Page 15 of Look for Me

“I’m glad you’re not riding motorcycles anymore, little brother. I hated to see her in such a state when we had no idea if you were going to live or die after that stupid wreck.”

Martin shifted on the couch. “I’m into muscle cars now. Besides, I can carry more people in a car.”

“Like an ex-girlfriend?”

“Truth be told, I don’t know what I want anymore, Tina.”

“You want a happy family. You told me that.”

“What is happiness? What is joy?”

“You know, those are two different things.”

“According to your dear husband.”

“Right. He preached on that a few Sunday nights ago,” Tina said. “You can still stream the sermon online from the church audio archives.”

“I might do that.” Martin drew a deep breath. “I felt nervous when I saw Corinne. I was neither happy nor sad. I didn’t know what to think.”

“Are you calming down now?”

“I don’t think so. I left the store with over a pound of assorted fudge.”

Tina laughed over the phone.

“It’s only funny to you,” Martin said.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure the store felt better about you being a customer than someone whom Corinne didn’t want to see.”

Martin got up from the couch and went to the sliding glass door. He opened it. Immediately a whiff of hot air blew into his face. He closed the door and returned to his couch.

He turned on the speakerphone and stretched out on the couch. “How is it going over there?”

“Same thing every day. Church, family, work.”

Twice this week, Martin had already asked about her pottery studio in Atlanta. He wasn’t going to ask about it again unless Tina wanted to volunteer new information.

She didn’t.

“I better let you go in case your little one wants to take a nap,” Martin said.

“She already did. It was a very short nap, no more than an hour.”

“So I’m not taking up your time?”

“No, not at all. However, I suggest we pray about the situation and ask for God’s help,” Tina said. “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know whether you should go back to the shop tomorrow or send her a letter or what. However, God knows how to handle this. Pray and He will guide you.”

“I’ve already prayed and I will pray again, but will you pray for me?”

“Most certainly. How about now?”

“Now is good.” Martin loved hearing his sister’s prayers because she prayed with confidence and she always sprinkled her prayers with praises to God and thanksgiving for what He had done in their lives. Martin knew he needed to learn to pray like that.

Before he knew it, Tina had saidamen.

“Call Dad when you have a minute, will you?” Tina asked.

“Is he back from his auto show?” Martin hadn’t called Dad since he left for Myrtle Beach to show off his latest muscle car acquisitions to curious onlookers.

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