Vanita exhaled and smiled, looking around the car. "Lots of leg room up here, Lu. Hope you fit in the back okay."

"I’m not prone to grumble," her sister responded.

"Oh yeah, right. You haven’t stopped grumbling since you moved in. Not enough spices. Furniture in the way. Storage not convenient. The sheets not percale . . ."

Dez hoped that Vanita’s purse would fit in the back. It was the size of a small suitcase and she was sure it weighed more than a fifteen pound dumbbell. She started to hand it to Luella, but Vanita shook her head. "Oh no. Gimme that. I got my box of tissues and Bible in there."

That explains some of the weight, thought Dez as she handed it over. "Watch your fingers," she said, then closed both of the heavy-duty doors. Good God, they made these cars solid. The four doors probably weigh as much as the entire bed of my pickup.

She got in, saw that the two ladies had buckled up, and put on the driver’s old-fashioned lap belt. She backed out of the driveway, got to the corner and started to turn right.

"No-no-no, Desiree. Left." From the back seat, a wizened old hand pointed to the left, touching Dez’s right shoulder.

"But Christ’s Cornerstone is that way . . ."

Simultaneously, Vanita and Luella said, "We’re not going there today."

Luella leaned forward in the back seat and poked Dez in the right shoulder. "Go left. It’s the duck service. At the Lutheran church north of here."

The tall woman didn’t understand, but she did as she was told. It occurred to her that perhaps they’d selected a different church with no stairs that was more easily accessible. She drove the route and listened to them dispute whose house was more conveniently outfitted for cooking, storage, entertaining. She fiddled with the heater controls, pointed the vents toward Vanita, and the old car heated up to a toasty warmth which both the other occupants commented felt good. She herself was roasting in the heat, but she knew both of them needed to keep warm. As she drove, a wave of fatigue washed over her, and she suddenly wished she didn’t have to sit on a hard wooden pew for an hour surrounded by people she didn’t know.

She continued along the snowy street which was bordered by occasional piles of shoveled snow that had melted considerably. She slowed the car to a halt at a stop sign as another car - a gray Camry - slowed across the intersection. Her heart skipped a beat and she held her breath, but when the other car proceeded through the intersection, she saw an elderly, gray-haired man was driving. She set her jaw grimly. Every little gray car she saw caused her to jump like that, but it was never Jaylynn’s car. She wanted to kick herself for even looking, but she couldn’t help herself.

She drove the rest of the way in silence. They arrived at the church and pulled into the back parking lot as Luella exclaimed, "This is great! We’re here good and early and can get one of the best parking places. Toward the back of the lot is where the church secretary said the reception isn’t as good."

Vanita nodded and pointed. "Over there, Dez, next to the building."

The tall woman slowed the car. "Why don’t I let you out right here by the door? Less distance to walk then."

"Oh no. We’re not getting out. This is the duck service."

Luella pounded on the back of the seat, pointing frantically, her hand stabbing just past Dez’s ear. "Quick! Over there before that other car gets the spot!"

Dez hit the gas and steered over into the parking place they were both pointing at. God save me from wacky old ladies. That’ll be my prayer for the day.

The dark-haired woman threw the car into park and shut off the ignition. "There. You two happy now?" She reached for the door handle. As she opened it, a gust of cold air entered the car and both women hollered at the same time for her to shut the door.