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loveseat sitting along one wall. The study was dimly lit tonight, the only illumination coming from a green banker’s lamp on the teakwood desk. They sat down.
    “I’m as miserable as you are, Doug, believe me. I had a terrible fight with Jerry. He suspects something is going on between us.” She looked at his handsome face, taking in those amazing hazel eyes.
    “Fran knows I’m seeing someone, too. I see no reason to keep up the pretense any longer, Susan. We love each other. I’ll do whatever it takes for us to be together.” He held her hand tightly.
    Susan felt a moment of panic. “What are you talking about? We can’t go public with this!”
    He tightened his grip on her hand. “Why not? Obviously our spouses realize what is going on. It’s only a matter of time before members of the congregation catch on. We need to jump out in front of this. I’ll ask Fran for a divorce. After the dust settles from that, you can leave Jerry.”
    She pulled her hand away, jumping to her feet. “Are you crazy? I can’t leave Jerry!”
    He gazed up at her, a perplexed look on his face. “Come on, Susan. Divorce doesn’t have the stigma it once had, not even in the clergy.”
    “I’d lose everything. Jerry was furious tonight. He will never allow me to waltz off with half of our holdings. He’ll hire the best lawyer in the state. I’ll end up with nothing!”
    Getting up, Douglas took hold of her arms. “That’s nonsense, Susan. This is a no-fault, community property state. You’re entitled to half.”
    She shook herself free. “You don’t know Jerry. He can be ruthless, spiteful. No, I can’t do that.” She felt tears forming in her eyes.
    His expression softened. “Then what are we going to do, Susan? We need to be together. I need to be with you.” He buried his face in her hair. She could feel his warm breath against her neck.
    Reluctantly, she pulled away, heading for the door. “I have to get to practice.” She turned the key in the old-fashioned lock.
    He stepped around her, placing a hand on the door to keep it from opening. “Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll never ask this of you again.”
    She met his gaze. “Of course I love you. But there are just too many obstacles. This could ruin your career. People still have a narrow mind when it comes to divorced ministers, especially ones who then marry a parishioner. Tongues wag enough in this small town.”
    “Then what are we to do?” He caressed her cheek with his free hand.
    “I don’t know. If only…” She couldn’t finish that sentence. She wasn’t about to put into words what she was thinking.
    As she stepped out into the hallway, her hand still touching Douglas’s, she almost collided with Dora Carmody, diner owner and choir soprano, as she exited the women’s restroom.
    Susan watched as Dora’s gaze shifted from her to Doug. Susan drew her hand back from her lover’s but not soon enough she feared.
    “There you are, Susan. We were all wondering where you’d gotten to,” Dora said.
    Susan saw her cast a meaningful glance Doug’s way. She felt her cheeks grow hot. “We’d better get into the sanctuary. You know how Jeremy hates it when we’re late.”
    As they stepped into the main hallway, Susan heard the pastor’s door click shut behind them.
     
    * * * *
     
    Opening the door to the men’s room a little farther, Jerry Hatfield stepped into the hallway. He’d arrived just after Susan, watching from the shadows outside as she entered the church. Once she was clear of the main hallway, he’d entered the building. Sneaking into the short hallway that led to the pastor’s study, he’d ducked into the men’s room where he stood with the door open just a crack, waiting. He hadn’t had to wait long. Not even five minutes later, Susan came sneaking down the hallway, then knocked on the pastor’s door. Moments later he’d left the restroom, tiptoeing across the hall where he pressed his ear against the old oak door.