Ten
THE REST OF THE WEEK is surprisingly normal—more or less—and brings forth no more letters from SSM. In fact, Sunday morning seems blessedly routine until I enter the church.
Apparently being a celebrity of sorts does have an impact on Mass attendance. I look out over my congregation as Dominic’s mother does the first two readings for the day. There are quite a few new faces and I offer a silent prayer for them, that they find here more than whatever they came looking for.
But what catches my eye is who’s missing. There are empty spaces in the pews. The Reynolds, the Sawyers, the Bakers, and the McLeashes are absent. It’s possible that everyone in the family is sick, but I suspect the real reason. They’ve left the parish. Anna warned me that might happen.
I fold my hands and close m
