Faye Worthington

Welcome to Grayville, where women learn about the power of love, friendship, and the battles of everyday life. Meet Becca Mantra, who is having a secret love affair and doesn't realize she's pushing her husband Jay over the edge. Why is she so happy about her infidelity with a woman half her age? Maybe it’s because Tuckie Brice, a greasy mechanic at Monkey’s Garage who suffers from depression, is actively seeking psychological help for her problems, while Jay is not. There’s also psychologist Dr. Sharon Shaw, who sees Tuckie twice a week, falls in love with Trevina Banter, a paperback mystery writer. When Trevina saves Jay from a suicide attempt, she decides to write a strange short story, which has nothing to do with her prize-winning sleuth. And then there’s Julia Bevel, an abused wife with a questionable attraction to her best friend, Cindy Cotter. When she steps out of her comfort zone and makes a physical pass at Cindy, Julia’s visit to Grayville will never be forgotten, and her life changes in dramatic ways. Together the women of Grayville share their individual tribulations and triumphs of everyday life in their small Pennsylvania community.

Welcome to Grayville

How long does Sharon sit here and think of the strange author, awaiting her arrival? Her tea vanishes from its china cup rather quickly. Sharon thinks about making a second cup when a vehicle’s headlights span the front drive, arching from left to right, and temporarily filling the study with a white-yellow illumination that is very bright, but only for a second, leaving her sit inside the circle of dimness, with a small smile spread under her somewhat sloped and beautiful nose.


Trevina does bring Sharon flowers, just as she suspects the mystery writer will. After Sharon places the arrangement in a crystal vase with water and a single aspirin, she asks if they should leave.


Trevina agrees, escorting Sharon to her BMW, being the sweet and princess-like woman that Sharon is quite familiar with, and has grown positively fond of in the last few weeks.


Chapter 12