He turned to look at me.
I cleared my throat. “I was wrong about quite a few things and I think I hurt you.” I searched his eyes. “Did I?”
He nodded slowly. “You did.”
I kept his gaze. “I’ve spent my entire life working really hard to keep myself at the center of the universe. Turns out, it’s not as good an idea as it once seemed.”
Mac cocked his head to one side. “Go on.”
“Listen,” I said, suddenly impatient. “The crux of it is I read the Bible.” I tried really hard not making those last two words sound like I was rolling my eyes, but Mac laughed anyway.
“Did you, now? And what did the Bible have to say that you found interesting?”
“Well, I found this part where God is saying that He has a plan for me. A good plan. And that if I seek Him, He’ll let me in on it.” I shrugged. “My plans haven’t been going so well, so I think I’ll give Him a turn.”
Mac nodded, taking in every word as if he’d said these very things before.
I sighed. “I guess it just rang true. Like the homeless John the Baptist.”
Mac’s forehead wrinkled. “You met John the Baptist?”
I nodded. “I’m telling you. You can see anything in New York.”
He shook his head at life in the Big Apple.
I continued. “It rings true like Jayne and her reaction to Handel, like a great sermon I heard, even though it came from a questionable messenger. And you.” I turned to him, a lump forming in my throat. “You, Mac Hartley, ring true.”
He smiled. “Can I gloat?”
I arched an eyebrow. “Not unless you want me to speed dial Tom for a quick cab ride back to the airport.”
Mac stood from his chair and my heart jumped. He walked over to me and offered me a hand. I stood up and he wrapped his arms around my waist. I gave up trying to look composed and let my eyes fill with tears.
He leaned down to kiss me on the cheek, intersecting with a salty tear rolling down my face. “What’s the first step of the plan?” he asked softly.
“I’ve been offered a year-long position at Moravia,” I whispered, willing him not to move an inch.
“Way out here in the sticks?” he said, brushing another kiss, this time on my forehead.
“Mm-hmm,” I said, eyes open and watching his take me in. “You people could use some high culture.”
He nodded, kissed me on the other cheek. “This will never work, you know.”
I traced one finger slowly down his cheek. “I know,” I said with all seriousness. “You’d better work on a Plan B.”
“Isn’t that what this is?”
I let him gather me to him, my face on his chest, smelling the clean scent of his hair and skin. Behind us, the sun glittered on the horizon, turning the world all shades of light and dark, readying itself for the advent of a new day.
… a little more …
When a delightful concert comes to an end,
the orchestra might offer an encore.
When a fine meal comes to an end,
it’s always nice to savor a bit of dessert.
When a great story comes to an end,
we think you may want to linger.
And so, we offer ...
AfterWords—just a little something more after you
have finished a David C. Cook novel.
We invite you to stay awhile in the story.
Thanks for reading!
Turn the page for ...
• Tips
• Playlists
• Interview with an Eyewitness
Tips
Jayne’s Manhattan Travel Tips
• A black fanny pack goes with everything.
• Bring your tenni-runners. You’ll walk a lot.
• Dress in layers. You never know when you’ll see your hotel room or friend’s apartment again.
• Be adventurous when dining but pack plenty of granola bars just in case Japanese noodle houses don’t end up being as fun as they sound.
• Don’t be scared of the subway. A self-defense class at your local public library will give you extra confidence when you encounter shady characters.
• If you don’t understand the topic of conversation, smile and look pleasant. New Yorkers could use a little friendliness.
• Do not expect to see famous people. You’ll probably just be disappointed.
Sadie’s Maplewood Survival Tips
• Everything moves more slowly than in normal places: time, seasons, vehicles. Get used to it, because this is an impenetrable fact of life. You will not hurry anyone up just because you see efficiency as an inalienable right.
• Potlucks are as risky as they sound: You may or may not be lucky enough to find something worth its calories.
• Two words: Air Purifier.
• Crusty bread = day old, not artisan.
• If someone invites you into his barn, have him provide a written disclosure of what you are about to see.
• Get a good haircut, mani, pedi, massage, facial, and wax before you leave home.
• In general, yes, the people are smiling at you and they are not selling anything.
• Stand firm in your fashion choices. It will be lonely at the top.
Playlists
Sadie Maddox: Greatest Arias of All Time
“Nessun dorma,” Puccini’s Turandot
“The Trees On The Mountain,” Floyd’s Susannah
“Let The Bright Seraphim,” Handel’s Samson
“Viens, Mallika … Dôme épais, le jasmin” (Flower Duet), Delibes’s Lakmé
“O mio babbino caro,” Puccini’s La bohème
“Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” (Doretta’s Dream Song), Puccini’s La rondine
Mac Hartley: Favorite Country Songs Ever
“She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”
“Trashy Women”
“A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action”
“I’m Gonna Miss Her”
“Gone Country”
“Only On Days That End In ‘Y’”
“All My Ex’s Live in Texas”
“Aggravatin’ Woman”
Interview With An Eyewitness
State your full name, age, and political party for the record, please.
Drew Jonas Hartley. I’m six years old. My birthday is November 4. I want a Transformer and a lightsaber and a puppy … What was your other question?
Political party?
Yes.
Favorite things to do?
I like to swim, play with my brother, and watch movies. We have lots of DVD movies like Toy Story and Polar Express and Willie Wonka. Have you seen those? Because you can borrow them. We also have lots of baby movies like Cars. I used to like Cars but now I don’t because I’m not a baby.
I see. What about playing outside in the fresh Iowa air?
Yeah, I play outside. My mom makes me because she says my brain will turn to mush if I watch TV all day. I don’t exactly believe her but I do it anyway. And outside’s pretty fun, especially with my slingshot. And my BB gun, which I don’t have yet but will when I turn ten.
Sounds dangerous. Let’s talk about Miss Sadie. How was it living with an opera legend?
What’s an opera legend?
Sadie Maddox. She’s a famous opera singer.
Oh, yeah, right. There is no way that lady is famous.
Why do you say that?
Because she’s just Miss Sadie. She has crazy hair in the morning when she comes downstairs. And she can be super grumpy. She does let us have all the cookies if Mom and Dad aren’t looking. But she is not famous.
You’re sure?
Positive. I have never seen her on TV or a DVD. [Whispers.] She didn’t even know who Buzz Lightyear was.
Fair enough. Drew, thank you for your time.
You’re welcome. Now can I have that Snickers?
Photo by Mindy Myers
Kimberly Stuart holds degrees from St. Olaf College and
the University of Iowa. After teaching Spanish and English as a second language in Chicago, Minneapolis, Costa Rica, and eastern Iowa, she took a huge increase in pay to be a full-time mom. She makes her home in Des Moines, Iowa, with her husband and two young children.
Table of Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
1 Relic
2 West Nineties
3 Holy Night
4 Tall Corn State
5 Habitat
6 Among the Natives
7 Maplewood
8 Working Girl
9 First Impressions
10 We Gather Together
11 Andante
12 Local Flavor
13 Snow Day
14 Start Spreading the News
15 Multiculturalism
16 The Big Apple
17 Spring Awakening
18 Lonely Hearts
19 Network
20 Dangerous Promises
21 The Trenches
22 Whats in a Name
23 Cutting Loose
24 Birthing Pains
25 Performance Art
26 The Show Must Go On
27 Theres No Business
28 Curtain Call
AfterWords
Tips
Playlists
Interview with an Eyewitness
Extras
Kimberly Stuart Page 20