idea of presenting herself to a whole new batch of people made her stomach cramp.
“They’ll probably be there again next week,” Fiona said, breaking the silence.
Tonya looked at her new friend. “I promise I will get a plan together soon, but I am really, really tired. Do you mind if I lie down for a little while?”
Fiona gestured toward the couch. “Make yourself at home.”
Emma followed her into the living room and then looked down at her. “Are you hungover?”
She forced a laugh. “I only had two drinks.”
Emma folded her arms across her chest, waiting for a more definitive answer.
“No. I promise, I am not hung over. I’m just tired.” She rolled over. She was more tired than she’d ever been. Her eyes burned, her throat hurt, and she just couldn’t face her to-do list yet. She couldn’t think about facing anything. She just wanted to close her eyes and not think.
