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really been away from home, I decided to do something different and applied for a teaching position here. That was five years ago. My relationship with the Lord has always been important to me, so I began worshipping at Bayview Church. The previous youth minister was eventually called elsewhere, and the church offered me the position. Not married or having children, I enjoy devoting my extra time to the work of the church.”
    “You must like it here to stay five years.”
    “I do. I enjoy teaching, but the fact that I can teach and minister to my students in my free time has been very meaningful to me.”
    “So, you know I’m thirty-eight, and if you don’t mind my figuring, with your schooling and time teaching, you must be around twenty-eight.”
    “Twenty-nine, actually. I took an extra year in college.”
    “Twenty-nine. And is there someone in your life?”
    “No. No, there isn’t. However, I tend to believe the Lord intervenes in our lives, and I trust that when He is ready to place the right person in my life, He will do so.”
    “How will you know?”
    “Honestly, I’m not sure exactly how, but I think it will be in His own unique way.”
    “Fair enough. I think this is our turn,” Daniel said, upon arriving at Happy Jack Lane.
    Daniel took a turn down the drive. Further down the street he noticed a police checkpoint had been set up since they were there earlier that morning. A white police cruiser with light blue stripes sat on the right side of the road, and a sheriff and deputy talked with someone in a truck ahead of them. After the truck turned around and came back down the road, Daniel pulled up to the checkpoint and rolled down the windows. The Sheriff of Plaquemines Parish walked up to the driver’s side, and the deputy to the passenger side.
    “Good afternoon, sir,” the pepper-gray haired Sheriff said politely, looking at Daniel. He seemed as if he was about to continue, but then stopped and continued to stare at Daniel, in a confused state.
    The momentary pause made seemed strange causing Daniel to feel uncomfortable. He replied, “Good afternoon.”
    The Sheriff started speaking, stumbled over his next couple of words and finally regained his composure, “Sir, are you heading out on the water?”
    “Yes. We’re going to visit some folks in Grand Bayou.”
    “How long are you going to be out?” the Sheriff stared at Daniel as if he recognized him from somewhere.
    “Just for a few hours. Is there a problem?”
    “No. Not yet, anyway. We’re just informing boaters that a hurricane is brewing in the Gulf. We don’t know where it’s going yet, but we don’t want anyone to be caught unaware. If it heads this way, there will likely be a mandatory evacuation of the whole lower parish, including Port Sulphur.”
    “Thanks, Sheriff. We shouldn’t be long. Ms. Breland has some students we’re going to visit at home. I work for the government and she’s going to introduce me to some of the families there.”
    “Okay. Just keep up with the weather news and be careful on the water. By the way… what’s your name? I don’t recognize you.”
    “Trahan. Daniel Trahan.”
    The Sheriff’s look of confusion suddenly returned along with a look of shock. He stepped back from the truck.
    “Is everything okay?” Daniel asked.
    “Yeah…yeah. You can go ahead.”
    The deputy, who had said nothing up to this point, grabbed the tip of his hat and said “Ma’am” to Rachel and stepped away from the passenger window.
    Daniel pulled forward over the drainage canal bridge and the levee down to the marina.
    “That was weird,” Rachel said, looking at Daniel.
    “Very weird! I wonder what’s up with him?” Daniel agreed.
    “It’s like he saw a ghost or something.”

Seven
     
    Sheriff Wilton Holet could not focus on his work. He couldn’t take his mind off the young man named Daniel Trahan who he had spoken to earlier. When he first saw his face, it instantly induced a flashback to many