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exactly. My family isn’t all that religious, except for my mother. Mum goes to Mass a couple of times a week. She’s always trying to make good Catholics out of the rest of us. Dad’s always teasing her. He tells her she makes up for all of us.”
    Kathleen hesitated as the muscles in Otis Conroy’s jaw twitched and his lips set in a firm straight line.
    â€œI haven’t been to mass in ages,” she continued, “but I do like to go every now and then. Is there a Catholic church close by? When I get a chance, I’d like to visit the priest and introduce myself.”
    Her father-in-law ground out the words between clenched teeth. “I, we didn’t know Bobby had married a Catholic. We thought you were a Christian.”
    Kathleen’s knife slipped out of her hand and clattered onto her plate. “What do you mean you thought I was a Christian? Of course I am. I just told you I was Catholic.”
    Otis Conroy’s leaned toward her. “Yes, you did. And I’m tellin’ you Catholics ain’t Christians. People who worship an idol, and a woman idol at that, can’t call themselves Christian. Didn’t you know that? They ain’t been saved. They ain’t been born again.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by born again? I’ve never heard the expression before.”
    The man’s mouth twisted into a sneer as he slowly shook his head. “Born again ain’t just an expression. It’s a way of life.” His tone changed from angry to almost wheedling and he closed his fanatic’s eyes. “I’m hearin’ a message here straight from Jesus. It’s comin’ through loud and clear. He’s tellin’ me there’s hope for you, Kathleen. We can save your poor lost soul. Yes ma’am, you can be born again.”
    He reached out and placed his clammy hand on top of hers and it was all she could do not to snatch it away.
    â€œI think I’m doing all right.” She prayed her voice sounded normal, that they couldn’t see she was dying inside. “I don’t want to change my religion. My family’s always been Catholic. Thanks very much though.”
    She turned away from Otis Conroy, unable to stare into those blazing eyes any longer. His wife still stared at her plate, as she had throughout the meal. Selma’s mouth hung open, eyes incredulous, looking as if her new sister-in-law had just turned down the chance of a lifetime.
    Kathleen stood up, hands gripping the edge of the table. “I hope you won’t think I’m rude, but I’m not used to this heat. If you’ll excuse me I’ll go for a walk.”
    She swiped at the angry tears as she strode down the driveway and onto the street.
    â€œBob darling, please hurry home,” she whispered into the dark. “I can’t stay here without you.”
    She looked through lighted windows as she made her way along the deserted street. What were the people like who moved about the rooms in the little houses? Were they of the same mind as the Conroys? Maybe in a day or two she’d get a chance to meet some of them and find out.
    At the end of the street, she leaned for a long time against a tree. As the twilight deepened, the first fireflies she’d ever seen in her life outside of the movies flickered and danced around her. At any other time she would have been entranced at the sight, but not now.
    The lights of a car come toward her. As it slowed to make the turn she saw Otis Conroy and Selma in the front seat. Kathleen backed further into the shadow of the tree, and the car continued on its way.
    A sudden weariness enveloped her as she walked back down Bennington Street. Maybe with a bit of luck she could return to the house and be in her bedroom before they returned. As she opened the screen door and walked across the porch toward the kitchen, she hid her surprise when her mother-in-law’s weary face lit up at the sight of