At the house, she dialed the parsonage again. Rev didn’t answer, so she left a message with as much detail as she could.
“That’s the best we can do for now.” Rebecca sat heavily at the kitchen table.
Granny leaned over, kissed her hair. Rebecca held her close, and they stayed that way a moment, so quiet they could hear the faint tick of the kitchen wall clock.
“You know, girl, we can do one better,” Granny said.
Rebecca gave a wry smile, but she held out her hands as Granny sank into the chair next to her, and they bowed their heads. Granny’s words were simple—Lord, help Devon, keep him safe, shine your light of protection upon him. Help us to help him.
When Granny finished, Rebecca opened her eyes and took a breath. She wasn’t sure how “giving it to God” was supposed to feel, but her chest felt lighter somehow, and her head felt clearer. She surprised herself by blinking away tears.
“I love you, Granny.”
Granny smiled, still holding onto Rebecca’s hands. “Love you too, girl.”
They were getting out bread and tomatoes to make sandwiches when Rebecca’s cell phone rang. She snagged it off the counter, hoping it was Rev calling her back, but she didn’t recognize the number.
“Rebecca, this is Lib Pauling.” The gruff voice made her shake her head.
“Uh, hi, Li—Mrs. Pauling.”
The woman sniffed. “I have two tickets to the humane society gala tonight, but I’m not feeling well. I wondered if you and your Granny might want to go in my place.”
Rebecca wrinkled her nose. The last thing she wanted to do on a free Saturday night was schmooze with dolled-up Dahlia residents, especially with worries about Devon on her mind.
“Who is it?” Granny mouthed.
Rebecca covered the mouthpiece. “Lib Pauling. Wants to know if we’d like to go to the humane society gala tonight.”
A sparkle lit Granny’s eyes, and before she knew it, Rebecca found herself accepting the tickets from Lib, making plans.
“It’ll be fun! A girls’ night out, you and me,” Granny said when Rebecca hung up, and Rebecca giggled in spite of herself. “We could go shopping, buy a new dress. I don’t remember the last timeI bought a new dress for a night out.”
Something about Granny’s wistful expression tugged at Rebecca’s heart.
“You know what? Let’s do it—a girls’ shopping day, a nice lunch out, and a night at the gala. It does sound fun!”
She dialed Tiff to let the girl know she was off the hook for the night. Across the line, she swore she heard the reporter clap.
“Thanks, Boss!” Tiff sounded positively thrilled. “I, ah, had to turn down a date for tonight. Looks like I can call him back and say yes after all.”
Rebecca was still smiling as she hung up.
CHAPTER 32
Devon
He wanted so badly to go back, so badly to pedal to town, fish in his pocket for his last quarter, and dial the hospital.
But he couldn’t risk it. Even in the dead of night, he knew T or his friends would be out there, hunting for him, ready to take him down, hurt him.
All he could do was stay where he was, safe in JJ’s tunnel in the woods, his friend’s secret hideaway, and pray.
It’s all my fault.
He was grateful he’d brought his Bible. He wished he’d thought to bring a pen, but it didn’t matter. The words washed over him like a gentle rain, and he tried to fill his mind with them, let them drown out everything else.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
