The Perfect Christian by E. N. Joy Page A

is.”
    Doreen knew how it was. Her mother had warned her about that too. She’d told her that Willie’s job could pick up and send him anywhere across the map to work on railroads. Her being his wife and all, she’d have to go with him. About a month ago, Doreen probably would have felt sad about having to leave Kentucky, where all her family was and her church, but nothing could make her any sadder than she already was. Hearing they’d have to pick up and move to West Virginia was nothing compared to hearing that her unborn baby would never be born. Her fall outside the juke joint last month had been fatal for the baby.
    It was no secret that Doreen blamed herself. Had she not been out that night cutting a fool over Willie’s behind she never would have been out there on that ice to fall in the first place. Inside she was so angry, not just at herself, but at everybody. She was angry at Willie, blaming his shenanigans for driving her to be out in that nasty weather. She blamed his parents for not doing something about all that snow and ice that was building up outside their establishment. She had a mind to sue them, but she knew that would only drive even more of a wedge between her and Willie.
    In spite of Willie’s actions, Doreen loved the mess out of that man. Love was what was keeping her from leaving him every time he gambled their money away, came home with dings in the car from driving drunk, every time he lied to her in her face like she was plum dumb, and every time he had another woman upon his knee. Oh, it was true love all right. Even if love hadn’t a thing to do with it, Doreen still probably would have never left Willie. She knew the history of the Hamilton women. None of them, not a nary one of them, had ever gotten a divorce—no matter what their maiden name ultimately got changed to. Doreen came from a long line of first ladies, deaconess, and women who just loved the Lord and His ways. They knew how to pray their way through circumstances and situations. Yea, just like Doreen had done a time or two, a few of the Hamilton women had packed up and went to stay with their parents for a spell, but they always went back to their husbands.
    Sarina had already accused Doreen of cursing the women that would come after her by letting Willie walk all over her. She wasn’t about to cast another one upon them by walking away from her husband. Funny thing was, she couldn’t figure out the worst of the two evils.
    â€œOkay,” Doreen said to Willie. “I’ll get to packing just as soon as the good Lord gives me strength. I’ve been praying for strength. Prayer works, so I should get that strength any day now.”
    â€œWell, I hope God answers your prayer soon, because we head out in two weeks.”
    â€œThat’s fine. Maybe it’s best we get out of Kentucky anyway—start fresh somewhere else. Leave all these memories behind.” Her eyes began to tear up. This surprised Doreen, because honestly, she thought she was all cried out.
    Willie thought she had been too. “Oh, God, are you gon’ start that crying stuff again?” Willie, who had been sitting on the bed next to Doreen stood up in a huff. “I understand what could have been, that we could have been the parents of a nice, bouncing baby girl or boy. And we still can. You heard the doctor. He said your female parts work just fine to produce us another baby . . .” Willie looked off proudly. “. . . that son I’ve always wanted to carry on the family name.” He then looked at Doreen. “But what you lost wasn’t even a real baby yet. It was just this little jellyfish-like thing. I could see you acting like this over a real live baby, but—”
    â€œStop it! Stop it right now, William Tucker.” Doreen shot up in the bed, as the burning heat through her body evaporated all the tears. “I don’t care what it looked like—that was a