Where was this leading? Marla wondered.
“Recently we’ve had so many problems within the family that there have been ugly accusations slung in all directions. Words have been spoken in anger. Words that most of us regret.
“Cherise . . . well, I think I speak for Montgomery as well, has been very upset ever since the accident that nearly took her cousin’s life. When she tried to contact Marla, she was treated as if she were an outsider.” Donald’s big shoulders slumped. “We were hoping that we could all start over, that the fractured parts of the family could come together and we could put our differences behind us. That Marla lived was a miracle, most certainly God’s work. It wasn’t time to call her home yet.
“Now let’s use His example and heal the rifts in our family.” Donald’s somber eyes met Nick’s. “Let’s be a team again.”
Nick studied the preacher with a jaundiced eye. “I don’t remember being a part of any team.”
“Certainly. The Cahill Family Team.”
Marla thought she might get sick. Was this guy for real?
“You’re serious?” Nick said. “The Cahill Family Team? Kind of like the Trapp Family Singers?”
“Don’t be so snide.” Cherise pursed her scarlet lips and managed to appear wounded. “Of course we were a team. Years ago. When we were kids.”
“That was a long time ago,” Eugenia pointed out.
“I know but I’m enough of an idealist to think we can get it back again,” Cherise insisted as her husband stood and drew her to her feet. “No matter what has happened, we’re all family.”
Donald said, “We’re inviting you to the church, for services this Sunday. Afterward we’d like to have all the family to dinner at our house.”
“Please come,” Cherise insisted and hugged first Nick, then Marla. She took Eugenia’s hand in hers. “Bring Alex, Cissy and the baby.”
I’d rather share a rat with a python, Marla though.
“Will Montgomery be there?” Nick asked, and Cherise’s smile faltered a bit.
“I’ll invite him of course. With Monty you sometimes don’t know. I really wanted him to come today, but unfortunately he had other plans. I’ll try to talk him into coming over to the house on Sunday, though.”
“We’ll see,” Eugenia said frostily but Cherise didn’t seem to notice.
They were about to take their leave when Nick asked, “Was Pamela Delacroix a member of Holy Tr
inity?”
Donald’s spine stiffened slightly. His expression, beneath his calm exterior, shifted slightly. Warily. “Yes,” he said, his eyebrows knotting. “It was a great loss for the congregation.”
Marla couldn’t believe her ears. “You knew her?” she asked. Finally, a connection.
“Not personally, no, I’m ashamed to say. She wasn’t a regular, but she did attend services once in a while.”
“What about you? Did you know her?” Marla demanded, her eyes fastened on Cherise.
“Not at all. I mean, I wouldn’t even have known what she looked like,” Cherise said quickly. “The Reverend was right, she came a couple of times a few months ago, but she didn’t join any of the groups we have available. We offer Bible study several times a week, and a woman’s focus group and even singles counseling, but she didn’t join in.”
“Then how did you know she attended?” Marla asked. “Did she tithe with a check?”
“No . . . after she died one of the women who teaches an adult Sunday school class mentioned it. She’d seen Pam’s obituary in the paper and we started our prayer tree—that’s a telephone chain within the congregation, so that everyone could pray for her and her family.”
“Did you meet her family? Her daughter?” Marla asked.
“I didn’t even meet Pam,” Cherise reminded her, but she seemed uncomfortable, suddenly eager to leave, as if there was something about the conversation that made her nervous.
Nick cocked his head to one side. “You didn’t mention that you had any connection with her when you stopped by the hotel the other night.”
“It slipped my mind.” Cherise shot back. “So sue me.”