Page 16 of Wait for Me

I’m on holiday. I’m not at work.

Besides, there were many languages on this cruise. Even though she could only speak seven languages, Marie could identity many other languages. She figured there were multiple languages spoken among the passengers, including English, Dutch—and Indonesian among the stewards.

Yes, listening ears were valuable in her work.

Work?

I’m not at work.

Logan had tried to remind her earlier that work had robbed her of her family time. Could that possibly be true?

Marie wondered if Logan had been really trying.

Ah, they would never be able to get along.

It’s only for one week, Lord Jesus. Help me through this week.

Marie couldn’t wait to fly home to…to…

Where was home?

Marseilles was her parents’ home. Not hers.

In the last eighteen months she had been traveling everywhere. Home had been a suitcase and a bed, sometimes in a palace, but often in a dingy motel or a safe house.

Someday, she’d find a home. A real home.

When she swiped her iPad to get back to her emails, she saw that Logan had sent her a text message.

He wanted to know how Jonas was doing.

He’s fine!

Marie didn’t like his sort of inquiries at all. Was Logan questioning her motherhood? Chaining a guilt trip on her? She had been gone for almost half of Jonas’s life, but she considered herself no different from a deployed soldier who had to leave her family behind for months at a time.

Logan should not hold that against me.

“Did you get my text?” Her ex-husband was standing at the end of her lounge chair. He was wearing a simple white shirt and a pair of crumpled canvas shorts.

“I didn’t have time to respond,” Marie said. “Can’t you see we’re busy here?”

“Sure you are. I can see you’re doing more than nothing.”

Marie pointed to the kiddie pool. “He’s fine.”

Mrs. Ping was talking to some other adults there. Jonas was laughing with the other kids. Then he rubbed his eyes.

“See that?” Logan tipped his sunglasses. “Past his nap time.”

“I hate to take him away from his new friends.”

“I’ll do it then.” Logan walked toward the kiddie pool.

Marie chuckled as Logan talked to Mrs. Ping instead of to Jonas directly.

Coward!

Logan walked back. “Told Mrs. Ping to give him five more minutes, and then he needs to shower and take a nap.”

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