Page 42 of Wait for Me

Jonas’s eyes lit up. “Really? So if we go back right now, they will be there?”

“I meant after we have all finished our adventures here, and it’s time to sail.” Logan was still on his knees.

“When is that?”

“Tonight. We sail after dinner.”

“So late.”

Logan nodded. “We get to spend all day here with Mommy. We only have a few days left with her, and then she has to go back to work.”

Jonas’s eyes widened. He stared at Marie. He looked like he was about to cry. He ran to Marie, wrapped both arms around her waist, and said something muffled.

Marie stroked his hair.

My son, whom I have left to save his life.

Why is life so unfair, Lord? Why can’t I have my job and a family too?

Mother and son hugged for a while.

Logan cleared his throat. “How about we go back to town and walk around. There’s Creek Street. Maybe we can get some ice cream—”

“Whoopee!” Jonas detached himself from Marie, and jumped up and down.

“After lunch,” Logan added.

“No! Now!” Jonas clenched his fists.

“What have we produced?” Marie asked Logan. She glanced at her watch. It was barely ten o’clock. “We had breakfast, so technically he’s not getting i-c-e on an empty stomach.”

“Then again, if we give in, he’s not mature enough to differentiate the logic and reasoning behind our assent now.”

“Indeed. That means he might try this again on us later, and it would not have the same results. Or would it?”

Standing in between his parents, Jonas made a face. “Are you talking about me?”

“Who else would we be talking about?” Logan asked. “Do you see another brat around?”

“I thought Brad is my middle name,” Jonas said.

Marie rolled her eyes.

“You see I can’t do this alone.” Logan reached for Marie’s hand. “Seems to me that it takes two parents to usher this brat into adulthood.”

For some reason, Marie didn’t move nor did she say a word. Logan took another step toward her. He was close enough to kiss her on the cheek.

Until Jonas wiggled in between them. He looked up at his parents. “Did we forget ice cream or what?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Creek Street was overrun with tourists, who probably looked like scurrying mobs of ants from afar. The wooden boardwalks at the edge of the gurgling stream seemed to be able to hold that much weight, although Logan had to navigate through the crowd, with Jonas and Marie behind him in single file.

Logan glanced back every now and then to make sure they were still there. He slowed down at one point, and let Marie walk ahead first. Jonas was still in between them, chatting away about whatever it was. Logan hadn’t paid any attention.

His eyes were on the back of Marie’s head and her shoulders, trying to remember moments in their lives together that he had missed so much.

It had been three long years.

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