The Last Song(118)

“We’ve been finishing the window,” Ronnie said hoarsely.

Pastor Harris motioned toward the window. “May I?”

Ronnie nodded. “Of course.”

Pastor Harris stepped into the workshop, moving slowly. His cane tapped against the wooden floor as he approached. At the table, his expression changed from curiosity to wonderment. Leaning on his cane, he ran a knobby, scarred hand over the glass.

“It’s incredible,” he breathed. “It’s more beautiful than I would have imagined possible.”

“My dad and Jonah did all the real work,” Ronnie said. “We just helped to finish it.”

He smiled. “Your father will be so pleased.”

“How’s the church coming? I know my dad would love to see the window in place.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.” He shrugged. “The church isn’t as popular as it once was, so there aren’t as many members. But I have faith that it will work out.”

From her anxious expression, Will knew Ronnie was wondering whether or not the window would be installed in time but was afraid to ask.

“Your dad is doing well, by the way,” Pastor Harris said. “He should be out of the hospital soon, and you should be able to visit him this morning. You didn’t miss much yesterday. I spent most of the day sitting in his room alone while they were running tests.”

“Thanks for staying with him.”

“No, sweetheart,” he said. He glanced at the window again. “Thank you.”

It was quiet in the workshop as Pastor Harris made his way out. Will watched him go, unable to shake the image of his scarred hands.

In the silence, he studied the window, struck by the work that had been necessary to make a new one, a window that shouldn’t have had to be replaced. He thought of the pastor’s words and the possibility that Ronnie’s dad might not even live to see the window installed.

Ronnie was lost in her own thoughts as he turned to her.

He felt something collapse inside him, like a house of cards. “There’s something I need to tell you.”


As they sat on the dune, Will told her everything from the beginning. When he finished, Ronnie seemed confused.

“You’re saying that Scott started the fire? And that you’ve been protecting him?” Her voice rang with disbelief. “You’ve been lying for him?”

Will shook his head. “It’s not like that. I told you it was an accident.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Ronnie’s eyes searched his. “Accident or not, he needs to take responsibility for what he did.”

“I know. I told him to go to the police.”

“But what if he doesn’t? Are you going to keep covering for him forever? You’re going to let Marcus keep controlling your life? It’s wrong.”

“But he’s my friend…”

Ronnie leapt to her feet. “Pastor Harris almost died in that fire! He spent weeks in the hospital. Do you know how painful burns are? Why don’t you ask Blaze how it feels? And the church… you know he can’t even rebuild it… and now my dad’s never going to see the window where it belongs!”

Will shook his head, trying to stay calm. He could see that it was all too much for Ronnie—her dad, his impending departure, her upcoming court date. “I know it was wrong,” he said quietly. “And I’ve felt guilty about it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to go to the police.”

“So what?” she demanded. “That doesn’t mean anything! Didn’t you hear me when I told you about admitting in court what I had done? Because I knew what I did was wrong! Truth only means something when it’s hard to admit! Don’t you get that? That church was Pastor Harris’s life! It was my dad’s life! And now it’s gone and the insurance won’t cover the damage and they have to hold services in a warehouse…”

“Scott’s my friend,” he protested. “I can’t just… throw him to the wolves.”

She blinked, wondering if he could even hear what he was saying. “How can you be so selfish?”

“I’m not being selfish—”

“That’s exactly what you are, and if you can’t understand that, then I don’t want to talk to you!” she said. She turned and started toward the house. “Just go! Leave!”

“Ronnie!” he called out, getting up to follow her. She sensed his movement and whirled to face him.

“It’s over, okay?”

“It’s not over. C’mon, be reasonable…”

“Reasonable?” She waved her hands. “You want me to be reasonable? You haven’t just been lying for Scott, you’ve been lying to me, too! You knew why my dad was making the window! You stood right next to me and you never said anything about it!” Her words seemed to clarify something in her mind, and she took another step backward. “You’re not who I thought you were! I thought you were better than this!”