They made camp just before dusk.

The soothing flow of the river and gentle the sway of trees created a peaceful sense of a safe haven. They set down their backpacks as fireflies lit up the grassy bank.

Janessa twisted her hair higher on her head and wet the back of her neck. The cold river water felt amazing. She was still light-headed but focusing on the fireflies' little bursts of yellow light helped.

"What's going on between you and Wilder?"

She'd known he was there even before he spoke. Janessa had a connection to Dean she didn't completely understand. A lot of guys wanted to go out with her because she was beautiful and popular, but once they realized she wasn't into partying and she didn't hook up with anyone they lost interest. Dean was the only one who cared to get to know her. If only she could confide in him, maybe he'd know what to do.

Taking a steadying breath, she searched her brain for a response but came up empty. One thing was certain she would not lie or pretend to misunderstand, which left her few options. "Leo's worried about me."

His back was against a tree and his attention was riveted on her. "Yeah. I got that. Why?"

"I haven't been feeling well, nothing serious, just dizzy."

"If I didn't know you, I'd think something was going on with you and your neighbor."

That caught her attention. She'd expected him to accuse her. His trust made her guilt much worse than she could have imagined and Dean wasn't done.

"But I do know you, Janessa." His deep voice melted over her like warm chocolate. "You'd never do something like that."

"You sound so sure."

"I am." He smiled and her belly flip-flopped. "And Wilder can't keep his eyes off Grace."

Janessa smiled too. "I've noticed."

"You'd tell me, right? If you were really sick."

The concern in his blue eyes tugged at her heart. "I'd tell you."

He seemed like he wanted to say more, but didn't. Finally, he nodded and started to go. Suddenly, he stopped and threw a beseeching look her way. "I love you, Janessa. I always will."

Turning before he saw her tears, she choked back a sob. When she was sure he was gone she whispered into the wilderness, "I love you, Dean. Forever."

Grace tried not to watch the couple, but it was difficult not to notice Dean's hope fade to crushing disappointment when he left Janessa. Leo was aware as well.

"It's not what you think."

She spun and found Leo's intent gaze on her. "What do you mean?"

"You think I have something going on with Janessa. It's not true." He spoke softly, his tone sincere.

"I'm not judging." She wet her lips. "The two of you seem to share a secret."

"Yes." He didn't deny it.

"You and Janessa are friends?"

"We're neighbors." His eyes never left hers. "Never really had an opportunity to talk much, but one day I caught her at a weak moment and she shared some stuff."

"I see." But she didn't, not really. "It's good to have someone to talk to."

"Is Mark that person for you?"

"Yes, sometimes." She folded her arms across her stomach. "I talk to God."

Several beats of silence followed.

"Does God ever answer?" he asked earnestly.

Grace didn't hesitate. "Always."

"I heard you talking to Janessa last night." He sat beside her on a tree root, picked up a smooth stone and skipped it across the water. "I'm sorry."

She was surprised he'd cared to listen. "Things turned out how they were supposed to."

"I meant I'm sorry for judging you. I always thought you had a storybook family, the perfect life."

"Shocking, I know." Grace managed to smile, despite the sting in his words. "A lot of people think that about me, more so when my parents were alive."

She resisted the urge to fidget beneath his unwavering gaze. "It's the reason I never spoke to you in school," he confessed.

Her lips parted in surprise. "I didn't think you knew who I was."

"I've always known. Most people would whisper behind my back. You'd look me in the eyes and smile." Color spread across his jaw. "You probably don't remember, since you did that with everyone."

"Of course, I do. You're the kind of guy girls remember." Now they were both blushing.

His lips twitched. "Notorious, you mean."

"Striking." She wet her lips. "I saw you at FCA. You stood in the aisle of the auditorium, but you never sat down."

"Actually, I sat in the back and listened." Leo's eyes glittered. "You saw my back. My dad...he had some issues when he was discharged from the army." He paused as what said he sank in.

Their eyes met and held.

"John, my dad, he was drinking one night. He left a lit cigarette in my room. I was trapped."

Grace's heart cracked. "Oh, Leo."

"John came back for me. He got me out, but he was arrested and charged with child endangerment. He spent six months in jail. I spent the time in a burn rehab."

Grace swallowed back emotion, blinking away tears.

Leo's knee nudged hers, sending a tingling sensation along her skin. "Hey, this story has a happy ending, mostly anyway. My mom died of cancer when I was thirteen." Seeing her expression, he kept talking. "Dad had just gotten released. He claimed to have found Jesus when he was incarcerated. I wasn't sure I believed him."

"Understandable," she whispered as he skipped another rock.

The sound of the flowing river and the chirp of crickets filled the silence.

"Since I had nowhere else to go, I gave him a chance." His eyes flicked to hers. "He went to Christian counseling for his PTSD. He said he'd stopped drinking and smoking."

"Did he?"

"Yeah, he did. Doubtful as I was, Dad had changed."

"It was because of Jesus."

"That's what he said. We've gone to church a few times together. I want to believe. If there is a God, he knows how much I want that, but..."

Leo's stricken expression spoke volumes, and the pain was glaring in his eyes. Grace waited for him to finish.

"The Pastor said Jesus is the only way to heaven." His voice held a heavy note. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus said that."

"Yes," she said after realizing he was looking for confirmation.

"What about the people who died and never found Jesus?" Leo's gaze searched hers. "My mom never believed in Jesus. I don't think she ever went to church. She was a good person, but I'm told that won't get you into heaven."

"Oh, Leo." She covered his hand with hers before thinking. The death of non-believing relatives was hard, even for believers. Mark would have the right words, but Grace felt inadequate.

He glanced down at their hands and stared. She realized he was fighting for control. "Thinking of my mom in hell—it's too much."

"I wish I had answers."

He turned to her, their gazes colliding. "You don't think she's in hell?"

"Only God knows that." Grace prayed for the right words. "He can work miracles. Did she know about your dad's faith?"

"Yes. She wanted to believe him."

"Maybe she wanted to believe in Jesus."

The corners of his mouth lifted in a small smile, but before he could respond bone-rattling scream pierced the night.