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Unfortunately all he could hear were murmurs from the other side. It had sounded like they were arguing. A noise in the main hallway made it necessary for him to return to the men’s room, but he’d witnessed enough. There was no reason for Susan to be in Douglas Underwood’s study tonight. The only activity she participated in at the church, besides being secretary of the United Methodist Women, was the choir, and the preacher had nothing to do with either of those.
    His suspicions had been correct. There was something going on between those two. Now he just needed to decide how to handle it.
     
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Adelaide arrived at the church early on Friday morning to help the first shift of Christmas Bazaar workers get settled in the various Sunday school classrooms.
    Entering the first classroom, which on Sunday morning housed the Christian Circle class, she was thrilled by the way the tables were arranged. Handmade Christmas tree ornaments were displayed attractively. In one corner an artificial Christmas tree held many more of the distinctive adornments. Household items in holiday themes, such as ceramic soap dishes, hand towels, embroidered tablecloths, decorative wall hangings and hooked door mats, all made by devoted church members, filled several more tabletops. On a small table in another corner handmade candles were displayed. The aroma of cinnamon along with pine filled the air. There was also Christmas music, thanks to the church’s PA system.
    “Good morning ladies,” Adelaide said breezily.
    Ethel, who was rearranging merchandise on one of the tables, looked up and smiled. Susan Hatfield, from her position at the Christmas tree, merely nodded. In Adelaide’s opinion the woman looked haggard, as though she’d slept poorly, although she was, as always, well turned out. Her hair was piled high atop her head today with an attractive comb holding it in place. Jade earrings dangled from her earlobes. The turquoise-colored outfit she wore was no doubt a designer original.
    Poor Jerry, footing the bill for all her fine things. Well, I suppose he doesn’t mind. Everyone knows how he spoils her. Who would have thought the obese teen would blossom into the woman who made men’s heads turn when they passed her on the street.
    It was true. Susan had been one of those girls about whom it was often said She has such a beautiful face, it’s a shame she’s so fat. Adelaide could only imagine the torture she’d endured before the miracles of modern medicine caught up with her needs. Bariatric surgery had turned her life around.
    “Are you in a trance, Adelaide?” Ethel asked.
    Adelaide shook herself out of her reverie, glancing sideways at her friend. Today Ethel was wearing a stylish emerald green dress that toned down her well rounded figure. Her only jewelry was a bright red pin in the shape of a Christmas tree.
    Adelaide thought about her own attire, a pair of black slacks, white blouse and crimson blazer. She rarely wore dresses, citing her birdlike thin legs as the reason. They weren’t her best feature, so she opted to cover them up. Albert had once referred to her as statuesque. In her opinion it was just another way of saying she was tall. Her father had always encouraged her not to slump, often pulling her shoulders back from behind when she did so. Now she had good posture, something she often thanked him for silently. But she’d always considered her best feature to be her luxuriant auburn hair, which she now kept cut stylishly short.
    “I’m just thrilled by the way this room looks. You two did a great job,” Adelaide told Ethel. In a lower voice she added, “What’s wrong with Susan? She looks like she’s ready to burst into tears.”
    Ethel glanced across the room. “She’s been like that since she got here. I’m not surprised though after what I witnessed last night on their front porch.” She drew Adelaide aside out of Susan’s earshot.
    Adelaide listened with mounting