I managed a smile. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

She pressed the green button and entered VR.

Abby found herself in the middle of a large, deserted park. Tall trees appeared in every direction under a blue sky. The trees were separated by expanses of green grass of a sort she had never experienced in the jungle.

“Abigail.”

She turned. Ten feet away was a wooden picnic table. On one of the benches sat her grandfather. “Poppy!”

He stood, and she ran and threw her arms around him. Her eyes filled with tears. She could feel his whiskers against her cheek and the strength in his arms. They embraced a full minute before Ray pulled back slightly. “Oh, precious girl.” He touched Abby’s face, wiping her tears with his thumb. “We’d better get acquainted before our time runs out.”

They sat on the bench, Abby clasping her grandfather’s arm. “Poppy, I’m so sorry for not finding you sooner. We kept—”

He shook his head. “No, I’m right where God wants me. You weren’t meant to find me sooner. Abigail, look at you—a grown woman. I can’t believe we’re finally together. Your grandmother is envious, I’m sure.”

“Do you think she knows what we’re doing?”

“If she doesn’t, we’ll tell her eventually.” He winked at her. “So how long have you been in the States?”

“A month and a half. Poppy, I got your messages—the one you sent me sixteen years ago and the one you sent Dad recently.” Her words came in a rush. She inhaled deeply, trying to slow her racing pulse.

“He didn’t get it?”

“Poppy, Dad’s been dead for fifteen years.”

“Oh no.” He looked stricken for several moments, then wiped tears from his eyes and collected himself.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this way.”

He shook his head. “No, there’s no good way. When Agent Steele told me you were in the States, I assumed you all were accessible. I was looking forward to his company once more.” He wiped a last tear from his eye. “And your mother?”

Abby sighed. “Eight years ago.”

“You’ve been by yourself in the jungle for eight years?” He looked surprised.

“No, not by myself. In my village.”

“Of course. They’re family too, I’m sure. So you got the message your grandmother and I sent you. I had no idea you’d be thirty-four before you got it. Perhaps it came as somewhat of a shock.”

She nodded.

“To us as well,” he added, “discovering that God had told us both the same thing about you.”

“So you think…Do you still believe it?”

Poppy chuckled. “Well, I never heard otherwise. Yes, I believe it. And now you’re here. So what is the Father doing through you?”