With that said, Nurse Bolden disappeared into the intensive care unit. Kim looked at Kevin, who stood there with his shoulders slumped and head bowed. She knew he was praying. When she glanced at her sister, Kira immediately burst into tears and hurled herself into Kim’s arms.

“Daddy’s going to die, isn’t he?” Kira trembled as she cried.

Kim stroked her sister’s back and wished she could promise her that their dad would live. She couldn’t. From what the Decatur police officers had told them, their father had been doused with gasoline and set on fire. Just like the other three clergymen. Mark Cantrell had been the first. Kim knew his wife, Cathy, who had been a volunteer at Bright Side. It didn’t seem possible that the same deranged killer who had murdered Cathy’s husband, an Athens minister and a Catholic priest had now tried to kill her father. Why hadn’t that monster been caught and put behind bars?

By seven that Saturday evening, it seemed to Cathy that half the world had stopped by her house during the day. Of course, that was a huge exaggeration. Lorie had been the first to arrive. Cathy was thankful that she’d stayed all day and planned to stay with her and Seth tonight. Lorie had served as a buffer between Cathy and the numerous concerned visitors, and she had taken over the dreaded task of contacting J.B. and Mona with the news of Reverend Kelley’s condition. Her in-laws had shown up before breakfast, with her mother in tow, and the three of them had stayed until midafternoon. J.B. had wanted Seth to go home with them, but he had adamantly refused.

“Mom needs me to stay with her,” Seth had told his grandfather. “It’s what Dad would want me to do. I’m not leaving her.”

J.B. had backed off reluctantly.

Donnie and Missy had come by twice, once in the morning and then again only an hour ago. John Earl and his daughters had visited briefly, and Ruth Ann had stopped by on her way home after having worked at Treasures all day. Patsy and Elliott Floyd had been among the many visitors, along with at least a dozen members of Cathy’s church.

“You two have to be hungry. I don’t think either of you has eaten a bite all day,” Lorie said. “I’m going to fix some sandwiches, and I expect both of you to eat.”

“I’ll help you,” Seth said as he followed Lorie toward the kitchen. He paused, glanced over his shoulder and said, “Mom, why don’t you sit down or even lie down for a little while and try to relax while no one else is here. I’ll come get you when the sandwiches are ready.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.” To humor her protective son, Cathy sat on the sofa, kicked off her shoes and folded her legs at the knees as she pressed her back against the padded armrest.

She was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, as much from the parade of well-meaning friends and acquaintances as from the knowledge that Mark’s killer had struck again. But she had to admit that having had to deal with company coming and going all day had actually been a blessing, keeping her too busy to allow depression to take hold. Whenever she had gone off by herself, even for a few minutes, either Seth or Lorie had come after her. She hadn’t missed the worried look in their eyes and the concerned glances they had exchanged.

The only way she could convince her son and her best friend that she was not going to fall apart was simply not to do it. Yes, whenever she had a quiet moment, such as now, memories of the day Mark had died bombarded her. Unless a person had experienced it, no one could imagine the horror of seeing someone you loved die in such an agonizing way. Mark had gone into shock, and that had lessened his chances for survival. The shock combined with the extent of the third-degree burns covering his body had made recovery impossible. Even now, Cathy asked herself if there was anything she could have done to save Mark.

His death is not your fault. There was nothing more you could have done. Even the paramedics who treated him for shock had been unable to save him.

Tears burned her eyes and tightened her throat. She had needed to cry all day, but had kept her emotions in check, as much for Seth’s sake as to prove to herself that she was in control.

When the doorbell rang, she hesitated. Please, God, not more company, not now when she was on the verge of crying her heart out.

As she swung her legs off the sofa and stood, she called out to Lorie and Seth, “I’ll get it.”

Barefooted, she padded to the front door. The moment she peered through the viewfinder and recognized her visitor, she swung open the door. Jack Perdue stood on her porch, a five o’clock shadow darkening his face.

“Hi, honey. How are you?”

“Holding it together,” she replied.

“I can’t stay long. The task force is meeting for a big powwow in about an hour, but I wanted to come by and check on you.”

She stepped back, allowing him room to enter. The moment he closed the door behind him, he reached out and ran his hand over her cheek. She gasped at his touch, his gentleness breaking the dam that had held her emotions in check all day. Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes. Jack swiped the tears away with his fingertips.

“Ah, babe, don’t do this to yourself.”

She swallowed her tears as she stared up at him.

Without saying another word, he pulled her into his arms and held her firmly against him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. Odd how comforting his embrace felt.

He rubbed her back as he kissed her temple. “If you need to cry, go ahead and cry. I’ll hold you. You’re safe. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Not ever again.”

His words were her undoing. She wept in his arms, her body trembling as she released the pent-up emotions that so desperately needed release.

“Mom, who was at the-?” Seth’s question died on his lips the moment he saw Jack.

Cathy lifted her head and looked at her son, but Jack held fast, refusing to release her.

“Uh, the sandwiches are ready,” Seth said. He looked right at Jack. “We’ve got more than enough if you’d like to eat with us, Mr. Perdue.”

A sense of overwhelming relief spread through Cathy. Her son’s cordial invitation to Jack had surprised her. Was it possible that he was finally accepting the fact that she and Jack were friends and her relationship with Jack or any other man was not a betrayal of her marriage vows to his father?

“Thanks,” Jack replied. “I haven’t had anything since a quick bite of breakfast late this morning when Mike and I stopped by McDonald’s.”

Cathy eased out of Jack’s arms and grasped his hand. “Come on. Let’s eat. I suddenly feel very hungry.”

Chapter Twenty-one

The Harper family left the courthouse with uplifted spirits and thankful hearts. John Earl gave God the credit for their good fortune. Judge Stevens had taken many things into consideration, including Felicity’s genuine regret and promise to stay out of trouble in the future, before announcing his decision in the juvenile court proceedings. Of course, Sheriff Birkett putting in a good word for Felicity hadn’t hurt. The judge greatly respected Mike’s opinion.

After they all piled into the family’s SUV-that “all” included not only Ruth Ann and both of their daughters, but also his mother-in-law and his secretary, Erin McKinley-John Earl asked for a moment of silence in which to pray. He kept his words to a minimum.

“Merciful heavenly Father, hallowed is Your name. I, Your humble servant, come to You with a grateful heart. I ask that You look down upon my younger daughter, Felicity, and help her in her efforts to atone for her misconduct by doing the community service appointed to her by Judge Stevens. Let her learn from this experience. We all thank You for taking care of Felicity and helping her to see the error of her ways. Bless us, oh Lord, and may we always strive to do Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”