Umber (61)

Vera and her friends from the Altar Society looked like they had given up on this world, and were hoping for better in the next.  I heard one of the ladies say in a dull voice, “Have some Jordan almonds, Mrs. Burns,” followed by the rustle of a paper bag.

“So, Vera,” I said, pretending I did not know what the future held in store for her, “Did you ever remarry?”

“Hello, Marla.  No, never.”

Not sure how to ask my next question, I just sort of blurted out, “Were you carrying a torch for Leroy?”

“Leroy?!”  She laughed gently, without a hint of malice.  “Leroy; no, what a pain in the bee-hind he turned out to be!”

I heard tittering in the background, coming from the other Alter Society members as they passed around the bag of Jordan almonds.