Paradise

Chapter 4 introduces Dovey and Steward Morgan. Steward and Dovey can never have children. Steward is in a heated, ongoing debate about what the faded inscription on the Oven says. This conflict highlights a growing division between Ruby’s older and younger generations. The only words left on the Oven read “the Furrow of His Brow.” Some argue the missing first word is “Beware,” while others believe it is “Be.” As they dispute the words, they dispute the meaning as well.

Steward thinks of the stories passed down to him about the original families of Haven. After Steward’s grandfather—Zechariah “Big Papa” Morgan—has a spiritual encounter, a mystical man in a black suit guides the people’s journey for a place to settle. When he leads them to a trapped guinea fowl nearby, it is a sign that they have arrived. His brother Deek remembers how the elders of Haven used to size up other Black towns. He reflects on the deal Ruby has with God that no one has died in the town since its namesake.

Anna Flood and Reverend Richard Misner discuss how the Morgans basically own the town as one of the 15 founding families and as bank owners.