Asher and Luke are knelt down across from each other but Luke has his big hand wrapped around the back of Asher’s neck and even though Luke is praying Asher can’t keep his mind on what he’s saying. He is too busy trying to keep from falling apart at what is about to happen. He keeps his eyes shut so tight he can feel his eyelids trembling to stay closed. Luke’s words circle round and round their heads and he pauses and they say “Amen” in unison.

Evona’s been watching them because just when they finish she comes from her side of the porch and stands near the Jeep, which they’ve already loaded. She stands there looking at Asher.

Justin hesitates in the doorway but eventually comes down into the yard.

“You’ll write to me, won’t you?” Evona asks Justin.

He nods.

“And call me whenever you’re able. Won’t you?”

“Yep.”

“What if they put him in prison, Evona?” he whispers, as if Asher isn’t standing right there.

“They won’t,” she says, but she’s not a good liar.

“Will you come see me? In Tennessee?”

“If there’s any way in the world for me to be there, I will.” Evona holds out her hand and there are two silver chains coiled all around two small medals just like the one Asher found in the guestroom. Instead of Saint Francis surrounded by animals, this one has a picture of a man with a child on his back. st christopher protect us in written around the edges in tiny letters.

Justin turns his back to her while she latches the chain round his neck.

“If anything bad happens,” she says, looking at Asher while she fastens the necklace onto Justin, “if the cops pull y’all over or anything.” She is measuring out her words to steady them. “You put your hands up and think about Saint Christopher. Alright?”

Evona leans down and kisses Justin’s forehead. She draws in a big breath.

“Get on in there, buddy,” Asher says, motioning for Justin to get into the Jeep. Luke helps him get settled into the back seat and lifts Shady up to join him. “Get ye seat belt on, buddy,” Luke says.

And the rest of it happens very fast.

“I’ll be right here,” she says to Asher. That’s all she needs to say. He doesn’t want an extravagant goodbye. He can’t stand it. But he kisses her, his lips against hers, a real love that he can’t have, not now, maybe not ever. He feels the bones and muscles of her back beneath his hands, memorizing her.

Then Luke’s up front, Asher’s in the driver’s seat, glancing back to make sure Justin has on his seat belt—an unbreakable habit—and Evona is rolling back the driveway gate and then they’re pulling out onto Olivia Street.