Read Online Solomon's Grave by Daniel G. Keohane - Free Book Online

dessert tables, only to be pulled away by a parent who forced them to fill their plates with “good food” first.
    As promised, both of his parents came, though his father had fidgeted more than usual during the service. Nathan had also spied his friend Josh Everson smiling at him from the last row of folding chairs. Like Elizabeth, Josh was never a diligent churchgoer. Nathan had always been more forward about inviting him, but had also known when to lighten up. Nathan often wondered why he’d hung out with so many people who weren’t believers rather than with more kids from his parish. In life you didn’t always get to pick your friends, not that Nathan had complaints. Josh was one of the good ones. They hadn’t seen each other since Nathan came up for his last interview, but the two were in constant contact via email and the occasional phone call.
    When their spot in the receiving line reached him, Nathan embraced his parents. He’d tried to get them to come forward and greet him first but Beverly insisted on waiting her turn. Pulling away, he said, “It’s good to see you today, Dad. What did you think?”
    Art Dinneck offered a sheepish grin and said, “You did well, Nate. Kept your mother awake; that’s the important part.” He leaned over and whispered conspiratorially but loud enough for her to hear, “You know how she tends to drift off.”
    Nathan gave his father’s arm a squeeze in conjunction with the playful slap from Bev. Before he could stop himself, he said, “See you again next week?”
    Art’s smile faded and his face lost much of the healthy color it had begun to show. He looked away. “We’ll see. I’ll try.” But Nathan knew he’d overstepped the line his father had drawn between them the other day. Art glanced across the room and behind him, hesitating for a moment before noting with another wave of his hand the length of the waiting line. “We’ll move over there,” he said, nodding to one of the tables. “Catch up to us when you’re done here.”
    They moved on. Nathan greeted the next person, a shy older woman with thin gray hair. Pastor Hayden conversed comfortably across the room with a small group of people. This was a welcome reception for the new pastor, but next week would be the send off for the only other minister many of these people had known. Nathan felt a pang of guilt at all the attention he was getting this morning.
    Josh Everson had his turn and Nathan embraced him with as much vigor as he’d given to his parents.
    “Father Dinneck, I presume,” the young man said with a flourish.
    Nathan laughed. “It’s Reverend Dinneck, Buddy.”
    Josh smirked. “Close enough.”
    “I see you got my email.”
    “Yep, I replied, but never heard back.”
    “A few minutes after sending you the note, I was in a cab heading for the bus station.” He patted the bulge in his sport coat where the cell phone lay hidden. “This baby’s got text messaging now. I’ll give you the address. How’s work going?”
     “I tell you, Nate, the Greedy would surely fold without my stellar management.” The Greedy Grocer was the town’s only convenience store, tucked into the end of the strip mall a half mile away on Main Street. Both Nathan and Josh had worked there at various times in their teenage years. Josh continued part-time as he attended Wachusett Community College to earn a two-year Associates in Business Management. A few months after graduation, he was offered the job of manager at the store. Lately, their banter across the Internet had focused on the parallels between them. Nathan returning after college to his hometown church, Josh to The Greedy Grocer . Of course, his friend was quick to specify which was more significant a homecoming. You can’t get milk at church at ten o’clock at night , he’d explained in one letter. Josh said, “Good to have any kind of a job these days. Nice service, Nate. I admit I couldn’t help over-examining the fact that my best