Precedent: Book Three: Covenant of Trust Series by Paula Wiseman

than anybody else.”
    “ Of course it does, Dad. It’s just . . .” I don’t deserve it. Not after I . . .
    “ You loved your brother, and looked up to him,” his mom said, “and, if you want to honor him, then take these gifts from him and use them.”
    “ What about Shannon?”
    “ Shannon wouldn’t read those kinds of books if you threatened her, especially not theology,” his mom said, and she smiled.
    “ I mean about the car. Is she okay with that?”
    “ I told her this afternoon. She gets the Ford outright, so she was happy.”
    Jack held the Bible and the keys, then he looked at his parents. “Thank you. This is . . . it means a lot to me.” Then glancing at his mother, he added, “This helps.”
     
    * * *
     
    Shannon dragged a french fry through the puddle of ketchup and stared blankly across the mall’s food court. Changing her surroundings didn’t change her situation or how she felt about it. Naturally, Jack got Brad’s car. Not that she wanted it, but . . . And she understood how hard it had to be for him, to have witnessed the shooting, and the guilt, but . . . her grief was dismissed because his was supposedly worse.
    “ So which movie?” Katelyn asked.
    “ I don’t know,” Shannon muttered. She slurped the last of her drink and wadded the wrappers in a tight ball to throw them away. “None of them look very good.”
    “ There is an alternative.” Katelyn leaned across the table and grinned mischievously. “Dylan Snider’s turning nineteen. He’s having a party.”
    Shannon rolled her eyes. “Is he getting a Ferrari?”
    “ It might be worth finding out,” Katelyn said.
    “ Parties aren’t really my thing. Besides, I’m not dressed for it.”
    “ Me either, but you need to get out with kids your own age and forget about everything else in your life. Even for a few hours. We wouldn’t have to stay.”
    “ You’re officially invited?”
    “ It was more like a general invitation. On his webpage.”
    “ You were on Dylan’s webpage?”
    “ I confess,” Katelyn said with an embarrassed smile. “I think he’s gorgeous. Totally bad news, but very easy on the eyes.”
    “ All right, we’ll go, just for curiosity’s sake.”
     
    * * *
     
    From half a block away, Shannon heard the throb of the heavy bass from the stereo system. Dylan lived in an enormous two-story, the last house at the end of a cul-de-sac, sheltered from the neighbors, which tonight was more fortunate for the neighbors.
    Shannon carefully negotiated her way through the cars lining both sides of the street. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain to her parents how she got a big scratch on the car, or worse, on someone else’s car.
    “ You still want to go?” Katelyn asked.
    “ Yeah, I’m just looking for somewhere to park.” She scanned the Sniders’ yard, mentally sizing up the spaces in between the cars. “I think I can fit between the tree and the Honda.” She gave the car enough gas to get up the curb, then slowly pulled in beside the compact.
    “ I can’t open my door,” Katelyn said.
    “ Well, scoot across.” As she and Katelyn walked up to the front door, the strong smell of beer hit her. “Where are Dylan’s parents?”
    “ Here somewhere, I’m sure,” Katelyn said, straining to be heard over the music. “They’d probably rather have him home than out partying somewhere.”
    Shannon shook her head. “And people think I’m spoiled.” Katelyn put a hand on the doorknob and started to open it, but Shannon grabbed her. “What are you doing? We can’t just walk in.”
    “ Do you honestly think anybody could hear the doorbell?” Katelyn pushed the door open and led the way inside. Shannon could feel the music vibrate in her chest as she followed Katelyn back through the house. She tried not to stare at the dozens of teenagers drinking, or brazenly pairing up in one corner or another. Shannon’s jaws began to tingle the way they always did right before she threw