Nick figured one more week wouldn’t make much difference, considering the trouble he was already in with the MED. Anna’s father promised that his firm would help with any legal issues if the need arose.
The corporate jet roared to life and quickly lifted off from the Quetzaltenango runway with Anna and her parents. Nick and Maggie waved at the aircraft from outside the old hangar, well aware that the passengers probably couldn’t see them.
Nick shielded his eyes from the sun and watched as the jet climbed toward the mountains and took a sharp turn to the left. He was worried something was wrong when the plane continued to arc. But as the jet rumbled past them, it wagged its wings in farewell before turning and heading north.
“That Anna.” Maggie shook her head and smiled. “I can just hear her talking her dad into that one.”
Nick laughed. “I know a dad who would do anything for his baby girl.”
Nick and Maggie stood in silence, watching the plane disappear. The roar of the engines gave way to a pair of cooing doves perched on a nearby telephone pole.
Anna would be taken to Hope Memorial in Birmingham, but, in all reality, she could really go home. Anna’s father had insisted she be checked out, and Nick didn’t bother to argue. All her tubes were out, including her IV. They had switched her from IV to oral antibiotics three days ago when her abdominal wound quit draining. For days they had all been concerned about the incision. Thank God for antibiotics.
Nick hated all the goodbyes, but the most painful one was yet to happen. Buck had left five days ago, anxious to return to his family. All the California kids were gone as well.
Maggie would be taking him to Guatemala City first thing in the morning. It was hard to imagine leaving, standing there looking out over the green of the mountains with the sun reflecting off a small cloud captured by the top of the volcano.
I wonder about staying.
For lots of reasons, he knew he couldn’t. For one, it was too complicated with Maggie. He loved her, but she was committed to John. Rightfully so.
Maggie turned to him, looking serious. “A horse walks into a bar and the bartender asks, Why the long face?”
Nick smirked, shook his head, and looked toward the mountains.
She poked him in the ribs, making him flinch.
“God, you’re annoying.” He pushed her hand away.
“I bet you’re looking forward to being back in Memphis.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking that…like a dang root canal.”
They stood waiting for the other to make a move to leave. Neither wanted to.
“You going to be okay…without…” he stopped himself. It sounded too narcissistic.
She smiled at him. “Nick, thank you so much for being here. For helping our kids. Yeah, I’m good. You know, people to see, places to go.”
“I don’t understand where your energy comes from, this crazy joy.” He realized that he really was annoyed. If he had lost the love of his life he would be stuck at the bottom of a whiskey bottle of self-pity. After watching her for the last few weeks, Nick knew she returned to her life without John for the children’s sake, he also saw more than that in her easy smile. “Where does your strength come from?”
She looped her arm through his and kissed him on the shoulder. “You really still wonder that, after being here all these weeks?”
“I know, I know. I’m just a thick-headed bone doctor.”
He thought about one of the banners that the children had made for Isabella before her surgery. The joy of the Lord is my strength.
“I don’t seem to be made out of the same faith fabric as you, or Anna, or even Buck, for that matter. That night we operated on Anna, I told God that I believe. I believe in Jesus. I gave everything to him.”
“And?” Maggie asked.
“Well, of course I still believe all that. I’m just not sure I feel any different,” he said, feeling flustered.
Maggie had learned to let Nick process and said nothing.
“I thought after I confessed to God, I would be, I don’t know, different.” Nick was not about to tell Maggie he had admired the derrière of the nurse that flew in with the jet.
“Ah. You mean like magic. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.” Maggie waved an imaginary wand over Nick. “Okay, you’re different.”
“Stop,” he scolded her.
Maggie squeezed his arm in hers. “Oh, Nick, you are different. But once we turn to God, we have to keep walking out our faith.” She thought for a moment. “Sometimes I have to choose to turn to Him day by day. Sometimes, hour by hour.” She paused. “Even sometimes, moment to moment. But the one thing I know, Nicklaus, is that He is always faithful.”