Chapter 27 — Life Goes On
The sunlight seemed a little brighter.
Ethan sat on the couch, quietly sorting through his thoughts.
Mary believed in God. A priest believed in the Holy Light. Different paths, same rhythm.
After talking with her, he finally understood something.
He used to think faith was a trade —
I give devotion, you give grace.
But now he saw it differently.
Faith wasn't waiting for an answer. It was believing in your heart and choosing to move forward.
It wasn't understanding the Light — it was walking toward it even while standing in the dark.
He lifted his coffee and smiled faintly.
"Guess Anduin had it right… Light, Shadow — whatever. Just get up and do the thing."
Ethan's crisis had eased. And Sheldon's, under Mary's firm intervention, was finally turning around too.
After some serious motherly persuasion, Sheldon agreed to return to work the next day, apologize to the department head, and resume his job.
Little by little, life drifted back toward normal.
That evening, everyone gathered in the living room for dinner. The air smelled warmly of chicken.
Howard strolled up to Mary with exaggerated coolness.
"Forgive my forwardness, but I finally see where Sheldon gets his good looks."
Mary smiled and shook her head.
"Sweetheart, that won't work — but you're welcome to keep trying."
"I made chicken," she told Raj seriously. "I do hope where you're from they don't consider it sacred."
Raj blinked, slightly confused, but shook his head anyway.
"There's an Indian doctor at our church — Dr. Patel. Such a touching story," Mary continued, serving chicken into bowls. "The Lord guided him to our congregation so we could enjoy twenty percent off surgeries."
She added, "Of course, only for those who need the surgery."
Leonard nodded solemnly. "That is a touching story."
"Alright, everyone," Mary announced. "Grab a plate — and use Sheldon's woven placemats."
Once everyone was seated, Mary nodded with satisfaction and raised her hands.
"Lord, thank You for this meal and for all Your blessings. We thank You for helping Sheldon and Ethan get back on their feet."
She paused, then added gently, "I'll end with 'in Jesus' name.' You don't have to join in… unless you feel moved by the Spirit."
Everyone exchanged looks and quietly bowed their heads.
---
"Wow," Penny said after one bite, eyes lighting up. "This is the best pot pie I've ever had."
Mary smiled, satisfied. "Sheldon loves this. Want to know the secret ingredient?"
Penny smiled back. "Love?"
Mary answered calmly, "Lard."
The whole table froze.
Mary looked from Penny to Ethan and added lightly, "With all these men around, Penny, you're such a lovely girl — maybe you should consider finding a boyfriend right here. Ethan, or Leonard."
"Thanks for the compliment," Penny said, setting down her fork with a raised brow. "I tried. But Leonard's already devoted his life to science…"
"I have not—" Leonard started.
Everyone looked at him. He quietly shut up.
"And Ethan," Penny went on, shooting Ethan a playful wink, "his ex-girlfriends are all extremely impressive."
Mary nodded. "They really are. Especially Paige."
At that name, Sheldon's head snapped up, eyes instantly sharp.
Mary noticed and continued casually, "Yes, that Paige. The one who always made you grind your teeth at science competitions. I spoke with her mother on the phone a few days ago."
"I do not grind my teeth!" Sheldon protested. "I merely question her reliance on intuitive leaps instead of rigorous logical derivations! And she constantly bragged about understanding Schrödinger's equation months before I did!"
Ethan kept his voice even. "Aunt Mary… is Paige doing well?"
"Oh, very well," Mary said, smiling at both of them. "Apparently she's making waves at Princeton. Something about information paradoxes in quantum entanglement? I don't really understand it.
"But her mother is worried. Paige's recently become obsessed with poker — says she's going to use game theory and probability to 'conquer Las Vegas' and earn her tuition back."
Sheldon's face filled with disdain. "Poker? That's the lowest misuse of probability theory and psychology! A true intellect should pursue a unified field theory! And 'conquer Las Vegas'? I could calculate dealer advantage in my head at age ten. I simply chose not to, because those establishments are teeming with bacteria and logical fallacies."
Ethan couldn't help laughing. That did sound like Paige — brilliant, bold, always chasing a new challenge, a little unhinged in the best way.
Watching the two geniuses drift into their own mental worlds, Penny grew curious. "So this Paige is one of Ethan's exes? She must be amazing."
"She's not amazing," Sheldon said immediately. "She's just taller than you, thinner than you, and smarter than you."
The air froze solid. Penny's face darkened instantly.
"Sheldon!" Ethan cut in.
Mary smoothed it over breezily. "Sometimes girls who are too smart and too skinny aren't ideal either — especially for Ethan. Right, Ethan?"
Ethan forced a smile. "Uh… I don't know."
He pivoted fast. "How are Missy, George and CeeCee doing?"
Mary brightened. "Missy's the same — waitressing, just like Penny. George is still at the tire shop, business is good. And CeeCee's thirteen now, looks just like Missy did at that age."
"Same social skills?" Ethan asked.
"Same rebellion," Mary replied.
---
The next day, under Mary's firm supervision, Sheldon went to the university.
He wore a deep burgundy striped sweater over a white T-shirt, light blue straight-leg jeans. He stood ramrod straight, expression grave — more like he was attending a conference than apologizing.
"Dr. Gablehauser," he said.
"Dr. Cooper," replied Dr. Gablehauser.
Under Mary's watchful eye, Sheldon stepped forward.
"When we first met a few weeks ago, we may not have left the best impressions on one another — I referred to you as an idiot.
"I would like to apologize… for pointing that out."
…
While Sheldon was "apologizing," Ethan stood outside Rayne Clinic, looking at the sign he'd hung himself:
Rayne Clinic — Healing Beyond Medicine
He tilted his face up into the sunlight.
"Alright," he murmured. "A small-town priest's daily life… continues."