That evening a soft summer breeze lifted away some of the heat. Mandie started to sit by the swing but decided against it—still too recent a scene with Joe—opting for the top of the porch steps instead, while she waited for Joe to finish his call with his parents. Gold and pink hues blended into the sky as the sun set. Mandie tried to imagine what it must be like for Anna, who couldn't appreciate such colors anymore, and sadness gripped her heart. Despite believing Mr. Barnes about the threatening note, she wondered if he wasn't hiding more from them. Might he have lied about the letter being stolen? What if he'd kept the letter himself and was running so he wouldn't have to tell what he knew?

"Care for company?" Joe poked his head out the front door.

"Of course. How are your parents?"

"Dad's busy as usual making his rounds, but they're good." Joe went down two steps farther than Mandie to sit. He eyed her over his shoulder. "They had some news."

"What about?"

He threaded his fingers together and propped his elbows on his legs, looking out at the street. "The firm where I interned offered me a junior position. I'm thinking about taking it, after we help Robin and Anna."

Mandie frowned. "But that's in New Orleans. You said you'd find somewhere closer."

"That was before. I haven't found a place I could afford. This opportunity would help me gain more practice and money to venture on my own someday. It wouldn't be forever."

Not forever but how long? It had taken so many years for him to finish his education and now when Mandie had started to get excited for him to be back, he threatened to go off yet again. "It's awfully far away," she ventured. "Surely you could find some place cheap enough." That's when the solution fell into her brain like a lightning bolt. "Why, Joe, you could set up an office at my father's house. I need someone to take care of it for me anyway! It would be perfect and close to your parents, and I know you would be looking after things for me. Oh, Joe, it's perfect!"

"I couldn't do that, Mandie."

Mandie groaned. "Oh, why not?" Tired of looking at his back, she scooched down to sit level with him.

"You know why," he whispered.

"No, I don't." But as soon as she said it, she felt a blush creep up her face. They were sitting close together, and Joe's serious brown eyes considered her unblinking. A strange mixture of wanting to run away and wanting to hug him came over her, so that she stared back at him with wide eyes.

He leaned closer and touched her cheek with his hand. "I'm trying to be the friend you want me to be, but there's got to be some distance for a time—for both our sake's. If ever you find someone you would want to marry, that fellow's not going to want a friend like me hanging around you every day, and he'd be right."

Distance. She didn't see how distance would help her any. Already he felt far although she was sitting right next to him. "I'd miss you." She dropped her head onto his shoulder, partly to hide from his gaze. He put his arm around her while tears welled in her eyes.

She loved him, loved him more than she dared question. "Nothing seems to be going right, Joe."

He rested his cheek on the top of her head. "Remember your verse? We have to trust God with the future."

Mandie let out a shuddering sigh. "He's gotten us out of a lot of trouble."

"I choose to believe Him over what things look like now too. What about you?"

"Yes." Mandie squeezed her teary eyes shut. At least I'm trying, God. Help me.