HOPE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER FIVE

Leaf woke suddenly. She hadn't been asleep long. "Hurry," a voice seemed to speak to her. "Go and see Ayleen and Tom! You are needed.

Gently she woke Neville. He slowly roused as his wife explained. "Fine. You must go. Hang on and I will help you go quietly. I am owed a little time from work."

The children did not wake. Soon Leaf was on the highway, carefully driving with the ease of long practice while she prayed for the journey, for the people she would see, for strength, peace and wisdom and love. Also she prayed for Neville and the children. Traffic was light.

Neville lay awake for a while praying, then fell asleep. Their children, mostly home-schooled and he needed to be at least partially awake most of the next day!

Wes leapt on his dad's bed early in the morning. He was wide awake and happy until he noticed mum was gone!

Neville breathed out and held the small boy, explaining as best he could. then he hurriedly dressed and went to see Maya. She was at school that day and he knew he could not fully explain because she would see Hope.

"Mum has gone to pray with some people who need her in our old town."

Maya barely questioned this as she wanted to get to school early. The child knew her mother went sometimes to pray with folk. Also there were many friends where they came from. They had been happy there, but her dad had wanted to accept a transfer and the family agreed to do that. They had a choice. The parents wanted them to have a voice.

Leaf rounded a bend in the dark road and briefly saw the new moon like a fingernail in the dark night sky. It blurred and she quickly found a safe place to park, locking the doors. Some time later, she realised she had slept a while.

Feeling much better, she carefully pulled out of the layby. Half-way there she thought, passing a sign. "Thanks, Jesus, for the sleep."

Finally she reached her former town. It was nearly 5am and she resolved to find the Carter house and perhaps sleep an hour or so in her car, but was surprised to find many lights on when she parked outside their home. They shone out on the next lawn.

Alighting from the car, Leaf grabbed a small bag, her purse and keys and knocked quietly on the front door.

"Who's there?" The voice was that of a child. "Tom? Are you Tom? I'm Mrs. Reynolds and your mother is expecting me." (Though not this early, she thought wryly).

The boy opened the door a little. A safety chain secured the door. The child's face was scared and pale, his dark hair tufting up on top. His eyes looked huge and almost luminous. The resemblance to Hope stunned her and she felt angry that these children had been separated for so long. It mirrored the anger of Bridie Reilly, though Leaf did not know that.