“You’re the same age I am. You’re not old.” I tried to keep my tone light, but Julia heard the concern in my voice.

“It’s not the years, it’s the mileage. Isn’t that what they say?” The specter of a smile passed across Julia’s face. “I’m okay. Tired is all. The past couple of months have been pretty rough.”

“Ever since Justin left home.”

Julia nodded. “Ezra has been beside himself for months. He loves that boy with all his heart, and Justin defying him the way he has, well, it’s about broken his heart.” She paused. “But I’m about ready to wring his neck over what he did. He should never have struck Justin like that. He almost cried, though, when he saw the bruise he made.”

I forbore commenting on Ezra’s behavior at the moment. “Justin has the right to live his own life.” I probably should have kept my mouth shut, let Julia talk.

“I know that as well as you do. I had to make a choice when Justin told me he didn’t want to be a preacher, and I made it.” Julia’s angry tone didn’t offend me. I was treading on ground where I had no business stepping.

“Do you regret it?” I was prying, but instinct told me Julia needed to talk about all this.

“No, I don’t.” Julia closed her eyes and leaned back in the hard plastic chair. “You’re a parent. Would you?”

“No.” I waited a moment, but she didn’t reply. “How did Ezra wind up in the hospital? Justin mentioned a fight.”

Julia turned her head and looked me in the eye. “Godfrey told me he came to see you this morning. Told you everything.”

“Yes, he did. I’m sure you’d rather he kept this private.”

“He’s bound and determined to make this some kind of public spectacle. But if he thinks he’s going to take Justin away from me, just because of all his money and his fame, he’s going to get a rude awakening.” Julia sat up. The loathing in her tone didn’t surprise me. Godfrey had that effect on people, at least in my experience.

“If I can do anything to help, you know I will.” I wasn’t thrilled about being dragged into this mess, but for Justin’s sake, I wanted to do what I could.

“Thank you. You always were a good man, even when you were a boy. Did the right thing, and stood by your friends.” Julia smiled, some of the tension and anger draining out of her. She sounded fatigued as she continued. “It’s such a nightmare. I was sitting in a restaurant having lunch with Godfrey so we could talk about Justin. And then Ezra walked in. He and Godfrey started arguing. I tried to get between them, but I couldn’t.”