The Preacher's Son - Juliette Duncan Page 0,9

to piece together what had just happened. I tried to call Hayden to ask if he remembered the woman, but as expected, he didn’t answer. He would be on site, no doubt working hard in this heat.

It didn’t make sense. How could she possibly know about Brazil? Unless she’d been in church the day before and I hadn’t noticed her. It had to be possible. The alternative was just too crazy. My heart beat faster as I remembered Hayden’s mysterious stranger in the canteen all those years ago. No. It couldn’t be that.

I tried to put the strange experience to the back of my mind as I got on with my day. Pat was pleased with the outcome of Kane’s final morning in court and praised me profusely. “You have a real knack for handling these clients,” he said.

“The young ones, you mean?”

“Well, yes.” He nodded. “But I was actually going to say, the difficult ones. You carry on the way you’re going, Penny, and you could make partner before you’re forty-five.”

My heart jumped at the words. This was the confirmation I’d been hoping for. Completely spontaneously, I blurted out, “So, it would be okay if I had three weeks off this summer? I'm overdue some leave.”

His forehead creased and then he laughed. “That's your response? You really must need a break. We’ve obviously been working you too hard. Yes, of course you can take some leave. It’ll be difficult, but we’ll manage. As you say, it’s overdue.”

That was another barrier to this trip gone.

On my way home I called Hayden and asked him about the woman. He had no idea who she could be. I didn’t tell him about her comment about Brazil. But as I drove, my fears about the trip grew less and less acute, and instead I started to think that maybe the mysterious woman, whoever she was, was right. It could be good for both of us, not just Hayden. Perhaps even the answer to the restlessness I’d been feeling.

When I walked inside, Hayden frowned. “Is everything okay, Pen? You look almost feverish.”

With the kids happily colouring at the table, I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the lounge. Facing him, I blurted, “I need to tell you something.”

“What’s up, Pen?” He looked worried and stepped closer, placing his hands on my forearms.

I took a deep breath. This wasn’t going to be easy. “I’m sorry about the way I reacted yesterday. The truth is, the thought of you going off and doing missionary work scares me, because deep down I suppose I’m frightened that you regret giving up ministry for me and that one day you could leave again.”

With his eyes wide, Hayden opened his mouth, but I cut him off. If I didn’t get this out now, maybe I never would. “I know, it’s silly, but I didn’t fully realise how I felt. You’ve made so many sacrifices for us, and it’s selfish of me not to support your desire to do this trip. In fact, I’ll support whatever you want to do with your life. The kids are both at school now, after all.” I paused, swallowing hard. “I love you, Hayden, and I’m with you one hundred percent, even if it means being a preacher’s wife like Sheila.”

His eyes enlarged further before he pulled me into his arms, laughing. “I’m not asking you to do that, Penny. That’s not what I want.” His laugh eased into a chuckle as he hugged me. “I love you the way you are. You could never be like Sheila, or my mother.” He pulled away and gazed into my eyes. “But, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

I nodded, hardly believing what I was doing. “Yes. Let’s go to Brazil.”

Hayden

Every day for the past two months I’d expected Penny to change her mind about the mission trip, but if anything, now that we were actually leaving, she seemed more excited about it than I did. The day had finally arrived, and by this time tomorrow we’d be landing in Brazil. It didn’t feel quite real, and now that the moment was here, I was starting to feel a little apprehensive.

What if I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would? Or what if I never wanted to come home? I was aware that by responding to what had felt like a calling when Michael mentioned the trip in church that Sunday, a can of worms had been opened and life would never