The sixth days of the week were the weekly gathering for prayers at the temple and Rue, having held on to her religious ways since I met her, has always attended the prayers. I didn’t because I didn’t think I belonged there or saw the point in it. I didn’t stop Rue; it was what she loved, and I didn’t talk her out of it. As often as I could, I helped made her up and got her ready every week.

“You could come with me to the temple,” Rue suggested as I helped tighten the rope around her pretty red dress.

I frowned. “Why would I want to go...