A Step Of Faith Part 20

"Here's some Tabasco sauce for your eggs if you're so inclined," he said, pushing the bottle toward me. Then he tore open his biscuit, layering sausage and eggs inside. "I love a breakfast sandwich." He looked at me. "After we parted last night, I realized that I hadn't asked you where you're going."

"I'm walking to Key West," I said.

"Ah, beautiful Key West. That's quite a ways. Where did you begin your journey?"

"Seattle."

"My, that is a journey. What's in Key West?"

"It was the farthest distance I could walk from Seattle."

His eyes narrowed with interest. "Then the real question is, what's in Seattle?"

"Memories," I said.

He nodded slowly. "Good ones or bad ones?"

"Both. My wife was killed in a horse-riding accident. I lost her, my home, and my job. I just had to get away."

"I understand," he said. "I lost my first wife. Not in an accident, though. She left me."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"Me too," he replied. "Perhaps that's why I felt so compelled to let you in. We're kindred spirits." He looked at me soulfully. "You know, I've wondered if it's more painful to lose someone you love to death or to lose someone you love because she no longer loves you back."

"I don't know," I said.

"On the surface it seems an easy question. It should be much easier to lose someone who doesn't love you, because why would you want to be with someone who doesn't want you? But rejection's not an easy road. A part of you always wonders what made you so unlovable."

"She must have been crazy," I said. "You're one of the kindest people I've met on my walk."

He smiled sadly. "You are being kind. But you're not a woman, and the truth is I'm not much to look at. No one's ever mistaken me for Ryan Goosling."

"I think it's Gosling," I said. "But you're being too hard on yourself."

"No, I'm truthful. I just look at myself in the mirror each morning and remind myself that G.o.d looks on the heart." He looked at me. "You're a handsome guy. You probably have women chasing you through every town you walk through."

I ignored his observation. "But you're remarried now?"

He smiled. "Yes. Her name is Melba. Like the toast. We're happy. A virtuous woman is more precious than rubies.

"So, Alan Christ-offers-son, what happens when you reach Key West?"

I shrugged. "Good question. When I left Seattle, I had so far to go that I didn't think about it. I'm not sure that I really believed I would make it."

"Think you'll stay in Key West?"

I shook my head. "No. Maybe I'll go back to Seattle and start my business up again."

"Think you'll ever remarry?"

"I don't know."

"You should. It's not good for man to be alone." A wry grin crossed his face. "We get into all kinds of mischief."

"I'm sure you're right."

"Anyone in the wings?" he asked. "Prospects?"

"Actually, there are two women ..."

"Ah, that's troubled geometry. The infernal triangle."

I smiled. "One of them used to work for me. The other I met on my walk. I was mugged and beaten and she took care of me."

"A good Samaritan. You can't go wrong with someone like that." Suddenly his expression changed. For a moment he didn't speak, then he said, "Is one of them dark-featured, with long black hair? Ample-chested? Maybe she's Greek. Very pretty, like a model."

I was stunned. "You just described Falene. How did you know that?"

He shook his head slowly. "It's nothing."

"No, it's something," I said. "You just described her. How did you know that?"

He just looked at me, hesitant to answer.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I just had a vision of her."

"You just had a vision? Right now?"

He nodded.

"What else did you see?"

"She was wearing a wedding dress."

"A wedding dress? Was she with me?"

"She was alone."

For a moment I wasn't sure what to say. "Do you have visions often?"

"No. Occasionally. That's how I knew my wife was cheating." He shook his head. "She ran off with the choir director."

I was quiet a moment, then said, "Never trust a musician."

He looked at me, then burst out laughing. "I suppose you're right." He sighed. "I'm glad you stopped by, Alan."