I can only hope that the results will be the same this time as well.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” Gabby said. “But Trevor’s deteriorating behavior scares me to death. In all honesty, if this doesn’t work, I don’t know what will end up happening to him.”

Just then an insistent knock came on the office door. “Come in,” Jacobson said.

Stella Branch opened the door and walked into the office. She was a black, matronly woman in her midfifties who was well known as Jacobson’s secretary and also his strong right arm. Often he would have been lost had it not been for her superb organizational skills. Stella was also Jacobson’s sounding board for his newly minted sermons. Unless a new sermon got an enthusiastic thumbs-up from Stella, it went straight into the shredder.

“Mr. Blaine is here,” she said. “He’s waiting outside.”

Jacobson nodded. “Are you ready?” he asked Gabby. “Let me do most of the talking. This was my idea, after all. I’ll make sure Wyatt understands that, whichever way it goes.”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Gabby answered.

“Okay,” Jacobson replied. He looked back at Stella. “You can let him in.”

Moments later, Wyatt entered. At first, he saw only Gabby’s back. As he neared her chair, he smiled at Jacobson.

“I thought we were meeting alone, James,” Wyatt said. “May I ask who I have the pleasure of—”

Just then Wyatt’s and Gabby’s eyes locked. Shock quickly overtook Wyatt’s face. His angry gaze darted toward Jacobson.

“Is this some kind of sick joke?” he demanded.

“Please sit down, Wyatt,” Jacobson answered calmly. “If you’ll give me a chance, I’ll explain.”

“Explain what?” Wyatt demanded. “What the hell is she doing here?”

“Sit down, Wyatt,” Jacobson asked again. “Please hear us out. Then if you still want to storm out of here, you can. But you need to hear what we have to say.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Wyatt growled.

After a period of tense silence, Wyatt finally took the chair next to Gabby’s.

“This was my idea, not hers,” Jacobson began. “Gabby has a fourteen-year-old son named Trevor. Trevor’s having a difficult time adjusting since the death of his father, and he’s headed for trouble. Gabby and I believe he would do well in your program. Rather than simply enroll him, she has come to ask for your blessing first.”

“Do you really expect me to do her a favor?” Wyatt asked harshly.

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Jacobson pressed.

“Her husband took everything from me!” Wyatt shot back.

“I’m not asking this for myself,” Gabby said quietly.