The Preacher's Son - Juliette Duncan Page 0,32

faith and keeps us stuck in the wilderness. You call each and every one of us to mission and service. May we walk Your paths by the light of Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Amen,” the congregation chorused as one. I remained with my head bowed for a moment before leaving the lectern to re-join Penny as David stepped up to lead communion. My whole body felt shaky, as though I’d been filled with an energy that was now leaving my body. I sat down without looking at Penny, and as reality slowly returned, I wondered what she thought of my words. When she took my hand and squeezed it, my concern left me and a sense of calm flooded through me.

After the service finished, David placed his hand lightly on my back and smiled. “You were great, Hayden.”

“Inspired,” Julia added. Her gaze flickered to Penny and a look passed between them.

Penny stepped to my side and linked her arm through mine. “I’m so proud of you,” she said tenderly, and I didn’t doubt she meant it.

Felipe joined us, grinning widely. “That was very good, Hayden!”

“Thank you, although it truly was all God. I was so nervous,” I replied honestly. “It’s great to see you and Maria here.” I gave him a warm smile.

“We want to learn more. That’s why we come.”

Penny unlooped her arm from mine. “I want to say hi to Leon,” she murmured.

I stayed chatting with Felipe for a few minutes until everyone began to file out. When Penny and I found each other again and we walked back to the cabin, there was tension between us. Not so much a negative one, just an awareness that there were things that needed to be spoken about. My sermon had ended up being a lot more personally relevant than I had anticipated.

When Penny spoke, however, it was about Leon. “He seemed really subdued.”

“Isn't he usually?” I frowned.

“Wary, maybe,” she said, “but today he seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. There’s so much going on with him, but he’s not talking about any of it.”

“At least he came to church. That’s the first time I’ve seen him at any of the services.”

“Yes, and he said to tell you he thought your sermon was ‘cool’.”

“Well, praise doesn’t come much higher than that.” I chuckled. “He’ll be fine,” I tried to reassure her. “He’s in the right place.”

“I hope so,” she mumbled, staring off into the distance, but she didn’t sound sure at all.

Penny

The centre of Curitiba was stunning with beautiful buildings, both old and new, colourful shops and bars, and a view of the mountains in the distance. It was such a stark contrast to the parts I had seen so far, especially the favelas, that I couldn’t stop looking around as I walked arm in arm with Hayden to the restaurant. The heat of the day had dissipated and the fresh breeze tickled my cheeks, pulling a strand of hair from my bun that Hayden tucked behind my ear.

“You look gorgeous,” he whispered as he kissed my cheek. It was the first time since we’d been here that I’d bothered to wear make-up, and I’d also pinned up my hair and put on a long, lemon coloured summer dress. I did feel pretty, and as much as I was enjoying our time at Camp Bano, it was nice to have a night off. I was finally starting to make some headway with the local justice system, but it was mentally exhausting work. For one evening, we could just enjoy being husband and wife. It felt as though it had been a while.

I was determined to enjoy the night, but as we walked into the restaurant and waited to be seated, I couldn’t help reflecting on how Felipe and Maria, or Leon, would probably never visit a place like this despite having lived here their whole lives. Places like this were for the wealthy, and of course, that often included the tourists.

A handsome passador showed us to our table and held the chair out for me. Jazz played in the background and the delicious smell of meat and spices filled the air. I smiled across the table at Hayden and felt my heart melt in the way it had when we were first dating.

He reached across the table and took my hand, smiling deeply into my eyes. “Do you remember when I first took you out, all those years ago?”

I nodded, remembering those heady