Epilogue

Jael’s legs and arms pumped as she pushed herself harder, but it wasn’t enough. She couldn’t get the ball, and Ekele ran it in for a goal.

“Too slow!” he called to her as he ran a victory lap, shaking his fist in the air.

She laughed and slowed to a stop, propping her hands on her knees so she could catch her breath. She was a fast runner, but she couldn’t match these boys.

Across the field, she saw Danny and Adisa talking to a woman.

“I’m taking a break,” she called to the team and jogged to the sideline.

“Giving up already?” Ekele yelled back.

She waved him off and sidled up next to Danny. “Your boys wiped the floor with me. They’re good.”

Danny put his arm around her. “I told them to go easy on you.”

“They probably did. Hi,” she said to the woman. “I’m Jael.”

The two women shook, and Danny said, “I forgot you two haven’t met formally. Jael, this is Deputy Director Deborah Mills.”

“We don’t know each other,” Deborah said. “But I’m a great admirer of yours. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to interview you, but we had another incident come up that required my immediate attention.”

“That’s okay.”

“You did what the rest of us could not. And I’d like to formally thank you for your service.”

“I would say it was my pleasure, but it was very unpleasant.”

“Still.” Deborah looked between the two. “Also, I hear congratulations are in order.”

“Who told you that?” Danny asked. Not many people knew about the engagement yet.

“Come on, Danny. You know I’ve got eyes everywhere. When’s the wedding?”

“Next week,” Jael said. When Deborah balked, she laughed. “We’ve had enough time in life to know what we want, so there’s no point waiting. And I’d like to say thank you to you as well because, with your help, Danny has a best man.” She smiled at Adisa.

“My pleasure,” Deborah said, then slapped her hands together. “So, when are you going to show me through the building I spent a lot of money on?”

“ You spent money on?” Danny said.

“You know what I mean.”

“I could have had it done at half the cost.”

Deborah shrugged as she looked out to the team on the field running drills. “The government’s always looking for new ways to waste money. May as well waste it on a worthy cause. You don’t need any help with your foundation, Jael? I’m sure I can find some more cash lying around.”

“No thanks,” Jael said. “You may have money to throw around, but the red tape’s a killer. I’d prefer to keep things privately funded so I can get things done.”

“Good call.”

“We’ll let the boys finish their drills,” Danny said. “Then we’ll go through the building. They won’t be long.”

“Uh, I don’t suppose there’s a ladies’ room anywhere around here?” Deborah said.

“You’re in luck,” Jael said. “In the shed over there.”

“Great. I’ll be back.”

“Adisa,” Danny said. “Why don’t you go round up the boys? I know they’re excited to show Deborah around.”

Adisa nodded and jogged into the field.

“He never says much,” Jael noted, then laughed when he whooped at the boys as he ran over. “Or maybe it’s just me.”

“Trust me, once you get to know him, you can’t shut him up. You’ve only been here a few days, but I can tell that they like you.”

“That’s good, ’cause I’ll be hanging around for a bit.”

“When you said you wanted to get married over here, I didn’t think you really meant it.”

“There isn’t a lot left for me back home. All my friends aren’t my friends. Not really. Everything’s connected to my dad or the Siseras in some way. Being here is a fresh start I never knew I could have.”

“When I first came here, it was a way to escape. I never would have imagined being here with my wife and maybe kids one day. I’d accepted my life as it was and had given up on the idea.”

“I know. You’ve said that.”

He jerked her closer. “And I’ll say it again and again and again because God is so good. And to be with you, no less. It’s hard to believe.”

“I bet I can make you believe it.”

“Oh, yeah?” He turned to her. “How?”

She moved close, her lips touching his as she spoke. “I’d show you, but the boys are headed over, and I’d hate to embarrass you.”

“That’s too bad.” He wrapped his arm around her and tipped her backward, kissing her as he went to cheers and whoops.

“You two need us to come back later?” Deborah said, returning as Danny righted Jael.

“Just fitting them in when we can,” Danny said, sliding his hand down Jael’s arm and taking her hand. “Ready to go?”

“Ready when you are.” Deborah looked at Jael, and the two women shared a smile that Jael found odd. It was as though none of what had happened had surprised Deborah. Like she knew more than any of them gave her credit for and that things had turned out exactly as she’d known they would.