Page 120 of Steinbeck
“I took the bar exam.And maybe I didn’t pass it—I don’t know yet—but I do know that I don’t want to travel without Harper.Maybe I’ll head back to Florida...”
“Or maybe you stay here.The King’s Inn is in good shape.Maybe better than when Doyle was groundskeeper.The table is amazing.”
Jack just stared at it.
Stein couldn’t help but put a hand on his shoulder.“Get out of your own way and let God save you here, bro.”
“Is that what you’re doing with Emberly?”
Oh.“Yes.”
“You think she’s the right girl to spend your life with?”
Steinbeck frowned.“If you’re referring to Austen’s words?—”
“About being dangerous, and trouble?”
Right.“I think God is up to something with Emberly.”
Jack considered him for a moment, then nodded.“Just don’t get hurt.”
“I think we’re beyond that.It’s part of the job description, isn’t it?”
“What job description?”
“To love well.”
A beat.And then Jack smiled.“Glad you’re back.And sticking around.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Jack frowned.
“But for now...yes.Maybe.”
Still, the frown.“Are you guys in any danger?”
Oh.“No.I mean, yes, Luis and maybe his partner, a woman named Teresa, are still on the lam, but there are people on it.No, we’re safe here.I promise, I didn’t bring trouble back to the King’s Inn.”
“Good.Because I just got the place in shape.Mom scheduled a couple days of cleaning this week while the inn is empty.I’ll shoot you a list.”
“Fabulous.”But Stein smiled as they turned and headed into the house.
The kitchen smelled of garlic and thyme, the roasting meat in the oven.He guessed his mom was baking potatoes over at the carriage house or in the King’s Inn kitchen.
He went through to the kitchen in search of a glass of water.
And that’s when the conversation from the porch drifted in to him.He peeked out the window to where Emberly and Austen sat on the porch swing.Nimue was out by the lake, walking the shoreline.
“I’ve only ever been a Swan.”
“That’s not true.”Austen had her legs crossed, her back to Stein.“You’re a sister.And a daughter.And Emberly, the one Jesus loves.”
He moved away from the window, not wanting to eavesdrop, totally wanting to eavesdrop.
“At the core of it, whether you want to admit it or not, in God we live and move and have our being.Every step we take is under His watchful presence.And the more aware you are of that, the more free, the more alive you will feel.”
Silence.Then Emberly’s voice.“Today, with Stein, in church, it seemed that...I don’t know.Maybe this was all...part of the plan.Meeting Steinbeck three years ago, and then again, and...But you don’t really know me, Austen.You have no idea what?—”
