Page 221 of Taken Away

A small smile touched her lips.

"Old habits."

"For Fain?"

"For company."

She picked up one cup.

"Turns out the Lord's pretty faithful about sending someone."

Burke couldn't help smiling.

He liked her already.

They settled at the small oak table.

Between them sat Mabel's planner.

Patsy's eyes softened the moment she saw it.

"I gave her that."

"You did?"

"Christmas."

She reached out, gently touching the worn leather cover.

"Mabel said she had too many people to pray for to trust her memory anymore."

Burke opened it to several marked pages.

"I kept seeing your name."

She nodded.

"We had lunch nearly every Thursday for...Lord." She smiled. "Over fifty years."

Burke raised his eyebrows.

"Fifty?”

"Missed a few when babies came along."

She laughed.

"And after surgeries."

"But otherwise..." Her expression softened. "Thursday belonged to us."

Burke looked down at the planner.

Tea with Patsy.

Lunch with Patsy.

Church with Patsy.