The Truth About Faking

stare at her speechless.
    “You don’t have to go if you’d rather stay home,” Dad says. “The Benders have kindly offered—”
    “No,” I interrupt. “I want to go.”
    He nods, and I go to my room to change. I want to be present this time. Maybe if Mom sees me and my dad sitting there, she’ll realize this is about more than her pride. It’s about more than some personal philosophy or individual protest. Or even protecting her job.
     
    When we get to the church, it looks like a Sunday morning service. The grapevine must’ve been smoking this afternoon because everybody’s turned out to hear what Ricky has to say. I walk inside and see my mom on the front row beside her co-defendant. She looks serene. I take a seat behind them, and she doesn’t even acknowledge my arrival. She just continues looking straight ahead at the empty pulpit as if my father’s standing there delivering one of those sermons she always finds so inspirational. All of the elders and their wives are across the center aisle in the first two rows.
    Dad goes and sits on Mom’s other side, and I watch as she takes his hand. The Benders are beside me, and I know they’re ready to stand up and defend her. Vigorously if need be. Mr. Bowden walks to the center of the room.
    “I apologize for the sudden nature of this gathering,” he says. “I didn’t realize there would be so many interested parties.”
    He clears his throat and looks down. “Earlier today, we learned that Ricky Marino wanted to address the session about a recent matter. We thought it best to meet here. Of course, since this involves the pastor, members are welcome to be present.”
    Ricky’s jaw is clenched, and he has a strange expression on his face. Mom looks down.
    “Mr. Marino, would you like to come forward?”
    Ricky stands and goes to Mr. Bowden’s side. Mom glances up at him then, and her face is pleading. He turns away from her quickly, and I feel panic tighten my chest.
    “I thought I’d just be talking to you men,” he says. “I didn’t know everyone would be here.”
    There’s a low murmur in the crowd. I look around and see Mrs. Perkins sitting next to Ms. Jackson. They both have smug expressions on their faces, as if they’re eagerly awaiting some major dirt. I feel ill at the sight of them.
    Trent is nowhere to be seen, and I wonder if he even knows what’s happening. I wouldn’t know if Dad weren’t the pastor. At least, I hope I wouldn’t.
    Mrs. Turner is sitting in the side pew looking pained. It appears her lips are moving, and I think she’s praying quietly. A few of the parishioners who I recognize as Mom’s clients are here seeming curious. Several other non-involved, regular members are here. I’m trying to remember if there’s ever been an incident in our church of this magnitude. Nope. This is the biggest. The pastor’s wife accused of adultery.
    Ricky continues speaking. “I just learned this morning that Jackie had been accused of… well, that it had been said she and I were…”
    His voice trails off, and I realize he’s nervous. My stomach starts to burn. If he’s about to clear their names, he should be eager to announce the truth, and he doesn’t seem so eager to me.
    “The statement was that your relationship is inappropriate,” Mr. Bryant says from where the elders sit. “That is all you have to address.”
    Ricky looks at him. “Jackie said there was more to it than that.” Then he looks down. “She says there was some suggestion that her position as an instructor might also be in jeopardy.”
    I hear throats clearing and Mr. Perkins speaks.
    “There was some debate over whether it gives an improper appearance,” he says. “With the two of you working so closely together. And in such an intimate field.”
    I hate him. And his stupid wife. And their stupid insinuations.
    I glance in front of me and see my mother look down again. Dad slides his arm around her shoulders.
    “Right,” Ricky says. “Well… I think I can put all of your minds at ease and clear Jackie at the same time.”
    I watch as a calm comes over him and wonder what he’s about to say. His brow relaxes and he sets his jaw as if he suddenly doesn’t care that almost a hundred people have come out to hear his public statement.
    “Jackie is a talented teacher, and I’ve learned so much studying under her,” he says. I glance at Mrs. Perkins. She has an evil grin on her face.
    “But even more than that,” Ricky continues.