Page 198 of Share with Me

Matt handed him a triple-decker peanut butter and apricot jam sandwich.

They bowed to say grace. Ivan dug in. He hadn’t realized he was hungry again. Well, the bagels this morning only lasted so long.

“So what made you come back here, Ivan?”

“St. Simon’s is home.” And yet he wondered. With Grandma Yun gone and the house lost, was the island still home?

“You know that girl of yours—”

“Emmeline?”

“No, stupid.”

“Stop calling me stupid.”

“Anybody who dumped Brinley is stupid.” Matt laughed. “Anyway are you coming to church Sunday?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Just wondering. Brinley has joined our church.”

“So?” Ivan took a deep breath. “I don’t care, Matt.”

“Really, dude?” Matt closed the peanut butter jar and put it away in the refrigerator. “Funny. Brinley got saved. Her spiritual life is going way up. You’ve been saved a long time. Your spiritual life is going way down. Who is learning more about God and life and such?”

“And why does it matter to you?”

“Because I’m your friend. And a brother in Christ.”

Ivan didn’t reply. Didn’t want to continue talking. He had to sort it out.

With God.

And with Brinley.

“I need to get back to the shops,” Matt said. “You can come with me if you want, or hang out here. I’m waiting for a new shipment of music manuscripts. Nineteenth century. You might be interested.”

“Not anymore. But I’m sure someone will buy them from you.”

“Yes. Someone is. You know, the one who likes old things.”

Only one person he knew liked old things. “Brinley?”

“She bought all your violin music, you know. Said someday you’ll want them back.”

“She did?”

“No. I made that up. Of course, she did. That woman’s in love with you.”

I don’t want to hear that.

“You don’t want to hear that.”

“You know me too well.”

“Bro, I can hear you when you think aloud.” Matt shook his head as he unhooked a key from a nail on the wall. “Here’s the extra key to the house. Come and go as you please, but no pets. And I expect you to start paying rent soon.”

“Not to worry, Matt. I won’t be here long. I appreciate the work at your thrift shop, but sooner or later I’m going to have to get back to music.”

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