Inside, the DMV was exactly as Angela had imagined—fluorescent lighting, rows of plastic chairs filled with people waiting for their turn. The sound of muffled conversations created a constant hum of background noise.
Angela's steps felt unsteady as she followed Jude toward the information desk. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket, hoping no one would notice how nervous she was.
The woman behind the counter looked up with the practiced smile of someone who dealt with impatient people all day. "Can I help you?"
"We have appointments for written tests," Jude said, his voice calm and professional. "Angela Turner and Kiara Reynolds."
Angela startled slightly at hearing her new last name spoken aloud. She was still getting used to the idea that she was no longer Angela Reynolds. That part of her identity had been stripped away, along with everything else from her old life. And she didn’t miss it.
"Let me check," the woman said, shifting her attention to her computer screen. "Yes, here you are. You'll need to fill out these forms first, then we'll get you set up for the written portion."
The clipboard felt heavy in Angela's hands as she accepted it, though she knew that was just her nerves making everything seem more difficult than it should be. The words swam briefly before her eyes, but then she blinked and focused on thequestions—basic information about her address, her emergency contacts, whether she wore corrective lenses.
Jude guided them to a quiet corner with a few empty chairs. Angela sat down and stared at the form, realizing she didn't know what to put for some of the fields. What was her home address now? The estate? Her future house? She glanced up at Jude, who seemed to anticipate her confusion.
"You’ll need to use the business address," he said, his voice low as he sat beside her. He recited it slowly so she could write it out.
Angela filled in the form carefully, methodically printing each letter. When she reached the emergency contact section, her hand hesitated over the blank line. Should she put Kiara, like she usually did? Or should it be Duncan?
Angela wanted to write Jude’s name and number, but she wasn’t sure she should.
“Who do I put for the emergency contact?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
Jude seemed to consider it for a moment before he said, “You can put Kiara, if you’d like. It’s probably best you don’t put Duncan. You can put me or Annie.”
“You don’t mind if I put you?” she asked. “It might be better if you were the one they contacted in an emergency, not Kiara.”
Jude nodded. “That’s fine.”
Angela wrote his name in the emergency contact section, then added his number, which she’d already memorized.
Kiara had finished with her form and was looking around with a smile as she waited. "This is exciting, isn't it? Our first official ID in the real world."
The real world. That's what Kiara had taken to calling everything beyond Briar Hollow. As if their previous life had been some sort of dream—or nightmare.
"I guess," Angela murmured, trying to match her sister's enthusiasm.
When they returned the completed forms to the counter, the woman directed them to where they’d wait to be called for their test.
“You can do this,” Jude said.
The chairs were not exactly comfortable, and for someone of Jude’s size, it meant he was pressed close to her side. Angela took comfort in his presence, though she knew when it was time to take the test, she’d be on her own.
Or not.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
She had to remember that she wasn’t alone.
Please, God, give me clarity of mind. Keep my nerves from robbing me of the information I’ve worked so hard to memorize.
A touch on her hand had Angela opening her eyes. Seeing Jude’s hand on hers, Angela turned to look at him.
“It’s time,” he said. “They called your name.”
“Oh, I didn’t hear.”
Jude stood when she did and walked her to where she was to take the test.
