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Книга довольно хорошо написана в виде рассказов старого человека молодому парню, основанных на событиях его реальной жизни, охватывающей период с нача...
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The Original Sinners: The Red Years
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Год написания книги
2019
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“Anything.”
Zach pulled back and held her by the shoulders. He searched her face, still unable to believe she was here.
“Did I lose you, or did I never have you to start with?” he asked.
Grace shook her head. “You never lost me, Zachary. And you always, always had me.”
Zach’s heart rose so high he thought it would burst from his chest.
“I lied to you,” Grace said, and looked up at him.
Zach’s hands went cold. “About what?”
“The day when I called about the blackout…the lights weren’t really out.”
“They weren’t?” Zach almost laughed.
“No,” she said and pressed her head against his chest again. “The lights were never out.”
* * *
The sanctuary at Sacred Heart sat empty but for the heady air still radiating warmth from the hundred or more souls who had left barely an hour ago. Nora faced the altar and inhaled the familiar smoky scent. She thought of the book of Revelation and how in it the prayers of the church rise before God in the form of incense. She said her own silent prayer and released it like smoke into the sky.
“I’m afraid you’ve missed Saturday morning Mass,” a voice as familiar as her own said.
Nora turned around and found Søren with a pewter pitcher refilling the fount of holy water at the entrance to the sanctuary.
“But we celebrate Vigil mass at five o’clock this evening if you’d like to come back.”
“Søren, you are ubiquitous.” Nora came to him. He set the empty pitcher aside.
“I prefer the term omnipresent,” he said.
“You would.”
Nora didn’t bother attempting to fake a smile for him. She knew him, knew he would see right through it. She waited and let Søren study her. His knowing eyes on her face felt as intimate as a touch.
“You look tired, little one,” he said.
“I am tired.”
“Tell me.”
“I have such a great gift for ruining things. It even impresses me sometimes.”
“Self-pity does not become you,” he chastised her in the same tone he used to silence unruly children in the hallways. “And while you have a gift for creating chaos, I have never known you to be willfully destructive. Now, what is this about?”
Nora gave him the faintest of smiles.
“I finished the book.”
“I had no doubt you would.”
“Zach even signed the contract. Then we celebrated.”
“Of that I have no doubt, either,” Søren said with a wry smile. “So why is there so much sadness in your eyes?”
“I met Zach’s wife today.”
“Ah, the once and future Mrs. Easton. What did you think of her?”
“I think he’ll go back to her.”
Søren nodded. “That was inevitable.”
Nora swallowed. “And last night meant nothing.”
“I’m sure your night together meant a great deal to him. More than you may ever know. The same wind that blows us off course can turn and carry us home.”
“She is his home. I could see that in her eyes. She’s perfect, Søren.”
“Perfect for him perhaps. To me, Eleanor, it is you who is flawless.”
Nora’s heart beat heavy in her chest. Søren’s love never ceased to humble her.
“I’m as flawed as it gets.”
“You are human. And that is the better part of your beauty. But you always knew your editor longed for his wife more than anything. This can’t be a surprise to you. What else?”
Nora was afraid he’d ask her that. But Søren had been her father confessor for eighteen years. Now she needed his absolution more than ever.
“Last Sunday…Wesley and I almost made love.”
“You have been busy, haven’t you? Why only ‘almost’?”
“He stopped first, and then I stopped it all. Søren…” she said in a hoarse half whisper, “I broke the rule—I think I harmed him.”
“Little one.” Søren cupped the side of her face. “I’m so sorry.”
“I have to make him go, don’t I?”
“For his own good, yes. That, I’m afraid, was inevitable, as well.”
Nora nodded, feeling none of the anger she usually experienced when Søren proved himself insufferably right as he always did.
Søren laid two fingers on her temple. He traced the line of her face from her forehead to her lips.
“You always knew Zachary loved his wife. Yes?”
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Книга довольно хорошо написана в виде рассказов старого человека молодому парню, основанных на событиях его реальной жизни, охватывающей период с нача...
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