Lindsay had just left the pastor's office and was making her way home after successfully updating the church ledger.
It was almost twelve o'clock in the afternoon, she had remained with him in the office along with a few other church workers.
The pastor was expected at a meeting of the board of the city council along with other pastors as was the custom.
This was to update them on the state of the churches which were under the care of the city.
Happy with Lindsay for meeting up with his demands, the pastor was all smiles as he handed over other files to her containing every transaction the church had carried out over time.
"Glad of the opportunity to exercise what she had been taught to good use, Lindsay wasn't overwhelmed."
It had been days since she started working for the church and Lindsay was paid everyday for her services.
"However, that morning the pastor had said, " I know that you have other plans dear so I don't want you feeling guilty when you have a better offer."
"It's our prayer for you," he added and she thanked him profusely. "So, as soon as you are ready to move on, you just tell me about it," he continued and she nodded.
And just as she was leaving, his wife handed over a covered dish of fruit pie and said, " Give this to your children and kiss them for me."
Lindsay hugged her tightly before she could stop herself and quickly hurried away from the office.
She was thinking about it all as she walked home. "Rex didn't know that she had started doing odd jobs for the church and Lindsay wasn't ready for his nagging if she told him."
"You will have to tell him nonetheless Lindy before he finds out accidentally," her mother had told her early that morning.
"I will inform him as soon as he manages to find his way home today on time tonight," she had in turn promised her mother.
"Their relationship was not any better, and she noticed that the children were careful not to mention his name even when she tried to bring it up."
"He returned home very late at night and was gone in the morning way before the children woke up."
"That morning Loraine had called her but the network reception had been very poor and they were both in a rush to go out so Lindsay had promised to call her later in the day."
"She missed Loraine very much and hoped they would speak together that day. Her sister had been surprised when Lindsay told her that she was on her way to the office."
Getting to her neighborhood, "her children saw her first and began running in her direction, they were trying to see who would get to her first." Lindsay carefully adjusted her slightly heavy handbag on one of her shoulders.
Even Matt was not left behind as he trailed after Ashley and Danny. Her heart swelled with love and joy, realizing that they acted like normal happy children."
"For a long while, she had worried about their mental state, afraid that the setback to their lives would affect them."
"She had voiced her fears to both Loraine and her mother and they had both told her not to get ahead of herself, believing that they were in good hands."
"At the time she didn't understand what they had meant but now seeing them like this, it hit her."
"As long as they had her and their grandmother watching over them, they would turn out just fine," she surmised.
Soon, she felt their bodies envelope hers and, careful to balance her handbag ,she stooped down low to kiss each of their foreheads.
"Oh. And the winner goes to Matt," she said teasingly and both Ashley and Danny groaned playfully.
Walking hand in hand, they continued to the porch where their grandmother was seated, taking in the whole scene with a broad grin.
"You managed to handle all three, along with your bagful of files," her mother said, laughing out merrily.
"I tell you," Lindsay replied jokingly to her mother's words and shared in the laughter.
"I am glad to see you loosen up a little," her mother remarked and Lindsay nodded.
Opening her large bag, she brought out the leather bag containing the covered dish of fruit pie and showed it to them.
They quickly went into the house and while the children were washing their hands, Lindsay cut each one of them a slice including she and their grandmother.
After a while, Lindsay went to her room and once again called Loraine's number and her sister picked up at the first ring.
They exchanged pleasantries before her sister said, "so, you finally succeeded in getting a job?"
Taking a deep breath, Lindsay, "told her what really happened and how none of the places she had submitted her c-v called her back with any news."
"I was given a temporary job by my pastor until I can get a more permanent one and that was where I was off to at the time," Lindsay confessed.
"Seems to me that you are suffering because you are Lindsay Michaels, Rex's wife. Think about it Lindy, someone or some group of people are trying to run the family out of the city," Loraine said, sounding very convinced.
"You both are being stigmatized and it's time you changed your situation by starting afresh in a different location," she added.
Lindsay, "realized that her sister's suggestion made sense but how in the world would she convince her husband?"
"What does Rex think about it all?," she heard Loraine's question but didn't know how to respond.
"Lindy? Are you still there?" Loraine continued with her questions. After the brief hesitation, Lindsay replied that she was.
"I see. He is still adamant about letting you work. How bad is it girl?" her sister asked in a subdued voice. "It is very bad Lora," Lindsay confessed.
"If it doesn't work out, please come over to Manhattan. With your skills and past experience, you will land a job in no time," her sister promised.