“Yes, you did. You taught me everything. You taught me that our Savior died for our sins. So that we may remember Him in our time of need, and remember His eternal love for us. He loves all of us, Mom, sinners as well as saints. He loves you.”

Dolly was quiet. Decker’s hand moved imperceptibly toward his service holster. He undid the strap, his fingers tightening around the butt of the gun.

Bram said, “The commandments teach us to love our parents, both our physical parents and our Father in Heaven. I love you very much, Mother. We’ll go through this together. But first, you have to give me the gun—”

“The police know—”

“Shhh—”

“They know, Abram. They know!” Her watery eyes met Decker’s face. “I’m going to die!”

Bram said, “No one’s going to die—”

“It was all my fault—”

“Mom, it wasn’t anyone’s fault—”

“I wasn’t a good enough wife—”

“You were a perfect wife,” he cooed. “A perfect wife and a perfect mother. We all love you very, very much. Your pain is my pain. Please let me help you.”

“Why did he do this to us? Why did he do this to me?”

“I don’t know, Mom—”

“After all these years of devotion. I never strayed…not even in my heart. I never wanted anything else but to be a good wife to him.”

“You were a perfect wife.”

“Then why did he turn out that way?”

Oliver crept up behind Decker, whispered in his ear, “Backup’s coming.”

“Mom?” Michael said.

Dolly raised her eyes to her youngest son.

“Mom, I love you, too.”

Dolly didn’t answer.

Michael said, “Mom, please give Bram the gun. We’ll take care of you. Please.”

Dolly returned her eyes to Bram. “Why would he desire such a vile thing, Abram?”

Michael’s eyes were questioning. But Bram’s were full of understanding. “I don’t know why God makes people the way He does. We’re not meant to know.”

“Why did you give him your blessing, Abram?” Dolly blurted out angrily. “How could you, of all people, give him permission to sin so gravely?”

“I never gave him my blessing, Mom.”

“You gave him permission by saying it was healthy to fantasize. You told him it was okay—”

“Never, Mom.”

“That’s what he told me.”

“I never gave him permission to sin, Mom,” Bram said quietly. “I never gave him my blessing. What I did say is…”

He cleared his throat.

“I told him I’d love him no matter what path he felt he had to take.”

“By your acceptance, you encouraged him!” she said vehemently. “You encouraged him to sin and you damned him to hell! You damned me to hell!”

“I see that now,” Bram said gently. “I see I did the wrong thing. I see that this is all my fault—”