The Divine Plan

"We're already here." Simon broke the silence between us in the car. "But I'm afraid Jackson would be happy with the result of our mission."

"I know," I uttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I highly suggest you guys should smile and act cool in front of him, okay?"

As soon as the tired wheels of the car ground to a halt on Jackson's gravel driveway, Simon, Karen, and I tumbled out of the vehicle with a rush of pent-up tension.

The chilled evening air wrapped around us, penetrating our clothes. Before we slid into the warm welcome of Jackson's house, I turned to the other two, my eyes wide and serious in the dimming light.

"Remember," I added while glancing towards the home's glowing windows to ensure Jackson was out of earshot, "we need to keep an eye on Jackson. We need to be cautious about everything we tell him."

Simon's eyebrows drew together, a look of confusion washing over his face, the porch light casting long shadows over his oftentimes too-honest features. "