filled with the tantalizing smells of a Kentucky breakfast. Satisfied with her accomplishment, Caitlin nibbled at the crisp, browned edges of the pancake on her plate. Food, delicious and expertly prepared, relaxed and soothed her. She made a mental note to herself to buy maple syrup at the grocery store.
Her daughters words shattered her calm. Mama, why dont we go to church?
Keeping her face expressionless, Caitlin swallowed the last mouthful of pancake, stood, and walked to the sink to slip her plate into the soapy water. She worked to keep her tone casual. Why do you ask?
A priest came into the pub to see us. He knew our names.
Caitlin turned around and leaned against the sink, arms crossed against her chest. Do you remember his name?
Annie nodded. Father Duran.
What did he say?
The girl shrugged and swallowed the rest of her pancake. Nothing much except that he was happy to meet us. He wants you to bring us to church. I told him we didnt go.
Oh, lord, Annie, Caitlin groaned. What did he say to that?
Annie, gratified by her mothers interest, continued eagerly. He said it sounded as if you hadnt changed much and then Gran said you had.
Dear old Mum. I always could count on her support, mumbled Caitlin under her breath.
Annies forehead creased. What?
Never mind, love. For a man who said nothing, you certainly remembered a great deal of his conversation.
He was nice but Gran wanted him to leave.
Did she now?
Annie nodded. Why dont we, Mama?
Why dont we what?
Why dont we go to church?
Caitlin surveyed her fingernails. Three weeks of hot soapy water and no dishwasher had destroyed her manicure. Mustering her courage, she met Annies dark eyes. When I was a child I went to church every Sunday of my life. I longed for a day to sleep as late as I wanted and do nothing. It was different for you. If youre curious and would like to go to church, Annie, then of course you may go.
Will you go, too?
Caitlin gave up, anything to wipe away that anxious look from Annies little face. Yes, love, if it makes you happy.
Annie picked up her plate and carried it to the sink, something shed never done in Kentucky. I would like to try it, Mama. It will make Gran happy, too.
First church and now this. Annies defection frightened her. You neednt worry about Gran, Annie, Caitlin said. Shes not the type of person who can ever be really pleased about anything.
Annies eyes widened until the ratio of brown iris and creamy skin appeared nearly the same. Why not?
She doesnt think she deserves it.
Has she done something bad?
Already regretting her frankness, Caitlin struggled to make the truth benign enough for a ten year old to understand. Its the way she was raised, love. She was brought up to believe certain superstitions. The fear that too much happiness cant possibly last is one of them. Do you understand?
Annie wrinkled her forehead. I think so. Poor Gran.
Caitlin rested her hands on her daughters shoulders. Shes not really unhappy. But shes never known any other way. Its important for you to understand that we must respect her and love her but we mustnt think we can change her. After a certain age people dont change, Annie, not unless they want to.
Annie pulled away and began to wander about the kitchen, opening drawers, fingering utensils. Shall we tell Ben about the pancakes?
Caitlin sighed. The subject was ended. Naivete worked every time. Shed used the same tactic herself when she was Annies age. Ill freeze some for him and he can have them tomorrow.
Have what tomorrow? Ben asked from the entrance to the pub.
His mother smiled. Bens well-scrubbed, chubby-cheeked appeal was difficult to resist. I made pancakes. Would you like some?
Ben thought a minute and then shook his head and held up a small package. Gran gave me biscuits. These are for you, Annie, he said generously.
Im not hungry, she said. You can have them.
He stuffed the package in his pocket and walked across the kitchen to where his mother stood. When
Her daughters words shattered her calm. Mama, why dont we go to church?
Keeping her face expressionless, Caitlin swallowed the last mouthful of pancake, stood, and walked to the sink to slip her plate into the soapy water. She worked to keep her tone casual. Why do you ask?
A priest came into the pub to see us. He knew our names.
Caitlin turned around and leaned against the sink, arms crossed against her chest. Do you remember his name?
Annie nodded. Father Duran.
What did he say?
The girl shrugged and swallowed the rest of her pancake. Nothing much except that he was happy to meet us. He wants you to bring us to church. I told him we didnt go.
Oh, lord, Annie, Caitlin groaned. What did he say to that?
Annie, gratified by her mothers interest, continued eagerly. He said it sounded as if you hadnt changed much and then Gran said you had.
Dear old Mum. I always could count on her support, mumbled Caitlin under her breath.
Annies forehead creased. What?
Never mind, love. For a man who said nothing, you certainly remembered a great deal of his conversation.
He was nice but Gran wanted him to leave.
Did she now?
Annie nodded. Why dont we, Mama?
Why dont we what?
Why dont we go to church?
Caitlin surveyed her fingernails. Three weeks of hot soapy water and no dishwasher had destroyed her manicure. Mustering her courage, she met Annies dark eyes. When I was a child I went to church every Sunday of my life. I longed for a day to sleep as late as I wanted and do nothing. It was different for you. If youre curious and would like to go to church, Annie, then of course you may go.
Will you go, too?
Caitlin gave up, anything to wipe away that anxious look from Annies little face. Yes, love, if it makes you happy.
Annie picked up her plate and carried it to the sink, something shed never done in Kentucky. I would like to try it, Mama. It will make Gran happy, too.
First church and now this. Annies defection frightened her. You neednt worry about Gran, Annie, Caitlin said. Shes not the type of person who can ever be really pleased about anything.
Annies eyes widened until the ratio of brown iris and creamy skin appeared nearly the same. Why not?
She doesnt think she deserves it.
Has she done something bad?
Already regretting her frankness, Caitlin struggled to make the truth benign enough for a ten year old to understand. Its the way she was raised, love. She was brought up to believe certain superstitions. The fear that too much happiness cant possibly last is one of them. Do you understand?
Annie wrinkled her forehead. I think so. Poor Gran.
Caitlin rested her hands on her daughters shoulders. Shes not really unhappy. But shes never known any other way. Its important for you to understand that we must respect her and love her but we mustnt think we can change her. After a certain age people dont change, Annie, not unless they want to.
Annie pulled away and began to wander about the kitchen, opening drawers, fingering utensils. Shall we tell Ben about the pancakes?
Caitlin sighed. The subject was ended. Naivete worked every time. Shed used the same tactic herself when she was Annies age. Ill freeze some for him and he can have them tomorrow.
Have what tomorrow? Ben asked from the entrance to the pub.
His mother smiled. Bens well-scrubbed, chubby-cheeked appeal was difficult to resist. I made pancakes. Would you like some?
Ben thought a minute and then shook his head and held up a small package. Gran gave me biscuits. These are for you, Annie, he said generously.
Im not hungry, she said. You can have them.
He stuffed the package in his pocket and walked across the kitchen to where his mother stood. When
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