Hudson giggled. "They're not."

"Dang it, somebody is going to have to answer for this. Who bought these unsuitable movies?" Her eyes widened, and she pressed her fingers against her mouth. "Uh-oh."

Hudson laughed openly, guessing the joke. "You did! You did!"

The Reverend Fergusson's whole body sagged as she plodded down the dimly lit hall. "I'm so ashamed," she said. Hudson giggled again. "And here we are." She opened a door. She switched on the light to reveal a room that had been made as cheerful as a windowless fluorescent-lit space could be. Hudson ran to check out the low bookcase filled with toys, and even Genny wiggled out of her mother's arms to explore the play kitchen set in the corner.

Reverend Fergusson rolled the television, on its stand, away from the wall and plugged it in. "We don't get any reception down here, so it's already set to play videos," she explained. "You just turn it on and press the PLAY button." She straightened. Looked at Hadley again, the same way she had upstairs, as if she could see beneath her skin. "What can I do for you?" she said, half asking, half musing to herself.

The answer popped out before Hadley could help it. "Tell me where I can get a job around here." She wanted to call it back as soon as she had said it. The rector had meant something like Can I show you the bathroom or Can I get you a drink of water. Acting the hostess. Cripes, she thought Hadley was here for a visit with Granddad, not to repackage her life.

Except her eyes narrowed and she got an abstracted look, as if she was thinking hard. "What are you looking for?"

Something where I don't have to speak to another human being. Yeah, that sounded great. "Anything that doesn't require college. I only have a GED."