The Trouble With Angels Page 0,84

eyed each other suspiciously.

"Paul?"

"Steve?"

"What are you doing here?" Paul demanded. He wanted to accuse Steve of finding his letter of resignation and following him out of town, but that was ridiculous.

"Camping," Steve answered.

"By yourself?"

Steve nodded. "The city gets to me every now and again, and I need to escape for a few days. It seems to me I've invited you along a number of times."

Paul nodded. "I'm here for the fresh air," he said, unwilling to tell his friend the whole truth. Although he wasn't entirely sure what the whole truth was.

"We're going to have to go a lot farther than this for some fresh air," Steve commented dryly.

Paul couldn't agree with him more. The Los Angeles smog was better in the winter months, but it had followed him a hundred miles or more.

"Actually, I came here to clear my head," Paul announced to his friend.

"Clear your head?"

Paul's hand tightened around the walking stick. "I wrote out my letter of resignation," he announced. Folks would find out soon enough. Steve would discover the envelope waiting for him when he arrived home anyway. There wasn't any need to keep it a secret.

"Resigned?" Steve echoed, the word low and stunned. "You?" He wandered around the campsite as if he'd lost his sense of direction. He looked at Paul and shook his head slowly, as if he were having trouble taking it in. "This is going to take some getting used to, I'm afraid. Sit down a minute, will you? I need a cup of coffee."

Paul had half a mind to say he was just leaving for a favorite hiking trail, but it was clear the church elder was shaken by his news. It didn't seem fair to announce his intentions and then casually walk away.

As it turned out, Paul brewed the coffee while Steve ambled around, paused, and scratched his head every now and again.

"You're sure about this?" he asked at one point.

"Sure I made the right decision?" Paul asked, rephrasing his friend's question. "Yes."

"Do you mind if I ask why?"

Actually Paul did. He didn't want anyone to talk him out of it. The decision was made, and he felt strongly that he'd done the right thing.

"I'd prefer not to talk about it, Steve. No offense."

"None taken," Steve assured him. He sat on a folding chair and clung to the cup of coffee as if it were all that stood between him and ruin.

"It's time I moved on," Paul offered, wanting to break the stilted silence.

"Have you decided upon another church?"

"No," Paul admitted. "I need a break."

"What are you going to do?"

Other than take a few days for camping and a little hiking, he hadn't given the matter much thought. He probably should start thinking about it soon. He'd need a way to support himself and help pay the last of Joe's college expenses. Funny, the thought of what he'd do for money had never occurred to him until this moment.

"I don't know what I'll do with myself," he admitted. He took a drink of coffee and set the mug aside, eager to be on his way.

"Where you headed?" Steve asked next.

Paul told him about the hiking trail.

"I don't suppose you'd like company?" Steve asked hopefully. "Listen, if you'd rather not have me along, just say the word. I know I can be a real nuisance at times."

"What makes you say that?" Paul asked, genuinely surprised.

"We used to spend quite a bit of time together, don't you remember? Then Barbara got sick and, I don't know, everything changed."

Paul didn't feel any comment was necessary. "You're welcome to come along if you like," he told his old friend. He wasn't seeking company, but he didn't have the heart to turn Steve down.

Paul's generosity was rewarded with a big smile from Steve. He'd forgotten how much he enjoyed Steve's companionship. As Steve had said, the two had grown apart following Barbara's illness and death. The fault was his own, Paul realized with regret.

As if he understood that Paul had been seeking solitude, Steve didn't seem inclined to talk on the hike, which took all of the morning and a small part of the afternoon.

Steve strolled back to his campsite and dropped onto the folding chair. "Guess I'm not in as good a shape as I thought," he muttered. "I think I'll rest up and then find a phone and call Myrna. She tends to worry if she doesn't hear from me."

"I'll talk to you later, then," Paul said.

Steve hesitated. "I'm not going to say