Ordinary Grace

Frank and Nathan arrive to Emil’s with Frank full of doubt: “…seeds of doubt had been planted in my own thinking and I thought maybe Jake was right. Maybe I should have said nothing and left the resolution of the whole mess in God’s hands” (285).

Nathan asks Emil if he is the father of Ariel’s child, to which Emil responds, “‘She was in love with me, Nathan. Blind and battered as I am, she loved me’” (286), adding that Ariel reminded Emil of Ruth. Emil goes on to say that physical relations with Ariel happened only once, and that he considers himself a “monster” (286). He continues by talking of his first suicide attempt, in London, shortly after he became disfigured, then says he tried to kill himself this more recent time in order for “Ariel to be free of [him]” (287). When Emil says that he saw no other way for Ariel to be free of him, Frank says, “[e]xcept for killing her,” (287); Emil is taken aback, asking if they’re here because they think Emil is Ariel’s killer. Lise comes out of the house and tells Emil she wants Nathan, Frank and Jake to leave. Nathan tells Emil that Emil will have to inform Ruth that he is indeed the father of Ariel’s child.