The Key To the Kingdom by Jeff Dixon Read Free Book Online

and made our decision for us.”
    “Normally you don’t have to lead the tours, do you?”
    “Not anymore. I used to years ago. Now I’m a manager in Guest Relations. So I suppose it’s your fault I’m a tour guide today.”
    “Should I apologize?”
    “No,” she quickly said. “They gave you a reservation instead of saying the tour was already full. But you could answer my question and tell me why you wanted to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour today.”
    There was no way he could tell her why he was really there. On some level he didn’t really know himself. He paused perhaps longer than he should have.
    “It’s complicated,” he offered.
    “Is it now?” She waited to see if he was going to continue. When it became apparent that there was nothing more forthcoming, she lobbed another question toward him. “So, Mr. Hawkes, what do you do for a living?”
    “I’m a pastor in Celebration,” he told her, relieved to be out of the uncomfortable territory her previous questioning had taken them into.
    “A preacher?” Kiran studied him with raised brows. “Somehow you don’t strike me as a preacher.” Her cheeks colored. “Please don’t take that wrong. I didn’t mean it like it might have sounded.”
    “No offense taken,” Hawk rescued her. He had heard it before. He didn’t look like the stereotypical preacher. Usually in need of a haircut and much more comfortable in denim jeans, he only wore a suit if he was forced to do so. “Please, call me Hawk. That’s what everyone calls me.”
    “Okay, Hawk, tell me about being a preacher.”
    Hawk began to tell Kiran about his passion for the church. They talked about how hard the church had to fight to carve a niche in the culture and how the church had lost some of its identity in the world. She asked probing questions about why Hawk had become a pastor and why he enjoyed it. The conversation focused for a short time on what made the Celebration Community Church so special. He asked her about her role at Walt Disney World. Kiran revealed that working for Disney was something she had always wanted to do. While in high school she had auditioned for a part in a Christmas parade and had gotten the job. Disney World was the only place she had ever worked. She had steadily advanced through the years and now had a bit of position and seniority with the company. Hawk assumed she also had a bit more authority and power than she was letting on. The dialogue volleyed back and forth across the table until their lunches were gone and the rest of the tour group was growing restless waiting. The touring troop began to file down the stairs as Kiran and Hawk were dumping the remains of their lunch in the trash receptacle.
    “I really enjoyed chatting with you, Hawk. I’ll have to visit your church sometime.” Kiran paused as she waited for him to throw away his trash.
    “I enjoyed it as well. Sorry I was the reason you had to spend your day leading a tour.”
    “I’m not sorry at all.” She smiled and allowed her eyes to lock onto his for just a moment longer than he had anticipated.
    Returning her smile, Hawk felt a moment of awkwardness over not knowing what to say. She walked away and headed down the stairs to continue the tour. Hawk shook his head slightly from side to side and followed in the same direction. When he joined the reassembled group outside the restaurant, he heard a voice come from over his shoulder.
    “She is very pretty, son.”
    Hawk looked back and saw the elderly gentleman who had congratulated him for being a trivia expert. The man winked, nodded, and then shuffled away to keep pace with the group as Kiran led them out into the street headed toward Frontierland. On their walk they paused in front of Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. She pointed out that although this was a single store that specialized in Christmas items, it also was a great example of the amazing design that was poured into every corner of the Magic Kingdom.
    “Notice that from