Sunday, Paris and Jedrick stayed away from her at church. She spent most of her time shoved between Maman and the armrest on the pew, as she did every week. People still came to church religiously. Some things never changed. Many things never changed.
Jedrick, sitting two rows in front of her and clutching Paris’s arm, turned around and mouthed, “I’m sorry,” in her general direction during the sign of peace. Jeanne whistled back at him, and her mother tugged sharply on her shirt in retaliation. But Paris heard the whistle, too, and her shoulders slumped guiltily forward. Jeanne had a distinct hope things would be normal soon.
Immediately after the last hymn ended, Maman left Suzette in Gramaman’s care—how they had been jostling for the child’s attention during mass!—and pulled Jeanne w
