The congregation laughed! Deep, genuine belly laughs. Had Newsome ever cracked a joke from the pulpit? Don’t suppose I’d know, since I hardly ever listened. But I was listening then.

“There is some Bible that supports her thinking,” he said. “Isaiah 43:19 tells us ‘I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’ This is Green Creek. This is our stream, we can make a way, together. I’d like to lead you, but someone reminded me of my dear wife, who I miss so much. Reminded me that she had a lot of ideas for how we might change the world. I got too stuck in my ways to consider them. With that in mind, we’re going to shift gears. For now.”

He left the lectern, mic in hand, walked to the edge of the pulpit, eyes cast in the general direction of Kiera. “You First Missionary regulars, I’m going to change the plan a bit today. I will be the only one in the pulpit for the rest of service. No one else.”

Kiera’s shoulders sagged with relief. Her parents’ heads cocked, quizzical, though they didn’t object.

“We have so many new faces in the building, I think they should get a good, long look at the leader of the house, so maybe I can entice them to come back next Sunday, and the Sunday after.” Then his gaze swung to me, pinned me. “I recognize an opportunity when I see it.”

To the rest of the congregation: “Please open your Bibles, and turn to John 16:33, we’re going to talk about hope.”

We did. And it was good.

Exiting the church after service was an ordeal. Many of these visitors had spotted me and Cressie and wanted to say hello. We were almost as popular as Pastor Newsome.

He had an expanded crowd around him. The usual well-wishers, and some of the visitors who felt especially touched by his upbeat message.

Me and my sister shook hands, and gave hugs on the move, as Mom and Dad were anxious to beat traffic. We cleared the foyer and were in daylight when I heard my name.

“Del!” Kiera called. “Del, wait!”

My entire family gave me the “what you wanna do here?” look. I said, “Go on. I’ll catch up.”

They left me to it.

Kiera, so beautiful, as hard to look at as the sun itself. I focused on the gravel at our feet. “Hey.”

“Did you know Pastor was going to do that?”

“I asked him to. I wasn’t sure.”

“Why? I thought you were mad at me. And Mason. I thought—”

I knew what she thought. I didn’t like it, but I also gave her reason to think I’d get some sort of pleasure from her shame. A few weeks ago, I probably would’ve. To answer her question, “First Missionary Crew!” I raised my hand for a high five.

She slapped my palm lightly. “Thank you.”

Kiera turned away. She climbed the church steps, then faced me again. “It was nice getting to know you in the pledge.”