“Okay. Do you have a sponsor?”
She shook her head quickly. She’d had one, once, but she’d dodged her calls so much that the woman had given up, and Samantha had avoided her meeting ever since.
“Are you going to get one?”
Ugh. The thought of asking someone made her stomach churn. “Maybe.”
Cindy took her hand again. “Well if you decide to and you don’t have anyone in mind, I know someone. Just let me know. In the meantime, have you talked to Pastor?”
She shook her head. Why would she? “Should I?”
Cindy nodded. “I think so. I’ll go with you right now if you want.” Samantha’s confusion must have shown on her face because Cindy explained, “When you’ve got a big job to do, you want a full toolbox.”
Okay, whatever. She let herself be led to Darren, who was just finishing up a conversation with the paramedic and his girlfriend.
“Hey, Pastor. Could Samantha and I talk to you for a minute?”
He gave Samantha a long look and then said, “Sure. Come on into my office.”
They followed him into the room, and Cindy shut the door behind them. Two chairs faced the desk, and Pastor pulled a third chair alongside them. “What’s up?”
Cindy looked at Samantha, who had no idea what she was supposed to say.
Samantha turned to the pastor. “I’m an alcoholic.”
He didn’t try to hide his surprise, and only then did she worry about what this admission was going to do. “Please don’t kick me off the music team. I am trying to get sober, I’m on day four ...” Suddenly day four seemed pathetic.
Darren held up a hand and leaned toward them. “No, no, of course not.”
Relief coursed through her. Thank goodness. Playing the flute was one of the few good things in her life.
“So, how can I help?”
She didn’t know. “I’ve tried and failed before. But this time ...” How could she explain that this time was going to be different because she’d heard angels singing?
He nodded. “I understand.”
She didn’t see how.
“Tell you what. I’m going to form a prayer team for you, which I’ll be part of, of course—”
“Count me in,” Cindy said.
“Already have. And I won’t tell them your name. But we’ll be praying.”
She surprised herself by saying, “You can tell them my name.”
He smiled. “That’s awesome. Have you tried AA?”
She nodded quickly. “I go as often as I can.”
“Good. I know some Christians are anti-AA, but I’m not one of them. As long as you know who your higher power is, the steps are biblical.”
They were? She hadn’t known that. But now that she thought about it, was she really surprised?
“Do you know Carol Herdman?”
Samantha shook her head, and Pastor glanced at Cindy. “You do.”