Chapter 28 #2
Mei Lin brushed sugar off her fingers. She had hoped, the whole time they were running across China, that the moment she crossed the border with the evidence, she would be safe.
She folded her hands in her lap so her husband wouldn’t notice them shaking.
Would this ever be over?
Mei Lin lifted the shade an inch and looked out at darkness below and stars above.
They’d refueled in Anchorage and were flying east. Instead of going to Montreal, they were going to a small town in northern New Hampshire.
Right now, they were somewhere over Canada.
She found comfort in being near the place where she’d once been so happy.
Would she be safe in New Hampshire? Was Lu Feng still searching for her, or had he decided to disappear now that she was out of China with the evidence that would expose him for the criminal he was?
She pushed the shade closed again.
Across the aisle, Gavin had put his laptop away and drifted to sleep.
Beside her, Ethan was sleeping too. He’d reclined his chair and was curled on his side, facing her, one arm tucked under a pillow, the other hand resting near where hers had been.
His mouth was slightly open, and the lines around his eyes had softened.
She watched him sleep, thanking God for the gift they’d been given, that they’d found each other and would have a future together—assuming Lu Feng was caught.
Scooting carefully around her husband, she slid out of her seat and made her way down the aisle to the lavatory at the back.
The little room was spotless, and the soap smelled of lavender.
She washed her face and studied the woman in the mirror.
She still looked tired, but she was becoming herself again.
Almost, except she’d promised to call her mother from the ground, and then she’d forgotten.
She, Gavin, and Ethan had been going through the evidence she’d collected, piece by piece, and she’d been so engrossed that she’d barely noticed they’d landed.
The next thing she’d known, they’d taken off again.
She managed to get back into her seat without waking Ethan.
His phone rested on the tray between their seats, screen dark.
She could message her mother to let her know all was well and apologize for not calling earlier.
He wouldn’t mind if she used his phone. She picked it up and brought the screen to life, and her breath caught.
On his lock screen was her own face—a photograph she’d never seen. She recognized the hotel where they’d gone on their honeymoon. She was looking just past the camera, one hand lifted to push her hair—still long and shiny—behind her ear, an easy smile on her face.
Had that picture been the first thing he’d seen when he’d lifted his phone for six years? The thought had warmth spreading in her chest.
She tapped in the passcode he’d given her when they were dating. It still worked.
She connected to the only Wi-Fi network available and opened WhatsApp.
Ethan had a handful of contacts, and she found a group text with him and both her parents.
She didn’t read all the messages but didn’t miss the most recent few—Ethan thanking Mama for dinner, Mama replying that it was always a blessing to have him visit, then making a joke about how it was his kitchen, after all. Ethan had replied with a little Haha.
Mei Lin started to tap a message to her parents, explaining that she was borrowing Ethan’s phone, but a soft ping interrupted. She silenced the ringer so it wouldn’t wake Ethan as a banner slid down across the top of the screen.
Frank Reyes
Hey man, hope wherever you are you’re safe. We’ve been pulling double shifts to cover. Call when you can.
She tapped the message away. That must be a coworker.
A second banner appeared.
Small group’s on for Thursday at Hunter’s place. Who’s in for casserole night?
That sounded like a church group. She hadn’t asked him where he worshipped, but she wasn’t surprised that he’d continued going to church.
She still knew so little about what his life was like now. He’d finished med school and was a resident, so she figured most of his time was spent at the hospital. She didn’t know how much longer his residency would last or what he planned to do when he finished.
They’d both gone through so much, matured and endured and changed.
It was the oddest thing, knowing so little about the man she’d married.
Part of her was eager to get to know him again.
Part of her, she had to admit, was worried.
What if they’d changed too much? What if they no longer fit together like they once had?
That was too disturbing to consider. She returned to the message to her parents, but another text came through.
Holly
Still praying for you.
Who was Holly? Maybe someone from church, or a doctor at the hospital.
Mei Lin swiped the message away, but before she managed to get a single letter tapped, another text came through.
Holly again.
Thinking of you. Morning coffee is too quiet without you.
Mei Lin froze.
This was someone he drank coffee with?
An image came—Ethan having breakfast with a faceless woman after waking up in her bed.
Stop it.