DEDE WAS LEANING against the Jeep, looking down at Scout, when Abby hurried out of the house. Arms folded, Dede looked up. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.” She held up the package of Oreos she’d grabbed on the way out and tried a weak smile.

“I’ve been waiting for over an hour. I thought maybe I was too hard on you.”

“Maybe,” Abby said. “What you said stung. But it also made me realize that I wasn’t finding any answers in bed.” Abby shook her head. “I still want to crawl into a hole and never come out. I’ve never felt this way before, but maybe you’re right —it’s no way to solve a problem.”

Dede stepped forward and held her arms out. Abby fell into a tight hug. “So glad to see a little light in your eyes again,” she whispered in Abby’s ear.

“So much is jumbled in my mind right now, I can’t even pray. Maybe I need to think about something else for a while.” Abby pushed back from the hug. “We’re going visiting?”

“Yeah, hop in. I think you’ll be impressed by Ethan’s project.” Dede wiped her eyes and jumped into the driver’s seat.

“A church over in Butte Falls burned down a few months ago,” Dede explained as they drove. “So a lot of other churches in the valley have come together to rebuild a sanctuary. Since Ethan specializes in building things in the mission field, he’s running the show, and he’s doing a great job.”

Ethan had been born and raised in Butte Falls. Abby had met him in a small church there before getting to know him better in youth group.

“Have you been working with Ethan?” Abby asked.

“There’s a lot to do. I’ve been helping a little and will be more involved next week.”

When Abby said nothing, Dede clarified. “We haven’t been talking about you, if that’s what you’re worried about. He’s excited about you taking time off but worried about you at the same time.”

Abby sighed. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about our relationship. I wonder . . . maybe Ethan is right. Maybe I should just marry him, quit my job, and be a missionary wife.”

Dede slowed the Jeep as they passed through minuscule downtown Lake Creek. She grunted her displeasure. “You go to the mission field because you’re called, not because your life hits a hard patch.”

“But maybe this is a sign that I am called.”

Dede laughed. “Abby, you get married because you love someone and you desire to raise a family and be together for life. I’ve known Ethan since he was little. He’s always known he was called to travel, to build and plant. You never were. I’ve wondered about the attraction, but I do believe that if you are both committed to God and each other, everything would eventually work out for the best. To travel the way Ethan travels on the mission field, you need to be called and totally committed.”

“What if I can’t be a cop?”

“Abby, you don’t go on the mission field because you can’t do anything else. Stop using today’s strength for tomorrow’s trials. Give yourself time.”

They reached the building site about thirty-five minutes later. The place was active and busy. Work trucks were everywhere, and two cement trucks were lined up behind a third that was pouring concrete into the mold for the foundation.

“I don’t see Ethan right now. Let’s go meet Pastor Cliff.”

Dede led Abby to a man on crutches, who was missing the lower half of one leg. Around him were several children and a woman holding a baby.

The man smiled. “Dede, glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Pastor Cliff, I want you to meet my niece, Abby, up from Long Beach for a visit.”

“Ah, Ethan’s friend.” The pastor smiled broadly as he shook Abby’s hand. “He speaks of you often. It’s my pleasure to finally meet you.”

Introductions were made all around. Abby learned that Pastor Cliff and his wife had four children. He was a man full of hope and enthusiasm, despite having a body crippled from a car accident that cost him his leg.

“Ethan is meeting with the main contractor, firming things up for next week when we plan to push hard to finish everything.” Pastor Cliff excused himself and stepped away from Dede and Abby to talk to the concrete men.

One truck left and another pulled in. Abby learned from Dede that the small congregation Pastor Cliff served could not pay him a living wage even when they’d had a set meeting place. After the church burned, they’d moved from place to place and attendance had dropped. He’d taken a part-time job to supplement his income and was extremely grateful for the help with the new building.

Already partly finished, the foundation would be completed today, and then framing was scheduled to start next week. An army of volunteers would descend on the site and get the building up and enclosed in record time.

“This is the most important phase,” Pastor Cliff said when he returned. “The foundation.” He looked at Abby. “The foundation is a vital part, whether it be your foundation in faith firmly set in Christ or the foundation to build firmly set in concrete. That’s why I wanted to be here, to pray and watch the hard work that goes into it.”

Abby looked away from his perusal and wondered why his words seemed meant specifically for her even though he was speaking to many people.

Dede retrieved some papers. She was coordinating the meals and needed a head count and a shopping list. After she had the papers, she and Abby left.

As they drove away from the site, Abby watched the men work the concrete pump, admired the coordination and concentration she saw as they spread the viscous gray substance. The image stayed with her for some time as she pondered the importance of a solid foundation, concrete or otherwise.