Katheryn's Secret by Linda Hall

Author:Linda Hall [Hall, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-77953-3
Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
Published: 2011-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY

EVEN THOUGH SHARON NEVER WENT TO CHURCH anymore, she had talked to numerous ministers, had been given many tours of churches, had read many religious pamphlets and books in her Summer Whitney research. But no matter how many times she told herself that this was research, that this time was just like all those other times, driving now into the church parking lot felt different. This time it felt personal. This was the church Katie and Cos went to. This was the church that held Katie’s funeral.

The church was an L-shaped building, and the older part, the sanctuary, faced forward, and along the back a rectangular newer addition had been built. There were two other cars in the lot, and Sharon parked beside a brown Buick. The door that led into the newer part of the church was unlocked. She opened it slowly and stepped into a carpeted foyer, like dozens of other church foyers she had been in. This one had the requisite coatrack along one wall, a lone sweater hanging crookedly in the corner. On the top were a few stray hats, a pile of loose Sunday school papers, and a bunch of Bibles. There were posters on the walls advertising children’s summer camp, Third World relief, and vacation Bible school. An umbrella in a round bin stood beside the door, with a pair of black shoe rubbers next to it. The whole place had that quiet, reverent smell of old hymnbooks and choir gowns.

From a hallway to her right a figure emerged. He wore a casual gray sweater vest and wire-rimmed glasses.

“Hello there,” he said. “Need help with anything?”

“I’m not sure. My name’s Sharon Colebrook. Katheryn Sullivan was my aunt. Did you know her?”

“Katie!” His face brightened. “She was a wonderful woman, our Katie was. And you’re Sharon, the writer. She often spoke of you.”

“I hope good stuff.”

“Only the good stuff.” He had a ready smile. “My name’s Barry,” he said as he stuck out his hand. He took hers and shook it vigorously. “Barry Brannin, the minister here.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m sorry I missed her funeral.”

“Katie was quite a sweetheart. She used to tell stories—”

“Oh, I know all about her stories.”

“—to the seniors. They all loved her. She could take a Bible story and act it out, and her audience would become completely mesmerized. Everyone loved her.”

“No stories of trolls and fairies?”

“Trolls and fairies?”

“When I was little it was stories of trolls and fairies.”

He grinned. “Oh, I don’t remember trolls and fairies. She and Cos were quite an addition to our little group here.” His face momentarily clouded. “I’m a little afraid for Cos now. He seems so lost without her. Do you know him? I haven’t seen him at the services since Katie died. I’ve been up to see him a few times, and I should go again.”

“I’ve visited with him.”

“That’s good.”

She looked around her. “So this was Katie’s church?”

He followed her gaze. “This was Katie’s church.”

“It’s nice.”

“It’s on the historical register. We’re right across from the museum so we get a lot of tourist traffic in the summer.

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