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The wine was sweet, and her tongue tingled with the taste of it.It wasn’t until she took her second sip that Maureen remembered.“You said you had news.”
She knew before he said anything that it was about Africa.There was only so much denial one person was capable of.
“I heard back from the committee.”He kept his gaze fixed on his glass as he spoke.“I’ve been accepted into the program.”
Her gut clenched.
“I’ll be working with the head optometrist, starting in South Africa.There’s a team of us.All kinds of specialists working together to bring health care to so many underprivileged people who might never have the ability to have this kind of care otherwise.”
She could tell he was trying to temper his excitement for her benefit.
“That sounds amazing, Adam.”It really did sound amazing.“You’re going to make such a difference.”Her heart was breaking, but at the same time, he was so excited she couldn’t let him see how devastated she was.Her hands shook so badly, she had to put the wine glass down before she spilled all over herself.“The people in Africa are so lucky to have you.”
“Come with me.”
“What?”She scrunched up her nose.“What did you say?”
“Come with me.”Adam reached for her hands and held them tight.“To Africa.”
“Africa?”Just saying the word sounded foreign on her tongue, let alone actuallygoingthere.“I don’t…I’m not a doctor.”
“There plenty of non-medical roles.It’s not just medical personnel.There’s a need for facilitators, of course, and people to help with the care of patients and things like water.Can you believe that a huge amount of the population over there doesn’t even have access to fresh drinking water?We can make such a difference to so many people, Maureen.Together.”
Together.Africa.
Maureen’s head swam with the possibility.In all her daydreaming, and all their pretending about the future, they never once talked about going to Africatogether.Was it even possible?Could she go?Did shewantto go?What would it mean?
Stunned, she looked up at Adam’s handsome face.She knew without a doubt that she loved him, but could she leave everything she knew and everything she ever wanted out of life to go with him to the wilds of Africa?
She opened her mouth, but he pressed a finger to her lips.
“Don’t answer me right now.It’s a huge decision.”
She nodded in agreement.
“And I know I just sprung it on you out of the blue.That probably wasn’t very fair.”
She blinked slowly.
“So, think about it, okay?I mean, really think about it.I have to leave on Sunday, but—”
“Sunday?”She slapped his hand away from her mouth and almost cried the word.“But that’s four days from now.”
“I know.”He took her hands again.“I wish I had more time but I need to go back home to do the paperwork and pack.”
Four days.
He was going toleavein four days?They’d just started to build their relationship.How could he go now?What would that mean for them?Could they survive such distance between them?
But maybe they didn’t have to.He said she could go with him.
Maureen’s mind spun.
Could she really go to Africa?Just pack up and go?What about school?Her family?Her life?
She looked into Adam’s beautiful green eyes.
But what about Adam?Would she be able to live without him if she stayed?
