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“I can’t wait to go out to lunch with your mom and sister. I love them,” said Stephen.

“It’ll be fun. You haven’t seen them for a while.”

“Exactly, fun.”

“You don’t have to pretend you like them.”

“Oh, but I do like them. They’re your family, I have to like them.”

They went to a new restaurant near the “town majority-of-an-oval,” as Stephen jokingly called it since it wasn’t technically a town square.

“So tell me about the concert you’re putting on,” said Rose, Olivia’s mother.

“It’s more than a concert,” said Stephen. “We’re having artists from all over the region come to showcase their work. There will be great food as well as great music. My band will be playing one set. All the proceeds will go to St. Perpetua’s research and charity. I can’t wait, you and Kelly should definitely come.”

“Sounds like he’s become quite the philanthropist.”

“It’s all the dreams whisking people away. He thinks God is testing us.”

“Maybe he is. More and more patients at the hospital are claiming they’re hearing His voice and seeing Him. That can’t be a coincidence, can it?”

“I don’t know how God stands this town,” said Kelly.

“Hey, we like it here,” said Olivia. “Weatherview is making history.”

The waiter came over with a green binder to jot down their orders. Olivia ordered a Caesar salad, Stephen got a salmon BLT, Rose was having the filet with a baked potato, and Kelly went with the chicken parmesan.

“Excellent, your food should be here shortly.”

“The town has changed, that’s all,” said Kelly.

“This town has changed for the better. Look around. Everyone is smiling and looking perfectly happy. God has blessed us. We should be grateful.”

“Do you really believe God is doing all this?” asked Rose. “Making people float and things shiny all over town?”

“It’s more than that,” said Stephen.

“I just think God has better things to do than play children’s games.”

“They aren’t merely children’s games.”

“What would you call them?”

“They are miracles meant to bring joy to all the people, so that we repent and become holy.”

“I agree that they’re meant to test us, to see who avoids the visions and who joins in and starts throwing city-wide parties,” said Rose.

“Mom, it’s a fundraiser for the sick and needy.”

“For false messiah’s and false prophets will appear, and they will perform great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”

“You think Stephen’s a false prophet now?” Olivia raised her voice, “He’s helping sick children.”

The table went silent for a moment.

“I just want what’s best for you, Olivia.”

“And what, my husband isn’t what’s best for me?”

“For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household,” quoted Stephen.

More silence.

“Well, this was fun. I’ll see you guys later,” joked Kelly.

“If God doesn’t want these miracles to happen why do they make people so wonderfully happy? God only does wondrous things.”

“Maybe that’s the test,” said Stephen, “giving people a taste of heaven to see how they’d react if and when we finally get there.”

“Mmm hm,” Rose made a sound of agreement.

“But I don’t think He would mind me organizing a festival for such a good cause, even if it is going to be a giant party. Weatherview should plan more city-wide events to foster a spirit of unity among its inhabitants.”

“We need to foster a spirit of unity at this table,” said Kelly.

The waiter showed up with their food.

“Just in time. You’ve stopped an all out war from erupting.”

“That’s one of my jobs. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“No children on the way, I’m assuming.”

“Mom!”

Kelly started laughing.

“Our Father, who art in heaven,” Stephen began.

“You have no respect for our marriage, do you?” said Olivia. “I’m going to walk out of here if you’re not more polite.”

“Settle down, sweetie, I’ll be nice.”

“Enough about the festival, what’s going on with you two?” asked Stephen.

They talked about what had been going on in their lives recently. Rose talked about how life had changed now that Tom, her husband, had passed away. Kelly talked about her children. Lunch ended on a more positive, loving note.

The question of whether or not the dreams were entirely from God lingered in their minds. Was it possible for something so good to have bad elements also? Were the people of Weatherview supposed to renounce the dreams and instead wait quietly and prayerfully for the Lord to return? That remains to be seen. For the time being they would carry on as planned, because one thing’s for sure, nobody could experience the miracles and not offer some kind of response to heaven.