enough.”
“You’re sure you’re OK?”
“Yes, I am fine.” He let go of one hand but kept hold of the other as he guided her toward the stairs. “Come, let’s go to the mission for a much-needed break.”
That she allowed him to hold her hand, and had allowed him to hold her in his arms however briefly, sent a thrill through him. He said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for this blessing and added a prayer for guidance. No matter how much he might come to care for the woman, he knew deep in his heart that God still wanted him here in Bogotá. Kayla would be leaving in less than two weeks. Unless something happened before then, he would have to let her go and try to focus on helping the children while he waited for his heart to heal.
****
Kayla pounded another nail into the stair tread, each strike echoing through the stairwell, then she leaned back against the wall with a sigh. She would never forget the fear of breaking through the step, certain she would tumble head first down the last few steps. Nor would she forget the safety she’d found in Mateo’s arms as he held her with such tenderness after he caught her.
“Hey, you OK?” Paul said, stopping in the doorway at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah, just taking a break.” Kayla met his gaze and grinned. “I think the sound of the hammer is going to echo in my brain long after we go home.”
He laughed and came up the stairs to where she sat not quite halfway to the top. “You want me to take over for a while? Eduardo got volunteered to help with scrubbing down the fireplace, so I’m putting the plumbing on hold for now. I don’t want him to miss anything. The kid really seems to like the work, and he learns fast.”
“Be my guest. Then I won’t be the only one who hears pounding in my head.” Kayla handed over the hammer and stood. “Have you seen Mateo recently?”
“Carlos sent him over to the mission to do something in the office. Paperwork or some such.” Paul studied her. “You got something going with that guy? It seems like the two of you are always together, and now you’re looking for him.”
Kayla rolled her eyes, hoping he didn’t see how much she cared about Mateo. “Paul, when have I ever been the type to get involved in a whirlwind romance? Especially one that lasts less than two weeks, like any relationship with Mateo would?”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“So they say.” Kayla sighed. “Listen, Mateo and I are friends. He’s a good guy with a big heart and a driving faith behind his actions. The reason I’m looking for him now is because he’s been limping ever since I fell on him, and I want to make sure he’s as OK as he claims to be. I’d do the same for anyone I accidentally injured, male or female, and you know it.”
“Point taken.” Paul moved aside so she could pass him. “Just be careful. OK?”
“I always am,” Kayla called over her shoulder as she descended.
After telling Carlos she was going to see Mateo and receiving a huge smile from the pastor, Kayla crossed the street to the mission. Few people were about, but she wasn’t worried. She felt safe going from the house to the mission and back in daylight, despite Mateo’s concern. There had been no sign of violence nearby since she arrived.
She stepped through the open front door of the mission and smiled at a few children who had helped with the renovation and several more she’d never seen. A handful of volunteers were spread around the room, helping the children with worksheets or playing games. It looked like any number of after school programs in the United States, although Kayla knew the mission did much more than just give kids a place to go until their parents got off work.
She stepped into the back hall and went to the office. The door stood open, and she peeked inside. Mateo sat at the desk, typing something on the ancient computer.
Kayla knocked on the doorframe then stepped into the office. “How
“You’re sure you’re OK?”
“Yes, I am fine.” He let go of one hand but kept hold of the other as he guided her toward the stairs. “Come, let’s go to the mission for a much-needed break.”
That she allowed him to hold her hand, and had allowed him to hold her in his arms however briefly, sent a thrill through him. He said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for this blessing and added a prayer for guidance. No matter how much he might come to care for the woman, he knew deep in his heart that God still wanted him here in Bogotá. Kayla would be leaving in less than two weeks. Unless something happened before then, he would have to let her go and try to focus on helping the children while he waited for his heart to heal.
****
Kayla pounded another nail into the stair tread, each strike echoing through the stairwell, then she leaned back against the wall with a sigh. She would never forget the fear of breaking through the step, certain she would tumble head first down the last few steps. Nor would she forget the safety she’d found in Mateo’s arms as he held her with such tenderness after he caught her.
“Hey, you OK?” Paul said, stopping in the doorway at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah, just taking a break.” Kayla met his gaze and grinned. “I think the sound of the hammer is going to echo in my brain long after we go home.”
He laughed and came up the stairs to where she sat not quite halfway to the top. “You want me to take over for a while? Eduardo got volunteered to help with scrubbing down the fireplace, so I’m putting the plumbing on hold for now. I don’t want him to miss anything. The kid really seems to like the work, and he learns fast.”
“Be my guest. Then I won’t be the only one who hears pounding in my head.” Kayla handed over the hammer and stood. “Have you seen Mateo recently?”
“Carlos sent him over to the mission to do something in the office. Paperwork or some such.” Paul studied her. “You got something going with that guy? It seems like the two of you are always together, and now you’re looking for him.”
Kayla rolled her eyes, hoping he didn’t see how much she cared about Mateo. “Paul, when have I ever been the type to get involved in a whirlwind romance? Especially one that lasts less than two weeks, like any relationship with Mateo would?”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“So they say.” Kayla sighed. “Listen, Mateo and I are friends. He’s a good guy with a big heart and a driving faith behind his actions. The reason I’m looking for him now is because he’s been limping ever since I fell on him, and I want to make sure he’s as OK as he claims to be. I’d do the same for anyone I accidentally injured, male or female, and you know it.”
“Point taken.” Paul moved aside so she could pass him. “Just be careful. OK?”
“I always am,” Kayla called over her shoulder as she descended.
After telling Carlos she was going to see Mateo and receiving a huge smile from the pastor, Kayla crossed the street to the mission. Few people were about, but she wasn’t worried. She felt safe going from the house to the mission and back in daylight, despite Mateo’s concern. There had been no sign of violence nearby since she arrived.
She stepped through the open front door of the mission and smiled at a few children who had helped with the renovation and several more she’d never seen. A handful of volunteers were spread around the room, helping the children with worksheets or playing games. It looked like any number of after school programs in the United States, although Kayla knew the mission did much more than just give kids a place to go until their parents got off work.
She stepped into the back hall and went to the office. The door stood open, and she peeked inside. Mateo sat at the desk, typing something on the ancient computer.
Kayla knocked on the doorframe then stepped into the office. “How
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