Free Pretense by Lori Wick Page A

the girls. Delancey thought they would be dropped at the curb. Her mother walked calmly across the schoolyard, a daughter on either side of her, and moved toward Mackenzie's room. Checking the list of names by the door just to be certain. Marrell first dropped off Mackenzie and then a pale Delancey.
    She made herself leave the girls in the hands of their competent teachers, relieved that she was meeting Shay in just a few hours.
    "Well, how did they do?" Shay asked Marrell.
    "Micki seemed fine, but D.J. was just about sick with nerves. It helped that her teacher was very kind and waiting right outside the door for the students."
    The women were going to lunch. Marrell had gone to Shay's office, and now Shay was driving them to one of her favorite restaurants on the pier.
    "Did Delancey ask to stay home?"
    "Oh, yes."
    Shay chuckled. "I remember doing the same thing. I was always so frightened on the first day of school."
    "But you didn't change schools."
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    "No, I didn't, and that's the weird thing about it. I felt that way, you know, sick and nervous, at the beginning of every school year. I always had it in my head that all my friends had moved away and I would be all alone. I should have talked to Delancey and told her I know how she feels."
    "Well, I hope everything goes well. Even as I said to her that everyone would like her, I remembered how cruel kids could be. At least she likes her teacher."
    They were at the restaurant now, and since Shay was recognized, they were seated at a good table by the window, giving them a perfect view of the bay and the sailboats on the water. Several people stopped to speak with Shay, but Marrell was hungry and kept her face in the menu.
    "What's good, Shay? I'm starved."
    "The crab salad is excellent. It gives me fish breath, so I don't eat it if a client is coming in, but I love it."
    "Sounds good." Marrell closed the menu. "That and iced tea, and I'm all set."
    "I'll do the same, I guess." The women put the menus aside, and Shay asked, "What was Paul doing today?"
    "I think the same as usual. He enjoys his work, and sometimes it takes him out of the office, but I don't usually hear about it until he gets home. He tried to set up a helicopter ride for the girls before school started but had to put it off until October. They don't know about it yet, but they'll love it."
    "I'm so glad you mentioned October. My landlady, Rose, I think you met her-"
    "Yes, I did."
    "Well, her church is having a women's seminar, and she really wants me to go, but I don't want to. It would be easier if you would go with me."
    "Shay, why would you attend something that holds no interest for you?"
    Shay looked frustrated. "She's been a friend and a great landlady, and she's always so kind. I think if I just go to one thing at her church, she'll understand that I'm not into religion and won't ask anymore."
    "I've done that," Marrell admitted, her nose wrinkling in self- disgust. "I've attended something just to get someone off my back. You know what you should do, Shay? Go to one service
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    with her. That will do the trick. Why waste a whole Saturday or a weekend when you could take care of it with one service?"
    "That's a good idea. Maybe I'll do that. Do you and Paul go to church?"
    "No. I didn't grow up with it, and neither did Paul, so he's not interested. I want the girls to make their own choices and not have Paul and me preaching to them. Not too many years ago my grandmother started to attend church with a neighbor, but she doesn't speak of it much. We went with her when we were there for Christmas, but I think it's better if we all have our own beliefs. If there is a heaven and God can see us, He must know that we've tried hard and done our best on this earth. I don't think any one religion has all the answers."
    "That's not what Rose would say," Shay commented as she put sugar in her tea. "She says the Bible is the bottom-line authority."
    Marrell shrugged.
    The subject was cut short when the