Marilyn was so excited. Michele had just called. She hung up the phone and got everyone’s attention. “Listen, everyone, they’re on their way here.” Everyone stopped, looked at her for a moment, then returned to their conversations.
Jim leaned over and said, “They’ll get excited once Michele and Allan walk in the door.”
“You’re right.” She was being a little silly. It wasn’t like they were getting ready for a surprise party. The important thing was that everyone was here, including Uncle Henry and Aunt Myra, who just this week had gotten back from their long RV trip out West visiting their kids.
Doug was here too, sitting next to Christina. She was part of the family now. Christina seemed to be adjusting well, all things considered. Marilyn noticed how much she brightened up when Doug was around. Still, both had made it clear, they were just good friends.
They had all finished their big Sunday dinner and were now finishing up dessert. Allan and Michele didn’t come to dinner. They had even missed church that morning. Both were too wiped out. Besides the flight time, they had lost nine hours in the exchange.
“So you really have no idea what this big surprise is all about?” Jim said.
“Not a clue,” Marilyn said.
Aunt Myra sat across the table from her. “I’ve been looking on Facebook every day since they left for Africa, but I haven’t seen a thing. Don’t they have the internet over there?”
“They do,” Jim said. “But the connection is pretty spotty.”
“Used to drive Michele crazy,” Marilyn said, “when he’d be over there for weeks without her.”
“You think it has something to do with the orphanage?” Uncle Henry asked. “That’s what they went over there for, right? Trying to get one set up.”
Marilyn set down her coffee, glanced out the front window. Still no sign of them. “Yes. I’m sure things went well. Michele sounded pretty excited when she called last night.” She looked around the table. Most of those seated had finished their dessert. She got up and began to clear.
“I’ll help you,” Jim said.
“No, you stay seated and finish. Keep Uncle Henry company. I just want to give folks some elbow room.” She had barely set the first armload on the kitchen counter when she heard footsteps on the front porch.
“Think they’re here, Mom,” Tom said.
Right after that, the front door opened. Allan and Michele walked in. Everyone got up to greet them. They had only been gone five days. For some reason, maybe because Africa was the other side of the world, it felt like longer. Marilyn had to wait her turn to hug them both. When she hugged Michele, she held on especially tight.
When she pulled back to look at her face, there were tears in Michele’s eyes. But the look on her face said they were happy tears. Very happy tears.
“I can’t wait to tell you,” Michele said.
“Aren’t you going to tell us right now?” Marilyn said.
“We are,” Allan said. “We were hoping everyone would be finished with dessert by now. We’d kind of like to tell you our big news with everyone sitting in the living room.” He handed Michele’s iPad to Doug. “Doug, do you know how to hook this up so videos and pics can show up on the TV?”
“Yeah.” He took the iPad and walked around to the side of the big-screen TV.
“Could you just get it set up? Don’t show anything until I tell you.”
“Those of you who haven’t finished your dessert,” Marilyn said, “just bring your cup and plate over here and find a seat. Don’t worry about making a mess.”
“Tommy and Carly,” Jean said, “that doesn’t include you. Leave your plates and drinks on the table. You can finish them after.” She looked at Marilyn. “I couldn’t enjoy myself if they finished up in here.”
Everyone found a seat, except Allan and Michele, who stood in front of the TV, holding hands. Marilyn couldn’t wait to hear what they had to say.
Allan spoke first. “First, we want to thank you all for your prayers. Based on the things I’m about to say, it’s very clear to us that God answered them. He even answered some things I didn’t have the faith to pray for. This trip was kind of a last-minute thing, and I was pretty nervous about going. No, to be honest, I was terrified . . . until Michele agreed to come.” He pulled the hand he had been holding to his lips and kissed it.
“Now, it’s clear, to both of us, that her coming was the providence of God. The story we’re about to tell you could never have happened without her. As you know, the main purpose of this trip was to try to get this orphanage up and running. That did happen. But something else happened there that was even more exciting . . . and totally unexpected.” He looked at Michele.
She looked first at her father, who was standing next to Marilyn. “Dad? Remember before I left, when I came to you for advice, about whether or not I should go?” Jim nodded that he did. “You predicted that by the time I came home, I would have no regrets about any of the money we spent on this trip. You said the reward I’d feel inside would be a much bigger prize than anything I could possibly lose.”
“Did I say that?” he said.
“You did. Well, God gave me an even a bigger prize than that. Bigger than I could ever imagine.” Tears filled her eyes. “Mom and Dad, sometime in the next six to nine months, you’re going to be grandparents again!”
“What?” Marilyn almost yelled. Everyone else reacted with similar shock. Marilyn was about to ask if Michele had found out she was pregnant on the trip, but that made no sense. Why would she say . . . six to nine months? “That’s wonderful news,” Marilyn said. “But how?”
Michele looked at Allan. Allan looked at Doug. “Is the TV almost ready?”
“Almost,” Doug said. “Just a couple more minutes.”
“Good. That’s all I’ll need.” He turned to face everyone else. “I want to tell you all an amazing story. It’s a story about a place called Korah and a little girl. A little girl named Ayana . . .”