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I swear before God I’ve never slept with Sheila, Ashley. I’ll take a lie detector test if I have to.
Oh, Cord. Has it come to that? A lie detector test?
Her heart shattered, Ashley left Sister Bernice’s office to go to her room, all appetite having left her.
“Do you have to go home today, Ashley?” One of the little girls from Sunday school stopped her at the top of the stairs.
The word home reverberated in her mind. Where was that? With Cord?
“I do, Becky. But I’ll come again.”
“Promise? I like you.”
“I like you, too, and I promise you’ll see me again, darling.” She gave the seven-year-old a big hug, then hurried off as fast as her pregnant body would allow.
Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, Ashley stayed in her room to finish the baby quilt, more often than not having to wipe her eyes so she could see to make stitches. There was no buffer against the agony brought on by Sheila’s unprecedented visit to the orphanage.
Ashley found herself wishing she could stay at St. Anne’s indefinitely. The thought of having to go home with Cord and live under the same roof with Sheila was tearing her to pieces. The possibility that he might have lied to her about his smoking problem had stolen the ground out from under her.
If Sheila hadn’t lied, then how much of what Cord had said over the last few days could she honestly believe?
She felt like she was right back where they’d started last Monday morning. Adversaries. But with one difference…
This time Ashley was determined to see this thing through to the bitter end. Though she had no hope for a happy outcome, Vince had made her understand that she needed to resolve certain issues or she would continue to battle them long after the divorce was final. That idea was insupportable.
“Ashley?”
She looked up to see Sister Bernice in the doorway. The head nun had no idea that Cord’s stepmother had been the woman who’d come to see her earlier in the day. Sheila would have used another name.
“Yes?”
As much as Ashley wanted to know the details of their conversation, she couldn’t bring herself to ask any questions.
As far as she was concerned, she’d come to the end of the line. No one could help her except herself. What was it Sister Bernice had said a few days ago? “You’re a big girl now, Ashley.”
That’s right, Sister. I'm on my own.
“Your husband has arrived and is waiting most impatiently down in the foyer,” she imparted that little bit of news with a smile.
Ashley got up from the bed. “Thank you for telling me.”
At her unemotional response the nun’s keen eyes took on that familiar, quizzical look. Sometimes Ashley thought the older woman was a prophetess because she always knew when something was wrong.
“You’ve been a blessing in disguise here. I hope you haven’t overdone it. Run along now. Don’t keep him waiting.”
“You’re sure you don’t need me for anything else?”
She darted Ashley a severe glance. “I can think of dozens of things, but not when you’re pregnant and not when your place is with your husband. Courage, my dear.”
It’s going to take a lot more than that, Sister.
“Thank you for letting me stay here.”
Sister Bernice knew Ashley too well. A vexed expression broke out on her face. “We’re all indebted to you for the extra pair of hands, but now you must go. God bless you. Call me whenever you need me.”
Ashley’s throat swelled. “I will.”
Before she broke down in front of her mentor, Ashley reached for her overnight bag. Cord had kept everything else with him.
