“Interventions, I discovered, are used for people involved with drugs or alcohol, usually. But it could work here. The idea is that when someone is confronted by many people they care about it makes an impression and they break down and sign on for the help they need. We’d ask Sarina, Anna, Jose, you ladies, Pastor Denny, and Bob to come to Max’s place one evening. We’d all tell Zachary how we see his behavior, and how it impacts us. Denny has agreed to facilitate the process. He’s had some training in this. Will you participate?” she looked pointedly at Grace. “Grace, are you comfortable confronting Zachary, telling him how you see him acting and how you feel about it, without having to apologize to him?”

“I can do that. Yes, I can. I’ll do whatever I need to do,” Grace replied.

“Good. We’ll have a meeting first and each of us will decide what we’ll say to him. We have to be firm and specific but not hostile.” Hannah looked at Grace again. “Max is going to invite Bob to participate.”

“This is one time when I’ll have no trouble saying what I think,” Grace said.

“Fine. And you, Amelia, are you okay with this?”

Amelia nodded. “It will be my pleasure.”

“It’s settled, then.” Hannah sat back and slathered butter on another slice of bread.

They were silent for a time as they drank their tea and enjoyed the warm bread. Then Amelia asked, “Anything else happen while I was gone?”

“Goodness, yes,” Grace said. “The quick version is that Randy Banks attempted to commit suicide. Lucy found him in the bathtub. He was taken to the VA hospital. Bob went with me to visit Randy, and they connected with one another. Bob’s going to go back by himself to visit him.”

“My Lord, Grace, that’s just terrible. That poor girl. What a shock that must have been for her and for his mother. I am so sorry for them,” Amelia said.

Hannah nodded. “Lucy will need all the support we can give her. She’s talked some to me, but the way I see it, you’re the one, Grace, who she really needs right now.”

“I know. Lucy’s having a hard time putting it out of her mind, seeing him like that,” Grace said. “But in time, I hope she’ll be all right, especially since Randy’s finally getting the help he needs.”