Page 102 of Sing with Me

While Diehl and Ethan were upstairs at the interview, Skye called Ivan and asked to be in the loop. Matt had been keeping everyone updated, so Skye ended up in the group chat. She asked if she could participate and they said they had enough volunteers. Everyone at church was combing their own neighborhoods.

“Your job is to pray,” Ivan told her over the phone. “And keep Diehl away from his dad’s cellar.”

Skye should have expected Ivan to know about his brother-in-law’s problems.

“Something I should know?” Skye asked.

“I’ll let him tell you himself. Pray for him. I’m assuming you’re already on Mrs. Gonzalez’s prayer loop.”

“Yes. All of us in the Tuesday night Bible study group are.”

“Good. We’ll update Brin, and she’ll post.”

“Thank you, Ivan.”

Skye busied herself cobbling together cheesecake ingredients. It was a good thing that Cara and Chef Pierre kept the pantry and refrigerator stocked. Otherwise she’d have to bake something else.

When Ethan came back to the kitchen in tears, hugging his dad’s waist like he couldn’t possibly let go lest the cruel world also took him away, Skye’s heart broke into a million pieces.

Lord Jesus, I pray for this poor boy. Comfort him, make him strong. Bring his sister home to us alive.

She would have gone to Ethan except her fingers were covered with butter. She had been pressing her graham cracker mix to the bottom of a pan while waiting for Ethan to finish his interview so that they could make the rest of the cheesecake together.

Skye washed her hands quickly in the sink, dried them on a clean dish towel. “What happened?”

She couldn’t ask if everything was okay since it clearly wasn’t.

Her eyes met Diehl’s. His were pained, as though whatever hurt his son also hurt him. This was clearly Ethan’s father, no matter what the DNA results said.

“We had a difficult interview upstairs.” Diehl grabbed a clean paper napkin off a countertop and dabbed his son’s face. “Ethan didn’t remember much because he was sleeping in his own room this morning.”

Of course. “Would you like a glass of water, Ethan?”

Ethan nodded.

Skye gave Ethan a cup of water so that he could hold the handle. She patted his head gently. When he handed her the cup back, she wiped the tears off his face with her apron and brushed back the hair matted to his forehead.

Diehl poured himself a cup of coffee. “Do you know where the sugar cubes are?”

“I have no idea. Cara’s gone to the grocery store with Chef Pierre.” His sous chef Hans was taking a cigarette break outside. Skye would’ve preferred a non-smoker assistant, but this was not her house.

“I’ll survive.” He drank the coffee black.

“Cream might help.”

Diehl shrugged.

“Do you still have a headache?”

Diehl nodded. “I should lie down.”

“You never did get your toast.” Skye opened the refrigerator where Cara stored some sprouted spelt bread. “I see jam here. Mixed berries. I can make you a piece of toast.”

“Okay.” Diehl took the bread and jam from her. “I can make my own toast. I’m not helpless.”

“Did I say you were?”

Ethan raised his hand. “I’m helpless.”

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