The Desire

by Gary Smalley

  As he pulled into the hospital parking lot for the second time today, he thought again about Michele’s generosity in this situation. He already loved her with all his heart, but through this, his love found a way to grow even more. He walked into the lobby to the information desk to get Ray’s room number. A few minutes and a few hallways later, he stood at the doorway. The door was closed.

  He knocked gently. “Come in.” Julie’s voice.

  He found Ray propped up slightly on the bed, both legs covered by a blanket. Looked like quite a lot of activity going on underneath. An IV tube stuck out of his arm. Two racks of monitors stood on either side of the headboard. But Ray was awake. Allan could tell by the look in his eyes, he was still pretty sedated. “Wow, didn’t expect to see all this.”

  “It’s because of the surgery,” Julie said. “You don’t normally get all this attention for a simple fracture. Because the bone broke the skin, it involves . . . a whole lot more. For one thing, there’s a real danger of infection. So they have him on some serious antibiotics. Fortunately, the doctor said for a compound fracture, it wasn’t near as bad as it could’ve been.”

  Allan looked at Ray. “What’s the pain level?”

  Ray smiled. “What pain?” He pointed to the morphine drip hooked up to his IV. “Thank God for pain meds.”

  “Are you even going to remember this visit, or anything we say?”

  “Why?” Ray said. “You plan to share any secrets?”

  Allan laughed. “I don’t think so.”

  “I can take notes if you want,” Julie said.

  “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Allan pointed to Ray’s legs. “Are they both broken?”

  “No,” he said. “The left one is, but I’m sure you knew that. The other one’s just badly sprained.”

  “Julie said you were asking for me. I’m guessing it’s about the trip to Ethiopia.”

  “Yeah. By the way, thanks for bringing that report by. I can’t read anything right now, but I’m hoping that’ll clear up soon. The main reason I wanted to see you was to apologize.”

  “Apologize? For what?”

  “I don’t know what I was thinking, writing you that note. Especially at a time like this. Julie told me Michele was with you.” He rubbed his eyes and his forehead like someone massaging a headache. “I should have realized with Julie here, she would’ve come too. I didn’t mean to pressure you like that. I hope I didn’t cause any friction between you guys.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Ray. It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not okay. I’m sure I was just reacting to the moment, not thinking clearly. Everything for this trip was coming together so well. Everything on Henok’s end, all the funding, the pledges. I’m all set to go Tuesday to get everything set up and finalized, and then this.” He pointed to his legs.

  “Ray, it’s okay. I understand. You were under a lot of pressure. Julie told me about the local guys wanting to buy the orphanage building. I didn’t know about that. I thought we had the deal locked up.”

  “We did, but just with Henok’s signature and a phone call from me promising I’d be there Tuesday with the money.”

  “Are you guys going to lose it now?” Julie asked.

  “Probably,” Ray said. “But if that happens, we weren’t meant to have it.” He turned to Allan. “Anyway, I forbid you to feel any guilt over that. I should never have asked you the way I did.”

  “Yeah,” Allan said, “but you did. And like I said, it’s okay. I didn’t think it would be okay, especially with Michele reading your note right over my shoulder. I guess God did some kind of work in her heart this morning to prepare her, because she didn’t get upset. Just the opposite. As soon as we got in the car, she started asking me questions about it. Not challenging questions. She just wanted to make sure this trip was as important as it seemed, and that none of the other guys could take your place. After that, she actually started suggesting that I should go.”

  “Really?” Ray said. “So, you’ll go?”

  “We’re praying about it. Pretty much ready to say yes. I was just waiting to talk to you here, make sure there weren’t any other options. I can already tell, there aren’t. So yeah, I guess I’m saying . . . I’m going.”

  “Allan, that’s wonderful. I totally didn’t see this coming.”

  “Me neither.”

  “And you guys aren’t doing this because of any pressure from me?”

  Allan shook his head no. “To show you how far Michele is stretching here, we started a new baby fund just over a month ago. I moved over the money I had left in my missions fund. Between that and what we saved, it’ll just cover this trip. Michele didn’t even flinch. She said go ahead and use it.”

  A strange look came over Ray’s face. Allan couldn’t interpret it, but it wasn’t the reaction he expected.

  “What are you talking about, Allan? You’re thinking of using your own money for this trip?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “That’s not the plan,” Ray said. “Never was. You guys keep that money in your baby fund. The church was planning to pay for my trip. I haven’t asked them yet, but I already know what they’ll say. You’re doing this for us, for the church, for the entire team. We’re going to cover all your expenses.”

  Allan was stunned. This thought had never crossed his mind. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really. It might cost us a little more for your ticket, since we’re buying it on short notice but, yeah, you guys aren’t paying for this. For the sake of time, we’ll need you to purchase the flight on your credit card, but the church will reimburse you 100 percent.”

  A big smile came over Allan’s face. He couldn’t wait to tell Michele.

  50

  Allan’s joy at the news the church would be paying his way to Africa diminished somewhat by the time he’d arrived home from the hospital, displaced by the growing realization that he would be making the trip all alone. What if he got there and they were all set to make the deal, then something changed? What if they decided to rethink things or wanted to negotiate? He was no good at that. He didn’t even like to dicker at the flea market. What if some government official drew him aside after the meeting, looking for a bribe? What would he say?

  Allan had certain skills and a good measure of confidence when those skills were called upon. But he also knew his limitations. He believed it was both humble and wise to live within them. Everything about this trip called for skills he either didn’t have or possessed in meager amounts. That was why he’d always traveled to Africa with Ray.

  He got out of the car and hit the button to lower the garage door. As he walked toward the back of their house, he recalled Michele’s encouragement from their conversation earlier that day. If God wants you to do this, then we have to believe he’ll go before you and give you the wisdom you need when the time comes.

  Michele greeted him as he came through the patio door. “How’s he doing?” she asked as they hugged.

  He set his keys and phone on the hutch. “He’s pretty banged up. They had to do some serious surgery on the broken leg.”

  “So he didn’t break both of them?”

  “The right one’s just badly sprained. But because of the surgery on the other one, it’s not in a cast yet. They’re giving him heavy-duty antibiotics. He didn’t seem to be in any pain. I’m sure that’s because of the morphine drip. I think he’ll be in the hospital at least a few more days.”

  They sat in their normal spots in the living room. “Did you find out anything more about the trip?” she said. “Why it can’t be postponed?”

  “It’s the facility thing like Julie said. There might be other reasons, but that’s the biggie.” He explained what Ray had said about the very real possibility of losing the facility if someone from their team wasn’t there on Tuesday.

  “So . . . are you definitely going then?”

  “Are you still okay with that?”

  “Okay’s the right word. It seems pretty c
lear God wants you to go. The need is real, and we have the money.”

  “Oh wait, the money.”

  “What about it?”

  “We don’t have to use ours. Ray said the church was planning to pay his way, so they’ll definitely do the same for me. We don’t have to touch our new baby account.”

  Michele’s face lit up at the news, and she hugged him again. “That’s wonderful, Allan. You get to go, and we get to keep growing our baby fund. I actually prayed about this.”

  “You did?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t want to say anything, but it seemed only fair to me. It’s not like you’re going there on vacation. You’re going there to take Ray’s place.”

  “Ray almost seemed shocked that I’d even think they’d expect me to pay my own way.”

  “I’m so glad.”

  Allan forced a smile. He really was glad. But crouching at the door were all those anxious thoughts about making this trip alone.

  “I guess you’ll have to call your boss tomorrow, get next week off.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Is that going to be a problem?”

  “I don’t think so. We’ve got plenty of work, but none of it’s late. And I won’t be taking off two or three weeks like before.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “I asked Ray before I left the hospital. He said he had only planned to be there three or four days. So I’m thinking about coming home next Saturday.” He stood up.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get my laptop. I’ve got to book my flight.”

  She stood up too. “Are you okay about all this?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “You don’t seem that excited. Usually when you’re heading to Africa, you’re all jazzed about it.”

  “I’m glad to be going.” The words had barely come out of his mouth when he realized it wasn’t the truth. “This time is just so different. Do you realize I’ve never gone on one of these trips without Ray? Even the ones before we were married.”

  “I know.”

  “And he’s not just not going, he’s stuck in a hospital bed. Probably looking at several months before he’s well again.”

  “But it’s not just because Ray won’t be there, is it?”

  Sometimes Allan wasn’t sure he liked how perceptive Michele was about his emotional state. Like right now. He would prefer not having to share the honest answer to her question in hopes that, given a little time, he might get to a better place. “No, but I think you already know what I’m struggling with.”

  “Doing something this big on your own? Worried about what will happen once you get there if you make a wrong decision?”

  “Things like that,” he said. “Ray said maybe I could come by the hospital tomorrow afternoon, after he gets some time to rest, and he’ll try to brief me on everything he thinks I should expect.”

  “That should help, shouldn’t it?”

  “Should help some. It would help more if the cell phone connections were better. You know how hard it is for me to call you on these trips. I wish I could call Ray if something big comes up. Between the lousy phone reception, the nine-hour time difference, and the fact that he’s laid up in a hospital bed . . .” He stopped and rubbed his head. “I’m sorry. Not quite the man of faith and power, am I? More like Eeyore.”

  She came close and hugged him, rested her head on his chest. “I know it’s gonna be all right. Look at all God has done already. He provided all the money, not just for you to go in Ray’s place but for everything you guys needed to launch this thing. He provided Henok over there to set everything up. He helped you all find a place within your budget. I know he’s gonna keep helping you once you get there. You’re doing his work, caring for widows and orphans.”

  This was definitely helping. Having her here, talking like this.

  Then, he got an idea. A crazy one. He almost blurted it out but caught himself. But it was a wonderful idea. Something they had talked about before, many times. A dream of Allan’s that she had always refused. They stood there together in silence a few moments as he prayed about what to do. Should he bring it up? What should he say? She might say no. But what if this time she said yes?

  A voice in his head simply said, Ask her. He pulled back from the hug, far enough that they could look at each other as he spoke. “Michele, I just had a thought. It may not be from the Lord, but I feel like I’m supposed to ask. Don’t feel any pressure to answer right now.”

  “What is it?”

  “Would you come to Africa with me?”

  “What?” A puzzled look on her face.

  “Would you come with me on this trip? You know how much I’ve always wanted to share this experience with you. This would be a perfect time. You always seem to know how to help me through tough decisions. You were willing to spend our baby money to send me before. Would you be willing to use it instead so that we can go together?”

  A new look on her face. The reality of his request was sinking in.

  51

  It was Sunday afternoon.

  Michele sat at the Starbucks in the downtown area of River Oaks, waiting for her father to join her. He had just texted, saying he was on the way. She hadn’t slept well last night and was fairly distracted throughout the service that morning.

  Would you come to Africa with me?

  That moment and that question kept replaying in her mind. She definitely hadn’t seen it coming. She hadn’t said an outright no to Allan, though she was tempted to. She was still functioning under the influence of that passage in Philippians 2, the one about looking out for the interests of others. Yesterday, it had already stretched her in a big way when she had encouraged Allan to take Ray’s place on the Africa trip. She had even conceded to allowing him to use the money from their baby fund.

  Wasn’t that being stretched enough? Go to Africa? With Allan?

  God had even set things up so that Allan could go and they could keep their baby fund intact. Wasn’t there some kind of limit to this idea of looking out for the interests of others? There had to be. Otherwise, Christians would wind up becoming doormats, living their entire lives at everyone else’s beck and call.

  For the longest time after Allan had asked her the question, Michele had just stood there staring back at him, unsure how to respond. He had bailed her out, quickly taking it back, saying he never should have put her on the spot like that. The idea had just come to him that moment. But she didn’t want to close the door on it completely, not without giving it some thought or at least asking for God’s guidance. Besides, she genuinely felt sorry for Allan and hated the thought of him facing this situation all alone.

  They had agreed to pray about it over the next twenty-four hours. Allan had checked the ticket situation on his laptop. There were still a few seats left on all three of the connecting flights, enough room for both of them to go. Allan was excited by this news. As he’d researched it, Michele had stood behind him, secretly hoping there might only be one seat left, closing the door on the matter for good.

  “Deep in thought?”

  Michele looked up at her father standing there holding his coffee cup.

  “I walked in, saw you sitting over here staring out the window. It was going to be my treat, but I see you’ve already got yours.” He was holding a big oatmeal raisin cookie. Noticing her eyes on it, he said, “Want me to get you one?”

  “No thanks, Dad. I’m still a little full from lunch.”

  He sat across from her. “So what’s up? It’s been awhile since you and I did something like this, just the two of us.”

  “I know. I’ve got a big decision to make. Well, Allan and I do. But he doesn’t want to pressure me into something, which I appreciate. But it means I’m kind of on my own. It’s such a big decision, and we don’t have a lot of time. I told Allan I would give him my answer this evening. I prayed about it last night but didn’t seem to get anywhere. When I
woke up this morning, I had a strong feeling I should bounce these ideas off you.”

  “Okay. Why don’t you fill me in a little bit? I talked to your mother on the way home from church, and she didn’t have any idea what this could be about.”

  “That’s because all this just came about yesterday afternoon.” She took a soothing sip of her latte. “We really haven’t had a chance to talk to anyone yet.”

  She spent the next fifteen minutes giving him an update while he ate his cookie. As she did, she was grateful for how much her father had changed in the last year or two compared to the man she had known growing up. He was such a good listener now, and he really looked in her eyes as she talked. When she was through, she really wanted to hear what he had to say.

  His first words were, “So sorry to hear about Ray. That’s terrible. They announced it this morning in church, but I didn’t know all the details. Do they know how long he’s going to be in the hospital?”

  “At least a few more days, but we’re not sure.”

  “You could tell he was a little nervous,” her father said, “but I thought Allan did a good job this morning on the announcement about the orphanage. That’s some great news. He didn’t say anything about taking Ray’s place, though, on this trip. Are they keeping that quiet for some reason?”

  “I think he just forgot,” she said. “He went over his notes with me this morning, so I know he intended to share it. He was even supposed to ask the church to pray.”

  “Well, he still did a good job. I know he doesn’t like talking to a crowd. And I’m proud of you too, Michele. That shows real maturity, setting aside something you deeply care about like that. And you did it before you even knew the church was paying for the trip.”

  “But now we’ll be paying for it anyway, if I go with him.”

  “That’s true.”