Hostile Stares

I kept stacking chairs while these two women from the congregation kept shooting me these sideways glances. They weren't subtle about it either. Both of them had that tight-lipped look like they were trying to figure out if I was the guy they thought I was.

One of them was probably in her early forties, wearing a simple blouse and skirt that showed off how well she kept herself. The other one looked a few years younger, maybe late thirties, with that wholesome mom vibe but still attractive in a quiet way. Both of them had husbands I'd seen at services - solid guys who were building up good families.

They kept looking over at me while they worked, their eyes narrowing slightly whenever I caught them staring. It wasn't friendly curiosity either. More like they were trying to place me, trying to connect some dots that made them uncomfortable.

I wondered if they'd seen something. Maybe caught a glimpse of me and Rachel over the last few months, or maybe they'd heard something through the church grapevine. Either way, their disapproving looks made the back of my neck prickle.

Marcus was still going on about wedding plans, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. I just kept nodding and moving tables, pretending I didn't notice how those two women kept watching me.