This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are invented by the author or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to all of my readers, who keep me going when times are tough.
It was getting too hot in the car. The sun penetrated the windows making the air stuffy and difficult to breath. Todd was regretting his choice of leather interior. It only added to the feeling of being slowly suffocated.
But being inside the car was better than being out of it.
The church bells rang sending their chimes echoing through the small town. They were meant to drawn in the crowds of people, to let them know that it was time for service. In a town located smack dab in the middle of Bible Belt USA no one needed bells to tell them that it was time for church. It was practically encoded in their DNA.
Without moving his head, hoping to remain unnoticed, Todd glanced at the rearview mirror. He watched as the throng of people funneled into the church as one massive wave of pastel colors.
At the entrance of the church stood Father Gary dressed in his robes looking like the perfect picture of priesthood. Except for the cane he used to support himself and the stitches holding his head wound closed. Rumor had it that the doctor's had to put in a metal plate to replace a piece of his skull. Judging by the bagginess of his robes, it looked as if he'd lost a significant amount of weight as well.
Todd clenched the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles burning white through his skin.
He had barely been sheriff of Downey River Township for six months and he'd already screwed up royally.
Outsiders never held a position of power in the town before. Although, depending on who you talked to, Todd wasn't really an outsider. He'd been born at the same hospital Father Gary had been treated at. His mother wasn't married, hadn't even been dating anyone when he had been born. She could only stand the constant shame for less than a year before she shipped him off to live up north with her barren cousin.
Out of anger Todd avoided contact with his mother, and subsequently his hometown, for the last twenty-nine years.
When word had travelled back to him about his mother's death he finally returned home to lay her and his anger to rest.
Todd had inherited a home and, thanks to his criminal justice degree, a job as well.
Being sheriff of such a small town was easy and more than a little boring. Teenage mischief and the occasional drunken brawl were the extent of his crime fighting.
Then the day came when someone barged into his office throwing around accusations of child molestation.
Being the only townsperson who wasn't a churchgoer, it was too easy for Todd to believe the mother from the next town over when she said that Father Gary had inappropriately touched her boy.
Two weeks of investigation had left Todd empty handed and frustrated.
He'd been about to pull the priest in for another round of questioning when the mother decided to take the law into her own hands. She used a baseball bat to deliver her justice, sending the older man into a coma.
Todd had been duped.
No child had been molested. A mother caught up in recent hysteria had misinterpreted a platonic hug at a little league game.
No one blamed Todd for being misguided. No one vandalized his house or car. People still greeted him in the streets with a smile and a handshake. And Rebeckah from the diner still gave him his morning cup of coffee on the house.
He hadn't lost anyone's respect and that made him feel even worse.
Guilt chained him to Father Gary's hospital bed until by some miracle the old priest woke and asked for some honey.
It was the same guilt that made Todd avoid Father Gary once the man had awoken.
He had been contemplating packing up and moving back north when he received an invitation in the mail. Father Gary was returning to church and he would greatly appreciate it if Todd would attend. It was a heartfelt invite, obvious by the hand written calligraphy that decorated the parchment paper.
Todd didn't think anyone hand wrote letters anymore, even this far south.
Glancing in the mirror again, he saw that the crowd had thinned down to a few tardy families.
Father Gary greeted them just as happily as he did everyone else.
When the last few stragglers finally meandered their way into the building, Father Gary removed the doorstops. Before the last door closed he paused and turned to look outside. He scanned the empty street, forehead creased in concentration.
Before he could change his mind, Todd pushed open the door of his Land Rover and threw himself out of the seat. Nearly falling to the ground in his haste, Todd managed to steady himself against the side of his truck at the last moment. He took deep lungfuls of the sweet May air, breathing in time with his footsteps as he approached the church.
Father Gary leaned against the door, using his body to keep it open for the sheriff. He had his free hand extended out for Todd to shake.
Todd accepted the offer and all it stood for.
"Thank you for coming," Father Gary greeted as he smiled brightly. Todd gave a shrug in response. Father Gary seemed to accept that he didn't have much to say. "I'm glad you could make it. It's a very special day," Father Gary continued.
"It's your first day back. Are the doctors sure you're ready?" Todd's eyes found every bruise that had yet to heal and every scar that never would. Guilt gnawed at him like a dog on a bone.
"To be honest they didn't want me to come back quite yet. I managed to talk them into giving me the go ahead a week early," the old priest confessed shamelessly.
"But that's not why today is special," he corrected. "Today is special because it's the day we baptize the first born of Kenny and Michelle Bunker. Today he becomes one of the Lord's."
Todd could see that the baptism was important to Father Gary, even more important than his own return. He spoke with a wide smile exposing all of his teeth and his eyes held a sparkling light beneath their wrinkled lids. His joy was contagious. Todd found himself smiling back.
"Well either way I'm glad to see you up and about," Todd said.
"Oh I'm fine," the priest said dismissively before staring at Todd hard. "How have you been?"
"You're asking me?" Todd turned his head slightly, shifting his eyes to gaze over the old man's shoulder instead of making direct eye contact. "After everything I put you through?" Shame heated his cheeks as he forced the words out from behind the lump in his throat. "I made your life hell- heck," he corrected quickly.
A reassuring hand landed on Todd's shoulder, the grip surprisingly strong. He looked back to the priest whose eyes were full of compassion and understanding.
"You were trying to protect a child. How can I fault you for that? You don't need to apologize, but will it make you feel better if I say that you're forgiven?"
Neither man spoke for several moments, both content to allow the silence to pass through them wiping the slate clean.
Todd slowly nodded and placed his hand on Father's Gary's. "Thank you, Father. You're a better man than me."
"We're all the same in God's eyes. He loves us all. And thank you as well; for finding justice as well as joining us on this special day. Unfortunately, I think we're running a few minutes behind. I believe Rebeckah has saved you a seat, if you have no objections."
"No that's fine," Todd answered. In his mind he saw Rebeckah standing behind the counter smiling at him sweetly. A few brown curls
escaped her ponytail to frame her face. "She's nice," he added absently.
"And single," Father Gary offered with an unabashed smile.
Todd mumbled out an incoherent farewell before leaving Father Gary chuckling in the entrance hall.
It wasn't the first time Sheriff Todd had been in the church. His investigation had brought him there many times in the past months. It was however his first time being there during Sunday service. It was breathtaking.
The white marble glistened, the flickering candles reflecting off the polished stone like stars. The sun illuminated the stained glass windows bringing them to life as a rainbow of colors danced across the faces. The town's entire population gathered among the wooden pews. Some read their Bibles, others tried to reign in unruly children. Most seemed content to chat with their neighbors happily.
And all of it was being watched by Jesus as He hung over the altar nailed to the cross.
Todd wasn't a fan of crucifixes. The mild gore and look of unimaginable pain disturbed him. He always had a sneaking suspicion that it was on purpose, a