But now his congregation was behaving strangely. There were those sly, knowing looks cast his way, as if they understood the deepest longings of his heart. He worried about it, and it affected his sleep. He especially disliked the way people looked at Sarina when she came to church, not in a kindly, welcoming manner but almost as a challenge, as if they dared her to sit among them. And after the service, they avoided her.

Initially, he had attributed their behavior to Sarina’s differences: her looks and speech, the fact that she sometimes wore a sari and covered her head with a gauzy headdress. Or perhaps they were naturally curious about Zachary, who had vanished from their lives without an explanation. Were they owed an explanation? Of course, they were not. Yet Denny had considered initiating his own round of gossip, to let people know that Zachary was a loose cannon, immature and unreliable, that he had been rude to his father and inconsiderate of his wife and child; but Denny’s nature would not allow such an action.

And then one afternoon, Charlie walked into his office and asked point-blank if he and Sarina were an item.

“An item?” Denny’s mind went blank.

“Yes, you know what I mean, an affair. Is something going on between you two? They all know Zachary, and they’re curious why he’s not around and she’s seeing so much of you. Is he away on business?”

Denny sprung to his feet; inadvertently his chair hit the floor. “An affair? They think I’m so base, so dishonorable?”

“They think you’re human, Denny. She’s young and alone. It could happen.”

Denny felt the warmth spreading up his face. Surely Charlie didn’t suspect his true feelings for Sarina. He would never act on them unless Sarina was divorced and free and had had enough time to heal.

“Do you believe such talk?” Spots drifted before Denny’s eyes; a vein throbbed in his neck.

“Not really, but I had to ask,” Charlie said.

Denny righted his chair and sat. “I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m counseling Sarina. She’s been dealt a bitter blow. Zachary’s gone for good. He had a terrible altercation with Max just when they were loading his cows into the truck sent to take them away. That was tough on Max, his son acting like a raving lunatic, screaming and cursing at him in front of the truck drivers. Before Max could sit down and discuss Zachary’s issues, he’d packed his bags and was gone, no good-bye to his wife and child, nothing. He left a note. No apology, just said that Sarina was on her own, and he was sure that his folks would take care of her and the baby.”