The Bishop's Wife by Mette Ivie Harrison

Kelly, tell Sister Wallheim thank you for the bread.”
    Kelly chimed in behind me, and I was outside again, staring at the news vans. I hurried home and checked my email. In the time it had taken to cross the half block between us, Jared Helm had already sent his email. But the statement to the press made me go cold.
    I am enormously saddened by the decision my wife has taken to leave our marriage and our daughter. She has often been troubled and ill during the years we have been together, but I always supported her and gave her all the help she asked for. I do not understand why she could not have trusted me to continue to do so. I have always been a loving father and husband, and will continue to do what I can to protect my young daughter now that she has been made so much more vulnerable to pain at her mother’s departure.
    I do not know where Carrie has gone. She did not tell me, and she left no hints in the things that remain in our home. I hope that she is well, but I do not spend my time worrying about her. I do not think that she deserves that, after the choices she has made. She is a selfish woman, and I suspect that wherever she is, she will continue to make immoral, selfish decisions that may offer her momentary pleasures but will never bring back the happiness she has lost by turning her back on her eternal family.
    If anyone has seen her, I urge those people to contact the police immediately, so that they can be assured that there is no need for a criminal investigation. I also ask the media to leave me and my daughter in peace. We have a difficult enough road ahead of us without having added complications. Kelly needs to have as normal a life as possible as we move into the future, and I need to be able to father her, which will include returning to work and earning a living. I thank all of those people who are out there, wishing me the best. You know who you are, and that you are true Christians and true Saints in the best senses of the words.
    It was all about him. A few words about Kelly. But nothing conciliatory about his wife or sympathetic about his wife’s family and the distress they were going through.
    I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. He was in a terrible position. Someone who had just suffered a loss wasn’t always thinking clearly. And selfishness was a natural reaction to pain.
    Jared needed to say something about his wife if he wanted to make himself look better to the press, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to help him. I read a book and tried to distract myself with thoughts about going back to school. I had gotten a degree years ago in philosophy, of all things. Useless for getting a job, though I had found it interesting in other ways. I was beginning to wonder if I had too much time on my hands. If I had more things to do on my own time, maybe I would be less sucked into responsibilities as a bishop’s wife.
    I also went through our finances, which was something that Kurt used to do before he became bishop. Then I cleaned the house rather more thoroughly than I normally bothered to do. It was something to keep my mind and hands busy.
    When Kurt got home, I pulled him into his office so that Samuel didn’t overhear us, then asked him if he wanted to see the statement Jared Helm had prepared for the press.
    â€œI got it, too,” he said, settling into the chair behind the desk.
    â€œAnd what did you think?” I refused to sit on the couch, and perched myself next to him on the desk.
    Kurt shrugged. “I already emailed him back and said that he didn’t need to respond to the press at all. He should focus on Kelly and himself and staying healthy and strong for her.”
    â€œAnd is that what you really think he should do? Or did you say that because you didn’t want to say anything else?”
    Kurt shook his head. “Honestly, I think I need more information. I feel like I don’t know him as well as I should.”
    Which was what I