"I invited you here to discuss an important matter with you," Joe told Zoya as she sat across from him in his office at his church. "Gabe told me you're divorcing him."

"That is right," Zoya replied. "I caught him cheating on me. I cannot live with a man I cannot trust."

Joe formed a steeple with his fingers and stared at them.

"I love you as a sister, Zoya, and I'm concerned about your immortal soul." His voice was slow, deliberate. "You know divorce is a mortal sin."

All was silent for a moment. Zoya stared at the floor.

"I realize that," she finally said. She looked into his eyes. But what should I do? He has not even apologized for what happened, and even if he did, how could I ever trust him not to do it again?"

Joe sighed. "Look, Zoya, that's just the way it is with my family. I don't know how many affairs my father has had. That's actually one reason I decided to go into the priesthood. I was afraid I'd be tempted to be unfaithful to my wife, if I had one."

"But which is worse, adultery or divorce?" asked Zoya.

"God frowns upon both," said Joe. "But adultery isn't necessarily premeditated or deliberate. Sometimes one is caught up in the throes of passion and temporarily forgets his morals. Divorce, on the other hand, is always premeditated and deliberate. One voluntarily chooses to leave his or her spouse, thereby breaking his or her marriage vows."

"I would say Gabe's actions were also premeditated," said Zoya. "He knew I planned to be out all morning, so he thought he would have time to take his girlfriend to the house and make love to her before I got back."

Joe cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Zoya. I'm sure a lot of women are in your shoes, but the church's position is clear: marriage is forever."

Zoya felt a huge lump forming in her throat. She knew she'd start crying if she tried to speak, so without a word, she stood up and left. She got into her car and drove back to Yuri and Elspeth's. She'd moved back into her former bedroom there, and Deirdre slept in the spare bedroom across the hall, except for when she spent alternating weekends with her father and his girlfriend.

Zoya entered the house to find Elspeth sitting on the sofa, clipping coupons, while Deirdre watched Sesame Street. Elspeth looked up as her stepdaughter came in.

"Well, how did it go?"

"Do not ask."

Deirdre went to her mother.

"Hi, Mommy."

"Hi, sweetheart." Zoya picked her daughter up and held her close, relishing the fresh scent of her hair.

Several days later, Zoya had just returned from an appointment with her attorney when the telephone rang.

"It's for you," said Elspeth, handing her the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Please don't do this, dear," Patricia O'Donovan said without even returning her greeting. "As time goes by, you'll learn there are certain things we O'Donovan women just have to put up with. It hurts, I know, but you'll get used to it, just like my daughters and I have."

"Life is too short to live with someone who makes you unhappy," Zoya replied.

Patricia sighed - a sound that was more like a groan. "You have to think of others besides yourself, Zoya. What about Deirdre? She deserves to grow up with both her parents together."

"Dee sees plenty of Gabe," said Zoya. "He spends every other weekend with her."

"But it isn't quite the same as if her parents were still together, is it?"

"No, but this is what is best, and someday she will realize that."

"Why, you're just a selfish, stubborn fool," Patricia spat. "There's no point in even talking to you."

Zoya slammed the receiver down and burst into tears.

"Aunt Pat can be formidable sometimes," said Deedee. She and Zoya sat sipping iced coffees in the food court at the mall, watching Deirdre ride a coin-operated ride.

"She called me a fool!" said Zoya. "It is my life, not hers!"

"Of course it is," Deirdre said soothingly, taking another sip of her drink. "You have to understand, with a family like the O'Donovans, the mother's word is law. Even Uncle Joseph is intimidated by her."

Zoya's eyes widened. "He is?"

Deedee nodded. "That's why he has to have all his brainless little floozies on the side. With them, he gets to be boss." She leaned a little closer. Zoya could smell the cappuccino on her breath. "Let me tell you something. I almost ended up in your place a few years ago."

"Can I ride again, Mommy?" asked Deirdre. Her ride had stopped. Zoya put some more coins into it and then returned to her seat.

"What happened?"

"I was all set to marry this guy, Declan. We'd completed the marriage prep course and everything. Then one day, he left the room and forgot to sign out of his email account first. I looked through his email and found love letters between him and some tramp named Shannon. I'd suspected there was something going on, but it hurt to find out for sure. I was gone before he even got back into the living room."

"At least you found out about it before you got married," Zoya pointed out.

Deedee sighed. "I know. But it still hurt like hell." She laid a caring hand on Zoya's arm. "Look, Zoya, I know you're going through a hard time right now, but everything's gonna be OK. You're a strong woman. You'll get through this."

Tears were in Zoya's eyes as she reached to embrace her companion.

"I do not know what I would do without you, Deedee."

Deedee smiled. "Hey, what are friends for?"