"Irene," Rayford walked into their bedroom. "Please, come here," he sat on the bed and tried to hug her but she wrenched away. The tear drops rolled down her cheeks.

"I had suspected there was something going on for a while," she said quietly with her back to him. "I prayed it was my imagination, or maybe a nearly harmless flirtation with a younger woman, but you aren't sure if you love her and can't say your relationship is over."

"I love y-"

"No, don't insult me Rayford. If you loved me this Hattie wouldn't be a problem."

"Are you saying you want a divorce? Doesn't God and your church forbid it?"

"Not in the case of infidelity," she sighed and wiped her eyes. "If you can honestly tell me things are over between you, we can try to work it out... The trust is gone, it's damaged but could be mended, in time, if we work through it."

"So I have to put in countless hours for Pan-Con, then come home to eat crow and I'm supposed to be happy with that?"

"I love you Rafe. You've broken my heart yes, but I still love you. I'm not the one who put us in this situation."

"Oh you aren't?" He exclaimed. "You gave your heart away a while ago to somebody who isn't me."

"Is that it? Don't blame God and my relationship with Him for your choice to cheat. That's not fair. I love Jesus, but that shouldn't make you feel threatened. He has shown me how to start being a better wife to you and mother to Chloe and Raymie."

"It feels like a competition to me Irene..." He sighed, "when I fly I'm respected for my position and authority. I feel uncomfortable in my own home. I'm the project, the crazy unsaved person you need to rescue before Jesus returns."

"It's because I love you and I worry about you that I want you to find that relationship with Jesus."

"Well, I'm done being your project." He left her in the bedroom alone and she allowed the tears to fall as she cried out to God.

"Jesus, I love you. Why would this happen to me and Rayford? I've tried to be the wife you called me to be for him to give me what feels like a slap in the face. He's brought another woman into his life." She cried so hard she couldn't continue speaking and let her heart cry out to God.


"Pastor Billings would say you have a reason to get a divorce Irene," Jackie stated a few days later when they were at the park with their kids. Irene looked over at her.

"I know I do, but when Rafe and I got married I meant it when I said til death do us part, even if he only meant until some pretty, young thing turned his head..." she sighed. "I can be plain, but I was always enough for him before." Irene scoffed. "He actually said my belief in God is what forced him into her arms."

"That's a lie from Satan. He cannot blame you for his decisions."

"But he is. He actually compared me getting saved to his relationship with the flight attendant... We have children, but I don't want Raymie to be the reason we stay together because that'll make it worse for him. If Rayford could say 'yes I made a mistake, but it's over' I could try to move past it, but he hasn't and I'm not sure he can which is why I'm in this difficult spot."

"What is God telling you?"

"I've been praying and will continue to do so until I get an answer. I'm afraid it might be one I don't want to hear, but I'll follow wherever the Lord is leading us," she paused. "Thank you for letting me talk."

Jackie touched her hand and smiled. "That's what friends are here for."


Rayford stood in the bathroom of Hattie's condo after a long necking session. He ran the water over his hands and then wiped his face.

What am I doing? He thought. I'm not a cheater... I am now. He couldn't get the hurt look of Irene's out of his mind. Rayford tried to shake it off. This relationship with Hattie was two people who admired and respected one another and enjoyed each other's company as well as being attracted to each other physically. He couldn't remember the last time he desired a physical touch from Irene. Sure she was attractive and worked to stay fit, even after staying home and raising two children, but he didn't want her that way. He'd never even thought of their intimate relationship in almost a year. It wasn't for a lack of trying on Irene's part, but it always came with a cost. Sometime in the evening church and her concern for his soul would come up. He couldn't take it anymore. He stepped out of the bathroom to see Hattie on the phone. He sat next to her and she took his hand. After she hung up, Hattie turned back to him.

"I've added an extra flight to my schedule this week. Just down to Atlanta and back."

Rayford smiled as he observed Hattie's jawline, her cheeks and blonde hair. He wondered different times what a beautiful woman fifteen years his junior saw in him, but he wasn't about to complain. He never felt old, but Hattie made him feel so young when they were together.

"What?" Hattie asked as she tilted her head with a smile.

"Nothing."

"Do you have to rush home?"

"It's probably better that I didn't," he replied and shook his head. "Irene found out and she's probably boxing my things now. She hadn't when I left, but it's been several days since we discussed it."

"I must admit, I thought you'd never have the nerve Rayford." He nodded in agreement. "That's an awfully big step for you."

"I want to get a place in Chicago. We'll be close to O'Hare."

"What about your son? That'll make an hour distance between you."

"There has been an emotional difference for years Hattie-"

"because of me?" she asked quietly.

"No Raymie and Irene have pushed me away with their talk of church. I have felt isolated from my family for a long time."

"What about your daughter?"

"We've always been close, but I don't see her much since she went to Stanford several years ago."

Hattie nodded. "So it's just us."

"You and me against the world," he smiled.


Rayford returned home later to find the living room, kitchen and dining room empty. "Raymie? Irene?" He called going up the stairs. He stopped when he saw Raymie's door cracked. He stood outside and listened. To him, it sounded like Raymie was crying

Irene sat on the bed and rubbed Raymie's arm. "You can invite him another time."

"He won't go," Raymie sniffled. "He hates church Mom. I pray for him, but the situation doesn't get any better. I want him to go to Heaven with us."

"Oh I know you do sweetie. I pray for your dad and Chloe every day." Irene kissed his head, turned off the light and walked out of the room. She was surprised to nearly run into Rayford in the hallway. "Rafe."

"You told him?"

She nodded. "Somebody had to. We'll deal with the other matter later."

"I'd like to deal with it now Irene," he said and she walked towards their room and they closed the doors. "I'm not happy. I haven't been for a long time. How do you feel? It has to affect you."

"Oh it's affected me Rayford. I keep going through our marriage to try and figure out where we got off track to end up here... I love you Rafe, in spite of everything. Maybe we could work it out."

"I want a divorce Irene." She bit her lip and tried to fight the tears pretending the last five words out of his mouth weren't the final punch in her stomach. She nodded and gently wiped her eyes.

"I won't force you to stay if that's what you want."

"I'm going to get a place in Chicago, preferably near the airport. I'll always be there for Ray Jr. and Chloe."

Irene stood staring off into space for several minutes before she cleared her throat and looked over at him with her arms crossed. "Are you going to marry her?"

"Eventually I'd like to."

"I don't know what to say here Rafe. I don't think I should give well wishes to the man I built a life with as he marries his mistress." She walked past him and fled the room with the tears flowing. Rayford sat looking around the room for quite a while. When he went down the stairs he saw Irene covered in a blanket with the light off and T.V. on. He turned it off before he turned around and walked back towards Raymie's room when he went upstairs and saw him asleep before reopening the french doors to his room and got into bed for one of his most fitful nights of sleep and the last night in Mount Prospect.