BOOK 1: SERENDIPITY / CH. 18:SARAH AND KATE'S CHAT

WEDNESDAY

“So, Sarah, what's this idea and why did you want John to go?”

“Please shoot me down in flames if I'm wrong, Kate, but I had an idea and it made a few things click. I remember hearing in psych class that a counsellor would sometimes find they couldn't help someone get over something they hadn't dealt with in their own life. That was one of the reasons you weren't sure you should put me with John, yes?”

“Teach granny to suck eggs, yes, go on, that's right.”

“So, when I talked to John about letting someone else into his life, I got the ‘Oh, I'm not complete’ sob story, but then I pressed him a bit, and he crumpled really easily. It was so odd. But I was wondering, Kate. Have you let anyone into your life since Mr. Right dumped you? Could staying faithful to him be the root of this confusion you're feeling now?”

Kate's expression showed incredulity and denial. “It was thirty years ago, Sarah!”

“And? Have you moved on in life, or are you still hoping you'll run into him again?”

Kate sat down. “Still hoping? Not really, he's probably married with grand-kids on the way. You know, it was the last day of term when he dumped me? The next year he didn't turn up. Someone said he'd changed universities. He changed his net ID. He never wrote. Gone.”

“But do you miss him, Kate? Even after these years?” Sarah asked gently.

“Oh yes. I still miss him, but I've moved, he's moved, I've no idea where he is,” Kate said.

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“Oh, Kate. Oh stubborn, big hearted Kate,” Sarah said, filled with compassion.

“You're probably right, you know. I've almost certainly been stubbornly refusing to listen to God-talk for decades because I want James back.”

“I wonder where he is. You could try and contact him, you know.”

“Dear James, I don't know if you remember me, but you dumped me thirty years ago. Just wondering if you'd consider changing your mind now you've had time to reconsider.”

“Hmm, maybe not.”

“'Dear James, I'm finally over you, I think. Thanks so much for the ruined life.' How about that one?”

“No, Kate. I don't think so. And is your life ruined?”

“Not really, except for dreams of children.”

“Which John and your other young ones here sort of fill?”

“Maybe. Not the same though.”

“Of course not.”

They sat for a while, thinking their own thoughts, then Kate broke the silence, “Well, I guess I'd better make an appointment to meet with your God on Sunday, hadn't I?”

“Well, you're welcome to come along to church if that's what you mean, but if you're talking of prayer, that can happen any time.”

“I'll just start with church, if that's OK.”

“Of course.”

“I wonder where John is.”

“Well, I could see if this gift works like a location finder as John thought it would.”

“Hmm, that's not in your ethics statement, you know.”

“I know. We were just debating asking you about that when you came in.”

“Oh, what about, and why the debate?”

“Well, I didn't really want to give you anything else to think about tonight.”

“But?”

“We think we need some kind of an emergency clause in there. While I was unconscious John was scanning me to see how I was, and passing it on to Janet. I think that's entirely reasonable, but there was no informed consent. There couldn't be.”

“I see what you mean. If you think your gift will help someone sick or injured then you want to be able to use it.”

“But it opens up a whole grey area about how we decide if the intrusion is warranted and justifiable.”

“I trust you've given each other consent?”

“'Whenever I'm worried,’ yes.”

“So, are you worried about John?”

“Not really. Just wondering.”

“Drat. It would have been a good excuse to try and locate him.”

“I think I'll go look for him instead.”