My eyes began to tear up. Despite all the people who had treated him like baggage, or just another file in their caseload, here was a kid who wasn’t calloused over. He could have been. He could have been gutted and ready to turn into a complete sociopath and if he had, we would have deserved every bit of it. But he wasn’t. He was still alive inside. He still cared. He still worried more about the hurt of others than his own. I was going to teach him how to cross over into a life of the spirit? Jesus, this kid should lead me and I should follow him through the fire. That’s the way it should be. In fact, it dawned on me for the first time, maybe that’s the way it is.

I started to say I had talked to his mother this morning, but dropped it. What would be the point?

“Hey, you still have clothes over at the house,” I said. “Why don’t we go over there. You can shower up and change into something clean.”

“That sounds OK,” he said.

“Maybe you can hang out with me a few days,” I said. “You know, I have a little free time right now. Maybe we can go down to the beach in the morning -- or fishing. Whatever you want to do.”

“I kinda have plans with this girl in the morning. We’re going surfing at the inlet. … She‘s going to pick me up,” he added, anticipating my asking how he would get there.”

“That’s fine,” I said. “”But I still want you to plan on staying with me at the house awhile. At least a few days. OK?”

“Sure.”

A conversation with Sagan is like a campfire; if you don’t keep throwing on logs, it will die out pretty quickly. That’s how it went on the quick trip home in the car. I thought about asking who the surfing girl was, but held back, not wanting to invade his space. My cell phone rang. It was Carolyn.

“Hi,” I said cheerfully. Her tone told me she hadn’t called to just chat. We had to get this stuff out at some point, but now wasn‘t it. “How did the kids enjoy the boat trip?” I said.

“Oh, they were excited. They went way out and did some deep water trolling. They hooked a sailfish and Scotty got to fight it. I guess it went on quite some time. Tail dancing and everything, he said. They got it almost to the boat before they lost it. He was really full of himself over it, calling it the best time of his life.”

“That’s saying something. I can’t wait to hear the story from him. Sagan is sitting here next to me; I’ll tell him about it.”

“So you found him?”

“Yes, he has a job. He’s working at the Ocean Place … you know, where his friend Frankie …”

“Yes, Frankie … listen, this morning the kids were asked where I was last night and when I told them I spent the night with you at the parsonage, they were happy. They wanted to know when we we’re going home.”

“What did you say?”

“I said we’re working on that. Are we?”

“I’d love to,” I said happily.

“You don’t want to talk in front of the boy?”

“You’re right about that honey!”

“Call me when you’re alone please. We need to get this settled. I won’t let my children twist in the wind over this. They went through enough of that with their father.”

“OK,” I said. “I’ll call you within the hour.”

Sagan ran into the house like he was happy to be home. On came the music in his room and before long I heard his shower running. I thought about calling Carolyn but decided to call Becky first. She had to be worried. I pulled the phone book from a kitchen drawer and found the number at the bar. She answered, which surprised me.

“I was listening for the phone, waiting for your call,” she said.

“Well, I just wanted to put your mind at ease. I found him.”

“He’s fine?”

“Yes, I brought him home with me. He agreed to stay here at least a few days. Did you know he had a job.”

“At the restaurant, yea. Is that a problem?”

“No, just wondered,” I said.

“Did he … you know, say anything about what I told you … about what he saw”

“No.”

“Did you?”

“He doesn’t even know I know.”

“Good.’

“And you?”

“I’m alright. I think it will be best if he stays with you awhile. I mean, that’s where he’s supposed to be anyway.”

“You’re right.”

“I’m so ashamed,” she said.

“Don’t be. You made a mistake; that’s all.”

“I had to give him up in the first place because I couldn’t be … responsible. I thought I’d changed. I guess I’m still the same screwed up bitch I’ve always been.”

“You made a mistake, that’s all.”

“Screwed up; that’s me.”

“I‘ll watch him the next few days. See how he’s doing. He seemed alright. Honestly, he did. Pretty tough, that kid.”

“He …”

“Are you crying?”

“Not really … a little. I was going to say, he had to be tough.”

“And he has you to thank for it,” I joked.

“Funny Dietrich, real funny.”

“I heard you laugh. You can’t hide it from me. You feeling better?”

“Yes. I’m alright now.’

“That’s good. A couple of deep breaths …”

“Got to get back to work. Sometime I’ll have a talk with Sagan about what happened … what he saw.”

“I’d give it a day or two.”

“That makes sense. Bye Pastor.”

One down and one to go. That was the easy call. Carolyn’s turn. I heard Sagan turn off the water in his shower. In a little while he’d be out wondering about dinner. Better do it now. She picked up on the first ring.

I expected her to launch into the lecture she seemed poised to deliver a half-hour earlier. But instead she started talking about last night, how much she enjoyed it, how much she missed our love making.

“I’m glad,” I said. “Me too. Sorry about what happened this morning.”

“Don’t apologize. That was me. I was silly to get so worked up. I guess I just love you too much.”

“But not enough to help me put the whole family back together -- including Sagan?”

“It’s not a question of how much I love you. Isn’t a wife supposed to help her husband make good decisions?”

“Come back and we’ll put everything on the table and sort it out.”

“Including Charley’s plan to get Sagan into a good treatment program?”

“Except that. Everyone has their deal breaker.”

“You know what mine is?”

“Maybe … I’m not sure.”

“Standing by while my husband throws his career away.”

“Come back Carolyn. Together, maybe we can find some creative way out.”

“Charley is not going to change his mind.”

“Maybe not. Come back anyway.”

“Don’t you understand? Either you compromise or you are through there! Finished! There will be nowhere for me to come back to. Finished! Out on your fanny, Pastor Waymire!”

“I know that. Come back anyway.”

“You’re ridiculous Dietrich.”

“I want you with me. What do you say?”

“Uhhh! … you frustrate the hell out of me.“

“Is that a yes?“

“Let me think about it. Goodbye Dietrich.”