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“What are you doing here?”

“I came by to check on Officer Brandon,” he said, gesturing to the house next door. “Have you seen him lately?”

“No, I haven’t seen anyone—”

“Since the accident?” Peter offered.

“Yeah.” Katherine nodded, fighting the return of tears. It pained her to even think of it, let alone say the words.

“Are you okay?” Peter asked. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were acquainted with the Brandons. You never know these days. Neighbors aren’t what they used to be.”

“I’m fine,” Katherine said, ignoring his questions about her relationship with Julia and Matthew. Hoping to change the subject, she invited him inside. “We can crack open the new tea sampler I got.”

“Only if you’ve got the time,” Peter said, looking back at her carefully organized rows of vegetables. “Looks like your grass is getting long, and your veggies need a little TLC. Isn’t today supposed to be your gardening day?”

“Isn’t today your preaching day?”

“Already done,” he bragged, flexing like a bodybuilder. “I’m probably getting better with age. Something you’d know if you ever came back to Sunday service.”

“Come on inside.” Katherine smiled at the well-meant jab. “I’ve always got time for you.”

Entering the kitchen behind the pastor, she felt a stab of pain when he settled into the spot at the table once occupied by someone she loved.

“To answer your question, I don’t really know the Brandons. I spoke with Matthew briefly, but I never got the chance to meet Julia,” she confessed, figuring it was best to get that part of the conversation out of the way. She knew Peter Humble enough to know that somehow, someway, he’d ask again. “Before they moved in, Matthew caught me out working in the yard and introduced himself, and we talked a little. Then, on the night of the accident, Justin had brought him by the diner for coffee and pie.”

When Katherine caught herself rambling, she hoped that something in her words or the way she spoke wouldn’t give Peter the impression there was something more between her and Matthew.

“So, you were getting to know each other then?”

“Not really.”

“But you said you’ve spoken with him on several occasions.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I’d call that getting to know him.”

“Okay, so, what’s your point?”

“Easy, sister.” Peter raised his hands. “I don’t have a point. But I thought if you knew him well enough, you’d be willing to talk to him about coming to Grief Group.”

“Why would he wanna do that?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Peter said, looking confused and a little defensive. “Just because you don’t like the sharing part doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t benefit from it. The guy’s gotta be hurting right now.”

“You’re probably right,” Katherine relented, sorry that she’d gotten so defensive when Peter was only trying to help. “I mean, I’m sure he is. But like I said, I haven’t talked to him since the accident. Do you want me to ask my dad when he’s coming back?”

“That’s just it. I’ve already talked to your dad. It’s part of why I was hoping to catch up with Matthew. I found out that his return to work is contingent upon getting some mental, emotional, or spiritual guidance for the grieving process. The Chief says that until then, he’s not allowed back on duty.”

“Whoa, that’s intense.”

“It has to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“Considering what he’s been through, even a simple psychiatric evaluation could be difficult. The nature of what officers are exposed to on any given day already makes them susceptible to anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. Now take all that and pair it with what Matthew witnessed and that it wasn’t just a stranger in that news van.”

“I see what you mean.”