Read Ryan's Return for Free Online Page A

Serenity Springs were supposed to last forever. But not his parents' marriage. And not Andrew's marriage.
    "God," he said aloud in frustration, anger, and sadness.
    "He's right inside if you want to speak to him," a voice said from behind him.
    Ryan turned around and stared into the face of a short gray-haired man wearing the traditional black collar of a Catholic priest. The man smiled at him, his blue eyes filled with a wiseness that came either from his faith or his age. Ryan wasn't sure which.
    "Excuse me?" Ryan asked.
    "God. I heard you call his name."
    "Oh." Ryan tipped his head apologetically. "I -- uh, I just, well, you know."
    "It's nice to see you again, Ryan."
    Ryan's eyes widened. "You know me?"
    "I'm Father Miles. Jonathan Miles."
    Ryan gave him a closer look, the familiarity of his name ringing a distant bell. "Father Miles, of course. I remember. You heard my first confession."
    "That's when I got my first gray hair."
    Ryan reluctantly smiled. "It got worse after that."
    "Maybe you should have come back." He waved his hand toward the front door. "Would you like to come inside?"
    Ryan immediately shook his head. He never went into a church unless there was a purpose, like a wedding he had to photograph or a funeral or a coronation. He never went in to pray. He didn't have a clue how to do that. Besides, he didn't hold much faith in prayers. A long, long time ago he had prayed every night before bed, squeezed his eyes shut, clasped his hands together, and tried so hard to make God hear him. But there had never been an answer, not even a whisper of one, just silence, just the sound of the river mocking him.
    "Ryan?"
    "What?" He turned his attention to the priest.
    "I'm glad you've come home."
    "Not home -- just back." Ryan shoved his hands into his pockets. "Maybe it's not a good idea after all."
    "Second thoughts?"
    "Oh, yeah."
    "Afraid of what you will find, or what you won't find?"
    "Both."
    "I always liked you, Ryan."
    Ryan sent him a skeptical look. "I distinctly remember having to say something like one hundred and fifty Hail Mary's after my first confession, and I was only nine at the time."
    "You had some catching up to do. And penance is good for the soul. I always wondered what made you so angry. Is the anger finally gone? Is that why you've come home?"
    Ryan thought about his question for a long time. He didn't think of himself as angry, but something certainly drove him to the farthest corners of the world. "I came back to say good-bye."
    "But you just got here."
    "I never looked back when I left before. I guess there's a part of me that wants to take one last look."
    "That's a start." Father Miles patted Ryan's shoulder and walked into the church.
    "A start to what?" Ryan muttered. He wasn't starting anything. Not here. Not now. Not in this town.
    The church door opened again, and Father Miles hurried out with a large wicker basket in his hand. "I'm glad I caught you. Could you give this to Kara Delaney for me? She'll know what to do."
    "What is it? Food or something?"
    Father Miles pulled back the blanket, revealing three puppies waking up from a nap. They were starting to stretch and blink their eyes open.
    Ryan took a step backward in dismay. "Uh, Father, I'm not very good with animals."
    "They're not for you. They're for Kara. She told me she wanted a big family. You're staying at the Gatehouse, aren't you?"
    "Yes."
    "Then you can save me a trip. They're orphans, poor things. Their mama died, and their owner -- well, she's an older woman and she just can't handle them. They're small now, but they're golden retrievers."
    "Oh, my."
    "Yes, indeed." Father Miles smiled as he handed the basket to Ryan. "Go on, take them."
    Ryan reluctantly took the basket. One of the puppies tried to scramble over the side, and he pushed it down with his other hand. Almost immediately the other two puppies tumbled into one another.
    "Better get them in the car fast," Father Miles advised.
    "Oh, Jes --," Ryan stopped