“It might not have been His perfect will, but He allowed it for a reason that we may never know while we’re on earth.”
Martin nodded. He recalled witnessing to Flavian while they were in the cell together. God had allowed that too, hadn’t He? Perhaps that was the last time Flavian ever heard the Gospel.
Then again, surely Corinne would have also witnessed to him.
Flavian had plenty of opportunities to get saved.
“Look,” Pilar said. “I can’t promise anything, but since Tanaka and I are sort of friends now, I will ask her again to let you have a few minutes with Corinne.”
“What can’t they let me speak with her? She needs me now.” Even as he said it, Martin wasn’t sure if Corinne needed him. Of course, she needed God more. Besides, their island experience proved that Corinne could hold her own.
No, she doesn’t need me.
On the other hand, I need her. I need her badly.
“I didn’t want to let her go four years ago,” Martin said. “She left without saying goodbye. Now she might leave again.”
“Although if she does, you’ll know that it’s most likely for her own safety—and that of her child.”
Martin nodded. They were in an open air restaurant, a public place of sorts, and he could not mention names. That much, he knew from Tanaka’s debriefing.
In fact, Tanaka had given him strict rules about his time on the island. He couldn’t talk about it to his sister or his parents. He couldn’t talk about it to Pete or Angelina. Or Ming, for that matter.
The only person who knew a little bit of what he went through was Pilar, and she wasn’t much help in the emotional support department.
Pilar’s phone rang. She checked the message, and stood up. “I have to take this call in my car.”
“I’ll take the bill,” Martin said as Pilar left him.
He waved to the server, refused dessert, and paid for everything in cash.
Suddenly paranoid, Martin wasn’t about to use his credit card which might put him…
What am I talking about?
He felt a heaviness in his heart.
As hot as it might be out there in the sun, Martin felt that he had to walk off his stress. He put on his sunglasses, and walked across the hot sand.
He was ankle-deep in the Atlantic Ocean, walking without a thought in his head, when he realized someone was walking next to him.
“Keep looking ahead.” The whisper was soft.
Corinne.
“Isn’t it unsafe for you to be here?” Martin whispered back, but he didn’t look at her.
“Yes and no. Don’t look now, but I’m wearing a wig.”
“I recognized your voice.”
“I know.”
“I have so many questions.”
“I don’t have time to answer them.” Corinne sighed. “I can’t be at Wanda’s funeral. Or in public as myself.”
“That’s tough. I don’t know what’s going on but I need to know if we can see each other again.”