Free Breaker's Reef by Terri Blackstock Page B

didn’t know what to say to that, but his honesty and openness made her feel closer to him than ever before. She almost wished she didn’t have a date after the service. Maybe she would have been able to hang out with him and talk the anger through.
    The prayer service started with the Mercy Me song “I Can Only Imagine,” sung by the guitar-playing youth minister. The kids around her closed their eyes in tearful worship. Sadie did the same.
    After the song, the microphone was open, and one by one, Emily’s friends came up to share personal stories about the girl whose personality had never shone more brightly. With each successive story, the sadness lifted, and tears turned to laughter. It was good to see teens who didn’t know Christ being touched by Emily’s life as well as her death. It helped, knowing God might, indeed, have a purpose for it and a plan to reap a harvest from the sleep of one of his beloved children.
    As Sadie left the church after the service, the burden of Emily’s death became lighter. Matt still seemed down, but his tears had dried. He followed her out into the church’s foyer.
    “Hey, you want to go somewhere and talk?”
    She looked up at him. “I wish I could. I really do. But I’m meeting somebody.”
    “Oh.” He nodded, looking almost embarrassed. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around then.”
    “Maybe tomorrow? I do want to talk to you.”
    He softened then, and met her eyes. His were a soft brown behind those glasses. A slow smile worked itself into them. “Okay. I have class and have to work at the florist, but I’ll call you if I can get some time free. Will Morgan and Jonathan let you talk to me?”
    “Of course. Why wouldn’t they?”
    “I’ve just heard they’re pretty strict. And me being a college guy … That’s kind of why I haven’t suggested it before now.”
    “I think it’ll be okay.”
    She followed him out of the church and watched him walk to the parking lot. Scott Crown was already waiting for her in his little Toyota, idling on the street out front. She hoped this was worth it.
    The radio was playing a rap song too loudly for her mood, but thankfully, he turned it down as she got in.
    “Hey.”
    He studied her face. “You okay?”
    “Yeah. The service was actually nice. I’m glad I went.”
    “Good. I thought we’d go get a hamburger. Hungry?”
    “Yeah, I am. That’ll be great.”
    As he drove, she realized he looked like a teenager who’d just walked out of algebra class, instead of a full-fledged police officer.
    He wore that teasing grin that he’d worn in high school when he strolled down the corridor, keenly aware that he could have dated any of the dreamy-eyed girls who spoke to him. And he’d dated quite a few.
    He took her to Beach Bums, a hamburger joint on the water, where the beachcombers hung out and where a lot of the highschool kids usually congregated in the parking lot each night. Since most of the kids had been at the service, the place was relatively empty. Scott chose a table by the window with an ocean view, and though the sun wasn’t visible as it set in the west, its hues filled the sky in a watercolor pallet, lending an air of romance to the night.
    Scott smiled at her. “I’m glad you came out with me. I was afraid you might not, since I’m out of school and all. Did your mom give you any trouble?”
    “No, but the age thing did come up, until I reminded them that you’re only a year older.”
    “Hard to believe you have another whole year of school left,” he said as he bit into his burger. “You ever feel like quitting? Since you have a job and all?”
    “All the time.” Sadie picked at her french fries. “But then I realize I need to finish. Maybe even go to college and study journalism.”
    “Why? So you can spend four years learning to do what you’re already doing, then come back here and work the same job?”
    She smiled. “How do you know I want to stay here? Maybe I want to go to New York or