Mandy Frey gazed at the travel brochures lying on the kitchen table. The pictures were so vibrant and enticing she could almost smell the soothing scents of the tropical flowers and hear the gentle lapping of ocean waves. Ever since her Mennonite cousin Ruth went to the Hawaiian islands for missionary training two years ago, Mandy had yearned to visit. For a little over a year, she had saved toward the trip. She’d invited three of her closest friends—Barbara Hilty, Ellen Lambright, and Sadie Kuhns—to go on the cruise with her. They’d kept their plans secret until they had enough money and had made arrangements for time off from their jobs. They would leave in one month, traveling by train to Los Angeles. From there, they’d be on a cruise ship for four-and-a-half days until they reached their first Hawaiian island.
Paging through another brochure, dazzling pictures of cascading waterfalls and scenic mountains heavy with vegetation gave her goosebumps. Everything seemed so colorful in Hawaii—even the exotic birds. She wished she was there right now.
Excitement bubbled in Mandy’s soul as she envisioned herself sitting on the beach with her toes in the warm grains of sand, inhaling the salty air. “This is a trip of a lifetime,” she murmured. It was one she would probably never make again, so Mandy wasn’t about to let anything or anyone dampen her spirits.
But the hope of nothing spoiling her enthusiasm didn’t last long. When she’d told her parents this morning about her plans, Mom wasn’t happy and tried to talk her out of going, saying Hawaii was too far away. She’d also mentioned if Mandy had a problem while she was there, her family wouldn’t be readily available to help.
Dad hadn’t said much, other than telling Mom their only daughter was a grown woman and had the right to make her own decisions. Mandy could have hugged him right then and there, but held back, not wanting Mom to feel hurt or left out. Mandy’s younger brother, Milo, had sided with Mom, but Mandy ignored his concerns. She and her friends had booked their trip to Hawaii through a local travel agency, and she would not change her plans. The only person left to tell was her boyfriend, Gideon. She hoped he would take the news well.