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said.”
    “How can I, Dad? I can say I’m not trying to hurt you. I can say I’m not doing these things out of spite. But if you can’t let me start making my own choices without trying to manipulate me with guilt, we’re not going to have much of a future.”
    “Then so be it,” said Collins. He walked to the door and yanked it open. Shawn followed a few steps behind. “That woman has bewitched you, Shawn. She’s taken you away from us—”
    “Bewitched me?” Shawn stood right over him. “Elizabeth is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And she’s not taken me away—you’re the one putting me out. If you’d stop trying to run my life, we could get along fine. I came over here trying to share some things I’ve learned about the Christian faith, things I never understood before. I’m not telling you how to live your life. When you told me you didn’t want to hear any more, what did I do? I backed off. Does that mean I don’t feel strongly about my views? I’ve never felt more strongly about anything in my life, but I backed off. You know why? I was showing you respect. And that’s all I’m asking from you in return. Just a little respect.”
    “What do you mean, telling me what you learned about the Christian faith?” Collins was still yelling even though Shawn’s face was but inches from his own. “So you’re a Christian now, is that it? And what does that make your mother and me?”
    “Dad, did you hear a thing I said?”
    “So now you’re saying we’re not Christians? I can’t believe—”
    “Dad, stop. It’s not what I meant. There’s a difference, that’s all, between what I grew up learning and what I know now.”
    “I’ll say there’s a difference. You grew up learning respect, and now all you know about is being selfish and willful.” Collins held the door open wider and stood out of Shawn’s way.
    “So that’s it, then.”
    Collins motioned with his head for Shawn to leave.
    Standing in the vestibule, Shawn turned and said, “Don’t expect me to come back here begging to get in your good graces. It’s not going to happen.”
    Collins slammed the door shut, rattling the glass panes.
    He and Shawn hadn’t spoken two words since that moment, and that had suited Collins just fine. Ida had given him some trouble at first, but she was a good woman, knew her place in such matters.
    The only other contact was a brief phone call to Ida when Shawn’s wife got pregnant. But Collins stood his ground. The baby changed nothing. Three years later, Ida took ill. When the doctor confirmed their worst fears, Collins reluctantly agreed to allow Shawn to visit his mother as long as he gave fair warning before coming so Collins could exit the hospital first.
    On her deathbed, Ida had made him promise he would reconcile with Shawn and Elizabeth. The power of the moment had been too strong to resist. Collins agreed, taking some comfort that he had never said anything about how or when. There had been no contact in the four years that followed.
    Not until the boy had arrived the other day.
    “Ian, does that upset you?” The words barely penetrated, more like raindrops on a tin roof. “Ian? Ian, are you listening?”
    Collins finally focused on the mouth, then the face of Father O’Malley. Fear suddenly gripped him. If he didn’t act fast, the father would be tempted to repeat the lecture Collins had just been spared. “No, no. I hear you.”
    “But did I upset you?”
    “No, of course not. Why?”
    “Your face has been growing steadily more sour the more I go on.”
    “It’s just my breakfast turning over, Father. I’m fine. That’s all very interesting, what you were saying. But you know, I probably ought to go check on the boy, and I’m sure you’ve got a busy day ahead of you.” He stood up, hoping to strengthen the hint.
    It worked. Father O’Malley stood with him and began walking toward the door. Collins quickly stepped ahead and lifted his black overcoat from