He mulled that over. “What’s your goal concerning this search?”
“To find out what the letter writer knows about my parents.”
“Each clue leads you closer to that goal.”
“It’s just ... I didn’t really want to find upsetting clues.”
“This clue doesn’t have to be upsetting,” he said reasonably. “You don’t know yet whether your dad’s visit to Camden means anything or not. Until you know more, there’s no sense worrying.”
“True.”
Companionable quiet coasted over them.
“Feeling any better?” he asked.
“Yes.” He’d had precisely the comforting effect on her she’d known he would. Resting her head against the seat back, she concentrated on softening her tense muscles and finishing her water. She wasn’t alone. Sam was here.
Ordinarily, she didn’t enjoy grocery store runs. But the unexpected chance to spend time with him felt far more valuable to her than a ticket to a Broadway musical. If they’d been on their way to a dump, she’d have been thrilled.
“This past Fall Fun Day,” he said, “reminded me that you’re a celebrity.”
“I’m not a celebrity,” she said with automatic modesty. “My studies have been well received in some circles. That’s all.”
“You’rewell received, Gen. By my count, more than a hundred people came out to meet you.”
She fiddled with the water bottle’s lid. “I’m hoping they bought quite a bit of produce from the stand. Did they?”
“I don’t care how they affected my produce sales. I care about how they affected you.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to them.”
“You’re not uncomfortable with the attention?”
She resisted her inclination to answer with a simple no, forcing herself to be honest with him. “I’m ninety percent fine with it. Ten percent uncomfortable with it.”
“Why ten percent uncomfortable?”
“Because I’m aware that I’m not deserving of it. It’s strange to be known for two things you didn’t control. An earthquake. And the sales of Bible studies.”
“Do you think your notoriety from the earthquake increased the sales of your Bible studies?”
“Yes. People still remember the Miracle Five.”
“Did the earthquake have any other upsides?”
She thought through her response. “When God saves you in a miraculous way, He becomes incredibly real.”
“Other upsides?”
“I got to travel the world, telling people what He’d done for us. For a brief moment in time, we had a pretty profound impact.”
“Other upsides?”
“The earthquake matured all of us. It deepened my relationship with my sister and gave me lifelong friendships.”
He pulled into the grocery store parking lot, and they made their way through the front doors. He selected a shopping cart. She opted for a handheld basket.
He shook his head pityingly at her basket.
