I moved slowly but steadily, and by the time I had reached the high point of the tree, I had a sudden image of myself—Callie Webber, dignified widow, Director of Research for the J.O.S.H.U.A. Foundation, all-around straight-laced attorney—hanging from a tree limb in the middle of a state park, trying to spy on a man who may or may not be pertinent to my investigation.

It wasn’t a pretty sight.

I heard the laughter of some children, and through the trees I spotted a family walking up the trail in our general direction. I waited until they were about even with my tree to make the last scooting movements down the limb. They had a dog with them, and his playful barking provided enough of a distraction for me to get where I was going without being heard by the man beneath me.

I lay against the rough bark, peering down at my target. He was sitting at the edge of the water, staring off into the distance, absently tearing a leaf into tiny pieces and tossing them into the current. He was talking to himself. He was crying.

“…falling apart, it’s all just falling apart.”

I couldn’t understand everything that he said, but I certainly got the gist of what was going on. He was sobbing. Sobbing and trying to pray. This was a man in pain, come to a place where he could be alone and grieve the death of his father. I listened as he moaned, calling softly for “Daddy,” praying for help with his pain. He prayed also for God to change the angry heart of his wife, and I knew instantly that he was talking about Sidra, that here was a man whose life was falling to pieces before his very eyes.

I swallowed hard, shame burning my face. This man deserved to be alone in his grief. He had come out to this place in the country, this quiet, empty, riverside park where he could find solitude for his thoughts and prayers. As carefully as possible, I made my way out of the tree. When I reached the ground, I crept away until I was nearly out of sight, then I took off running, and I ran all the way back to the car, the darkness finally enveloping me as I climbed inside. Shame on you for being so persistent, I thought as I started my car. Shame on you for having to butt into his business at all.

Eight

By the time I arrived back at the house, it was almost completely dark outside. As I turned into the driveway, I saw that it was filled with cars, and I realized this must be close friends and family come to offer their condolences. I parked my car around back, near the garage, and got out, glancing around at the lovely estate that surrounded me. The pool was still and inviting, its dark calm water suddenly irresistible to my exhausted soul. I decided that perhaps later I would come back out and take a quiet dip before bedtime.