“Wait, what?” I said, stunned.
“I have the Jerusalem trip on my mind. I can’t focus on anything else. It’s maddening.”
“He’s whispering,” I said.
Jared raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Father Francis nodded, and hobbled to where we stood. “She’s right.”
I gripped Jared’s shirt. “The Sepulchre. The only place they aren’t all owed to desecrate. The one place the book is safe from Hel ’s hands.”
Jared’s eyes lit up like twin fires. “We can keep you safe there.”
Chapter Nine
Due
Bex finished the last place setting, and then returned to the kitchen. Lil ian sat happily at one end of my mother’s long, imported table, Cynthia not so happily at the other. I waited anxiously with them, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Almost to a beat, Cynthia would shoot me glances of disapproval. She hated it when I fidgeted, but now that I was married, she felt it impolite to mother me. Bex and Jared worked furiously in the kitchen, their laughter and conversation filtering to the formal dining room along with the delicious smel s of savory herbs.
Bex appeared again with a basket of hot dinner rol s and a butter dish. His eyes darted to the empty doorway, and then back to the table. “It’s about time.”
The front door opened, and then I heard Claire grumbling under her breath. She and Ryan made their way to the table like summer and winter— Ryan was all smiles, and Claire sported her usual scowl.
Bex brought in a pot of steamed vegetables in one hand, and a bowl of rice in the other. Ryan pul ed out Claire’s chair and then clapped his hands, rubbing them together.
“I can help,” he said.
Bex nodded once toward the kitchen. “Just pick something and bring it out to the table.” He pul ed off his apron and took a seat next to his mother.
“I think you should leave it on,” Claire said. “Pink pinstripes look good on you.”
Bex stuck his tongue out at his sister and then placed his napkin in his lap. Lil ian shot a look at Claire and then smiled at Bex. “It looks wonderful, as always, son.”
Ryan returned with a casserole dish of scal oped potatoes, and Jared brought in a huge ham. They were laughing about something, and I couldn’t help but attempt to sneak a peek at Claire’s reaction. She all owed a half smile, but it quickly vanished when Ryan took a seat next to her.
Jared sat next to me, and we began passing around the different dishes, fil ing our plates. As stressful and dark as the situation seemed, the banter was jovial, and Jared’s mood was nearly cheerful. The weight of an answer had final y been lifted, and he felt hopeful again.
Cynthia barely finished her meal when she looked at her watch. “Jared. Bex. Thank you so much for dinner. I do apologize. I have an engagement.”
Jared nodded. “Of course, Cynthia. Thank you for joining us.”
She paused behind my chair and cupped my shoulders, kissing my cheek. “It was good to see you, Nina dear.”
I nodded, and her heels clicked to the front door.
Ryan’s brows jumped. “She’s not one for family functions, huh?”
“Not real y, no,” I said.
“Cynthia shows her humanity by way of charities. She’s very busy, but she’s helped so many people.” Lil ian said.
“That she has,” I said. “Is there pie?”
Jared laughed, and Bex popped up. “No, but there is cake.”
“Angel food?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said, leaving for the kitchen.
Ryan pul ed his fork from his mouth, clearly ready for dessert. “So what’s the real occasion?”
Bex returned with the cake, setting it right in front of me. “Trying to keep the pregnant woman fed. It takes a vil age, ya know.”
“Very funny,” I said, but I couldn’t help from cutting a huge piece. Pregnancy was the perfect excuse for gluttony.
“Ryan has a good point,” Lil ian smiled. “You’re in a very good mood for a change.”
Jared smiled. “I took the book to Father Francis.”
“Again?” Claire said, surprised.
I swal owed the delicious, spongy bite in my mouth. “We were there all night.”
Ryan cut his own piece of cake, but handed it to Claire. “So you found something?”
“Not a damn thing,” Jared said, smiling.
Ryan cut another piece for himself, causing a wider smile from Lil ian. Claire just rol ed her eyes.
“I don’t get it,” Claire said.
Jared used his fork to attempt to cut a piece of cake from my slice, but I stuck out my elbow to defend my plate. Everyone laughed, including Jared.
Jared final y gave in and cut his own slice. “Nina and I were distracted. all we could think about was getting Shax’s book back to Jerusalem for Kim.”
Ryan pointed at me with his fork. “She cal ed me today. She’s past impatient. She was yel ing. I’ve never heard her yel .”
“It’s her lucky day, then,” I said.
“Oh yeah, why’s that?” Ryan said, chewing.
Jared put his elbows on the table and folded his arms. “Because we’re leaving for Jerusalem next week.”
Claire shrugged. “Wel , that’s smart. Ryan and I are both starting Brown in the fal , and it’s Nina’s senior year. It’s good to get it out of the way.”
Lil ian paused. “You’re going to Brown?”