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She doesn’t ask if I’m new.

She doesn’t ask where I’ve been.

She doesn’t hand me a visitor card or point me toward a welcome table.

She just smiles and keeps walking.

I wasn’t expecting that.

I pause for half a second, watching everyone flow around us.

No one is looking at me.

No one seems to care that I’ve been gone.

For some reason...that’s comforting.

Harper notices I’ve slowed. “You okay?”

I nod. “I’m thinking.”

“I figured.”

She doesn’t ask about what because she already knows.

She steps a little closer, lowering her voice. “I’m glad you’re here.”

I look over at her. “You bribed me. I had no choice.”

“I would’ve invited you to brunch anyway.”

I know this. The pancakes were never really the point.

Harper naturally heads toward the front.

Of course she does.

Not the first row. That would be too obvious.

Third row.

Close enough to see everything without making eye contact with the pastor.

Micah pauses twice before we even reach our seats.

Someone asks him how the children’s ministry is going in Ashen Mills. The town they moved to.

Someone else introduces him to a couple I’d never seen before.

He remembers all three of their names by the end of the conversation.

I still don’t understand how he does that.

Harper slides into the row first.

I take the aisle seat. Old habit.

If I need to leave, I don’t want to climb over anyone.