Page 67 of Wait for Me

“Something like that, but I’m not a soldier. I’m only a translator, and when I work, they want me to keep my ears on the ground.”

“Makes sense.”

“I haven’t told anyone else, but to tell you the truth, I don’t want to do it anymore. I’ve missed four years of my son’s life. He will be going to first grade soon. Am I going to miss the rest of his grade school?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m glad you’re there for him, but Mrs. Ping is only a substitute mother.”

Logan was at the door, and Marie expected him to open it to let her out, but he didn’t.

“You will always be Jonas’s mother,” Logan said softly. “That will never change.”

“Birth mother in name only.” Marie held back her tears.

Chapter Thirty-One

Marie had never seen Logan this paranoid. If only he knew the awful truth of all the worst possible things that could have happened, he would have considered the events of the previous night not as bad.

However, Marie couldn’t tell him. She wished she could, but there was no way to breach security protocols without letting him in on what she had to deal with at the time of their separation and divorce four years before.

Jonas was still bawling, thumping his arms on his bed. “Wanna see geezers! Daddy, please?”

“I don’t want to lose you.” Logan looked at Jonas first, then at Marie.

Marie wasn’t sure what he was implying. Surely the little incident in Ketchikan couldn’t have affected Logan this badly. Had something happened back in Atlanta that Marie didn’t know about?

“You can see the glaciers from the lounge.” Logan tried to put shoes on Jonas with one hand, but the boy was kicking. “It’s on the top deck with windows all around.”

“No-no-no-no!” The poor brat protested. “Wanna be outside!”

“It’s cold outside.”

“I have a jacket, Dad! You made me bring it, remember?”

Marie glanced at Mrs. Ping, who busied herself opening and closing drawers, and wiping the same tabletops multiple times.

Marie looked inside her purse. She didn’t want to do this, but maybe an RFID brooch on Jonas might help—

No.

They were still on a ship. How far could Jonas go? Into the water? If Jonas was in any kind of danger, it wouldn’t be from an abduction.

Jonas screamed.

“Aargh.”I can’t think.

Marie took Jonas’s shoes from Logan’s hands, and motioned for Logan to step aside. It was her turn to deal with their son.

Lord, You made this child. You created him in my womb. Help me deal with him according to Your perfect will.

Marie sat down next to Jonas on the edge of the bed. “Jonas.”

Jonas sat up. “Yes, Mommy?”

“Do you know why glaciers are blue?”

Jonas shook his head.

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