“Bullshit,” I say, channeling Vada. He snorts, looking at me with surprise. “Yeah. I said it.” The darkness hides my red face, but I continue, “I can’t think of anything better than you being honest with that man. He was your hero. And he let you down in the worst possible way. Micah, you stopped going to church because of what he did. That’s some biblical stuff right there. Like, ‘Heaven help the hypocrites for they shall inherit hell,’ or whatever. His actions not only drove a wedge between one of his so-called flock and God but between his only son and his son’s faith. As his son, and as a man, you need to set him straight. I don’t know about forgiveness. In my mind, he should be the one asking for that, and maybe you grant it, or maybe you don’t. That’s your choice. But you owe it to yourself and to him to speak your piece.”

“I don’t want to upset my mom,” he says quietly.

“Yeah. I get that. But again. Not your fault.”

“I’ve been wondering if it bothered you that I don’t go to church.”

“Not really. My feelings about church are complicated. I’m more concerned with your feelings about God.”

“I’m good with God,” he says.

I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Me, too.”

“But I don’t like church, and I’m not sure I ever will.”

I release a long breath. “I’m not so crazy about it these days either, to be honest. Ironically, James asked me if I’d be interested in leading a teen girl Bible study.”

“What did you say?”

I shrug. “I said yes. Because I am a perpetual people pleaser who overcommits when it comes to Jesus.”

“How does that mesh with the conflicting feelings?”

“Guess we’ll find out. Honestly, I’m not sure James has picked up on my conflicting feelings. Mostly because I haven’t told him or anyone else besides you and Vada.”

“What does Vada say?”

“About the Bible study thing?”

He nods. “Yeah. And the rest.”

“That I’m playing with fire.”

He stares ahead at the horizon. “Maybe. Maybe not, though. Maybe you’re the exact person those girls need. I don’t know much about what goes on in those small groups these days, but maybe you coming in with your eyes wide open will make a difference to them.”

“You mean like when I go in there all ‘Hey, you should totally make out with boys, it’s the beeeeeest.’”

“Weeeeeeell. I was thinking more like, ‘Hey, sometimes boys will see your shoulders and have lustful thoughts about them, and that’s not your fault; it’s on them. If it’s hot out, tank tops are a viable option.’”

“Huh.”

“Or something like that.”

“Are you saying you have lustful thoughts about my shoulders, Micah?”