“Have you slept at all?” Julian asked.
“Yep. I’ve only been awake for about twenty minutes.”
“How far are we from New York? Do you know?”
“I don’t.”
When Tracy, the flight attendant, approached them, she told them they had two hours before they’d begin their descent into New York City.
After giving them the information, she asked if they wanted anything to eat. She listed off what was available, and both he and Elijah asked for the full breakfast option. Julian also asked for a cup of coffee, feeling an intense need for caffeine.
Julian was so grateful that Elijah had come along with the team on the trip. The man had been a steady calming influence throughout the highly stressful time. And he’d been there for a life-changing moment for Julian.
During the times when Julian wasn’t tied up with Sean and the team at the R&D division, he and Elijah had had some deep conversations about the questions Julian had about the sermons he’d heard.
Elijah had been incredibly patient with Julian's questions, never making him feel stupid for not knowing the answers that probably seemed basic to someone who’d learned about the Bible his whole life. Instead, he'd shared more about his own journey of faith, how he'd come to believe, and the ways his relationship with God had transformed his life.
And midway through their time in Singapore, amid the most intense situation he’d ever dealt with, Julian had finallymade the decision to commit his life to God. He hadn’t felt an immediate change in himself, but he’d prayed each day for wisdom as he dealt with the security breach.
And he believed that God had answered that prayer.
They were leaving Singapore with the situation resolved. The people who’d tried to steal the information on the FemPulse were in custody. From what they could tell, they’d managed to contain the breach before the most confidential information had been obtained. Sean’s diligence and keen observation skills had caught things early on, for which Julian was grateful.
"What are your plans when we get back?" Elijah asked after Tracy had brought them mugs of coffee.
Julian wrapped his hands around the warm mug, savoring the heat against his palms. "First, I have to brief Duncan on everything, then I need to get back to Kiara. I've been away too long."
He hadn’t told her yet that they’d left Singapore. His plan was to let her know once he had an idea of how long he’d have to stay in New York. He hoped that it would only take a day or two for him to handle the meetings he needed to have there.
"She's getting close to her due date, isn't she?"
"It’s about two weeks away, if everything goes according to schedule." Julian took a sip of his coffee, wincing slightly as the heat hit his tongue. "But from what I’ve read, babies rarely follow schedules."
Elijah smiled. "True. My sister's first came three weeks early, and her second was two weeks late. You just never know."
"I've been thinking about something you said earlier," Julian said after Tracy had brought them their breakfast. "About howbecoming a Christian doesn't instantly fix all your problems, but it gives you a different perspective on them."
Elijah nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It's true. My life hasn't been perfect or easy. You know that. After all, we met in rehab. My dad was never one to admit that he needed God’s help. Because I struggled a lot, I always felt like I was a failure. One of the things I’ve had to learn is that I need God’s help. And then I have to accept that God is there to walk with me through the difficult times. Through the times of temptation. It is with His strength that I can get through them. They are no longer insurmountable.”
Julian ran a hand through his hair, the edges still damp from splashing his face. "I think that's what I'm starting to understand. I can’t do it all by myself. All these years, I've been carrying everything alone because I thought it was what I deserved. The guilt about Angela's kidnapping, my struggles with alcohol, the pressure from work. It's exhausting.”
“Well, now you need to turn to God when you’re struggling,” Elijah said. “And don’t be afraid to ask me to pray for you. I want to do that for you.”
“I appreciate that,” Julian said with a smile. “I want to do that for you too, but as a new Christian, I feel like I don’t have as much pull with God as you do.”
Elijah chuckled. “That’s not how it works. You’re a child of God now. New or old, He will hear our prayers.”
“Will you let me know if I can pray for you too then?”
“I will,” Elijah said. “How are you feeling about Kiara and the baby? I’ve been praying for you and her.”
Julian took a bite of his eggs Benedict, buying himself some time before answering. “To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel.Sometimes it doesn’t seem real. Like I’m married and will soon be a dad.”
“Are you still wondering if the baby is yours?”
Julian shook his head. “Now that I’ve gotten to know Kiara more, I don’t think she’d do that. She had nothing to gain by lying. Duncan has set her up financially, so she’ll never want for anything, whether we’re married or not.”
“Are you still planning to end the marriage?”
