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life together, there was really no reason to hold on to the things they’d enjoyed together or the places they had visited. Therefore, there was nothing keeping him here.
    Or was there? Something was nagging at him. Or someone, to be exact. Abel. He couldn’t deny he was worried Abel was alone and wasn’t going to make it through this tough time. Could he help the man in some way before he left?
    Come on! You don’t even know the guy. You met him on a random park bench, and he hasn’t opened up to you, so how can you help him?
    Their meeting had been a chance one. They had simply been two strangers who crossed paths in the early morning hours. One person reaching out to another person in a moment of distress. That’s all. End of story.
    Then why are you so hell-bent on helping the guy? And don’t say you’re doing this out of habit. You’re retired and no longer required to do this kind of work. He doesn’t need saving, and he’s not one of your congregation. You no longer have a congregation.
    That realization made Cullen think about his own situation for a moment. How could you go from a happily married Episcopal priest with your own church and thriving congregation to where you are today? Cullen looked up to the stars. Shit happens! That’s how!
    But Abel. He seems to be in so much pain. I can’t just leave him.
    Sure you can! He’s not your responsibility.
    Logically Cullen knew all this debating and back and forth was stupid, but his head and his heart were two totally different things.

Chapter Four
     
     
    CULLEN WOKE before the alarm sounded. There were no signs of light peeking through his cabin portholes, so he knew it was still fairly early. Rolling onto his back, he stretched and looked up at the ceiling, trying to gauge how he felt emotionally. He’d slept pretty well and hadn’t been plagued by any bad dreams. That’s a start.
    Cullen glanced at the clock: 5:55. Without a second thought, he hopped out of bed, made a brief stop in the head, and ended up in the galley making coffee. While he waited for the coffee to brew, Cullen’s thoughts drifted back to last night’s internal tug of war. Do I go, or do I stay? He’d gone over every pro and con, and after much internal deliberation, just before he’d drifted off, he’d made the decision that when he went out for his run, if Abel was in the park, he would try one last time to get him to open up. If he didn’t or wouldn’t, Cullen would simply go. In truth he was still feeling pretty good about his game plan. “If I’m meant to stay it will work out that way,” Cullen whispered while he poured his coffee.
    Well! Listen to you, Cullen Kiley. Is that a little faith I hear in your voice?
    “Absolutely not!” he mumbled and put the thought right out of his head.
    Cullen sipped on his second cup of coffee and watched the bright orange-and-gold hues of a beautiful dawn filling the eastern sky. When he saw the arc of the sun peek over the horizon, he downed the rest of his coffee, went down below, and changed into his running clothes.
    It was still a little chilly when Cullen stepped off the boat, and he was thankful he’d worn a long-sleeved running shirt. He started his exercise application, attached his cell phone to his right bicep, put his earbuds in, stretched, and took off down the dock. Well, Kiley. Let’s get a move on and see what the day brings.
    Cullen exited the marina at a brisk pace. He turned right on East Bay and ran along the front of the Municipal Marina. He figured taking a longer route would give Abel a little extra time to get to the Riverwalk—if indeed he was planning to go there. And if Abel happened to be there and they started talking, it would most likely be the stopping point for Cullen, so he wanted to get as much of a run in as possible before he reached the park.
    After a half mile, Cullen turned left on Caswell and enjoyed the charming little neighborhood of clapboard houses painted in various pastel