Eric fitted the last of the manuscript onto the rings and snapped them closed. “Your dad—he liked me, didn’t he?”

“Howard is exceptionally hard to read,” Marianne said. “He is kind of a hands-off parent. But yes, I think he liked you.”

“I always assumed that was what did me in.” He smiled as he said it—kindly, forgivingly—then said, “It’s okay, Marianne. I’m not mad anymore.”

She looked at him.

“We’re better as friends. I get it now. It took me a while, even here—when we first got here, I wondered if we could, you know. But I get it now.” He shook his head, as if chiding that foolish, romantic self, and Marianne felt not pain but breathless surprise, as if she’d been lightly stomach-punched. “You should go somewhere, really. Work on your book. You should get out of here before the next session.”

Eric had his own trip planned, a tour of GWGW’s campuses with Regina, and although he kept calling it a business trip, Marianne wondered. Would their paths cross with the Tour of Life? With Ruth? She’d tried not to think about the long car ride to Georgia, the dinners out, the hotel rooms—surely they’d have two rooms—side by side, or even adjoining, in some middling chain. (She’s a virgin, Eric had recently confided to Marianne. Not a virgin-virgin, he’d clarified, when she asked how that was possible, but the born-again kind.)

“No, I’ll stay,” Marianne said. Perhaps demonstrating her dedication would show him that she was different from the girl she’d been in New York. Responsible. Worthy. “Someone has to stay. Someone has to manage all the media attention.” She set the article on the small table near the door, but he did not stop to read it.

Ruth did not return Marianne’s call, but sent a text instead. Very busy preparing for this trip! Will call soon! When Marianne texted back—Are you coming here?—she got an auto reply, which she didn’t know was possible in a text. Maybe her sister was writing to make it look like an auto reply? Ruth Boyette is unavailable at the moment but will be back with you soon. Peace and Blessings!

There were other notices in her Google Alerts—several of the students were bloggers, and the Ranch was mentioned on their various platforms, in generally flattering terms, its name and website passed around like a recommendation for a dentist or a veterinarian. There was also an article about faith and education, and a brief mention in a national news piece about online learning. After Eric posted something on the NYU listserv, Marianne got some emails from her old classmates. The tone of the emails was jokey and teasing—So you finally did it! Have fun in the Bible Belt!—but a few people asked if she would keep them in mind for future openings, and attached their CVs.