Prologue
A rooster crowed in the distance, coaxing Cassie from a deep sleep.
She pulled her pillow over her head to block out the noises coming from beyond the screen window.
It didn’t work. Groaning, Cassie turned over and opened her eyes.
Sunlight streamed into the room. Though the brightness blinded her temporarily, she was glad for the sunshine.
As the wife of a pilot, she’d always be happier to see the sun than clouds.
As she sat up and stretched, Cassie realized the last thing she remembered from the night before had been reading a book.
Leaning over the side of the bed, she spotted it lying face down on the floor.
Cassie grinned. She knew tiredness was one of the symptoms, but she hadn’t realized exactly how tired she’d be.
Resting back against the headboard, Cassie laid a hand on her still flat stomach.
She planned to tell Quinn about it that night.
The pregnancy test she’d taken the day before only confirmed what she’d suspected for the past week.
Quinn had apparently been too busy to notice that her usual clockwork cycle was off.
Cassie knew he was going to be excited. They’d decided to start trying for a family after they had settled into their new home on the missionary center in Colombia.
Cassie had begun to wonder if something was wrong when, after three months, she still hadn’t gotten pregnant but the fourth month had obviously been the one.
Cassie heard the water shut off in the bathroom and knew Quinn had finished his shower.
She slid out from under the sheet and stood next to the bed working the kinks out of her neck.
She was so thankful that as of yet she’d had no problems with morning sickness.
Cassie hoped it stayed that way for the entire pregnancy.
As a nurse-midwife she’d helped plenty of women go through their pregnancies and deliveries but this was all new to her as a personal experience. She grinned at the thought of being the pregnant one for a change.
Thoughts of her plan to tell Quinn filled Cassie’s mind as she went into the bathroom. Quinn, clad in a pair of jeans, stood in front of the mirror shaving.
“Morning, Sunshine.” Quinn smiled and leaned down to give her a kiss. He took the towel from around his neck and wiped the smudge of shaving cream he’d left on Cassie’s cheek before cleaning off his own face.
Cassie slid her arms around his bare waist and kissed him again. He smelled of soap, toothpaste, and shaving cream. As much as she loved the cologne Quinn usually wore, Cassie also loved the scent of him fresh from the shower.
“You must have been pretty tired last night,” Quinn commented, running a hand up and down her back. “I looked over and there you were, sound asleep. Snoring.”
“I do not snore.” Cassie pulled back to give him a look of playful disgust. “You’re the one who snores.”
Quinn chuckled “Betcha couldn’t prove that about last night. You were out cold.”
Cassie gave Quinn another kiss before moving out of his embrace. “Yeah, I was pretty tired. I feel great this morning though.”
“Good. I’d hate to think you’re coming down with something.”
Cassie almost laughed. Oh yes, she was coming down with something. Nine months of something.
“You’re going to be back in time for supper, right?” Cassie asked.
“Yep.” Quinn shrugged into the shirt that had been hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
“I have two flights today but as long as the weather holds, there should be no delays. Of course the first flight may take a while, depending on how long it takes the guys coming with me to do what they need to.”
“Oh right. They’re going to try and set up a generator and a computer, right?”
Quinn nodded. “Hopefully everything goes smoothly.”
“I’ll pray it does.” Cassie followed Quinn out of the bathroom. “So, what do you want for breakfast?”
“Nothing fancy. Some toast and fruit would be fine.”
Cassie headed for the small kitchen and began to prepare their breakfast. By the time Quinn joined her everything was ready.
They held hands and Quinn said grace. “Father, we commit our day to you. May Your will be done and Your name glorified in all that we do. Be with Cassie here at home, and with me and the guys during our flight. Give us good weather and safety. Be with our family back in Minneapolis and keep them healthy and safe. Thank you for this food and for Cassie for preparing it for us. In Jesus’ name, amen. ”
“Amen,” Cassie echoed.
They talked about their day as they ate and then had a short devotional together. When the time came for Quinn to leave for work, Cassie walked him to the front door.
Bright sunlight and warmth embraced them as they stepped out onto the front porch of their small home.
Cassie loved the missionary center where they lived.
Green grass and huge leafy trees abounded on the center, giving it a lush, vibrant appearance.
She imagined their child running barefoot along packed dirt paths and freshly cut grass.
What a wonderful place for a child to grow up.
“Have a good day, Sunshine,” Quinn said, leaning down to kiss her.
Cassie held him tight and returned his kiss. “Fly with God, Quinn. I’ll see you later. I’m planning a special dinner for tonight so don’t be late.”
“I’ll try not to be.” Quinn rubbed his nose to hers. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Cassie captured his face between her hands and gave him one last kiss.
Quinn headed off toward the nearby airplane hangar with a smile on his face. A smile lingered on Cassie’s lips too as she went back inside to clean up the dishes from breakfast.
Forty-five minutes later she heard the airplane engine roar to life. She was familiar with the different sounds and knew from the acceleration of the engine that the plane was taxiing out onto the runway. Wiping her hands on a dishtowel, Cassie stepped out the back door.
She could see the sunlight glinting off the white and blue metal of the small Cessna Quinn piloted. Cassie raised a hand to shade her eyes and watched the plane taxi to the end of the runway and turn around. It sat for a minute before beginning a gradually increasing pace down the runway.
Cassie waved as the plane went by. She didn’t know if Quinn saw her, but she liked to think the small tip of the wing as the plane soared into the clear, blue sky was Quinn’s way of saying good-bye to her.
She stood watching the plane grow smaller and smaller, a hand splayed against her stomach. “There goes your daddy, little one. He’s going to be the best daddy in the whole world. I love him very much and can’t wait to tell him about you tonight.”
After the plane had disappeared from sight, Cassie returned to the kitchen and her preparations for their special dinner.
Four hours later a knock interrupted her as she sat at the computer writing emails to family back in Minneapolis. Cassie went to answer the door thinking one of the pregnant women living on the missionary center had stopped by to visit and have a quick check-up.
When she saw Aaron Johnson, the center administrator, and his wife Cecily standing on the other side of the screen door her heart skipped a beat. They didn’t usually make casual visits in the middle of a workday, and even through the screen Cassie could see the seriousness of their expressions.
Something was wrong.
Cassie stood frozen several feet from the door. As long as she didn’t open the door. As long as they didn’t tell her. Everything would be okay.
“Hi Cassie. Can we come in?” Aaron asked.
Cassie closed her eyes and pressed her hands to her stomach. Surely God wouldn’t let anything happen to Quinn, not when the baby they’d prayed so hard for was finally on its way.