“I can imagine. Brings it all back to you, huh?”

“Yeah. The conversation turns to pallbearers and casket designs, and I start to hyperventilate.”

I was exaggerating, but he knew that.

“I got something for you,” he said. “Saw it just today. Hold on.”

I could hear him put the phone down, then pick it back up a moment later.

“Here we go. Had to get my Bible.”

I smiled. Eli was a devout Messianic Jew and a true scholar of both Testaments. Having him as a friend was like having my own personal biblical reference; I hadn’t found a situation yet where he couldn’t offer a pertinent verse.

“It’s in Paul’s second letter to Timothy,” he said, the sound of pages turning in the background. “Chapter 1, verse 12. Hmm, here we go, ‘I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.’”

“Yeah, I know, Eli. ‘His grace is sufficient,’ and all that.”

“No, not ‘all that,’” he scolded. “Listen: He will guard what you are entrusting. Have you entrusted this situation to him?”

“I suppose. I’ve prayed about it.”

“Don’t just pray about it! Hand it over completely! Let Him guard it for you! Paul’s in prison here, Callie, knowing he’s probably about to be beheaded, yet he can say those words. Can we look at our comparatively petty lives and do any less?”

I felt properly chastised, and after a moment I let out a deep breath, nodding to myself.

“I understand,” I said softly.

“Good, because Stella’s putting on another album of tango music and I gotta go. You gonna be okay?”

“Of course.”

“Alright. Then take care. And call me if I can help you any more.”

I continued smiling long after I had hung up the phone. I couldn’t help but picture Eli and Stella doing the tango. If ever a man deserved to live out his golden years dancing with a rose between his teeth, I thought, it was Eli.

Thirteen

I dove into the black water, bracing myself for the cold. Instead, the water was wonderfully warm and welcoming, and I let myself glide down to the bottom, my muscles relaxing almost instantly. Still holding my breath, I swam to the other end of the pool, finally surfacing near the steps to fill my lungs with fresh air.

What a place! The sky was pitch-dark and the grounds were mostly silent, but I hadn’t been able to resist the urge to swim away the tensions of this day. After hanging up with Eli, I had tried to muster some enthusiasm for going through the love letters I had swiped from Sidra’s bureau, but my brain was just too tired. Knowing they would keep for the night, I decided instead to go for a swim. I had quickly changed into my new bathing suit and had stolen out here to the pool, slipping into the water without even turning on any of the lights. Luckily, the rain clouds that had seemed to be threatening earlier had passed, leaving the sky clear and full of stars above me.