She’d have to drive because she didn’t want to fly under her real name. If she left at four in the morning, she’d arrive by twelve or one.

After she got her suitcase out of her closet, she set it on the bed and thought about what to pack. What did one bring for a clandestine trip to small-town Kentucky? Finally, she settled on mostly casual clothes, one outfit suitable for church, and a little black dress. Out of habit but with the hope that she’d never need it, she grabbed her medical bag.

She carried the bags downstairs and put the card to Dahlia in the outgoing mail tray, then went to her mother’s office. The door stood open, so she tapped on the frame as she walked in.

Her mom sat at her desk, signing letters. She looked up and slipped her glasses off. “Hello, love.” As she stood, she set her pen on the stack of papers. “I’m replying to elementary kids who wrote me last week.”

Cynthia grinned and walked into her mother’s hug. “That’s a lot of letters.”

“They were all very sweet.” She led them to the window seat. “So, tell me, what’s on your dance card this week?”

How did she explain this? “Captain Rick Norton asked me to join him in Kentucky. He’s there on leave in his hometown.”

Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “I see. And how do you feel about him?”

Wanting to answer the question honestly, she said, “Well, at first I really didn’t like him. Every conversation we had ended in an argument. He was everything I did not like. But as we spent time together in the jungle and then in the capital city, my respect for him grew. He’s a man of integrity and honor.”

After a silent moment, her mom said, “So, in response to my question of how you feel about him, you reply with, your respect for him has grown.”

Heat spread up Cynthia’s chest and into her face. “I really like him, Mom.” She clenched her hands in her lap. “I like talking to him. I like being with him. I want to get to know him more.”

“And going to his family home is how that will get accomplished?”

With a shrug she tried her best to explain. “His job is super intense. He told me once that none of what he does for a living travels with him to Kentucky. He allows himself to completely unwind and relax. I’d really like to see him like that, to know the man under the uniform.”

Her mom smiled and surprised her by saying, “Wonderful. Have a good trip. Don’t make dumb decisions. But please do something for me.”