Page 25 of Wait for Me

Nah.

They had parted ways under a cloud of distrust and mistrust. Unresolved problems did not a happy relationship make.

Still, Marie had been a good sport all day—for the most part.

He remembered her faraway stares on the tour bus earlier this afternoon, like she had longed for something missing.

Truth be told, he did too.

He had their son to raise. But more than him, Logan wanted his wife back.

But how, Lord Jesus? How?

Marie’s head shifted on his shoulder, and now her hands wrapped around his arm. He didn’t move at all, in case she stirred and left his side.

Lord, our marriage broke and shattered. Can You put it together again?

Immediately, Logan answered his own question.

Sure, You can, Lord.

But would it be best for us?

Chapter Thirteen

Back onboard the cruise ship, they had almost ordered room service, but Jonas woke up from his second power nap of the day to declare that he wanted to eat dinner with his new friend, Abdul.

Mrs. Ping tried to get him to sleep until four o’clock—only fifteen minutes away—but it was a fruitless exercise in frustration.

Marie felt sorry for Jonas because he was an only child. Accompanied by three adults—Dad, Mom, and a nanny—Jonas didn’t have his regular friends from kindergarten back in Atlanta with him.

After listening to Jonas whine for two minutes, Marie gave in. “Dinner isn’t until six o’clock. Maybe he could play with his friends for a little bit, if we can coordinate the time. Do you happen to know how to contact them?”

Mrs. Ping didn’t know, but Jonas did.

“Abdul said he’s going to be in the playroom when they get back,” Jonas said in some weird kid’s voice that didn’t sound natural. It was whiny, and grated on Marie.

“Who taught him to whine?” Marie blurted to Mrs. Ping.

“I don’t know, ma’am.” Suddenly formal, Mrs. Ping busied herself with putting away Jonas’s sneakers in their small closet.

Who else but Logan? Spoiling our son.

“Jonas, say that again in a normal tone,” Marie said. “I don’t speak whiny language.”

Jonas’s lips quivered.

Mrs. Ping interjected and offered to take Jonas to the playroom to meet his friend, Abdul.

“No, Mrs. Ping. I will take him myself—but only after he stops whining.”

Everyone was silent.

“Mommy,” Jonas said in a normal voice.

“Yes, son?”

“May we go to the playroom?”

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