“Yeah, well, mission failure on getting the program.”
“You’ll do better next time.”Mystique took a sip of coffee.
And the words simply swelled up, through her, and out.“What if there is no next time?”
Mystique froze, and Emberly did too because...Really?She swallowed.
Blue eyes considered her.“How long have you been thinking of leaving?”
“About thirty-two seconds.”
A half-hidden smile.
“I’m not sure I’m even considering it.It’s just...”She rubbed her arms.“I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve forgotten what normal feels like.”She gave a wry sort of chuckle.“Maybe I don’t even know.”
“Emberly.This is your normal.”
She met Mystique’s eyes.“Maybe I want a different normal.A different life.”
Mystique nodded.“Okay.This is not one of the three-letter organizations.You can walk away, no looking over your shoulder.”She took another sip of her coffee.“But is that what you want?”
Emberly stared at the group of hackers through the glass.“I don’t know.Maybe I’m fooling myself.Maybe this is all I am.”
“It’s not all you are, Emberly.What youdois not who youare.Let’s get that straight.”
She shook her head.“Forget I said?—”
“Okay.Let’s just dial it back here.You need a vacation—there’s no doubt about that.Take some time off.Go see your sister.Spend some time with Mr.Minnesota.Listen to your heart and maybe...God.”
Emberly cocked her head.“I don’t think God is interested in me, or what I do.”
“I think He’sextremelyinterested in you and what you do.He made you, after all.Gave you your life experiences, your skills.It’s not for nothing.”She took a sip of coffee.“I know you believe in God, Emberly.You told me about what happened?—”
Emberly held up a hand.“That was a long time ago, and I was?—”
“Scared, desperate, and overwhelmed.Exactly where we all are when we finally realize we’re in over our heads.And that’s when God shows up in our life.”
“You have a painfully good memory.”
“I’m just saying.You’re very, very good at what you do.But God knows you better than you know yourself, and maybe you should ask Him what your next step is.”
Emberly sighed.
Mystique cocked her head, raised an eyebrow.“I tried to walk away more than a few times, and this life always pulled me back.And God was generous to give me a man who considers it his mission to walk this journey with me.”
She took another sip of her coffee, the dim light of the foyer casting over her.“But you are not me, Emberly.Life is a journey of choices.I believe everything happens for a reason, one step leading to the next.I think every step, whether good or bad, is meant to bring us closer to God.”
She finished her coffee, tossed the cup into a nearby trash can.“God loves you.Every move you’ve ever made has been under His watchful eye.He has a plan, and it’s a good one.So...maybe take a minute or two and ask Him what he thinks.And remember, His answer is good.Even if it’s confusing.Faith is the only way out of the chaos of this world.Get some sleep.”She pushed into the lab.
Emberly watched as she walked up and stood, arms akimbo, surveying Luis’s work, and his words back in Porto filtered back, softly, a nudge.“I knew it.Even then, I knew you two were partners.”
Maybe she had known it too.
She turned and headed down the hall.Please let Steinbeck not have left—he wouldn’t have, right?
Except, their mission was over.
And he’d...waved.Goodbye?
