Chapter 5: An InvitationOn the church steps, McGauran’s mother grabs his elbow. “Not so fast, lad,” she says with a bright smile.
It’s true, he’s in a hurry to get away, but he slows down anyway, looking at her. His mother’s skin is so pale, he can see the thin blue veins pulsing at her temples. She’s been working at Ames & Holden all week, coughing at night, keeping the Leary boys awake, but right now she’s happy, so he tries to smile back. Mary O’Dowd is always happy after church. She doesn’t have anything to fear or be forgiven for. Only Heaven’s rewards to look forward to.
“That was a mighty sermon,” she says close to his ear. She chuckles. “Did you feel it? I looked over at you know who, and he was red as a beet!” Sometimes, his mother is so sweet and enthusiastic, he forgets that s
