“Bible study hour,” Ingrid whispers. “I checked the online schedule beforehand.” She gives a sly wink. “Come on.”
She leads the way till we come upon the activity room.
A long table is lined with round happy faces and Bibles in front of them. At the end of the table, Noel appears to lead the discussion. Beside him—
Jack.
Seeing that man steals my breath. I have to blink twice, trying to absorb the fact he is right there. Not some memoryfrom a past life. My knees weaken and I brace the wall. Barely together, I partially hide in the hallway with Ingrid and listen, peeking from the back.
He appears bored.
Chance points his stubby finger at a page. “What does this say about special people like me?”
“Good question.” Noel, who looks older and broader, flips through his Bible.
He pulls at the roots of his hair as he turns another page. “Um... I know there is something.” After a minute, he glances at Jack. “Help?”
Jack softly groans, but forces himself to be involved. His voice is soft, gentler than I recognize.
“Alright, alright.” He shifts his gaze to Chance. “There’s a verse. Jeremiah 1:5. It says, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.’” He looks up at the ceiling, like the words are somewhere above him.
“I like that one,” he continues. “Because it means some people aren’t mistakes. They’re not late additions. They were thought about by God. Carefully.”
Chance’s face flushes. “I was?”
Jack nods. “People like you, Tommy, each and every one of you... you carry something good and rare. God’s saying he meant to make you. You belong.”
The group claps, their smiles tight and proud.
Chance points at himself. “I am good and rare.”
Warmth blooms from my chest. It’s adorable. I gape in shock, holding my hands over my dead heart.
Ingrid steps out of the shadows next to me, equally touched.
Our movement catches, and Jack’s blue eyes snap to me in the doorway. His face drains of all color. I don’t hear it, but I see the words as he mouths:
“Fuck me.”
Chapter 36
Morgan
“Aye!” Tommy shouts. “Morgan!”
Tommy and several people jump from their seats and rush over, giving me a hug. All at once. One big embrace.
I return their affection, but my smile won’t go away even when they let go, because...
Jack and a Bible.
Two things that don’t go together.
When the commotion calms down and everyone returns to their seats, I move closer to Noel and Jack, nervous.
Noel combs his hair and swallows hard.
Jack, on the other hand, reclines in his chair, arms crossed, eyes narrow.
