Josh watched the old man, walking bent and tired, and following his son's gurney down the corridor. At the end, they disappeared into the elevator.

45.

Present Day Ben Abrams had prepared all of his life for this moment. He had long entreated God for an epiphany. For the certainty that he existed, and the assurance that he could have a relationship with him.

"Help me, God." He prayed silently over his patient, whose chances of surviving surgery-much less of a complete recovery-were in the low percentages.

"Give me the ability to save the unsavable," Ben pleaded. "I'll consider it a sign that you can also save me."

With that humble request, he picked up the scalpel and made his initial incision into Danny Stevens's shaved head.

46.

Present Day Waiting wasn't easy. Josh occupied his time in the surgical waiting area by reading well-worn magazines, mindlessly staring at the soap operas playing out on a muted television, and praying.

Lots of praying.

Beth appeared to be resting comfortably. She had dozed off in a leather recliner next to him. That in itself helped him rest.

Jim Stevens occasionally walked the floor and made phone calls to his daughter in Florida, to keep her informed and to give himself the strength to deal with the possibility of losing his only son.

Four hours into the operation, a surgical nurse called to report that things were going as expected. Jim Stevens seemed to be buoyed by the news. However, Josh wasn't sure how much consolation could be read into that statement. She had also said the surgery would last another five hours, maybe more.

At one point, Josh walked to the cafeteria to bring back cold sandwiches and drinks for everyone. It had provided a nice break for him, and otherwise Mr. Stevens would have gone all day eating from the vending machine. He appeared to appreciate all of Josh's help, thanking him over and over again.

He knew Mr. Stevens had no idea about the money Josh had found in his son's bunk. If time proved Danny was the thief, it would break his father's heart. Josh vowed to himself never to mention it to Mr. Stevens if something happened to Danny. There was no need to bring more misery on this faithful, old man. He had been a pillar of strength and edification to his congregation, and to his family, for years.

But what would he do if Danny fully recovered and he learned his driver, his friend, had been stealing? Josh shifted in his seat. It was a problem he must confront when the time came. If that time came.

He glanced at the clock on the waiting room wall. They had three hours to go before they knew Danny's prognosis.

In the meantime, Josh would continue to ferret out the facts, as he knew them. There had to be a reasonable explanation for the twenty thousand dollars in Danny's bunk.

At two thirty, Ryan Majors walked through the waiting room door. He had a solemn expression on his face. His left arm was bandaged and hung in a sling from his shoulders. His usually robust road manager appeared gaunt and haggard, although he was still dressed to the nines.

Ryan nodded to Josh as he approached, but he reached first for Jim Stevens's hand. "I'm sorry to hear about Danny, sir," he said. "He is a fine man. I pray that God will be with you both through this."

"Thank you, son. And you are?"

"I'm Ryan Majors. I work with Danny . . . and Josh." He nodded toward Josh.

"I will tell Danny you came by. Were you in the wreck?" Mr. Stevens asked, noticing Ryan's arm.

"Yes, but this is nothing compared to your son's injuries. I'm sure he put up a good fight for all of us against the wind that night. According to the police report, we went head-to-head with a tornado."

Josh studied Ryan as he spoke and thought he noticed a tear in his eye.

After a few more words with Jim Stevens, Ryan turned to Josh. "May I see you outside for a minute?"

"Of course." Josh stood to follow him.

After they turned the corner and found a quiet place in the back hallway, Ryan made a request. "Please let me talk for a few minutes without interruption. I have some things I need to get out."

Josh nodded, running his hand through his hair and wondering what could be so important.

"Danny is an innocent man. If anything should happen, I never want you to doubt that." Ryan stared straight into Josh's eyes, not blinking.

Josh bit his lip while contemplating the statement. There was much he could say, but he held back.

Ryan averted his eyes to the floor and continued. "I know he's innocent because I am the one who took the money." Ryan shifted from one foot to the other. "I, alone, am to blame. Not Mitch, not Danny. No one but me."

"I appreciate-"

"No. Please, let me finish." Ryan held up his hand, looking directly at Josh.

Josh could see both fear and sadness in Ryan's eyes. His face was drawn and vulnerable.

"I have no excuse, except that I let my life get out of control. I know you don't care about the details, but I owe them to you." He averted his gaze again. "Or, maybe . . . I just need to get them out."

"Okay," Josh said.

"My wife left me. It had been coming for a while. In some ways I don't blame her. Perhaps I left her a long time ago. Got too big for my britches, as my dad would say." He paused to reflect, and then continued. "In some ways, she did too. Our success happened quickly. We moved into the big house, bought the expensive furniture, and became addicted to the high life. We were both grasping at things that didn't matter and ignoring the things that did."

Josh's heart softened to Ryan. It was a story that could very well have been his own.

"Lacy was lonely with my being gone all the time. To compensate for that, she wanted more things. More club memberships. More clothes. Things to occupy her time. I was afraid of losing her, because I do love her." Ryan looked into Josh's eyes again. "And I did the only thing I knew to do. I know it was wrong. I knew it was wrong at the time. But I thought I would pay you back."

"May I speak now?"

"Yes. I just want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry . . ." Ryan looked away.

"You accused an innocent man," Josh said. "That's the worst thing you could have done."

"I know," Ryan nodded.

"The money can be paid back, but a man's reputation can never be repaired."

"I will apologize to Danny after he gets through this." Tears ran down Ryan's face.

"What if he doesn't?"

"I don't know how I will live with myself." Ryan wiped his face with his sleeve.

"As for the stealing, you know I have to-should-turn you in to the authorities."

"I fully expect that." Ryan stiffened. His lithe frame looked like he could break in two at any minute.

"But I won't."

A look of surprise crossed Ryan's face.

"Not if you repay the money."

"Thank you-"

"Let me finish. I heard you out," Josh said. "God has taught me a lot in the past few months. And I had a lot to learn." He cleared his throat, fighting back emotions. "If he's taught me anything, it's that mercy and forgiveness trump everything."

Ryan nodded.

"My faith has sometimes been weak. But God has given me mercy so that I might have faith." He looked into Ryan's eyes. "And that I might show mercy."

"I'll pay you back soon."

"Do you still have my accountant's number?"

"Yes."

"Please work it out with him."

"Thank you," Ryan nodded. "I'll set up the payments-with interest-after I find another job."

Josh studied him, trying to determine if Ryan was, indeed, sincere. "You have a job. With me."

"What?"

"You're still my guitar player. You're the best in the business."

"I didn't expect-"

"But I'm going to have to discharge you as my road manager," Josh said. "That's a pay cut, you understand."

"Yes . . . I do. Certainly. I can't expect you to trust me."

"It's too much for one man to handle," Josh said.

"I'll pay you back, Josh. One way or the other. I have my house up for sale. I promise, you'll get the money."

"I believe you will." Josh offered Ryan his hand. "We'll work it out. But I have to ask you one thing."

"Yes?" Fear crossed Ryan's face.

"Did you set Danny up before the wreck?"

Ryan looked away momentarily, and then back to Josh. "You found the money? The twenty thousand?"

"Yes."

"I guess that's a good thing, huh? I mean, that's a start on what I owe you."

"Yes, it is." Josh laid a hand on Ryan's shoulder.

"Thank you."

"Okay. Get that arm healed up, man. I need to get back to Beth and Mr. Stevens." Josh motioned toward the waiting room. "I hope you can work things out with your wife."

"Me too," Ryan said, smoothing his shirt. "Can I ask you one more thing?"

"Sure."

"Will you pray for me?"

"Of course."

Back in the waiting room Josh stood watching Beth sleep. Jim Stevens had also dozed off. Ryan's confession was almost too much to take in. An unexpected end to a bad situation. A nightmare that had been resolved.

Now . . . if only Danny would make it through surgery.

"Would a member of the Danny Stevens family, please come to the phone?" The attendant announced over the loudspeaker.

Jim Stevens awoke, startled. "Was that for me?"

"Yes." Josh took a deep gulp of air.

Jim Stevens rose quickly from his seat and rushed to the reception desk. Josh awakened Beth and whispered that the call had come.

From his chair, he watched Jim Stevens pick up the phone and identify himself. He could only see Mr. Steven's face from a distance of several yards. At first, his expression was stiff. He listened and didn't speak. A few minutes later, his shoulders shook, as if he were having a seizure. Then the old man began to sob.

Josh's heart climbed to his throat. Oh, no. The worst has happened.

He stood up and met Jim Stevens halfway back to their seats. A big smile crossed his face as he approached.

"He made it," the old man said. "He made it."