“One, our son. He was raised under Father Gabriel’s teachings, even before The Light. He’s not at this campus, but he’s an Assemblyman.”
I smiled. “I’m sure you’re proud. You only have one child?” As soon as the question left my lips, I regretted it. A shadow of sadness fell over her expression, returning the tears to my eyes. “I’m sorry. Please don’t answer.”
Her neck straightened. “Not all stories have happy endings. I’ll always remember my beautiful daughter; however, Father Gabriel knows best. I trust in him and Raphael in all things.”
The opening of a door and footsteps alerted us that our husbands were coming down the hallway. When Sister Rebecca pressed her lips together and patted my hand again, I knew she was silently telling me not to say anything about their daughter. I nodded my understanding as the men entered.
As we were about to leave, Brother Raphael said with his still-thick Boston accent, “Sister Sara, we’ll welcome you back to the lab as soon as Father Gabriel sees fit to return from the Eastern Light. I trust your husband to do what is best.”
It took all my willpower not to look toward Jacob; instead I lowered my eyes. “Thank you, Brother Raphael.”
A few minutes later, as Jacob and I walked along the sidewalk with my hand in his, I whispered, “What does that mean? What Brother Raphael said.”
Though Jacob didn’t turn, his grip tightened, and he simply replied, “Sara.”
“You said I could—”
“When we’re alone. Does this look like we’re alone?”
No. We weren’t alone. We were walking among followers who were going from here to there. However, in my opinion, they all seemed preoccupied, all heading to their own destinations. No one was paying attention to us, except the occasional male follower who’d address Jacob with a nod and a “Brother Jacob.” I assumed that most of those were the followers he counseled. I should know their names and for a few I did, but mostly I didn’t. I probably knew their wives’ names. I rarely saw couples together. Whenever I counseled the wives they were alone.
“No. I’m sorry,” I said softly, pressing my lips together.
CHAPTER 17
Sara
Ascending the stairs into Father Gabriel’s private plane, I was in awe of the splendor. Taking a deep breath, I immediately remembered the rich aroma of leather. Of course my husband wore it like cologne, but it was different as I stepped across the cabin’s threshold. It was the new-car smell that everyone loved, only amplified. The only other time I’d been inside this jet had been when I was without sight, during Jacob’s and my temporary banishment, when he’d given me a tour of the planes. Now my vision was overloaded and my eyes darted about. From the shiny wooden facade of the cabinets that greeted me as I stepped inside, to the beautiful cream-colored leather chairs up and down the aisle, everything was over-the-top luxury.
It was definitely nothing like the plane I’d flown in this morning or Thomas’s plane. The cabinet near the door held a sink, refrigerator, and coffeemaker. Wineglasses hung upside down from a rack. For only a moment, I wondered whether there could be wine. No one in The Light drank alcohol, but the Stella part of me questioned whether Father Gabriel did when he was flying or in Bloomfield Hills.
“Sara,” Jacob instructed, “go sit near the back. You won’t have to listen to Brother Micah and me in the cockpit.”
I nodded and obediently walked toward the rear of the plane. With each step down the aisle, the backs of my fingers brushed the soft leather. Closing my eyes, I remembered the first time Jacob had brought me onto this plane—I remembered our past.
There were eight seats. Consecutive rows faced in opposite directions, creating clusters. I chose a seat all the way in the back. From it I could see up to the cockpit, but I was far enough away that their talking wouldn’t bother me. Scanning the seat belts, I smiled. They were normal, not the jump seat kind like in the other plane.
Having difficulty suppressing my curiosity at Father Gabriel’s extravagance, I opened the bathroom door and peered inside. With my mouth agape, I covered my lips, physically stopping myself from making an audible gasp. Even the bathroom was over the top. The cabinetry matched the stunning, shiny cabinets in the cabin, and the fixtures glistened. Lowering my hand and closing the door, I was glad I’d remembered to stay quiet. During the drive out to the hangar, I had been reminded more than once that everything within the plane was recorded.