But nothing was going to catch up to Kate.
“Has it caught up to you?” Kate asked, her voice sounding tenuous, as if she was afraid of the answer. Probably because she was.
“It’s getting there,” she admitted with a smile. “Eli says I don’t have a choice.”
“Of course you have a choice!” Kate sat up, wishing she could be less emotional on this subject, but it was hard.
Emma shrugged. “He said, ‘Once the hounds of heaven are after you, there’s no escaping. Jesus has you.’ That really stuck with me. That and the fact that He’ll leave ninety-nine sheep to get one. And that one is me. Could be you.”
Kate closed her eyes, not sure if she was more upset at the idea of hounds chasing either one of them or Eli and Emma having all these religious conversations. When did they take place?
“Listen, I know I’m a kid, but can I give you some advice?”
Kate looked at her and nodded.
“You always think things have to be a decision, Mom. You think everything’s a test and you either pass it or you don’t. But maybe this one isn’t a test. Maybe you just stay where you are, in the part you can do, and you don’t panic, and you let the rest of it come find you.”
“The hounds, you mean.”
“They might.” Emma grinned. “But really, don’t try to figure it all out. It’ll become crystal clear and you’ll know.”
“But there’s no proof, Emma.”
“And, you know, that’s where I think you’re wrong.” Emma put a hand on the comforter, landing on Kate’s leg underneath. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, okay?”
She winced, knowing that no one ever took anything the right way when it started with that sentence. “What?”
“Don’t break up with Eli over this.”
Kate stared at her.
“I mean it,” Emma said, and her voice had gone quiet and not as wise as it had been. “I know that’s none of my business. But I see you with him. I see how he is with you and everyone. He’s good, Mom. He’s so good I’m kind of embarrassed for Dad, you know?”
Kate had to laugh softly. “Yeah, he does beat Jeffrey in every department.” Her eyes widened. “I did not say that and if you say I did, I’ll deny it.”
Emma giggled. “You’ve been very good about never dissing Dad. But Eli? I don’t know. He’s cool and I really, really don’t want the Jesus thing to end it for you two. I think if you just stay where you are, it’ll work out.”
“I’m not planning on ending anything,” she said softly.
“Good.”
Kate leaned closer to make the next point, one that was really bothering her. “I just don’t understand why, if this Jesus is real, He didn’t figure out a way to make it completely obvious so everyone could know. I don’t get why it has to be so hard, Em.”
Emma smiled as she stood up. “He did make it obvious. You just don’t see it. Also, I smell coffee. Are we done?”
Well, she was still a teenager and the coffee smelled great. Kate nodded. “Yeah. I love you.”
“Come down quick because Jonah’s not here and Vivien isn’t much in the kitchen. Make us a frittata?”
“Did you forget your Pop-Tarts?” Kate teased.
“No, but you know, people change.” She opened the door and peeked over her shoulder. “Even you, Mom.”
With that, she disappeared out the door.
Kate lay alone a moment longer and let her daughter’s words settle. Yes, people change. But…not that much.
Downstairs,the house was vibrating with post-Norman giddiness, the TV finally quiet, but the people especially loud. Vivien had made coffee and Kate quietly took over the stove and started on the eggs and pancakes she knew would be a hit.
