Nate held the phone up and switched videos. He leaned a little closer to the screen. “Hey, what about Parker Avenue?” He looked up as if seeing a theater marquee above him and lifted a hand. “I Almost Died on Parker Avenue.”

“Whoa, that’s a little morbid.” David looked out the window at the trees, the hillsides exploding with green. “How about I Lived on Parker Avenue?”

Nate nodded. “All right, okay. I like it. I might use it. Maybe.”

CHAPTER 31

David thought about writing a note to Reese and having Nate slip it under her door. She spent most of her time in her room these days. But in the end, they decided against it. Better to let the conversation happen naturally.

David spent time at Nate’s house watching the footage and the initial cutting of the video and audio for the documentary, but he couldn’t help walking into the hallway and looking at Reese’s door just a few steps away. And he prayed for her as he looked.

He had begun to pray not only for Reese but also for her boyfriend, Craig, that God would open their eyes to see what was really happening. He prayed for an opportunity to talk with her. And then he prayed for the baby. A real, living human was being formed in Reese’s womb, and David prayed the child would not only survive but be able to thrive in the world.

Use me, use my story, use Melissa or Brian in this, Lord. I don’t know how You’re going to do it, but I trust that You can because you care more for Reese and this baby than anyone.

David was engrossed in the footage of the skydiving, arguing with Nate about what to include, when he heard the door open behind them. Reese stood there in a cranberry sweat suit, both pants and shirt. She moved her head left as if telling David to follow her, then closed the door.

David put a hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Did you tell her I wanted to talk?”

“No, I haven’t seen her out of her room.”

As David walked out the door, Nate said, “No pressure, but this might be your only shot.”

“Thanks a lot,” David said.

Nate’s house had a wraparound porch and Reese stood at the railing with her arms crossed. David put his back against the wall by the door, giving her space.

“Heard you had quite a trip,” Reese said.

How had she heard that? “Yeah, it was amazing and scary and emotional and really good. All at the same time. But really hard, too. I learned a lot.”

“What was hard about it?”

“I don’t know, hearing the truth. The pain Melissa went through. Brian, too. When I got up there, he didn’t want to meet. He said—”

“I heard,” Reese said coldly, interrupting him.

“How?” David said.