the belt a bit. But don’t go worrying about that.”
“Well, you don’t need to be worrying about stuff like that either. Did you sleep okay last night? You look tired.”
While her mom had only turned fifty-six last month, she’d gradually put on excessive pounds through the years. Which led to borderline diabetes and knee damage, and put her on a walker on bad days. But she’d lost considerable weight in the aftermath of her November heart attack and no longer had the round, merry face all had grown accustomed to. When Kara returned at Thanksgiving, it had been like coming home to a ghost of her mother.
Which scared her.
“I’m fine, doll.”
“You have to be honest with me, Mom.” She folded her arms in an attempt to feel in control, when all she wanted was to slip into the comfort of her mother’s arms like she’d done when she was a little kid. Everything coming all at once— Mom’s illness, taking leave from her job, Trey’s return… It was too much. “If you’re not feeling well, we need to get you checked out before things get out of hand again.”
“I’m fine. Goodness knows you’re not letting me do anything around here.” Her mom chuckled. “Between both you and Meg helping, I’ve plumb become a lady of leisure.”
“Take it easy today, okay? Get some rest. Going to that tea isn’t a priority.”
“Does me good to see everybody. Laugh a little.”
She fixed a glare of mock reprimand on her parent. “Catch up on gossip?”
“Mercy me, at a church event?”
Laughing with Mom felt good. Why couldn’t it be like this between them all the time?
“Speaking of gossip—” She paused, preparing to ask if her mom was aware that Trey Kenton had returned to town. Then she thought better of it. Should her mother confess, it would only lead to an argument. “Never mind.”
If God had the time and inclination to take mercy on her, she’d be out of town in a couple of weeks and never have to see Trey again.
Trey kept his voice low as he spoke into his cell phone.
“Sure wish you’d stop talking about my love life in front of the girls, Reyna.”
His sister-in-law’s whoop echoed in his ear. “And what love life would that be?”
He pictured the wide smile of his brother’s pretty, plump wife. White teeth flashing in contrast to her creamy Hispanic skin tone, her dark eyes dancing. Not only lovely, but her husband’s number one fan, a great mom and a woman of deep faith. How’d his little brother rate such a catch? Must have extra pull in the heavenly realms.
“Very funny, Rey. But I’m serious.”
“Ooh, serious, huh?” She giggled. “As in you’re going to do what if I don’t stop?”
“If you want me to stay here like you keep saying you do, knock it off. Mary’s too young to be fixating on kissing and romance and marriage and stuff.”
“Kissing and stuff?” Reyna giggled again. “Were you dealing with birds and bees issues this week, Uncle Trey?”
Fighting a smile, he walked sock-footed across the cabin’s hardwood floor to the living room, then pulled back one of the insulated drapes. Still snowing. “Put Jason on, will you?”
His sis-in-law laughed again, then he could tell she’d covered the mouthpiece to bring his younger sibling up to speed. They were in Tucson for a pastoral retreat, enjoying cactus and warm sunshine. Lucky dogs.
“Yo, bro.” The voice of Jason Kenton, pastor of Canyon Springs Christian Church, greeted him. “Reyna giving you a hard time?”
Trey’s smile broadened as he continued to stare at the wind-shaken ponderosa pines. “Is there ever a time she doesn’t?”
“So, what’s up?”
“Just checking in. You still planning to get home tonight?”
“Last session’s over around noon. Hope to be home before dark.” Jason paused. “But we’re willing to stay another night if you’ll cover the worship service tomorrow morning. And devotions at the care facility in the afternoon.”
“Dream on, preacher man.” His brother had been on his case for months to take a more active role in the family “business.”
“Unless, of course, you think your congregation can ferret out a deeper meaning in a ridin’ and ropin’ demonstration.”
Jason chuckled, and Trey envisioned him scrubbing a hand alongside his neatly clipped beard, facial hair he’d grown in recent months in hopes of looking more mature.
“So, the girls behaving themselves this morning?”
“Still in bed.” Trey raked a hand through his sleep-matted hair. “Hey, while I have you on the line—I was wondering if you remember the name of a guy who was in your graduating class. The one with the big ears and funny laugh. Couldn’t even wait to get off school property before he’d pull out a cigarette and light up. Was always wanting to borrow my lighter.”
“Pete. Pete Burlene.” Jason paused for a moment. “Why? You think he’s the one?”
“Grasping at straws is more like it.”
“You know, Trey—” His younger brother let out a huff of air, then continued in his best pastoral tone that for some reason always irritated Trey. Even after four years in ministry in Canyon Springs, it remained a stretch for Jason to sound older and wiser than his twenty-eight years. “You have to ask yourself, bro, is it worth it? Worth getting tied up in knots trying to uncover the real culprit’s identity?”
“Look, Jason—”
“If this is what it’s going to do to you, maybe settling back in Canyon Springs isn’t the best move after all.” He lowered his voice. “In spite of what my wife thinks.”
Trey’s jaw tightened. Jason still didn’t get it. “I don’t think there’s any harm in trying to clear my name.”
“But look what it’s doing to you. And you’re no closer to finding out who left your lighter at the scene of that fire than when you first hit town. Face it. It’s been twelve years.”
“Every man needs a hobby.”
Jason scoffed.
“Look, Jas, injury cost me my livelihood. Then my new job brings me back here. You’re the one who’s always saying there’s no such thing as coincidence. Doesn’t it sound to you like God’s providing an opportunity for resolution? Justice?”
“’Fraid I can’t speak for the Man Upstairs on this one, dude.”
What he meant was he thought his big brother was chasing after something better left alone. Well, he could think whatever he wanted. He wasn’t the one locals looked at with suspicion. Nobody questioned his honesty.
