Father Jerry Mercer replaced the phone to its cradle on his rather large desk in the church office that was littered with papers and smiled at the two ladies waiting patiently in the chairs on the other side. He patted his chest, as if searching for his glasses, and then realized they were in front of him. After putting them on, his rather robust voice asked, "So, Serena dear, what would you like to talk about?"

"I'm afraid I'm ill again, Father," she said without missing a ...