Free When Sunday Comes Again by Terry E. Hill

merciless and, by some standards, unscrupulous in winning her the million-dollar home in Brentwood, a vacation home on Lake Tahoe, full custody of the child he thought was his, alimony and child support so high that it forced her ex-husband to rent a studio in the less than affluent Leimert Park section of the city.
    â€œIt’s about trust, Scarlett. It’s about you not trusting me enough to tell me the truth about Natalie. It’s about Hezekiah not taking responsibility for his daughter. If I had known, I would have made him pay.”
    â€œI know you would have. And that’s another reason I never told you. I’ve never wanted anything from Hezekiah or Samantha. I saw how you destroyed my first husband, and I didn’t want you to do that to Hezekiah.”
    â€œWhy not? If Natalie is his child, he had a legal and moral responsibility to care for her,” David said with a mix of lawyerly wisdom and wounded rage.
    â€œI know what you’re capable of, David. This would have consumed you. It would have been less about you looking out for Natalie’s well-being and more about you wanting to destroy someone you felt had hurt me.”
    â€œIs that so wrong?” he asked, walking closer to her. His voice became calm as he cupped her bare shoulders with each hand. “I love you, and I love Natalie. I would do anything to protect you.”
    â€œThat’s just it, David. I didn’t need you to protect me from . . .” Her voice trailed off as she held back tears.
    There was no need for Scarlett to complete the sentence. The veil of sorrow that shrouded her face confirmed for David what he already believed.
    â€œIt’s because you were . . .” David removed his hands from her moist shoulders and stepped back. “Because you are still in love with him.”
    Scarlett avoided his glare. “That’s not true, David.”
    â€œThroughout our entire marriage you’ve been in love with Hezekiah.”
    â€œNo, David,” she pleaded.
    â€œThat’s why you never left New Testament Cathedral.”
    â€œDon’t do this, David.”
    â€œYou wanted to be near Hezekiah Cleaveland.”
    Scarlett’s knees went limp, causing her to wilt onto the edge of the bathtub. “David, please stop. It isn’t true,” she pleaded. “I love you.”
    â€œYou don’t love me. How could you?” David stood menacingly above her.
    â€œEverything you’ve done since you met me has been to keep you close to Hezekiah. Pressuring me to join New Testament Cathedral, you accepting the appointment to the board of trustees, insisting that Hezekiah officiate at our wedding. Were you still sleeping with him? How could I have been so stupid? It’s always been about Hezekiah Cleaveland.”
    â€œIt’s not true, David,” Scarlett cried. “I swear to you, none of that is true.”

Chapter 5
    The morning traffic had given way to cautious older drivers on their way to the local market or the post office, and the odd public bus making another round of the city. Danny stood alone in the window of his small apartment looking over Adams Boulevard.
    In the distance he could see four homeless men sitting in a bus shelter. From their animated hand jesters, he assumed they had already drunk their morning’s ration of alcohol and were making plans to get more. Danny recognized each of the men, as they had occupied various spots around his neighborhood for the last six months. He had never offered food or pocket change to the group of regulars for fear that if he did, they would discover where he lived and return for additional kindness. The apartment was his only refuge, and he refused to share it with the needy people he encountered on a daily basis in his job as a homeless outreach worker in downtown Los Angeles.
    Danny’s bohemian taste was reflected in the eclectic mix of flea market and garage sale finds that filled every