The Desire by Gary Smalley

thousands. I think they’re the reason I’m still kind of stuck emotionally.”
    â€œWell, you better get unstuck pretty soon. You’re heading back to work tomorrow.” Michele regretted the way that came out.
    â€œI’ll be okay,” he said. “I scheduled some light duty the first few days, since I’ve done this now a time or two. I know it takes a little while to get back up to full steam.” He took another sip of coffee. It didn’t seem he’d noticed her slight frustration.
    Turning in his seat toward her, he said, “So how about you? How have you been holding up since I’ve been gone?”
    â€œI’ve been . . . okay. I hate how bad the communication is. You know that’s the worst part of it for me. It’s like the Stone Age. Do you realize we only talked five times the whole time you were away?”
    â€œThat’s just Africa. They’re still so far behind. But you know it’s getting better, right? My first trip, when we were dating, you remember that? We couldn’t find an internet connection anywhere, and the cell phone coverage was terrible.”
    Saying that didn’t help. “I know. But it’s still crummy.”
    â€œOne of these times it’ll be better,” he said.
    That didn’t help, either. Reminding her of his plans to go back again someday. Probably someday soon, if he got his way.
    â€œDid anything big happen while I was gone? Anything you didn’t get to tell me over the phone?”
    â€œNothing too big. Something’s going on with Tom and Jean. I don’t know what yet. It’s supposed to be some kind of surprise.”
    â€œA good thing, a bad thing?”
    â€œI think a good thing. Mom and Dad were supposed to tell them last night over dinner. I thought somebody would call me today and let me know, but they didn’t.”
    â€œWell, why don’t you call them, Jean or your mom?”
    â€œI will, after dinner. But that’s the only thing that went on out of the ordinary. Oh, Ray’s wife wants to talk with me. She called while you were gone.”
    â€œJulie? What about?”
    â€œShe wants me to help her evaluate a new children’s ministry program and maybe train some of the workers if we wind up using it.”
    â€œThat’s good, right? Weren’t you wanting to get a little more involved?”
    â€œI guess.” She really had said that. For some reason, though, she wasn’t that excited about it now.
    He leaned forward and reached for her hand. She gave it to him. He gave a little squeeze. She squeezed back. “Something else is bothering you,” he said. “What is it?”
    Should she tell him? Was this a good time?
    Her phone rang. “It’s my mom.”
    Saved by the bell.

18
    H i, Mom,” Michele said. She stood up and pointed toward the house, letting Allan know she would take the call inside. He nodded and smiled, then turned his eyes back on the courtyard and his attention, no doubt, to memories of Africa.
    â€œI’m sorry,” her mom said, “I just looked at the time. We’re not eating for a couple of hours. But I just called you at dinnertime, didn’t I?”
    â€œNot a problem. It’s still in the oven. I can’t talk long, but I can talk a few minutes.”
    â€œJust stop me if you need to go.”
    â€œSo, what’s up? How did your big surprise go last night with Tom and Jean?”
    â€œIt couldn’t have gone better. It’s one of the reasons I called. Did you see Audrey Windsor talking with your dad on Sunday?”
    â€œI did. And I figured it must have something to do with Tom, because Dad kept looking at him while they talked. But I haven’t been able to figure out what.”
    â€œLooks like your brother and his family will be moving out of our house fairly soon . ”
    â€œReally? What’s going on?”
    Her mom spent the next few