“Mmm.” She waited. “Sounds wonderful.”
“And I wish this wasn’t a mission trip.” Tommy slowed to a stop and faced her. “But our honeymoon.”
Annalee looked at him, straight through him. “I wish that, too.”
They had talked of growing up and getting married before. Just not on an empty stretch of sand half a world away from home. Tommy moved closer. One inch at a time. The electricity between them was so strong, he couldn’t stop himself. Even when he knew he shouldn’t kiss her here.
“This day, being with you here… it was perfect.” His words were a desperate whisper against the sound of the surf. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, Annalee.” He took hold of her other hand and his body moved closer still. “Your eyes… your heart.”
“Hold me?” Annalee looked over her shoulder. “No one can see us.”
She didn’t have to ask twice. He eased her into his arms. This is heaven, he thought. And he could only imagine what it would be like… if this were their honeymoon. His cheek brushed against hers, his lips a breath away from hers. “Annalee… I want you.”
“I wanna kiss you.” She searched his eyes. “We’re alone out here.”
Tommy ran his fingers through her hair and framed her face with his hands. “Me, too… I want that more than my next breath.” His lips were so close to hers he could smell her sweet breath.
Son… be careful.
The words blew across Tommy’s soul and made him catch his breath. He took a half step back and exhaled hard. He didn’t have to ask if the voice was God’s. The Lord spoke to Tommy often. He was familiar with His tone and timing. Yes, Lord… I hear You. I will obey.
Tommy put his hands on Annalee’s shoulders. “Can you imagine? Getting picked up by the police for kissing in public.” He laughed, trying to keep the moment light. “I don’t think your parents would like that.” He ached for a way around the local rule, but there was none.
She took a step closer and rested her head on his chest. The warmth of her through his thin white T-shirt almost made him kiss her anyway. Her arms came around his waist. “You’re right.” She breathed deep in his arms, and the sensation was more than Tommy could take. She lifted her face to his. “Maybe tonight. When it’s dark.”
With a strength not his own, Tommy separated himself from her. “Really?”
“Yes.” Annalee’s eyes sparkled. “When everyone’s asleep.”
Tommy wanted nothing more. But no matter how great the idea seemed, he wouldn’t allow it to happen. He couldn’t disrespect her parents like that.
They turned around and walked back toward the hotel, slower than before. Soon enough the sun would slip below the water and darkness would cover Phuket. Tommy would meet up with Austin in their room and they would talk pro basketball and players the Pacers were looking to trade or the starting lineup in the coming season.
But for now there remained the warm feel of sand on their toes and the touch of salty beach air on their faces. And Annalee Miller’s hand in his.
That most of all.
2
Annalee felt sick even before she stepped out of bed. But it wasn’t jet lag. This time the work ahead of them weighed on her. Not until yesterday did she fully grasp what they’d be dealing with on the streets of Phuket today.
Once she and Tommy parted ways for the evening, the reality of what was happening on this island hit her hard. She had barely been able to sleep. Girls and boys in their early teens and younger being sold in the open marketplace. Twenty minutes from here.
It’ll be okay, she told herself. God will lead us where we need to go. She stood and looked around the room until she found what she wanted. Three vitamin B capsules and two bottles of water. A few minutes later Annalee felt stronger. She grabbed her Bible and stepped outside onto the balcony. Her parents were already in the lobby, meeting with the local Each One coordinator about the work ahead. Annalee still had thirty minutes before the group was set to meet for breakfast.
The air smelled of fresh jasmine. Annalee stretched her legs on the chaise lounge and opened her Bible to Philippians, chapter four. God’s Word was her companion and best friend. The voice of the Father spoke to her from the pages of a book that transcended time.
But of all the verses in all the chapters in all the books of the Bible, this part in Philippians was her favorite. She had the fourth chapter nearly memorized, but today more than ever she needed to see the words. Soak them into the depth of her soul.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
With every word, Annalee felt peace come over her. The passage filled the cracks in her heart and convinced her she would survive this day. Whatever terrible realities they saw.
Annalee knew a little about sex trafficking. They had talked about it at school. How to avoid being trafficked. Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t chat with unknown people online. Don’t hang out at the mall alone. That sort of thing. But today she would see helpless kids being sold and abused for the sake of someone else’s greed. Bought for a sickening selfishness.
Her eyes found the words again. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything…
She closed her Bible and set it on the nearby table, but even still the Scripture stayed with her…. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds…
A gentle breeze blew off Andaman Bay this morning. Annalee stood and breathed deep. She stretched her arms over her head and for the next ten minutes she ran through a series of stretches. As she did, she remembered last night and the boy who lived permanently in her heart.
Tommy Baxter.
Nothing about Tommy was ordinary. He’d been the star basketball player on the Northside varsity team since their freshman year. Apparently, Tommy played the game just like his father had once played it. Mr. Baxter was a lawyer now, but back in his high school days, Luke Baxter had been first-team all-state.
No surprise that Tommy played like his dad. He looked like him, too. One of Annalee’s greatest joys was watching Tommy run up and down the court, driving to the hoop. Northside fans had come to expect twenty points a game from Tommy Baxter. But they didn’t expect the way he lived his life off the court. If Tommy had been like every other popular jock at school, he wouldn’t be with her family here in Thailand.
In fact, they wouldn’t have dated at all.
* * *
ANNALEE’S DAD WAITED till after they were done eating before turning the breakfast conversation over to Niran, their guide for the day. Niran and his wife ran the newly opened safe house near Phuket City and today he would take them to Bangla Road near Patong—the beach not far from where they were staying.
“You will see things today that will stay.” Niran tapped his temple. “Here. In your mind and soul.” Niran was maybe in his sixties. He told them how when his children had grown and gone, he and his wife felt a driving desire to help.