Shady

"... Aren't they from out of state?" she asked. "Where would they go?"

"You'll be there soon," Sadie said encouragingly. "It's got to be a hard day; I'm sure your children understand. And it's only seven. The night is still young."

"Oh." Well, that made it better. Ever so slightly. It's not like it was a fresh wound. She nodded.

She cringed sympathetically. "I'm sorry you have to go through that."

Oh, gods. "... No, I didn't know that. I'm so sorry. That... must have hurt. I can't even imagine."

She cringed slightly, looking straight ahead. Well... she'd tried. She wasn't good at platitudes. Especially not towards religious people. She always felt like she was mocking them when she tried ...

Sadie nodded. “I wish you peace and happiness in her memory, then.”

“…I’m sorry.” Goddamn it she knew better. “That must be hard.”

Sadie nodded. “… are you married?” It felt like a dangerous topic; and yet the next natural question.

“I am.” Sadie smiled a bit and nod. “I’m very lucky to have someone as wonderful as him in my corner… makes me feel safe. Loved.”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “It was just… particularly so. He helped me out of a bad situation. We got close. Fell in love. You know how it goes.”

Sadie glanced out the opposite window, feeling the tension. “Uh… work… kind of. It’s complicated.”

“…yep.” She dipped her head. She wasn’t going to apologize for who she married; she loved him. “Coming up on six years now. Crazy to think about.”

Sadie grimaced, glancing over at him out of the corner of her eye discretely to see his reaction. “Meyer…Lovett.” Meyer had a low opinion of the reverend. And to hear ...

“Um… yeah.” She dipped her head, blushing a little at the reaction. She didn’t know what it meant.