He leaned in and whispered something to the agent. The agent turned back to the auctioneer.

“Two hundred and fifty thousand,” the agent said.

I didn’t pause. I raised my paddle.

“Two hundred and sixty,” I said.

The agent looked at me like I’d just insulted his mother. “Two hundred and eighty,” he barked.

I looked at the auctioneer. I looked at the developer. He was staring at me now, really looking, as if he was trying to figure out if I was a crazy person or if I had a secret.

“Three hundred thousand,” I said.

The developer stood up. He walked right over to where I was sitting. He stood over me, trying to look big.

“Who are you working for?” he asked. His voice was cold.

I looked up at him. I made sure to smile, just a little.

“I’m working for the Lord,” I said. “And the good people of this county.”

He scoffed. “You don’t have that kind of money. You’re wasting everyone’s time.”

I didn’t answer him. I just kept my eyes on the auctioneer. The agent was sweating now. He looked at his boss for a signal. The developer hesitated.

He looked at the crowd. There were people from all over the county there. Some of them had been at the church bake sale the month before. They were watching.

“Three hundred and twenty,” the agent called out, but his voice lacked any real heart.

I raised my paddle again. “Three hundred and fifty.”

The silence was total. I knew that was the number. It was every penny I had in that bag, plus what was in the church account.

The auctioneer looked at the developer. “Do I hear three hundred and sixty?”

The developer shook his head. He looked at me, then at the building blueprints he was holding. He looked like he wanted to spit.

“Let her have it,” he muttered to his agent.

He turned and walked out of the courthouse. The heavy oak doors swung shut behind him with a thud that sounded like a benediction.

I won the bid. The auctioneer hammered the gavel down.

“Sold,” he said.

I stood up. My knees were wobbly, and for a second, I thought I might fall over right there on the linoleum. Nobody moved. Everyone was just staring at me.

I walked to the front and signed the papers. My hand was shaking now, really shaking. I had to grip the pen with both hands to keep it steady.

I walked out of the courthouse and into the drizzle. I had done it. I had saved the sanctuary.

I drove back to the church. I walked inside and sat in my spot, that third pew. The smell of old hymnals and floor wax hit me, and I just breathed it in.