CHAPTER 7: NATIVITY REHEARSAL
DOC’S MANUSCRIPT
New Orleans, December 4, 1987
Befuddled, Mark looked at Linda. “Why? Why can’t I say no?”
Mark had been getting ready for bed when Linda came in. He sat on their bed and kicked
off his shoes, trying to figure out where her latest idea came from. They took Elspeth
to the dock that morning to see her off on her cruise. Her departure trailed a string
of surprises, and this was the biggest.
“The whole church will talk if you back out after I volunteered you,” Linda said.
“It can’t be that hard.” She snuggled up to him and started to unbutton his shirt.
“Or is it?”
“I don’t care, and I don’t know a damned . . .” Mark reconsidered her comment as
Linda undid another button. She’d been distant and cold since Thanksgiving. What
was she up
