"So, Jason, how's everyone in Odyssey doing?" Tasha passed Jason the last of the paper plates.

"Well, let's see." Jason mentally calculated how long it had been since Tasha had been in Odyssey. Way too long. Maybe that might change before long? Now, now, don't get your hopes up… "So, my dad started another shop."

"Branching out from ice cream?"

"More like Whit's End 2.0. It's in Connellsville, in a rough area called Oswald Heights." Jason wiped the crumbs off the patio table.

"Because he doesn't have enough to keep him busy?"

"Oh, I can only think of one or two times my dad has admitted to being too busy! Actually, there's a guy who manages that shop for him. He's still working on his inventions. And he's planning to go to Africa on a missions trip in a few months. Uganda, I think? But yeah, he's doing really well."

"How's Connie?"

"She's doing okay. Her mom passed away suddenly a few months ago. That was really hard on her. Especially since her dad showed up for the funeral with a half-sister Connie didn't know existed."

"Seriously?! Wow, that's setting new records for tactlessness. Poor Connie."

"Yeah, it was pretty tough. She's been taking some art classes at the community college, so that's been keeping her busy, which I think helps. And her roommate is one of her close friends, so she's not alone at the house. Oh, yeah, she moved back into her mom's house. I did the estate sale." Jason tied the garbage bag shut. "Karen, where do you want the trash?"

"There's a bin on the side of the house," called Karen from inside the house.

"And Eugene? Did he reconcile with his lady love?"

"Yup! They've been married for…I forget how long now."

"Good for them!" Tasha tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"How about you? How did you decide to go to medical school?" Tasha laughed.

"That…is a long story. After I became a Christian, I took a hard look at my job and realized that I was doing a lot of things that I wasn't completely proud of. I know the rationale behind what we were doing, and I understand, but some of the things to come out of Europe…" Her voice trailed away. "Anyway, I realized that I didn't want to be in the same job in ten years. So I took the MCAT-"

"And probably blew the doors off it?" Jason teased. Tasha blushed. I forgot how cute she is when she's blushing.

"I did pretty well – well enough to get into medical school. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed academics! I thought about doing the MD/PhD program, but when I started doing clinical work, I really enjoyed it. Well, most of it. Psychiatry hasn't been my favorite. That's what I'm on now – only four days, twenty-three hours to go!"

"Not a fan of the psych ward?"

"Some people love it. But I found that it's really hard to see people suffering like that and not be able to do as much to help them. When someone comes into the ER with appendicitis, we remove it and give them antibiotics, and – usually – they get better quickly. Schizophrenia? We try one drug, which has horrible side effects, and if that doesn't work, we up the dose or try something else…" She chuckled. "Sorry, data vomit. Anyways, with emergency medicine, I'm less likely to have to leave the ward to go wash the feces out of my hair."

"GROSS!"

"Sorry! That's why I was late today."

"Well, on behalf of all the people you've encountered, thank you for your dedication to hygiene." Jason gave a mock bow, and Tasha laughed.

"Yeah, that wasn't so much of a problem in our former job, was it?"

"Thankfully not." Tasha finished stacking the folding chairs against the patio railing.

"Hey, where do the chairs go?"

"I think Mike and Karen will take them back to church tomorrow. Either that, or Oliver – he's the youth pastor – will pick them up."

"You go to church with Mike and Lisa?"

"When I'm not on rotations, yes."

"That's…awesome." Jason suddenly realized that he'd been grinning like an idiot.

"Thanks for cleaning up, guys!" Karen wiped her hands on her pants.

"Glad to help! Do you want us to take these chairs back?"

"Oh, we were just planning to take them back to church tomorrow. You're coming, right, Jason?"

"Absolutely!"

"Good. Tasha, are you going to make it?"

"I have rounds on the ward tomorrow morning, so I don't think I'll make it to Sunday School, but I should make it to the service, assuming nothing comes up AGAIN." Tasha rolled her eyes. "It seems like the best way to ensure chaos is to make plans for after rounds." She glanced at her phone. "I hate to say it, but I need to get going. I've got three patient charts to review before tomorrow morning." Blasted charts. "Karen, anything else you need cleaned up?"

"I think we're good. Thanks, Tasha." As they walked back into the house, Jason's phone started buzzing.

"Hey, Dad!" He didn't attempt to keep the excitement out of his voice. "You're never going to guess who came to Lisa's graduation!"

As Jason finished tying his shoes, his phone buzzed. Reaching over to the motel's nightstand, he saw the text from Mike. Tasha's car broke down. Can you pick her up on your way to church?

Sure, he texted back. What's her address?

I'll send her your number. Her apartment is between your motel and church. Shouldn't take too long.

Okay. He sat back for a moment, taking stock of what he needed to pack up for his flight that evening. Too bad I can't come back next week for Tasha's graduation. He shook his head in amusement. God, You sure do some amazing things. A few months ago, I thought she was dead, and now I'm about to pick her up to go worship You together with some of my dearest friends. Thank You, Father.