Saturday afternoon, Claire filled her satchel with the last of what she wanted to take with her, slipped a note to her parents under the pillow, and left her childhood room for the last time. Next time she would see it, whenever that would be, she would enter as a whole woman, married to Anthony. Would she be welcomed back like the prodigal son, or would her parents turn their backs after this rash escape? Her father would accept her. Her mother, well, that was not certain.
"Be back in time for church tomorrow," her mother told Claire as she went through the foyer. “The Doughertys and their son—Alan is his name—are going to join us afterward for Sunday dinner."
"But Mother," Claire sighed. This was the son of her father"s workmate that Mother had told her about earlier. She let her retor
