If that was what it took to get the church up and running again, I would do it.
For June.
“You plannin’ to stand there lookin’ pretty,” Francine called, looking up at me, “or are you gonna come join the conversation?”
I gave her a dry look, but it didn’t have much bite. “Didn’t want to intrude on the snakebite recap.”
“You were the one who saved our dear preacher,” Birdie pointed out. “Sounds like you’re part of the story.”
“And part of the plan,” June added, giving me a look that felt too intimate for this room.
Loretta cleared her throat.
“Sit down, Silas,” she instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” I chuckled, and obeyed. I brought my plate with me and sat on the floral-print loveseat beside June, where she immediately picked up my fork and helped herself to a bite of ambrosia.
Loretta folded her hands in her lap. “Now that we’ve all had our fun—Reverend, we’d love to hear what you have in mind.”
June nodded, swallowed—then put on her Serious Reverend Face. “I want to hold an open house. Potluck, music, maybe a little community blessing if people are comfortable with it. Just…something casual to bring folks in and make it clear this isn’t going to be a fire-and-brimstone operation. This church…it’ll be a refuge. The kind of church Willow Grove has always deserved.”
Francine leaned in toward me. “Oh…I like her. You have good taste, Silas.”
Birdie gave a little nod. “A welcoming church. That’s long overdue.”
Loretta hummed, but she didn’t look quite as hopeful as the others. “We have a problem though, don’t we?”
Francine’s smile faded into a grimace. “Right…those damn Trents.”
“June said you recently got some kinda…fake legal document sayin’ Abel Trent was comin’ back to reclaim the church,” Loretta said to me. “And I heard at Mabel’s this snakebite may have been a threat?”
“Or worse—an attempted murder,” Birdie chimed in.
I shifted in my seat, moving to put down my plate on the side table. “We don’t have proof,” I said carefully, “but yeah…I’m startin’ to think it wasn’t a coincidence. The snake, the timing, the fact that Abel’s suddenly sniffin’ around again? It lines up too neatly.”
June glanced at me, and her hand found my knee—natural, like she’d done it a thousand times before. She always had this tendency to read me, even when I hadn’t given any sign I needed her touch.
Although…if I was being honest, I always needed her touch.
Francine folded her arms, leaning back in her rocking chair. “I knew that boy was trouble even back when he was still a kid,” she said. “Too slick by half. Always had that performative kind of righteousness, like he was puttin’ on a show for God.”
“I don’t know if he’s even got a god,” Loretta muttered, “but he sure as hell believes in power.”
“He’s not getting the church,” June said firmly. “Not while I’m here.”
That earned a nod from all three women, and a hushedamenfrom Francine.
“So what do we need to do?” Birdie asked, already pulling a notebook and pen out of her purse. “If this is war, we’ll get our ducks in a row.”
A smile ghosted over my lips at the idea of organizing ducks for a war. None of the women noticed; they had more important business at hand.
“We’re holding the open house,” June said, resolute. “Make it loud, make it warm…make itours. Let the wholetown see what we’re building, and let the people of Willow Grove choose.”
“Well, we ran ‘em out once before, and we’ll do it again,” Loretta said.
“And it was well-deserved,” Francine added
June nodded, listening—then she frowned. “Silas has told me a little, but…would you mind sharing more details? Just so I know what kind of minefield I’m walking into with folks who were harmed by the Fellowship.”
